On February 15 1990 I got laid off from another job and things were getting real tight for my boy and me. We loaded up the Dodge cargo van with all our belongs and skipped town in the middle of the night. The rent was due and didn't come close to having the money. Cody was strong and staying strong for me as usual. He just crawled up in the back of the van on the bags of clothes. After a few minutes on the road he was all snuggled up and sleeping.
Not having a educational qualification to my name was a hard life on him. Dead end job after dead end job had to stop soon I prayed to myself after seeing the first rest stop on the highway. We had made it half way across the country searching for something we could call home. Next state was Nebraska and thought about pulling into a small town and slashing the tires in the middle of there busiest road. Then getting out and dropping to my knees and just start begging for help. I was getting wore down just busting ass keeping food on the table. I was getting close to giving up about the time we passed the State line of Nebraska.
Looked at my boy in the rear view mirror again and said "we are almost home, I love you and this I swear is the last night you will ever sleep in the van."
We pulled up in the welcome center rest stop about 4:30 am. I crawled in the back and took a spot somewhere over the T.V. and tools I had. It didn't matter I was so exhausted and just wanted some sleep. I thought to myself I should pray more and don't need sleep, need some luck. I just needed some luck was my last thought as I drifted off to sleep.
I woke up at sunrise and stumbled out the passenger side front door. Lite my first cigarette of the day as I shut the door softly not to wake the boy. Passed around the van a few times to gather my senses, then made a beeline to the bathroom. Finished up and headed back to the van to see if Cody was still sleeping. He was still out cold from the rough sleep he had the night before. I lite another smoke and a dirty old dump truck pulled up hitting the clutch for a loud jack brake stop. The driver jumped out and all tight and cross legged power walked to the bathroom.
I seen my first chance at a job. I walked over to his truck and stopped about 15 feet in front of the truck and just wondered how they kept the thing running. 10 bald tires and about 20 years of neglect on this piece of shit I thought to myself. About four minutes later he came walking back to the truck with about twice the speed as he went into the bathroom with.
He did a little hand wave and said "good morning" to me with a jaw full of chew dripping from the right side. Looked like he hadn't slept in a week and not shaved or took a shower in months. I said hello back and asked if he knew anyone hiring. It triggered something inside him because he closed and wiped his jaw a bit. In a sad voice and consideration in his eyes "what can you do". He stopped in front of me and took off the musty old ball cap and ran his fingers through his hair. I said back "anything he could think of and a 9 year boy sleeping in the van. Need work and would take anything." He looked back at the van and asked if I had enough money for breakfast. I said "yup, I need work and not a handout." He snapped his head back around to me and slapped me on the shoulder and said "your my kind of friend." with a few drips falling out his mouth of brown sludge.
He said next town up set at the McDonald's just off the highway. He would be there about 12 for lunch. I shook my head yes and he reached out to shake his hand. He had a firm grip and looked me in the eye, he seemed honest and was worth waiting for. I said "thanks a lot" he started walking towards the dump truck and said "see yeah there". He went back to his all hurry and no bull shit walk as he put his ball cap back on. I was thinking this was entirely to easy. He slammed the door and at the same time slammed the truck into first gear and was already hitting 3 gear before he reached the turn off for the highway.
I turned back to the van and could see Cody peeking out the window at me. I waved a reassuring wave and walked back over. He pushed open the drivers side door and with a nervous voice said 'i gotta pee Dad" I pointed to the bathrooms and he took it as go for it.
As he scampered off I looked to the sunrise and smiled. Thought to myself thank you God as I reached my right hand up as to give God a high five. I know he answered my prayers in my heart.
