The Moonlight tower, located on the corner of Nueces and W. 22nd street, illuminates the desolate streets of west campus as students are at home resting. awaiting yet another beautiful day of classes.

But this story is not about the Moonlight tower nor does it take place at night. It is the story of the admirable parking meter, which entangles the lives of the student, the officer of the law, also known as the meter maid, and the often overlooked urban squirrel, that I am about to share with you

The Student...

The student drives north down 21st street in dire search of an open parking spot, that represents a short brisk walk to class. Catching a glimpse of the parking meter in the corner of his eye, the student lets out a short gasp of satisfaction. After skillfully maneuvering his car into the vacant spot, he swiftly opens the door and climbs out of the driver's seat, quickly closing the door behind. He approaches the parking meter like an experienced veteran. He has been here before and he knows what to do. He confidently inserts the correct amount of change into the parking meter that ensures that his car will be covered for the duration of his morning class. He walks away with a smirk drawn across his face, knowing only a short distance stands between him and another pleasant day. The parking meter serves as a beacon of democracy. In west campus, where parking is few and far between, anyone with appropriate change may parallel park his car beside it and be provided a few hours of parking bliss.

The Officer of the Law (aka meter maid)...

Although an officer of the law on a technicality, this man takes full advantage of any opportunity to exert his authority. From the depths of the underworld, he lurks around street corners casually sneaking from meter to meter. This meter maid has found a new victim. The absent-minded student neglected to refill the meter, when he decided to dine on campus after his morning class, and now his car falls to the fate of an expired parking meter. Upon observing this parking meter, the officer shows no sympathy and swiftly withdraws a small black booklet from his back pocket. Writing down a few notes, he firmly slides the slip of paper beneath the windshield of the students car. Although the meter maid is seen as just an annoyance to most he plays an integral role in the survival and functioning of the graceful parking meter.

The Urban Squirrel...

This little creature knows little of a life seperate from the urban fabric that is engulfing the Austin area. Well experienced in human interaction, this squirrel shows no fear at the site of man and automobiles, but instead crawls nearer in hope of food. To him the parking meter is just another of many "urban trees" that overpopulate the area. The urban squirrel scurries up and down the pole of the parking meter in order to burn all the calories he has accumulated over the winter, because the urban squirrel knows the advantages of staying fit. He will also use the parking meter in the daily games of chase that he organizes amongst his friends.