Employed 16 part3

ln late 1971, the relationship, and marriage of Dahlia and l fell apart as did our "business" at 1914 Divisadero St. The decision of the divorce court, 100% in her favor, allowing me not so much as a phone call, let alone any shared custody or visits. They and l discussed our situation, after which, l decided to disobey the court.  We would meet a few times in our secret spot in the woods near Dahlia's
house.  We had several meetings and much discussion before we decided to run
away. We left a note that said we were gone but ok. We also told her that my Dad would be a go-between for us, receiving letters from us and forwarding them to her; then receiving from her , then forwarding to us. lt seemed like a good idea to us (the kids and l) but none of the kids' communications ever received an answer'.

So l went looking for a job that would allow me to keep moving, and moving constantly would necessitate getting a better car than the one l was using then.
l also needed at least one new suit for job interviews. And a new identity, including a driver's license, actually issued by a State. My friend Dom, a really good mechanic, sometimes acquired cars he had worked on. He was my first (and only) stop. Luckily, he had just finished re-building the transmission in a
'73 Mustang with 188,000 miles on it . The time was early August,73. This car first saw pavement in October 72 and immediately began making round trips 
between San Francisco and Miami carrying Colombian and Jamaican cannabis.
lt had made forty-two trips when it was retired and replaced. l bought it by paying for the trannie overhaul. Dom put four nearly-new tires on it for $75.
When l told him what l was about to do, he turned me on to a guy (Floyd) who was involved with an organization that supplies complete ID including copy of birth certificate, Calif driver's license and teamster's union card, all in the name of Michael Stewart Harrigan. He was actually deceased and his name stolen from him. l was told it didn't hurt him a bit. The organization that supplied the new identity, did so without charge, and without questions. As l drove out, Dom
shouted "Try Goodwill for suits.

At Sally's cafe,the morning paper is served to customers with the welcome. l was in Sally's phone booth, responding to an ad l saw in the paper before the kitchen even started my "two, over medium,ham and hash browns". The opening was for an experienced booking agent for the Great American Circus.
l was scheduled for an interview at 3PM the next day with Sy Spencer, the show's owner

There were no one-on-one interviews; Sy had the six-or-so of us sit around his desk. He would ask a question then point to each of us in succession for our reply. l was responsive to questions but saved details for a one-on-one. Two days after that meeting, l called Sy and  told him that l was a bit surprised that he hadn't scheduled me for a one-on-one.
"You want a one-on-one, huh? OK, 1PM tomorrow, same place.
The next day, Sy listened to my pitch and hired me to book the Great America Circus. lt's a three-ring circus under canvas taking up more than an acre of ground that can be erected in a couple of hours. lt could be taken down, rolled up, flattened down and hoisted  onto six completely enclosed trailers,drawn by 
three short chassis tractors with engines totalling more than 2,000 horsepower.

At my next meeting with my kids, we had something to discuss. At that point, if we decided to act, we had a very good chance to succeed. lt was then just a matter of showing up. But is everybody ready? We decided to vote and l decided that if it wasn't unanymous ,we wouldn't go. The vote was unanymous; yes we will go!
l think all the girls had some strong reservations conserning the leaving of their mother, but they wanted her to be aware that they  loved her and wanted to be with her but they wanted to have some time with their dad, too. And they believed their absense from her , for weeks or months would bring her around.
Even knowing the extent of her hatred of me, l too thought my having them and her knowing that l had them and she didn't, might possibly ruin her resolve

The girls were some excited that we would be working for a circus. Before it was over, each of us would have a real paid job in the" Great American". As a booking agent, my job was to contact the officers of organizations like the local Police benefit Org. or the firemens widows and orphans fund. The Lions; and other civic organizations like them are eligible but the commission paid for their contract is lesser than fire or police sponsors. More on that later.

So, the girls and l left the vicinity of their mother's house in Vallejo in the afternoon of a day near the middle of July, early in the 70s