South End

 This is a building that was  in San Antonio TX USA. It was being torn down when I photographed it.

It is now in South End, a slum where several people in my Resurrection of Magic books live. It  has also become the setting of some short stories I am writing.

Backstory:
Captive children broke all the windows on the first floor and many of the smallest ones escaped.  

The remainder were marched up steep stairs to the third floor-- and locked in without food for seven days as punishment.

On the first night, they found two stones and began chipping at the walls-- taking turns so that the stones were never idle.

On the fourth night, they tied together all of their clothing and descended safely, scattering like South End rats, then, without discussion or promises, they stopped running and reassembled, shivering in the cold, free, a family of sorts, bonded by misery and hope. The short stories will be built around their lives after that night....