Bradbury used a Midwest town for the setting of his story. Serling used his hometown for many of “The Twilight Zones.” Disney is often quoted as saying that Marceline, MO had the most to do with his later life, and Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. is based on it (though some would say that it is based more on Harper Goff’s hometown of Fort Collins, CO); either way, the point is the same. A storyteller’s life growing up can be a big part of his or her creativity and storytelling.
I grew up in the projects. I know that there have been some stories set in poor neighborhoods, but I don’t remember any specifically set in HUD Housing of the 1980s. I can’t remember any positive poverty stories. The thing is children grow up the same everywhere regardless of the income level of their parents, and they can be happy and healthy even in environments that aren’t necessarily conducive to optimum growth.
I wanted to tell the story of a couple of kids who lived in and benefited from government housing, so I reached into my memory and I found stories that I could weave into something a little different than reality, but close enough that people may be able to see what life is like for someone who needed government help.
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