After Hours
“Ghetto Park” was a place where the locals youths congregated to skate. There was a sense of safety and strength in numbers by honing their purpose. Formed friendships created personal monikers for each other. Mikey and Goose were especially close because they pushed each other to skate their best.
Goose is not afraid of heights. He climbed mango, lemon, orange, guava and other California fruit trees. Fruit produce was picked off and eaten for nourishment. Zero cost per pound. Although this time he’s holding two short limbs he pulled off the main supporting branch. Mikey is seen, albeit out of focus, below Gustavo posted on a large Jacaranda tree branch, eyeing his next running line to land the trick off the box. Gustavo is centered between the branches of the opposing Jacaranda tree’s silhouette across the width of the skate plaza. One shoe is light by the circles of unfocused light. It almost hints at the gift of foot-eye coordination by the Father of heavenly lights. The endless possibilities of how the mind can instruct the foot is being conjured now.
His foot was almost touching Mikey’s mind. The wear of the skateboard shoes is evident by the leather constantly pulling a part. They learn to tie their shoelaces tight as the tension increases with activity. Laces break and the pieces are used to retie what’s left. There isn’t much waste. The passion of speed, big air and movement separates the sole from the leather body upon each gravitational landing. These are moments unseen to the naked eye during normal working hours during the day; however, these are the after hours where the art of practice and dedication light up the night.
Most of the neighborhood is asleep on their beds. The next word day. The next school day. The next may never come. The chain link fence in the foreground acts like a side-skirt. The posted hours were for a closure time at 10 p.m. If the park rangers or police caught you in the park beyond the posted limit then tickets would be issued. The fine given to the skateboarders would be more than these young men and families could afford to pay. The fines increased to greater amounts by failing to pay. Parks are created for play. Another danger of being here past the skateboarding hours is also the immediate warring ethnic and gang factions that cause hostile retaliation based on skin pigmentation. For Goose who happens to be Mexican and Mikey who happens to be Cambodian choose to skate along, side by side. Not everyone here thinks or feels the same way because their hearts choose the truth over the lie.