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A YANQUI WAY OF KNOWLEDGE
Continued...
Things were becoming increasingly tense between May and myself. There was an incredible love between us, but athe same time, an equal ammount of distrust. We were strangers in a strange land, and becoming stranger and stranger to each other. May was becoming increasingly paranoid and her erratic behavior and lack of communication was driving beyond aggitation. I was so on edge the whole time, suspecting the worst, and the half sentences and innuendos were driving me batty. So much for non-attatchment.
As May stated previous, Yep, we made it to Nogales, the border town featured very prominently in the Castaneda series. we found that God forsaken bench, and at the time, it felt like the Holy Grail. We sat staring at the church and the mass of Mexicans sitting on the steps.It may seem like a minor accomplishment but it meant the world to us.
To expand on May's version of event's,we crossed the border both times without ever showing our identification, which we both found very odd. From the moment we walked across the border to Mexico, the anomalies increased. The prostitute signaling me and calling me by name, trying to entice me to follow her. In hindsight, I should have gone, but out of respect to May, I declined. She chastised me for it afterwards.
We were totally straight at the time BTW. We then went to the pool hall she mentioned, where I was approached buy a few different people, all of whom knew my name.I found this so wierd that I had to get out of Mexico.Now.
Back at the hotel.The superbowl was the next day so we made plans of how to get back and what to do next.
Sunday morning.
We pulled into the Tuscon bus terminal. I remarked to May that this was the spot where a young anthropologist named Carlos Castaneda first met the infamous brujo. We both looked around. Downtown Tuscon was totally deserted. I mean empty. I half expected to see a lone ball of tumbleweed come rolling by.
With 2 and a half hours to kill, we decided to grap a bite at a nearby restaurant, beside the bus terminal. I was engrossed in the Salvador Dali prints hanging on the walls of what would be the stereotypical western saloon. They were the most magnificent things I had ever seen, as this was my first encounter with the surrealist.
"What can I get for you folks?" the waitress who had silently approached the table asked us. We placed our orders and asked her; "Why is it so quiet in this town?" We were baffled.The waitress wrote it off to the Superbowl, which seemed like a fair enough assesment of the situation.
Once the bill was paid, we realized we still had an hour and a bit before our connecting bus to Tempe. The two of us decided to go on the hunt for the "ally" (the green one,Puffnpass).As we walked the streets of "Tombstone, Arizona", we were amazed to see an empty city everywhere we went. It was about half an hour before we found anyone out and about.
I summoned my courage and asked him if he knew the where abouts of the ally.
"Stoner Park" the stranger said. The easiest and most picturesque way to describe the stranger would be "Hyde, from that 70's show. After some directions, we were on our way.
"Stoner park" was about 15 minutes from the bus station. on approach, we say the sign reading STONE PARK, with an R painted at the end of STONE.This place was the most active spot in all of Tuscon. From barren city streets to a park with about 40 people in it, all sitting on the grass.
"Wierd" I thought aloud.
We walked a little way, then, to my surprise, the same fellow who had reccomended the park to us was there sitting on a blanket with 2 "scruffy" older men. He looked like he had been there for awhile and was totally oblivious to our presence.
I summoned up my courage and asked the smaller of the 2 men if he knew where the ally was.
He smiled a partialy toothed grin. " Sure do son! "
I beamed from ear to ear.
The man continued to smile. "You're in TOO STONED, Arizona. Of course we can find it.!"
May and I sighed a sigh of relief. When I turned to thank the man who had directed us to the park, he was missing from the spot on the grass between the two men.I never saw him leave...
"Well, sit down!" the smaller one said. We obeyed. " You two have come a long way eh? Toronto?"
We nodded. I looked at May. She stared.I think she was in shock.
"This here is John Little"he said motioning to the stockier taller one " and I am John Henry. We can go places others can't!"
A huge smile came over both of them. I clutched May's hand. Not for my own fear, but to stop her from running off on me.Two johns? John Little I recalled was Little John and I was sure John Henry was another fiction character.
"Welcome to Too Stone, Arizona. Let's go." John Henry lead the way. |
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Missed you!