COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, Washington, DC, June 20, 2007 Pandemonium. Lights flashing, a spiral of screaming, hysterical phone calls, a flash fire – combustible Columbia Heights – ignited. It was a war zone, ground zero – not a neighborhood, not even anything physical – hate.rage.fear.heat, low hanging, oppressive smoldering chemicals, waiting for the spark, flash point fire. [...]

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2007 I leave the light on, sometimes. When there’s a mouse in the house, or a six-legged scurry. I don’t actually think that the light keeps the vermin away, but it helps, when I wake with a start in the middle of the night – to be able to [...]

WASHINGTON, DC, June 7, 2007 The shots rang out, staccato. Four, in rapid succession. DC’s Columbia Heights is a neighborhood of many noises: firecracker cackle, urgent sirens, basketball bounce, slow-fast-slow cadences – many noises, yes, but the sound of a gun is unmistakable. Clear. Certain. Four shots – one tunneling into the arm of a [...]