One
On a dark desert highway, cool air blew in my hair. The sun had just set and we’re still on the road heading towards Los Angeles, California for our first performance. It was our first time on the open road, just us, four friends in a Cadillac full of old guitars and an eager heart to perform in a big city.
“Hey Leon, whatchu lookin’ at?”
“Nothin’, just wonderin’ when we’re gonna get to LA” I said and turn to look at Mickey.
Mickey, the guy who started it all... “Fame and glory meets us in the west man!” Yeah, right, by the time we’re making, I don’t think fame and glory will sit tight and wait for us in LA.
“But we ain’t gettin’ nowhere by the way Dave is drivin’” said Jimmy, who seemed to have read my mind.
Then I turned to Dave and said “Yeah, Dave what’s with this drivin’ all fast when you can’t get us to LA before sunset?”
It was actually a simple trip, one straight road that can take us from New Mexico all the way to California in half a day or so. But no, Dave had to bring his father’s old map to guide us all the way to Los Angeles. And after a few hours of twist and turns – not to mention going all the way to the Mexican border – did Dave finally give up and agree to get a new map at the nearest gas station.
But hey, at least we’re still in one peace and heading at the right direction... I hope.
“Hey you know what guys, it’s getting pretty late, maybe we should stop at the nearest motel and continue the next day” Mickey finally said. “Besides, our performance is tomorrow night... right?” he nudged me with a look that was seeking my assurance. He probably wasn’t even sure what time it is let alone knowing what time our performance is suppose to be.
Without thinking I said “Y-yeah...”
How on earth are we going to find a motel in the middle of a desert highway? I can’t see anything but darkness and the vague visibility of the moon hiding behind the clouds, which was unusual since we were in the middle of the desert.
And it was then that the cool wind that blew my hair through the open window at the back seat started to give a faint scent of colitas. It was warm and it felt like the air was rising through my nostrils into my lungs. It felt comforting after a day’s travel with very little stops. Moreover we were rushing all the time since we left our homes at New Mexico.
Then up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light. It looked like as if it was fading as we drew closer to it. What could it be? I wondered. A motel in the middle of the desert? Last I checked, the map showed a clear path through the desert with the next stop at Kingman from our last stop at Flagstaff, still within the Arizona desert.
We were travelling through I-40, a major west-east interstate highway. Possibly the most boring highway in America because there’s nothing much to see but endless deserts. Am I hallucinating? A mirage in the distance? In a cold desert night like this? No way! But...
“Hey, you see that guys? Could be a motel up ahead” said Jimmy as he pointed towards the direction where the light came from.
“What? Where?” responded Dave who was on the wheel. He seemed startled. That idiot was probably dozing off behind the wheel.
Mickey then gave him a slap behind his head and said “You idiot! Are your eyes even open? Wake up, man! And watch your speed!”
“Hey, I’m drivin’ here!” yelled Dave across his shoulder. “Don’t distract the driver, man!”
At a tensed moment like this and he is still fooling around... That guy is never serious in anything!
“Slow down, man!” I said. “We may miss the turn in to that motel, or whatever that is...”
I was feeling a bit relief and at the same time something funny was itching behind my head. The question “Why is there a motel in the middle of the desert?” is still lingering around my mind. This was my first time... Our first time on this highway. So maybe there’re some things about the desert we have not learnt or read about. Could there really be a motel in the middle of the desert. Honestly, I hope there is. I’m starving as hell and am in dire need to stretch my limbs! This Cadillac seemed to have shrunk since we left for LA.
As we drew closer to the light, the very sight of that shimmering light made my head grew heavy and my sight dim. Feeling a bit dizzy but I still had to stay up. Besides I have to watch the road or Dave might really miss the turn.
“Snooorreeee....” It came from beside me. Mickey the fearless leader’s already sleeping from the mesmerizing sight! But Jimmy was still alert, although I can see that he is dozing on and off from conscience. Dave on the other hand was surprisingly alert. I could not see his full face, but I could see his eyes from the rear view mirror. They were as wide as when he would usually stare at a pretty girl.
Then my thoughts came back to my senses. I was feeling really dizzy. I really have to stop for the night. Wouldn’t want to sleep in the desert. Who knows what dangerous creatures lurk in the desert. Coyote maybe, scorpions? Uuugh! Hate them!
**********
It was my last day at high school. It was my final paper for the semester. Everything seemed to be going well. The clock ticked as I watched its arms slowly move to 3pm. I looked around and everyone was still busy writing their test. There was a lady, the invigilator, sitting by the teacher’s desk. She looked awfully young for an invigilator, I thought. But she sure was pretty with her dark hair and dark colored clothes. Who is she anyway?
Suddenly I got a sense of dejavu. Hey, I have taken this test right? But something felt different. That lady there by the teacher’s desk, who is she? And why is she staring at me? She gave me a very uncomfortable feeling.
The clock struck three and the bell rang. I was ready to get off my seat, when I realized it. That everyone was motionless, everyone seemed to have stuck in the exam time. I was startled, I wanted to yell something, but nothing came out of my mouth. I looked around. I wanted to touch the nearest person next to me. But then I realized, she was right beside me. I turned to her. She was staring at me ever more intently. I turned away from her and saw that the class was now empty. I turned back to her, and she was still there. She was very tall, beautiful, but menacing.
She held out her slander hand and grabbed my arms. Tears began to fall from her eyes, her dark hair started to turn gray and white. Then a very terrifying roar came from everywhere. Terrified, I looked around and everything vanished, only the two of us were standing in the middle of the desert under the hot sun. The terrifying roar continued, and this time I saw a massive sand storm rising and coming towards us from behind her. I tried to scream and yell, but still nothing came out of my mouth. I struggled to release myself from her grip, but my arm was held firmly in her grip.
As the storm came closer, she then started to cry and cried very hard.
“RUN!!! RUN!!! RUN LEON! RUNN!!!!! LEON RUNNN!!!! LEON!!!!”
“LEON! Leon!!!”
I opened my eyes and saw Dave’s big head in front of my face.
“Wake up, man! We’re here!”
Here? Where’s here? I got up from the back seat and out of the car. I stretched my arms and legs which felt like it was cramped. I looked around and saw that we were in front of some old looking building, built by stone and wood. It looked like something out of Zorro. A well weathered building, brown and dark in color, filled with leaves and herbs dangling all over it. But it was huge and looked impressive, although old. Why is an old mansion doing in the middle of the desert?
“Hey guys, I got us individual rooms!” came Mickey who just walked out of the main entrance of the mansion. “And yeah, they are pretty cheap and don’t ya’ll worry, I’ve previewed the rooms and they are sweet!”
“Hey, hey, tell them the other thing too, man!” giggled Dave as he’s jumping around like an idiot whilst punching Mickey’s arms playfully.
“What other thing?” asked Jimmy who looked pretty disappointed at the place that we’re going to be spending the night in. “You sure the place is not a dump like the place you threw our rock party last time?” he continued sarcastically.
“Hey, hey, cut me some slacks, kay? That was a long time ago, and I am more aware this time” replied Mickey. “And for your information Mister Snob, we get to choose our own lady for the night!”
“YEAH BABY!” yelled Dave as he jumped even higher, looking ever more like a dumb idiot.
Jimmy didn’t say anything.
“Okay, let’s see what...” I paused as I saw her. She stood there at the doorway into the building.
She looked awfully familiar. Like the girl in my dream earlier. But she wasn’t very tall, about my height maybe, or shorter. She had a long and straight golden hair that covered her chest and back partially. She wore a white silky robe that partially reflected the lights around. The beauty was familiar, but there was no sense of menace, only a certain feeling of sadness that could be felt from the aura around her. She stood there with a lit candle set on an old steel cup with unfamiliar engravings in her hands.
She then noticed me looking at her and she gave a very warm smile. But I was startled and quickly turned away from her.
“So when can we go in? I need a nice cold shower” I continued, trying to hide that earlier awkwardness. But lucky for me, the guys didn’t see what just happened or they’ll start teasing me, especially Dave.
As I finished my sentence, there came the mission bell ringing from a tower standing a distance from where we were.
“That’s our cue I guess...” said Mickey.
“Lookie there, a lady waving at us to go in!” said Dave excitedly as he pointed towards the direction where that girl was standing.
Then everyone started to move towards the entrance and I followed on. In the short corridor leading to a bigger room, there hung a wooden signboard on the wall, weathered by time which said “Welcome To The Hotel California”. As the girl led us into the main lobby, a man in attire which seemed out of time came to greet us while the girl walked on and joined three other girls standing in the visible corner of the room waiting to be summoned.
“Senor, senor, welcome to the Hotel California” said the gentleman. “My name is Senor Miguel, you can just call me Miguel. I’ll be your host for tonight”
Then he signaled with his hand to a mariachi band standing at another corner in the room. They were the kind of mariachi band which I have never seen before. They wore silver studded charro outfits with wide-brimmed hats, but they seemed very much out of fashion compare to the ones I’ve seen back home. And then they started playing a tune that slowly came with singing...
“Welcome to the Hotel California,
Such a lovely place,
Such a lovely face,
Plenty of room at the Hotel California,
Anytime of year, you can find it here...”
And then they continued singing softly in Spanish that lightened the atmosphere, making it seemed almost magical. We were all mesmerized and impressed, except for Jimmy. He didn’t seem very comfortable being here. I knew that Jimmy never really liked the Mexicans. Although we stayed in a place with a lot of Mexicans, he never really got along with them well. It really cannot be helped because he wasn’t rooted in New Mexico. Jimmy’s family moved from Boston when he was 10. And as we were enjoying the moment, I could see that he was feeling restless, like as if there was something that he wanted to get off his chest. And somehow I too feel that way, although in a very confused and hypnotized way.
Miguel then gave another signal to the four girls standing by the corner and they stood forward. Each dressed in different colored silk robes with a lit candle in their hands. All four were beautiful, but the girl whom I saw earlier, there was something about her that made me feel different about her. And even though she smiled, I can sense a certain sadness that was visible through her beautiful smile.
“These are the girls that will accompany you tonight. You may only choose one for yourselves” said Miguel smiling and bowing low with his left arm held to the side inviting us to choose.
Both Mickey and Dave were very eager and they were the first to step up and take their pick. After looking carefully and taking their girl, they stood aside with their arm wrap around them. Then reluctantly Jimmy stood forward and chose one of the two remaining girls. And then stood there still was that girl whom I saw earlier. She was beautiful, but none of the guys picked her. Maybe there was something about her that turned down their interest. Or maybe they also saw that certain sadness that was beyond her smile.
Then I thought to myself, this could be heaven or this could be hell.
“The girls will show you to your room” Miguel said. “And we will have supper in a short while after” he added.
Then both Mickey and Dave were led by their girls in their arms and luggage in the other. Jimmy on the other hand had his girl take his luggage for him. I could feel that he was mistreating the girl. But before I could bother, the girl who was with me lit up a new candle and she showed me the way. As I followed with my bag pack around my shoulder down the dimly lit corridor, I could still hear them singing...
“Welcome to the Hotel California,
Such a lovely place,
Such a lovely face,
Plenty of room at the Hotel California,
Anytime of year, you can find it here...”
And again I was thinking to myself... This could be heaven or this could be hell...
