Vinny's Way

Vinny stood with his back to the door of his small apartment building. He had his cane in hand, his lucky hat on, and a small suitcase containing his essentials by his side. At eighty-five, a small suitcase was all he could manage.

Eventually, the taxi he was waiting on pulled up, and Vinny settled into the back seat. His cane and small suitcase were securely beside him. The driver, a man in his thirties with tired eyes, glanced at Vinny through the rearview mirror as he pulled away from the curb.

“So, where are you heading, Pops?” the taxi driver asked, his voice carrying a hint of frustration, perhaps more with his day than with the question.

“The airport, please,” Vinny replied calmly.

“The airport, huh? Where are you flying to?” the driver asked, his tone flat, as if it was just another day with another passenger.

“Going to Connecticut,” Vinny said with a soft smile.

The driver nodded but said nothing. After a few moments of silence, he let out a heavy sigh.

“Something wrong?” Vinny asked.

“Just feels like I’ll be driving this cab forever.”

“Is there something else you’d rather be doing?”

“Almost anything, but I’ve got no clue where to start.” The driver hesitated, glancing back at Vinny. “I’ve always wanted to be a baker, but I don’t know where to start. Don’t have the money or the connections.”

Vinny’s eyes lit up. “A baker, huh? And are you any good? Be honest with me now.”

The driver seemed surprised by the question, but then he reached into a small bag beside him and handed Vinny a pastry over his shoulder. “Here, try this. Made it myself.”

Vinny took the pastry, examining it momentarily before taking a bite. His eyes widened in delight as soon as the flaky crust and sweet filling touched his tongue. “This is exquisite! You’ve got real talent, son.”

The driver smiled, a flicker of pride breaking through his rough demeanor. “Thanks. The problem is, I don’t know where to go from here.”

Vinny leaned forward slightly. “After you drop me off, turn the cab around and return to where you picked me up. Ask for Agnes Ruth. Tell her Vinny sent you.”

The driver frowned. “Who’s Agnes Ruth?”

“A friend. She owns a small chain of bakeries,” Vinny explained. “She’s getting on in years and might be looking for someone to help her, maybe even take over one day. When you see her, offer her some of your pastries and tell her about your dreams. I’m sure she can help or point you in the right direction.”

The driver’s eyes widened in the mirror. “You think she’ll help me?”

“If all your baked goods taste like this, then I think you two will be helping each other.”

The driver dropped Vinny off and turned around to do what he was told. Vinny grabbed his bag and headed inside the airport. It had been decades since he'd been to an airport, and everything had changed, but that didn’t stop Vinny from finding his gate and boarding his plane.

Vinny boarded the plane and found his seat—a window seat near the middle of the cabin. He placed his small suitcase in the overhead compartment and settled in, feeling the familiar hum of anticipation that always accompanied a flight.

As the passengers continued to board, a woman and her young son approached his row. The boy, no more than eight years old, was practically vibrating with excitement, his eyes wide as he took in the inside of the plane. The boy eagerly climbed into the seat next to him. Once they were seated, it didn’t take long for the boy to start leaning over Vinny, trying to glimpse out the window.

“Danny, please sit still,” the mother chided gently. Then she turned to Vinny with an apologetic expression. “I’m so sorry about that. It’s his first time flying, and he’s just so excited.”

Vinny smiled, waving off the apology. “No need to apologize. I remember my first flight—it’s a big deal.”

The boy looked up at Vinny with hopeful eyes. “Have you flown a lot?”

“A few times, but it was when I was much younger,” Vinny replied with a nod. “It’s always an adventure.”

The boy's eyes drifted to the window, and Vinny chuckled softly. “How about we switch seats, young man? That way, you can get a good view of everything.”

The boy’s face lit up with a grin. “Really? You don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Vinny said as he stood up, motioning for the boy to take his place.

The mother looked at Vinny, her eyes full of gratitude.

Vinny settled into the aisle seat as the boy eagerly moved over to the window, his face practically pressed against the glass as he took in the view. Vinny smiled, happy to have brought a little more joy into the boy’s first flight.

Vinny got off the plane in Chicago, ready for a short layover before continuing his journey. But as he made his way through the terminal, an announcement over the loudspeakers brought unwelcome news. A storm had swept through a few states away, causing delays and cancellations. When Vinny reached the counter to check on his next flight, the lady behind the desk explained that his flight had been rescheduled—two days from now.

Vinny felt a wave of disappointment. He listened patiently as the lady presented him with various options, almost all resulting in the same outcome: a long wait in the airport. In the end, Vinny decided to take a bus. It would get him to Connecticut quicker, and the airport staff would arrange everything for him.

About two hours later, Vinny found himself sitting on a Greyhound bus, the rhythmic hum of the engine lulling him into a reflective state. He thought back to when he was sixteen, the first time he took a bus to travel across the state with a friend. The memory brought a smile to his face, even though he and that friend had lost touch long ago.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice. “Excuse me, sir.”

Vinny turned to see a young girl sitting in the seat beside him. She couldn’t have been more than sixteen or seventeen, and her appearance tugged at Vinny’s heart. Her clothes were a bit worn, and her hair was messy, but what concerned him most were the dark bags under her eyes, signaling a lack of sleep.

“Yes?” Vinny replied gently.

“Do you have any food you can spare?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vinny studied her momentarily, noticing signs of exhaustion and possible hardship. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any food on me,” he said, his voice filled with genuine regret.

“Oh, okay then,” the girl said softly, curling up in her seat and continuing to read her book.

Vinny watched her for a moment before speaking again. “Are you running away?” he asked gently.

She hesitated before nodding slightly, her eyes still on her book.

“I see,” Vinny said thoughtfully. “When I was about your age, I ran away from home with a friend. We were tired of always being told what to do and knew that if we had the chance to be free and do what we wanted, then things would be better.”

The girl looked at him, curiosity mingling with her sadness. “Were they?

Vinny chuckled softly. “Oh God, no. We spent all our money in two days and had to call our parents for help. Our idea of going on a grand adventure and becoming successful in a few weeks was nothing more than a false dream. An empty stomach and a lack of a warm bed can really change the way you look at the world.”

The girl's stomach growled, and she sighed, looking out the window.

“My parents don’t understand. They’re always on my case about school, but they don’t care about what’s important to me.”

Vinny nodded sympathetically. “It’s hard when you feel like no one understands you. But sometimes, parents are tough on us because they’re worried. They want what’s best, even if they don’t always know how to show it.”

The girl’s expression softened slightly, “That sounds like something right out of a daytime television talk show host would say.”

Vinny laughed, “I have watched quite a few of those.”

“When did you leave home?”

“Last night.”

“Does it still feel like the best choice after being gone for almost twenty-four hours? The world is a rough place, and one day soon, you will be able to thrive in it, but for now, I recommend getting as much knowledge and guidance from your parents as possible before heading out on your own. But that’s just some advice from an old man.”

“Do you think they’ll be mad at me?”

“I would be furious with you if I were your parents, but I would also go to the ends of the world to help you. Being angry with someone doesn’t mean you don’t love them.”

The girl said nothing as she stared out the window for a minute. Tears welled up in her eyes before she turned to Vinny and said, “I want to go home.”

How far away is home?”

“Rockford, just outside of Chicago,” she murmured.

“OK. Do you have a phone?”

The girl nodded and pulled out her cell phone, which she had purposefully turned off.

“Call your parents and tell them where you are. I will ask the bus driver to stop.”

As the bus slowed to a stop, the girl gathered her things and turned to Vinny to thank him but Vinny was up with his things as well.

“Are you getting off here?”

“I am.”

 “Thank you,” she said quietly. “I’m Isabel.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isabel. I’m Vinny,” he replied with a warm smile. “Come on, let’s wait for your father at that dinner over there. I’ll get us something to eat.”

Vinny knew he wouldn't have a way to Connecticut once the bus left, but some things were more important. He was sure he would figure something out.

A few hours later, Vinny sat alone at the diner. Isabel's father had arrived and picked her up, overjoyed to see her. In his excitement, he said nothing about her attempt to run away. After thanking Vinny for his help, they said their goodbyes.

Vinny was about to ask the woman working at the diner if she had any recommendations for a place to stay, but he held his tongue as she walked over to the man sitting next to him and slapped a bill on the table before him.

“Your card is expired and was declined,” the woman said, her tone sharp.

The man looked shocked as he picked up the card and read the date. “Oh, come on, it just expired.”

“Doesn’t matter. It won’t work. I need another form of payment,” she replied sternly.

“But I don’t have any other form of payment. I’ve got about four or five dollars in my wallet, maybe a few more in my truck,” the man said, clearly distressed.

“If you walk out that door without paying, I’m calling the cops.”

Vinny, sensing the man’s genuine distress, decided to intervene. “Excuse me, ma’am, but I’ll cover his tab.”

The woman glanced at Vinny without a word before taking his credit card.

Vinny turned to the man, staring into his wallet, looking for something that wasn’t there. “I’m sorry if I overstepped. You looked like you’re having a rough day and could use a little good fortune.”

The man shook his head, a mix of gratitude and frustration in his eyes. “Thank you, and no, you didn’t overstep, but I don’t have the money right now to pay you back.”

“That’s fine, I don’t mind,” Vinny said, trying to put the man's mind at ease, but the man still seemed distraught.

“Is there something else troubling you?” Vinny asked gently.

“As you just saw, I won’t have access to my money until tomorrow when the banks open. That would be fine, but I have to have my rig in New York by tomorrow morning to pick up a trailer before it goes to someone else, and I don’t have enough fuel to make the trip.”

Vinny nodded, understanding the man’s predicament. “I see. Would you be open to a mutual arrangement?”

“What kind of mutual arrangement?” the man asked, intrigued.

“I need to get to Connecticut, and New York is closer to my destination than here. So, how about I pay for the gas, and you take me as far as you can?”

That’s how Vinny found himself fast asleep in the passenger seat of a semi-truck on his way to New York. The man's name was Kevin, and Vinny learned that Kevin had a friend in New York who could help him get the rest of the way to Connecticut.

Vinny woke up to the loud sound of the truck's airbrakes.

“Rise and shine, Vinny,” Kevin said.

Vinny looked around, getting his bearings straight. They were parked in front of a house in a small town in New York, and the sun was starting to rise.

“Is this where your trailer is?” Vinny asked.

“No. This is a friend's house. I called while we were getting gas. I told them about your situation, and they said they could provide you a way to Connecticut, but for a small favor. There’s also a shower here you can use if you like, but this is as far as I can take you.”

Vinny nodded, appreciating the help. He didn’t mind doing someone a favor, especially a small one. He exited the truck and followed Kevin to the door, where a woman answered. Kevin introduced Vinny to his friend, Tina.

After a few minutes, Kevin left, and Vinny went to clean up. When he returned, he walked to the garage, where motorcycles were everywhere. He looked around and saw Tina wiping down a motorcycle.

Tina stopped wiping down the bike and looked at Vinny with a smile. “Welcome to my shop. This is where I dismantle, rebuild, fix, and customize bikes.”

“It’s a nice shop,” Vinny said, genuinely impressed.

“Thank you. I take pride in my work. You ever ride a bike before?” she asked.

“It’s been a while,” Vinny said with a smile, remembering a time in his life when riding his bike was all he wanted to do.

“Great! I won’t waste your time; I’ll get straight to the point. Kevin told me where you need to go, and it just so happens I have a client who lives in the neighboring city. This is his bike,” she said, pointing at the one she was wiping down. “We were scheduled to deliver it next month, but if you want to deliver it personally, it can help us both.”

“That sounds like a plan,” Vinny agreed, feeling a sense of adventure stir within him.

Tina smiled. “Alright, breakfast first, and then we’ll get you on the road.”

Vinny cruised down the highway, feeling more alive than he had in a long time. The weather was perfect for a ride, and after a few hours, he passed a sign that welcomed him to Connecticut.

Vinny had only been to the East Coast once before, years ago, when he briefly visited New York City. Most of his life had been spent on the West Coast, where he rarely ventured far from home. Now, as he rode down the country highways of the East Coast, with the early signs of fall painting the landscape in warm hues, he found himself truly appreciating the beauty of this unfamiliar terrain.

Following the map, Vinny arrived at a small house and knocked on the door. The door opened to reveal a man with a wide grin, his eyes immediately locking onto the motorcycle parked in the driveway.

After a moment, the man finally looked at Vinny, taking in the sight of the older man standing on his porch with a small suitcase, a hat, and a cane.

“Here you go,” Vinny said, handing the man the keys before turning to leave.

“Hold on,” the man called out. “Tina told me someone would be dropping off my bike, and she mentioned you might need a ride. So, where are you headed?”

The man's name was Ben, and Ben was eager to give Vinny a ride after he dropped off his bike.

Vinny got dropped off in front of a cute little house. He walked to the door and took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

A woman answered the door, holding a newborn baby. She froze at the sight of Vinny, who just stood there, giving the woman a goofy grin. Tears formed in the woman's eyes as she stared at the man before her. Then, she reached out and wrapped her father in a huge hug.