by Gary Beck
Beth and Kiesha saw only one fender-bender by the time they reached 28th Street. They paused a few moments to watch the inevitable argument, which took instant priority over injuries or damage. They didn’t stay for the eruption of fisticuffs or weapons and managed to cross Third Avenue safely with only one threat to life and limb. Then a gum-chewing, cigarette smoking, cell phone jabbering young woman didn’t notice the red light and almost ran them down. She sped off without having seen the two potential victims of vehicular womanslaughter. They decided to stop at the Madison Avenue coffee shop, just down the street from the hotel. Beth couldn’t make up her mind whether it was funky or sleazy. It was as if the place wasn’t sure if it should serve the welfare recipients who huddled on the side streets of midtown Manhattan, or the upscale tenants of nearby new apartment buildings and offices. However, it was convenient, and they relaxed in a booth, casually looking out the window at passersby, both thinking this would probably be the last time they came in here.
CHAPTER THIRTY
They still felt invigorated when they got to the King Charles and they paused for a few moments to chat with Ephraim, who was still hanging out in the lobby. They rang for the elevator and when it arrived, they lugged in their groceries. Just as the doors were closing, an arm reached in and popped them open. Three black men in long black down overcoats walked in without looking at Beth or Kiesha and forced them against the back of the car. The men didn’t say anything, or make any threatening gestures, but their presence was menacing. The doors closed and they rode up to the fifth floor without anyone saying a word. Beth and Kiesha looked at each other in alarm but weren’t certain how to react. The elevator stopped on the fifth floor and the doors opened, but the men didn’t move.
After waiting a few moments, Beth said, "Excuse me, please."
The men still didn’t move, and the feeling of tension grew. "We’d like to get out here, please," Kiesha said. What felt like an eternity went by and the women were verging on panic, when the men stepped aside and let them out.
They looked back as the doors closed, but the men wouldn’t meet their eyes. Kiesha, trembling slightly, asked, "Was that some kind of message?"
Beth was also shaken, "I think so, but let’s get out of the hall before we talk about it."
They brought the groceries to Miss Lily’s room and knocked. After they gave the correct password, entry code, thumbprint, retina scan and DNA sample she let them in. She immediately noticed their tension and asked what was wrong.
The children were watching with the usual avid interest in anything out of the ordinary, so Beth said, "Nothing. We just had a difficult trip back from the supermarket. We’ll tell you about it later."
Beth and Kiesha collected their groceries and children and went to their rooms. They looked around warily in the hall, still nervous about the recent incident. Beth was glad that Pablo and Tito stayed with Miss Lily, because she knew that Pablo’s keen sense of awareness would make him aware that something was wrong.
Kiesha unlocked her door first, waved and went in. Beth didn’t like the feeling of being alone in the hall and drew Jennifer and Andy closer as she fumbled with the keys. Once the door was closed and locked, Beth felt a bit more secure and questioned Jennifer about school while she put the groceries away. It seemed that most of her initial problems had disappeared, except for a jealous rivalry with one girl, who resented the closeness of the King Charles crew. Jennifer said she easily dealt with her and was quite happy with school. Beth made a mental note to find out if they could keep the children in the same school after they moved, at least until the end of the semester. The thought of yet another disruption in the children’s lives was disturbing. Beth felt they had made such a good adjustment under difficult conditions that they were entitled to some stability.
Beth tried to remain relaxed with the children, despite the lingering stress from the elevator incident. Images of the menacing men in black coats flashed into her mind with a dream-like intensity. The children alternately babbled happily about their vital concerns; a dark blue skirt for school assembly for Jennifer, and an Xman figure for Andy. Beth marveled at the children’s vivacity and how they were oblivious to her distress. Her thoughts raced in and out with no structure. She couldn’t remember if she went to assembly when she was a child. She wondered when it became acceptable for boys to play with dolls, even though they called them action figures. She realized that this was the first time in days that she was alone with her children. She knew that the collective way of life of the group had been crucial to their survival in the homeless system, but it was a nice change not to have anyone else around for a while and just listen to the innocent ramblings of her children.
When Peter and Hector got home from work, Beth and Kiesha sent the children to play in Miss Lily’s room, while they described the elevator incident. Peter and Hector were outraged, and Peter demanded to know why they hadn’t called the police immediately.
Beth tried to explain that although the situation seemed threatening, nothing really happened. "The men didn’t say anything or do anything overt to justify calling the police."
With his usual bluntness, Hector asked, "Then why were both of you so scared?"
Kiesha looked at Beth, then said, "It wasn’t so much what they did, but how it felt. We were pressed against the back of the elevator and that was scary, even though they never said a word. They just stood there like black angels of death. Maybe we overreacted because of what we’ve been going through."
Hector shook his head, "I don’t think so. It sounds like they were trying to intimidate you."
Beth broke in, "Well they succeeded."
"I’m going to call that detective who was here last time," Peter said.
It took a while for Peter to get through to the precinct. Then it took even longer to get through to the detective squad. Peter didn’t know the detective’s name, so he described him, but it took forever since he was constantly being put on hold.
After a particularly long wait, a gruff, familiar voice asked, "Yeah? What is it?"
Peter explained what happened and when he finished there was a long silence. "Are you still there, detective?"
"Yeah. Whadda ya want me ta do about it?"
"I’d like you to find them and arrest them." The derisive laugh was grating, "You got a description? Can you identify them?"
"No. But we know they’re from the 10th floor, where they run those criminal activities."
"This ain’t communist China. I can’t go up there and kick in some doors and arrest the usual suspects. If you get any proof give me a call, otherwise don’t bother me."
"What are we supposed to do?"
"That’s your problem, pal."
Peter was a little despondent when he hung up. "I hoped they would at least come here and check things out. I didn’t expect them to arrest anyone, but maybe they’d make those guys think twice about bothering us."
"It was worth a try," Hector said. "We’ll just have to be careful until we get out of here, and hope for the best."
Beth agreed with him, "Hopefully Peter will get our keys on Monday. If he does, we’re out of here that night, no matter how inconvenient it might be. We’re better off sleeping on the floor in our own place where we’ll be safe, then staying at the hotel until we get the furniture and other things we need."
"As long as we have running water and toilet paper, we’ll manage," Kiesha said. "It was a lot worse at the E.A.U."
Hector smiled, "Yeah. We’ve been spoiled here at the hotel, with beds and cots for the kids…."
The women felt more secure with the men there and gradually began to relax. They chatted for a while about what they would need for their new apartments. "We should each make up a list and assign priorities to what we have to get first," Beth suggested. "We can manage for a while with the kitchen stuff we’ll bring from here, so the most important things will be beds and chairs."
"We’ll have refrigerators," Kiesha said wonderingly. "
Can you believe that? We won’t have to use the window ledges anymore."
Hector nodded, "We’ve been lucky. If we were in the hotel in summer, we wouldn’t have been able to keep any perishables. Once we’re set up in the new apartment, we’ll have a Latino feast; Arroz con pollo, plátanos fritos, and flan."
Kiesha rubbed her stomach, "That sounds great. We can ask Miss Lily to make a real southern meal for us."
Peter smiled, "If we keep eating like that we’ll become too fat to fit through our doors."
Hector winked, "That’s all right. Latino men like their mamacitas with some meat on them."
"Everything has been so strange recently," Beth said musingly. "There’s been one crisis after the other. I wonder if it will be like that in our new apartments. Whatever happens, I know we’ll face our problems together. That makes a world of difference to me. When I brought the children to New York City, Peter was already here, but we had to do everything on our own. We’ve had to face things alone for a long time. It’s very comforting to know that you have friends who will stand by you in times of trouble. I worry about how the children will react to all this turmoil, then I talk to them and they’re doing fine. As long as they’re safe and happy I can survive anything. There is one thing I need. Once we have beds and something to sit on, I’ve got to have a piano." There was a long silence and Beth whispered, "Is that very selfish of me?"
Peter immediately reassured her, "No, hon. You’ve been forced to give up your career. You’re entitled to a piano."
"I’ll give lessons to pay for it."
"We may not be able to afford a new concert grand, but one way or another we’ll get you a piano that you’ll be satisfied with."
It took a while to have dinner and put the children to bed, but then the adults could talk freely. Beth told Miss Lily about the elevator incident and Peter recounted his conversation with the detective.
Miss Lily was fatalistic. "It’s this hotel. The police know that the people who live here are homeless and on welfare. Those are the kind of people the police look down on, ‘cause they think there’s something wrong with them for not workin’ and bein’ respectable. When something happens here, they just don’t respond the same way they would in a better place."
Peter nodded, "You’re right. Cops are hard working and they risk their lives on the job. They don’t understand that most of the homeless don’t like the situation they’re in, but are trapped by circumstance."
Beth wasn’t sure if she agreed with Miss Lily, "So you’re saying they’re prejudiced, because they think the homeless lack certain work and lifestyle values."
"That’s right, chile. They’re like a lot of other folk who think the homeless should get a job and take care of themselves and stop burdenin’ the public."
They discussed various issues that they felt strongly about, but without stress or anger. They all recognized that their own perception of homelessness had changed drastically, since it happened to them.
Miss Lily admitted, "Before I was homeless, I always thought they were shiftless no-accounts. Now I see they is mostly messed-up folk who need help, but they’re not gettin’ it."
"It took me a while to accept what happened to me," Hector said. "I always took care of myself, but with two young boys, I couldn’t manage anymore. It’s a good lesson in how to get along with others, for the sake of your children."
Kiesha agreed, "Once you’re in the system you’ve got to learn to cope, or you’re lost. Once I realized that bad things could happen to my kids, I started controlling my temper."
"We’re all learning the hard way," Beth remarked.
Ephraim joined them with some good news. His granddaughter’s boyfriend had been caught breaking into his house by the police and had been arrested. He was carrying a pistol, so he would face weapons charges, as well as complaints of violation of a protection order, breaking and entering, theft and vandalism.
"With any luck, he’ll get several years in prison and not bother us for a long time. We’re movin’ back home tomorrow. If I don’t see you all before we go, it’s been nice knowin’ you, even in a place like this." They all wished him good luck and his granddaughter, Precious, emboldened by the arrest of her tormenter, came out to say goodbye. Kiesha started to say that they’d be leaving in a few days, but Peter signaled her not to mention it and she got the message.
"If I was a little younger," Miss Lily sighed wistfully, "I’d be interested in a man like you."
"What you talkin’ about? You’re a fine figure of a woman," Ephraim replied gallantly. "If I wasn’t a dried-up old man, I’d show you a thing or two."
Nobody else was sure if they were serious or not, since they hadn’t shown any earlier signs of being interested in each other. Beth watched as they exchanged phone numbers and promised to stay in touch, but she assumed that once normal lives were resumed out of the hotel, friendship would fade. That made her wonder what would happen to the group once they were set up in their new apartments. She guessed that Kiesha and Hector would be spending a lot more time together, but that was to be expected. Unless something unusual occurred, nothing should make a difference with Miss Lily, except if she eloped with Ephraim. This made Beth smile and she thought about the privacy to come in a new apartment and was excited by the possibility of having a piano again. She even dared to contemplate serious practice. Then her thoughts slipped away to more practical considerations, like getting a job in the school system. Despite the strain of the day, she went to bed that night feeling that their problems would soon get easier.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Members of the group had breakfast separately on Saturday morning. The adults had hoped to sleep late, but the children, with the relentless energy of youth, made enough of a commotion to raise momma or papa bear from hibernation. The adults groggily gathered in the hall and grunted primitive conversation, as they gradually awakened with the help of Miss Lily’s coffee. The boys, led by Pablo, started some kind of war game with their action figures. The girls, equipped with multi-racial Barbies, explored vital doll issues.
Beth watched the girls play for a few minutes, then remarked to Kiesha, "Every time I see them playing together with dolls, I get an impulse to join them. I didn’t have any playmates when I was growing up on the farm, so I always played alone."
Kiesha smiled, "There were so many girls in and out of our house and I was the youngest, so everyone picked on me. The few times that the older girls let me play with them, they pretended that I was a baby and they would change my clothes and spank me. I don’t miss that."
"I don’t miss my childhood. I just enjoy watching the girls play together."
Once the adults were wide awake, they discussed doing some special things that weekend. Peter came up with a suggestion that everyone approved. "There’s a free puppet show at the Barnes and Noble bookstore, on East 17th Street. Somebody at work told me they have a small theater for children on the second floor. I think the kids might really like it."
"Should we tell them about it, or surprise them?" Hector asked.
"Let’s tell them," Kiesha quickly answered. "This way they’ll enjoy the walk there by anticipating a treat."
Miss Lily chuckled, "You’re getting’ pretty smart for a young-un. Maybe we should take them for hot chocolate and cupcakes after the show."
Beth chided her, "Miss Lily, if you had your way, you’d spoil them rotten."
"How can you say that, chile? You’re even worse than I am, fussin’ over them like a mother hen. Besides, they’re such good kids, they deserve a reward."
"We’re all in agreement on that," Beth conceded.
After lunch they went outside to go to the show. It was a clear, cold day, but not frigid, so the walk was invigorating. They passed patches of soot-covered snow that still lingered from the recent storm. They stopped at the dog run in Madison Square Park, so the children could watch the dogs at play. The owners were gathered in small clumps, posing in their winter finery. The dogs were a
lso just standing around, posing like their masters and the children quickly got bored waiting for some action. They continued on downtown and at 23rd Street, Beth pointed out the Flatiron Building and mentioned that it was once the tallest building in the world. She added that New York City had a lot of buildings that were once the tallest in the world.
Pablo said, "You told us that the Empire State Building used to be the tallest building in the world."
"That’s right. There are a lot of buildings in New York City that used to be the tallest in the world."
The children were eager to get to the puppet show. They barely paid attention when Beth pointed out other buildings of some architectural interest, as they walked down Broadway. The stores they passed offered merchandise way beyond their current means, so there was little inclination to window shop. When they reached the movie complex on 19th Street, the children raced to see the listing. Fortunately, there were only the standard fare of mayhem or yuppie films, rather than an appealing children’s feature. The children were easily led on to the puppet show, without their making excessive demands to go to the movies. This was a great relief to the adults, whose tickets would have cost $9.50 each, because with children’s admission at $6.00, the admission cost to see one movie would have been $90.00, without popcorn, candy or soda. That was a lot of money for families struggling to make ends meet and was one more factor in the sociological phenomenon of keeping people at home.