PART VI CEST AND CINDY TRAVEL TO THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY
The next several days were spent getting Penny and Cindy clothes that fit the 1957 time period. Any currency used from 2002 would not be considered legal tender. While waiting for money from the emergency fund, Dr. Butler used his own money to make purchases.
Cindy dressed herself in levy pants with high cuffs, and T-shirt and scarf to hide her short hair. Penny took a more conservative approach with a long dress and high heels.
As the money finally became available, the trio went to a Buick car dealership in Barstow and purchased a brand new 1957 Buick convertible.
TIME TO SAY FAREWELL
It was early morning in late June. Dr. Butler stood in front of his trailer as Penny and Cindy sat in the convertible, Cindy at the wheel.
"It's sad to see you two go", Dr. Butler said with a tear running down his face. "It gets very lonely out here."
"I know", Cindy responded as she reached out and touched his hand.
The journey to the Santa Clara Valley seemed to take forever. Both Penny and Cindy had traveled from the San Francisco Bay Area to Southern California many times in present times. But in 1957, Highway 101 was more narrow, as this main artery that linked Northern and Southern California did not yet bypass the towns along the way.
"If we go through one more small town, I'm gonna scream", Cindy declared as she drove the large car.
"Let's say we get a bite to eat, Cindy. I could go for a good New York Steak."
At this point, they passed a sign reading: "Salinas - Five Miles".
"Does Salinas have anything in 1957, Penny?"
"We'll soon find out", Penny answered. "It appears we'll be forced to go through it."
Cindy just shook her head and growled. As they entered the town, a complex on the left called Sherwood Shopping Center caught their eye. In it was a Standard gas station and a restaurant and bar. Cindy pulled the Buick in front of the restaurant and parked.
As they entered the packed Sherwood Inn restaurant, you could hear dishes chiming and the chatter of people with elevator music playing in the background. Waitresses quickly hustled to and from tables and booths as they took orders and delivered dinners.
"May I help you", an elderly hostess asked the couple.
"We are a party of two", Penny politely answered.
"There's around a forty minute wait", the hostess answered. While your waiting, you can sit in our cocktail lounge and I'll call you when a table is ready."
Entering the bar area in the rear of the diner, it was dark with the heavy smell of tobacco smoke. "Only you", by The Platters played on the juke box. Penny and Cindy grabbed a booth in the corner. Penny ordered a coke while Cindy ordered herbal tea.
Meanwhile, large a man with a butch haircut at the bar was becoming extremely loud.
"Is it just 1957 culture, or does this man has a drinking problem?" Penny asked.
"I would see my mother act like this many times, Penny. That's why I will not touch the stuff."
The man got up and walked over to their booth.
"Can I buy you very pretty ladies a drink?" he asked.
"Sorry, we're not interested", Penny replied.
"Ah", the man wailed, "You look like to need a good man to take care of you."
Cindy shook her head.
"Go away, Jack. We want to be left alone." Penny sternly said.
The man then grabbed Penny's hand as the bar tender began to take notice.
"You're going to remove your hand from my person", Penny slowly stated.
"And if I ain't gonna?" the man asked with a hiccup.
"See that juke box over there?" Penny asked.
"Yup", the man said as he tightened his grip.
"Your face will be shoved into it", Penny predicted. "You will be getting up and personal with Elvis Presley."
"Just what I like", the man spit out, "a feisty little two-bit whore."
The man tried to pull Penny up to him, but she quickly twisted around and broke loose, letting out a loud cry.
"Hey", the bartender hollered out to Penny, "I don't want any trouble in here."
"You better tell your boy here to behave himself", Penny hollered back.
"You two", the bartender barked out, "Get the hell out of my bar."
"Let's go, Cindy." Penny said. "These things can get very ugly"
"Wait a minute, bitch", the man said as he grabbed Cest's shoulder. "I ain't through with you yet."
With that, Penny quickly squatted down, jumped back up and delivered a round house kick into his face. Loosing his balance, he tripped backwards and fell into a table.
"That's it", the bartender said, "I'm calling the sheriff. You two are busting up my place."
"Wait a minute", Cindy protested. "We did not ask for this!"
The bartender didn't respond, but started dialing his phone as Penny and the man began squaring off.
"You just don't know who you're messing with honey", the man said as he got up.
"Walk away, cowboy", Cest said as she closely watched his body movement, "And you and I will call it a day."
"Hello, Sam", the bartender said into the phone. "Some crazy dike is breaking up my bar. Get over here!"
Meanwhile, the man took a wild swing at Penny, but she moved away and delivered a quick blow into his neck. He immediately grabbed his throat and grasped for air, limping about the room. First, he knocked over an antique statue at the bar's entrance. He then wandered over to the juke box and fell into it, face first.
"Let's get out of here", Penny said as she grabbed Cindy in tow.
"You wont get far!" the bartender hollered out as the they made a quick exit.
Fifteen minutes later, the big Buick was out of Salinas and heading north on Highway 101.
"I don't understand, Penny", Cindy said, "We did nothing wrong and the man tending the bar wanted us arrested."
At that second, Cindy noticed bright red lights in her rear mirror.
"Trouble", Cindy began to sing.
"I don't like this at all", muttered Penny.
Cindy pulled her car over. As a spot light luminated everything around them, a silhouette of a large pot bellied figure emerged from the black and white 1954 Plymouth.
"That bar tender called us in", Cindy whispered.
"Just let me do the talking", Penny countered, "This is my area of expertise."
As a heavy set man in a uniform and hat approached the car, Cindy rolled down the window.
"Good evening, officer", Cindy said with a large friendly smile.
The officer did not show any expression as he looked at the two women. In the background, his car radio relayed messages from the dispatcher.
"Were you two from?" the cop asked in a suspicious tone.
"We're coming up from San Diego", Penny nervously responded.
"Is that so?" he asked.
The police man then began to slowly walking around the car.
"Our goose is cooked", Cindy said as she looked down in disappear. "This is 1957 and we just dissed a drunk male 'good ol' boy'' back there."
He then came back to the driver's window as Penny and Cindy's hearts seemed to jump out of their chests,
"The reason I pulled you over is that you have a low tire", the officer said with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern", Cindy responded with relief.
"There's a fillin' station up yonder", he continued. "Just turn into the Gilroy exit and have them check all your tires."
"Whah thank ya official", Cindy responded in her best southern twang as she batted her eyes, "Yr help has been much appreciated."
At that, Cindy put the car in gear and moved forward.
"What the hell were you doing"" Penny asked perturbed
"I'm sorry, Penny. He was just - so..."
"Cindy, we are in a different time and era!" Penny hollered
Cindy didn't respond as she focused on the road. There was about a half hour of silence as they approached the town the town of San Martin. Penny reached out and touched Cindy's arm.
"Cindy, I didn't mean to raise my voice", Penny apologized.
"That's Okay", Cindy responded, as she raised her hand visually hurt.
The big Buick pulled off the two lane road into a Texaco gas station. Bright neon lights luminated the pump area. Cindy started to get out as a young man with a green uniform approached.
"May I help you, mam?" he asked.
"Do I look like a mam to you?" Cindy protested.
The young man looked a little confused.
"Excuse me, boy", Penny intervened. "We have a low tire on the left rear."
The attendant immediately began filling the tire with air.
"Penny", Cindy hesitated, "Do I look old?"
"It depends what you consider - old".
"I turned 35 in November", Cindy said as she moved her hands around the steering wheel, "I just don't feel like a young girl anymore."
"We all go through that, Cindy", Penny answered, "The only thing I can tell you is that you have to live you life as if everyday will be your last."
"I suppose", Cindy said as she looked down depressed.
The young man came back to the window.
"All tires are at 28 pounds", he said with a wink to Cindy.
As she winked back, Cindy started the motor and squealed the Buick out of the lot.
"Did you see that; did you even see that? Cindy hollered in excitement. "He winked at me!"
"Oh boy", Penny whispered under her breath.
"Let's hear some Rock and Roll!" Cindy screamed
As Cindy said as she turned on the car's AM radio, Andy William's "Butterfly" blared through the speaker system. Cindy felt good by the young man's obvious attraction toward her, verifying that she was still seen as a vibrant young woman. Sixteen years ago, Cindy was riding the top of her life, as 50,000 people came to Candle Stick Park just to see her except an award. During that time, there was a special charisma about Cindy Taylor that made her a Bay Area icon with many young boys and men. But the years preceding just seemed like a blur as she concentrated on her talk show career.
As Penny and Cindy drove the last 10 mile stretch into San Jose, Cindy was acting like a teenager as she pounded on the dash to the beat of the Rock'n Roll AM station.
A half hour later, they pulled off the two lane Bay Shore Highway into a small cafe, Bayshore Cafe. It was a very small hole in the wall off from the Bayshore Highway. It was a busy night with one table available.
As the two women sat at the table, they began disguising the next course of action.
"We need a place to stay", Penny said as she sipped her coffee in the brightly lit cafe.
The loud roar of a motorcycle vibrated the small diner as it pulled into the parking lot. A medium built man with light brown hair in his mid thirties entered the eatery.
"Look at that!" Cindy growled to Penny in a seductive voice as she pointed to the man.
"Cindy", Penny whispered in embarrassment, "What's getting into you?"
Cindy didn't respond as she just stared at the man.
"Going to be a while, Mario", the waitress told the man as if she knew him, "It's a full house tonight."
He nodded, pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Looking around the crowded room, his boots creaked the floor as he slowly made his way to the door.
"Wait!" Cindy spoke up. "You can share our table!"
"What is she doing?" Penny asked herself. "Is her strange behavior a result from our time travel? Is this going to effect me as well?"
NEXT: PART VII CINDY GOES CRAZY