A/N: This is kinda a self-insert, I guess. I swear, this is the only time I'd insert myself into a fic. You see, I was born a few blocks away from Washington Square Park, in the nineties. Thirty years after this fic, but parks don't change much. Just trying to establish that I'm probably inserting myself into the character of Rita, Jude and Lucy's child, since I lived there when I was a small child myself. I know the area pretty well. Any mistakes are my poor memory's fault, feel free to correct me. I own nothing; don't sue me. Enjoy! -Trish
"Luce, we need t'find somewhere else t'live. Somewhere safer, for Rita."
"Jude, my job is here. We're barely affording this. There's nowhere better to go."
"Me mum...or maybe your parents could-"
"Never. I won't take charity from them."
"Luce, I just want to keep my – our – daughter safe."
"And I just want to keep Rita with me. We have support here, Max and Prudence and Jojo and Sadie. Between the six of us, I think we can manage to raise a child."
and so rita's life went, a baby in greenwich village
Looking back now, I realize just how much it must have taken, to raise me there. I'm only ten, nothing was really 'so long ago'. We're moving away now. Dad's been advocating for us to move from the beginning, and finally they've saved up 'enough money'. Mom didn't want to go before; she loves it here. She's always talking about how dynamic this place is, and in a way she's right. I can't imagine living anywhere else but here, in our tiny little place. Uncle Max, and Sadie and Jojo, and Prudence all live in one little place with us. I sleep in the living room, the main room in the house. My bed's in my parents' room, but when my parents go to sleep, they pick me up and put me on the couch in the main room.
We're moving to England, a whole ocean away. Dad says it's safer there, that anywhere would be safer than this place. Mom finally agreed; I think she wants more space. She says that there, she could get a place where I'd have my own bedroom. I don't want or need my own bedroom, but I don't really have a say in all this.
I'm going to really miss this place. It's different from most other places, from what I gather. I've listened to Mom's and Uncle Max's stories, and Dad's, and Prudence's. Jojo doesn't talk about where he's from, though. I don't see Sadie much, so I don't know quite as much about her. She's out most nights, singing.
We're leaving tomorrow, going on a ship. Planes are faster, but more expensive. Dad used to work on a ship, so he feels more comfortable taking us on one.
For today, my parents are taking me to Washington Square Park one last time.