Chapter 2: We're here
It was the next morning and Bobby, Pesto, Squit, and the rest of the pigeons had arrived to the train yard. Now they were just waiting for the Godpigeon. The atmosphere felt very weird and it was easy to tell that not everybody wanted to do this. It was very quiet, almost too quiet. Squit tried to brighten the mood.
"So guys, you excited to go to Burbank?" he asked, "We'll get to see sights and be a part of new things!" "Easy for you to say Squit, not for the rest of us!" said a pigeon. "I'm not enthusiastic about this one bit," said another. "This might be foreshadowing, but watch us get to Burbank and things go immediately down the drain," said a third one.
Squit frowned, but Bobby walked over to him, "Just ignore them Squit, they're quick to make assumptions is all." Pesto didn't say anything on the matter, just kept to himself. "I mean, they ain't wrong to make the assumption," he thought, "I mean, just look at what measures we gotta take! Some of these pigeons have lived here their entire lives!"
Just then, the Godpigeon arrived and spoke. Bobby translated, "Godpigeon says he hopes everyone is ready, because this is gonna be a few days of travel. He wants us to follow him." Godpigeon flew and so did the other pigeons from behind. They all went into an open box car.
"Hey Godpigeon," said a pigeon, "How do you know this is the train headed to Burbank?" Godpigeon once again spoke and Bobby once again translated, "Godpigeon says he's kept track of train schedules and has been on several of freight trains over the years." They sat around for about ten minutes, until the train finally started moving.
Squit was quite happy about this, Bobby was a little happy, but Pesto and the rest of the pigeons weren't. Godpigeon spoke under his breath, which translated to, "This may be my only shot at keeping the mob in one piece."
The train pulled out of the yard and was slowly going onto the mainline. "I'm gonna miss this city," said a pigeon. "It was great while it lasted," said another. "How we are gonna transition into Burbank, I dunno," said Pesto.
Slowly but surely, they went faster and faster as the train was on the mainline. New York City slowly became less and less visible. Some of the pigeons tried holding back tears, while others just couldn't hold it in. Regardless though, they went through with going to their new home.
For the next 48 hours, the pigeons would ride the rails while also stopping to eat and drink when the train was stopped to swap engines, refuel, or for a crew change. The ride wasn't necessarily that bad, as nothing too major happened. Mostly everyone tolerated each other just because Godpigeon was around. They didn't wanna find themselves getting kicked off for doing something that could piss him off.
The sun was setting when the mob arrived to Burbank. "Woah!" said Squit in amazement. Godpigeon spoke and Bobby translated, "The Godpigeon says we are here! It's time for us to get off!" Both he and Godpigeon flew off with the other pigeons following from behind. The view of them coming into the city with also seeing the sunset and Los Angeles and the beach in the distance, made such a breathtaking view.
"Where are we going?" asked one pigeon. "I don't know," said Bobby, "Just follow the Godpigeon until we land." And that they did. They flew around taking in the view for another 2 to 3 minutes until they finally landed. The group landed in front of a brown house just off the coast.
"Uhh, what are we doing here?" asked Squit, "This is just some guy's house." Godpigeon spoke and Bobby translated, "Godpigeon says this is the man's house he has connections with." He then flew up and rang on the doorbell.
The door opened and a middle aged man came out to see who it was. He wore a white polo shirt, jeans, and sneakers. He had a mix of brown and grey hair. "Well well well," said the man, "If it isn't the pigeon mafia. Consisting of the Godpigeon, Goodfeathers, associates, and whatever else roles you guys have." Godpigeon spoke to the man and the man nodded as if he understood what he was saying, "It's good to meet you in person too. And yes, I'll go over everything inside my home."
The man opened the door wider to let them all in. "By the way, to those that don't know me or my name," he said, "The name's Marty, Marty Lorenzo."
Inside the house, the pigeons all gathered around in Marty's living room. Godpigeon talked with him about what has gone on and why they came to California. However, many of the pigeons still didn't know who Marty was or why Godpigeon even came to him.
"Okay Marty, who are you exactly?" asked Pesto. "How do you know Godpigeon?" asked Squit. "Mr. Lorenzo, with all do respect, what role do you play into this?"
Marty sat down on his couch. "So pigeons, here's the scoop," he explained, "I'm the one who looks over the mobs and gangs around the Burbank and Los Angeles area. The bird ones exclusively. I give advice to newcomers like yourselves, while also keeping everybird and every mob in check." "That's good to know," said a pigeon, "But before you give us advice and all, how did you and the Godpigeon know each other?"
"We met in the Bronx in 1990," Marty said, "I was only staying for the week because I was visiting my mother. But one day while I was on my way to visit her, two Sparrows harassed me for walking in "their turf" as they called it. I was then attacked, but then the Godpigeon and another that was alongside him came to my aid and scared them off. I think that other pigeon was you." Marty pointed to Bobby. Bobby was surprised, but it started to make more sense when he looked back on it. "Huh, I knew your face looked familiar," he replied.
"But anyway," Marty continued, "I understood what the Godpigeon was telling me, even when Bobby was trying to translate, then me having to tell him I understood what he was saying." He laughed a bit, "We then talked for a little while, before he had to go. Obviously, he didn't have an official phone number, but I did give him mine so he can call me whenever. Eventually, we talked through phone whenever the Godpigeon could find one. We shared a lot and talked more and more often. After some time of knowing each other, we told each other what we do for a living. I was very much familiar with the situation going on in New York, so I suggested he and you guys come here since I believe you guys would basically be non existent if you stayed there any longer."
The pigeons nodded and talked to themselves a little bit. "I mean, he does got a point," said one. "I guess we'll be in good hands with this man," said another.
"Now for the advice and what you should know," said Marty, "Much like New York, there are gangs here just like you. A lot of gangs and mobs vary widely, some Bluebirds, some Quails, some Vultures, you know. Competition isn't necessarily as fierce, but still, watch out for them." Marty took a took a sip of some coffee he had next to him, despite the fact it was 7 or 8 at night.
"What about stores?" asked Squit. "That's a bit of a trial and error sort of deal," Marty explained, "Some have alarms and some don't. But for the most part, as long as you are quick with what you are doing, you should be fine." His face then became serious, "Don's Garden Center though, you do NOT want to rob. That man is crazy and will be out for blood the moment someone steals something from him. Not even the gangs or mobs here steal from him, because they know he's just someone you don't want to mess with. Those that have stolen from Don, were dead within a week. And if he finds out your part of a mob or gang, he'll make sure to wipe them out too, whether they had involvement or not." The other pigeons took note of it.
The Godpigeon spoke to Marty and it sounded like he was asking a question. But the moment Marty heard it, he had a look of sympathy on his face. He didn't say a word to him. Godpigeon spoke again, with a little more of a panic in his voice this time. "What's the matter?" asked Bobby asked the Godpigeon.
"I gotta be honest with you guys," sighed Marty, "You might have a better run here, but it's only gonna be temporary." Every pigeon gasped. "What are you talkin about?" asked Pesto. "What I'm trying to say is you guys don't have much longer as a mob," Marty continued, "I hate to say it, but statistically, givin how your numbers are getting smaller and smaller, you might be done sometime within 2 to 4 years. As much as it pains me to say this, you guys might just have to be like any other ordinary pigeon by that time."
Every pigeon gasped, while the Godpigeon tried to fight tears. "No, you can't be serious," said Bobby in shock, "Being a normal pigeon is like being a pigeon with no sense of direction!" "Please tell us there is a way to keep us going!" said Squit. "Sorry, but there really isn't," said Marty, "You guys might have a longer expectancy as a mob here, but it's not gonna last very long. Until then, you guys can make yourselves at home in Burbank. I'll stay in touch with you guys."
The pigeons found a place to stay. They all stayed on a rooftop of an apartment building. Most of which fell asleep. Bobby, Pesto, and Squit on the other hand were the few that didn't sleep like the others. The Godpigeon wasn't even present himself, probably because he was out and about, so he didn't have to face the fact that he, the Goodfeathers, and the rest of his mob were in a terrible spot.
"So this is it?" asked Squit, looking at the moonlight. "I don't know Squit, I really don't know," Bobby replied, "What Marty said was no joke. We clearly can only have so much time left before something happens." "Doesn't help when you can't trust no pigeon," added Pesto, "On top of that, pigeons you know for a while, then bam! You see them either leave, dead, or arrested by the law."
The Goodfeathers could only look up at the night sky. "Well, at least we have a each other," Squit said. "Well said," replied Bobby. "Eh, I mean, yeah," Pesto said with hesitation.
Eventually though, they fell asleep like the rest of the pigeons. The Godpigeon would also come back to see everyone asleep. He sighed, saying something. What he said if translated was, "At least we are safe here...for now."
To be continued in the next chapter...
(Chapter 2 published 1/4/24)