Yet Not I

The Search Begins

Arabella awoke the next morning with a massive headache. She groaned and rolled out of bed, rubbing the sides of her temples. She stumbled to the washbasin and dunked her face into the bowl. After a few seconds she pulled her head back and sputtered. Grabbing a towel she rubbed it hard on her face.

"That probably won't help, "she said, shuffling downstairs to see if breakfast was ready.

"Hello, Arabella. You look ill. Are you alright?" Maizy their head cook wrapped an arm around Arabella.

"Just a little headache, Maizy." Arabella sat at the table and quickly ate a small breakfast of toast and a perfectly salted fried egg.

"Maizy what was my mother's name?" Arabella asked suddenly.

Maizy gasped and whirled to stare at her. "Why do you want to know?"

"My father never talks about her. I was just curious." Okay so she was more than curious.

Maizy shook her head. "Oh, I don't know what her name was, Arabella. Best leave it alone, missy."

Arabella frowned. "Maizy you know what her name is don't you?"

Maizy ignored her.

"Maizy, where was she from?"

Again, Maizy ignored her.

Arabella pounded the table with her fist. "Maizy, tell me what you know!"

Maizy's shoulders slumped and she turned sad eyes on Arabella. "Oh child, you deserve to know about her." She whispered.

Arabella leaned forward, heart pounding. "Please, Maizy, tell me."

Maizy slid into a chair across the table and let out a deep breath. "Your mother was a immigrant from Ireland. She came here about eighteen years ago, asking for work. So I hired her. She was a quiet girl and I'm pretty sure she had a man, since she would often mention a 'him'."

Arabella raised an eyebrow. "She never mentioned a name?"

"Nope, just 'him'. Anyway, she disappeared a few months after I hired her. I heard whispers from the staff about a baby and scandal, but I had no idea where she went."

"What was her name?"

"Her name was Aiofe. And she was a right pretty girl. She had wild red hair and freckles just like yours. She was a tiny thing but she could handle anything. She worked well and I was sad when she left."

Arabella sighed. "Do you know anything else about the man?"

Maizy thought for a second. Then her face lit up. "Yes, I do remember her saying that he worked in Manhattan as a newsie. But that's all I remember."

Arabella sniffed as tears formed in her eyes. "I really wish I could have met her."

Maizy touched her hand. "Don't be focusing on the past. Just enjoy your life right now."

Arabella thought about what Maizy had said for the rest of that morning. But by afternoon, she was determined to find her mother. So she snuck out around 1:30 to head straight to the Manhattan newsboy lodging house.

Dodging people along the sidewalks, Arabella smiled thinking about finding her mother. Hopefully the newsies would be helpful.

After asking around for the newsies lodging house she finally stood in front of an open door, beneath the sign that said Newsboy Lodging House. She stepped to the threshold, peeking in, hopping to find someone who could help her.

Inside it was dim and smelled weird. She saw random things on the floor and she figured that the building housed a bunch of boys.

"Are yas lost, toots?"

Arabella jumped in surprise to hear a low voice behind her. She turned to see the newsie who sold papers at Sheepshead Bay. He was leaning smugly against the open door, arms crossed. A grin lit his face and he held his cigar in his left hand. His squinted at her as if trying to remember where he'd seen her before.

  Arabella cleared her throat and stepped forward, hand outstretched. "Hello, I'm Arabella Montgomery."

  Racetrack shook her head, still eyeing her. "Name's Racetrack."

  Arabella smiled brightly. "What a strange name. I assume that's your nickname."

  Racetrack frowned. "What's it to ya?"

  "Nothing, it's just I'd rather call you by your given name. I don't like nicknames."

  Racetrack snorted. "Well, you're just gonna have to stick with Racetrack. There's no way I'd tell you's my real name." He pushed away from the door and brushed past her. Arabella watched him shimmy up to a top bunch. He slid his hand under the single pillow and put something in his pocket.

  Arabella clasped her hands in front of her. "I was wondering if you could help me with something."

  Racetrack shot her a look. "Hey, I'm busy. Don't have time to help you's."

  Arabella followed him out of the room. The bright sun nearly blinded her as Racetrack kicked the door shut behind them.

  "Are you's lost or something?"

  Arabella planted her hand on her hips. "No, I have a different problem."

  "Breaking and entering, maybe?" Racetrack started walking forward, puffing smoke out of his mouth.

  Arabella huffed. "No the door was open, Racetrack."

  Racetrack stopped, causing Arabella to almost run into him. "So what's you's problem?"

  "I need to find my mother!"

  "Is she lost?"

  Arabella threw him an annoyed look. But then she noticed the twinkle in his dark eyes. He was just teasing her. She relaxed.

  "She's lost to me I guess. See I grew up not knowing who she was."

  Racetrack nodded and she saw understanding flood his face. "And you want to figure out if she's still alive and where she might be."

  Arabella nodded, knowing Racetrack probably was in a similar position. "Yes, and I know she had a man who was a newsie. So I was hoping one of you could help me."

  Racetrack smiled at her. "Okay."

  Arabella immediately felt safe as she fell into step beside Racetrack. Even though he tried to act tough, she could tell he knew exactly how she felt. Hopefully the others would be as nice as Racetrack.