It was nearly nightfall by the time the bus passed the Denver city limit sign. Jack and his mom watched a gorgeous purple, orange, and red sunset light up the sky silhouetting the distant Rocky Mountains. The bus ride had been long, but Clyde proved to be a wonderful traveling companion who knew more about what was going in the world than anyone Jack had ever met. Still, Jack could not figure out the other thing the boy learned from the teacher in Clyde’s story and it was almost too late as the bus was pulling off the highway and making the first stop in Denver where Jack and his mom needed to get off.
“Get your stuff together Jack. We’ll be getting off soon.”
“I’m good to go mom. How are we getting to the apartment?”
“One of my friends from college is supposed to pick us up and take us there.”
Jack’s mom could see her college friend waiting for them in the parking lot of the small bus stop on the east side of Denver. Jack looked at Clyde who was concentrating on pulling in the bus to the stop. Jack looked at Clyde as the bus stopped rolling. Clyde turned around and grinned.
“Did you figure it out yet?”
“I think he learned that he could trust other people.”
“That’s right Jack…now don’t you forget that lesson. You can trust other people…It was so good to have met you…I hope you enjoy your new home.”
“Thanks Clyde. It was nice to meet you too.”
Jack’s mom smiled as she nudged Jack off the bus and onto the black pavement of the parking lot. Jack could see that his mom’s friend was driving a big white SUV. She looked a little nervous about standing in the parking lot and quickly waved Jack and his mom over to her car.
“Hi Eileen!...It’s so good to see you again. This is my son Jack.”
“Nice to meet you Jack, we better hurry and get going.”
Eileen practically jumped into her car and locked the doors as soon as Jack and his mom had sat down. The SUV was twenty times nicer than the bus Jack had just been on. The seats were made of sleek leather and there was a TV screen on the seat in front of where Jack sat. In fact, there was a TV screen on the back of every seat in the SUV. The SUV smelled like it was expensive and the engine purred like a lurking tiger. Eileen matched her car perfectly. She wore thick make-up with heavy eye shadow and had golden flowing hair. Jack also noticed that she puffed out her chest a little as if she was trying to show something off.
“It is so good to see you Eileen…you have a beautiful car.”
“Thanks Gina…it’s nice to see you too. Don’t let this old thing fool you. My husband Greg made me drive the old car when he found out you were being dropped off on this side of town.”
“Well my apartment is supposed to be close to this side of town…Is it not safe here?”
“It’s not unsafe…it’s just a bit rough…Now where did you say the apartment complex was?”
Eileen smiled and tried to be polite as she drove Jack and his mom to their new apartment. Jack ignored the conversation going on between his mom and her college friend. He was amazed at how much was happening outside of the car. People were walking around and catching the city bus, there were restaurants open, gas stations at every corner, and almost all the people outside had dark skin. Jack had never seen so many African Americans before in his life. He was amazed at this new world.
It didn’t take long for Eileen to get them to their apartment complex. Jack could tell she was completely frightened when she saw all the people hanging around outside of the apartment manager’s office. Most of them were just talking or playing games. Jack thought it was wonderful. As soon as the car stopped, Jack tore out of the SUV and looked in amazement at all the people. An elderly woman was leaving the manager’s office complaining about the air conditioning being turned off when it was still ninety degrees outside. The manager told her that if she needed to cool down the swimming pool was still open for the weekend. Jack turned to look at his mom who was giving Eileen a fake hug goodbye. As soon as his mom was out of the SUV Eileen was backing out and locking her doors.
“She was interesting mom.”
“Stop while you're ahead…we’ve got to find the manager.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s inside…someone just left the office complaining about no air conditioning.”
“Well it is pretty hot here…not what I expected.”
Jack followed his mom into the manager’s office and was greeted by a gruff older man. He was the first white person Jack had seen besides Eileen since they got off the bus. After a sour frown and shake of his head the manager finally agreed to speak with Jack’s mom. Jack’s eyes wandered away from the adult conversation. He looked at the certificates and plaques on the wall in the manager’s office. He thought it was kind of odd that the manager’s office looked more like the lobby of the motel in Parsons than an apartment office, not that Jack knew what an apartment office really looked like. Suddenly Jack’s mom put her hand on Jack’s back holding a key with a big plastic key ring attached to it. She led him up three flights of stairs and past at least a dozen people who were sitting on lawn chairs and step stools outside their apartments and all of whom were not white. Eventually they made it to their apartment number. Jack and his mom went inside to find that their air conditioning was not working either.
“I thought you said we were getting an apartment?”
“This is our apartment for the next month and I don’t want to hear another word out of you. We don’t have everything we need for a real apartment yet. This will have to do for now…no complaining.”
“I’m not complaining, I just didn’t think we’d have to share the same room and have a tiny kitchen, but it’s fine mom. Did you see all the things to do outside?”
“Jack you need to listen to me. Eileen told me this isn’t the best part of town. She was worried about us moving in here. We’ll figure out where your school is tomorrow and the best way for you to keep safe while I’m at work. Now, let’s get unpacked and get some sleep.”
With only a duffle bag, suitcase, and championship Kansas basketball between the two of them, unpacking was pretty easy. The room had two double beds right next to each other, a small kitchenette with stove top, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, sink, and coffee maker. The few cabinets had enough mismatched dishes and silverware for four people and the tiny table that sat in the corner on the way to the bathroom was more of a glorified nightstand than anything else. Jack laughed to himself and thought it pretty funny that they came all the way to the big city to live in a place the size of a rat trap.