The Fruit Belt

The orchards were replaced by rows of streets. Which were named after its fruitful history, Grape-orange -lemon and peach. I worked for a moving company back in the day. Long after the slum lords took hold of the reigns. We dreaded going to the "fruit belt" as did the police and firemen. Our white faces sharply contrasting with the soot of poverty... One time from a second-floor balcony. A cluster of black kids spit on us and laughed. Maybe they thought we were stealing furniture their neighbors. Brave little Mutts we just shrugged it off-and quickly packed up the truck. That was four decades past. I have a much softer job now. A few lessons removed from the minor horrors of: grape-orange-lemon and peach street.