Concrete Jungle

Bloggers challenge- Describe a destination.

“Wake up we’re at your destination.” He said.

I woke up from a dream to walk in another. I remember that we took almost one hour to find a space for our small white American car or as he called it “Impala” we spent half of the road trip listening to “Empire State of Mind (Part II)” by Alicia Keys without Jay-Z interrupting her majestic voice.

We couldn’t find a space so we took our car to the parking garage were someone can take it from there. A guy wearing shabby clothes came to my dad and said “YO! Wanna keep yo car ova here brotha?” –I imitate his accent whenever I want to act like a New Yorker- so we stepped out of our car and we had to walk in the cold painful December weather to Times Square, it was five blocks away but we didn’t care about the walking part because we were on our way to one of the amazing places in the whole world.

As I walked I had all the flashbacks including the conversations and arguments about how I can’t make it to NYC, at the end I gave up and believed that I can visit this city in my dreams only. My flashbacks were gone when my brother snapped at me saying “LIFT YOUR HEAD UP!” and once I did..

‘This streets will make you feel brand new,

Big lights will inspire you..’

And I thought to myself, those city light are such an inspiration. I walked and the huge signs were on every single building.

“Wicked” .. “Mamma Mia” .. “Annie” .. “Lion King”.. “The Phantom” .. And other huge Broadway signs that made me feel so small at the huge city.

I moved closer to the huge ball and I saw the city performers on the side, where one is hiting the empty boxes and containers living the moment as if he was the street version of Levon Helm.. then I moved further to see another guy who had an empty paper, nickel and spraying cans; he drew a master piece representing Times Square at night with those simple materials.

I walked.. I tripped over five times because of the broken legendary roads of New York that witnessed a revolution in the American history and I loved those streets because they observed the beginning of Broadway and it started from the place where I was standing on.

Later on we stood on a place where I can see the ball and the stage beneath it. Everyone who was with us started screaming and we joined them. Different words and voices but all of us sounded the same when the count down began.

“10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

HAPPY NEW YEAR”

The ball hit the ground and the screams came back but this it was louder and happier. Couples were kissing, families were hugging and crying, and there I was with my family holding hands grateful for living this moment. “Happy New year” my little brother shouted and then we came closer to each other till a voice disturbed our group hug.

“Aaaaaand now we present TAAAY-LOOR SWIFT with her new single ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’”

She was so pretty wearing a white blazer and her blonde hair was over her chest. I was thrilled! We sang along with her, the joy covered our faces and hugged our hearts..

Like every night this one had to end and I had to leave but I left happy not broken for leaving my favorite city in the world because that city taught me a lesson I forgot for a while.. Never give up on your dreams.

“Even if it ain’t all it seem

I got a pocket full of dreams..”

_____

Hope and Love

Maitha the Parrot