"[A Creature of] Newspaper Headlines and Telephoto Images"
“The 4:30 train to Los Angeles will now begin boarding” rang through the lobby of Union Station in Cleveland, Ohio
“Are you sure about this honey? I’d much rather you stay here with me and your ma’ instead of heading to the other side of the country.” said a kindly graying man to his daughter.
“Papa… you know this is my dream…” answered a pretty blue eyed blond.
“I know honey… I just want you to know it’s alright if you change your mind. You know we’ll be here waiting for you baby”
She sighs “I know papa” The man embraces his daughter before he helps her carry her suitcase to the luggage cart. Once her suitcase is safely handed off to the baggage handler the man turns to his daughter.
“I hope you find what you're lookin' for sweetheart… I love you...”
Their eyes begin to tear up and the girl plants a kiss on her father’s cheek. “Thank you so much papa… I’ll miss you and mama terribly.” The man tries his hardest to put on a brave face as he nods once, smiles as his only daughter turns away from him, and boards the train.
“I’ll write every week and call just as often papa!” she yells out the passenger car. Her father waves from afar before her turns the other way and hopes he did the right thing letting his little girl go.
A few feet away at the luggage cart line stands another tall blond with sad blue eyes trying to keep the tears out of her eyes. She left her home of Lima, Ohio in the dead of night with dreams of getting on a train and making her way to the bright lights of Hollywood. The baggage boy takes her brand new suitcase and she makes her way to her designated train compartment. She finds her car and after taking her seat she places her purse on the seat next to her before lying down and closing the curtains that shields her door windows from the walkway. She closes her eyes and dreams of a new life surrounded by film cameras and red carpet premieres.
---
The train arrives at the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal on May 17th 1941 at 2:00am. The Girl didn't count on a storm hitting Los Angeles that evening heavy with lighting and torrential rains. She tried not to dwell on what her grandmother would certainly call an omen.
She sits in the main lobby with her luggage at her feet while she digs through her purse for some change before lifting her suitcase and walking to a nearby phone booth, There are numbers for taxi companies on a bulletin board next to the phone booths so she sets down the suitcase which currently holds all of her worldly possessions as close to her as possible. She’s heard enough horror stories to know that big cities are full of crooks just looking to rip people off. She slips a nickel into the coin slot and waits for the operator to answer.
"Operator"
“Hello Operator, can you connect me to Yellow Taxi Co. please” she asks.
“One moment please” answers the operator.
“Yellow Taxi Co.” answers a woman with an unpleasantly raspy voice.
“Yes, I’d like to have a taxi sent to the Union Passenger Terminal please there aren’t any out front and I really need to get to a hotel tonight.” answers The Girl.
“I’m sorry but all our taxis are currently unavailable” answers the unpleasantly raspy voice before hanging up.
The Girl is taken aback by the rudeness but none the less proceeds to call the rest of the taxi companies on the bulletin board before giving up.
She sits in the phone booth with her suitcase half way in, her face in her hands and a nagging voice telling her that maybe she shouldn’t have come.
“Are you sure about this honey? I’d much rather you stay here with me and your ma’ instead of heading to the other side of the country.” said a kindly graying man to his daughter.
“Papa… you know this is my dream…” answered a pretty blue eyed blond.
“I know honey… I just want you to know it’s alright if you change your mind. You know we’ll be here waiting for you baby”
She sighs “I know papa” The man embraces his daughter before he helps her carry her suitcase to the luggage cart. Once her suitcase is safely handed off to the baggage handler the man turns to his daughter.
“I hope you find what you're lookin' for sweetheart… I love you...”
Their eyes begin to tear up and the girl plants a kiss on her father’s cheek. “Thank you so much papa… I’ll miss you and mama terribly.” The man tries his hardest to put on a brave face as he nods once, smiles as his only daughter turns away from him, and boards the train.
“I’ll write every week and call just as often papa!” she yells out the passenger car. Her father waves from afar before her turns the other way and hopes he did the right thing letting his little girl go.
A few feet away at the luggage cart line stands another tall blond with sad blue eyes trying to keep the tears out of her eyes. She left her home of Lima, Ohio in the dead of night with dreams of getting on a train and making her way to the bright lights of Hollywood. The baggage boy takes her brand new suitcase and she makes her way to her designated train compartment. She finds her car and after taking her seat she places her purse on the seat next to her before lying down and closing the curtains that shields her door windows from the walkway. She closes her eyes and dreams of a new life surrounded by film cameras and red carpet premieres.
---
The train arrives at the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal on May 17th 1941 at 2:00am. The Girl didn't count on a storm hitting Los Angeles that evening heavy with lighting and torrential rains. She tried not to dwell on what her grandmother would certainly call an omen.
She sits in the main lobby with her luggage at her feet while she digs through her purse for some change before lifting her suitcase and walking to a nearby phone booth, There are numbers for taxi companies on a bulletin board next to the phone booths so she sets down the suitcase which currently holds all of her worldly possessions as close to her as possible. She’s heard enough horror stories to know that big cities are full of crooks just looking to rip people off. She slips a nickel into the coin slot and waits for the operator to answer.
"Operator"
“Hello Operator, can you connect me to Yellow Taxi Co. please” she asks.
“One moment please” answers the operator.
“Yellow Taxi Co.” answers a woman with an unpleasantly raspy voice.
“Yes, I’d like to have a taxi sent to the Union Passenger Terminal please there aren’t any out front and I really need to get to a hotel tonight.” answers The Girl.
“I’m sorry but all our taxis are currently unavailable” answers the unpleasantly raspy voice before hanging up.
The Girl is taken aback by the rudeness but none the less proceeds to call the rest of the taxi companies on the bulletin board before giving up.
She sits in the phone booth with her suitcase half way in, her face in her hands and a nagging voice telling her that maybe she shouldn’t have come.