Elmer had finished selling his newspapers for the day. It was almost dark and he had enlisted the help of Romeo to help him find Smalls.

"I'se still don't understand why youse so overprotective of her." Romeo said as they walked through the streets.

"It don't matter why! It's almost nighttime and it's gettin' cold! She could get hurt!" Elmer replied. Romeo grabbed his friend's arm and pulled him to a stop.

"Buddy, she's seventeen! Give the girl some space! She can survive a few minutes without ya help." He said. Elmer rolled his eyes and started walking again.

"C'mon, let's get going..." In truth, even he himself didn't know why he was so protective of Smalls. Maybe it was because he'd known her for so long, but he was like this when she was little, too. He shook his head. He supposed it didn't matter. The two newsies kept walking until Elmer spotted Smalls near the old orphanage where they had once lived. He ran up to her.

"Smalls! What are you doing here? Don't youse know it's dangerous?" He said. She turned around.

"Oh, it's you. I should've known." She rolled her eyes playfully.

"What are ya doin'?"

"I'se was wondering about how I got to the lodging house and everything, so use figured this place would have the answers!" She said excitedly.

"Smalls, it's almost dark and we shouldn't be here!" Elmer complained.

"But I'm not done looking around yet!"

Elmer grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the lodging house. "If ya wanted answers, you coulda just asked me."

"Whaddaya mean? You of all people knows my past?" Smalls looked up at him as she followed him. He didn't answer immediately, waiting until they were inside.

"You really want to know?" He asked.

"I really want to know." She replied. He took a breath and began telling the story.

Fifteen years previous

Elmer was about six years old, living in the old orphanage. It was three years before he'd become a newsie. He spent his days avoiding the older boys that made him nervous and doing his chores so he wouldn't get in trouble. He really didn't have any friends, nor did he care to have any. One night, that all changed.

Elmer hadn't finished his chores from the night before and was cleaning the windows. He heard a cry from outside. He opened the window he was cleaning to see what it was. He saw a little girl curled up on the front steps. Everyone else was asleep, so he quietly ran to the front door and opened it. He knelt next to the girl and picked her up before bringing her inside.

Once he got her inside, the little girl began to cry.

"Hey... Hey don't cry..." He whispered, trying to cradle her in his arms as he sat down. She got louder. He looked around, hoping no one was awakened. He started humming a soft lullaby he had known. The little girl whimpered, but quieted down. He looked at her.

"Youse kinda small for a kid your age... Small... I'm gonna call you Smalls." He decided out loud. One the other boys was half awake and threw a pillow at him.

"Shut up Elmer..." The boy muttered, going back to sleep. Elmer sighed and looked at the girl he had named Smalls.

"Looks like I'm gonna be takin' care of ya..."

1899

"That's how I ended up in the orphanage?" Smalls asked when Elmer paused.

"Exactly."

"You... rescued me?"

"Someone woulda found ya eventually, but it was real cold that night... " Elmer told her.

"What happened next? Did we become friends?" She asked. He smiled.

"Of course we did!"

"But, how? I was so little..."

"Be patient, and I'll tell you." He chuckled.