Chapter 3

The auto yard is dark save for the moonlight reflecting off the old wrecks.  In the far corner from Doc’s bus, a dim flashlight beams in on the in-dash cassette player in an old wrecked Cadillac.  The voice of the grandmother holds Doc, Pepe and Anna’s attention.

“I know I have no right to tell you this now, but I’ve wanted to admit it all to you for years, darlin’ (cough).  I just didn’t have any courage.  But now it seems easier.  Seventeen years is a long time to stay silent, but (cough)… I couldn’t face the responsibility of raising you after your mom (cough) and dad died in the crash.  I’m sorry you had to go to foster homes…I really am, but… I had nothing to offer you (cough).  I’m a street person, Anna, a “rag.”  We live on the move, always moving (cough, cough).  I was scared, so scared of everything.  Please forgive me.  I love you.  I’m sorry I waited so long to tell you.  (cough, cough, cough)

The tapes clicks off.  Anna’s eyes are filled with tears.  Doc is moved as well.  Pepe’s face is one of stoic reality.

“I’ve listened to it so many times,” says Anna.  “Do either of you know the voice?”

Pepe shakes his head.  “Hard to tell… the cough and all.”

Doc sighs and slides the cassette out.  “Sounds more like pneumonia to me.”  He turns to Anna, “That’s a bad cough.  She’s very sick.”  As he hands it to Anna, “It’s a big city and to find someone you only know by a voice and a 17-year-old photo… well, all we can do is try.  Right Pepe?”

“For sure,” answers Pepe enthusiastically.

As they climb out of the car, Doc says, “Those background sounds are definitely around kid rides.  Maybe a play area.  We can start by checking out the parks.

They continue back toward the bus, Pepe says, “Banjo might be some help too.”

“Right,” says Doc.  “First thing, though, is to get that tape and picture duplicated a few times.  I’ll give you a few bucks, Pepe.  You know how to stretch a few into a lot with that charm of yours.”

Pepe takes a bow and they reach the bus.

“Well,” says Doc, “It’s very late Anna.  If you’d like, you’re welcome to stay here tonight.”

Anna hesitates.  “Here?”

I work the gutters and roadsides, specializing in hub caps and old discarded car parts.  Tony, the owner, lets me stay in the old bus in exchange.”

Pepe gestures in Elizabethan style, “He’s absolutely safe, m’lady!”

Doc laughs.  “Got that right.  Just me and the toys and an occasional stray dog or cat.

Pepe opens the door.  “Come along.  It’s cold. I shall take up lodging at my favorite “Pontiac Inn,” and see you both when Darian awakens us.”

“Darian?” asks Anna.

“You’ll hear him in the morning.  Good night.”  Pepe gives them a wave and is off.

Inside the bus, Doc does some arranging.

“Who is Darian?” asks Anna.

“Oh, he’s Tony’s kid.”  He chuckles.  “Better you meet him in person, than me tryin’ to explain.  He’s kind of unusual.”  He hands Anna a blanket.  “The bus stays pretty warm, but just in case.” He points to a pair of bus seats laid out like a make-shift bed.  “That’s a pretty good bed, as bus-seat-beds go.

She smiles at him.  “Thanks again, Doc.”

He turns off a kerosene lamp and curls up on some old clothes at the back of the bus.  Anna stretches out on the make-shift bed arrangement and stares out at the ever flickering neo sign, “Tony’s Car and Truck Yard.”

From the back of the bus.  “Sorry about that darn nervous sign, but it’s in trouble too.  Try and get some sleep.  We’ll find her, Anna.  We’ll find her.”

***

As the sun comes up, from atop a mountain of old crushed cars affording a smoggy view of downtown Los Angeles in the distance stands 15-year-old Darian in his seen-better-days-Levis and sweatshirt playing his trumpet, ala Miles Davis in the Darian ode to sunrise.

Anna stares out through the bus window at the strange morning-blues-like sound.  After a few moments, she gets up and quietly leaves the still snoring Doc, seemingly immune to such an awakening.  As she walks through the salvage yard toward Darian’s perch, she is moved by the sadness of the playing.  She stops at the base of the stacked cars and continues her fix on Darian, some 30 ft above her.  He finishes playing, drops his chin to his chest and lets out a quiet sigh.  His eye catches hers.  She smiles back.

“You are kind of strange for a kid, you know?” says Anna.

Darian holds his gaze on her.  “I don’t think I heard you right.”

She raises her voice.  “Nice sound.”

He angrily jumps off the top, scrambling down from one car to another, knowing every secure landing spot as if he built the mountain himself.  He’s not fond of being called kid.  “You’re trespassing little miss.”

“I’m a guest of Doc’s”

Darian does a sort of double take of the bus then back to Anna.  He bursts out laughing.  “Excuse me.  Damn, I didn’t think he still had it in him.”  He dashes away, disappearing around the pile of cars.

Anna yells after him.  “C’mon, for God’s sake.  I was just playin’ around.”  She continues searching about the dozens of piled cars for some sign of him, speaking out as she looks.  He watches silently from behind a shattered windshield concealed among the pile.  Anna continues, “Doc says you’re okay.  I need help to find someone.  I’ve got money.  Not a lot, but (shouting) you guys can have it all.  Just help me find her.”  She stands silent.  No response.

Pepe watches from another car.

Doc peers out from his bus.

Darian is no longer behind the shattered windshield.

***

Inside the bus, Pepe, Doc and Anna check out a huge map of LA that is tacked up on some cardboard.

Doc eyes the map.  “Probably we should check out the yellow tacks first.  They’re the small parks with kiddie rides.  With you getting that tape just a couple of days ago, chances are good she’s still hanging around one of those areas.”  He turns to Anna.  “You’re not familiar with LA Anna, and…well, it can get kind rough in places for a nice-looking girl.”

“What are you trying to say, Doc?”

“It’s gonna involve a lot of night work and…

“Thanks, Doc, but I can handle myself.”

Doc continues. “Darian’s less conspicuous than us and most of the rags know him, and…”

“Thanks again, Doc, but he’s a whacko musician… kinda weird and…he just ran away from me, you know?”

Doc looks to the window.  “You might not find him, but he’s always there.  Somewhere.  And, he knows the city almost as well as me or Pepe.

“I don’t need a sunrise-reveler to help me.”

From the open vent in the ceiling of the bus, “My name’s Darian.  Not Kid.  Not reveler.  Just Darian.”

They all look up as Darian lets them have another dose of his thoughts.

“And… by the looks of that map layout, you might do well to take a little help along (smiling) even if he is a “whacko musician.”

Anna shakes her head.  “I just want to find her, and…”

Darian finishes her sentence for her.  “And like Doc said, it can get a bit rough out there for a pretty girl and especially one with a bit of a mouth to throw around.”

Doc tries to cool things.  “Look, Darian, why don’t you come down out of your tree and lets talk… together, eh?”

Darian disappears, bounces off the bus, and is at the door in a flash.  “Works for me.”