RUNNING AWAY TO LA (MY FIRST TRY) WITH $1.25

Again, aside from all the performing I was doing, my yearning for California had gotten too great to put off any longer. Not to mention that I felt more and more restricted and repressed at home. So, I decided to just do it, and move down here. I knew, though, that everyone, especially my parents, would do everything in their power to stop me (even though I was now 19 years old), and I did not feel up to dealing with all that at that time. I just wanted to go, and without any hassles or complications. So, I secretly bought my one - way plane ticket, and then went to the bank to pull all the remaining money out of my trust fund. I was utterly shocked to find out that my parents had used up all of it! I knew this was to pay for Little Grandmas nursing home bills, but they had never told me they were still doing this all this time! What to do now? Well, my patience at home, and with everything, and with feeling still trapped in Illinois had reached its end. I HAD to go through with it whether I was broke or not, or I was going snap!! I just HAD to find a way to make it work! A co-worker of mine at the telephone survey job had gave me the phone number of a friend of her's, and had already asked her to start looking for a place I could stay for awhile when I got there. She said that by the time I arrived, she should have something for me, and that I should call her when I got to the LAX airport. By the time I took care of all the necessary arrangements, all I had left was LITERALLY $1.25. Well, I was going to have to keep faith that everything was going to work out!! Despite all setbacks, there was no turning back now. This was it! It HAD to work! One of my high school friends, Mike, let me stay at his place the night before I had to leave, so that it would be easier for me to get to the airport by bus. The twins, Maurice and Chantal, offered to give me a ride to his place in the city. Knowing that my family would surely harass my sister, Jeannie, and all my closest friends that they KNEW how to get a hold of, I had to, regretfully, keep this a secret even from them. It broke my heart to have to do it that way, but the less they knew, the safer they were from my parents until I felt ready to contact them all again. I even felt sorry for my parents, but I knew they would stop me, and I HAD to follow my destiny. This was, after all, MY life not theirs, as they seemed to think.

So, the night before, I smuggled two suitcases into my room, and packed everything I could into them except for the bathroom supplies. That would have to wait until I was SURE my parents were both asleep for the night, because if they had noticed THOSE gone, it would have been a tell-tale sign. Meanwhile, Maurice and Chantal parked their car down the street and waited for me. Finally, everyone was asleep. I got my bathroom supplies, and tossed the two suitcases out my window. I wrote a quick note explaining what I was doing, and why, and promised I would call them once I was firmly settled in California. I didn't tell them, of course, who was helping me. I then made sure my door was shut, turned off the lights, jumped out the window, and made my way down to my friends car with my suitcases. We took off for Mike's place in the city, and I waved a secret "Good-Bye" to my family and neighbors.

When it came time to go, I thanked Mike for all his help. He gave me enough for a long distance call, and he made me promise him I'd use it to call him when I arrived at LAX to let him know I was alright. I then dragged my very heavy suitcases on a few buses and trains to the airport. Eventually, I got on the plane, and I got lucky enough to get a window seat! We took off, and as I looked down at the hometown I was leaving, I thought about the fact that I had no definite destination when I got there, no real arrangements of any kind, and that all I had was $1.25 and refused to let myself fear ANYTHING. Somehow, I was not the least bit afraid. I was being put to a great test here. I was going to have to trust my instincts, trust myself in every way. I had been brave enough to do MANY things completely on my own throughout my life, and smart enough, and adaptable enough to make it all work before. This would be no different. I wouldn't LET it be!

Unusual things started to happen already on the plane! After awhile, the businessman next to me started talking to me. Eventually, I realized he was hitting on me! He was saying how a pretty boy like me could make it out there easily with the right people, and he could help me, etc., etc., I wanted to find some stable ground as soon as possible once I got there, but not that way! Plus, my instinct said not to trust him anyway! Something didn't feel right about ANYTHING he was saying. So, I thanked him for his advice, and said I needed to take a nap. When the time came to switch planes half way there, I made sure I lost him in the crowd.

On the next plane, I was by myself, and he was nowhere to be seen. I later found myself in a conversation with one of the female flight attendants. For some reason, I felt comfortable enough opening up to her about what I was doing. She was amazed that I wasn't afraid, and, to be honest, so was I! But she was very encouraging. She wished me the best of luck when I got off the plane. Again, I made sure I was not seen by the guy from the previous flight.

It was 2am when I arrived. It turned out that only ONE of my two suitcases had made it, and that the other would arrive sometime the following day! I called Mike to assure him I had arrived in one piece, and that I would keep him informed along the way. Then I called my co-worker's friend. She had not been able to find a place for me to stay after all, but would keep working on it. I couldn't stay with her because her parents wouldn't allow it. I told her I'd come up with something, and would keep in touch. "Off to a good start", I thought to myself, and made my way to a bus route map. There was an elderly man looking at it next to me. I guess I seemed extremely focused in studying it, because he asked me where I wanted to go. The only thing I knew well about Hollywood, was that the Chinese Theater was in the heart of it. I figured that if I could get there, I'd be in the thick of things, and could find SOMETHING to go on from there. The elderly man said he could personally show me how to get there. He was a senior citizen, and could ride the bus for free, and that he enjoyed taking advantage of that and spent his nights riding everywhere. I could tell there were no hidden intentions in his offer, so I accepted the help.

After the phone call, I didn't have quite enough for the bus. I explained things to the bus driver as politely as possible, and he let me ride. He even gave me a transfer to the next bus. The elderly man got on the next bus as well. He was telling all kinds of stories about old Hollywood. Finally, we reached the Chinese Theater. The man stayed on the bus and he wished me well. I thanked him and stepped out into the world I had dreamt about my whole life!

I already knew it wasn't going to be all glamorous. I saw all the tacky souvenir shops along the way. I got a feel for it instantly. During the day, it was tourist central, and at night, it was the same as certain areas in Chicago all street people, etc. I hadn't been off the bus five minutes before I was being asked if I wanted to buy drugs. They didn't scare me, though. I had seen it all already back home. I just politely turned the offers down. Despite everything, I was still excited. I walked up and down the area looking at all the stars on the sidewalk. I went back to the theater, and put my hands in the all the handprints. Each and every set didn't matter who's they were, whatever. Funny the ONLY set my hands fit perfectly were Marilyn Monroe's.

Then it was time to think. I sat down on a bench in front of the theater to sort out what to do next. A heavy-set, middle-aged Phillipino prostitute came over and made offers to me. Even if I HAD money, there was NO WAY I would go for it. But she sat down and started telling me about her life. All of a sudden, she started laughing. She got up, went across the street, and kept laughing. And then, wouldn't you know it? It started to rain! I had heard it hardly ever rained here, and hoped that wasn't an omen. "Okay, this is definitely a challenge", I thought. I looked around, and noticed the Roosevelt Hotel. I had heard much about this place back in the Old Hollywood days, so I was curious right there. On instinct, I went into the lobby. I walked around, browsing for awhile. I found a bowl of free apples on a desk. I picked one up, and ate it. Then, exhausted, I sat down on one of the lobby couches. I was surprised that no one had said anything to me sitting there with a suitcase and not checking in. The next thing I knew, I was waking up late in the morning. There were people sitting on the couches all around me. Some were looking at me, but most of them were talking to each other not even seeming to notice that I was there. It was very surprising.

I realized I was very hungry. But most importantly, I had to get the ball rolling here. I walked down the street, and got water, and a pie or something at a McDonald's. Then I found a place called The Teen Canteen. It was a place for homeless teens on Hollywood Boulevard. It has relocated since. I was assigned a counselor. It turned they didn't let anyone stay overnight, but they had activities during the day and gave out free food, bus passes and referrals to various organizations that could help us.

I was told where the welfare center was. I went there that afternoon, and they gave me a voucher for a hotel in a ghetto near downtown LA. In the meantime, they would investigate my background, and I was to report back the following week. On the way there, I made friends with a few others that got vouchers for the same place.

WELCOME TO LA!

The place wasn't too bad. Just your basic cheap hotel, but, to me, who was surprised to have a free place to stay, it was just great to be here. The next day, I couldnt wait to get out and about! Job-hunting never seemed so exciting! It was a lot of fun. Although, I think nothing happened because I didn't have a real address to put down on the applications.

CELEBRITY FOR A DAY

During the second afternoon, I had some fun looking around. I wore a pair of jeans, a colored T-shirt, black blazer and dress shoes, my favorite hat at the time a plain, black policeman-type hat propped back a bit, and my shades. A funny thing happened in one of the shops I was browsing. I was just looking at the music section when a little girl started staring at me. After awhile, she pointed at me and whispered to her mother. Then her mother started staring at me squinting. Then some of the people near them started staring at me. I had no idea why. I got a little uncomfortable, and tried to avoid the stares ducking behind shelves of tapes, etc. It didn't work. They seemed to be following me around now. What the hell was going on? Did they think I took something? I had no bag with me, and there was no room in my pockets for anything. The people working there didn't seem to be paying attention to me. That couldn't be it. So, what was it then? Whatever it was, it started getting worse! The more people kept staring and trying to get a look, the more it got others doing it, too. I had never felt so self-conscious in my life. Then it hit me! With the suit jacket, the hat, and the shades, they thought I was somebody famous! And my attempts to throw them off had only driven that idea further! I had no idea who they may have thought I was, but I decided to have some fun with this now, and play it up! I started covering my face with my hands, and made even more of a point to look down. Whenever someone got near me, I'd dash over to another area. When they all started getting too close, I ran out the door! Now that I had realized what had happened, it was a lot of fun! And I vowed that one day, that experience would be real!

SAYING, NO! TO DRUGS!

One of the new friends I had made at the hotel told me about donating plasma for money. Well, I definitely needed some money, so I went there, did it, and sure enough, I got paid. It wasn't much, but enough to get some food supplies for a next few days. When I got back, the very same guy that told me about the place, asked me to loan him the money so that he could get some drugs. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I said, "No! I need this money to eat and survive!" He couldn't argue that, but he got all pouty. Oh well. I wasn't about to start doing stupid things! And DEFINITELY not during a time like this!

RETURN TO THE WELFARE OFFICE: FURTHER AID REJECTED

To be filled in later...

WELFARE HOTEL FRIENDS LET ME STAY IN SECRET

To be filled in later...

SUCCESSFUL SCREEN TEST WITH FACES INTERNATIONAL

To be filled in later...

LEAVING THE WELFARE HOTEL TO AVOID GETTING SUCKED INTO FRIENDS DRUG SCENE

To be filled in later...

THE LONG BEACH RESCUE MISSION HOME

To be filled in later...

LOCKED OUT!

MY FIRST - AND LAST - ABDUCTION

I began to roam around trying to think of what to do. It was, of course, dark by this point. A beat up old van began to follow me. I pretended not to notice it, hoping its driver would just go away. Nope! Didn't work! After awhile, it pulled up and the driver got out. He was a skinny, middle-aged Arabian. His hair was long, though he was balding at the top. His clothes were scraggly. First, he tried the polite approach, but I got a very bad vibe from him, and I muttered a mild - mannered acknowledgement as I continued to walk away. But he jumped in front of me, and quickly flashed a gun at me before hiding it back in his coat. He told me that if I didn't get into the van, he'd shoot me.

HIGH SCHOOL MUGGING FLASHBACK

Within a few seconds, I remembered the time I had gotten mugged in high school. It was my junior year. There was a couple of hours between the end of the school day, and the start of play practice. There was an arcade down Rush Street near Division. This was in the heart of downtown Chicago, and the area was very ritzy, but not too far away were the projects area called Cabrini Green. Now, I am far from being a racist of any kind, but the chase led me to that area, and to say that it had a high reputation for violent crime is an understatement.

I went to the arcade to play my favorite video game Star Wars which I was very good at! A guy came up next to me and watched me play for awhile. He was black and was dressed very much like a gangster type. We exchanged some conversation about the game. He then moved directly behind me. I felt the jab of a knife in the middle of my back. "Stop playing the game, walk out the door, and come with me now", he said. I was definitely startled, but surprisingly not scared. I thought calmly, "Obviously, if I don't do this, he'll quickly stab me and run. Not on my agenda to get killed today." So, I did as he said.

Once we were outside he told me that if I did anything funny to attract attention, he'd kill me. He stayed close behind me, and directed me into a maze of alleyways. Along the way, I quietly tried to plan a getaway that wouldn't get me killed. We got right next to the Cabrini Green area before we stopped.

He then demanded that I give him my wallet and my watch. I did so. He took the five dollar bill that I had and left the single I had in there (How gracious!), and handed my wallet back to me. Then he noticed my class ring. He told me to take it off and give it to him. For some reason, that meant enough to me to refuse. I had just gotten it, too, after a long wait! He kept insisting, but I kept refusing. Finally, he grabbed me from behind, pinning my arms behind my back, and took it off himself. Then, to my OWN surprise, I got him off me by kicking him in the balls. Instead of doing anything further to me, he ran off with my stuff. I didn't care about the money or my watch. But I wanted that ring back! Without any thought, I chased after HIM! I kept up with him for awhile, but he turned a corner and lost me. I was PISSED OFF!

After awhile of searching, I had no choice but to give up. At this point, I found myself actually IN the Cabrini Green area. I then went back to Quigley North my school. I told everyone still in the office what had happened. They were stunned that I stood up to the guy and chased him. So where the police when they arrived to have me fill out the report. It was only THEN that I realized the danger I had really been in. At the time, this automatic calm courage had kicked in. I don't know where it came from. Nothing else had happened to me. Not until 1987 in Long Beach, where that same automatic calm courage came back.

BACK TO THE ARABIAN IN LONG BEACH

I got the impression he really would shoot if I didn't get in. So, I did already trying to think of how to get safely out of the situation. He tried to get into some small talk. I only listened. He called his van "Bessie". He kept telling me how attractive I was. He boldly announced his plans for me for the night. First, he was going to make me be his lookout when he drove into trailer park home areas. He'd crawl into open windows and steal things. Then it would be on to a rock house where I would be left to look out for him again while he bought his drugs. Then later, when we got to his hotel, he was going to drug me, tie me down to the bed, and rape me. He'd then leave me there if I was good and took it without trying to fight it. If I did try to resist, he'd kill me. I don't think so!

I thought to myself. "Great! What a night Im in for!"

THE JINX ESCAPES!

Well, we did ALMOST everything he had planned. We went into the trailer park areas. He'd pull up to them, and sneak in through open windows. I would be just about ready to get out of "Bessie", and get away when hed come back out. Later we pulled up to the rock house. There were people coming in and out obviously higher than a kite. He left me in the van with another threat if I tried to get away. After I saw him get in, I was SO tempted to just drive off. I almost did. But I thought about the situation. Here were all these druggies mulling around. Surely, at least some of them would be armed. Also, if the guy came back out, hed probably start shooting at the van. I got a gut feeling that a real chance for escape would present itself.

Sure enough, thankfully, it did. He pulled into another trailer park area on the way to the hotel. Suddenly, he ran out of gas. He began yelling at ME for it saying I was a jinx and that it was all my fault. He was still cussing at me when he got out of the van, and began to walk down the street to see if anyone had a portable tank of gas he could steal. When he disappeared around the corner, I instinctively knew that NOW was my chance. I opened the door, got out, and quietly pushed the door closed. Then I cut through yards until I found myself out of the park area. I had absolutely no idea where I was. All I knew was that I was now very far from where I had started. I had no choice but to rely on my instinct as for which direction to head in. I picked one, and stayed away from any main roads in case he came back looking for me. After two hours, I finally got back to Long Beach and the Rescue Mission home. I went around the back of it, and stayed there until the sun rose.

TURNED AWAY

Finally the Mission opened its doors. I went in and explained to the chaplan what had happened how I didn't make it back the night before due to losing my glasses. He very coldly told me that their policy did not allow me to continue to stay there. He said that once a person doesnt make curfew no matter what the reason that person is turned away, and not allowed to come back for two weeks. He didn't care at all what I had been through. However, the guys who ran the shower and the laundry understood. I was allowed to go to the back and get my things. I told them what had happened, and what the chaplan did to me. Since I had been very friendly towards them, they offered to sneak me in during morning hours, save me some breakfast, and let me take showers and shave. They'd also do my laundry for me and let me pick it up the next day. They even let me keep my suitcases there in secret.

AN ACT OF A GUARDIAN ANGEL?

That was very kind of them. But where was I going to sleep? I went around scouting for a place, but couldn't find one. All the while, I kept a sharp eye out for the Arabian guy and his "Bessie". Luckily, they never turned up again. After dark, I was just about to give up and head for the beach when I noticed a lit - up cross on top of a building off in the distance. While I now considered myself spiritual as opposed to religious, I still somehow felt mesmerized by it. In fact, I felt strangely compelled to walk towards it. It took me a good while to reach it. It turned out to be a hospital. Next to / connected to it was an office building. It had long been closed for the day, and was empty. But, mysteriously, I felt drawn to open the main door. It was open! I'll never know why. No one was in there! I looked around and found a bathroom that locked from the inside. I locked myself in, put my two coats on the floor, and had a place to sleep for the night! When morning came, there was surprisingly no trouble. No one had tried to get in. No one unlocked it. I just got up, freshened up, unlocked the door, and walked out of the building unnoticed. I headed for the Mission home and, as promised, I was secretly let in to take my shower, shave, and drop off / pick up my laundry.

MY CONTACT FINALLY COMES THROUGH!

That day I again called my former co-worker's friend. She finally came through for me! A couple of friends of her's said I could stay there for a couple of nights until their third roommate came back. Meanwhile, she and a group of her friends would meet with me at their school, The University of California, Irvine, to try to figure out where to go from there. So, off I went to Orange County for the first time! The bus ride took me along Pacific Coast Highway. I was right along the ocean for most of the ride. It was beautiful!

NEW ACQUAINTENCES AT UCI

To be filled in later...