Six Years From Now

Part Two: New York

She stepped off onto the platform in amazement- New York was more than she'd imagined.
It was loud, hot, humid, crowded, smoky, and much too big. But it was also exciting, different, and an adventure.
But there was one problem- how to get to the World.
In the letters to her uncle she'd assured him that she would be capable of finding his newspaper on her own- but that was before she realized how big New York was.
But she was always up for a challenge.
She brandished her suitcase and plunged into the crowded streets of New York, ready for anything.
A few hours later with no success, she was a bit less enthusiastic.
Amid the fray, she heard someone shouting, "Extra! Extra! Get your papers right here!"
Winnie turned and saw a boy wearing a cap and dingy clothes with a cigar hanging from his mouth. He held a newspaper high above his head, shouting, "New stories straight from the World!"
Immediately she crossed the street and approached him.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where the World is, please?"
The boy turned and looked at her. "Sure. But it'll cost ya."
She sighed and pressed a quarter in his hand. "Is that enough?"
He shrugged and didn't say anything.
"Ah, my name is Winnie Foster."
"Racetrack," he said, shoving the quarter into his bag.
"...what?"
"My name's Racetrack," he explained. "What's the matter?" he challenged, noticing her confusion.
"Nothing!" she exclaimed. "It's just... an odd name."
"Got a problem with that? I got it 'cause I sell at the Sheepshead." He jerked a thumb behind him at the racetrack. She understood now.
"Oh, it's a nickname. What do you sell?"
He looked at her like she was an idiot. "Papes."
"...newspapers?"
"Yeah. Ain't you ever bought a newspaper before?"
"I've just come in from out of town."
He no longer seemed interested in the conversation. "Sure. Look, the World's this way. C'mon." He bolted, leaving her to follow.
She tore after him, receiving many glares and odd looks. Luckily she was able to keep up until they reached the gates.
"Here ya are," he said, flicking ash off the tip of his cigar. "The one and only World."
"Um, thank you."
He nodded at her and was gone.
Winnie opened the tall gates and stepped into a type of courtyard. On one side was some wagons and on the other was a window with stacks of newspapers.
"Who's this?" a voice asked.
Winnie whipped around, startled. Two young men were leaned against a wagon.
"Um, I'm Winnie Foster- Jospeh Pulitzer's niece?"
One of the boys snorted. "Right. And I'm Roosevelt's son." He and the other boy straightened and approached her.
"I really am his niece," she said, panic rising. "His sister Irma is my mother."
"It's our job to stop intruders," one said, lightly shoving her. "We'd better take care of this one."
They both grabbed her arms and began dragging her to the gate.
"Wait! I'm not-"
"Hey, Morris! Oscar! What's goin' on here?" someone asked.
They immediately released her. Winnie grabbed her suitcase and retreated the the stranger that saved her. He was pretty handsome, with dark hair and eyes. He wore an ink-stained apron over a blue shirt and gray vest, along with a cap similar to Racetrack's.
He sneered at them and helped Winnie up. "Roughin' up a lady, that ain't right." He looked down at her. "You alright, miss?"
"Um, yes. Thank you," she said. "I just need to find Mr. Pulitzer."
The boy looked incredulous. "Pulitzer? Whaddya need him for?"
"I'm his niece. I'll be staying with him for the next month," Winnie explained, hoping she wouldn't get the same treatment that Oscar and Morris gave her.
"That's why we was throwin' her out," one of them said. "She's a liar."
"No, she ain't," her savior said. "Katherine told me she had a cousin comin'. So mind your own business next time."
The two left, muttering the whole time.
Winnie said, "Thank you again. I take it you know my uncle?"
"Everyone knows your uncle. I just happen to work for him. Name's Jack Kelly." He stuck out a hand.
Winnie took it. "Winnie Foster. So, what do you do at the World?"
He opened the door for her. "I draw."
"You're an artist, then?"
"Guess so. Sometimes I sell papes with the boys."
"Oh! I met one of the newsboys today. He brought me here," she said. "Do you know Racetrack?"
"Yeah, I know Race. Was at the Refuge with him for a while before we sold papes together."
Winnie didn't get a chance to ask what the Refuge was, because Jack let her into Pulitzer's office.