10 things about the neighborhood

01. There is a stretch of sidewalk between our door and the Berks station that is not covered in cement. It is covered in broken glass instead.

02. Tony’s Way Sports Bar is our local purveyor of 40s (Olde English and Coors Light, as far as I know).

03. The Pizza Shop is on the way to the beer distributor, but

04. Father and Son’s has fried Oreos on the menu.

05. Ida Mae’s is both cheap and delicious and CLOSED ON MONDAYS.

06. Coats at Circle Thrift are $6.

07. The lot formerly known as Needle Park will someday be a high school (I feel less uneasy about the habitual drug user than the habitually hostile high school student

08. You see a lot more grey than green around these parts than in other parts of the city.

09. There is at least one quince per weekend at the rental hall on Front & Norris.

10. A woman lives in Nikki’s room. She’s of medium height, long brown hair with bangs, pronounced brow and sunken eyes. Her dress may have once been a pastel color, but is now the color of long years and desperation. Her fingernails are always dirty. She sits there all day and all night. Sometimes I try to talk to her, but all she ever wants to talk about is her children, “Where are they? What you done with them?” “I don’t know,” I say “maybe Nikki took them.” I get strange vibes from her. Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, I clutch my evil eye bracelet to keep from shuddering since I don’t think it would be wise to offend her. I’m glad she doesn’t live in my room.