We’re pleased to present an excerpt from the forthcoming anthology Rust Belt Chicago. Edited by Martha Bayne, the book features contributions from a host of writers, including Britt Julious, Aleksandar Hemon, Kari Lydersen, Kevin Coval, Zoe Zolbrod, and Kelly Hogan. It’ll be released on August 10. For now, here’s a new essay by Claire Tighe.