The Path To Respect
I rolled into town late at night
after hitching a ride with a trucker.
I said thanks as he pulled out of site.
The diner was open. I’m in luck here.
I stuck my pack under the table.
I ordered coffee, strong, & a steak.
The waitress turned the TV on to cable.
She said I need it on to stay awake.
Not much business that I can see.
She said it’s slow this late at night.
I got up and went to pee.
I returned and tried my first bite.
How is the steak she asked so sweet.
Just like my mother used to make.
She laughed & slid into the seat.
What brings you here this late?
I hitched a ride with an 18 wheeler.
Back to my old stomping ground.
Are saying you’re from here in Cleaver?
It’s long ago since I was around.
Split in my teens in the dead of night.
Back then the world owed me a living.
I headed for those big city lights.
I starved. The world is unforgiving.
I finally landed a job as a busboy.
Minimum wage and a share of tips.
In time I moved up to waiter/busboy.
Then, my break came. I was up for it.
The fry cook died. I took his job.
More pay and better hours.
A place to live. That felt odd.
I had access to regular showers.
After a couple years, I moved on.
Picked up odd jobs here and there.
A few months & I would be gone.
I never stayed long anywhere.
I had my share of small town glories
Life was just a crazy carousel.
Sometimes I suffered more fleas
than I would really care to tell.
Lately, I been feeling sorry for myself.
I needed something to turn my life around.
Then, one day, It came to me and I felt
I had to come back to this town.
Back to where the whole thing started.
I needed a second start to do it right.
I have felt this is where my heart is.
To do it right, I’ll have to fight.
Fight for a respectable name in this town.
Fight to be a man people will respect.
I don’t want you to think I’m a clown.
But, I have a plan that I don’t regret.
What kind of a plan do you have in mind?
I met a rich friend in my travels.
I saved his life but, that’s another time.
He had plans he started to unravel.
He wanted vineyards and a winery.
There is big money to be had in that.
But, he needed land, you see.
I inherited 100 acres. Right here, in fact.
He said this was ideal to grow grapes.
He would put up the money to plant.
I would share 50-50. Nothing to waste.
I owned the land on which he’d plant.
The waitress said sounds super to me.
I own this diner & business has been slow.
I could use the extra business you see.
There’s a motel 2 blocks down for you to go.
—– 0 —–
10 years later the wine business was booming.
They had acquired more land & planted.
Tourists came to buy & taste the wine for consuming.
I married the waitress he said, quite candid.
He was elected mayor in the local election.
He had respect & the family he wanted
But, the greatest thing he confessed in.
He had found God & the peace he wanted.
————————————————–R. W. Johnson—- (2012)