Chapter 1

I woke up to hear rats scratching on the floors. I turned over, disgust by our living conditions. My mother and my sister were huddled together for warmth from the cold June nights. My eyes searched the room, with pure agony. For two years now, we've lived in this filth, ever since my mother lost her job. I don't know how we've survived. We rarely have money, and when we do, my mother usually spends it on alcohol. Ever since we moved, my mother turned into a drunkie, throwing her life away for the pure joy of rum, vodka, or whiskey. The only reason we even get money, is because of mother selling herself to men she met at bars. She would bring the men up to our apartment, completely drunk, and unaware of what she was doing. I would lay in bed, holding my ears, trying my hardest to block out the noise of my mother. Many night, I would cry myself to sleep, hating my life. I scanned the room one more time, before closing my eyes and falling back into a restless sleep with many nightmares.

Usually when I wake up in the morning, I'm quite refreshed, thinking that for some strange reason, that day would be different from all the rest. On this particular day though, I woke up soaking wet, with a fear that something would go wrong. I got up, and quickly got dressed, praying for the day when my knight in shining armor would climb up the fire escape, and rescue me. I dressed in one of my old dresses, one that used to be all nice and fancy, but by now was worn out, and dull looking. It had a scoop neck, with sleeves that stopped at my elbow, and this pretty sash that tied around my waist. It was my best dress, and since, I had decided no to go work in the mills, but to go explore the city, I put it on, and the periwinkle color of it, brought out my eyes, and made them shine.

I hated mill work. Everywhere I looked, I saw sick girls, practically death from the roaring of the machines. I took the three dollars that I had saved up, stuffed it in my pocket, and tip toed out, as not to disturb my family.

I headed out across the Brooklyn Bridge, into the Manhattan area, an area that I had never been to before. Everywhere I looked, I saw peddlers selling fruit, and Newsies selling papers. One newsie came up to me, and started coughing, asking if I could buy his last pape. My sympathy over came me, and before I knew what I was doing, I had given the boy fifty cents, which left me with two fifty. I took a newspaper, and headed towards a restaurant named Tibby's. My stomach had been rumbling for sometime, and I decided to silence it. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted, with stares from all the Newsies, who were crowded around a certain table. I smiled at them, loving the attention I got, for I never I my life, had ever gotten stared at my boys. I found a booth, and silently set down, picked up a menu, and started reading it.

"You'se neva been ta Manhattan?" I looked up to find an Italian looking boy sitting across from me, a cigar hanging loosely from his lips. "Yeah, how'd you know?" I asked, setting the menu down. The boy's piercing brown eyes seemed to hypnotize me, as I stared long and hard at his features. He was kinda short, with short dark brown hair, brown eyes, and white skin. He was dressed in plaid pants, and a plaid vest, so I figured he liked to gamble, since he was dressed in a gambler's outfit. I looked at him, before lowering my eyes.

"You'se all dressed up, sos I kinda figured you'se must be from Boston or somethin'," the boy shrugged, looking at me closely, "I be Racetrack, or Race."

I smiled at him, warmly, "My name's Celeste. No, I'm from Brooklyn, but I've never been to Manhattan." I looked at him, before picking up the menu, and browsing through it.

"Do ya woik in da mills?" Race asked, puffing on his cigar. I looked up at him speechless. How could he know? I bit my lip, and continued browsing the menu.

"Yes, I do. But I'm thinking about quitting. I need to find another job. Do you know if any jobs?" I asked him, calling a waiter over, and giving him my order.

"Become a newsgoil. It's a really easy job. Pays really well," Racetrack suggested, looking at me closely, probably disappointed with what he saw.

"Maybe I will, thanks Race. Maybe I'll see you around," I got up to leave, but only then realized, I hadn't gotten my order yet, and sat back down. I picked up the menu, since it was the only thing to read, and started reading it, only to stop when I felt Race's eyes on me. I looked up into his eyes, and smirked.

"Yo' eyes are quite enchantin'. Dey're a winda to yo' feelin's. I can tell you'se hoitin'!" Race commented.

I looked at him shocked, "No one's ever noticed that before. I always thought I showed what I was feeling quite well on my face."

Race laughed, then got up and walked over to where a bunch of Newsies were sitting down, and eating. I laughed to myself, thinking what a character he was. Just then a waiter came over, and handed me my food, which I took eagerly. As I ate, I would look up every couple of seconds, to find Rave looking at me, every so often, then talk to some of his friends. When I finally left, it was already well into the day, so I decided to roam a little more. Occasionally I would see Race and he'd smile and wave, before going back to talking with his fellow Newsies Tired from walking in my shoes, which were too small for me, I sat down on some steps. I looked around, before putting my head in my lap, and closing my eyes.

"Well, I didn't think Celeste Lewis still lived in New York," I looked up and automatically recognized the owner of the voice.

"Isabelle, oh I haven't seen you in so long, how's it goin'?" I jumped up, and squeezed Isabelle. Tears formed in my eyes, as I continued hugging her.

I closed my eyes, letting the tears that had weld up, come forth and spill onto my cheeks.

"Celeste, I thought you moved to Boston or something. It never occurred to me you'd still be living in New York," Isabelle's normally pretty face was radiant, her eyes sparkling even greener than they usually were. I lowered my eyes, not wanting to make eye contact with her. She was so perfect, perfect life, perfect family, to her, I was filth, a street rat that didn't deserve a place in the city. "Well, my mother lost her job, and we didn't have enough money to pay rent for the house, so we had to move to Parkins Lane."

Isabelle's eyes grew wide with sympathy. "Oh Cel, Parkins Lane is the worst street you could possible live on in Brooklyn. How come you never told me. How come you never visited me while you lived on..on Parkins Lane?"

I kept my eye contact on the ground, not wanting to see the clouds that had overcome my blue eyes. "I had no time. I worked in the mill from dawn till dusk, so I never had any time to see anyone. Not you, not Spot. I haven't seen Spot in over two years, Isabelle. He's my best friend, I miss him so much!"

Isabelle nodded, and took my hand. "I understand, but please tell me why you're here now, not working at the mills?"

"Well, I didn't feel like going to work today, so I decided to explore Manhattan. And well, I met this boy named Racetrack, or Race, and he told me I just think about becoming a news girl. And I just might take his advice."

Isabelle smiled, and dropped my hand. "I see you've met my boyfriend. He's a sweetheart, isn't he?"

I laughed, and nodded. "Yes, he's quite handsome. You always did know how to choose them."

"I'm so glad you're okay, I've been so worried about you." Isabelle looked into my eyes, and hugged me again. As the day's heat grew more and more intense, it started to get to us, so we headed over to Isabelle's family's wig shop, to sit under the fans, and get something to drink. She's worked in that shop for as long as I could remember, many times selling her hair to her parents to make wigs out of. Now, for the first time, I noticed her hair was about mid back, longer than it's ever been. Almost too soon, I had to say good-bye to Isabelle, with the promise to see her again tomorrow.

As I walked through the cold deserted streets, I contemplated Race's idea more and more, and finally coming to the conclusion, of taking his advice, and becoming a news ‘goil'. I looked around the quiet streets, I spotted Billie Harris, my ex-boyfriend. He spotted me too, and rushed over to me.

"Cel, are you okay? You'se shouldn' be out alone at night, it ain't safe," Billie took off his jacket, and placed it around my shivering shoulders. He quietly escorted me back to my apartment, then left without a word. I found this oddly strange, for usually Billie rambles on forever, and you can never get a word in edgewise. I shrugged this off, and started climbing the filthy stairs up to my apartment. The moon shone brightly through the broken windows, as I picked my way through trash to get to my door, which I found ajar, and loud sobbing coming from inside. I ran in, to find my mother on the floor, her dress torn. I suddenly realized what had happened, it had happened too many times before.

"Mother, was it Jake again?" I asked, trembling. She looked at me blankly, her eyes holding so much pain.

"Go Celeste. You and Jessamyn, go! It's not safe here anymore. Go, save you live!" Tears streamed down on her face, as she laid down on the floor, her body heaving violently. I walked over to her, hugged her, then went gathered a bunch of our stuff, and left.

We wandered the streets of Brooklyn all night, never stopping for fear of suddenly running into Jake. We crossed the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, and slowly made our way through the dark streets. Everywhere I looked, I thought I saw Jake, and every time, I took Jessamyn's hand. My eyes filled up with tears as we slowly continued walking.. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, and I had to sit down on some steps, and cry till my heart's content. How long we stayed on those steps I don't know, but when a hand shook me, it was bright outside.

"You'se dat goil Race was tellin' us ‘bout, ain't ya?" the boy asked, gazing at me with eyes that had me mesmerized. I slowly nodded, lowering my eyes. "Is dat yo' sista?"

"Yes, what's your name?" I asked, scootching closer to Jessamyn.

"Me name's Mush. What's yo's?"

"My name's Celeste, and this is my little sister Jessamyn. Mush, do you know where I could stay?" I quietly asked him, looking him in the eye.

He smiled at me, "Yo' eyes are very enchantin', ya know? You'se could stay wid da Newsies, fo' a while, if ya don' mind."

I blushed slightly, and quickly accepted his offer, with many menacing glares from Jessamyn. We followed him to the ‘Newsboys Lodging House', and Kloppman agreed with me staying there, as long as I paid rent just like everyone else. I agreed to the offer, and Mush lead me upstairs to the bunk room. There was an empty bunk under Race, and next to a kid named Blink, and Mush. As soon as I laid down, my eyes closed and I slept soundly for the first time in two years.

Chapter 2
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