1000 Memories

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Touchdown LAX! It is just a few minutes before 7.00pm and we are already at the LAX airport. Some of the passengers are still asleep and the flight attendants wake them up. I can already feel the intense heat as soon as I step out of the plane. The temperature on my phone screen says that it’s 31.7°C which is understandable seeing as August is the hottest month in L.A.

Before I came here, I did my research and knew that it would be blazing hot immediately we land as compared to the kind of weather I was used to, and so I was quite well-dressed for the weather in my white tank top and black Adidas pants. I also had a sweater tied to my waist in case it gets too breezy.

I hold on to my carry-on and follow everyone else into the airport. LAX is so much bigger than the airport back at home and I am already starting to feel a little lost. Maybe I underestimated the ‘small town girl in a big city’ idea.

After getting a little lost as expected, I find my luggage and thank God because I do not want to be one of those people who lose everything they came with at the airport.

I head out to the entrance and try to look for Maggie. I completely forgot to tell her what time I would get here but seeing as how excited she was, I bet she’s probably been here waiting for about an hour.

“Aaahhhhh Cindy! Cindy!” I turn around to see Maggie with a big grin, arms widespread running so fast towards me I almost fear she’ll fall. A few people turn around to look at her as she’s calling my name so loudly.

“Wow, way to attract attention!!”I roll my eyes as she reaches out to pull me into a big hug and my tiny self is engulfed into her tall frame as she squeezes all the air out of me.

“Good to see you too Mags, can u let me go now?” I laugh as soon as she realises she is hugging me too tight.

“You are just as tiny as I remember. Am so happy to see you. OH we are going to have so much fun...” she goes on and on.

Maggie changed so much since I last saw her. She’s standing at a whole 5’8 ft. now, her salt and pepper hair is tied back in a ponytail. Her skin is usually pale but I can tell there’s a light tan probably because it’s summer.

“.....and then I’d been sitting there for almost an hour when I saw you and I couldn’t hold my excitement.” I snap out of my thought to find her talking about waiting for me. She’s still as bubbly as I remember.

We drag the rest of my bags to her packed car and leave the airport.

I cant believe am finally here. ‘The city of dreamers’ as many call it. I look out the window to see the big buildings and so many flashing lights. The night is so lively with people walking up and down the streets as if it’s daytime.

In my town usually by this time there are fewer people on the streets heading back to their homes from work. Everybody else is usually already settled at home ready for dinner or bed.

Now L.A is the complete opposite. People are going to the club, business places are still open, restaurants are still full and there are so many cars on the roads.

Maggie quietly laughs at my awed face. “Big difference huh! That was also the look on my face when I first got here and mind you I was a child. You get used to it.”

“I bet I will.” I smile thinking of all the adventures I’ve got planned in my head.

I still would have come to L.A even if I didn’t have Maggie but am so glad I do because living here will be so much easier with someone to show me around the place and hangout with.

Maggie had already told me about a studio uptown that was holding auditions for a play and as we drive through the city, she points to where the building is at.

The sight of the big ‘Auditions!!’ banner at the entrance only builds up my anticipation. The auditions are supposed to be in five days and that gives me enough time to practice.

We stop over at a McDonald’s to get some burgers and fries for dinner then drive to Maggie’s downtown apartment. The drive here was a bit longer than expected, took about forty minutes but I enjoyed every bit of it. I was always one to enjoy car rides since I was a child back at home especially since I never owned a car.

After getting the bags from the back of the car, we head into the building’s elevator then up to the fourth floor. As soon as the elevator door opens, I can tell that this is quite a fancy apartment. There are only four rooms on the floor and Maggie open’s one of the doors with her key, goes in and switches on the light.

‘Come on in ‘ she says as she takes my bags to the guest room.

“Wow” I mutter under my breath. The apartment is so big with glass walls in the living room facing the town. She has a grey couch full of nude-coloured throw pillows and a soft white fluffy rug facing the big TV on the wall.

Her kitchen is so grand with white cabinets and a large marble island in the middle. Three bar stools were placed across the stove and a big chandelier with white lights hung from the ceiling.

I knew Maggie was a telemarketer at a big firm here in L.A but I never imagined that she lives so fancily.

“Come let me show you your room, you can take a shower before we eat.”

The guest room was in a grey and white theme with a queen-sized in the middle of the room and a dressing table on the opposite side. There is a bathroom and closet on the left side of the room and big window covered in grey curtains facing the street.

This is definitely an upgrade from my room back at home. I take a quick shower and get into my pyjamas before heading into the kitchen to find Maggie serving the food.

We eat our dinner and spend the rest of the night catching up on stories before we go to bed.