There’s a little park on 10th Avenue that was a block away from Graphic Communications High School (called Printing by most, and Cybertron by anyone who knows) where Megatron used to gather us for pre-mission meetings. Its just past the tenements and the SRO (single room occupancy) flophouses. Hell’s Kitchen Park was referred to as ‘Sign Of The Times’ park because of the graffiti mural which covered the handball court walls.
The Clinton neighborhood was pretty ragged back then after going thru over a generation of heroin abusers and prostitution. Needles and crack vials littered the park as much as broken glass bottles. Those were the reminders of what happened there at night since during the daytime the park would be empty. Megatron’s meetings were the perfect way to spin 50-100 kids into an unstoppable tornado.
Whichever stop was next rest assured we would be charged up like brand new batteries after getting our rally calls. There were only a few cats who could inspire so many young boys into this controlled frenzy. We weren’t rushing from the park and knocking over apple carts or flash mobbing newsstands. We were on our way to something bigger and more important. That is what Megatron told us. And that is what we believed.
I always wonder what might have been had Megatron been given the opportunity to grow old like some of us? He was too charismatic to stay in one place tho’. Megatron would have been looking for something greater and grander that could feed his burgeoning family. Who knows what the future holds for any of us? I’m always thankful I had the chance to know Megatron. His street knowledge shaped NYC for me.
