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Chapter Two My first glimpse of Los Angeles was one lit by streetlights as we descended from the sky. My heart sank with the aeroplane. It wasn't the beautiful town I had been expecting, rather a city of shantytowns. I could almost see the murders on the street, the drugs being pushed and the rape of pretty boys in dark alleys. Not speaking any of my fears to Lucy, I exited the 'plane, smiling at the cabin crew because it was polite to do so, and climbing up the slope that led out into the main area of the airport. We followed the crowd to our luggage and I was left to haul the heavy suitcases onto the floor while Lucy went to get a trolley. She didn't really get the better end of the deal because while trying to free a trolley an arrogant American man asked her if she had put a quarter in the machine. Of course Lucy had and when one shook free she quickly ran towards me with it, her brown cheeks flushed with embarrassment and her eyes swimming with tears. I offered her the bravest smile I could and together we put the luggage onto the trolley. Turning around, we found that we were alone. There was no one to greet us, no one to show us what to do or where to go. We were in Los Angeles - this huge city - alone. "Where do we go?" Lucy asked. "Outside?" I suggested. She nodded her head and together we pushed the trolley outside. It was very dark now but that didn't bring the familiar comfort it did back home. Lucy and I were both terrified that someone was going to jump out and kill us. But instead of a rapist drug-dealer we found a policeman who asked us if we needed a taxi. Relieved that at least someone knew what we were meant to do next, I quickly said yes. Less than ten seconds later the policeman was throwing our luggage into the boot of the taxi and ushering Lucy and I into the back seat. |
"Where you go?" the Spanish taxi driver asked. Inwardly I groaned. What next? I wondered. What would God throw at me next? I gave him the name of the hotel. I just knew he wouldn't know where it was. "Where?" he asked confirming my fears. I repeated the name, eyeing Lucy, seeing that she too was close to breaking. "Yes, but what city?" he asked. I didn't understand and just stared blankly back at him. "Hollywood?" he asked. "No, Los Angeles," I answered. He nodded his head, turned around and began driving forward. If he had known where the hotel was in the first place then why had he needed to ask what city it was in? I knew it was pointless asking because the man didn't speak English very well and I was tired and hot. I rolled down the window and was disappointed to feel only warm air tickling against my cheeks. No cooling breeze. I felt sick. The car rolled onto the freeway and I watched the four lanes of traffic zooming past me. It was so loud. Gritty, loud and hot: they were my first impressions of Los Angeles. I'd never felt heat like it. I wasn't surprised I felt sick. The car turned off the freeway and down onto a quiet street. There was no one walking on the pavement and I thought it strange. I forgot that people in America lived differently to how we did in Britain. They had |