Out on the range...
the quiet, endless still...
He loved early morning, before the endless parade of commuters started.
The rising sun would just barely touch the tops of the trees and the air had a scent of promise, of hope. Like anything would be possible this day.
He could hear birds in those trees, singing and chirping as they conducted their bird business. Under the portico of the DX station were two sturdy rectangular flower beds filled with tiny, brightly colored petals. He had no idea what type they were, nor did he care. They were pretty and that was enough for him.
Somehow, when the day was new and shiny like this, he felt hopeful. He had the potential to be anyone, anything his heart could contemplate and he would be at peace.
Later, the roads would congest with motoring traffic and exhaust and rumbling engines. All manner of traffic both vehicular and human and the sun would hang high and blinding, making him sweat.
But that was for later...now was his time. So he would stand by the flower beds, wearing just jeans, his DX shirt hung over the doorknob of the office, the cool morning air brushing over the smooth skin of his chest and shoulders and he would drink his coffee and dream of what he could be...
Just for a bit longer...
It's a petrified forest...
trailer parks and fords...
At the end of his shift he would cash out, making sure the garage was locked, tools put away in their proper place, customer keys safely tucked away on hooks in the wall mounted cabinet
for the cars still waiting for repair or service. Throwing the rag he kept tucked in his back pocket all day into the large bin by the door, he would give a little half wave to Buzz, the night time
attendant and start his walk home.
Now the sun was setting, and with it came a tinge of sadness for him. His alone time almost forgotten, he now faced the prospect of going to the one place that would make his heart clench and all the spit in his
mouth dry up...
home.
The shadows would grow longer as he walked and darkness would start to overtake and he no longer smelled the scent of promise, of hope.
The night had a tinge of decay...of defeat.
But that was for later too, for now he would walk, his beat up sneakers scuffing the sidewalk, his shadow trailing.
At the end of Sutton he would pause, as he always did to light a cigarette and lean against the telephone pole by Darcy Bros. Used Cars. The reason was two-fold. He wanted a smoke
and his old man wouldn't allow it in the house, but the real reason was a little silver beauty almost hidden in the corner of the car lot.
Almost hidden like the promise of what life could be.
His life...
You're lost in the desert...
and it's too hot to think...
He signed his name carefully, as if the deal could sour by the slant of penmanship. The man across the desk smiled and handed him a keyring with the dealership name and two keys attatched.
To this man it was another deal, another day, but to him it was...everything.
Now with the car bought and paid for, there was nothing holding him to this place that smelled of defeat and colored like a bruise.
Now he could finally throw what little he had in a bag and head for Langston.
Langston in Oklahoma City...
Langston...the college where Ponyboy attended classes.
You got to know about the milk truck...
if you want to drink...
He hoped Pony didn't have someone special...hoped his decision wasn't based on foolishness.
He found it didn't matter though because just now...
as he was driving on Rt 44 with the windows down and the radio playing...
he realized that even though it was night
the air had changed.
and just now as he took a deep breath and smiled to himself he could tell...
it would be okay because of the air.
The air blasting in the window that had a scent of promise,
of hope...
jkb
Lyrics written by Rickie Lee Jones.
Used without permission.