Grub Street

The Southern girl with a bright smile and genuine eyes takes a look around. She's on Grub Street, a place she's heard of, thought of, feared. Old men and lonely women, girls with butch haircuts and thick black eyeliner, boys with long hair; these are the citizens of Grub Street. They walk idly back and forth, from one stop sign to the other. They seem not to notice her at all.

"Beware," a voice from long ago whispers in her ear. "Don't end up on Grub Street. You're too good for that."

Well, here she is, she thinks. But is this a visit, or a permanent move? She scrounges up her faith. Temporary, she tells herself. This is definitely temporary.

And when she wakes up, she is relieved to know she was never there at all. Nor will she ever be. That nightmare will never come true. She won't let it.