I'd found a flow and a certain rhythm to Project One. There were day workers and night workers, and they'd found their balance so that sleep was possible for everyone. Some residents were lucky, living in parts of the building that had thicker walls. Due to the the size of the cement walls, living in Project One was sometimes like living in a dark spooky castle. I'd sneak through the halls a little further every day to find out who lived where. I introduced myself to the textile and stained glass window artists near my unit. They were doing business despite their long hair, casual jeans, and T-shirts they were serious about there work. So I tip-toed about, asking a few questions that I hoped were not boring or stupid, and went my way. I had been given a few emergency food stamps until the rest came in the mail. Cassiopeia and Harold, the parents of the two girls who had been so kind to me, tipped me on how to find various free boxes in the building and around the city. As soon as I started to make some money I could go to Goodwill and other clothes exchanges in different neighborhoods in the city. On walking through the alleyway, I would be at this discount grocery store called Rainbow Grocery where one could get all kinds of deals. I bought a case of Ramen noodles and a few veggies that would keep in my cool room. There also was the public stove in a niche in the hallway. Some kind soul gave me a small pot and I found a small cast iron pan in the free box. So between this and some of the park people telling me which of the city's parks and front yards around the city had fruit trees, I was OK for the time being. Some people were happy when fruit or nuts were picked off the ground and trees, meaning less clean up for them. Others not so much. I came home with avocados and various fruits which gave me a kind of hunter-gatherer thrill. (It is sad to say that, as the city grew over the years, fruit bearing trees were cut down in the park and in front yards. In some ways it was understandable but, at least to me, still a shame.)

I woke up one morning to what sounded like a harpsichord playing. Now, that's different, I thought to myself as usually the halls were full of more dramatic sound waves. Rock and roll, jazz, Show tunes, Punk, Salsa, and classical, but not so much folk tunes except for myself, and certainly not medieval music. I jumped into some clothes and slippers and followed the music, expecting to find some sort of record player or recording. Instead I found a young man sitting at a harpsichord and playing it with great passion. He stopped and stood up, greeting me with "Hello, hope I have not disturbed you. I opened the door because usually people like to wake to my music in the morning. Please come in." I was surprised and pleased at his warmth. "I build, sell and play Harpsichords and Clavichord for a living most of the time. Sometimes though I have to do other things to make ends meet." he grinned. "Have a seat" he offered. With his heavy black boots, black clothes and dark hair and unusual green eyes he looked somewhat like a grown-up Artful Dodger out of Oliver Twist. We chatted about music and the strained relationship with his father and then how his life changed after the aliens took him when he was a little boy, which he felt had happened because there was something odd about his father. He told me that he had an implant in his body as casualy as if he'd told me he had a tattoo on his arm. He then paused stepping away from blocking the path to the doorway as if expecting me to make a mad dash for the door. Instead I asked "Why do you feel these beings put an implant in you and why would they bother?"

He cocked his head and looked intently at me. "You are either very brave or foolish or maybe there is more to then meets the eye."

I burst out nervously laughing. "There is this guru guy on Tank Hill who I am sure who feels the same and maybe an old boyfriend as well."

"You don't know my name nor I yours. You are in a strange man's space and though the art on the walls might indicate that I am a homosexual, one never knows how men's tastes run at any given moment." He twinkled somewhat wickedly and continued with "I have told you I truly believe that I have been violated by aliens."

I cleared my throat. "Well, there are tons of boxes in here and the dust is pretty thick on your statues so you have been here a while. People go through a process to be able to stay here and with how everything echoes in here the chance that you are a closet hetro rapist is reasonably unlikely."

He burst out laughing "We are going on a date tonight if you dare."

"Where would we go?" I asked.

"A place called "The Stud"

My eyes flew wide open. I was somewhat alarmed. "What happens there?"

He was laughing again holding his side "Oh God they are going to love you. Don't worry it's just a bar. I will pick you up at ten."

"Ten at night?" I questioned

"That's early around here. Did your dress manage to survive your last adventure? I would really like you to wear that."

"You know about my dress and hitting my head on the change machine in the trolley?" I was quite horrified.

"Oh, just about the whole building knows. You've made quite the entrance."

My cheeks were now bright red and I felt a little undone and now had a sudden urge to run out the door. I stood up. "So nice to meet you and see your beautiful work." I somehow spit out while heading for the door.

"Pick you up at ten then ahhhhhhh...ahhhhh"

I turned "Cornelia so sorry...name is Cornelia and yours?"

"Christian"

"Ok"

"Remember the dress"

I couldn't wait for Cassiopeia and Harold to come home after work. Harold was a painter but the couple had dropkicked their lives in some eastern state where he had been an art professor to come to San Francisco. With two kids that was quite a leap of courage. I told them about my "date" with Christian which got their eyebrows up and asked them about the Stud. Cassie was all smiles. "Oh the Stud! It's a bar, It's fun you should have a good time."

"Oh yes." jumped in Harry "Big Linda loves it there."

"Who's big Linda?" I asked

"Never mind, dear, I am sure . . . I am sure you will meet her when you are more settled in."

That night I examine my dress. I marveled that I had managed with soap and baking soda to get all the stains out. It had a few pills now but not anything too serious. I also decided to save my nylons for work interviews and just slip into some slippers. I unbraided my one big side braid and my long brown hair fell down around my shoulders. Even with a little make-up I still looked like a teen. I wondered if Christian was taking me along as a curiosity and told him so when he dutifully appeared at my door at ten.

"Oh we will get stopped at the door for sure but that will be part of the fun," Christian announced. "Besides you need to start exploring where you live and if The Stud is not your cup of tea at least it's a short walk home. Lots of people around so even if we get separated. You will find home easily. So, are we still on? "

"Sure, as long as you do not introduce me to aliens we should be fine." I said a little dryly with a slight smile.

Christian laughed. "'There are far stranger things then aliens in San Francisco and they're far less dangerous."

Christian was right. The place was just over 2 blocks away and there were people lining up at the door. It looked to me like some sort of costume party all I needed was a petticoat and a long stick and I could pull off little Bo Peep.

"No minors here. Christian don't be an asshole. You should know better," growled the big bald headed man that looked like he should be taking tickets at a circus.

"No, no you know me I would not bring you trouble. She's not jail bait." Christian grinned.

"Yeah, yeah... where is the drivers license?" All in the tone of someone who has heard it all before.

I handed it to him and he peeked at it. Then turned on a flashlight and looked more closely at it before he turned the light on me, humphed and cocked his head for me to go in. The place was packed with all kinds of people. The only way I could follow Christian was to follow intently his big black boots with little silver chains through the crowd of feet on the floor. This was working until I came to a dead stop between two gigantic classic pink ballet slippers on either side of me. These were attached to long bony legs one in white tights the other in pink. My eyes traveled up to tutu type skirts and tops with pink and white ruffles and sparkles. Over my head in an arc wearing colorful headdresses were these two very tall men kissing very passionately. My mouth dropped open like a fish. The two men looked down at me like two outraged flamingoes.

"What are you staring at, girlie girl!" said one with blond hair.

"I-I- was just amazed by your head feathers they are quite beautiful" I stammered, halfway honestly, because the other half had never seen such a sight.

"Well, ain't she sweet just like a Alice in Wonderland" said the other with white hair and feathers.

"No...No ..No Darling... Just look at her! The hair the dress! She's a Dorothy if I ever saw one!"

I was swept past a little stage with a small band playing and toward the bar where Christian was leaning with a big grin. The music stopped and my new found friends used the pause to announce grandly "Look everyone! It's Dorothy!" And right on cue people called right back even a few with toasting glasses "Hail Dorothy!" The music started again and everyone went back to their business.

Christian sauntered over to me and over the music said in my ear, "Those slippers should be bright red not the rest of you."

"You imp!" I thought to myself.

Christian graciously offered to buy me a drink and introduced me to a few more friends and then walked me to Project One before turning back into the foggy night seeking new adventures.

The next day I woke up to a lovely Sunday. I had slept in, so it was late and I was ravenous. I made myself a quick peanut butter sandwich and decided I would explore the roof. The roof had a wide gravel floor that ran completely around a penthouse in the middle. Another little house on top of that floor ran the elevator. There were scattered wood pallets. There were also other scattered things like what looked like an old pigeon coop which seemed like it still had a few visitors now and then. Inside the penthouse were the remnants of what must have been a part old Project One school and their little farm in the city. Tucked in corners were little bits of hay here and there most likely from the goats that had been there one upon a time. I was standing in a peaceful little reverie munching on my humble sandwich as the church bells from the Filipino cathedral started to ring. That's when I heard a man shout "GO". A second later an explosion echoed through the room and made me jump a little out of my skin, exclaiming to myself "What the Hell!" and ran out the door and around to where the sound came from.

I came to a dead stop to see two young men, one with a camera and the other heaving a large old TV on the edge of wall that ran around the roof. "Oh, hi," they greeted cheerily. "Come to watch our art project?" I walked around them a few feet away from them and glanced over the wall. There in the alley smashed to smithereens was another TV set.

"We really did not expect such a loud explosion but still we waited still Sunday."

I could not help but laugh "So you thought the church bells would cover your crime?' I laughed again.

The guys chuckled good-naturedly "The cops are never around here on Sunday the bells were just lucky timing. We are going to do a couple more tonight. If they explode like that we should have some great shots."

I raised my eyebrows. "So that's the art project? Pictures day and night of exploding TV's?"

"There's more to it then that." explained the guy with the camera."The pictures are a statement and hopefully will be part of a article on how Television is brainwashing the masses. Also, that is near the back way to the stage and it sets the look for the next act, later in the week. The punks will love it." he said with satisfaction.

I frowned "All that broken glass and other stuff. Kinda dangerous, don't you think?"

They both laughed "Have you seen the boots they wear?"

I joined in the laughter, not wanting to appear fussy. Besides, it was a good point.

"Come up to the roof tonight if you want. I'll even give you some safety goggles just in case."

I replied with a gracious thank you, but I wanted to go to bed early to start my job hunting again.

That night as I was drifting off to sleep I managed to hear a small explosion in the distance and smiled.