Homeless

By Cos Natola

Homeless - in the words of author Cos Natola: ' A number of years ago, I found myself watching a PBS documentary on homelessness in America, and although I do not remember specifically the name of the program, I can never forget the major impression it left on me. The point that hit me the hardest was the one indicating how people who suddenly find themselves without a home are not always down-and-out individuals who seemingly have this kind of living situation “coming to them”. Often, homeless people are individuals who totally defy the stereotypes typically associated with this undesirable lifestyle. When one thinks of the kind of people that end up living on the streets, we often jump to deem them drug addicts, or sex trade workers, or people with untreated mental illnesses. Yes, some do fit these descriptions, but many others don’t. As the documentary intrigued me more and more, it pushed me to do some further research on this epidemic, and from the many articles I discovered, I read about people who seemed to have it all at one point in their lives, and then, almost freakishly, they literally crashed and burned; succumbing to one terrible twist after another, until finally, they ended up with absolutely nothing, and living out on the streets. My story, HOMELESS, is a portrayal of nine desperate characters who were living together on an empty city lot. Each character had a story to tell, and not a single one of them fit the stereotypical pattern often associated with homeless people. When a pair of radio talk show hosts stumble upon the abandoned city lot that serves as a home to this group of luckless individuals, we discover that there are so many people in today’s America who are homeless, that if we plopped them all down in one spot, it would easily form one of the largest cities on the North American continent! This is simply staggering! I love this story very much. It stirs my emotions each and every time I read a passage from it. Sure, it is my work, and obviously, I feel a certain dedication, or perhaps, even a certain bias to it; but WHY does this tale hit me so hard? Because I feel for the many good, innocent, and lonely people, who because of the constant adversity their lives are plagued with, find themselves in this almost unimaginable state of existence. I hope this story moves my readers as much as it moves me.' Cos Natola

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cos Natola
• Release date: Nov 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370169467

Cos Natola

Cos Natola is an award-winning Canadian pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger, actor, and playwright from Vancouver, British Columbia. After winning numerous music competitions as a teenager, Natola took the Grand Prize at the Esso Talent Festival held at the Pacific National Exhibition, and telecast live by CBC Television.Later, following the suggestion of Canadian music legend Juliette, Natola entered the Du Maurier Search For Stars Competition held in Toronto, (also telecast on CBC Television). After adjudicators selected 720 professional entrants from thousands of screened applicants from all across Canada, Natola was named as a Top-18 semifinalist, and eventually was declared an overall winner.These awards led to more appearances on CBC TV, including Timmy's Christmas Telethon, Dr. Bundolo, The Bob MacLean Show, New Year's Eve Live, and Vancouver Breakfast, and Natola shared the stage with many artists including Bobby Hales, Shari Lewis, Jim Carrey, Vikki Carr, Bob McLean, Pat Boone, Paul Williams (songwriter), Louise Mandrell, Patsy Gallant, Johnny Ferreira, Leon Bibb, members of the famed Boss Brass, Dal Richards. Red Robinson, Rick Honey, Iona Campagnolo and others. These appearances garnered positive reviews in both provincial as well as national publications.Natola also maintains a very busy recording career. His first single featured two original songs, Think of Me, & More Today Than Yesterday, and was soon followed by his first album, Dreams Never Die. His second album was entitled The Immigrant, and its title track reached Number 1 on the hit parade of WEAW Chicago. Natola's next album was called A Hopeless Romantic. RCA Records then released a Cos Natola single: Tutta La Vita & Being Free. His next album was entitled On The Third Day, and was followed by two children's albums. Many of Natola's recordings appear on four compilations: Reflections, Now and Then. Teaching Thru Song, and On The Third Day (all available on iTunes, Cd Baby, Amazon, etc...) Two later releases were Torch, followed by Romeo and Juliet, a concept album based on Cos Natola's two act musical adaptation of the great Shakespeare classic play. The EP Single, The Show Must Go On was released in 2015. And in August of the same year (2015), From The Heights, an album of eleven songs co-written alongside author Mark Anthony Brennan was released internationally.Cos Natola's first novel, Homeless, is also available internationally online.Natola sang the songs appearing in the Len Kowalewich feature film Dead Wrong, and the movie went on to garner numerous Genie Award nominations, including Best Music. He later composed soundtrack source music for the Rex Bromfield feature film, Cafe Romeo. Natola was also commissioned to compose the musical score for Thysia Productions brand new feature film Anacka's Eyes, and he has also appeared on the popular CW TV series Aliens in America.Among Natola's fondest studio memories are the times he worked alongside his mentor (as Natola, himself refers to him), composer and producer Bobby Hales on projects such as jingles, documentary film soundtracks, and, of course, music for the long running CBC TV series The Beachcombers.Charity work has always been a priority for Cos Natola, and he has often given his time to organizations such as CUSO, the B. C. Lions Club, and numerous other fund raising societies. Natola has also supported Harmony In Action, a movement which proudly features the multi-cultural diversity of Canada.Natola continues to perform, compose, arrange, and produce recording sessions. He has also become an avid playwright, and many of his scripts have been performed to favourable reviews. These productions include Snow White (an opera for children), The Girls of St. Mary's, Casa Leoni, Homeless, Once Upon a Love, Wendy, The Immigrant, Hoedown, My Father's Son, When the Wind Blows Westward, Manila, Titanic: The Aftermath (featured on VTV's Vancouver Breakfast Show), Four Seasons, Save the Nugget, Murder at Baxter Manor, Sleepy Hollow (a musical adaptation for children), The Apple Tree, Study Hall, and The Red Dress. Natola also scripted a play entitled "What is Canada?", and this was featured on CBC TV (using youth actors under the direction of the playwright) as part of an anti-racism television series.In November 2000, Natola was Musical Director of the Christ The King Jubilee Catholic Mass held at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum, and attended by over 16,000 people. This celebration of liturgy was one of the largest events ever staged by the Vancouver Archdiocese. Natola played the piano, conducted the ensemble, and arranged and orchestrated all of the selections which were performed by a 250 voice choir and orchestra. In 2008, Natola once again led the musical forces at General Motors Place when the Vancouver Archdiocese celebrated its One Hundred Year Anniversary.

Book preview

HOMELESS

a novella by Cos Natola

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© 2014 (C. Natola) (2nd Edition © 2016)

Published by Scorpio Productions

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…it would be unjustifiable to insinuate that all homeless individuals are good people, but by the same token, it would be equally unfair to assume they’re all bad…

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homeless

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Chapter 1

It was just another night like all the rest; fairly quiet, except for the constant faint hum of background city noise, the odd wailing siren, and the occasional sound of people’s voices looming off in the distance. Talia lay still, all bundled up in her old but comfortable sleeping bag. Sofia too, lay in her bag, but not quite so still as Talia, as her stomach was bothering her as it usually did of late. Doc sat on his timeworn and trusty tree stump reading a day old newspaper under the dim light of a faulty street lamp. Meg, sporting one of her regular bad moods was also lying in her sleeping bag, but she was neither still nor wide awake; she was just kind of there; dreaming, perhaps, of what she would next bitch about.

Bobby and Kate sat close to Sofia, trying hard to offer assistance each and every time she yelped in pain as a result of one of her intermittent tummy spasms. Ethel was a couple of blocks away, using the facilities at the local gas station, while Eddie and Rachel should be getting back soon from Angelo’s, an Italian restaurant whose owner was kind enough to hand them over his nightly leftovers, rather than disposing of them in the garbage.

Thank God Angelo’s was open seven days a week, because this meant that although it had quickly become a most redundant and boring menu, it did mean that this homeless group of nine individuals did, at least, get something to eat each and every night.

The old and deserted empty city lot had sort of become home for the troupe, at least for the last year or so. Nobody bothered them, they in turn bothered nobody, and although it wasn’t a five-star hotel, it was a spot at which they could hang their hats, so to speak. They lived and slept mostly in the open air, and if it rained or even snowed, they had managed over time to acquire some large plastic sheets that they suspended above their quarters via the use of some shoddy rigging in order to keep dry. It did get really cold at times, but thankfully, it snowed rarely, if at all, and this was definitely a good thing. Tonight was cool and cloudy, but it wasn’t raining.

The sound of Bobby’s gentle voice delicately made its way through the still night air as he approached Sofia’s sleeping bag. Bobby was tall and fairly well built. His long and curly dirty blonde hair was often tousled and unkempt, yet funnily enough, it never really looked messy. His deep blue eyes possessed an air of sincerity, and when he spoke from the heart, this is truly what it felt like to those who listened; like he really was speaking straight from his heart.

Hey, Mom, you feeling better? You look a little better, you know! You got some colour back on them cheeks of yours!

Oh, Bobby, my son, if I look any better, it's just a fluke. I feel terrible.

Bobby tried to be as reassuring as he possibly could. Hang in there, Mom. You'll be all right. You'll see.

She’s tired and she wants to sleep, but she can't fall asleep because she’s too hungry. It’s like one thing gets in the way of the other, offered the ever-thoughtful Kate.

Bobby added, Well, it won't be long; Eddie and Rachel should be back any minute with some food. I'm sure the restaurant’s closed by now. I wonder what kind of leftovers they’re gonna have for us tonight.

Doc’s booming voice, a sharp contrast from Bobby’s implicit timbre then filled the vacant lot with his two cents worth.

The usual: spaghetti and meat sauce! That's the one thing Angelo always has plenty of at the end of the night. It’s a tiny, little neighbourhood Italian joint, Kid! You weren’t expecting steak and lobster were you, Bobby? Dream on! He chuckled for a few seconds, and then quietly went back to reading his paper.

Doc always tried to look as distinguished as he possibly could. He stood about five-foot-ten, and he always insisted on keeping his short jet-black hair neatly combed. Whenever he spoke, he’d set his pointed jaw forward and deliver his words as though he was reading from an academic publication.

I can't stand this any more, cried Sofia. Using both of her hands, she brushed her long brown hair out of her face and eyes. Whenever I become hungry, I get wracked with such terrible hunger pains, that I just have to eat something. So I do, and for a few minutes, I feel a little better. But before you know it, my stomach starts to hurt so bad, it's bloody awful! I can’t sleep! I can’t eat. I can’t eat! I can’t sleep! Oh, Lord! Why?

Sounds to me like you’re in some real need of medicine, Sofie; medicine, said Doc. We've gotta take care of that ulcer, or else it may become perforated.