We sold mostly to American Military families. We, the sales crew of four, had come from Germany where Americans were practically wall to wall. Many hi-rise apartment buildings leased mostly to American military and were all over the larger cities in Germany. We went thru them like a knife thru butter. But we got jerked back to reality here in France. Most military families were scattered around the city. We had to canvass during the day and sell in the evening. We didn’t make much money and eventually, after a couple weeks, the others sort of drifted out of Orleans. I stayed as I couldn’t pay the hotel bill. I tried to find more Americans but, except for a couple of sales, I too had to give it up.
One evening I snuck out of the hotel without paying as I decided I needed all the money I had, at the time. I started hitch-hiking towards the south of France. Actually down to Cannes and Nice. Eventually I got to Nice and spent some time eating and walking along the Riviera. It was beautiful there so I took my time sitting occasionally to watch the people on the beach. The beautiful girls especially. Eventually I started walking up the hill on the highway going past Monaco on the left. It was really impressive but I knew I couldn’t even afford to walk in. You could even smell the money.
I would stick my thumb out when a car would come by and there were a lot that went by. I had walked a good deal when a small sport car with the top down stopped. They were a fairly young English couple that were on their way to San Remo. I got in the back seat and enjoyed the temporary feel of elegance. A memorable moment but it was short lived as San Remo was not that far up the road. They let me out on the highway. Eventually, after walking a really long way up over the Maritime Alps, I got another ride that was going as far as Imperia, Italy.
It was getting to be about two hours or so from the end of daylight so I went into a small café to rest and regroup.
I went to the bar and ordered a Peroni beer. After I paid, I sat down in a booth across from the bar. There were only four young guys standing around a pinball machine in the corner. I finished the beer and ordered another one. When I went to pay, He charged me more than the first one and, stupidly, I asked him why. Keep in mind, I was speaking what Italian I could which wasn’t too bad. He said that ‘a drink in the booth cost more because of the service’. I said ok and I sat down. He asked me ‘if I was American’ and sensing something I said ‘no’. I was “Inglese”. I don’t think he believed me. As I sat there I noticed he walked over to the young men and they were in a quiet conversation. Shortly after, the four went outside rather casually. I had a feeling there was something going on so I decided to change into my tennis shoes. I only had this little handbag which held everything I owned, which wasn’t much. Eventually, I had to leave so I slowly got up and walked toward the door. A few steps out the door and I knew I was right. A car started up and started to bear down on me. Now, I really believe that if I was timed at that moment, I would have set some kind of speed record. I ran like I had never run before as I am sure that the least they would have done would to have beat me to a pulp. There was a downhill road off to the right that went to a small train station not far away. How I got there ahead of them is a wonder but I did and ran inside and didn’t even hesitate running inside the ticket office and tried to tell the clerk in the best Italian I could what had happened. We heard the guys outside yelling and he saw the fear which I am sure I showed. He told them to leave and after a while they quieted down. I don’t know if they left and I was even afraid to go out in the waiting room right away so he told me to just sit down in a chair nearby.
I decided to buy a ticket to Genoa, the next largest city on the way. It arrived soon after and he went out with me to reassure that they were not still out there. It could very well be that he saved my life that night. The train finally left and I was never so relieved in my life to leave a town. I was safe. I only learned later that the town of Imperia was a very communist town and really felt contempt for Americans. Not exactly a Tourist Stop.
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