Mike's Journal

Chapter 11

September 16, 1965

Dear Journal,

Well, I've been lucky with getting to the homeless shelter on time every day to get a bed, but tonight I wasn't so lucky. I got busy filling out applications then went to the library to read, I didn't get the job at the Mr. Stake place, and read and lost track of the time. Before I knew it the library was closing up and I missed the cut off for getting a room. So I'm sleeping in my truck again. It's not that bad though...I mean yeah it does a number on my back in the mornings, but least I get some sleep.  Anyway, that's where I am now, in my truck in the parking lot of a store. I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out of money for gas for the truck. sell it I guess. Then I'd have money, but no truck to get gas for. Well, that would be some irony for ya.  There's also the matter of food. I still have a dollar and some change from the five dollars I got playing at the go go place...but am saving it for letters home. Lying again about how everything is just peachy. There is no way I'm telling Ma that being in California is not all that it cracks up to be and the streets aren't paved with gold. But now seeds of doubt are creeping in. I'll stick it out until next June...if by June things aren't looking up I'll go back to Texas.

I guess I have nothing else to say so, good night.

Mike.

September 20, 1965

Dear Journal,

I found another place to play at and pass the hat. Maybe things are looking up? This place is called The Troubadour. It's bigger than the Go-go place and it looks like people play country and get a warm welcome so that's good...I hope. Thein is they don't have their amateur night until the end of the month... the last day of the month, no matter what it falls on so. I guess I'll see what happens then.

I was able to get to the shelter on time tonight so I didn't have to sleep in my truck again. There is a kid I'm bunking with who I think I've seen before. He looks really familiar for some reason, but I can't place him.  Well no, he's not a kid, he looks like he's around my age, maybe younger so he's a kid in my book...don't ask.

He just asked me what I was doing. I told him I was writing in my journal. I don't know why I said that. The last person who was bunking with me asked and I said I was writing down song lyrics and he wanted to hear the song I was writing. I told him it wasn't done yet but he kept pestering me so finally, I sang some song about a dog. It was off the top of my head and really bad. That got him to shut up.  Anyway, this kid just said okay and lights were going to be shutting off in a half hour then took out a book to read stretched out on his bed and started reading.

Tomorrow I'll be back to the same old same old. Looking for a job. Wish me luck.

Mike.