Hobo Nickel
The Ghost Caste In The Vanishing City
She’s just escaped from her job for yet another day and she’s thirsty for something. Not the coffee she’s been selling all day long, no, but rather something that will sate the feeling of fraudulence and deceit that she has steeped in for the last eight hours. She’s going to walk home instead of taking the train.
To get home, you’ll have to cross the river that divides the successful from the dregs. You’ll have to look at their hobo bags and dirt-streaked clothing and acknowledge to yourself that should the machine break down and you missed out on even one paycheck, you’d be right there next to them. But why think of that?
At first she is reluctant to look at them directly, not because the reality makes her uncomfortable, but because she doesn’t want to be rude. And then she realizes that rudeness of this sort is still the privilege of her class. The others are used to it, and if someone looking them over means they might get some loose change out of it, all the better.
Their numbers are huge, but if one knows what to look for, one can find threads of similarity that tie them together and make them known to one another. Here, for example, is a man carrying a lace parasol. Here is a man wearing not one but three girls sweatshirts in the middle of summer. They’re all dirty, but it’s not from an inherent dirtiness, it’s because they’ve burnt garbage to stay alive.
This is just how it is though. She shakes her head and thinks about how thin the brick walls are between the alleys full of the homeless and the shops full of the wealthy, or at least the employed, selling their antique engagement rings and pink pants and pizza by the slice.
It doesn’t get her down anymore though. She can’t let it do that anymore. She’d have to take time off of work and who could afford it? Who could afford to pay attention to how they feel? She called out for a taxi and crawled into its backseat, letting the tinted glass insulate her from the reckless abyss all around her.
This is not just a city somewhere out there. This is your city! The line between those who are just making it by and those who have totally lost everything can be as thin as the capricious whims of a coffee shop franchise owner. This is a heavy burden for any one to carry, much less for all. When will the beast’s back at last be broken under this yoke?
Rollies Hobo’s of Hobo Nickels.Org
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6.5 Inch Brushed Nickel Kitchen Cabinet Hardware Pull $2.70 Diameter 1/2 inch. Length 6.5 inches. Hole centers 5 inches. Material steel 7/8 inch height from the cabinet face to handle bottom…. |
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Hobo Bag Color: Chocolate $89.95 MB-HM08-25 Color: Chocolate Pictured in Camo Features: -Top notch bag that’s on trend and timeless. -Versatile, slightly slouchy, hobo shape is cool and casual perfect for everyday use. -Strap has beautiful embossed nickel hardware. -Super durable recycled seat belt webbing. -Signature purple satin lining with a zippered pocket, cell phone pocket, pen pockets, and key pockets. -YKK zippers and fo… |
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Hobo Bag Color: Black $89.95 MB-HM08-01 Color: Black Pictured in Camo Features: -Top notch bag that’s on trend and timeless. -Versatile, slightly slouchy, hobo shape is cool and casual perfect for everyday use. -Strap has beautiful embossed nickel hardware. -Super durable recycled seat belt webbing. -Signature purple satin lining with a zippered pocket, cell phone pocket, pen pockets, and key pockets. -YKK zippers and four f… |
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Maggie Bags MB-HM08-02 Hobo Bag – Light Tan $89.95 Top notch bag that’s on trend and timeless. Versatile, slightly slouchy, hobo shape is cool and casual perfect for everyday use. Strap has beautiful embossed nickel hardware. Super durable recycled seat belt webbing. Signature purple satin lining with a zippered pocket, cell phone pocket, pen pockets, and key pockets. Ykk zippers and four feet on bottom. Color: Light Tan. Dimensions: 8″ H x 14″ W … |
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Authentic Coach Kristin Linen Embossed Python Expandable Leather Large Hobo Handbag 16809 Antique Nickel/Ivory $558.00 … |
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Harley-Davidson® Women’s Large Hobo Bag. Jacquard Detailing. Nickel Studs. BS2542J $84.95 Black on Black, H-D® bar and shield jacquard detailing. Cotton-Poly blend yarn-dyed jacquard with matte leather trim. Antique nickel studs, rings and signature script logo plate. Leather zipper pulls with rose medallions. Two side and one back zippered pockets with leather zipper pulls. Pink satin lined interior. Two pouches and one zippered pocket. 3 hanging charms on chain – heart, skull & cros… |
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Hype Anya Small Hobo in Nickel $80.00 Dimensions: 12″ L 3″ W 10.5″ H Drop Length 8.5″ Exterior 100% Leather Interior Faille Lining Short shoulder for easy hands free Top zip closure Front exposed zipper compartments and buckle detailing Two interior multifunctional pockets and a zipper wall pocket Back slip pocket… |
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The Hobo Nickel … |
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Hobo Nickels: Prisoner Nickels, Shop Tokens, Modern Engravings 1st edition. “Specialized Printing for the Numismatic Trade.” Photos by Bill Fizav. 8.5 x 5.5 in…. |
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Hobo Nickel Guidebook $127.50 … |