Crossroads

Charlie Morgan, a young man from America’s rustbelt, was just about to graduate from high school. He was a good boy, and a hard worker. His mother Mary Ann, worked as a waitress at the diner off the interstate. She always made sure there was enough food on the table for the two of them, which wasn’t easy ever since Charlie’s father, Paul, had passed away.

He was a young boy at the time and didn’t have many memories of this father, but his mother had given him an old photograph.The photo was taken three months before Charlie was born. The young couple had decided to take one last trip together before the birth of their one and only child, and ultimately decided on New Mexico. The photograph was of Paul posing in front of a large stone statue. He pointed at the indigenous man of Taos Pueblo decent mounted on a horse. Charlie loved this picture of his dad. It was one of the few connection points he had to his father, besides the car he had left him.

The absence of his father left him sad and empty at times, but his relationship with Courtney had filled that void for the past two years. Courtney meant the world to Charlie, so with senior year nearing its end, he emptied his savings to buy her an engagement ring and planned to ask her hand in marriage.

On a chilly June night along the Susquehanna River, Charlie took Courtney on a romantic evening picnic of cheese and crackers, grapes, and a bottle of soda. They sat on the hood of his father’s 1986 Buick Grand National. Charlie had done his best to keep the old girl running, but it still needed minor repairs. Instead of repairs, he used the money to pay for the ring.

Courtney talked about one of her friends who was doing an internship for veterinary school at The Bronx Zoo and how excited she was for her. Charlie fiddled with the engagement ring in his pocket, waiting for the right moment to make his move.

“Charlie, there’s something I want to tell you,” Courtney said cautiously.

“What is it, Courtney?” Charlie’s heart thumped, fearful of what she might say.

“I got accepted to Clemson! I wasn’t considering it at first, but last week, I found out my cousin Kelly got accepted there too. So, I thought about it, and I think it would be a great opportunity for me to have my cousin around and experience something…new. I hope you’re not disappointed. You know how I feel about you…”

Charlie stopped fidgeting with the ring, his heart in his shoes. His face burned with righteous anger. There would be no proposal. “Wow, I don’t know what to say… Well, it doesn’t sound like you want to continue this relationship.”

Courtney’s silence was all that needed to be said, and it continued for what felt like eternity.

“I think it’s time to leave now.” Charlie opened the door for her, and they slowly drove out of the parking lot.

Courtney broke the silence at last. “What about you? What are you going to do when school is over?”

“I don’t know. I already have a job at the auto parts store. I’ll pick up more hours. Possibly become the manager one day.”

“Don’t you ever think about seeing what else is out there? Aren’t you tired of this place?” Courtney lashed out. “I just want to be somewhere warm and sunny for a change! This will always be home Charlie, but it can be so…depressing. "She looked out the window, clearly frustrated with his lack of ambition.

Charlie had never thought about moving away from his hometown. On occasion, he fantasized about fixing up the Grand National and going on a road trip. But he never envisioned himself living anywhere else. Up until a half hour ago, he had everything he wanted in life.

The torturous car ride eventually came to an end in front of Cortney’s house. Possibly for the last time, Charlie thought bitterly to himself. He remained quiet, still in shock at how quickly his fortune had turned.

“Goodbye, Charlie…and thank you for everything. You were always sweet to me.”

Tears fell from Cortney’s blue eyes. Charlie had trouble believing them. She didn’t even look back once the door closed.

Charlie took the ring out of his pocket, staring at the diamond he had worked hard for. He placed it in the ashtray and drove home. After that night, Charlie was broken. The guy that everyone could count on to be in a good mood grew sullen and distant.

His mom noticed his depression and told him she understood how hard the breakup with Courtney must be for him. Afterall, this was the first romantic relationship he’d ever been involved in. She insisted there would be others in the future, but his heart refused to believe it.

His best friend Ralph felt Charlie’s depression more than anyone.Now that school was over, Charlie and Ralph agreed to work forty hours at the auto parts store. They could get paid to hang out together. Ralph was sympathetic toward Charlie’s breakup. But as days of moping turned into weeks, his sympathy started to wane.

Ralph’s frustration with Charlie came to a head one Tuesday morning.Charlie was supposed to open the store that morning but overslept. This had become a semi-regular occurrence. Charlie eventually showed up to work, nearly an hour late this time. The door chimed as he walked into the cluttered store. Ralph gave Charlie a look that said he wasn’t happy.

Charlie walked behind the counter, still wearing his dark sunglasses.

“Dude, what’s going on with you? Ralph said.

Charlie didn’t answer. He looked directly ahead at the computer, searching for a serial number.

“Listen, I know you are hurting right now, and I’m sorry. I truly am. But you can’t let this define you for the rest of your life! Highschool is over, man. You don’t have to stay here. You can do anything you want! You can go anywhere you want! I know how much you spent on that ring. Get your money back and get away for a while,” Ralph pleaded.

Charlie took off his sunglasses, perking up slightly as Ralph’s words got through.

Ralph relaxed. “Isn’t there a place you’ve always wanted to visit but never got the chance?”

Only one place came to mind for Charlie. The statue in Sante Fe in that photo of his father.

Suddenly, Charlie’s spirit ignited, for the first time in a while. The idea of taking a road trip alone had not occurred to him. He was too wrapped up in his self-pity. He smiled at Ralph and gave him a big hug. “Thank you!” Charlie picked up his bag and headed out of the store.

“Where are you going now?” Ralph shouted.

Charlie took the engagement ring out of his pocket and thrust it into the air. "Sante Fe!”

He immediately went to the jewelry store and explained to them why it was being returned, which was quite a humbling experience. His money was refunded with only the cost of humiliation from the ladies at Dana’s Diamonds.

Now that Charlie had money, his next move toward his goal would be to get his car fixed up and ready to go. The very same car his father made his trip to Sante Fe in so many years ago. He made an appointment with the mechanic for the following day.

The car was all ready to go, leaving Charlie with enough money for gas, food, and a motel or two. Charlie didn’t care. He couldn’t stand another day in misery. He had to do something, without excuses. Mary Ann gave him the money she had saved from the diner, wishing he would come back happier or fulfilled. Charlie backed out of the driveway, waving to his mom. He honked the horn and drove off into the warm summer night.

The finale of the trip would be Sante Fe, New Mexico, but Charlie decided to see as much as he could along the way. As he put distance from home in the rear-view, he breathed easier. Freedom waved over him as he drove down many scenic highways from Pennsylvania to Colorado. He wanted to see the Rocky Mountains. It would only take a day at most to make it to Sante Fe from Boulder. Charlie figured he could make it back home before his money ran out.

Charlie still felt pain from the breakup, but he was starting to rebound. He really did enjoy the open road. His mind felt at ease. He was blown away by the epic views of the Rockies. There were mountains in Pennsylvania, but nothing like this. He stopped along a highway rest area for a panoramic shot, a memorable stop on his journey.

After a brief hike and exploring around Boulder, Charlie was still six hours away from Sante Fe. The Buick was holding up well so far. But it was still an older car with almost 200,000 miles on it. Charlie drove the speed limit, despite the urge to floor it along the empty backroads of America. He filled up the gas tank just before sundown, hoping he could make it over the Colorado state line.

Charlie watched the sun disappear behind the majestic mountain range. He scanned through the radio, looking for a channel to help him stay awake. He found a song that unfortunately reminded him of Courtney.

His positive mood suddenly changed. Sadness and jealousy crept in. He pictured Courtney at parties, meeting new people, and not thinking about him. Charlie felt alone again. All by himself in the middle of the country, chasing the ghost of his father. He looked down at the picture of his dad, wishing he was still alive.

Night fell just as Charlie reached a sign that said, “Welcome to New Mexico, Land of Enchantment.” He pulled over at the next rest stop, which was only five miles away.

As he was leaving the rest area, he saw a woman walking along the side of the road. She had long, jet black hair in a ponytail held together with teal bands. Charlie slowed the car to see if she needed help. She turned around and looked at him. He pulled the car onto the shoulder and put it in park. He rolled down the window and called out to her.“Can I help you, Miss?”

“My name is Dakota. I was hoping you could give me a ride to my village.” She said in a polite and stoic manner.

Charlie opened the passenger side door for her. They drove up the ramp leading to the highway.

“I’m Charlie. How far is your village from here?”

“About five miles.”

“Wow, you were going to walk all that way at night?” He said with a mixture of concern and curiosity. He wanted to look at her but kept his eyes on the road.

“Every week, I walk to the nearest village to trade with them. I walk at night because the summertime heat is too strong to endure for that distance.”

Charley nodded acknowledgment. “So, what do you trade?” He couldn’t help himself and glanced over at her, really getting a good look at her for the first time.

Dakota smiled at him.

She was strikingly beautiful, like a desert flower with copper skin and dark brown eyes. Physically, she was the opposite of Cortney. “Mainly turquoise, but cloth and pottery as well.” Dakota looked down at the photo of Charlie’s father, standing beside the statue of an indigenous man on a horse. “Are you going to see your father?”

Charley laughed nervously. “I guess you could say that. My dad died when I was young. I just wanted to take a road trip and get away for a while.” He felt like he could talk to her, despite Dakota being a total stranger.

“I am sorry to hear that, Charlie.”

Charlie shrugged. “It’s okay. Do you know where that statue in that picture is by any chance?”

Dakota picked up the photograph to look closer then said she was not familiar with it. “My village is just around the hill. You can stop here.”

Charlie pulled over and turned off the engine.

“Would you like to walk with me?”

Charlie nodded.

They both got out and walked to a cavern about a half a mile away. Dakota walked in a surefooted way, while Charlie stumbled down the path with his flashlight. The desert sky at night was magical. Charlie had never experienced a view of stars like this before. The number of stars was overwhelming, filling him with awe and humility. The cool breeze flew freely across the vast landscape. Cacti and shrubs dotted the sandy terrain as they slowly walked together.

“You have kind eyes, Charlie; I can see the pain in them. She held Charlie’s hand. “You have a good spirit within you. I will show you my village, but you must be very quiet.”

She had a certain indescribable pull over him. He found it hard to speak. He felt like he was being taken for a ride.

They walked until the shadows created by the canyon walls engulfed them. As they rounded the canyon, Charlie was amazed to see the squares of firelight outlining a village built onto the side of a mountain cliff. Cave-like structures were carved throughout, with adobe walls rising three stories tall on top of one another. The small windows of the structure were lit with candles, creating a fairytale-like setting. Dakota motioned Charlie to follow her. They walked away from the village and climbed up until a large bowl-like structure that laid in front of them spanning several acres.

Charlie looked over the strange setting. “What is this place?”

“It’s called a Kiva. It’s for meeting and ceremony. But it can also do much more.”

They walked into the center of the Kiva, where the people found the natural powers of the land were strongest.

“What do you want most in this world Charlie?” Dakota asked.

A rattling beat thumped in the background, followed by male voices singing.

“I want to be with my dad.”

Dakota took Charlie’s hand, closing their eyes as the chanting got louder. Charlie closed his eyes, swept away by the unseen force around him.

The hypnotic chanting faded away.

Charlie opened his eyes, feeling disoriented. He was no longer on top of the Kiva with Dakota. Instead, he was in a park that overlooked a small southwestern town, in the daylight. He turned around to see the statue his father posed next to in the picture. Standing next to the large statue was his father, Paul. He was the same age as the picture, even wearing the same cloths.

Paul smiled at his son, putting his hands on Charlie’s shoulders. “I am so proud of the man you have become, Charlie. Stay strong and take care of yourself, my boy.”

Paul and Charlie hugged underneath the statue. The hole in his heart was filled, if only for the time being.

“Always follow your heart.” Paul stepped away from Charlie, eventually fading to dust in the wind.

Charlie was suddenly back in the center of the Kiva at night, Dakota no longer in sight. He looked around for a few minutes before climbing down the side of the rocky hill. Charlie quietly called out for Dakota in a shouting whisper. He cautiously walked back around the canyon and then figured she might have gone back to the village.

When he arrived, the candlelit adobe structures were no longer there. The caves along the canyon cliffs were no longer filled with firelight. It was as if Dakota and the entire town had completely vanished.Unable to process the situation, Charlie walked back to the car in a daze. It took him a good fifteen minutes to make it back to his car, long enough that he was afraid he’d followed the wrong path by flashlight. He started it up and drove towards Sante Fe.

He arrived at his destination before sunrise. He got out of his car and stretched his arms and back, breathing deeply in the cool and clear morning of the desert. Charlie walked around town, eventually running into the statue. He took out his camera and snapped a picture between the monuments. Charlie had finally accomplished something he never thought he would do. For those brief moments, he was able to connect with his father.

His magical evening with Dakota would remain the most significant day of his life.

After Charlie got home. His mother and friends were pleased he had come back to his old self. He made road trips a regular part of his summers from that year forward. Charlie never expected to see Dakota again. But anytime he drove along the New Mexican desert, he couldn’t help but think about how grateful he was to have had that one astonishing night with her, an experience he would cherish forever.