"Marconi, get her and follow me," I ordered, monkey-child got a look of confusion on her face as Marconi swept her up and draped her over his shoulder.

I dashed back down the street, weaving between people and whatnot and spied the back half of Racetrack walking away from me. I ran up and cut in front of him, coming to a dead halt. He jerked in surprise.

"Whoa, give ma scare why don'tcha?"

"Mebbe I will, listen Higgins, if I want ya t'take a probl'm off m'hands, yer gonna do it."

"What makes ya so sure?"

Then Marconi came striding up with Monkey still slung over his shoulder. I reached into my pocket and pulled out some hard-earned bills. Marconi put Monkey down and she looked disgusted and confused. I stuffed the money in Race's hand.

"That makes me sure. Now take her, Higgins."

Racetrack then grabbed Monkey by the arm, "Cain't argue wit dat. C'mon kid."

Greyson and I were on our way back to the Bronx and our little place before Race could even get her going.

"Did you hafta do it that way?" Greyson scolded.

"What way?"

"Right in front of 'er!"

"Kid needs a few doses of reality."

"I suppose, but do you know what you need?"

He had that suspicious, playful grin on his face-- it was almost a stupid grin.

"I hope it's not a swift kick in the trousers..."

"Not quite... you need to loosen up and have a good, alcohol-free time."

"Oh, really now?"

He nodded his head and took me and kissed me. I loved the boy more than I'd ever admit. Even though he'd done a few-- many things he wasn't proud of, I got past them, but I couldn't help keeping them in the back of my mind. We walked closely, his arm around me all the way to our small little "home" in the Bronx. There, we simply relaxed and ignored everything that we should have been doing. Then out of nowhere, Greyson stood up, pulled his suspenders down, unbuttoned his shirt and proceeded to change into a fancy suit, the only thing to top off the get up would be a top hat, which I'm glad he didn't have.

"Goin somewhere?"

"Huh?"

I stood up from my chair, "You're not getting all gussied up for me. Where you off to?"

He slicked back his hair and looked at me, he cleaned up really well, "I'll be back in a few days. Jest don't get yerself into any trouble, all right?" He turned back to the mirror on the wall, "I don't wanna hafta get you out again."

"Yeah, well, I don't wanna find someway to get you out again," I flopped on the bed in the middle of the room and laughed.

"Now that's enough of that, I'll see you in a few days," he kissed me, flashed a smile, winked and disappeared out the door.

"Greyson, Greyson, Greyson, what am I going to do with you?" I pulled his pocketwatch from my pocket and waited for him to return for it.