Let's Start at the Beginning ((CLOSED -- for now))

[Racetrack]

Race put down the napkin, rather startled by her sudden reaction. And the awkward silence too; he made it a policy to break those as soon as possible. "Hey, don't worry about it. Sandwiches really are treacherous beasts. Just look at Blink." He eyed the gooey mess of unidentified foodstuffs that was his friend's face. "On second thought, don't."

His hands were actually shaking now, and it occurred to him that it wasn't just the coffee, but a wicked cigar craving. He pulled one out and lit it, politely blowing the smoke away from his tablemates. Ah, that was better.

[Sapphy]

Sapphy smiled down at her hands that were clenched together under the table. She slowly let go and used her hands to pick up the other half of her sub.

It was always weird around new people -- Sapphy was rarely herself. She always thought about what she was going to say before she said it. She restricted herself to instead feel people out and see what part of her could exist around them -- all or fractions?

She finished her sandwich and smiled at Race, as though the moment never happened.

"So you said you've been at the lodging house for quite a few years...?"

[Racetrack]

"Yeah, ever since I left the Brooklyn lodging house. Or Spot kicked me out. You'll hear different versions of that story," he admitted. "But we're on friendly terms these days. I think." You never really knew with Spot.

"See, my parents died when I was a kid, and my little brother too. They sent me to an orphanage, but you know how those places are." He wrinkled his nose. "I ran off, and Spot found me. Musta been ten years ago. Stayed there till I was about thirteen, then I decided it was time to cross the bridge." He grinned and paused to eat a fry. "Now it's your turn. Tell me something true, Sapphire Eyes, or I'll keep calling you 'your Highness' and tell the whole lodging house that you'll rob 'em blind."

[Sapphy]

Sapphy blinked away a little mist in her eyes after listening to Racetrack's story.

"Uhm..." Seeing as how quickly he moved onto asking her questions, she knew better than to ask anything more in-depth, or give sympathy. "Well, first... Who's Spot?"

[Racetrack]

"Ah, sorry, I just assumed..." He rolled his eyes. "His Highness Spot Conlon is pretty well-known in this city. Leader of the Brooklyn newsies. Or so he'll tell you, anyway. It's not like they have elections or anything." He paused for a moment, wondering how to explain Spot, and Brooklyn, for that matter. "It's like...Brooklyn's the heart of New York, and for newsies and other working kids, Spot's the heart of Brooklyn. Only in a tough, scary, fists-and-slingshots kinda way."

[Sapphy]

"I know Brooklyn," Sapphy laughed. "I just never heard of this Spot. Sounded like a pet dog..." Sapphy glanced out the window, thinking. "Something true... Uhmm... Well, until a couple weeks ago, I was in school. But then my family lost their apartment and now I'm in the lodging house."

[Racetrack]

"Wow." Race hadn't been to school since he was seven. He felt a bit outclassed. "That's gotta be a...tough adjustment. I'm sorry."

[Sapphy]

"Don't be sorry, you didn't do anything," Sapphy smiled a little wider than before to hide her further embarrassment. "And the adjustment was actually a lot easier than anticipated."

[Racetrack]

"That's good. I guess you do what you have to," Race said, and immediately thought that sounded too gloomy, like something that morbid brother and sister who just moved in might say. So he smiled and added, "Hey, if you need any help or company or anything, just say the word. Mush has been abandoning us lately, so another selling partner would be great. Though," he confessed, "sometimes I go off by myself and sell at the tracks, and I don't know how you feel about horses. Blink's scared of 'em."

[Sapphy]

"Sheepshead?" Sapphy beamed. "I used to go there with my da every weekend."

[Racetrack]

Now he wanted to marry her. "Seriously? We'll have to make an evening of it, then!" He caught himself--over-enthusiasm was always a turn-off, he'd seen how girls backed away from Blink--and studied the tip sheet with total nonchalance. "I mean, if you don't have other plans."

[Sapphy]

"That's sweet of you to think I have a life," Sapphy laughed. "I'd love that. I haven't been in months."

[Racetrack]

"Great! I'll have to give this some thought. I don't know that much about the longshots running tonight," he explained, as if it were unthinkable to bet on any other horse but a longshot. "Want to head over there around seven? Race starts at half past."

[Sapphy]

"Tonight?" Sapphy seemed surprised. "Oh, okay! Gimme a chance to change into something dry at the lodge?"

[Racetrack]

"That'd be a good idea," he agreed, belatedly remembering that she was soaking wet and her clothes were clingy and Mush would have been ogling this whole time. Race, of course, was classier than that. Or more distractable. "I'll head back there too--gotta see what's become of Mush. And sell these on the way." He indicated his bag, which still held about a dozen afternoon papers.