Earlier tonight, a helicopter was on circular patrols over the city for a good while. The riot vans are still cruising the streets in search of trouble and the boards on the windows unbroken are still up--like at the little convenience store in the lower level of the library.
I call it "The Place Where Nobody's Happy to Be There" because they're never remotely a cheery lot. But today, the two cashiers actually chuckled in light spirits at something I said in response to a brief conversation with one of them. A conversation. That alone is amazing at The PWNHBT. I figure they're happy to have survived the riots unscathed.
Below is a video summing up the state of Birmingham tonight: Businesses are open, people are out, there's laughter and singing and high spirits. And the bobbies are still on patrol. And the loud club on the corner still isn't open. But the big, loud trucks carrying stock for stores are again growling their way down Bromsgrove Street. And the industrious little forklift by the parking deck on the far side of Pershore is busily moving the neverending supplies. The moon is full, the only yelling is that of the happy Friday-night revelers, and life has returned to near-normal in dear ol' Brum.
