A little more on Darwin...

THE THEORY OF EVIL-UTION Continued..

It was unusually cold outside, but the worn, dark blue hoodie did its best to keep Darwin insulated from the brisk night air. He could taste the salt in the wind, lifted out of the waves by the breeze and blown up the coastline. “Bet they can smell the ocean all the way to Old Topanga Canyon Road tonight,” he thought while strolling aimlessly down the beach, flip flops dangling from his pinky finger and his big toes carving arcing lines in the cold, damp sand leading up to each footprint. It was methodical the way he walked; slowly lifting his leg and bending his ankle so he could drag the tops of his toes along the sand, flicking a bit in the air at the end and planting his foot back into the moist earth. As he walked, he puffed a cigar he’d gotten at the liquor store earlier. It tasted cheap, but it was a cigar nonetheless and the effect was about the same.

The cheroot, the beach, and the cold night were doing exactly what they were supposed to do, and what they had done for Darwin so many times in the past. The calming state this combination produced seemed almost like a drug to him, groggy with the feeling of peace and contentment he’d been lacking since he arrived in L.A. This past week had been tough. He still hadn’t found a real place to live, and his knuckles had begun to scab over where he’d bashed them into that asshole’s face a few days ago. On top of all that, he’d finally gotten a hold of Jen.

He’d loved her once, but those days seemed far in the past. She said she’s got a new boyfriend, and she thinks they’re gonna get married one day. Darwin couldn’t say anything bad cause in the front of his mind he was happy for her. In the the back of his mind though, he was sad for himself. He still dreamt about their time together. Walking down the beach just then, he resolved to get her back one day.

As he mindlessly wandered down the coast, he reminisced about her blonde hair, perfect dimpled smile and the way their lives and thoughts had intertwined so perfectly. He noticed what looked to be a lump in the ocean. About 50 yards out, illuminated by the almost full moon he saw what had to have been a grey whale surface. “As if tonight wasn’t good enough,” he said aloud, chuckling to himself as a smile slowly formed on his lips.

The next morning he woke up refreshed, the warm sun peeking through the mesh window of his tent. The spot was pretty perfect, nestled close to the beach in some tall grasses just past the entrance to Topanga Canyon. Rolling out of his sleeping bag, he decided that this was the feeling he’d been waiting for. “I WILL get a job today!” he repeated out loud a few times, hoping to jump start a self-fulfilling prophesy.

After breaking camp, he threw on the big hiking pack, latched the waist straps, and started up the hill to the PCH. Hitting the concrete, Darwin headed towards LA. He could get there by noon, and with some luck find a public shower and a place to change into his “proper” clothes. No one’s gonna hire a guy in holey jeans and a Pabst tee-shirt, so he’d bought some chinos, a belt, and a nice yellow polo at the Salvation army just for job hunting.

Tossing a finger in the air for the hell of it, Darwin started walking. He’d tried to hitchhike on the way down from Big Sur a month ago, and ended up making the journey almost entirely by foot. The closest he’d gotten was some douche-bag giving him the finger in passing out the roof of his big fat black Mercedes. As he walked along the shore side of the PCH, left thumb out at his side, he realized he’d been whistling Kokomo by The Beach Boys for awhile now. “Fuck did that come from?” He thought. As he began pondering how things randomly pop into his head, a car slowed.

The passenger window of the brand new Cadillac rolled down and a 30-something brunette in sunglasses raised her arm to motion Darwin over.

“Where ya goin?” The woman asked as he walked towards the car.

“Just tryin’ to get into LA, you could drop me at the Santa Monica Pier.” He replied, surprised at his good fortune. Not only was he getting a ride, but this woman was striking.

“Sure hop in.” She said.

Darwin opened the back door and carefully set his pack on the floor behind the passenger seat. Shutting the rear door and opening the front, he hopped in. Sitting down, he wondered what the hell this woman was doing. Darwin was cool but geez, the wrong dude gets in her car and this lady was assaulted for sure. He hadn’t quite shut the door and they were off.

“I’m Carissa, who are you?”

“Darwin. Like the evolution guy.” He replied, noticing her short dark hair and the ample chest that she’d need a parka to hide. His mind said one thing, but his lips said another.

“Thanks a lot for the ride Carissa, I really appreciate it.”

“No prob, pay it forward right?” She replied, smiling.

“Right.” Darwin said, still amazed at the situation.

As they drove, he shared his current story at Carissa’s prodding. He explained how he’d come to LA last month after drifting down the California coast over the previous year, spending his savings and doing odd jobs as he moved from town to town in search of decent employment and some good surroundings. He told her he was going job hunting today for something temporary, and she laughed.

“Not in that you’re not!” She exclaimed.

“No, I’ve got a change of clothes to wear.” Darwin replied, just a bit squashed.

“I would hope so!” she said, unaware of the embarrassment she’d just caused.

A bit more simple conversation and they approached the pier. Carissa pulled off to the shoulder and put her car in park. Reaching down into the console between them, she retrieved a clear card and handed it to him. It was made of some sort of thin, see-through plastic and it felt more like a driver’s license than a business card. On it was her name, Carissa Bee. It said she worked for some LLC Real Estate company, and boasted “over 10 million in residential sales in 2009.” As if the Bluetooth, Cadillac, and tight charcoal business suit didn’t give that away already.

“You’re a good person, I can just tell. It’s the way you talk I think. If you or anyone you know ever need a home in LA County, call me.” Carissa said with her big Realtor smile.

“I will, and thanks again for the ride.” He said, stepping out of the car and grabbing his pack from the back seat.

Darwin shut the door and adjusted the heavy pack on his shoulders, then looked through the open front window at his beautiful chauffeur. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

“Ya know..... You could call me for a drink too, but try and dress a little nicer next time.” She said.

Before he could respond she was gone, stepping on the gas and blasting back onto the road. Watching her car accelerate down the PCH he was beside himself, not sure how to comprehend what had just happened. Darwin had always been told he was handsome, but never quite believed it. “I guess Carissa thought so too but still, who gives their phone number to a hitchhiker?” He thought. He wondered if she’d been coming on to him or not. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” He smiled and started walking.

He’d gotten almost to the staircase at the pier when he noticed a car slowing behind him again. He didn’t have his thumb out this time, and looking back his heart sank. A black and white Crown Vic with LAPD on the door rolled to a stop at Darwin’s right. Remembering immediately the half ounce of pot he had in his pack, his sunken heart started beating a bit faster.

“Sir, hold on a minute. Where are you going?” The cop asked from the driver’s side window.

“Oh… I was just tryin to use the pier to cross the PCH, officer.” Darwin said tentatively.

“Figured, but you can’t.”

“Did I do something wrong sir?” he asked nervously, the knowledge of the pot in his pack giving him the feeling of water filling his lungs.

“I dunno, did you?” The officer asked stone-faced.

“No sir.”

Cracking a half smile, the officer spoke.

“You’re alright son, but some jackass pulled a gun up there a little while ago so you’re definitely not getting through that way.”

As he stood next to the cruiser unsure of how to proceed, the cop spoke again.

“Be careful crossing kid, I don’t give a fuck about jaywalking just don’t get hit.” And with that he continued to roll his squad car down the shoulder.

Darwin lifted his hand as the cruiser rolled away, and saw the cop flash a peace sign through the rear window. “Likewise” Darwin thought, smiling a bit.

The rest of the day was spent gathering applications from restaurants, bars, and a few pot clinics, with lunch at the India Jones chow truck. Not the best food, but not the most money either. With the sun about 3 hours from the ocean he called it a day. Walking back towards the coast he fingered the sharp plastic card he’d gotten earlier, wondering what the dating rules would say about this one. How do you ask a successful woman out for a drink when she met you on the side of the road? She told him to call he thought, so screw it.

Finding one of the few pay phones left on the planet wasn’t the easiest task, but it didn’t take too long. “I sure do love LA.” he thought, noticing the lewd graffiti scrawled on the side of the machine. Picking up the phone, an interesting smell emanated from the receiver. Two quarters later he was nervously dialing her number while flexing the card back and forth between his fingers. Clearing his throat, he heard it ring and then someone picked up.

“Hello?” The woman’s voice asked.

“Hi, is this Carissa?”

“Yup.”

“This is Darwin. I just wanted to call to thank you again for the lift cause it really made my day… Also, I wanted to ask about that drink.”

As he spoke, Darwin was sure he heard a deeper voice in the back round on Carissa’s end.

“Yea dad, that sounds great. How’s about you call me when you know where... Ok, that’s great… I love you too… Bye.” And she hung up.

Replacing the receiver, Darwin scratched his head. What the fuck was that all about? Today was shaping up to be pretty peculiar. Fairly excited and even more confused than before, He set off in search of a bar and some answers.