Emily stared at the building of the Newsboy's Lodging House. It been years since she last saw her father. She last saw him when she was nineteen. Now she's thirty-six with a twelve year old daughter and she's extremely sick. She took her daughter's hand and went in.
Inside, since it was nine o'clock at night, all the boys were either in the lobby or upstairs. When the two girls came in, all the boys that were in the lobby quieted down. They stared at the woman and the girl and they stared right back. Mr. Kloppman came in to find out what was wrong. He stopped when he saw the woman standing in front of the desk.
"Emily?" He asked.
"Ah, yep. It's me, papa." She said, letting go of her daughter's hand. They hugged for a long time, whispering to each other. Everyone stood there not knowing what to do.
"How are you?" He asked as they parted.
"I'm good. I have a daughter. Come here, honey. This, papa, is twelve year old Ellis. Um, I seriously need to talk to you." She said firmly.
"Alright. Boys, will you take Ellis upstairs, please."
"No problem, Kloppman. Come on." said Specs.
Emily smiled at Ellis and pushed her gently towards the stairs. When she was out of hearing range, Emily sighed and sat down. Kloppman dragged over a chair and sat down in front of her.
"I'm sorry I didn't come back." She started.
"It's fine. I'm just happy you're here now."
"That's the problem. I have to leave."
"You have to leave? Why?"
"I'm sick, papa. I have a train to catch in a few minutes. Um...I'm going to Maine to a very good hospital. I didn't tell Ellis and I can't take her. I have nobody to watch her. Please, take care of her." Emily said as she ran out the door.
Kloppman got all the boys up and ready for work. He let Ellis sleep. He told her about what's happening with her mother. Ellis didn't say anything and went straight to bed. Specs and Race said they'll come by and take Ellis to Tibby's for lunch. Kloppman left out some of Emily's old dresses for when Ellis got up.
"You look nice." Race said as the three of them walked down to Tibby's.
"It's a dress." Ellis said depressively.
"It's a pretty dress." Specs said.
"It's still a dress. I hate dresses." She said quietly.
When they entered, Jack immedently called them over but Specs when to sit with Boots and Snoddy. She followed Race over to the table and noticed two people that weren't at the house last night. One was a girl and the other is a boy. Ellis took the chair next to the girl and Race pulled a chair next to her.
"Spot, this here is Ellis, Kloppman's granddaughter. Ellis, this is Spot Conlon, from Brooklyn." Jack said.
"Okay, um...well, where's Brooklyn?" Ellis asked. Spot stared at her and the whole table was quiet.
"You joking, right?" Spot asked.
"No. I'm from Boston but I travel to Europe a lot. This is my first time to New York."
"Oh, well, I might have to take you there sometime, then."
Everyone was silent. Ellis knew it wasn't going good but she didn't care. She looked over at the girl and noticed that she was smiling down at the table. What's her problem?, Ellis thought.
"You think your food's funny?" Ellis asked.
"What? Oh, no, I'm okay." She said.
"This is Sarah Jacobs. Jack's girl." Race said quietly.
"Oh, then, what's your problem?" Ellis asked.
"Nothing. I just think it's funny that you don't know where Brooklyn is. My family in Poland never been to New York but even they know where Brooklyn is." Sarah laughed.
"Good for them but I really don't care if they even know where India is. I don't know where Brooklyn is and I'm fine with it. He's fine with it and I don't really need you laughing at me. So, if you don't mind, can you shut up?" Ellis asked politely.
"Shut up?" Sarah asked, not believing someone actually said that to her. Race got up and started to get Ellis out of the diner. She allowed him to lead her out while others looked on.
"Yeah. Shut up. You know, like be quiet, stop talking, shut your trap. Does any of this sound familiar?"
"You're going to let her talk to me like that, Jack?" Sarah said.
Jack gave Race a look to get Ellis out quick. He grabbed her arm and took her outside and led her to the lodging house. When outside, they heard David, Les, and some of the others laughing at the look that was on Sarah's face. Spot was one of the ones that was laughing as well. Sarah was yelling at Jack because he didn't stick up for her. Race didn't say anything to Ellis or Mr. Kloppman.
That night, everyone was either upstairs or at Medda's watching the show. Boots, Slider, and Snipeshooter were playing marbles, Race, Dutchy, Mush, Blink, and Bumlets were playing poker, Crutchy and Specs was deep in conversation about something no one understood for they was talking to quickly. Ellis was sitting by a window holding a book. Everyone was would, joking and laughing until Spot and Jack came in. Everyone, expect Ellis, greeted them but quieted down when they saw Jack's face. His expression was of anger and he was staring at Ellis. She knew he was mad at her. She stood up with her book still in her hands.
"Well, hello, Jack." Ellis said, smiling.
"Cut it out. What was that about?" He said, walking up to her.
"What was what about?"
"At Tibby's. Why was you so rude to Sarah?"
"I was rude? She had no right to laugh at me."
"Yeah, well, I'm not going to tell Kloppman this time but next time I will. So, you better listen to me and quit being so mean to Sarah."
"Quit? I just met her today and honestly, she should be here talking to me instead of you. If she got a problem with me then she should tell me."
"Well, she's not and just do what I tell ya. Be nice or I go to Kloppman. I don't want to get you in trouble." He said then turned to walk back to Spot.
Ellis through the book. It headed straight for Spot. He ducked and it hit the wall. She was aiming for Jack but she wasn't good with hand-eye coordination. Everyone looked at her. Ellis walked passed everyone and headed to the door.
"What was that, Ellis?" Jack asked more angrily.
"Don't tell me what to do." Ellis said as she went downstairs.
"Where you going?" Jack called.
"Out. Don't follow me." And that was it.
Ellis walked down the street. The street lights were on and kids with no homes were running around. Older men went from corner to corner talking to the women that stood there or men walking into whorehouses. Ellis observed all of these as she made her way. She knew she was in the wrong part of the city but she didn't care. She wanted to be anywhere but at the lodging house. Jack had no right to tell her to be nice to Sarah. Ellis didn't do anything but tell her to simply be quiet.
"Hey there, girly. Never saw you around here before." said an older boy who magically appeared beside her.
"Um...please go away. I'm just trying to get home by myself. So, if you don't mind, leave." Ellis said, trying not to look at the kid. "Sure, no problem. But your going the wrong way."
"The wrong way? How do you know which way I'm going?"
"Well, I saw you coming out of the Newsboy Lodging House. I'm guessing you live there?" He asked. Ellis looked at him.
He wasn't all that bad looking. The kid has chin length hair, tanned skin, and was slightly taller than Jack. He had on a black top hat and a long trench coat. His hands was in his pocket. He didn't look like the other men that was in the street at that time but, then again, looks can be deceiving.
"Are you following me?" Ellis finally asked.
"Well, yes and...um...no. You see, I was walking passed the lodging house when I heard yelling. I was going to see what was happening but you came out. I didn't think much of it, so I just kept on going, which is the same way you were going. Then I noticed you dropped your tissue, or what ever you girls call it, so I started following you. I thought you might need it. Trust me, if I didn't think you would need it, I would have turned back a long time ago." He laughed as he handed her the tissue.
"Thank you. I can get home by myself. You can go back."
"Now I can't do that. What kind of a person would I be if I let a fifteen year old girl go home by herself especially if she's going through the whore central of New York?"
"I'm twelve and why is this the whore central of New York?"
"Well, because, as you could see, women are selling themselves on the corner. Every third building is a whorehouse and I believe some apartments could be used for that kind of entertainment."
"How do you know this, sir?" Ellis asked politely.
"Everyone knows this. So, and I allowed to at least walk you to the road the lodging house is on?"
"You might as well."
"Well, I guess we should turn around. What's your name?" He asked as they turned around.
"Ellis Ribbon Bird."
"Ellis, huh? I like it. I'm Sanam Shandar but people calls me Misery. Where you from? You have an accent."
"Boston but I traveled around Europe for a while before my father died. I don't really want to talk but I'll listen to you if you want to talk. I'm good at that."
"Okay. I'm from India. I don't want to talk about that. What's in the past should stay in the past. You know where India is?" Ellis nodded. "Good. Well, I came here when I was ten and been here ever since. I'm sixteen. I live with my eighteen year old sister, Mecca, and my pet monkey, Eartha. Why don't I stop talking."
Jack sat on the steps with Spot and Skittery waiting for Ellis to come home. He sent Race, Dutchy, Snoddy, and Pie Eater out to look for her. Kloppman wanted to know what's wrong but Jack said he had everything under control. He knew Ellis was right. Spot passed Jack a cigarette but he pushed it away so Skittery took it. Jack saw her coming up the sidewalk with Misery. Jack stood when the two of them came to the steps.
"Where were you and who the hell is he?" Jack asked sternly.
"I don't know why you care? Or I can't go for a walk either because it'll offend your girl?" Ellis said as she went pass Jack to the door. "Thank you, Mr. Shardar, for walking me safely home. I hope to see you again."
"Well, as my luck is, you'll be sure of it." Misery smiled. Ellis smiled back and went inside. Misery started to walk away. Spot stood in his way.
"Wait a second. What did you do to her?" Jack asked.
"Nothing. I just walked her home. I gave her back her tissue when I saw her in Whore Central. I thought that she'll be safer if I walked her home."
"You mean you thought she was a whore and you wanted to use her for your own needs, right?" Misery tried to protest but Jack wouldn't listen. "Well, she ain't like that. She's the granddaughter of a respectable man and, not to mention, she's only twelve. This will be the last you'll ever see her. You hear me?"
"Sure. Whatever you say. I won't see her tonight but I will tomorrow. She wants me to come by to take her to meet some people."
"I don't think you heard me. I said you ain't gonna see her again."
"I heard you. You said I'm not going to see her again. I think the keywords in there that I heard is you said. She said to pick her up. And if I'm blind, I don't think that you is her. I promised her that I'll come by to pick her up to meet some people. I always keep my promise. Now, if you don't mind, I have to get home before my sister starts worrying. Oh, I know how old she is. I wouldn't do that to her or any girl. I think it's degrading. Good night." Misery said pushing past Spot and went back down the sidewalk.
"Why are we in the roof?" Ellis asked the next day.
Last night, Jack refused to let Ellis go anywhere with Misery but she didn't listen. He picked her up at noon. The boys were having lunch so none of them were back. Misery took her around to some of the places that looked poorer than what the boys had to live with. Ellis met people Misery called friends and those who weren't even close. It's two in the afternoon and Miser y took Ellis to the roof of an abandon apartment building.
"Well, because I want you to meet a very special person. He should be her e soon. Ah, here he is."
A small boy, around Boot's height, was walking slowly towards them. He ha d short blonde hair that stuck up and a dirty face. Behind him was a smaller child, a girl, who look like the boy. But instead of blonde hair, she had brown with black streaks in front. The girl was skipping behind the boy.
"Hey, so Misery finally found company, huh?" The boy said.
"Right. Ellis, this is Fat Bailey and his sister, Honey. Guys, this is Ellis Bird. So, how's things down on Skid Row?"
"The same. Almost got caught by the pigs yesterday."
"I pocketed three dollars." Honey said.
"Where's Skid Row?" Ellis asked. Fat stared at her.
"You're joking, right?" He asked.
"Why do people keep asking me that? I don't know where Skid Row is. I don't know where Brooklyn is. I don't know where anything is. I never been to New York." Ellis said.
"Hey, I like her. You should keep this one, Misery. This here is Skid Row. This is where the thieves and murderer's run free. the buildings around here could fall down at any moment. All kind of weird drugs are passed around."
"Not to mention, the water is undrinkable and more people are having kids and they have no room." Honey added.
"How old are you two?" Ellis asked.
"How old are you?" Fat asked.
"Twelve."
"I'm thirteen and Honey's five."
"Why don't we go somewhere for lunch? My treat?" Misery said.
"Sure. I'm hungry. Do you know a place we can go, Ellis?" Honey asked.
"Tibby's. I don't know if their food's any good. I sort got kicked out."
"Well, we'll go there then. Let's go." Misery said as he took Honey's hand.
When the four of them got there, the boys was just getting their lunch. The day was going slowly and they thought now was a good time to have lunch. Everyone was there, including Sarah. When the four entered, everyone but Sarah greeted them. Race called them over but Sarah gave him a look which he shrugged off. Ellis and her friends made their way to the table.
"Who's your friends?" Race asked.
"This is Fat, his sister Honey, and Misery. Guys, this is Race, Jack, Spot, David, Crutchy, and Sarah." Ellis said.
"Spot and Crutchy? What? Was Fido, Rover, and Gimpy taken?" Fat said. Crutchy didn't say anything and Spot was about to say something but Misery got to Fat first.
"Fat! You don't go insulting people you don't know. Now, say your sorry."
"Why? It's my opinion. And, besides, I know you were thinking the same thing. Honesty is the enemy of society. No one can take honesty and this, um,dog-boy proved my point." Fat explained.
"Dog-boy?! My name isn't so great but being called Fat is a whole lot worst!" Spot yelled.
"Okay. I like my name. At least, my name isn't being called to a four- legged animal that follows people and sniff other dogs end parts." Fat laughed. Spot got up and so did Fat. Ellis and Misery looked at each other.
"Otto Tobias Bailey! You say you're sorry right now or I'm telling Mecca on you and you already been in trouble five times this week." Honey said, standing on her chair. "Besides, I think their names are cute."
"Geese, Honey. Fine, fine. I'm sorry. Now, I'm leaving. Come on, Honey."
"I don't wanna." Honey said as she sat down. Fat was going to protest but Misery said he'll drop her home later. Fat agreed and left.
"Lovely friends, Ellis. So, where did you find that one? Outside the police station?" Sarah said.
"Funny." Ellis said.
"My brother is very sweet but today, he's kind of tired. He had a bad day. Hey, you got pretty hair but I like Ellis's dress better." Honey said. Sarah stared at her. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"She's mad because you don't like her dress. Don't worry. She get mad at everyone." David said.
Honey just smiled at Sarah and she turned away angrily. Race gave Honey the rest of his sandwich which she ate as the rest of the table talked with Misery. Sarah just sat there.
That night, no one would talk. Sarah was there and so was Ellis. Jack and Sarah was sitting on his bed talking. Ellis was talking to Spot and Crutchy about Fat and what happened at Tibby's but no one else would talk. Just then there was a knock on the open door. It was Misery and he was holding Honey, who was asleep. Ellis went up to him.
"What's wrong?" She asked quietly.
"Can Honey stay here?"
"Sure. Here, lay here on my bed." She said as Misery followed.
"I need to talk to you. Alone if possible." He whispered. Ellis nodded and they went into the hall. Ellis closed the door and they went downstairs to Kloppman's office.
"What is it?" Ellis said after she closed the door.
"It's Fat. He's gone. The police raided his building in Skid Row. They took everyone. At least, everyone with a record. A lady who live in the building told me this. I couldn't leave Honey there and I couldn't take her to my apartment. There's word going around Skid Row that the police is checking every building. I need Honey here. I trust you. She's safe with you. I mean I'll come back for her but I need to find Fat. Can you do that for me?"
"Yeah, sure. You know where they sent him?"
"No, I don't. He's way too dangerous for the refuge. I have an idea but I have to go to Jersey. It'll take a few days."
"Do you need anyone to go with you? I'm sure one of the boys will-"
"No, I can do it myself. But thanks for your concern. I got to get going." He said as he headed for door. He opened it but stopped then turned to face Ellis. "I'm happy I met you. Honey was right. You are the most beautiful person I ever saw."
"Honey said that?" Ellis laughed as she walked up to him.
"Well, not in so many words. I know we only known each other for two days now but I want you to be my girl." Misery said. Ellis put her arms around his neck and kissed him gently on the lips. They smiled at each other when they parted. "I'll take that as a yes. I have to go."
Ellis went back upstairs as Misery went out the front door. When she got in the room, she noticed Honey was up and talking to Crutchy, Spot, and Race. Honey smiled at Ellis and she smiled back but she didn't go over. Skittery came up to her.
"What he wanted?" He asked.
"The police took Fat. He went to find him. Honey's staying here for a while."
"Oh, how nice. He finally found someone he can just drop his problems for you to handle. I bet he isn't even coming back." Sarah said from her perch on Jack's bed. Ellis looked up at her.
"He's coming back. He wouldn't lie to me."
"Really? And how do you know he's really looking for Fat, huh? Maybe he has someone else to see?"
"Misery isn't like that!" Honey yelled. "I know for a fact that he love Ellis and my brother is gone. He's going to find him and come back like the knights in my book. Well, without the white ponies."
"Oh, how cute. He trained her well." Sarah laughed.
"Get out." Ellis said.
"What?" Sarah said, not believing.
"Get out, now."
"You can't kick me out."
"I live here too. Get out before I throw you out."
"Yeah, right. Next, you'll be telling me never to come back." Sarah laughed. She was about to start talking with Jack but he started first.
"I think you should leave." He said.
"Great. Now, you're kicking me out."
"I'm not kicking you out. I just don't want any fighting. I'll see you tomorrow."
Sarah looked at him and then at Ellis. Without saying a word, she got off the bed and went out the door. Ellis went to a chair near the window and sat down. Spot came over and kneeled to look at her.
"Come on." Spot said.
"What?" Ellis asked, confused.
"You're going to see Brooklyn. You look like you need some air. Come on." Spot said as he stood. Ellis sighed then got up as well.
Ellis sat on some crates on the dock in Brooklyn. The water was an inky black and the moon was bright against the middle of the river. Spot stood near the edge of the dock. He took her to a few places because everything was closed. At the lodging house, he refuse to listen to anything Ellis said about Fat but Crutchy forgave him. She tired again.
"I'm really sorry for what-"
"Stop saying your sorry, Ellis. Never say sorry for something you didn't do." Spot said turning to face her.
"I'm just saying that-"
"I thought you take no one's mouth. You're just weak."
"I'm not weak. I just don't want anyone to be mad at Fat. I mean, sure I yelled at Sarah and everything, doesn't mean I hate her. Well....not entirely hate her." Ellis said while getting up.
"To tell you the truth, I wasn't all that mad. I was actually kind of glad someone said that to me. I should thank him, should I?" Spot laughed, walking over to her.
"Well, that's good, I guess."
"Ellis, you love him?" Spot asked, a little unsure.
"What? Why do you want to know?"
"I don't know. I was kind of, I don't know, jealous of how you stuck up for him."
"He asked me to be his girl."
"And?"
"And I said yes." Ellis said quietly. Spot nodded.
"That's good. I should get you back before Kloppman kills me. Now, you saw Brooklyn." He said while walking away. Ellis followed quietly.
Days turned to weeks. Misery and Fat didn't come back. No one heard from they and no one seen them. Honey just kept saying that everything is fine and not to worry. Then weeks turned to months and Honey turned six. It was three in the afternoon on a Wednesday. Ellis was outside Mecca's building sitting on the steps with Mecca.
"Where do you think he went?" Ellis asked.
"I don't know but he must have gone far if he's gone this long." Mecca said. Ellis turned to face her. Mecca looked up and someone caught her eye.
"I just hope he's okay. I hope Fat's okay, too." Ellis said. Mecca smiled at her.
"You could asked him." Mecca laughed. Ellis turned around to find Misery standing behind her.
"You're back." Ellis said happily. She jumped up and hugged him. He held on tightly.
"I'm back. Fat's back. We ain't leaving, Ellis." He said quietly. They parted and he kissed her forehead softly.
"You must come in and tell us all about it." Mecca said. Misery nodded, took Ellis's hand, and went inside.