New York Stories

Madeline Campbell walked away from her house.

'Where are you going?', Margaret Campbell asked her.

'New York, Mom. I'm going to find myself', she answered.

She hugged her, and gripped her luggage.

Then she got into a waiting taxi.

'Take me to the Airport please', she said.

'No problem, lady'.

He grabbed her luggage, then she sat on the cheap seats. The door closed, and she put her seatbelt on.

Seconds later, the taxi driver drove towards the Airport.

It was 9:30 AM.

***

'How much?', Madeline asked the taxi driver.

'$9.85, plus tax', he answered.

She gave him a $50 bill.

'Keep the change', Madeline smiled.

'Thanks, lady'.

And he drove away, as she knew that she would change her life from now on.

***

Madeline watched the streets of Lower Manhattan.

She walked to the apartment building.

It was called The Commune.

She saw a woman smiling at her.

'Good morning. I'm Abagail Norton'.

'Good morning. I'm Madeline Campbell'.

'Please come inside the Commune'.

'Thank you, Abagail', Madeline smiled.

'You're welcome', Abagail told her.

***

'Madeline'.

'Yes'.

'I was disturbed by the idea that you're embarrassed by me'.

'Mom, this is not Boston'.

'I know that'.

'Did you get to know the neighbors?'.

'No'.

'Really'.

'That's not the problem'.

'What is the problem?'.

'Your father is having an affair with Tracey Klopper'.

'The secretary'.

'Yes', Mom cried.

Then our conversation ended.

***

Madeline watched the school.

'Are you new here?', Brodie Harr asked her.

'Yes. This was my old school before Mom and Dad freaked out in '65. Boston was full of musicians who were heading to California to make records, and movies. This was like when they made four hour movies, and everyone was bored out of their minds. And sex was free. But of course, Woodstock had a lot of bands, drugs, and everyone tripped out. I'm Madeline'.

'Brodie'.

'I live in the Commune. Do you want to go there for dinner?'.

'Sure', Brodie stated.

And she smiled.

***

'So, Brian. You left me at the Marks house'.

'Yeah, so. He was your boyfriend', Jack said.

'Todd is not going to be with me'.

'I know that', Jack smirked.

'And the point is...?'.

'You're not...Shit, the telephone is ringing'.

And the conversation ended.

***

Madeline watched the Commune.

'Are you okay?', a girl asked her.

'Me. Yes, why?'.

'Oh, you're not a lesbian are you?'.

'Me. I my Mom found out, she'll freak out'.

'And your Dad?'.

'My Dad is an Insurance broker. And makes $US60 million a year'.

'Yeah, and I make $US700 a year as a babysitter'.

'Really'.

'Oh, yes...and you...'.

'I'm Madeline'.

'Tracey'.

'Let's go into the Commune together'.

'Fine by me', Madeline said.

And she grinned.

***

'It is intolerable', Mark said.

'What about the Commune?', Karen asked.

'What about it? It's full of outcasts. Remember the Stonewall raid in '69? It was year of change. Then there was seventies happened, and so did the change, Mark answered.

'I was born in '56', Karen said.

Then they saw a woman.

'Welcome to the Commune?', Abagail asked them.

'Thank you. I'm Mark. This is my girlfriend, Karen', he answered.

'We are a free country', Abagail said.

And she grinned.

***

Jack was on the telephone.

The door was open.

'Jack'.

'Yes, Mom'.

'Are you okay? Dad was concerned about you'.

'Was he? I didn't know he needed me. He is obsessed with work in Upper Manhattan in the office'.

'What happened?'.

'I was kicked out of home for being a homosexual. Frankly, it was saying: "I hate my life". Society is horrible'.

'And the point is?'.

'We are free now'.

'Just remember what your family says about people who aren't straight. They're outsiders. You read the Colin Wilson's book about philosophy. It's a classic from 1956'.

'Yes'.

'Good. I am a philosopher, and writer'.

'And what do you write?'.

'About the drama of the World'.

'Write then, Jack'.

'Yes, Mom. Good bye. I love you'.

'I love you, Mom. Good bye'. And he hung up the telephone, and started to write on a book on his new typewriter.

***

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