This tragicomic story of a homeless man and his birthday debacle explores community, endurance, memory, and hope, and is based on the folks I met and came to know over three years of photographing railroad tramps who lived on the banks of the Los Angeles River. I used to go down there with my big camera kit and often my young son, and was the target of nothing but goodwill and kindness from the people of the river. And a lot of stories. “Fried Baloney Sandwiches” is one of them. It is fictional, but is full of truth.
Published in Rock and a Hard Place magazine, in print and Kindle. They have published several stories of mine, and are a hard-working crew. Lots of stories, as always, in this issue; well worth a few of your pennies.
Rick Risemberg
Crow Tree Books 