I followed the tall man threw the streets. Maybe I would get lucky and snatch his wallet. I reached out my hand hoping I would get caught. But he just turned around and grabbed my wrist. I tried to pry my hand away and run, but he just held tight.
"What are you lookin' for down there little Miss?"
"I-I was jus" He struck my face and threw me into an alley way. I looked up at the man trembling a bit.
"Best not let me catch you pickin' pockets again or I'll turn you into the police myself." I nodded and he walked away. As I sat there I knew I needed to pull myself together. I had been out of the workhouse for not even a day now and I felt completely lost. I was defiantly not used to life I the big cities. I knew there would be only one thing I could do to survive and that was stealing. I wasn't very good at it, much too nervous I suppose. I took a few deep breaths and looked to see a boy at the other side of the alley.
He was wearing a stove-pipe hat and an over coat that was to big for him. As he walked by me he slowed down watching me. I looked to the floor knowing he was judging me. He soon walked past me I sighed a bit and he stopped and turned back around. I tried to ignore his presence looking to the floor or at a wall but after a minute I couldn't help but acknowledge his presence. I looked up to see him.
"Excuse me." I started trying to be polite. "Sir?" "Is there something I can help you with?" I began to fidget a little looking up at him. He raised an eyebrow and said.
"'Sir' you don't 'ave to call me that ma'am." He extended his hand to me. I looked at him questionably and gingerly placed my hand in his. In one tug he pulled me up on to my feet. He smiled a bit and tipped his hat to me. "Jack Dawkins at you're service." I curtsied to him.
"Tracey, Tracey Lynch."
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Lynch," I smiled kindly at him and blushed a bit. This was on of the first times I had spoken to a boy. I felt lucky because he was so handsome. I blushed even more at my thoughts.
"No the pleasures all mine, Mr. Dawkins." He began to laugh at me. I bowed my head in shame. I turned and began to walk away. He caught my arm I turned looked back at him. He pulled me back over to him.
"Come on then, let's go." He linked his arm with me and began to walk me through the streets. "You 'ave no where to live I pre-sume?" I nodded frowning a bit. "What'd you run away from the work'ouse?" I nodded again. I looked up at him desperately.
"Please don't turn me in Mr. Dawkins. I'd do absolutely anything not to go back to that horrible place." He smiled at me.
"Don't worry about it Trace. I won't turn you in. Jus' keep followin' me." I did as he had told me to. Jack would occasionally look back at me to make sure I was alright that he hadn't lost me in the crowd or something. After about 15 minutes of walking through the crowded streets of London we headed up some steps. I knew we were at our final destination. He whistled and the door was unlocked. He opened the door pulling me behind him. As we began to walk someone stopped us.
"'Ey Dodge!" Jack stopped walking and so did I. I turned to see a boy not much younger then me. I assumed he was the one who opened the door. He looked sternly at me. "Who the 'ell is she?" Jack turned around and said.
"Her names Tracey. Is Fagin in?" He asked. The boy nodded.
"He's in the dinning room." Jack took my hand and led me to a room. I walked in behind him and saw an old man.
"'Ey Fagin!" Jack yelled the old man turned to face us.
"What is it?!" The old man, who I assumed was Fagin, yelled back. He looked at me closely. "Who's this Dodge?" I gasped realizing how rude I must've seemed. I curtsied to him.
"Tracey Lynch, Sir." Fagin began to laugh and Jack pulled me up. I looked at him my eyes asking him why he did that.
"No need to show any respect to the likes of him." After he said that to me he turned his focus back to Fagin. "Any ways, Tracey 'ere is a new 'friend' of mine." Jack suddenly pushed me in front of him. I looked back at him then to Fagin who was nodding. Fagin pointed to a chair.
"Sit down, sit down, my dear." I sat at the table as Jack began to walk to the fire place where there was a few sausages cooking. "Tell me where did you come from?" I looked at him.
"The workhouse that's located 70 miles from here. I walked the whole way."
"Ohh you poor, poor dear. Have you any where to stay? Any relatives? Any family friends? Any work?" I shook my head.
"No, none of that. I'm an orphan."
"Then you're in the right place Tracey, my dear. You see Dodger here's also an orphan. In fact all the boys in this house are orphans. Your welcome to stay wiv' us." I couldn't help but smile.
"You mean it?"
"Of course I do." Jack sat next to me as he placed a plate with sausage on it and a cup filled with some liquor in front of me.
"Welcome to the family." Jack said. I immediately devoured my sausage and took a sip of the liquor.
"Thanks Jack…You two Fagin."
"Please, Tracey everyone calls me the Artful Dodger." I drank a bit more and began to feel a little dizzy.
"'Artful Dodger'?" I questioned my word slurring a bit. He nodded
"Yes well you can call me 'Dodge' or 'Dodger' for short."
"Yes Dodger here is the best thief I have. You should really make him your mentor. You can learn a lot from him." I finished my drink and fainted. Luckily Jack was right behind me and caught me. He dragged me to the couch where I spent the night.