Lady of the Bronx- Newsies

Chapter Ninteen

Pov: Bambina

"How much for two biscotti?" I ask the vendor in Italian.

All around me, everyone is speaking it. Living in the language I love. I can't help the smile on my face. Being here feels like a breath of fresh air. There's no confusion, or stress. There's no words lost in translation.

Katherine on the other hand, well, that's a different story entirely.

"Eighty cents," The vendor says, smiling at me. "Are you from around here?" He asks.

"No, I'm from the Bronx," I answer. 

The vendor laughs, shaking his head. "I mean from America, are you from here?" 

"Oh! No, no. I'm from Calabria, Italy." I respond.

The man looks at me, a glint in his eyes.He has dark hair, and large friendly eyes. His skin has a tan glow to it, similar to my own. He seems to be around forty, and I feel quite at ease talking to him. It's a familiar feeling, then again maybe I'm just happy to talk in my native language.

"Ah, I'm from Calabria too! I miss it there dearly."

"Agreed! I'm heading back as soon as I can."

He smiles at me, nodding. "Well, if you do end up there, can you visit one of the beaches for me?"

"Of course." I start digging through my pockets, looking for eighty cents. Katherines voice stops me short. "Deer, what are you doing?"

"Paying for the biscotti, what else would I be doing?" I smile, switching back to english.

The vendor's eyes widen, looking at me.

"Deer, really, I can pay for it." Katherine insists. 

I tilt my head at her, "I was the one who wanted to get food in the first place. I'd feel bad if you had to pay."

She pauses for a moment, "What else did you eat today?"

I wince a bit, knowing what will happen next. I decide to avoid what she's really asking. 

"The nuns gave out soup, and half biscuits today. You were there, remember?"

"And?" She questions, genuianly thinking I had more to eat.

"That's it." I say, shrugging, trying to play it off.

"Why?" I can see the regret in her eyes after Katherine's question tumbles out.

Because I can't afford it. 

"Oh...." She all but whispers.

I shake my head a bit, "Foods not cheap, Katherine." I joke, trying to lighten the mood.

"Can I please pay for the biscotti?" She asks, a sympathetic look on her face. 

I almost say no, I almost let my pride get the best of me. But at the end of the day, I'm the one who's dirt poor, and she's the one who lives in a penthouse. I need the eighty cents way more than she does.

I nod, a little uncertain. "Okay, yeah. You can pay this time."

Relife floods Katherine's face as she opens her purse, taking out the money.

She puts the money on the wooden counter of the vendor's stand.

"Eighty cents, right?" She asks.

The man just blankly looks at Katherine. I quickly translate. "She said eighty cents, right?"

The man nods at her cheerfully, taking the money and giving us two biscotti.

"You speak english?" He asks me.