If you live in any sort of an urban area, you've seen them, the street people in their ragged clothes. In moments of guilt you've given them some spare change, or maybe, in moments of contemplation, you've given them some thought: You've wondered how they got there, who they are--or maybe who they were.

In this week's lead story, writer Tai Moses paints an unforgettable of Audrey, her former friend and travelling companion--a wild child who never quite fit in. It's a moving story, remarkably free from maudlin sentiment.

In the news department, check out the story about a lonely piano at Bosso's, a bar in Monterey that's banned from presenting live music. You'll also find out why local clinics are dragging their heels in prescribing RU-486, and what the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is planning to do about its crumbling schools.

In addition to the marshmallowed yams, Thanksgiving also marks the beginning of the holiday movie season. There are nearly 30 major release scheduled to open between now and the beginning of 2001--in our movie section, you can scout out our capsule reviews of the upcoming releases.