Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Flying in the Distance
The young mechanic took Ronald to downtown Los Angeles and told him that there was a Greyhound bus station here where he could buy a ticket and take the bus out of Los Angeles.
With the military backpack that his uncle Steve left him, Ronald found the Greyhound bus terminal.
The house has been rented, so we should look for other ways and return to New York as soon as possible.
The lobby lighting is not bright enough, which disguises the lack of maintenance inside. The ticket counter is also equipped with iron bars.
Ronald carefully looked at the bus schedule on the wall. There was a bus to Las Vegas, and then you could transfer there and go east to New York.
I bought a Greyhound ticket to Las Vegas, left the ticket counter, and prepared to wait for the bus.
It started to rain. Ronald left his backpack, took out the M65 jacket that his uncle Steve left him, and put it on.
The Marine Corps version is darker than the Army version and is very weather-resistant. Combined with jeans and a pair of New Balance running shoes, it is perfect for outdoor hikes.
The Greyhound bus terminal in downtown Los Angeles is known for its bad atmosphere. There is garbage and standing water on the street, and the smell is terrible.
Ronald looked around for a waiting area when suddenly someone spoke from behind.
"Be obedient and hand over your money, or I'll make you look good."
Turning his head, the two Black men looked at him with playful smiles. The smaller one threatened him with a knife.
Ronald quickly looked around and at the same time said, "Here, don't hurt me." He left the change he got from the ticket on the ground and took a step back.
The small man bent down to pick up the money, but the tall man rushed to get there. Ronald was cautious and carefully avoided him, then left it on the ground with a weak leg. He then took his backpack and ran away.
The tall man got up and chased him. He clicked the switch on the knife he had in his hand, and the blade sprang out.
Ronald was surprised. It turned out he had a switchblade hidden in his hand. If they had approached him at that moment, it would have been hard to defend against this sudden knife.
Ronald grabbed the U.S. Army bag he had in his hand and found a hole in it. Seizing the opportunity, he removed it with the bag, and the tall man's knife fell to the ground.
Ronald then turned around and escaped, and the little man caught up with him.
However, the physical strength of both seemed to be low. Ronald was running faster and faster, and in the blink of an eye, the two were out of sight.
The Greyhound ticket got lost somewhere during the struggle, they stole the change, and the American soldier's backpack that his uncle left him also got scratched. Ronald never dared to go back to downtown to take the Greyhound bus.
The house was vacated, and the car was sold, but we still have to get out of Los Angeles as soon as possible.
Unbeknownst to him, Ronald ran out of the dangerous area of downtown and ran toward the vicinity of the University of Southern California.
There was a travel agency next to the road. Ronald entered and, in shock, begged the staff for a glass of water.
Today there is a service woman, and the badge on her chest says her name is Samantha.
Samantha saw that Ronald was covered in sweat and had a hole in the bandage, and immediately understood that he had been robbed.
"Since the Great Commander took office in 1977, the security situation in downtown has worsened more and more."
Ronald thanked Samantha and turned to look at the travel agency. He saw an advertisement for discounted plane tickets on the door and asked, "Can you buy a direct ticket to New York?"
"Of course, when do you want it? Uh... sir."
"My name is Ronald, Ronald Lee. The sooner, the better."
Samantha made some calls: "The first flight is National Airlines tomorrow at 8:35, arriving at JFK Airport in New York at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The fare is $128."
Ronald calculated that if he didn't fly, the cheapest used car would cost more than $200, and there was also the doubt of whether a car priced at $200 could last until New York.
"Okay, I want one for tomorrow morning." Ronald took out the cash.
"Last year, Congress passed a bill to cancel the government's benchmark prices for airlines. Plane tickets this year are much cheaper. It's a good time to travel."
After sending and receiving several faxes, Samantha printed a ticket and gave it to Ronald to keep.
"Will I make it to the airport on time tomorrow at 6:30?" Ronald exclaimed.
"Why do you have to go so early? Arrive at the airport 20 minutes before."
Seeing that it was Ronald's first time flying, Samantha gave him some information.
"You should wear formal attire when flying, at least a suit and leather shoes. You can wear a tie or not."
"First, go to the check-in counter and check your ticket with the staff. If you don't smoke, you can request a non-smoking area. By the way, since it's your first flight, it's better to get a window seat."
"Lunch will be served on the plane, and it's free. There is no charge."
"There are newspapers and magazines on the plane, but I suggest you bring a book to kill time. It's also a good idea to chat with your seatmates in front of you, to your left, and to your right."
"You can call a taxi in advance tomorrow morning. If you want to save money, you can also take the Airport Express."
"Where does the Airport Express take me?"
"Van Nuys."
Ronald got his ticket, took the bus to Van Nuys, and stayed at a Super 8 hotel not far from the Airport Express.
I walked casually through the streets in the afternoon and saw several locations from "Rock and Roll High School" and the phone booth where I appeared. It's also a great place to spend your last day in Los Angeles.
Remembering Walter Mersey's instructions, Ronald found a movie theater to watch the most popular films and cultivate his aesthetic intuition.
The most popular movie at the moment is the new film by Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Laurence Olivier.
The movie is called "A Little Romance." The poster shows Laurence Olivier in formal attire, pointing to a girl and saying, "She is the new Grace Kelly of the future."
"Huh? He was praised by the veteran Oscar winner. It seems his acting skills are brilliant."
"I'll buy a piece of love at Sunset Bridge."
"It's really a nice movie with a great story." Ronald didn't fall asleep this time.
An American girl went to Paris to work with her mother and met the son of a local taxi driver. When the two were dating, they met a liar played by Laurence Olivier.
The scammers say that if a couple goes to Venice to ride a gondola and kiss while passing under Sunset Bridge, they will fall in love for life. The two ran away from home and went to Venice, where they kissed under Sunset Bridge.
Ronald left the cinema and found the director's column on the movie poster.
George Roy Hill, Oscar winner and director of "The Hustler" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," brings you "Love at Sunset Bridge."
It turned out to be another Oscar-winning director; Ronald noted his name in his notebook and planned to learn more about him in the future.
Early the next morning, Ronald left early, took the Airport Express, and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport.
As travel agent Samantha said, check-in was easy. Ronald took his ticket and queued at the check-in counter.
"Non-smoking area, by the window."
The employee used a huge computer to retrieve the names. He placed a sticker on Ronald's ticket with the seat number and let him go.
"Please board the plane at gate 4."
Ronald, dressed in a suit and sunglasses, passed through the boarding gate and entered through the cabin door. There was also a couple saying goodbye outside the cabin door. Another person bidding farewell to passengers was at the cabin door, waving his hands desperately toward the cabin.
I found my seat. The flight attendant helped him put his bag in the overhead compartment. Ronald took off his sunglasses and began to look around.
The flight attendant noticed his embarrassment and asked, "Is this your first time flying a Boeing 727, sir?"
"This is the first time I've flown..."
After drying his face with the warm towel the flight attendant handed him, Ronald looked around. There weren't many people on the plane, and about half of the seats were unoccupied.
Behind the cabin, there was a faint smell of smoke, and when I looked back, I saw several passengers exhaling smoke.
Hello, there is no separation between the non-smoking area and the smoking area.
After a while, the captain began to announce: "Good morning passengers, I am the captain of this flight..."
The engine made a loud noise, and Ronald looked out the window. A strong sense of thrust hit my back, and with a sudden pause, the plane took off from the ground and began to ascend.
"Oh Shxt... flying is so exciting."
The first volume is finished.
End of chapter
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