Each of the Narrators, Augusta, Kaye, and Calvin have their own paths through the various Journeys.  In The Journey South, Comets in the Yard, Calvin introduces himself, shows us around his Back Yard, and tells his Backstory.

Calvin's Back Yard

I have lived in Whitley Heights for eight years—ever since I got

my first break—finding period props for the remake of Jezebel. 

From my pool deck, I can see Hollywood Boulevard.Name=hb; HotwordStyle=BookDefault;   I can also see the

Summerland'sHotwordStyle=BookDefault;  back terrace and the hill beyond from certain spots. 

You can click on items in my yard to see the way things

check out over the years (and not move from the chaise lounge).

THE VIEW FROM CALVIN'S YARD:

     Long before I ever saw Augusta, I would see Jack Summerland on the back hill pacing between the eucalyptus and the red rock.

      Violet Name=violet; HotwordStyle=Frame; would often be with him, chatting away and keeping him company, one supposes.  One day, about a year after I moved in, he was on the hill with a woman dressed in a business suit and heels.   She was his daughter, AugustaName=Mojave; HotwordStyle=Frame; .  I met her later on when I went over for a beer.  She was bitchy that night, as she would be sometimes—the real estate business was bad or her flaky husband was bugging her.  I sometimes wondered what I would do if she were to turn up one Sunday, divorced. 

      During the times I was sure I'd never work again, I'd sit on the pool deck.  So I saw the telescopes in the apartment window on Franklin Avenue, the phony tradespeople stalking the yard, and the solicitors.

When I mentioned these to Jack, he'd launch into a silly story about the Great Tehachepi Train WreckName=train wreck; HotwordStyle=BookDefault;  or Chinatown and the Water Syndicates.  I gathered he didn't want to talk about what he was up to, or who was up against him—but he must have trusted me  because he knew I could see him on the hill.

 Just once, after Violet went to live at Paradise HomeHotwordStyle=Frame; , did he take me into his confidence.  He led me into his study and showed me a closet full of old, neatly-stacked documents. 

He asked me to look after them in case of an earthquakeName=Earthquakes in California; HotwordStyle=BookDefault; .