The Woman Leona And Traveling Companion John Find A New Life In New Orleans!
Posted: Tuesday, January 17, 2012
by elle kynzer
Part Three, and final part of the story give an "allegory meaning" to their story, and how it parallels the problems suffered by the unemployed and not just the homeless. "How to find happiness when you haven't a lot of money" is the moral to this three part fictional look into what on the surface looks hopeless. Part three culminates in the final freedom from deep suffering in a place, that has also seen deep suffering! Enjoy:
The two dismounted the train for the last time, and headed toward the French Quarter, as there were signs everywhere pointing them in the right direction. The smells beckoned them as lunch cafe's and people were stirring around getting ready for the weekend. Leona knew they would have to find some inexpensive fare, to make the money last out the month.
John took in the sights and smells, and thought about the hot humid air in summer, and was glad they had arrived in October. The next few months would be pleasant, but they needed to plan for the following summer, it was too hot here for comfort in July and August without air conditioning.
In the meantime John took Leona's arm and the two companions headed for an open air cafe that had some special on coffee and breakfast leftovers.
“Part Three CONCLUSION of Three Part Story”
As with Chicago, they began looking further away from the French Quarter, and one courtyard appeared to have promise. The house was for sale and there appeared to be no windows from neighbors to get them arrested, so they settled on the high walled, easily accessed courtyard, which showed no signs of security or alarms.
At the end of the day they could be seen meandering toward the hope of a good night sleep. John reminded Leona that this far south would have snakes, spiders, and other dangerous critters, so they did a complete search before bedding down. Leona wished for the indoors and a barrier from critters.
Birds chirping, and people stirring awoke the two trespassers, and soon they had gathered their blanket and headed back to the park and the hustling bustling French Quarter. John took the last of his money and bought a small crude fishing pole and some hooks and bait.
The two slipped out of the park and headed up river to an inlet, where John found a place to sit and fish, where he wouldn't be obvious. Soon John had several small fish, and after cleaning and gutting the catch with his pocket knife, the pan was full. Their resourcefulness had netted them a crude meal of fried fish. The two tried to keep their trash picked up, and not to be obvious. The second day soon came to an end in their new found life in New Orleans.
John and Leona had found a private park near their fishing inlet, and decided to try and stay there on the two benches, it was a risk, but they knew the sky was clear and it should work. The next morning early, both awoke to the most wonderful smell of something cooking.
The two slipped out of the small park toward that tantalizing aroma, and there in the yard, with a porch extended behind an old house was a deep commerical cookpot on a fire, filled with a fish stew and vegetables; cajun style.
There was not a person in sight, and some bowls sitting on the table, it was just too tempting for the hungry homeless couple. John took the dipper and filled the bowls, and before leaving he left his last two quarters on the table...he planned to bring the bowls back later after dark.
The pot was so large, it wasn't missed, as the moochers went to the river bank to eat. No silverware, but it was easy to consume from the bowl. And as he had promised himself, John returned the bowls late that night, all washed in the river and cleaned.
Easy in and easy out of the yard, and back to Leona in the park. The two spent several nights there, until they noticed a man watching them, so they returned to the high walled courtyard for a few days. A week passed, with food presenting itself in the stangest ways and places. John even found a twenty dollar bill in the park by the river.
Things seemed like they were going their way, and then a storm blew in from the gulf, and all hell broke loose, with debris flying and no where for the two to find cover. Eventually a police officer directed them to go to the shelter at the school, where blankets and hot food were being distributed. The two got a hot shower the next day, and their clothes washed.
The tide had turned, and as they looked at each other life seemed good again. Some volunteers were cutting hair, and beards at the shelter after the storm. Soon Leona and John starting walking back downtown looking like tourists, who had just arrived on the train, and not in a boxcar.
There was a sign in the window of a small thrift store, it said "Wanted couple
to manage and take care of store. Salary includes small apartment and a phone number jumped off the sign." Leona and John just stared at the sign and then each other, and back at the sign. Could they do it? Should they do it?
Leona searched her pockets for some change, and they went inside the convenience store next door. They offered the clerk some change to make a call, but she said "no charge if local." The call was a success, and the owner came down to meet Leona and John. Neither one had worked in years, but John had several old years of experience in selling cars.
A desperate owner took them into the small apartment, with it's small kitchen and bath and one other room. Only a bed and table with one lamp, and the appliances. To Leona and John it looked like a mansion.
John persuaded him to give them a chance, and soon the two companions had found their dream. A home, a job, and a future. They would open the store within two days, after cleaning and rearranging it. The owner would never know they had been homeless for years, because they had reinvented themselves, and dared to reach out for something new by jumping into an old boxcar.
John told him they had headed south for a new life, and skipped the rest, only stating health problems had kept them from working for a long time. Leona and John had found each other, a new life, and eventually married. They had overcome the obstacles of failure, and moved beyond despair, discouragement, and found hope inside an old boxcar, that had once been abandoned.
The reason some can't succeed is they never try, or have give up on themselves and life! Life isn't fair, but success and failure come in cycles, so be ready to catch your opportunity when it presents itself.
The end.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)What a powerful story. It grabs you. Well told, and deeply felt.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks, and hope you got to read all three parts of the story.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Terrific telling - with a moral. Enjoyable and now I am looking for more.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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