ALLEY RATS is an autobiography about a young girl that lived through the 50s' & 60s' in a small town she calls "The Burg." G.m. Staley shares her memories with her children so that they can learn a lesson of life in each chapter. Many people enter her life during those 10 years. What does a childless neighbor, a friendly streetcar conductor, and a generous shopkeeper have in common? Well, some friends stayed with her all of her life while others came and went with the seasons. Some people she encountered left an everlasting impression that shaped her into the person she is today.