Under the freeway overpass is where they live.

She knows most of them by name.

Never in a million years would she

have thought that some of the friendliest

people on earth lived five minutes from her,

under a bridge.

Despite what people say,

they are nice, gifted, and educated people.

These people have created a community of

their own because society doesn't accept them.

This particular community is known as tent city.

Society labels them as lazy, slobs, lowlifes, druggies, alcoholics, and prostitutes.

But like us,

they all have their stories.

The first member of tent city was Birdman,

he can put on quite the show.

He is a highly respected member of tent city.

The next person she met was Daniel.

She and Daniel have become really great friends.

Like her,

he loves to read books.

He's such a talented writer,

and his poetry is genius!

Then there is a guy she calls Bakersfield.

She calls him that because the

first words he ever spoke to her were

"Miss I'm stranded here from Bakersfield, could you spare some change?"

That reminded her of the song "Bakersfield,"

by Social Distortion.

Bakersfield doesn't look like your typical

member of tent city.

He looks like something straight out of a magazine.

Young, blonde hair blue eyes.

The whole package.

Just goes to show that looks aren't everything.

But boy oh boy,

can he play the guitar like a god.

The members of tent city have created

a beautiful world within this evil world the

rest of us live in.

The price of admission is to lose it all.

Only those who have nothing left to lose can experience it.

She is grateful that they have accepted her as a friend and that they have let her partake in and experience the things that go on under the bridge.