I didn't see him at first. I was sleeping under a few sheets of newspaper I had found the night before. I was just starting to wake up and my back hurt. My mother kicked me out of the house a month after my father left, three days ago. She said i was too much like him.
"Miss, you 'ight?" The young boy, with curly black hair and an adoreable face asked.
"What? Oh, I'm fine."I responded.
"Wha you doin out ere? It's getting cold." He helped me stand up. "You're Freezing."
"No, Really i'm fine. Who are you?" I asked him.
"I'se Mush. Wha's your name?"
"Patricia, Pat." I said.
"Nice ta meet ya Pat." He shook my hand. "Why are you out here. It's the middle of the night."
"I have no where else to go." I told him what had happened with my mother.
"Come with me."
We started walking down the street. Soon at a corner, i saw another boy. This boy had blond hair under a brown cap.
"Blink! Hey! Kid Blink!" Mush shouted. The boy turned and i noticed an eye patch over his one eye.
"Wha!" Kid blink called back.
"Tell Kloppman to set up the spare bed! And grab a few leftovers from the kitchen."
"Got it!" Blink took off running."
"What is he doing?" i asked.
"He's going to get you a place to sleep. You need a job?" He looked at me and must have noticed i didn't have anything but the clothes on my back.
"Yeah," I told him.
"Good, 'Cause i need a selling partner." He smiled. "We'll be at the lodging house soon. Are ya okay being the only girl?" He asked.
"i guess i don't have a choice."
We arrived at the lodging house. I walked in behind Mush and was greeted by an older gentleman.
"Pat, dis is Kloppman." Mush told me.
"Nice to meet you." I told him and he shook my hand.
"I ave' a room set up for you come with me." kloppman said.
My room was acctually a broom closet with a cot in it. But it was much better than what i had on the streets.
"You'll have to share a bathroom with the boys if that's okay." Kloppman told me.
"That's fine. Thank you so much."
He tossed me an old night gown. I wondered vaguely where it came from but didn't really mind. "G'Night."
I Changed into my Night gown and as soon as i hit the pillow i was asleep.