Part 5: Chapter 5

Riot Prep

Saturday, May 30, 2020
	As if this year couldn’t get any more extraordinary, Steve just led the neighbors in a home defense meeting. We heard that there’s a planned protest walk in Uptown Whittier’s business district tomorrow, and Steve thought we ought to be ready in case the protestors turn up our street. 
	Riots and curfews were in effect in L.A. county this past week. Curfews! What in the world! Tomorrow night the County of Los Angeles, including Whittier, is asking that we stay home from 6 pm to 6 am. Whoever heard of such a thing? Wonder if Paul will come by after 6 pm just to be defiant. Seems the sort of thing he’d do. Sounds like the kind of thing I would do. He may use our possum problem as an excuse to come by. Hope he doesn’t come though. Would hate for him to get arrested on our behalf.
	Small businesses in Uptown are preparing for the worst. They’ve boarded up their windows with plywood spray-painted “BLM” and “We stand Together” and “Justice 4 George.” Seems so strange that destroying other people’s property has become a way of communicating anger, but suppose this has always been the case. Opal and Theo practice this method of communication weekly. Also seems strange that this is happening right after the Whittier Daily News announced that restaurants could set up dining areas in the middle of Uptown Whittier’s main street. 
	In attendance at the riot safety meeting are Jacob and Cherise Belle, Nephew Gilbert, a neighbor up the street whom Steve borrows tools from, and our immediate neighbors with the cactus tree, Chris and Wayne. Our respirator-wearing neighbor shows up too, but he stays well away from the crowd. Lastly, as this meeting takes place at the five o’clock hour, Paul, who is walking by with Leche, stops and squats on the outskirts listening. Leche sits next to him.