The train shook violently as I got closer to the station. Watching the passing scenery was all I could focus on. My current situation was not one I liked to dwell on often. The idea of my parents sending me to finish my senior in high school with my uncle didn't come across as "doing what's best for me". What they were doing was getting me away from their constant fighting. For months they had been arguing about anything and everything. Neither one of them could do anything right in the eyes of the other, and to them sending me away was a perfect way to keep me from witnessing everything completely fall apart. It was very rare that parents ever split up, but sometimes I wondered if my parents should just go ahead and do it. Everyone would probably be much happier.
While also trying to avoid thinking about my parents, I couldn't stop thinking about what my reunion with my uncle would be like. I hadn't seen him in ten years. Growing up I spent more time with him than I did with my father. He used to pick me up after school and take me to the park. My uncle and my father had very different perspectives on life, and sometimes that led to disagreements.
For hours the train passed trees and deserted land, and then the trees started to slowly disappear as we came upon the Sienna Hills sign that looked like it needed a desperate paint job. Irritation radiated through my body as I realized we were here. The train began moving slowly across the tracks as we pulled into the crowded station. I couldn't believe how crowded the station was considering the summer was almost over. Passengers anxiously started gathering their items and children. Once the train came to a complete stop everyone dispersed quickly. I grabbed my two suitcases and headed towards the exit. As I came down the train steps the smell of metal and smoke filled my nose. My nerves ate away at me as I panned the station searching for my uncle. I hadn't seen him since he told me he was moving to Sienna Hills.
"Johnny!" He called. I looked towards the center of the station and saw the man that was known as my uncle. He was tall and his dark hair was cut just like my father's. It was almost like looking at my father besides the hair color, of course. He wore a blue button-up and tan pants. He gave a smile and seemed surprised by my appearance. "Wow. Look at you!" He said. I placed my luggage on the ground before hugging him. "It's so good to see you." He said. As we dispersed from each other I smiled and returned the sentiment. " Come on, the car is this way." He said. He grabbed one of my suitcases and I followed him in the direction of the parking lot.
He came in his baby blue Cadillac. As a boy, I had loved this car and hoped one day he would teach me to drive in it. Only moments after I closed the door to the passenger's side did he want to know how I had been doing. I tried to quickly think of something to say. It was hard to think of something positive when my parents were fighting constantly and trying to hide it. I kept most of my feelings to myself, and I wasn't about to pour them all out now. That would definitely put a damper on this reunion. I answered with an answer I thought he could believe and returned to silence.
"I think you're going to like Sienna Hills," he said. I didn't open my mouth my kept my gaze locked on the world outside of the car. "There's a beach about an hour out of town, but it's very nice. That's something you don't have back home." he continued. I knew he would just keep listing activities until I gave some sign that I was excited about it. "Yeah Uncle Charlie, sounds great." I gave a smile and returned to my window.
We continued through the small, quaint town. Children were running down the sidewalk, women pushing the strollers that held innocent newborns, and groups of young men looking for young women to talk to. This town was not that different from the one I lived in back home, there was a possibility that this one might be just a little smaller. "You mind if I stop at the post office?" He asked. I shrugged my shoulders as my answer, and he took that as compliance. He pulled to the curb. "Why don't you come inside. I'm sure my friend Randy would like to meet you." I hesitantly got out of the car. Walking around to the curb I noticed people were staring at me hard. They did the same to my uncle as we walked closer and closer to the post office door. Once inside I walked closer to my uncle. "Why were those people staring at us like that?" I asked. Uncle Charlie smiled. "Just ignore them. People can be quite nosey around here if you don't keep your business close."
"Hey, Charlie." A tall man with grey hair called. Our attention turned to the man. "Morning Randy. Randy this is my nephew Johnny." Randy flickered his eyes in my direction with a warm and welcoming smile to go along with it. "Well hello, Johnny. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Randy." He extended his right hand out and I placed mine in his shaking it slowly. "Nice to meet you," I responded.
"Did it come in?" Uncle Charlie asked. Randy smiled before going to the back and setting a big brown box on the counter. Uncle Charlie smiled widely at the brown box. I stood there curious as to what could be so exciting in the box. Uncle Charlie shook Randy's hand one more time before turning to me. "Are you ready." He asked.
It was only when we got into the car that I decided to ask. "What's in the box?" He sat it in between us before starting up the car again. "Poetry." He answered. I frowned. I didn't know it was possible to become so excited over poetry. "It's for a girl I'm tutoring. She loves poetry-well reading in general, but especially poetry," he said.
Our conversation quickly changed when we came across the high school I would be attending. It was white and had two sets of steps that led up to the building. There was a sign in the middle of the lawn that read: Sienna Hills High.
He slowed down until we were completely parked next to the school. "Here it is," he said. I looked it up and down, realizing that I hadn't had any expectations. This was a pretty big school for a town this size. "The high school is integrating this year." he continued. I turned to him with a surprised look. "As you can guess the town isn't very happy about it." A silence fell upon us. "I didn't tell your father, but is this gonna be a problem for you Johnny?" he asked. My father wasn't shy about how he felt about whites and blacks. If this was something that was happening back home he probably would've taken me out of school. My uncle, on the other hand, didn't feel as strongly. In fact, he felt strongly the other way around. My father didn't believe blacks and whites were on the same level. I remember as a child I tried to play with an African American boy and he got so angry with me. When I told my uncle about the incident he said that my father was different. He told me that when I got older he would explain why my father was like that, but we never got the chance to have that conversation.
I looked to my uncle. "No," I answered. After passing the school I kept picturing what the first day of school would be like. How would everyone react? What would happen once we were all in one room together?
The road became rockier and rockier. There were only trees on each side of the road. "You live so far," I said. "I like the quiet, besides I do have a couple of neighbors up the road from me. They like seclusion too." We pulled near a red mailbox and slowly made our way up the driveway. Something about the house being secluded screamed peaceful. That was a quality I had forgotten about my uncle. He always enjoyed peace. Before he moved he lived about a block from my parents and me. This made it easier for my parents when they were consumed with work or bridge club. They'd drop me off at his house.
He put the car in park. I got out of the passengers' side and took in the smell of pine that surrounded his house. On my left, there was a lake that glistened in the sun's light. The trees swayed and swayed to the cool breeze. The front door creaked open, gaining my attention. I turned to see a petite African American woman standing in the doorway. She waved. I returned the wave and gave a small smile. I went to the back of the car to help my uncle with my luggage. The woman started down the steps and met us near the car. "You must be Johnny." I nodded slowly. "I'm Elaine, it's nice to meet you." Her southern accent was strong. "It's nice to meet you." I returned. She then looked past me. "Mr. Charlie I'm on my way out to the store to get dinner started." She explained. My uncle closed the trunk. "Elaine I could give you a ride." She broke eye contact for just a moment. "I think I'll walk. I could use the fresh air." She smiled at me once more before starting down the driveway to the gate. I watched my uncle watch her walk away. He looked defeated in some way. When he noticed my gaze he picked up my suitcase and headed towards the house.
We walked up the porch steps and into the house. The house smelled like lavender. "As you can see the living room is right over there. If you walk straight ahead there is the kitchen. My room is upstairs, the last door on the right. Your room is on the left, second door." He looked to me for a response. "Thanks. I think I'll go get settled." I walked up the creaky steps and followed the directions to my new room.
The room looked like it hadn't been occupied in a while, and it probably hadn't. Neither I or my parents visited him, and my grandparents had passed away. I placed my luggage at the end of my new bed. The room was an off-white color, and there was a window seat that overlooked the lake. I sat down on the light blue cushion and took in the view. This would probably be where I spent most of my time. The longer I sat there, the longer I took in my new home.
YOU ARE READING
Broken Society (EDITING) COMING 2023
Non-FictionEverything can change in an instant. For Johnny Mulberry it was the summer of 1956 in Sienna Hills. A car accident left him with no memory of who he was or the people in his life. 5 years later and he still has no recollection of the person he used...
