03/15/2023 Alienated Part I
We were up by 4am the next day and were ready to leave at 5am. Maggie had packed our lunch last
night, bean and cheese burritos, with home-made tortillas and wrapped in aluminum foil to keep them
fresh. She had also packed fresh fruit, lots of water, cans of grape and orange soda, and buried on the
bottom, two six-packs of Budweiser, packed out of their carrying case, so we could avoid open container
laws. I received our new vehicle two weeks ago, after it had been through a complete engine rebuild and
an overhaul of the interior. The 1972 Monte Carlo was repainted with a black semi-gloss matte finish
with pearl highlights. I added red pinstriping that outlined the body and hood. The sunroof was
retractable or could be raised to a sixty-degree angle allowing fresh air to fill the car. A wrap around
mirror completed the makeover with the new tires and rims, both polished. I filled it up and had all the
fluids checked on the way home last night. We put our two bags and Adam’s baby stuff in the trunk and
headed towards Boulder City. The city resembled the styles and architect of Las Vegas homes, but the
city leaders had banned all forms of gambling when they incorporated. Most of the inhabitants had
been part of the crews building Hoover Dam and the city was built for their needs and comfort but did
not provide for any families until much later, when the Army released their control of what was
essentially a military installation. Boulder City had not allowed minorities to live within the
encampment, so African American, Native American, and Hispanic workers were forced to make their
camps elsewhere. By the time integration hit the area, most of the new inhabitants had moved closer to
where Nellis now stands. They settled in North Las Vegas and the city’s west side. Both are depressed
areas that have somehow missed out on the growing Las Vegas market. Boulder City was filled with
retirees that could easily afford the homes flourishing in new subdivisions all over the city. We headed
to Hoover Dam in good time and in good spirits. I had gone on a guided tour of the huge man-made
barrier that carved out Lake Mead. Considering the equipment of that era and the sheer size of the
project, it was and is a remarkable accomplishment.
We had planned on the early departure to lessen the daytime driving in the Nevada and Arizona desert,
with temperatures well above the 100-degree mark. We made our lunch stop in Laughlin, Nevada at the
Riverboat Casino, nostalgic, but nothing compared to the Strip. We ate quickly, changed Adam and
continued. Lunch included two beers each, but it in no way hindered my driving. The air conditioning
purred softly and was turned off more than it was turned down. Maggie had to wrap an additional
blanket around Adam because of the chill. We had the heater on when we reached Flagstaff and
checked into a hotel. I barely finished my burger and fries (and two more beers) before passing out in
front of the tv. So far the trip has been uneventful, and I did not see the beauty that everyone says exists
in the desert. Unlike the Midwest, where towns dot the landscape in positions that are rarely more than
a few miles apart, we went on stretches where we might not see civilization for up to 50 miles. Maggie
tried to tell me that it would be worse on the way to Roswell. I accused her of exaggeration but turned
down the 20-dollar bet she offered. Traveling together was pleasant, but I knew she was dependent on
me carrying our conversation past one- or two-word answers. I did my best to ask leading questions and
she did better after our third round of two beers. She hated talking about herself though, it was clearly
the result of going into foster care and not receiving affirmation or encouragement when she needed it
the most. She also was stuck in the cycle of grief from losing her first son. I believe that she hasn’t made
it to the point of accepting that it happened, because she could never accept that she was responsible
for it happening. That isn’t the case, but that is where she refuses to move on from. I better see if her
mom can shed any light on the subject.
I looked over at Maggie and saw she was fighting hard to stay awake.
“Hey, we’re almost to Gallup. Let’s stop there and stretch our legs. “, I said.
“Yeah, let’s stop there and I’ll drive for a while, and you can you rest.” She replied.
That was not what I wanted to hear, after putting nearly four thousand dollars into fixing my ride. I
resisted the urge to tell her so but instead.
“That’s an even better idea. I don’t why we didn’t switch earlier.”, I said. There’s the exit coming up
next. I’ll drive to the Aamco and we can switch there.”
At the gas station, I went over the controls and some safety information and announced I was heading
to the men’s room before we hit the road again.
Maggie handled the bigger car with ease and I was able to relax a little, although sleep was not in the
immediate future. I cautioned Maggie on using the brake on some of the curves, suggesting she allow
the car to slow by taking her foot off the gas, and then speed up through the second half of the curve
and into the straight line coming out of the curve. She nailed it on her third attempt and would smile

after using the tactic the rest of the trip. She drove through the interstate that went through
Albuquerque and managed the hills and tight turns east of the city, but I was anxious to get back behind
the wheel, and kind of hinted at it.
We came to a series of colorful signs advertising a place called Clines Corners and Mag pulled into their
parking lot , instead of taking the right turn that my map said was the route for Roswell.
“I want to show you the store they have in here. They got all kinds of stuff.”
We put Adam in his stroller and entered the store. She was right , the place was full of the toys that I
used to get for stocking stuffers every Christmas. It had knives, belt buckles, bags of army men, and trays
and trays of the penny candies we enjoyed back in the day. It was sold by weight and Mag had to reign
me in, after six pounds.
“You can’t eat all that candy and I don’t want it laying around where the baby might get into it. But my
mom is going to love you.”
She talked me into sharing a banana split that could have fed a family of four, and we began the stretch
that would take us to Roswell. I drove fifty miles without seeing a sign or anything resembling
civilization.
‘Are you sure we’re going the right way. I haven’t seen anything for nearly fifty miles. This can’t be the
way.”, I finished.
Maggie laughed, “I tried to tell you. You are going to see a tree on the right side of the road, in about
five miles. Roswell is forty miles after that.”
The surroundings made it difficult to believe her, but the road continued to make its way through the
countryside without turning or thinking of turning in either direction. Four minutes later, a large tree of
some type appeared on the side of the road. Just the tree, not a road , house, fence, or any remains of
those things, just the tree.
Maggie laughed even more, “Forty miles to Roswell.”, she announced.
Five minutes later we saw a sign showing a rest stop ahead and I asked Maggie to drive again. It was
getting late, and she knew where she was going. She jumped into the driver’s seat, adjusted the mirrors
and stomped on the gas. Twenty minutes later she pulled in front of a single story house on Union Ave.
She had slowed to check addresses and was confused for a minute. She checked her notebook and

confirmed we were at the right house. I got out and ran to help her with the baby just as the porchlight
came on and the door opened. Richard and his mom saw the car and hurried towards us. They snatched
our bags out of our hands and ushered us into the house, all the while keeping up running conversations
in English and Spanish, asking about our trip and surprised at Adam’s rapid growth. Tina handed off her
grandson and gave me a big hug and pushed me to a large recliner. I met two of Maggie’s sisters , I think
she said they were twins but I couldn’t see it. I tried to make small talk but the long trip had taken all my
energy. I followed Maggie into the room set aside for us and fell asleep before she joined me.

Part 2 to come

Barron Broomfield