Three coyotes crossed my path as I stood in the moonlight next to a vacant lot on the hillside above the Hollywood reservoir…. one was carrying a nearly empty Cheetos bag loosely in its jaw. It was three hours before the first dawn of 2010 and I was alone… and hungry.
On my way up here to bury 2009 and all my failings and grief, I’d passed the guy who lives under the five by the bridge just north of Avila Street. I gave him my tamales and rellanos with chili grease, and asked him to look out for my sister…
I got a bag of Fritos and some chive cottage cheese from the Arco on Franklin and Beachwood then headed up into the Hills below the Hollywood sign. I don’t go there much, too many there still believe in their dreams… that’s hard to take when you know you’re out of time. Still… I turned up Ledgewood, took Mulholland around the curve past Aldus Huxley’s old house then slammed into the sight of L.A… spread out below like a jewel thief’s treasure. I parked on a ledge with plenty of room to take full measure. I came up short.
Somewhere down there, Aggie had worked the night shift in a Hollywood IHOP, banking extra cash for LACC credits. Well, that light was out, now and here I sat, unable to affect it.
As I felt the light of 2010 creep up behind me I finished my Fritos and chive cottage cheese… and remembered the familiar gnawing pain of inadequecy. Somehow, I had to get back on the case.
Driving back down Sunset, east, I stopped at the IHOP hoping to see my sister. No such luck. But I was still hungry. I took a seat at the counter by the window and ordered a Buttermilk combo as the last neon lights went out with a sputtered whisper. Then I saw: on the counter was a discarded newspaper… open to the real estate section. My heart started beating faster. There on the page for Bel Air listings was an air-brushed picture of a blond and busty agent who knew who owned every house in Bel Air… Resurrection. And… the woman owed me.
I toasted 2010 with a side of onion rings and put in a call to Teddy to see if he’d up my budget. Tomorrow I was eating west.
Rhea.