46
Shie D
is that the place called the Civic Center Plaza
on the edge of the Tenderloin in San Fran-
cisco, California, used to be my home.
Nothing went down there that I wasn't
witness to. Then me and my brothers and
sisters were told we had to get the hell out
of the park, reason being that the San Fran-
cisco Youth Expo was barging into our front
yard come daybreak. And you know what
else? They said that during the three-day
affair we, the homeless, were going to have
to do without the few comforts we were
reliant upon-you know, the Bread Truck,
Meals On Wheels, and all that. As the cops.
forced us further down the gutter, I felt I had
to retaliate. I was dog tired of being treated like some kind of alien.
And so I began my transformation.
My first priority was to acquire some new threads. I headed to
the Embarcadero where I knew some skateboard guys were hangin'
out. They looked like a generous bunch. I watched them work those
boards, they were good. I could tell these guys were professionals
because everything they wore was covered
with company names. I figured they must
have gotten all their duds for free, and could
get more for that matter, so while their backs
were turned I picked up one of their duffle
bags and cut out.
What a kind guy, bless his blood red heart.
I ended up with a full wardrobe and a
skateboard to boot! I pain myself now for cur-
sing them when they used to leap over me
as I lay in a doorway on Market street.
At that time, the wind was clippin' out of
the Northwest about 15 to 20 and whippin'
up a lot of trash. I noticed a flyer which said
"Youth Skate '88" on the top and had a
picture of a leaping kid with his skateboard below that. I thought
I'd go on over to the plaza which lies like a big doormat in front of
City Hall where the whole shebang was happenin'. When I got there
I saw the portable shitters and paid a fortunate visit. Over in the
drained reflecting pools I saw some skate guys hammerin' like mad.
I just started walkin' around pickin' up trash. Then I asked the
RUN
MC
Opposite Page: Christian slaps a fat
backside (rock & roll slide that is).
Above: Creamed coping is Bill
Danforth's favorite food. Inset: Natas
surmounts the insurmountable
obstacle. Right: More proof that the
board is glued to Rodney's feet.