Teacher

I pick up the phone, it is 2 am, Murello's calling.

"Patty! What it do? how are y---"

"You gotta get here quick, Gene! They're taking the bus!"

"Ok, I'm heading out. where are you? are you still by the church?

"No, I left, they were calling the cops and I can't be getting in trouble right now, I'm on probation."

"I know, I know. Ok, look, did you lock up the bus? Are you ok? Where are you right now?

"Gino, I locked the bus. I'm fine, and I'm at this diner right now not fifteen minutes from where you left the bus."

"Ok, stay there, ill grab a cab and be over there in 10. Get me a cup of tea."

I hang up. put on my pants and grab my coat. I coil my scarf and tie my boots, it's getting cold. Pattie, Patric, Patricio Murello called me two nights ago asking to crash with me. I didn't have a choice, I didn't know if I could let him stay at my parent's place, so I let him sleep in my bus. I built him a little platform out of foam insulation and gave him the made-for-two sleeping bag my-ex-girlfriend bought for us and wants returned to REI.

I walk past the cops on the corner, wait for a gypsy cab to pick me up, and check my pockets for cash. First night on the bus, Patric said was a bit strange, you can hear everything, you're just sitting with just a bit of sheet-metal between you and the outside world. That night the bus was parked outside my house, just behind the precinct. The school bus was parked there for weeks, I've had time to put in a wooden floor, next are the walls. gotta figure out how to do the framing first. earlier today, I drove the bus to a local spot I thought would be good, outside my neighborhood, but not too far, close to the highway, but still residential parking, by this beautiful Russian church, and I had patty the Kung-fu master in it! this was supposed to be the perfect parking spot and temporary tenant for my bus. That was at 8 pm.

I pay my two dollars, cross the bridge towards the diner and see my friend pacing by the door. He sees me from a distance and starts marching towards me.

"Thank god you're here! I can't do this shit no more. I cannot be running around looking for a place to sleep. Can we go back to your place, I can leave early morning, I can explain everything to your parents. Just can't with this shit."

"Patty, let's slow down. Let's go back to the diner, did you get me that tea? No, well lets then sit down, catch me up, drink some tea and take action when we both know what is going on"

It didn't take long, there wasn't much to know. Cops came by, shined lights into the bus, and chalked up a plea on the side of the bus "Move the bus. Or it will be towed."

Patty stayed that night with me. He only slept 3 hours before running out at 7 to work on a construction team. We left the diner at 3 or so, hot tea in hand.

Patty appears in my life sporadically, cataclysmically, thundering through until a quiet lull alerts me to his passing. In his wake, I find new order, I find new peace. Sure, I often have a few new bruises, but those are learning moments. He is my teacher after all.