Dreamland Court Read online

  Books by Dale Herd

  Early Morning Wind

  Diamonds

  Wild Cherries

  Empty Pockets: New and Selected Stories

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious.

  Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  IN GRATITUDE

  Wynston Jones, Barry Hall, Dick Spray, Robert Creeley, Bobby Louise Hawkins, Lewis MacAdams, Larry Fagin, Ed Dorn, Tom Raworth, Fielding Dawson, Louis Warsh, Geno Conahan, Frank Holmes, Richard Gates, Michael Lally, Marjan Peters, Sara Houston Culver, Jim Hartz, Neal Brown, Barbara Wright, Gordon Craig, William Petersen and Penelope Milford for their contribution to the work.

  A SPECIAL THANKS TO

  Stephen Emerson for his superb editorial skills; Oscar Aguirre, Mary Ann Abramowitz, Ted Pearson, and Kevin Opstedal for their careful textual reading of the manuscript; Michael Wolfe for his always helpful advice and unwavering support. The book would not have come into existence without the imaginative thought and graphic skill of Hans van der Kooi. And to David Wilk who had the courage to publish the work.

  This work is dedicated

  to the memory of

  DONALD ALLEN

  and

  RICHARD FAYE HERD, JR.

  Contents

  BOOK ONE: FALL

  Chapter 1: Back on the Ventura Freeway

  Chapter 2: East Thompson Blvd.

  Chapter 3: Simi Valley Auto Wrecking

  Chapter 4: Driftwood Lane

  Chapter 5: Dos Caminos Ave.

  Chapter 6: East Front Street

  Chapter 7: South Victoria Ave.

  Chapter 8: West Ramona St.

  Chapter 9: Sears Roebuck, South Mills Rd.

  BOOK TWO: WINTER

  Chapter 10: Salinas Valley State Prison

  Chapter 11: Saint Bonaventure High School

  Chapter 12: East Ventura Basin, Vintage Petroleum

  Chapter 13: Stardust Motel

  Chapter 14: West Mission Ave.

  Chapter 15: The Ban-Dar

  Chapter 16: West Sepulveda Blvd., San Pedro

  Chapter 17: North Ventura Ave.

  Chapter 18: Kit Kat Drive, Reno, Nevada

  BOOK THREE: SPRING

  Chapter 19: Bell’s Liquor

  Chapter 20: Saviors Road

  Chapter 21: “The Red Pink Motel”

  Chapter 22: Out On East Main St.

  Chapter 23: The Starlight VIP Room

  Chapter 24: Mill Creek Canyon

  Chapter 25: Wildwood Lane

  Chapter 26: North Garden St.

  BOOK FOUR: SUMMER

  Chapter 27: Salinas Yards

  Chapter 28: Los Cabos Lane

  Chapter 29: Soledad Prison Road

  Chapter 30: 8 Block, Level 4

  Publisher's Note on the eBook Edition

  Dreamland Court offers the reader two different experiences, in print and in ebook formats.

  The print book is constructed in an unconventional format. Each page looks like a jigsaw puzzle, giving the reader a real-time understanding of the dynamic between the characters. The reader is able to see and understand what is happening as events in the story unfold, and then finally come together. An analogy would be that the print book delivers a wide shot of the action.

  The ebook changes the focus, presenting monologues, one at a time. It enables the reader to absorb each monologue as a short story or a stand-alone piece. The ebook takes the reader inside the mind of the individual. An analogy would be that the ebook provides a close-up of each character.

  If you purchased this ebook version and would like to experience the print book version at a reduced price, email [email protected] for further information.

  Author and publisher wish to give special thanks to Kevin Callahan of BNGO Books for bringing to life this digital version of Dreamland Court.

  “She can look up as long as you can look down,

  ’cause she’s a truckin’ little woman, don’t you know...”

  – Big Bill Broonzy

  “Trucking Little Woman”

  “She’ll do me, she’ll do you,

  She’s got that kind of lovin’...”

  – Irving Mills & Cliff Friend

  “Lovesick Blues”

  as performed by Hank Williams

  BLUE SHEET: DALTON, JOHN RANDOLPH

  HT: 6’ 3-1/2 WT: 236 SEX: M HAIR: BRN EYES: BLU

  DOB: 08-06-59 CAL: R044240296

  COMMENTS

  3rd incarceration in past 3 years. Knows routines, regulations. Approved for general population, exercise yards. Seems pleased, happy with self. Asked how he’s been getting along, stated: “Can’t complain; in or out, it’s been a good time to sort out a lot of stuff, either through correspondence with friends and family, including wife, mother-in-law, and children, or by reading, ignored during my last go at civilian life.” Said the main problem, not only for himself, but for others, was duration of hot water during shower time, that it was obvious the central water heater was clogged with rust as when you first turned the taps on the water poured out brown before running clean, and then the heat only lasted, at best, a couple of minutes. Asked for psychiatric counseling, enrollment forms for a pre-veterinary studies correspondence course from U. C. Davis. Both approved, pending initial 90-day review. Shower complaint has been forwarded to the Maintenance Dept. Request for Work Furlough Program backed by confirmation from owner of Bump & Shine Auto Body in Ventura, Ca. Address, phone number on file.

  BOOK ONE FALL

  JACKIE

  I came, he came, it came, we both came, everything came, the whole car came, the whole car was surrounded by our come and I was so happy and so glad to be part of this boy who had given me this, it seemed to come from some kind of magic between us, it never mattered where we were, or what position we were in, it happened each time, every time, each time all the time, and I was always ready, so ready if I kicked my panties off, kicked them high enough, they’d stick to the ceiling they’d be so wet, and then I was pregnant and I think really happy about it, but mostly felt sick all the time so I really wasn’t happy about anything, I really wasn’t, but it was really nice to have it out of my belly, though, and in my arms. I had two labors, two, one kind of easy, the second really hard, it went really hard into my hips and my back, my kidneys, and lower back, and I didn’t like it, not one bit, and decided if I was going to have it, to really have it, you know, so I just went right down into it and went to work. This went on and on for the longest time, but what happened next was just fantastic, it really was. John had just gotten to the hospital. They let him in to see me, see, and he walked in and I said, ‘Hi,’ and he said, ‘Hi,’ and that was the next push and it crowned, that’s when it crowned. We both wanted a boy, I wanted a boy, but when we saw her, she was this perfectly blue, all blue, blue little baby girl, she looked just like a little old man, my heart just melted…

  Chapter 1

  Back on the Ventura Freeway

  JOHNNY

  I’d just got off the Hound there, the main terminal, right, ’n I’m walking out the big glass doors ’n there’s this cop I know. ‘Dalton,’ he says, ‘now what the hell are you doing?’ ‘Doing,’ I say, ‘whatta you mean? I’m just getting off the bus.’ ‘No, Dalton,’ he says, ‘not the bus. See that car over there?’ ‘What car?’ I go. ’N he points to some car parked across the street. ‘That car,’ he says, ‘that blue one there; now that car is hot and I’m gonna have to run you in.’ ‘Hell, Brownie,’ I say, ‘I’m just getting outa the can s
o why would I do a jackass thing like that?’ Well, I’m a little slow, see, real fuckin’ slow, ’cause he’s already been yakking into his collar mike calling a Black ’n White, an’ I’m standing there twisting around with my thumb up my ass watching it roll up, rollers flashing, sirens chirping, doors opening, the whole fuckin’ bit, right? But I finally get it together, I mean you got to, right? So’s, ‘Hey, Brownie,’ I go, ‘how would it be if I just turned around and got back on that Oxnard-Ventura bus right now?’ ‘Why sure, Dalton;’ he goes, ‘you do that; that’d be just the ticket…’

  JACKIE

  What would you do? Say your old man was gone and you found yourself with someone new. And say, without you meaning to, something good happened, something really, really good, and you really couldn’t break it off, even though your old man was still your old man; what about that?

  JOHNNY

  Do you remember you telling me I’d made your heart so glad by giving you the most beautiful gift a man could give a woman, our beautiful baby girl, Dawnie Gwen? I love you, Jackie. I’ll always love you. I want to grow old with you. You will always be beautiful to me. Can you tell me everything there is about you all over again, but slowly, ever so slowly, so very slowly so that it takes a very, very long time with your sweet smile and thoughtful ways spreading joy on me, looking me in the eye, telling me what I need to hear, making me more than I am. You know I’ve always said when you meet the right person you know it. I’ve always known it. I can still see the light in your eyes. Is it still there? Just a little? A little little?

  TERI

  John said that? Shit! She’s got bruises all over her! Really! She’s had to go doctoring from that, and even he couldn’t believe it, the doctor, right, and wants her to press charges. Yeah, charges! Sure! On John, ’cause he shows up just outa the blue, like no one even knew he was getting out, ’n he’s so ripped! I mean like ripped! Like new heights in the history of human fuckuppedness, ’kay? Like he doesn’t have no clothes on! All’s he’s got is his underpants, swear to God! And her, she doesn’t even care what’s happened! He’s thrown-up all over the back of the car, broke into it and spent the night there. Left the door open so the battery’s run down and it won’t start in the morning. ‘So he’s back;’ she says, ‘big fucking deal.’ Well, hey, you’ve got to give her credit, she knows the guy, but what’s she doing? I mean, so what if she seems clear about some things ’cause, shit, she’ll do anything with anybody, know what I mean? I think Welfare’s gonna get her kids, man, is what I think. Every time I go over there it’s the same thing – the kids are out in the living room, the bedroom door’s closed, the kids are tearing the living room apart, and she’ll come out yelling, ‘You fucking kids!’ I tell her, ‘Hey, Girl, what do you expect? They’re just getting even with you. Spend more time with them and stop doing that crap you won’t have to be yelling at them all the time.’ I mean if I knew Welfare was gonna take my kids I’d go nuts. I really would. I really love kids. I love her kids. I’m always taking Dawnie over to Mom’s on nights off and letting her sleep with me. She’s a real cuddler, just hugs and hugs me. She’s just so, so sweet, she really is, but like the other night I was over there, Jac’s with this new guy we’ve just met, I’m out on the couch sitting with Dawnie watching cartoons ’n Little John’s gone over t’ Mom’s, an’ Jac comes out, sayin’, ‘Ter, you know where the Vaseline is?’ ‘Me?’ I say. ‘How the hell would I know where the Vaseline is?’ ‘Well,’ she says, ‘Car wants to, ’n it would be easier with Vas an’ I’m gonna.’ Well, you shoulda heard the yells. She was yelling her ass off in there. Then he comes out, right, and just splits, and she’s in there calling for me. Now no way am I gonna go in there. So she starts begging me to, ’n I take Dawnie into the kitchen and get her some Kool-Aid and then go into the bedroom and Jac says, ‘Look, I’m bleeding,’ ’n shows me, an’ I about pass out! She was really bleeding all over her butt and was crying and smiling, too, and then them kids, like Little John? The other night he got in bed with me and just started hunching. ‘John-John,’ I said, ‘what’re you doing?’ ‘What Mommy does,’ he says. Can you believe it? Man, I don’t know. I’m getting real worried about her. I don’t know what she’s doing. I just hope she doesn’t go under ’cause she could, man, she really could, like with this Carson creep? He’s always gaming on her, then doubling back ’n wanting her ass, which she always goes for, too, which is just like ol’ John, too, if you ask me. The both of them, all that nice and polite stuff until you get to know them, know what I mean?

  CARSON

  Slow-like, you know, like really, really taking her time. So lying there, there wasn’t no hurry, and she was rubbing my neck, my shoulders, my back, and I guess she was done ’cause she wasn’t moving, and I looked at her over my shoulder-like, and she was sitting back on her knees looking at me, just looking, you know, and she just sat like that for some time, and it felt right, too, you know, like, uh, she was jus’ seeing what was there, ’cause later, man, later, we’re, uh, we’re really into it, and there’s this kinda break where she’s up on her hands and knees, like not together, you know, ’cause we’re shifting positions so’s we’re not touching, an’ I just sit back and look at her, and we’re looking at each other, her at me back over her shoulder and, man, I see it, that’s when I see it, that she’s just as wild as me, that she’ll just get into it as far as me, and that just blows me away, it does, ’cause I’ll go all the way, and looking at her I see there’ll be some places she’ll go first, she’ll take me into, ’cause I can see that, too, man, I can, I see that in her right fucking there, and like, Jesus, I can’t wait!

  JACKIE

  You want I should tell you? Do you? ’Cause I can’t even think of going back is why. ’Cause I can’t. ’Cause the only reason you go back to a person is for comfort, ’cause you know that person, ’cause maybe you don’t seem to do too well without that person, ’cause maybe, well, who knows? Maybe you are right. Maybe I will...

  EDDIE

  Hey! Wow, man! Your timing’s just unbelievable! This is just fuckin’ great! Wow, put ’er there, Bro! Gimme five! This is so unbelievable! I mean I just now got over a big, big fuckin’ problem ’n then here you are! Yeah! Jesus! Goddamn! Gimme a hug! Remember this ol’ Jimmy? How long I been at this cocksucker, more ’n a year, right? Two years? Yeah, well, what did it, I finally put a new starter button in. Just broke down and did it. Tore the old bastard out and put in a new four-wire button. Somethin’ I shoulda done a long time ago. Haven’t even tried it yet, but I can just feel it. The whole frickin’ attitude of the truck’s just changed, know what I mean? No fuckin’ around; just mainline it, right? That’s how to do it. Let’s go inside. I wanna get this grease off my hands. I’ve got some hand cleaner in there. Damn, Bro, it’s just great to see you, man! No shit! Well, hey, of course you can. Why the hell not? Maybe Luis, or even that ol’ San Pedro crew. A few of them assholes are still gunnin’ the drill...

  JACKIE

  Huh-uh, no way, I told him if he wanted to see the kids Mom had ’em and how come he was so hot to see them anyways ’cause he never wrote them or nothing. Yeah, over there. ‘Well,’ he said, he knew they sure were growing up and that was making him real sad ’cause he wasn’t around much to see it, ’n what else was more important anyways? He sure bet Dawnie was a regular young lady by now, and he sure wanted to see that. Plus, ’cause I was glad to see him! Yeah, that’s right. ’Cause I was, that’s why. I’m not gonna lie about it. ’Cause I’m not…

  CARSON

  So’s, so, Big-J,’ I says, ‘what makes you think anything’s been going down at all?’ ‘’Cause I know her, you stupid butt­hole,’ he says, ’n then just looks me off, you know, like this, like turns to the side with his goddamn hand in his goddamn pocket like he’s carrying, right? Like he’s got a goddamn piece in there, and I fuckin’-A know the fucker’s just got off the bus, no way he’s got a piece in there. He’s got a taped-up cardboard box under his arm that fla
t out marks him, man, like straight outa the slam, right? So’s I laugh. That’s right. I jus’ laugh. ’N he stands there, his eyes getting bigger and bigger, ’n I know he’s getting ready to come right on to it, so’s I say, ‘Hey, John, man, it’s summertime, man; can’t get pissed off in the summertime. Time to kick back, have a few brews, smoke a little zip. Things’ll change. Can’t get burned off ’bout some old shit that went down last spring, man; no point in getting all twisted off about that. All that shit’s long gone, man!’ And what’s he do? Nothing! Just stares! ‘So’s,’ I says, ‘pull it. You got it so’s you could pull it, didn’t you? So do it!’ But he didn’t, see. It was a nothing; a goddamn slide. He ain’t gonna do dick. If he was, that’s when he would a’ done it…

  JACKIE

  You wanna see a haze come over my eyes? Do you? ’Cause women always get sleepy-eyed around men they’re sexually attracted to. ’Cause men do, too. They always get that same look in their eyes when they’re making love to you. They do. Even you. Definitely you! You do, too! Look at me, Car. Com’on, I wanna see your eyes. Come on, now. Stop that sulking! You are, too! Oh yes, you are. You definitely are...

  JACKIE

  I have never met one person whose sex life is in apple pie order. Some say theirs is but they are not to be trusted. If one person could be found with a harmonious sex life, I felt if I could find that person I could begin to find out what is really going on. My goal has always been to be completely human, to do everything humans do...