It was that day. That day I left so long ago. The day I was forced to live in the dark, lonesome streets of New York City, pulled away from the one thing I loved… my family.

So as I walk towards the bridge of my childhood, 15 cents in my pocket and a radiant red rose in my hand, I ponder when I will ever meet up with my loving family and leave this "fine life". I can still remember the cheerful, sunny days in the backyard of my house in Brooklyn. Mama and Papa beaming, while standing side by side proudly watching over their son and daughter. Me and my sister. How I longed for those wonderful days when all we would do is play outside disregarding the one thing that now keeps me alive. The news around us. How I loved them all, but I especially loved my sister…Meri. Who caused nothing but pure mischief. You could tell just by looking in her bright green eyes, and watching her glowing smile what evil plot she had in store for us next. One day she would pull me aside and say, "Anthony, guess what I did to Papa’s hat?" and she would put pudding in his hat so when he put it on his head all of it would fall into his hair and on his face. After that Papa always would look first at Meri, then into his hat before he placed it on his head full of jet-black hair identical to mine. Mama would laugh at this, but then sternly tell Meri to keep her mischief to herself. Though Meri was only 6 and I was only 8 we could still cause trouble, and Mama did her best to stop it.

Mama had those same bright green eyes Meri had, but she was Irish unlike the rest of us (who were pure Italian) and had chocolate brown hair and a pale complexion. Someday she would take me to the racetrack to watch the horseraces. She loved the horses so much just like me, but Papa and Meri showed no interest in them. We would sneak down before the race started to try and talk to the horses but many times we’ve gotten caught. If Meri came with us we would go out for ice cream. (That’s how we would convince her to come with us) then one day all that changed…

That day. That day that changed my life forever. The day I lost all that I had. So easily it had come and gone. And so easily it had entered my mind this day 7 years later. The day Meri turned 6.

I was sitting in the living room playing poker with Papa and Meri and as usual Papa was winning. We were waiting for Mama to finish cooking Meri’s birthday cake. That’s when I happened. We heard a loud gunshot sounding like it was a mile away. At first we didn’t think it was anything. That was until we heard it again but this time it sounded like it was only a few blocks away. Mama and Papa looked at each other with frightened eyes and told us to go to our room. We obediently did what we were told but were very confused about what was going on. I could faintly hear Mama and Papa arguing about something when it sounded like a few people knocked the door down and entered our house. I heard the people arguing with Mama and Papa, then there were two gunshots, a loud scream, another gunshot, and that was it.

I held back tears of fright as I grabbed Meri and took off out the window, just as someone entered the room. We started running full speed for a long, long time looking for a place to hide. When we finally stopped we were in Manhattan. I saw an alley with many large boxes and decided to hide in there. I hid behind one of the boxes and told Meri to do the same, but I didn’t see where she went. I heard footsteps. They grew louder and louder until they stopped. I cautiously looked over the box where I was hidden. There were two vaguely familiar men standing in the middle of the now dark alley talking quietly amongst themselves. I saw a flash and looked over at a man who had taken out a copper pocket watch and was now fiddling with it. I don’t know why but the watch looked really familiar. It was Papa’s! They were searching around the alley a few more minutes until one man looked behind a box grabbed something and ran away. The other man right behind him. I saw Papa’s pocket watch next to me on the ground and when I thought the men had gone I went to pick it up. I looked at what time it was and it said 10:27 PM. I quietly called for Meri. No answer. I called again a little more loudly this time but again got no answer. I started nervously pacing the alley wondering where she could’ve gone when it struck me. I stopped dead, as I realized what was behind that box that the man had grabbed. My knees weakened as I figured out what had happened that night. I fell to the ground, tears streaming down my face, suddenly realizing everything. Papa had fired two men from his job a few weeks ago, when he discovered they had been not only stealing money from his company, but they had also been stealing money from other people as well. They had killed Mama and Papa and had gotten Meri, my Meri. My mischievous 6 year old sister who I loved. I slowly looked away from my thoughts and saw a beautiful red rose from the garden at home. It was Meri’s favorite, and now she was gone. They were all gone, and I had no place to go…

I shivered as I remembered that day, and slowly walked towards the Brooklyn Bridge. I took out a red rose, and threw it over the bridge into the cold water. I looked at my copper pocket watch. It was 10:27 PM. I quietly walked back to the lodging house, trying to forget what was so clearly remembered.

As I got to the front step I shook off my sad mood and walked in. "Heya guys" I said. "Hey Race" and "How’s it rollin" were returned. I went upstairs and joined a poker game with Mush, Kid Blink, and Skittery. There was a knock at the door and Jack went to go get it. When he came back he pulled me away. "What’s it Jack? I’se winnin" I said. "Sumones heah for ya, it’s a goil." He shoved me playfully as I wondered who would be here for me much less a girl. I walked down the stairs and saw a short woman dressed in a torn dark dress that looked like it had been 8 years old. She was looking at the ground so I couldn’t see her face but when she looked up I saw that she had bright green eyes, jet-black hair, and looked Italian. "Wait…bright green eyes? Nah it cant be…no Race gedda hold of yaself, shes dead ya gotta ledder go" I thought, but inspite of myself I mumbled "Meri?" she looked at me with curious eyes and asked "Anthony?"

THE END

**Disclaimer- I do not own racetrack or any of the other newsies. Meri is mine but that’s all so PLEASE do not sue