My House My Rules

The "My house my rule's speech Gus was expecting took place Friday night during an especially heated discussion about Gus's acquaintances, late hours and suspicion of smoking that marijuana when he was out with those delinquent friends.

"Can I have until tomorrow?" Gus requested.

"Don't be a smart ass" was the response. Gus's father went to bed thinking he'd won that one.

In the morning, Gus packed his rucksack with his spare Levis, some tee shirts, his toothbrush and a few things he might need. His sleeping bag was tied on top. Gus put the nearly two hundred bucks he had saved from scoring pot for the locals who wanted to catch a buzz. Gus would buy a pound for seventy bucks, make up around ten lids to sell for ten bucks each, and the rest was personal stash.

Gus didn't exactly slam the front door on the way out. He just made sure it was loud enough to wake his father on his sleeping in day.

There weren't many cars entering the onramp to the freeway on this Saturday morning. After a short wait, Jeff pulled up in his Mustang and gave Gus a lift to El Toro Road which led to Laguna Canyon Road and then to Laguna Beach, Gus's destination. Jeff was one of the guys Gus used to score pot for before he left town.

The road to Laguna led past the community of retirees with combined ages of a zillion or so. Their Caddies and Lincolns with empty back seats would pass by without even a look of recognition.

"Might be another one of them Manson types" Cecil mentioned to his wife Mabel as they waited at the light to the shopping center.

"You should just run over them" Mabel suggested.

"No, too much paperwork if I do" Cecil told her.

Eventually, Gus got a ride from a couple of kids on the way to the beach. Gus got into the back seat of the station wagon with the two boards tied down. Gus got a ride all the way to the Coast Highway. he walked the two blocks to the Laguna Car Wash. He talked to Tom who manages the place. Gus told him he had been working at the car wash in El Toro. Tom told him to be here by nine AM and he'd put Gus to work on the line.

"Got the job thing checked off" Gus told himself.

Gus's next stop was the Bayside Hotel, where he put down cash for a week's stay. The Bayside was a time-worn relic from an earlier run of glory days. Now a guy can get a room for a night or stay as long as his needs and money hold out.

"Got that covered" Gus muttered. While having a coffee and Danish at the bakery Gus thought of his next step. He knew that his Laguna friends would be around later, probably around sunset time on the boulders on the Main Beach. People would gather, watch and rate the sun setting over Catalina Island, twenty-six miles across the sea. This was where Gus had met Crazy Horse and John from Ann Arbor. Crazy Horse was also Gus's connection for weed and acid. Check that off his list while he was at it.

Gus was aware that Laguna cops didn't care for the hippy convergence. He was reminded when the squad car pulled along the curb where he was standing. Gus was questioned, made to show his ID and frisked before they got back into the vehicle and left to harass the next long-haired punk they can find.

Gus accepted his mother's invitation to come home for Thanksgiving. More of being guilt tripped into his acceptance. Gus's sister Lynn had driven to Laguna, found him at the car wash and extended the invite.

The meal was tense, with Gus's father complaining that Gus was wasting his life. Gus's mother had asked what church he attended in Laguna. When she heard the word's yoga and meditation, tears went down her cheek, fearful that she wouldn't see her son in heaven. The vibes got so intense that Gus decided not to accept the offer of a ride to Laguna on Sunday. When "Sunday after church" became the offer, Gus said his goodbyes and thumbed back to Laguna in the dark.

Gus made sure the door was tightly closed. Next Thanksgiving, Gus and Chip cooked a vegetarian spread for their friends.

"I'm thankful I found my real family here" Jerry the Boxer declared. "Amens" all around.

Gus did call his mother on Mother's Day. Her day was made even though Gus had not begun attending church. That was the only familial connection other than Lynn making an occasional visit. Gus heard about what was happening with the family. The family heard of what Lynn was comfortable sharing about what she knew of her wayward brother. That was how the family learned that Gus had a girlfriend living with him. "A black girlfriend" Lynn reported. Gus had introduced Kendra to Lynn, knowing the news would follow her back. Kendra is a black girl who moved from the projects in South Central LA to join the peace and love scene in Laguna. She had taken some art classes at Los Angeles City College and knew that Laguna was an artist's haven. Gus knew that Lynn would spill those beans. They had grown up in a very racist environment.

"Mom's gonna shit a brick" Lynn thought as she was getting ready to sit at the holiday table. Lynn had her speech memorized and rehearsed. "Guess what, Gus is living with a girl from Watts" Lynn announced. The expected reactions were right on. Gus had declined the invitation to Lynn's birthday party when he said he could come if Kendra could too. That was a bridge that had been burned a long time ago. Lynn looked forward to her spreading the news that will be the talk of the dinner table and long thereafter.

"This'll give him something to rant about" Lynn considered, smiling.

Gus and Kendra met at an art studio. Gus invited her to join him on the boulders at sunset. Kendra was holding Gus's hand as they approached the boulders. "Hey Gus" someone called out.

"Seems they know you here" Kendra said.

"Hey everyone" Gus shouted. "Meet the most beautiful lady in Laguna Beach" he said. "This is Kendra"

"Hi Kendra came from multiple voices.

Kendra's embarrassment didn't show. It was there as she squeezed Gus's hand. They selected a spot on the rocks and sat. When a joint was passed their way, Gus held it up. "Do you mind?" Gus asked.

"No problem" Kendra said. Gus took a hit and passed it to her. Kendra took her hit and passed it. She kissed Gus's cheek. "Not my first time" Kendra said.

Kendra went to Top of the World with Gus. She didn't leave. That was in the fall of nineteen seventy-one. it is now twenty twenty-five. There have been a few address changes over the years. Gus and Kendra just made an offer on a house on a mostly deserted dirt road at Top of the World. Tonight Gus and Kendra will be on the boulders with friends, reefer and a jug of Red Mountain Vin Rose.