Just before the new school year was about to begin, our bags were packed again and sitting by the door of the house where we were staying. We had barely been in North Miami Beach for two weeks. Once again, we were going somewhere, and this time we were going back home to Las Vegas.
The drive to Miami airport was smooth since we had a morning flight. I was so excited to be going home. I think my excitement was showing as we were checking in for our flight. And once we were at the gate I just couldn’t wait to get on the plane.
As we approached the plane it brought back memories of our flight to Miami. The plane looked very familiar. It was big and had four engines. I felt like I knew the plane we were flying on. I asked myself if this was the same plane that brought us to Miami.
The flight was long and exhausting. When we landed in Las Vegas, I knew I was home. The desert was calling me. I wanted to get on my bike and go out on the trails as soon as I could.
After getting off the plane, we retrieved our luggage and my mom got us a cab to take us to our house.
I remember being exhausted and filled with anxiety in the cab as we headed towards our neighborhood. I was going back to what was a dark place in my mind, but I knew that it was my home. I knew that I would learn to accept the events that led to my being two weeks gone from Las Vegas.
And I could start the new school year with my friends.
When the cab pulled up to our house, I felt this eerie feeling. The thought of returning to this place made me wonder if this was the right decision by my mom. There was so much history in this house. And that history was both good and not so good. I almost refused to get out of the cab. But I did. I told myself that I needed to be strong.
When we went inside, I was surprised at how clean the house was. It was like someone had been there making sure everything was where it was supposed to be. And my room was spotless. Even the windows were sparkling.
My hesitancy to reengage with my feelings was also subsiding. I was starting to feel more comfortable. The family from across the street came over with some home cooked food for me and my mom. My friends gave me hugs when we saw each other and so did their sister. She was now cute, cuter than I remember before we left.
While my mom and their parents talked, the boys and I made plans for going to the creek. I was so happy to be home. I am not sure what they knew about my nearly two weeks away from Las Vegas. Maybe they were told we were on vacation in Florida.
Next week school was starting, and I was looking forward to being back to my school, a place that I felt most comfortable at right now, and with my classmates.
So, this year I think my birthday present was coming back home to Las Vegas. Yes, my birthday happened while in Miami. Once again, no big celebration.
Things have now changed. Big time. And my mom and I were starting anew. For me, it was simple. All I had to do was go to school and keep my room clean. I would have my old chores to do again and there were a few new ones. I was the man of the house now whatever that meant.
But my mom is now going to be a single parent with a teenage son. And she now knows everything that I have experienced. Well, not everything. And I will keep it that way.
Her new role of single parenthood means that she needs to work to support her and I, and our house. At that time in my life, I didn’t know what it takes to be a single parent, especially in the late sixties, and in Las Vegas.
As an adult looking back, I now know and understand her struggles.
So, she did look at many job offerings that were available to women back then. And that list is not very long and interesting. But she always had a smile and greeted everyone with that southern accent and warm words. And many times, with a drink in her hand.
If you know the history of Las Vegas in the sixties, this was a city that was tough to work in unless you knew someone. One day I came home from school, and she told me she got a job. And it was an important job.
I am a teen with attitude now. No matter how hard I tried, my days were challenging. Plus, I was not sleeping well. So, I pushed that aside for a few minutes and asked her what her new job is. She told me that she would be counting cash at the Desert Inn Hotel in a room that is called “The Vault.” I did not think much about it. I should have.
But this job would quickly advance her into much higher responsibility in her first year working at the hotel. And her position brought her some status with those of influence. This would prove to be beneficial for her and me as I grew older, into my middle teenage years.
This is also the time when Howard Hughes took over the Desert Inn Hotel, bringing with him his entourage. He also bought many more hotels that were in Las Vegas around that time as well.
Her new job also paid her good money and gave her connections to those who could pull strings, as I was told, to have carte blanch access to the big shows at almost every hotel in Las Vegas. And when I was a teenager old enough to work, a job in a major hotel too.
When she started her new job, I was already back at school. I am an eighth grader now. I am happy to be in classes with my friends. But it seemed like they all grew faster than I did over the last month. And they liked to harass other students for whatever reason they had. Hanging around them made me feel a little bit uncomfortable.
I began to realize that everyone in the eighth grade was changing as well. Some were taller. Some were wider. And all the boy’s voices in my grade had changed except for this one boy who was still small and his voice was squeaky. I don’t think that he hit full puberty yet. And my friends would taunt him because of this.
I kept quiet but felt bad for him. My keeping quiet was a weakness that my friends would take advantage of as the year progressed. And this weakness would give me my first fifteen minutes of fame.
Thanks Andy…
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