Gresham is a real city, but I have not been truthful in my descriptions of its yout. I want to preserve the privad safety of its citizens.

  I imagihe residents of Gresham will have mixed reas to what I have to write about their city. But there isn't any particur reason that it's the setting of my story besides the fact that I moved there a couple years prior, and I may have brought my trouble with me.

  If I were to describe the people of Gresham, I'd be inaccurate about it. I was a retive newbie and only ever ied with a small slice of the popution. I just know that there's more diversity there than anyone will admit.

  But to give you something to visualize, when I first arrived, I did so via the MAX from Portnd. After riding into Union Station in downtown Stumptown, I khe bigger city wasn't for me and I o head to the outskirts. And I thought it might be o be closer to a mountain or two, and headed east.

  The only way I noticed the moment I'd entered Gresham, which is teically a separate city from Portnd, was that the signs at the MAX stop were beled with the township's he two cities had bleogether so seamlessly.

  And then, from there, it was ten more MAX stops before I reached the city ter. Eae was in the middle of a spawling suburbia of small mid-tweh-tury stick built houses interspersed with rger apartment buildings of various ages and repair, and lots of gnarled and ratty trees (it was he end of that Winter - they looked better with leaves during the Summer).

  And when I got off the MAX and started walking around to look food pce to work and ao stay at during the night, I found more of the same. But also, lots of strip malls. The streets were wide, and there lenty of sky.

  It was sunny, and sure enough, I got wonderful views of Wy'east (Mount Hood). And also, occasionally Lawett' (Mount Saint Helens).

  I eventually found Gresham's “historic downtown” hidden amongst the trees and other slightly rger buildings and decided it was cute enough to stay near. It was mostly oory buildings, but the streets were narrower and lots of the shops were lit up and open, which made it feel cozy.

  I found what I was looking for within walking distance of there.

  I didn't have a thing to my name when I started there, and I still don't. But that's not really what my story is about. Just a relevaail.

  Anyway, there's a big ce that if you live in the U.S. you live in Gresham. Which is to say that there are so many pces just like it, statistically most people live there.

  I wouldly say that I ever have, though.

  theInmara