Larry pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one up. He then tossed the pack to Tommy.
Tommy offered the pack to Jerrick, but Jerrick shook his head no. He hadn’t smoked anything in years, and he never smoked cigarettes.
After Larry’s third puff from the cigarette, he went into a coughing spasm. Cough was liquidity as if he coughed up chunks of lungs as lungs cells made a dash for fresh air.
Jerrick asked as an attempt to develop rapport, “What have you guys been up to?”
“You know; the same-o same-o,” Larry replied as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
“I guess you, guys, didn’t know, but I met a Russian girl in college and followed her to Moscow.”
Both Larry and Tommy turned to stare at Jerrick in awe, thinking Jerrick was pulling their leg.
After Jerrick had met Lidya at college, she became the center of his world; he lost contact with everyone, including his mom and grandmother.
“Was she hot?” Tommy asked, feigning some interest.
“Oh yeah, she was super cute. You wouldn’t believe it, but her hometown looks like a dump. But damn; Russian women are hot!”
Larry sounded like a prosecutor ready to expose the defendant’s lie to the jury, and he snapped, “Why did you come back then?” Larry clearly remembered several fat skanks shooting Jerrick down at the pool hall. Now he claimed he dated hot Russian women.
Jerrick continued, “Well, she cheated on me, and then, I cheated on her too; so we broke up. I couldn’t afford to live in Moscow on my own, so I came back. It costs over a grand to rent a cockroach infested apartment for a month.”
Larry’s interest strengthened as he asked, “You cheated on her, with who?”
“She is Tatar and has long, straight brunette hair, dark creamy complexion, and a tight petite body. She has an unusual name, Amaliji.” A little drool formed on Jerrick’s lip because he wished, he could reach out and snatched Amaliji from his thoughts and hold her in his arms.
Tommy and Larry stared at their old friend, or former friend. They remained in their hometown and accomplished nothing. However, Jerrick elevated himself. He went off to college and then to a foreign country, sleeping with hot exotic women.
Tommy and Larry finished their cigarettes and then pluck two more from the pack.
“You guys smoke too many cigarettes,” Jerrick stated the obvious.
“You know, we have no drugs, and we have no money for beer,” Larry added, making cigarettes the most logical choice.
“Larry, your cough doesn’t sound good.”
“Who are you, my mom?” Larry screamed as irritation invaded the undertones in his voice.
“Larry always in trouble with his mom. She wants to kick him out, again,” Tommy added meekly.
“Again?”
“Yeah, last time, Larry lived in an abandoned trailer in the woods for a month.”
Larry turned to Tommy and shouted, “Fuck you!”
Jerrick sensed the tension in the air. Then the cigarette smoke bothered him, stinging his eyes, and he coughed several times.
Then Jerrick glanced at the TV set to see which show they were watching. He shook his head in disgust as two grown men watched cartoons.
Jerrick relaxed in his chair and watched about five minutes of the cartoon.
Larry and Tommy just stared at the TV in a stupor.
However, the cigarette smoke kept bothering Jerrick. He sprang up and bolted for the front door. Jerrick turned to say good bye, but he noticed Larry’s and Tommy’s eyes were glued to the TV.
Jerrick opened the door and walked out, gently closing the door behind him.
Tommy and Larry never noticed that Jerrick left.
Jerrick felt a little ping in his heart because he knew he would never see his two friends again. Three bandits, Larry, Jerrick, and Tommy were great friends but had become strangers. Of course, Jerrick knew the reason. Tommy and Larry didn’t change one bit. They acted like kids, living at their parents’ house, always searching for the next party. Jerrick had changed and had grown up. Now he wanted to change the world.
Jerrick stayed at his parents’ house for a week. As usual, his dad drove his truck again, making another long haul across America.
His mom and grandmother were happy when he returned.
Jerrick spent this week talking with his grandmother, and he asked questions about the old Michigan.
His grandmother enjoyed this immensely as she recollected the old days.
Jerrick didn’t believe his grandma’s stories about Michigan. Michigan sounded like heaven on earth, a place, where hard-working people could find paradise. They could find a good job, build a family, and enjoy a prosperous future.
Jerrick would do something about it and would move across the state to Detroit, Michigan.
Last day at his mom’s house, Jerrick broached the news.
Mom, grandma, and Jerrick sat around the dinner table, having a Sunday supper: roasted pork chops, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cornbread.
After Jerrick’s mom had said grace, she started pestering Jerrick.
“Jerrick, what happen to you and Lidya?”
Jerrick’s face went blank, and he dropped his fork on his plate with a clank.
Then Jerrick retorted, “Mom! I don’t want to talk about it!” Of course, he never told his parents about Amaliji or explained what happened with Lidya.
Jerrick's mom stopped her interrogation. She sensed Lidya broke her son’s heart, and he was too hurt to talk about it.
Then Jerrick picked up his fork and shoveled some mashed potatoes into his mouth. Then he blurted out between bites, “Mom, I’m moving to Detroit.”
His grandmother almost choked on her cornbread while his mom gasped, “What?” displaying the food in her mouth.
His mom spent several minutes chewing her food and composing herself.
“Jerrick, of all places on earth, why Detroit? Don’t you know about all the murders and shootings that occur there? Detroit is a very dangerous city.”
“Mom, I know. Everyone thinks Detroit is a dead city, but I see plenty of opportunities. "
Family ate the rest of their dinner in silence. In the end, what could Jerrick's parents do? At least, Detroit was much closer than Russia. At least, he could return for the holidays.
After dinner, Jerrick’s mom gave Jerrick a farewell gift; she handed the keys to her 1990 white Buick Regal. Old Buick didn’t get great mileage, but the car was reliable. At least she wouldn’t worry that Jerrick would become stranded in the wrong neighborhood in Detroit. Being stranded in the wrong neighborhood in Detroit could be fatal to one’s health.
After Jerrick had packed his suitcases in the morning, and placed them in the trunk of the car; he went to give his mom and grandmother a good-bye hug.
His mother shed a tear that flowed from her right eye. She wanted Jerrick to stay in Holland.
Then Jerrick jumped into the car and drove east to the other side of Michigan.
Jerrick chose a dying, all-American city, Detroit. Race riots in the 1967 Detroit Rebellion sent the first deathblow to this great city. Scared white people fled Detroit and moved outside the city to the suburbs, like Dearborn, Farmington Hills, and Sterling Heights. White people took their wealth and jobs with them, leaving the poor and destitute stranded in a decaying Detroit.
Second deathblow came from international trade. More factories shut down in Michigan, especially the factories that surrounded Detroit. As the jobs disappeared, more people fled Detroit. Every year, Detroit’s population kept decreasing until it dipped below a million inhabitants in 1990.
Jerrick believed international trade, outsourcing, and a punitive legal system would bring all of America’s great cities to their knees. Detroit was the precursor of what would come to America.
Jerrick still daydreamed, where he delivered great speeches to the people. In Detroit, they would listen. Detroit would become his launc
hing platform to the nation. Then one day, the whole nation would listen to him, and the entire world would bow down and tremble at his sight.
A revolution was imminent. Jerrick would rise out of the wreckage and ashes of Detroit, making Detroit a great American city again.
Jerrick drove across the state in his car, arriving in Detroit for the first time. Driving through the city, he was shocked to see Detroit had become a war zone. Residents boarded up and abandoned every other house on every block. For the homes still occupied, homeowners covered every window with bars and strung barbwire on the top of seven-foot high fences that surrounded their properties. Barbwire’s razors reflected the sun's rays maliciously. Residents lived in prisons to protect themselves from the outside criminals.
In Jerrick’s world, the criminals would be living within seven-foot high fences strung with barbwire, not the other way around.
On the outskirts of Detroit, on the edge between Dearborn and Detroit, Jerrick saw an abandoned Moose Club. Building was in good condition and had ample parking. He pulled the car over to investigate.
Jerrick stared through a dust-covered window in the front, cupping his hands around his eyes to block the outside light. Patrons hadn’t entered the place in years.
Jerrick's heartbeat quickened from the excitement of his discovery. He saw plenty of chairs and tables, covered in a thick layer of dust. Along the far wall, he noticed a two-foot high stage.
The Moose Club was perfect because it could sit at least a hundred people; a hundred people would listen to Jerrick's speeches.
Then Jerrick noticed an old, yellow sign, “For Lease,” bleached by the sunlight. He barely read the phone number. In another year or two, the sun would completely fade the phone number.
Jerrick's life plans were coming to fruition. He found a perfect spot to form a political party, and he needed a way finance it.
Jerrick climbed into the car and began searching for a job.
He searched and searched for a job in Dearborn, which was several miles away from the Moose Club. Unlike Detroit, Dearborn was an affluent suburb with a low crime rate.
He found a job at a small electronics store on 223 Main Street. Driving by, Jerrick almost missed the tiny store that sold computers, televisions, and stereos. One-story building was old but maintained well. Building's facade was cladded in a light red brick, and large display windows without the bars spanned the front.
As Jerrick walked through the front door, he literally bumped into the owner, Gary, who towered at 6 feet 2. He was a heavyset man in his 40s. He was an honest, hardworking, and nice man.
Jerrick suspected Gary could be mean if someone were stupid enough to piss him off. Although Gary was fat, weighing at 350 lbs, his body was built like a grizzly bear minus the fur.
Gary’s store didn’t have a good location, and he sold few electronics. He earned his income from fixing computers.
Most people could barely turn a computer on. If they had a problem, then many people were clueless. Consequently, everyone in the area brought their computers and laptops to Gary because he charged the best rates in town, and everyone knew it.
With a new job, Jerrick headed back to the Moose Club and called the owner.
Owner agreed to meet him at the club at 4 o’clock.
Jerrick sat on his Buick’s hood and waited for the owner,
Owner arrived in an old Ford, mint-condition, ‘69 Thunderbird as if he drove the car off the dealership’s lot yesterday, brand new.
As the owner climbed out of the car, Jerrick rushed to the owner to help catch the old man in case, he fell.
Jerrick broke the silence and stated, “That’s a nice car!”
“Yeah, I bought it back in ’69. Ohhhhh, I had to be 32 back then. I drive it once a week, and the rest of the time, I park it in a garage.”
Then the owner eyed Jerrick suspiciously from head to toe. He hoped this young kid wouldn’t waste his time. He asked warily, “You really want to rent this place?”
“Yes, this place would be perfect.”
Owner didn’t believe it, but he came. His hand trembled as he reached in his pocket for the door key.
Then the owner unlocked the door, and the door moaned and screeched loudly as it opened as flakes of rust fell from the door’s hinges.
Jerrick saw a layer of dust covering everything, and fine particles of dust floated in the air, illuminating by the sunlight.
Jerrick let the owner walk in first into the Moose Club.
Main room was rectangular, long, spanning 70 feet and 30 wide. Room had a two-foot stage at one end, and at the other end, near the two bathrooms, was two old pool tables. A long bar stretched along the long wall on one side, and the other side had a row of windows. Behind the bar, the Moose club had a small kitchen and a little office.
“How much?” Jerrick asked, barely containing his excitement.
“$500 a month.”
“I’ll take it.”
“You know you must pay $500 each month for this place. If you are a week late, then I’ll toss you out.”
“Sir, I think I can do it.”
“Son; what do you plan to do with this place? I must approve all renovations.”
“I’m concerned about Michigan’s future, and I want to start an organization to stop it.”
Old man walked hunched over, but then he stood up straight, getting a better view at Jerrick.
Old man retorted, “Son, you’re too late. Michigan is old like me. She had her glory days long ago. Now Michigan is returning to the dust from whence she came. You should have been here in the 70s, when it mattered!”
“At least I want to try,” Jerrick persisted and continued, “Michigan was a great state once, and I believe Michigan can rise and become a great state again!”
Owner didn’t argue with Jerrick. Besides, he would earn several months of rent from him.
The Moose Club destroyed his finances since he closed it 15 years ago. He tried to sell it numerous times, but nobody wanted to buy a business with a Detroit address. If the business were located 10 miles further west, he would easily fetch a million dollars for the place. He would burn the place down, but he knew the police would know better. They would check if the owner insured the business.
“What kinda renovations are you planning?”
“I’m thinking about cleaning the place up and adding a new coat of paint. I’ll keep the bar, tables, chairs, and pool tables but get rid of everything else.”
Owner would rent the Moose Club to Jerrick. Besides, what harm could he do? If Jerrick cleaned and painted the place, he’ll put the property back on the market, and try to sell it again. The U.S. real estate market was red hot as Americans made tons of money flipping houses.
Old guy stated, “Meet me here tomorrow at three. Then you sign a six-month lease. Bring your first month’s rent.”
Then he climbed into his classic Ford and drove away.
Jerrick returned to his motel, which was the usual kind that cost $20 per night. On the right days, the motel staff washed the bed sheets. As he turned on the room’s light, the cockroaches scampered for the dark corners and crevices.
Jerrick was excited and oblivious to his accommodations. He used three pillows to form a headrest. Then he lay in deep thought with a pad in his right hand and a pen in his left.
Jerrick wanted to build an empire, bring our factories back, and put Americans back to work, of course, preferably in that order. Which name embodied all three ideas? Only one name made sense, and people rarely used it. Jerrick named his organization the National Workers’ Party.
People formed the National Workers’ Party in Great Britain and Spain. Although both parties were small, they were both pro-business and pro-labor, just like the nature of Jerrick Ray Davis.
Which ideas would distinguish his party from the others?
Jerrick began writing the mission statement. First, a state helps its workers find jobs. If a worker ca
nnot find a job, then a worker creates his own job. Thus, government rules and regulations must be pro-business which means government imposes low tax rates, limits regulations, and limits its interference. A government doing the opposite stifles businesses' growth.
Jerrick detested the large governmental bureaucracies. They reminded him of his life in Russia, fighting the Russian bureaucrats for those damn blue stamps and signatures.
Since taxes are limited, then government must limit its spending. Government should provide some social programs to help the poor and disadvantage but only temporarily.
Jerrick knew a few people from his hometown, who abused the system. Some people intentionally injured themselves, slipping and falling at work, then going to a doctor, claiming they were permanently injured. Every week, these charlatans collected a disability check from the state.
Fraudsters didn’t know where this money came from. State forces businesses to pay insurance for this program, another cost that government hurls onto businesses. Government should call it a tax because paying the insurance isn’t voluntary.
Jerrick continued his thinking. High-tech industries created jobs in the 80s and 90s. Thus, government must support and maintain a strong education system, encouraging students to study engineering and the sciences.
Finally, government should limit free trade. Jerrick wasn’t against free trade per se as long it was really free trade. True free trade was Americans made cars and sold them to the Japanese. Then the Japanese makes televisions and subsequently sells them to us. Consequently, true free trade involves a mutual exchange of products.
Our politicians defined free trade differently. An American company shuts down its factories in the USA and produces their products in China's factories using cheap corporate slave labor. Then they shipped the cheap products to the United States, making huge profits, even paying off the politicians. This free trade embodied no mutual exchange of products.
Jerrick knew profits from outsourcing were only temporary. Margaret Thatcher stated, “First we produce, and then we consume.” The U.S. politicians transformed the United States into a nation of consumers, who financed their purchases with a mountain of debt. This system was not sustainable. Once Americans hit their debt limit, then hell would release it fury upon the U.S. economy. It would be cruel and unfathomable as millions of Americans fell into the pit of poverty, perishing into the chaos.
The Second American Revolution - The Building of an Empire Page 11
