Milwaukee

Two days ago on October 11, we drove in the jeep along a highway to check out Milwaukee, a city in Wisconsin. It took us about an hour, and I read a bio (biography) about the start and lift off of Home Depot. It was very interesting. Off the highway and into the suburbs, we saw houses and other stores and such, and then saw the big buildings and skyscrapers, big rectangular buildings with many windows and many frames. But, don't get me wrong, Milwaukee wasn't all city. We saw some parks, many trees, and there were a few playgrounds here and there. We got there on a good day, and boy was it pretty - especially the Upper Eastside. Although we wanted to tour the beautiful city, we were also very hungry. A nice restaurant called Benelux was above where we were now parked. It had an outdoor patio on the roof, umbrellas on the table, and what looked to be nice food. So, we just went in and asked to go up on the patio outside. Before we went, I went to the restroom and passed through the inside lower part of the place. A bar, nice pictures, and a lot of dining room, it wasn't too out of the ordinary. Going down a ramp, I saw another person (a waitress with a lot to carry and having blackish brown hair and young features) coming up. I backed up against the wall, and let her go. After she passed, she said a kind of "Thank you, young man" phrase and I said, "you're welcome." I didn't think of it thereafter, but it seemed to have a big affect on the waitress. I went to the restroom, and saw Dad already there. I didn't expect to see him. "Hi Buddy!" I said "hi" too. When we were done, we came back to where the girls were. They weren't. So, I just went up a partially winding staircase and went through the see through glass door to get to the patio. It was cool, seeing the apartment building, the people bustling below us, it was quite entertaining. I went around and saw them, and we sat down, overlooking the city while sitting on chairs with a table and umbrella where our food would sit. All in all, it was nice.

A man with black hair, a sturdy body, and pale skin said hello in the waiter like matter. He asked us what we wanted to drink, and everyone said what they wanted. I asked him his name, and he said his name was Michael. I introduced myself, and I also asked him why it was called Benelux. (I'm talking about the restaurant name.) "It's a combination of Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The first two are our style of food, (and the place where it's from) and Luxembourg is a city where some of the ale and wine is imported from," Michael answered.

"Cool!" I replied.

A few minutes later, we ordered, Dad said he wanted ham and cheese, Rebecca mac and cheese, mom a chopped salad, and me a meatloaf thing. When the food came, it was carried partly by the waitress I saw before, and partly by another guy. When the food was all set, it looked very very good. The meatloaf had onions on top of it and bacon around it. It looked very good.

"Here you go, sweetie," the waitress said. "You are beautiful," she said, still talking to Rebecca. Rebecca smiled. She then left and then came back. "And him," she said talking about me and facing (and also talking TO) Mom and Dad, "stood back and let me go first. He just stood back. Not every boy will do that. He must be very well behaved. " I blushed.

"Don't you ever forget that," she continued talking to me now, "if you stay like that, you're going somewhere. 'Cause then when you get older the other kids will have to catch up with you. I'm serious, they will."

It was surprising that it made such an impact on her. I just did it because she was carrying more, and that it seemed to be the right thing to do. That's all. And about the whole, you'll be ahead thing, I know many boys my age nicer than I am, and meaner than I am, too, but that's not the point. It's funny how one act can make someone's day. It really is.

The food was awesome, and when done, we bade Michael goodbye. In the doorway, I talked to the waitress more, and she talked about how much manners mattered even more. She also did a scary thing too. "I'm getting artist here," she said to Rebecca, who is the top and best artist I know. "How did you know?" Rebecca asked with disbelief. "I just can see you as one. " the waitress said. "And you, " she said to me, "I'm thinking businessman or doctor or lawyer. " I could never be a doctor because I feel faint when I see blood, and being a lawyer would be way too boring for me. Businessman, I don't know.

"Well, I like making movies, so I thought I would be a director."

"Oh, my cousin is an independent film maker. He went to the university of Iowa. "

"Cool! Now, I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name," I said.

"Jessica," she answered.

"Andrew," I replied.

Eventually, we said goodbye. I'm glad I met Michael and Jessica. They were nice.

Back in the car, we started looking around again. We saw the harbor, and saw Lake Michigan. It was pretty.

Also, there was a big shack with kites and wind materials. Around it, was a big grassy field by the lake. I remembered how we bought a kite in Maine, were going to fly it, but never got to it. Then, in Ohio when we saw Aunt Linda, we put it in the trash because it was wet, twisted, and dirty. I never got to fly the kite. And, I had never flown a kite before in my life...until then.

I addressed this issue to Dad, not thinking he would gladly park the car and walk into the kite store ready to buy one. But, Dad being the wonderful and kind Dad that he is, he did.

I went with him, also with Rebecca. We walked in, seeing all the different kinds of kites from triangles to diamonds to easy's to pro kites. They were all richly ordained. We bought a triangle kite, that had our country's flag on it. Outside on the lawn, we took it out of the pack, took the sticks and stuck them in to the holes, and then tied the rope to the holding part. Mom came from the car, got my video camera ready, and I was so excited, thanking Dad a million times over. "Now Andrew," Dad said, "put you're fingers in the handle and hold on. The rope around can be twisted right to make the kite go higher, and left to make it come further down. If it's falling down, go back. If it's too high, go forward. Now," he said as he held the kite," get ready. Ready, set,go!" he said as he let go of the kite, and then the wind blew it up into the sky. The rope unwound, making a slight TWANG as it did so. It was a jarring feeling, having it pull on you as nature turned it's course right, left, or every other which way. When it came slightly down, I walked slightly backward. When it was too high, I simply wound some string back or walked forward. The wind in my face, the cold on my skin, the sun in my face; it simply was a wonderful feeling. I ran with it, I went by some trees, and I even pulled the kite along to the ocean. For a few (like 10-15) minutes, I was just controlling the kite as Mom and Dad video taped and took pictures. After a while though, I was told to give up the kite to Rebecca for a while. She had a fun time too.

After an hour, we took up the kite into the bag, and I thanked Dad once more. We got into the car, and left Milwaukee. We watched a game show called Deal or no Deal and then I slept with the bed in. I loved Milwaukee; the people, the lakeshore, the buildings; everything was cool. It was a nice city.

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!

Let's go fly a kite!,

Andrew.