Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2023 17:21:22 -0500 From: James Karvonen Subject: Song of the Lonesome Steel Rails-32. 32. Leaving the old barn twenty minutes later Bobby knew that he had to get out of this neighborhood as quickly as possible. After what had just happened to him this morning the last thing the other young boy wanted was another confrontation with those who did not want him in this neighborhood. At least he was thankful that they didn't take anything from him. The taste of the black boys semen still lingered in his mouth. It didn't take him long to reach Perry Boulevard. He turned right and once again seeing the skyline of Atlanta headed in that direction. The street that he was walking on was pretty much empty. What school kids that had been walking along the street before were all gone. He started walking down early he street passing only a few older black residents who were out walking about early that morning doing what they had to do, but basically they ignored him. One elderly black man Bobby passed tipped his hat at him. Eventually the street that he was walking along cut away from the railroad. For about a quarter of a mile he couldn't see the railroad but finally the railroad came back into view. Fifteen minutes later Perry Blvd turned into West Marietta Street. Another half mile after that West Marietta Street intersected with Marietta Boulevard. This heavily trafficked paved street crossed the railroad tracks on a bridge at this point. A trolley line from Marietta, ran along the street that led directly into downtown Atlanta. If Bobby had money he would have boarded the trolley car and taken the streetcar downtown, which would have saved him from having to walk the rest of the into the city. Downtown Atlanta was still was a good mile or two away. The October day was warming up quickly and wearing his backpack and carrying his sleeping bag not only was uncomfortable but made walking all the more difficult for him. He definitely looked out of place along this busy main street. Those who passed by him saw a filthy ragtag twelve year old boy who needed a bath who was about to enter a major city that he had never set foot in before. And all the adjoining streets, buildings and telephone poles that he saw around him were overwhelming to Bobby to say the leas. He was a twelve year old boy who wasn't use to being in a large city like Atlanta, Georgia. Since the railroad yard was now more then a quarter of a mile behind him, Bobby decided to take a gamble. So that he wouldn't have to walk along this now crowded street where he stuck out like a sore thumb to anyone who passed by, he decided that he would climb down the embankment to the railroad and walk along the tracks into downtown Atlanta instead. He doubted that there would be any railroad bulls in this area who would see fit to harass him. Having made that final decision Bobby stumbled down the bridge embankment to the railroad tracks. There were five tracks. Two of those tracks were of currently occupied, one by a slow moving freight train that was heading west, the other track with a fast moving passenger train heading east. Bobby knew right then and there that he would have to be really careful for right now he was walking along a very busy stretch of tracks where he could easier get killed. The two trains passed each other belching smoke that all but blotted out the sun and showered Bobby with cinders. After the two trains steamed by going in the opposite direction things got quiet for a while. But that didn't last for long. Ahead of Bobby was a Y where the Southern Railroad's mainline from Washington D.C joined the east, west line that lead directly into Terminal station, the main passenger station in Atlanta. Terminal Station served the Southern Railroad, Seaboard Coastline, Central of Georgia and that Atlanta and West Point Railroad. At least 86 passenger trains per day used that station that's how busy that railroad station was. Not knowing all this at the time, Bobby continued to walk along the railroad tracks towards downtown Atlanta. In the center of the Y he noticed a switch tower. He froze for a moment when he saw standing on the steps outside the tower the switch tower operator. The operator looked like he watching him like a hawk. One phone call to the railroad police main headquarters in Atlanta would more then likely end Bobby's cross country trek right then and there. If that were to happen it would be a sure one way ticket back to Pine Island. There would be no if or buts about that. Since he was on the opposite side of the tracks Bobby started walking even faster. There was a distant blast of a whistle. Within seconds a westbound passenger train leaving the city of Atlanta could be seen rapidly chugging towards him from the the line that headed east to Washington DC. Much to Bobby's relief the switch tower operator who had been watching him very carefully from the tower quickly ducked back into the building to do what he had to do once the passenger train heading to Atlanta's Terminal Station passed by. A passenger train just leaving Terminal station only minutes ago came to a full stop waiting for the train going into Atlanta to cross over the track in front of it. As Bobby had anticipated this was a very busy junction. Belching smoke from both locomotives clouded the sky to once again out the sun. Being that the tower operator was busy with the two trains in the block, Bobby continued walking towards along the tracks towards downtown Atlanta as fast as he could go. He wanted to get as far away from the switch tower as fast as he could. He didn't want to take any chances that the operator would call a railroad bull out to come after him. It didn't take long for him to pass the switch tower. There was now a long straight stretch of tracks ahead of him. From his vantage point he could now clearly see the skyline of downtown Atlanta. With each step he took he was getting closer and closer to the where he wanted to go. With any luck he was hoping to be able to find a temporary job so that he could make the money that he so desperately needed on order for him to continue his cross country trek to Bakersfield, California. It seemed to take forever to walk that mile or so along the railroad tracks to the downtown area of Atlanta. But finally the two twin stone cathedral like towers of Terminal Station in downtown Atlanta appeared about a half mile in front of him. He still had a little ways to go before reaching the main railroad station. But there was now another obstacle in his path that he had to go through. It was a small railroad yard, much smaller then the huge freight classification yard that he and Quack stepped out into earlier that morning. This railroad yard served mainly the passenger and railroad express cars of the trains that ran in and out of Atlanta. There was also a roundhouse and facility yard nearby complete with a water tank, sand and coal tower used to service the steam locomotives that pulled the numerous passenger trains in and out of Terminal Station in downtown Atlanta. This was another place that Bobby had to be really careful of. Not really wanting to take any chances of getting caught by any railroad bulls, instead of going through the small railroad yard, Bobby decided to leave the railroad before he got anywhere near that yard. He left the railroad tracks at the first grade crossing that he came to. He now found himself on Spring Street. The sidewalks along Spring Street were crowded with pedestrians. Again Bobby found himself completely out of place in this new environment. He was now in downtown Atlanta, there could be no question about that. The street was backed up with bumper to bumper traffic that included motorized vehicles, and clanging streetcars that were going in both directions. There were also a few horse drawn wagons in the traffic as well. The smell of smoke and steam from the railroad, horse manure and cooking food filled the air. This was a whole new environment that Bobby found himself now in, an environment that he definitely wasn't use too. Another five blocks and Bobby came to Mitchell street where he found himself at the huge Terminal Station in downtown Atlanta. The twin cathedral like towers of the station shadowed over him as he walked along the sidewalk besides the station. Newspaper boys were all around him trying to sell their newspapers to earn some money. Maybe that was a job that he could do Bobby considered. He noticed a date stone on the side of the building. According to the date stone the station had been built in 1905, about thirty one years ago. So, he was finally here, now what? His stomach rumbled. He was hungry, there was no question about it. The last time he had eaten was in the cattle car with Quack. He could see hot dog venders selling hot dogs on both sides of the street but he had no money to buy one. He still had a few cans of food in his backpack that fortunately for him the three black boys who had accosted him earlier that morning didn't take from him, but where he was now without anyplace to sit down it would almost be impossible for him to take that food out, open up the cans and eat it. He had to find a park somewhere nearby where he could do that. It was then that Bobby what sounded like a marching band a couple of blocks away. Curiosity got the better of him so he decided to find out what was going on. He walk the four or five blocks away from the Terminal Station in downtown Atlanta to see what was going on. Before long he came to Peachtree Street. Sure enough that was where the marching band went. On both sides of Peachtree Street pedestrians had lined the streets to watch the band march by. Not far up Peachtree Street the band had stopped playing. Mixing in with the other pedestrians, Bobby headed up Peachtree Street. He noticed posters on the tacked up telephone poles that read, ELECT PERVIS B. SWANSON FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE! AND HE WILL LEAD THE WAY!' Even though Bobby had very little understanding about politics he did know that election day would be coming up sometimes early in November. Apparently this politician whoever he was really did want to get elected for there were posters every, tacked up on telephone poles and on the walls the numerous buildings in and around the area. Walking up along the sidewalk it didn't take long for Bobby to come to a small park. This would have been the perfect place for him to sit down and eat something from his backpack had it not been for the crowd of pedestrians both men, women and children who were crowded in the park standing in front of a makeshift stage. The small marching band had paused in front of the stage and stopped playing. A few minutes later a portly man dressed in a white suit had made his way into the stage. He was wearing a white stetson hat. The cleanshaven man looked to be in his mid fifties. The crowd settled down as soon as the man made his appearance. So this was Pervis B. Swanson the man who's face was on the posters that was running for State Representative. Bobby was about to leave and start job hunting but something told him to hang in there. So Bobby tried to make himself as comfortable as he possibly could to listen along with the others in the crowd to listen to what the politician had to say. His speech lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes. It was boring speech in which Bobby really did not understand anything that he was trying to say. Apparently he wasn't the only one bored in the crowd. Others in the crowd began to fidget and walk around nervously as the politician continued his almost meaningless speech as to what he was going to improve the conditions on what was going on in the State of Georgia during this depression that the country was now in. Finally the speech ended in a crowd slowly began to disperse. Bobby decided to stay behind just mainly to see what was going on. Perhaps this politician might be able to use him. It it wouldn't hurt to ask him for a job, Bobby thought to himself. He needed someone to tack up posters and clean up the mess in the park after everyone had left. After everyone in the park had left Bobby decided to make his move. He slowly walked up to the stage where Pervis was standing rearranging some notes. Pervis noticed Bobby looking up at him then said in a deep southern drawl, "May I help you with something young man?" "Yes sir." Bobby stammered taking a deep breath. He wasn't really sure how to begin. "Well what is it that you want me to help you with young man?" "Sir, I'm not from around here." "I see that. What's that a backpack and bed roll that you are carrying?" "Yes sir." Bobby answered. "Where are you from then?" Pervis wanted to know. "I'm from New York." Bobby was quick to reply. "New York! A damn Yankee, huh?" Bobby frowned. This wasn't good. He had forgotten that he was in a deep south and that they're still those who hated Yankees because of the Civil War that took place less then sixty years ago. "Yes sir." Bobby meekly said. "Then what the hell are you doing down here in the deep south? You're just a little boy for Christ sake!" "I'm not that little!" Bobby shouted defensively. "I'm twelve years old!" " To me that's still a little boy. Did you run away or something? How the hell did you get down here?" Bobby sighed. If there was any possibility of Pervis hiring him and taking him on he had to tell him his story. So for the next ten minutes or so he told Pervis his story. Pervis listened intentively to Bobby's story. Here he was a twelve year old boy living the life of a hobo who ran away from a reform school six months ago. He was traveling by rail with hopes of getting to California. How this boy had made it this far was beyond belief but he was here. When finally Bobby finished his story, Pervis just looked at him. He was a cute boy with dirty blond hair and a handsome almost angelic face. He still had over four weeks left on his campaign trail. He needed to head to Athens, Georgia next, then down to Milledgeville, Macon, Columbus, and Griffith, Georgia to finish his campaign run. He had been traveling alone since leaving Dalton, Georgia where he lived on this Northwest Georgia campaign drive over a week ago. There was a lot of work to be done while on the campaign road, like tacking up his campaign posters, handing out flyers, and even cleaning up the place after making his speech just to name a few of the things that had to be done after visiting the each and every city in his campaign run. Yes Pervis thought, he could use the boys help. And then there were other things that he found himself taking into consideration. He came from a rich Northeast Georgia family, so money had never been a problem for him. He was single, having never married, not that he didn't want a wife. Being the politician that he was a wife would be just a hinderence on his campaign trail, especially since he had to drive to all these cities and towns making his speech with hopes of getting the votes that he needed to win the election. But the main thing that he found himself having problems with was loneliness. It was lonely on the campaign trail driving to all these cities and towns each day to make the speeches that he had to make. It was lonely, especially at night when sleeping by himself in some flea bitten Hotel or Roadside Inn. The one thing that he needed more than anything else while on the campaign trail was companionship especially at night. Sure he could pay a prostitute to come visit him at night for a quick night time stand. That was mainly how he was getting his needs met at this time. And yes, like all men his age he had sexual needs. And it didn't really matter whom he had sex with, be man, woman or even a child. In his fifteen years as a politician he had had it all, and sometimes to make things even more interesting for him, depending on his mood, he would resort to bondage, control and yes even S&M. He had an addiction to sex, and he knew that if ever that addiction ever came out, that would be his downfall as a politician and he could end up in jail, his political career over with. But that was the chance that he took. And for as long as he could remember he had always taken that chance. And so far with all the relationships that he had had in the past with that addiction, nothing about it had ever came out. And after giving it some thought Pervis decided right then and there to take that boy on. "So what is your name son?" Pervis asked. "Bobby." "Well Bobby, after telling me your story I see that you are kind of desperate." "I am sir. I need to earn that money so that I can get me to California." "If I take you on Bobby and give you a job, you're going to have to promise me one thing. I have four more weeks left on this campaign trail. I'll be driving all over Northwest Georgia to various towns and cities, and yes there will be a lot of work that will need to be done to insure my successful campaign. I'm going to need you until the first week of November. I'll pay you $10.00 a week and include your food, room and board. But you're going to have to stay with me no matter what understand. Can I get you to agree on that?" Purvis asked. $10.00 a week, plus room and board, that was an offer that Bobby could not refuse. "Yes sir I'll agree to that!" Bobby exclaimed without any hesitation. At the end of four weeks he would have earned $40.00. That was more then enough for him to continue his trip. "Then we have a deal. Let's shake on it," Purvis said extending his hand. Bobby quickly shook Purvis's hand. He did not expect this to happen, but it did and he couldn't have been any happier. Little did Bobby know at that time what he was about to get himself into. "Good." Purvis beamed. So you can start by helping me clean up this area....