CHAPTER 1: A NEW HOME

"I love you, Teresa," me mother said to me. I couldn't believe it. I'd been waiting to find her for so long, and now I finally had her. "I love ya too, Ma," I whispered as I nestled me head in the crook of her elbow. I then felt a sharp pain in me stomach…

"OW!" I shrieked. I woke up from the beautiful dream I was having to find meself, not in me mother's arms, but in a cold, snowy alleyway in New York City, watching a horse drawn carriage disappear from view. I rubbed me stomach gently. I guess the horse just ran right over me.

I should probably tell a little about meself: Me name is Teresa Antoliginio. I'se pretty tall, and really skinny, with blue eyes, jet black hair and a freckly face. I was born right here in the heart of Manhattan 16 years ago, 1883. Me mother and father left me with me horrible aunt and uncle when I was a baby. Finally, after 16 years, I got the courage to escape. I know these city streets like the back of me hand, but I somehow managed to get lost. That was what led to me sleeping in the gutter, and getting trampled by a horse. "Damn," I muttered as I gingerly touched the spot where the horse ran over me.

"Are you alright?" a small voice asked from the shadows. "I saw that whole thing happen. Can you talk?"

"If I catch me breath," I replied turning to the place where the voice came from. The voice came from a small boy, looked to be about nine or ten years old. He had deep brown eyes, a little snub nose, and a crop of black hair on the top of his head. He was rather quiet, as if maybe talking to me had been a mistake. "Come on over, kid. I ain't gonna bite," I said, reaching out to him.

The boy hesitantly stepped forward, and took me hand. "You got a name, sweetie?" I asked him, kindly.

The boy blushed a bit and smiled, "Yeah. It's Les Jacobs. Do you have a name?"

"Yeah. Mine's Teresa Antoliginio."

Les, to the best of his ability, lifted me up and said, "Come on. I'll take you someplace safe. My brother and all his friends will be sure to love you."

I didn't quite know what to expect. This kid sure was adorable, but we had only just met, and I wasn't so easily trusting. Hey, I'm a lifelong New Yorker; I can't afford to take many chances. Still, I was doubled over in pain, and was grateful for anything. "Thanks, kid. You're alright."

Les patted me hand. "Let's go. We're going to the Newsboys Lodging House."

I immediately began to regret the decision I had made. "Newsboys? I've heard they're kind of… rowdy. Plus, they ain't too kind to strangers."

Les looked like this was the most ridiculous piece of information he had ever heard. That's what he said, too. "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. All the boys are real nice. You're about my brother David's age, so the both of you'll get along fine. And then there's Jack, Mush, Race, Skittery, Crutchy, Kid Blink, Bumlets, and all the rest of them. They'll all like you. What's not to like?" he added as he winked at me.

Damn, this kid was so sweet, I could've sworn he was a piece of candy. As Les dragged me along, we both traded life stories. Turned out, his family was still all together, and he only took the Newsie job so he could help out his family after his father broke his arm. He and his older brother, David, plus an older sister, Sarah, were all the kid members of the Jacobs clan. "We're here," he said after a while.

Les dragged me up the long winding staircase, to the long room that the Newsies called home. All I saw were tons of boys, ages 10-17, hanging out, playing cards, smoking, all those sorts of things. They all stopped abruptly, however, when they noticed me. A boy with a crutch hobbled over to Les and me. "Les, uh, whatcha got there? Why does she look worse than a gaspin' fish?"

"Bite your tongue, big shot," I said in a threatening tone. I might have been doubled over in pain, but I wasn't going to let nobody insult me like that.

Thankfully, sweetie pie Les came to me defense. "Lay off of her, Crutchy. She just got run over by a carriage, and she needs a place to stay."

A tall boy that looked a lot like Les, and who I presumed to be David, came forward and said, "Where did you find her?"

"In an alleyway, over by Irving Hall."

Just then, the most handsome boy I had ever seen in me entire life came over to me and Les. His hair was curly and brown; he had dark brown puppy dog eyes, and a mouth that made him look like he was pouting when he wasn't smiling. "She can have me bed if she wants," he said in a voice that made a New York accent actually sound pleasant.

I nodded yes, and he and Les helped me hobble over to Dream Boy's bed. I winced as they got me under the covers, but being near Dream Boy kind of made me forget all about the ever growing pain in my stomach. "By the way," I said to the Newsies after I had gotten settled. "Me name is Teresa Antoliginio."

Dream Boy nodded. "Mine's Mush. Mush Meyers. You can stay in me bed as long as you need."

I blushed, and said, "Thanks, Mush."

Mush smiled, patted me hand a bit awkwardly, and climbed up onto the bunk above mine.

Les came over to me bunk, and said, "I hope you really feel better tomorrow morning, Teresa." He then quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching and kissed me on the cheek. He ran off to his bed looking as red as a Jersey tomato.

I, however, fell asleep quite easily. I was really lucky now: I had a sweetie pie caretaker in Les, a home in the Newsie lodging house, and a possible love interest in Mush. Oh, yes. Mine would be sweet dreams that night.