"Where's Mister Jude?" An old woman demanded at the counter of Rosenberg's Delicatessen as she waited for her hash. "And who are you, boy?"

"I'm his son, ma'am," the young man behind the counter said, adjusting his crutch under his arm as he spooned hash into a container. "My name's Jacob." This woman came into the deli at the same time, ordered the same thing, and asked Jacob, more widely and affectionately known as Crutchy, the same two questions every single week... as she had for the past six years.

"But where's Mister Jude? I like Mister Jude."

"Oh, I imagine he's at home with his feet up, reading the newspaper and smoking his pipe," Crutchy replied, trying to sound as gentle and patient as he could. And he's probably laughing at the fact that I have to deal with you. "Would you like anything else with your hash today, Missus Kramer?"

"Papa!" A little voice squealed excitedly as the back door swung open and slammed shut.

"Um, no. I think that'll be it." Mrs. Kramer eyed the meats anyway, as she did every week. "You tell Mister Jude I said hello, okay? Same with Missus Rosenberg." She handed him the money she owed.

"Papa!"

"Will do, Missus Kramer." Crutchy waved good-naturedly as the woman walked out with her corned-beef hash, then grumbled when the door finally closed.

"Paaa-pa!" A little hand tugged at Crutchy's apron.

"What?" Crutchy looked down at the black-haired, blue-eyed boy, who grinned at him.

"I found a snail!" He held his hand out and opened it, revealing the slimy and obviously terrified creature.

Crutchy groaned. "Killian, get that out of here."

"But can't I--"

"Your mama would have my head on a stick. No."

"It's just a snail, Papa."

"Head. Stick. No fun. No snail."

Killian pouted, then turned and headed for the back door. "Uncle Skit'ry is outside. Wants to talk to you."

Crutchy headed to the back, smiling at the dark-haired woman who was sweeping up the storeroom. "Elise, would you mind running the counter for a few minutes?"

"Sure." Elise Rosenberg smiled back at her husband, propping the broom up against a wall. She pressed a light kiss to Crutchy's lips, which he returned.

"Ewww," Killian whined, almost as if on cue. Crutchy laughed, ruffling his son's hair, and stepped out the back door.

"Sorry, mister, we don't give handouts 'til closing," Crutchy said with a playful grin.

"Well, how about acceptin' 'em?" Skittery, Crutchy's longtime friend and a fellow former newsboy, returned the smile.

"'Pends on what it is."

"Dinner, tonight. With me an' Penny. You an' Elise, and Killian, if you want. We got big news and it needs a party."

Crutchy laughed a little. "Pretty generous handout. What time?"

"After you close, I guess," Skittery shrugged. "I know it's kind of a trip from here to Brooklyn, but Penny misses Elise and she really wants the two o' you to come."

"Well... yeah, I guess we could make it. We'll leave Killian with my folks, though. He's got his lessons in the mornin'."

Skittery chuckled. "Don't it strike you as a little bit funny that you got a full-blooded Irish boy takin' Hebrew lessons?"

Crutchy smiled and shrugged. "He don't know the difference and it's what Elise wanted. Said she wanted to be part of my family, and my family's Jewish, so they would be, too. Or something."

"Papa," Killian poked his head out the door, "Mama says you gotta come in 'cuz she's got cookin' to do."

"I'm comin'." Crutchy turned back to Skittery. "See you tonight?"

"Yeah." Skittery nodded and clapped Crutchy on the shoulder. "Bye, Killian," he said, ruffling the little boy's hair and then pressing a penny into his palm. Killian's eyes lit up.

"Thanks, Uncle Skit'ry!" He ran into the shop, narrowly missing his father's crutch as he darted through the door. "Uncle Skit'ry gave me a penny, Papa! He didn't give you a penny."

Crutchy laughed and rolled his eyes. "We'll put it in your bank when we get home, okay?" Smiling, he headed back to the front of the shop.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Crutchy and Elise walked into Skittery and Penny's apartment, and were greeted by an excited squeal from Penny. She came hurrying from the kitchen, throwing her arms around Elise with a huge grin. As Elise hugged her cousin back, she arched an eyebrow.

"Well, Skittery must be makin' some good money to be feedin' you so well," she said, squeezing the young woman. "You're fillin' out here."

Penny stepped back. She hadn't seen Elise in a couple of months, as both their lives were so busy. She smiled at Elise, her eyes shining. "Actually, that's our news," she said, grinning up at Skittery, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Oh, for God's sake. Just tell us already." Crutchy rolled his eyes.

"We're havin' a baby!" Skittery smiled proudly, kissing his wife's hair.