Strangers On the Street

Prologue

The dead of winter. I could feel the icicles forming in my hair; the freezing wind on my cheeks. I stumbled on the curb. My hat fell onto the cold, hard ground. My scarf swirled around me and nearly got swept up in the wind. I crouched down to pick it up.

As I held it in my hands, thoughts flooded into my mind. Thoughts of my family, my friends - my old neighborhood...

Thoughts of my father telling me everything was going to be alright. But it wasn't alright, now, was it?

"You left me here," I whispered into the air, "you left me alone."

A tear slid down my cheek, splashing on the pavement. I was still kneeling on the side of the street.

I grasped at the tiny photo of my father in his youth. It was nearly gone - faded from years of carrying it wherever I went. It was all I had left of him...of anything.

A car sped down the streets, honking loudly at whatever was in its path.

I leaped back, barely avoiding the sting of the wheels knocking against me. I landed on the sidewalk, Father's photo beside me. I picked it up and held it close to my heart. My heart became warm with his memories. And yet, at the same time, as I stared into those familiar dark eyes, a new hatred brewed deep within me. If only he hadn't left us...things would've been so different.

With a heavy sigh, I decided to get up and get on with the day.

Immediately after I stood up, a questioning pair of brown eyes met with mine. His dark hair was somewhat in his face, and he brushed it aside. I knew in that moment that he had seen me crying.

"Good morning," I said, less than pleased with the fact that he was standing right in front of me.

"Same to you," he replied, blinking quickly. Suddenly something in him woke up and he held out his hand.

"The name's Kelly," he added.

I shook his hand briskly with some force.

"Jane."

His eyes widened.

"You - yous is a girl!"

My eyes widened equally. I stopped breathing and grabbed at my long red scarf.

"No," I stalled, my eyes wandering to my feet.

"A boy named Jane?"

"A boy named Kelly?" I said repetitively.

"My first name's Jack, wise-guy."

"Fine then," I said crossly, "I'm a girl. Throw me out on the streets."

He stepped closer to me, whispering bluntly,

"Yous is on the streets."

I swatted at him annoyedly.

"I think you know what I meant," I said with a sharp glare, "I was going to join you guys."

He just stared at me blankly. Clearly, he hand't understood.

"You know, carry the banner."

His brow furrowed.

"Oh, don't play dumb with me, I can see that's a pape you're holdin'. You're a newsie, aren't you?"

He nodded slowly. I think he got the picture.

"So yous is gonna play newsboy, eh? Gonna travel the streets sellin' papes with the professionals?"

"I gotta make money somehow," I said in a significantly louder tone.

"No goil's ever been wid us, not one."

"Doesn't matter to me if there's fifty there already - I need a job and I need it right now. I've been sleepin' on the street long enough!"

"I don't care if yous is sleepin' wid the rats in the sewers," he started sternly, "we don't take snarky good-for-nothin' goils like you!"

I took a step back. My cheeks burned.

"What do you want me to do?" I cried out angrily, "I've got two little cousins out there with nobody else but me watchin' their backs and no real skills to support them - what do 'ya want me to do, sit back and watch them die?"

Tears were streaming down my face. I scratched at my cheeks, not bothering about the pain. I whirled around so he couldn't see my face.

His eyes softened.

"I'm sorry," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder from behind.

"Sorry isn't good enough anymore," I mumbled under my breath.

"Listen, kid, if yous wants to be a newsie," he paused and waited while I turned to face him, "I think I can help yous out."

A smile swept across my face. I wanted to cry, to laugh - but I didn't do anything. I just gratefully took the hand of this newfound companion and shook it with a new hope.

"Jack, isn't it?" I asked after the long silence.

"Yeah, Jack."

"Thank-you," I said earnestly.

I wanted to say more, but the words didn't come.

"Hey, I know what it's like to...to have to look out for others and how hard it can be," he motioned for me to follow him down the street, "so I'm gonna try and help yous out, if you'll have me," he joked, grinning.

"I need all the help I can get," I smirked as we headed of into the wispy whiteness.