Chapter 8 – People Are Strange

“I’d like you to meet some people I know.” With that, I drove to visit Jenny’s small entourage of friends, which typically came from the community college or were frequent club patrons. With them, her knowledge and appreciation of music were matched and openly discussed like poetry at City Lights. “Jerry’s place is up in the Canyon. It’s sort of a creepy, mystic looking place. The Byrds used to drive up and down this neighborhood in their Porsches.” Looking around the Camaro’s interior, “It’s nice being in your car. I was having to walk or hitch rides everywhere.”

“What else are you doing that’s not safe?”

With a voice of Laurie Bird-like innocence and confidence, “It’s safe.”

On the right-hand side of the winding road was the Country Store. Behind it were small apartments Jim Morrison used to stay in. “There’s the store where the creatures meet,” followed by the humming of “Love Street.”

Further along, she directed me to a small cottage style home. Once upon a time, you could tell it was an inviting place. By now, half a century’s worth of time and neglect were starting to show just enough. Some of the homes up the drive had a similar appearance. Not that my hometown was upscale, but the difference was obvious. This area had made it through several fires, which were known to sweep through the Canyon. Jenny approached the steps first and knocked…then walked right on in without a reply. I couldn’t believe she would do that.

“Jenny, what are you doing?”

She waved me in.

I stepped up into the house and was hit with a wild aroma of smoke, incense, and a stale smell I had never encountered before. For me, there would be a lot of firsts with this group. Jenny casually made her way through the house, giving greets, and introduced me to everyone. There were four people just lounged about in the living room. No one got up to shake hands or formally greet us. It was very blasé. And very dark. All of the flowered curtains were drawn shut and the details of the wallpaper and hanging tapestries became obscured.

I’m not good with names, so I just ignored the individual greetings and became more focused on the condition each person was in. First, was Jack. He was a slightly chubby guy, around my age, with shaggy hair and chin goatee. Next to him in the plaid-striped love seat was Sissy. Though she was only in her late twenties, she looked like a southern mother with pulled back hair tucked behind a purple scarf. Her brother was Jerry, a heavy, balding guy with a thick beard and glasses. Sort of like Allen Ginsberg during the late 60’s. He and his cigarette collection dominated a large velour recliner. Marion, the last guy, whose long, dirty blond hair hung over his eyes. Though he sat on the floor, you could tell he was equally tall as he was thin. He was very effeminate. When he raised his head to say hello, I looked at her or him closer. I could see he was wearing eye-liner and eye-shadow, his nails painted different colors.

            Jenny seemed happy, so I didn’t concern myself with it. We’ve always had different tastes in friends. Jerry gave me a beer and everyone sat around and chatted in the front room. Being new, I just sat to the back and listened. After briefly discussing recording on magnetic tapes, all they focused their discussion on was local stuff – shows, albums, and people they knew. Jenny fit right in, so she must have known them for a while. But she wasn’t them. These were city boys, the youth of L.A. I was quick to judge. My concentration on their persona became interrupted.

“So Eric, uh, you’ve made the move here to L.A., right?” Jerry spoke after taking a pull from his custom cigarette.

“Yeah.” I kept it short. There was nothing for me to say.

“You’re in good shape. Did you play ball?” Marion brushed his hair aside to ask.

“Yeah, safety position.” My profile didn’t fit theirs. I looked more like a cop on Adam-12 and they were the 211 suspects.

“Man, I wanted to play football.”

I looked at Jerry with the same sleepy looking eyes he had, “Did you really?” My sarcasm must not have been well hidden.

Sissy piped in, “Anyway gentlemen, we ladies are going to finish getting some food made.” She pulled Jenny into the kitchen and I was left with the weirdoes.

My turn. “So…,” sipping on my brew, “How do you guys know Jenny, anyway?”

Quick response, Jerry’s going with it, “Jenny and Sissy met at school.” His puma paw of a hand rubbed his belly, “Is everything alright, man?”

“Oh yeah, I’m good. I appreciate the beer. I’ll take you guys out for drinks some time.” Maybe not. I was still underage.

Sounds cool.”

Jack slithers into the mix, fiddling with his chin hair, “You listen to music?”

“You bet.”

They named off bands and people I hadn’t heard of, as if completely made up. One I remember was Gary Glitter. What a girl name. I looked confused and they had me pinned.

So I told them, “I think we like different kinds of music. Let’s leave it at that.”

Marion smirked to Jack, “Maybe he’s an Aces kind of guy. You know, Bakersfield.” That didn’t mean anything to me at the time. Knowing what I know now, I would have rightfully been insulted and thought about decking him.

Jerry turned on the television and no more conversation occurred. All in the Family was on. I’ve never been much for TV, but the show was enjoyable enough. With that Sethian thought in mind, they switched the channel. Gee, thanks. Wow, the only straight in the room gets isolated.

Dinner was done in twenty minutes and I had been counting it down since I first smelled it cooking. Nobody sat at a dinner table. In fact, I don’t recall there being one. They just ate on the floor or back on the living room furniture. They had either raised themselves with no manners or civility, or this was the California way. Regardless, the food was good and I had to let her know. “Sissy, this is really tasty.”

She smiled, “Thanks, Eric!”

Taking a bite, then a puff, “My sister’s one of the best cooks around.” Before he gets the last word in, Jerry shoves the spoon back in his mouth. The meal’s origins seemed eastern European. It was hearty, but not heavy.

When I was scraping the last bits from my plate, Jenny said we had to get going. My relief was internal yet strong. It was a lazy and slow good-bye.

I let Jenny in the car first, then myself. She looked over at me with a smile, “Thanks for pretending.”

“Man oh man. All I got to say is whoa.”

“They’re nice folks.”

Firing up the car, “If they’re nice to you, that’s all that matters.”

“I really like Sissy. Someday she wants to be a teacher. We met in English class. I mean, I think she’s really good with people.”

“Patient and tolerant, for sure.”

“I enjoy Sissy’s company. She’s a sweet woman with a kind heart. The guys are cool. A little weird sometimes, but cool. One day I’ll bring Eric to meet them. No, they’re not his type of guys to hang with. They don’t watch sports or talk car talk, but they’re mellow and meek.

Sissy told me her mom came from Serbia and her dad from Hungary. Odd combination, huh? All of the meals she cooks come from family recipes. They’re all very good. She cooks for me and the boys a lot. It’s nice having a home-cooked meal. Without Sissy, I wouldn’t get one. Once Daddy died, Mom stopped making GOOD food. Between me and her, we ate a lot of crap out of cans.

I spend what free time I have with Sissy. Life gets lonely and gets you down. A good female friend is cool to have, but I need a man. Eric fills such a void in my life. Any good woman needs a good man. He can do so much for you and you can do the same in return. Love is a tremendous high.”

A week later, and upon Jerry's suggestion, Jenny and I did something wild and slept out under the stars in Topanga Canyon. No tent, no sleeping bag...just us and our blankets. At night, we slept on the floor of the canyon and during the day we walked and hiked through the hills.

The first night, I felt like a bum. Camping as a kid, we always had something to sleep in and under. This experience was way different, but still fun (mostly because I had Jenny). Due to pollution and city light, there was little to see of the night sky. Around us we had no lamps or lights from civilization. We were fortunate enough to have enough moonlight that a fire wasn't necessary. Besides, we didn't want to stand out against the wilderness with a blazing light in the middle of darkness. Jenny and I shared some beers, laid together down in a valley and talked, exposed to the environment, until we fell asleep.

In the morning, I was hit with a chill and nestled back in my blankets. When my arm reached for Jenny, all I felt was woolen fabric. I freaked out and for some reason immediately thought about Sharon Tate. I called out Jenny's name and got no response. Looking down, her shoes were gone, which I assumed was a good sign. Not wanting to wait, I went on foot. About a hundred yards south and up an embankment of rocks and shrubs, I could hear her and another guy casually talking. My heart raced and my feet took me as fast as they could in her direction. When I broke through a cascade of bushes, Jenny was sitting there in a circle with a young, thin male and female. No one looked startled as I made like a predator through the growth. Jenny motioned for me to sit next to her in their circle.

The female was an attractive blond, with Scandinavian or Swiss features, bright blue eyes, and wrapped in a Mexican blanket. As refined and delicate as she was, the guy next to her was just the opposite. He was shirtless with long, dark, frizzy hair, and a brow like Jorma from the Jefferson Airplane. Sort of caveman-like. Jenny introduced them to me as Kathy and Rick. When they greeted me back, I could pick up on either a New York or New Jersey accent.

Rick handed me a bottle of wine, speaking in a slow pace, "Would you like some?"

"Uh, sure." Not what I wanted for breakfast. I hesitantly had a swig and handed it back, not before Jenny also partook in some.

Kathy then spoke, her voice more sharp and clear, "Jenny tells me you live in South Pasadena."

"Yeah, we stay with a friend of ours. Geeky guy."

Kathy softly followed, "We live with a bunch of nice friends in Hermosa." Jenny gives me a strange look and then a funny grin.

Rick scribbles on some stained paper, "Here's our address, man. Come over any time. We'll hang out." When I take it from him, I realized it was rolling paper. He must have spilled alcohol on it and decided not to use it for its original intent. "You and your girl spending the night out here?"

I looked back at Jenny, who still has an odd smile, "Yeah. She and I heard about this place from a friend."

Lighting a joint from his jacket pocket, "It's great, huh?" Kathy takes the next hit, then passes it to Jenny. She knowingly skips me and gives it back to Rick.

Concerned, Rick asks, "What about you, Eric?"

"That's not my thing, man."

"Are you sure?” He seemed puzzled. “Then what do you do?"

"Just drink."

"Oh." He looks back down at the joint and back at me.

I reassured him, "It's okay, keep doing what you're doing."

In a stoner's laugh, "Alright!"

By noon, all of us had taken a walk together up to a summit and came back down for lunch. The four of us shared whatever food and drink we had. It was peaceful but unusual. Through the journey, Kathy and Rick never talked about material possessions or music or the typical stuff I’d envision them saying. Instead, they were animated about spirituality and love. They were high on friends and togetherness, finding joys in the simple things.

Kathy asked Jenny, “Have you and Eric been together long?”

“Yeah. I mean, we had spent a long time apart and this is our first opportunity to live our lives together. Right now, we can kinda be our own entity.”

“Are you two in love or just casual?”

My eyes drew a puzzled glance at that one.

Jenny answered, “Eric and I are in love. We’re really closely bonded. All I need is the air that I breathe and his love.” She turned to Rick, who was making small talk with me, and asked Kathy, “What about you and Rick? Are you two close?”

“As close as I want to be. I love Rick and we give each other the space we need. He’s a good guy and has always been good to me.”

Extending her hand, “You said you would…would you say a blessing for me and Eric?” Kathy happily obliged.

When we parted ways with the couple, Jenny gave them Nathan’s phone number and said we’d keep in touch.

I asked, “Do you really wanna talk to them again?”

“Why not?”

“We met them in the middle of the forest.”

"Neat place to run into strangers, huh?”

Shaking my head, “Why were you grinning so much when Kathy was talking?”

“She said they live in a commune.”

“A commune? What the hell is that?”

“For them, it’s a bunch of people living together. I guess they share the house and their belongings and well…on occasion, sometimes each other.”

“Each other?”

She laughs, “That’s what’s so funny.”

“What do you mean each other?”

“They sleep around within their circle of friends.”

“You got to be kidding me?”

“Nope.”

My eyes wide open, “Wow.”

Jokingly, “Now you why we’re invited.” I shot her a mean look and she laughed harder. Fortunately, and not for any sexual reason, we saw them a couple more times before they went back to the East Coast.