Across the pond
We arrived in Miami because the bird had to go into quarantine, we also had to be processed by Immigration, I thought we would be processed in Texas but I was promptly told “this is where you set foot in America, this is where you get processed” fair enough that sounded fair to me, my wife however tried to give some lip and he said to her “sit down and shut up, you wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for him” he was abrupt, he was also right, I give a little smirk, she deserved it.
We missed our connection to Dallas which was mainly due to leaving London late the delay with Immigration didn’t help either; however the airline booked us into a hotel that accepted cats, it also included dinner that was very good of them.
The next day we continued on to Dallas, I was already regretting bringing my wife, she was a nightmare from the beginning, and she continued for the entire time in Texas and everywhere we went. My family are good people and they went out of their way to please us all they got was shit for thanks, my sister Kate had a proper bar in the house and a lovely swimming pool, they were having a little party and my brother-in law Will had his sister and her husband coming up from Orlando Florida, they were great, we met some really nice people, quality down to earth we had a great barbecue, but all my wife did was moan, nothing was good enough for her, I felt so sorry for my family, she was very difficult, so Wills brother and his wife offered us free accommodation in Orlando and gave me there address and number.
Kate and Will took us to buy a car, we got a Chrysler Le-Baron GTS fully loaded, my wife loved the car but hated everything else in Texas, and insisted she wanted to go to Florida, and so we headed off on a road trip, my sister must have been happy or at least relived, she was also worried for me.
We drove towards Florida we stopped over at a motel in Baton Rouge Louisiana and when we came out in the morning the wheel trims had gone I never knew there was such a big market for wheel trims or that mine were worth stealing.
Onward we push towards Orlando and when we arrived we were by Disney World and I said I was going to call and let them know were here and get directions to their house when suddenly she said I don’t like this place, I couldn’t believe it, so now we moved on to Fort Lauderdale, she said no I don’t like this place either she said, let’s go to Arizona, I am very tolerant but I was getting hot under the collar, so off we go to Phoenix where my other sister Rachel lived, we had to pass back by Texas in order to get to Arizona six or seven days on the road staying in motels.
As I entered Phoenix all of a sudden there is a wave of traffic from all sides, and so I took the first off ramp and pulled in at a Denny’s restaurant where I phoned my sister, we sat in a window seat with coffee while some very friendly ladies passed by some bullet holes scattered around, we were in the red light area where there had been a drive by shooting not a good place to be, but this fitted in well with where my life was at the moment, it was the topping on the cake.
My sisters partner Ross gave me directions to their house, it was he who told me where I was, my wife was still not happy, she had insulted everywhere that we went, the poor cat was still in tow the whole way.
We arrived at my sisters and I felt bad about this because it was unexpected and I was putting her on the spot all because of my spiteful wife, this was the first time I met Ross.
The house next door to my sister was available for rent which worked out great considering we had the cat; it was a three bedroom I just took on the rental.
I noticed the cat was playing with something so I went to check and saw it was a small scorpion, I got the cat away and caught it in a jar then took it next door to Ross who confirmed that it was indeed a scorpion and the smaller ones are the worse, it may have paralysed the cat had it stung him.
I took my wife around on a sightseeing trip but she picked fault with everything then our packing cases arrived from the UK after being forwarded on from Texas, there were six tea chests in total, however one of them contained my tools.
My wife wanted to return to the UK she had done nothing but moan since we arrived and so we the packing cases were collected for return to the UK, I took my wife and cat to the airport, I was totally gutted I had done all I could this was supposed to be a new start for us but now it was a new start for me, I had no intention of going back without giving the States a chance, I had another shock coming when I found out she had cleared the bank account, I was left with $100 in my pocket, a car and was living in a house I could no longer afford.
I asked Ross and Rachel where the nearest bar was and I went out for a drink, I arrived at a bar went in and asked for a beer, the barman opened a bottle and placed it on the bar and walked away, I had a totally new culture to adapt too, it was so obvious that my wife had planned it all, everything was now in liquid assets so she had no problems, I only had myself to blame, boy what a fool I had been, however I was going to stick it out.
I had no job no money, my sister Kate in Texas had lived in Arizona prior to me moving to Texas, she had been the personnel director of a well-known jewellery company and they needed a debt collector so she put in a word for me, I had an interview and I got the job I knew that it was due to my sister, this was a whole new challenge for me, but everything would be from now on, my supervisor was concerned if I could do the job, and I would be monitored and judged on my figures.
I gave up the house and moved into a small furnished apartment, at least I had my tools albeit hand tools, where I worked was a large open office which was split into sections each section with their own supervisor, my section was primarily female there were other guys working in the office however I was the only guy on my section.
They were a really good bunch of girls, they made me very welcome and were very helpful, I received an introduction and a girl sat with me at first to show me the ropes and gave me instruction on what I could or couldn’t say, I was warned about third party discloser, and then I was on my own but the supervisor could listen in on any calls from her desk and if I had any problems I only had to ask. I knew that I had to perform or I wouldn’t last 5 minutes, I had to make my numbers, there was no easy ride, my sister had put the word in for me and I wasn’t going to let her down.
I had also been told about consumer credit counselling, they would give debt advice and consolidate them into one payment thus keeping the client free of any hassle; I would recommend consumer credit counselling to those I felt needed it.
I was contacting people nationwide and so I encountered different dialects, one lady in Alabama said to her friend “they ought to learn to speak American before they come over here” she had no idea I could hear and was lost for words when I replied “yes ma'am” I was so pleased when my numbers were good and my supervisor was very happy with my performance, I was earning my way.
I was a troubled man, I spent my lunch breaks alone I would go out to the parking lot, I had become a loner no-one outside my family knew my personal situation, I have never been one to share my problems or look for sympathy, I just deal with my issues best I can.
When at my desk I never knew who would come up on the computer but I was very surprised when I had an attorney and a judge appear on my list, however I made the call in my normal way and was further surprised at the attempts made to coerce me into third party discloser (to discuss or disclose any information to a third party was illegal and I and the company could be sued as a result) there were persistent attempt to try and get this result by both parties.
I had no problem challenging them even though there was no attempt by them to come clean and face up to their debts I thought what is wrong with people in authority? They seem to think they are above the law and have more rights than true honest people, I knew that some people are intimated by them because of their status, but not me, Judges and Attorneys are supposed to be upstanding and an example to others, however these were a disgrace, I will confront them and challenge them, and I did everything within the law.
It was coming up to my birthday and Will and Kate came over from Texas they were staying with their friends from Liverpool Paul and Mary who they introduced me to, On my birthday they arranged for a day out on the lake, another friend and his wife Terry and June brought their boat, so there were seven of us in total
First thing in the morning we loaded up the car with food burner and drink, when we arrived at the lake we set the boat into the water, the boat was loaded up with the supplies, and we then went out to an island and they cooked breakfast, after breakfast we set off around the lake and out came the water skis.
I have never water skied before and so I was doing all sorts of unknown acrobats, and so June got into the water to assist me, I finally got up to a cheer from the boat, now staying up was the problem, Paul was doing a video with some great commentary I had come up but bent my knees so it looked like I was down but then I would come up again so Paul was saying “he’s up, no he’s down, oh no he’s up,” it was so funny.
Then it was time we put up the skis and Terry put me behind the wheel and I did my bit of speedboat driving, then it was sing-a-long time, we sang songs, and the lake was rocking.
At the end of the day we then went for an evening meal the waitress came out with a cake and single candle, everyone sang happy birthday, great memories. They gave me the best birthday of my life, a day I will always remember and am so very thankful for.
My new friends from Liverpool Paul and Mary asked me if I wanted to go and stay with them for a while and I accepted we visited many places in Arizona, we went to Sedona which is red rock, Tucson were I stood on boot hill, Lake Havasu and stood on London Bridge, Laughlin Nevada to a Casino, Nogales Mexico, they were really a great couple and good friends.
It was coming up to Christmas and their son came home for the holiday so they got a permit for $5 which gave permission to cut down your own tree in Flagstaff and so we drove up to Flagstaff to where there was approx. two feet of snow the four of us played like a bunch of kids, snowball fights, we even built a snowman six feet tall, it was taller than me, then we picked the tree we wanted and cut it down tied it to the roof of the MPV and then we drove back to the warm sunny and dry Tempe, my first Christmas over there was great.
My bird Joey was coming out of quarantine my little buddy my bird was something else, I brought him a nice cage and my friends said he could stay there, everyone loved him he would come on my shoulder and give me a kiss he could talk too, not long after that I moved into a small apartment the manager was a lovely lady and had no problem with my bird, and would come up to see him.
Paul and Mary also Terry and June were a part of the English club I had been there a few times and the festival of nations was coming up my friends were always an active part of it and I was invited to partake and we decided that I would be Dick Turpin.
They were doing the English booth and were also doing a raffle and making me my outfit and so I decided to make a Tudor Dolls House, I was in this small apartment with my tools in my tea chest, I brought a 4x8ft sheet of plywood and with no more than a hand saw coping saw, and a bird on my shoulder me and Joey made a two story Tudor house.
My wife new the bird was with me and started to hassle me about sending him back I was still not in a settled position and so I let him go back, I took him to put him on a plane and sent him back to England, man I cried, I had to go into work and put on a face when I was in bits he was only a bird but he was my friend, life is hard and you have to make choices, my friends were surprised that I sent him back, I did what was best for him even though it gutted me, it’s what you do when you love someone or something.
So now the festival of the Nations was here and my Tudor dolls house was the first place raffle prise, I was dressed as Dick Turpin but the American kids thought I was Zorro, so I met both worlds and I had my photo taken a lot but Friar Tuck was there and Maid Marion knights and all sorts, they were all having pictures taken, I was impressed with the other nations I was very impressed with the belly dancers and spent much time explaining who Dick was it was all fun, a lady won my dolls house she said it was not to be played with and that it was going on display and wanted a picture of the person who made it so she could place it inside and so it was built by Dick Turpin and included his picture, it was the best I could do.
The apartment I had was really not suitable it had some furniture in but it was time to move to a better place with no furniture I needed everything, I was not on a high wage but I could still eat out cheap so cooking utensils were not so important.
I use to like Denny’s restaurants; my favourite meal was the grand slam it was pancakes, sausage, bacon, egg, as much coffee as I could drink $1.99, I also loved Wendy’s junior bacon cheese burger 99c I’m getting hungry just writing about it, umm yummy.
It was a bit daunting walking into a place that was totally empty, no bird, no company just me, but life goes on, people came forward and I was given an air mattress and a girl at work was selling cutlery and kitchen utensils so I brought things like plates cups ETC I received a sofa and found a cheap TV thanks to the English Club members, some good friends, I ended up with what I needed.
I started taking breaks with my colleagues instead of walking alone, and they were doing a pot luck, a pot luck is when everyone brings something to eat and we share the food, I had no idea what on earth I could do and so I brought a big crock pot which I could do everything in, I had got basic kitchen stuff but was still lacking and so I did a pasta which I could throw everything in one pot, I had no idea what I was doing, it was literally pot luck in itself.
I turned up for work with this pot in hand and to my surprise it was really good they loved my pasta which I could never replicate, it’s an unknown recipe. I started going to happy hour on a Friday with the girls, I was coming in from the cold, these guys were great, I was the problem.
They had also found out who I was, they would whisper amongst themselves not realising that I could overhear at least some of it, and I heard one say he’s Kate’s brother, I never made out that I could hear things they were saying, I simply paid no heed.
During the happy hours they were getting to know me for me, the younger fun loving me was coming out and some started to get close, I could see it but for me it was only fun, I was only having a dance and I good time and I rejected opportunities which offended some ladies, I wasn’t stupid I knew the situation and there implications, I just ignored it because I didn’t know what else to do, I didn’t want a commitment or relationship and I was not going to play the field either, I may flirt and have fun but at the end of the night I go home alone.
One day at happy hour one of the girls sat on my lap, she was adorable a great personality, she ticked every box, one of the girls said look Rose is on his lap and she’s kissing him, which she was, it was getting intense, there was also a girl who I had passed up looking at me distastefully for rejecting her, I was doing nothing wrong Rose was kissing me down the neck and had her head on my shoulder, and so I left with the Rose.
I only lived around the corner so home was not far and where she may have thought we were going, but instead I took her to where her friends were, she had planned on meeting them after happy hour and I knew where they would be, I left her in their care, I could have taken her home; my coworkers thought I had until the next Monday at work when she told them nothing happened.
I can’t explain myself because I don’t know where my head was at, I just wanted to have fun not any type of relationship, especially with my co-workers, the next time at happy hour I left with a woman that was no way up to their standard in anyway shape or form and I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way, it is what it is, I saw the look of surprise on their faces. I did take her home even though she never held a light to the other girls; I never had to see her again maybe that was why?
One of the girls, Susie was due to get married next week I had arranged to take her out for an evening; I was taking her to the Indian Powwow, I had been on the reservation, me and Susie got on so well and she was getting married to a Mormon, she was not Mormon material, she liked a drink and a dance. I heard her say to her friends that I was her last fling, I knew her marriage was doomed to failure, don’t get me wrong she would make any man a good wife, she was a good fun loving girl, which put her outside of Mormon material.
We had a real good time; she enjoyed the Pow-Wow, then I took her home, she had two kids from a her previous marriage, who her ex-husband who was looking after at his place and was to bring them home at a certain time however when I took her home she told me her ex had agreed to keep the kids overnight.
Now I had a dilemma I had an attractive girl who I liked a lot but was going to be married into a failure, and yet was offering herself to me… now I knew what the last fling meant, so now we are having a drink at her place with no risk of interruptions, what was I going to do? The offer was obvious and on a plate? I did what any upstanding man would do she had a video game and so I played the video game, I saw the look on her face, but I played dumb and then said goodnight, I can only imagine what she thought, did she think I was mental? If she did, how right she was. That was a mistake on my part.
Things were a bit uneasy for me at work her friends were asking her how things went, and she was giving them the details, blow for blow, we never spoke, it seemed the consensus was that I was probably gay. The day of the wedding came and when I turned up she ran across the floor and threw her arms around me and said Peter I never thought you would come, I thought I did the right thing but I had my doubts.
I heard sometime after that her marriage had failed, by holding back I had done nothing, but if I had stepped up to the plate I may have changed everything and avoided heartbreak.
What we do today can change tomorrow had I of stepped up to the plate my future may have also changed.