The Spectrumverse

Issue #7

Crossing through them, he exited the park and came out onto Franklin Square. Here, he saw a collection of townhouses built around the pedestrianized square. In the very middle of the square stood a grey stone statue of a man dressed in revolutionary era-period clothing. With a rifle in both hands, this brave and masculine figure stood atop a podium looking down on the citizens of their town. Along the podium on a brass plaque was the name “Isaac Kyle Haverford”. Billy read about him in school. He was a revolutionary fighter.

Billy felt strange that this historic landmark also served as a grave marker. The townhouses built on the square also seemed insulting. Either way, Billy didn’t seem too bothered. Crossing the square, Billy had to pass through the clusters of locals standing about in conversation. He didn’t know any of them personally, but from the way they dressed, he could guess how they all were. All the guys had tailored pressed blazers, some with the emblem of Rollingford Academy. Most of the girls were elegantly dressed in designer attire. They would only wear the finest things. Some of them noticed Billy, but none of them paid him any heed. In their eyes, if he didn’t live on Haverford Street, he wasn’t worth getting to know.

Billy stood out like a sore thumb. Among these children of the elite, he was truly surrounded by strangers. Most chose to ignore him as they were too preoccupied with their own social circles. Managing to break through this crowd, Billy headed toward De Vann Street. Down this leafy street were trees which were planted on the sidewalk. Starting at the corner of the square and stretched all the way to the city center.

This street was one of the most expensive in the entire city. Even if he worked hard for the next forty years, Billy knew he’d never be able to afford an apartment here. From one of the townhouses along the street, Billy could hear music. One of the windows was wide open and a radio sat on the windowsill. It sounded like a jazz song from the 1950s. He couldn’t identify it, but the tune was a song anyone could dance to. Billy didn’t realize it, but he had even started clicking his fingers to the tune. Once he left the range of the radio, the music’s effect on him had vanished.

He stopped snapping his fingers in time with the rhythm. Even if it proved to be a fleeting one, it brought a little delight to this grey period

Along the street, he pondered what he should do once he arrived. Billy wanted to avoid his parents, didn’t want to have a long-drawn-out conversation with his mom. He knew she cared, but today, he didn’t want to talk about it.

He just wanted to keep his head down and go straight to his room. In the distance, he could see Settler Square, the main square of Haverford City. Reaching the end of the road, Billy found himself only a few feet from City Hall, a large building constructed during the Industrial Age. Two flag poles were placed atop the archway of the building, one with the state flag and the other with the American flag. City Hall looked down on the square below. A huge section of pavement separated the building from the road. Close to the hall were two large office complexes. To the right, a building with a sign reading “Haverford Herald” was home to the city’s most popular newspaper.

To the left was an office which had now been converted into a hotel. The building had a large sign over the doorway. The sign had the outline of a book, and the pages of the book showed the name as “The Filofax Hotel”. Unlike the other office building, the hotel had dark red classing across the exterior.

Billy looked at the hotel. Such a design made him wonder how such an establishment was so successful. He turned his attention to city hall knowing the mayor governed the city from within those walls.

He stopped on the street corner and took in what he saw. He felt temptation. Maybe even go on a tour of the hall and the city council chambers. Maybe it would help him forget about today. He wasn’t sure.

A huge bus travelled down the road ahead obstructing Billy’s view of City Hall. It stopped just before Billy, and he waited for it to move. Once the traffic started flowing, the bus went on its way. Looking upon City Hall once again, Billy crossed the road. Passing close to a place of such political power intrigued him.

Trying to remember his way, Billy focused on the path ahead of him. The main square seemed to be rather quiet. On days of major news stories, you’d expect to see several news vans parked out here. Luckily, there was no scandal or announcement. This provided an empty city square for pedestrians to go about their business. Billy very easily crossed the square, rarely had he seen it vacant.

Further down from the square lay Settler’s Road. On both sides of the road were shops and restaurants. Further down, Billy could just make out a huge building complex. One side of the building had large windows allowing people walking by to look in. They could see the clothes and other products on display. It allowed the shops in the mall to thrive.

Walking down Settler’s Road, Billy looked at the dozens of restaurants and shop fronts. Some were independent stores; most were chain stores masquerading as independent stores. Having funky logos and quirky signs provided more personality to these establishments. Billy walked down the street. He and Freddie had even visited a few of these restaurants and coffee shops before.

As Billy made it to the end of the street, he saw Freddie’s future place of employment. On the other side of the street, taking up one corner of the block, stood Brenda’s Diner. This two-story structure with rounded edges and corner windows. The exterior was painted an Irish green. The doorway had a large sign displaying the silhouette of a waitress with the word: Benda’s underneath in thick letters. This building had been built in the fifties but had been restored numerous times. It seemed so out of place being sandwiched between two apartment complexes. Even Billy felt it strange that such an establishment hadn’t been closed and converted into shops or something. Peering through the window, he could see dozens of people. It seemed the customers were the main reason that the place was still afloat. Either way, it proved to be somewhere he’d want to go, Billy had never been there even after hearing reviews about the place.

Continuing, Billy took a right turn and ventured on. Further down the road stood the intended destination of his long walk-through Haverford, Billy could just see the bus stop. Just as he approached the sturdy sign, Billy saw a bus driving down the road toward the stand. He waited patiently as he waved to the bus driver. The huge vehicle came to a gradual halt beside the bus stop. The doors screeched open. Billy stepped inside and walked up to the two steps to the bus driver. He looked at the middle-aged driver of Irish descent and reached into his pocket. Taking out a five-dollar bill, he placed it on the little countertop between himself and the driver.

“One student,” Billy casually spoke.

Taking the bill, the driver quickly printed out Billy’s ticket and then proceeded to get him his change. Two dollars and fifty cents in coins was placed on the small counter. Billy took the change and then was handed his ticket by the driver. With ticket in hand, Billy made his way down the aisle. Most of the grey seats were empty. Luckily, around this time of day, not many people took the bus. He felt spoiled for choice with so many vacant seats. Billy passed rows of empty seats and went all the way to the back. There, he sat by his lonesome, he could see all the way to the front. The bus started again, heading along its route through the city.

Billy looked out the windows of the bus, watching the hustle and bustle of the city around him. Further and further east, he went the more the city itself changed. As the bus went on, the city changed from shops and restaurants into apartment complexes. They were all the same type with mid-nineties styled exterior. The bus then approached a stop along the route and two men came on. Both were construction workers. Their fluorescent jackets and sturdy boots gave them away. These two blue-collar men walked along the bus and took the two closest seats to the door. Billy wasn’t too interested in them and focused on the world outside the bus. He was just close enough to hear their conversation.

 “You saw that new Star Wars movie?”’ one of them asked.

“Yep,” the other replied. “Thought it was a load of crap.”

“We waited twenty years for that s**t and what do we get? Five seconds of Skywalker.”

“Wasn’t even that much.”

“You’re telling me…”

“He didn’t even say anything. Just standing there like a frigging statue.”

Billy couldn’t listen to the trash talk from glorified bricklayers. He tried to block it out.

“Liked that guy though.”

“Which one? The pencil d**k with the red lightsaber?”

”‘No! I mean the one with the jacket.”

“He was alright. Didn’t think the girl would be the Jedi though.”

 “Didn’t see that one coming.”

Luckily for Billy, as soon as the bus reached another stop, the two construction workers got up and headed out.

Thankfully Billy had the bus to himself again. Outside things continued to change. The building were becoming further and further apart. He could see more greenery. Office complexes were fewer and fewer and he was starting to see houses. Out here, the houses were all the same design; early mock-colonial exterior, narrow build, and two pairs of windows between the main doorways providing light for the living room and dining room. He waited, keeping his eyes focused on his surroundings. As the bus approached the next stop, Billy pressed the stop button and made his way to the exit door. The bus came to a stop, the doors opened, and Billy stepped out onto the pavement.

On the street corner, Billy saw a sign reading that read, “Washington Way”. Billy picked himself up and walked down the road he knew so well. As he walked, the young man counted the houses. Out here, things were quiet. There was a stronger sense of community among the families. Each house had a small front yard. During the summer, Billy would often see and smell people barbecuing as he went about his business. His family barbecued like the rest of them. As he came halfway down the street, he saw a house with a dark red front door.

When he saw it, Billy walked down the front path and came to the door. Taking a pair of keys from his pocket, Billy was able to fit the key into the lock. Within moments, he was able to unlock the door. Stepping through, he found himself in a corridor.

Facing forwards, he saw a flight of stairs leading to the second floor. Past the staircase was a corridor leading into what appeared to be a kitchen. To the right was an archway. Billy went through the archway and entered the living room. The room had one large couch pointed toward a television stationed in the corner of the room. On the wall were framed family photographs showing a young child in a park and a man and a pregnant woman standing outside the same house. Another photograph showed a young boy with a man and woman, with a series of fireworks illuminating the night’s sky behind them.

“Richard? Is that you?” a voice called out.

Billy turned toward the other end of the room. There was a door leading toward the dining room and the kitchen. From the dining room came a woman in her mid-forties. She wore a black pencil dress with dark red sleeves. Her long black hair was tied back in a bun, held together with a hair band. Her lipstick was a very dark shade of pinkish-red. She seemed surprised to see Billy there in the living room. She obviously was expecting someone else.

“Mom,” Billy replied, “what are you doing home from work?” The woman walked over to Billy and wrapped her arms around him. Carefully hugging him, she wanted to provide a friendly form of hello and to express affection. Being so close, Billy could smell the perfume his mother had on. She stepped back and straightened her attire, wanting to ensure she looked perfect.

“I left work early,” his mother replied, “I wanted to get ready for the gala tonight. Being the general manager of The North Star has its benefits.” Billy crossed his arms.

“I hope you and Dad have a good time.” His mother stopped what she was doing and looked at her son.

“Oh sweetie, I know you’re still upset about the letter, but don’t worry. They were foolish to not accept you. If you want, I could speak to your father and get you a summer job at his firm?”

Shaking his head, Billy said, “I don’t know. I’m not good with car sales. I’m probably going to work with Freddie at Brenda’s. He’s going to be washing dishes there. Maybe he can put a word in for me.” His mother rubbed his forearm.

“Well, if you want, I could get the kitchen staff to hire you at North Star. You could wash dishes there.”

“Could Freddie work with me?” His mother paused as she thought about it.

“I don’t think he’d like it there.”

Billy went over to the couch and slumped himself down facing the tv but didn’t turn it on. His mother went back into the kitchen. After a few moments, she emerged via the same door wearing a light brown coat.

Billy turned back to his mother and asked, “Is Dad meant to be coming home this early in the day?”

His mother tutted, ‘‘You can talk. If it wasn’t a half-day, I’d be distraught you came home from school this early. Your father was meant to be meeting me here, otherwise…”

Just as she was about to speak, her phone went off. Reaching into her purse, she read the text message on her phone.

“Typical. Your father is meeting me at the hotel. Something about issues at work. You’d think a deputy-manager he’d be able to leave early.”

“If he were the manager, I’m sure he’d be able to leave early,” Billy replied, “which he isn’t.” His mother looked back to Billy, her maternal instincts told her something else was wrong.

“Did something else happen today?’”

“I visited the Museum on my way back. Found out why I didn’t get the job.”

“And?”

“They’re closing the place down.” Within moments, his mother walked over to the couch and sat down beside her son. Wrapping her arm around Billy, she pulled him in close and hugged him with all her compassion and love. Billy then rested his head on his mother’s shoulder. He remained silent.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said softly, “I know that place was important to you.” She rubbed Billy’s back before reaching into her purse. Taking out forty dollars, she held it between her fingertips.

“While your father and I are out tonight, you can order pizza. We’ll be back tomorrow morning, so don’t leave the house in a mess while we’re gone.” His mother got back up from the couch and was just about to walk to the front door. She stopped and turned back.

“Maybe tomorrow we can talk about a summer job. How does that sound?” Billy didn’t say anything. He looked at his mother, nodded, then got up. He walked past his mother and went up the staircase. His mother put on her coat and just as Billy made it to the top of the stairs, she called out to him.

“You have both our numbers and if anything happens, call us or call the emergency services.” Billy saw her by the front door.

“Of course, Mom.”

“Now, have a good night and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Have a good time.”