The Thread

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Those blue eyes

It stormed hard last night

There's a tree limb in the street, the beach is littered with seaweed and driftwood

As the morning task of cleaning up begin.

Quinn makes a pot of coffee, turns on the morning news and sits at his bar before opening.

Two trawlers broke free from the docks, the "seahorse" ended up on the rocks.

He picks up the newspaper and can't help noticing the ad circled in red, thinking of the conversation last night with jt.

It read:

Opportunity is waiting

Port of Chicago

Longshoreman, start 10 an hour

Must be able to operate forklift, crane and hoists.

Call now 555-225-5669

Quinn calls jt but the answering machine picks up. First day back from sea, Jt is sleeping in.

Quinn leaves a message, " hey Jimmy, I just read an ad for a job opening in Chicago.

It's a longshoreman gig. Dock worker starts at $11 an hour, I know you want to get off that boat. Talk to you later."

Quinn has a cousin who is a longshoreman there. You need to know someone to get one of these union jobs.  In 1990, $11 an hour is great pay as the minimum wage for nonunion work is $3.80 hour.

The sky is blue as the sun makes her scheduled appearance.

Ani's house is calm as a few of her friends begin to rise.

Ani is already up and walking down the beach, taking in every breath, holding it for just a bit 

savoring the smell of independence.

She sits on a dune at the top of the beach. Looking up and down the beach.  

"I wonder if he will be here today?" She thinks to herself.

Hoping to see that boy again.

Though he never walks by, she will think of him all day, and his blue eyes.

After an hour or so, she reluctantly walks back home.  She has an interview today

At 10 for a personal caregiver job.

She took care of her bedridden grandmother for 2 years and now at 18 she is a natural 

For this job.

Dressed in her best outfit hoping to make a good impression at the interview, 

Ani walks to the bus stop and waits.

The job interview is almost an afterthought, as all she can think about 

is that boy on the beach with blue eyes.

Jt walks to the Black Herring, for a session with Quinn.  He keeps his bass there as other musicians will use it when he is at sea.  A local drummer Stevie drops by for a couple hours and joins in.  They practice in the back room set where local bands play on weekends.

After a few hours and a few drinks, Stevie takes off.  Sitting in the booth in the corner Jt, bourbon in one hand and a cigarette in the other, asks about the job in Chicago.  

Quinn had talked to his cousin Mikie that morning, and told Jt, “The job is yours if you can start next week. You’ll be running a lift in the warehouse, Mikie said you can rent the basement in his flat, it’s $50 a month.”

Without hesitation, Jt says, “ I’ll take it.”

After a few hours of reminiscing and talking about the details of the move, Jt gives Quinn a hug and a slap on the back then goes home to prepare. He will buy his ticket in the morning then leave in two days. 

It doesn’t take long to pack.  Working at sea, for the last two years, most of what he owns

 is kept neatly packed in a duffle bag.

Bus ticket in hand and his duffle bag on his shoulder he boards the bus to Chicago.

As the bus pulls out of the station, he bends down to get his cigarettes out of the bag between his legs, while Ani walks past the bus on her way home and with a glancing look, she sees that lady with a blue hat in that bus. Ani smiles, thinking of the boy with blues eyes.

Jt sits back up and lights a cigarette.  The lady next to him said, “You know those are bad for you.”

He nods and says,” yeah, I’ve been thinking of quitting.  Do I know you?”

She said, “sorry darling but no.  I’m going to take a nap,  it’s going to be a long bumpy road ahead.”

Two stars destined to align

Separated in time

Till fate should uncover

What was lost in the sands of time