Ghostown, oakland, california, USA

on the way home...

A young girl helps her boyfriend to avoid the obnoxious eardrum tightening that happens when the BART heads closer to the center of the earth. She reaches out to him and rubs one ear canal vigorously with her right hand. Then reaches up with her left to rub the other. She then reaches up to her right ear and rubs, her left ear, rubbing. She repeats the whole process.

A sign on a fence reads, "Warning, car battery theft area." The vehicles inside the fence are all white, armored trucks. The armored trucks appear frightened. They have protected themselves a with a second layer: an elaborate barbed wire fence, complete with an extra lining on top: thorny spikes.

A lone diaper chills on the sidewalk. Disney princesses decorate the front flap. The sun has faded their once shining beauty.

The small church next to the local convenience store is blasting praise music.

The young neighbor is drinking a 40 just after noon and spewing raps.

Ghostown is alive like a forest. You have to stop and listen.