DAWSON’S TRAVELS
Chapter Three
April 10, 1908
Jack stood on the pier, looking
out over the ocean, his portfolio tucked under his arm. The twenty dimes he had
received from today's drawings were enough to give him a decent meal and maybe
a shabby room to stay in, maybe even not that much. He couldn’t help but wonder
if maybe Leah was right. Maybe it would have been better if he had stayed in
Chippewa Falls, where there was always a hot meal and a warm bed to sleep in.
But then he thought of Santa Monica and moments like this, where he could just
look out over the ocean and watch the sunset. If he had stayed in Chippewa
Falls, he would have missed out on this breathtaking experience. In fact, he
couldn't think of anything more beautiful than a Santa Monica sunset.
He'd been here for almost a year
this month, and the sunsets still took his breath away. The only thing missing
was a special someone to share these sunsets with. Someone like Leah...she
would have loved this. He knew she would. He promised himself that he'd take
her here someday so she could witness the California sunsets herself...if he
ever returned to Chippewa Falls, that was.
"Hiya, Jack!" A
friendly voice interrupted his thoughts. Jack turned and smiled at his best
friend and roommate, Andy Calvert. The two had become great friends since the
day he arrived in Santa Monica. This was the first time, though, that Andy had
cared to join him in watching the sunset.
"Hey, Andy."
"What are you thinking
about, standing here all by yourself? The ladies are waiting." Andy
referred to the dates he had rustled up for Jack and himself. Dawson was going
to be surprised when he lay his eyes on the lovely blond bombshell he had
picked out. "They can't wait to meet ya. Her name's Lola. They say she's
one of those showgirls down at the joint."
"You got a date named
Lola...and she's a showgirl?" Jack turned to his friend, amusement shining
in his eyes.
"I know the name needs to be
worked on, but believe me, Jack, she's a knockout."
"A knockout, huh? I don't
know, Andy...I'm not really sure that I'd want to spend time with a showgirl
named Lola. She doesn't seem like..."
"Whoa. Hey, Dawson, lighten
up. Spending time with the girl doesn't mean you have to marry her. I know you're
still looking for that special someone...the girl who can look into your very
soul and grab your heart. Personally, pal, I think you're dreaming, but I'm not
going to push my beliefs on you. You just keep waiting for that Miss Right, but
in the meantime...have fun with Lola."
Jack just smiled wistfully at his
friend. "That's one of the things I'll miss about you, Andy. Your charm
with the ladies and how it seems to rub off on me at times."
Andy laughed. "Dawson, you
haven't looked in the mirror lately, have ya? Ladies don't come to see me,
Jack...well, they do, but most of them drop by to see you. You're a lady
killer, man, and don't even know it...don't even put it to good use."
Andy's eyes widened even more when he finally caught the drift of Jack's first
words. "Wait a minute, Jack. What do you mean you're going to miss me? Are
you going somewhere?"
"The road is calling to me
again, Andy. It's time to leave again. I'll be boarding the next ship to Europe
tomorrow morning. I somehow landed a job on a real ship, if you can believe
it."
Andy was speechless. He didn't
know what to say. His life had been dull and hopeless before Jack appeared in
his life, with his sunny attitude and bright smile. That had been when his life
had turned around and he had found himself acting his age...a
seventeen-year-old boy with his whole life ahead of him. But now that his best
friend in the whole world was leaving...what was to become of him now? How
could he keep his spirits up without Jack around to brighten the place? Who
would he double date with or joke around with, or just talk to when he need
someone to just listen? Of course, there would be other best friends, but none
of them would be like a brother to him like Jack was. There would never be
another Jack Dawson.
"Jack...I don't know what to
say. Is there anyway to get you to change your mind?"
Jack shook his head. "None.
I'm sorry to spring it on ya like this, Andy, but I didn't know I was ready to
leave until this morning, and this was the only time we got to talk today."
"But, Jack...you're needed
here, man. Sal said with the summer fast approaching, it's going to be busy.
Those portraits of yours are a big part of our profits." Andy tried to
plead with his friend. "We need you, Jack."
Jack sighed and looked at the boy
who had been his best friend for the past year. He wished that he could stay
here in Santa Monica forever, but he wasn't done fulfilling his promise to his
parents yet. He had to live life for all it was worth, and follow his gut
instincts. And his gut instinct was to pick up and head off for Europe, because
he might not get the chance again.
"I can't stay, Andy. This is
a big opportunity, and it may not come around again. Besides, with all the art
museums and stuff going on in Europe, my chance of becoming a famous artist is
greater there." Jack looked at the ground, reminded of the last time he
had made this famous artist speech. This one was so similar to the one he had
given Leah before he had left Chippewa Falls. And now here he was, one year
later, telling the same thing to another best friend who hated to see him go.
"Well, then...I wish you the
best, Jack. I really do. Come back and visit again if you ever get the
chance." Forcing a smile, Andy shook Jack's hand and turned to walk away,
not daring to look back out of fear that Jack would see the tears in his eyes.
He definitely was going to miss Jack, and hoped to see him again someday.