Free Like Moonlight

Day by Day

The next morning Tommy was woken by a rough shake. He was awake in a instant and sat up, almost banging his head on the bunk above. He looked over to see who had shaken him awake. It was just Henry, Henry wasn't a nurse.

It was silent for a few seconds. "Um, Tommy, c'mon. Up and at em', we got work to do." Henry gently patted his shoulder and walked away. Tommy was confused. Work? He'd never heard it used like that. He'd been told he was a lot of work. But that didn't seem to e what Henry was talking about?

Confused, Tommy got out of bed and pulled up his suspenders just like yesterday. The hustle of everyone made him a little nervous, but he was getting used to it. The chaos was still unnerving though.

He found Albert easily, his fire red hair stood out in the mess of other people. He was teasing Race, holding a thin object out of the other boy's reach. "Albert that's my cigar!"

"Shoulda guarded it better." Albert said back, smirking and pushing Race away. This seemed like normal bickering. Neither of them seemed angry, so it couldn't be anything else.

Tommy remembered the slingshot Finch gave him. It was on the bed stand, what if someone else took it? He had to check.

Thankfully, it was still there. He put it in his pocket, deciding to never leave it abandoned in the open again.

Someone called his name. "Tommy Boy! I got something for you!"

Tommy looked over, confused. Finch was behind him, smiling with something in his hands. "I got some stuff for you."

Tommy glanced at Finch's hand. What could he have? He felt excitement bubble up, he couldn't wait to see what Finch had. It had to be exciting.

Finch had two shiney coins and a few marbles. Tommy was confused, why was Finch handing him marbles and coins? He looks at them, trying to puzzle it out himself until Finch explained. "The coins are for buying papers, to sell."

Tommy looked up at him. Buying papers to just re-sell them? That made no sense. The confusion must have showed on his face, because Finch explained. "We sell the papers to make money, so we can eat. You can stay with me and Albie today, to learn the ropes. You look young, that's good."

Tommy still struggled to make sense of this. But he didn't need to, maybe he just had to go along with it.

So he did.

He followed close behind Finch as they walked out the door and through the still dark streets. Tommy found the city almost eerily quiet. Until his new friends got to it. The clamor of conversation as they picked up more kids only grew louder as they walked.

Tommy tried to block it out but it was all so loud and there were so many smells and textures and the sounds were so loud. He pressed the heels of his palms to his ears and closed his eyes. He had to get it all to stop.

He was startled by someone putting a hand on his shoulder. A muffled voice made it's way through the death grip he had on his ears. "Are you okay? Tommy?"

Tommy took a second to open his eyes. It seemed calmer, and he removed his hands from his ears. The sounds weren't overwhelming, neither were the smells or sights. It was okay. He was okay.

He looked over to see who's hand was on his arm and found Albert. Albert, who looked concerned.

"I'm okay." Tommy tried, not sure if he could say it convingly enough. It seemed to satisfy Albert, and someone else, probably Finch, threw his arm around Tommy's shoulders.

Tommy smiled and leaned into his side, content.

Albert was happily leaning on Tommy, leaving Tommy smushed in the middle and he was loving it. He didn't know what his feelings were saying, but he enjoyed what the feelings brought. The happiness and something else they brought made him happy, and it seemed that it made them happy to.

It took them a few extra minutes to get to the circulation gate. Tommy was confused, as he watched Finch and Albert use the quarters to buy papes while trading insults with the guy.

When it was Tommy's turn, he was sheepish in putting down a quarter. The man glared at him. "Ey', New Kid."

Tommy slid over the quarter. "I would like my papes please." He said softly. He found them being shoved at him and he stumbled back. Tommy walked with Finch and Albert.

Finch played him and Albert for sympathy, saying they were his brothers and they needed food. Albert used volume. Tommy found that how young he looked worked wonders, he played right into the story.

They sold their papers just after noon. They walked back to Jacobi's, repeated the routine of the pervious day, and then sold the evening edition. Tommy found himself establishing a routine easily.

That night, Tommy watched the others talk and play. He learned patiently and tried to get Albert to play one with him.

Things fell into a comfortable place after that. There were changes, sometimes no one ate sometimes they feasted. It was definitely comfortable after two weeks.

Until something changed.