It was less than a week after this discussion that Mrs. Howard had her baby. I was working as usual in the bakery when I heard her give a gasp and Mr. Howard gave a shout. Hurrying to the front room I almost collided with him. His normally jolly face was tense. "Abigail, go fetch the midwife. Tell her the baby's ready. Then run over to Mrs. Thomas'. Here." He pulled a paper off the counter with an address. "Run!" He shouted after me as I trotted out.

Reaching the sidewalk I realized I may have had an address for Mrs. Thomas but I had no clue where to find the midwife. I looked around the square. "Mush!" Shedding flour, I hailed the well muscled Newsie. "Mush!" He ran over. "Mrs. Howard needs the midwife. Where do I find her? Then I need to get to-"

He cut me off. "I'll go. You run to wherever else you need to go," and he was off.

I supposed he hadn't realized I didn't know where to find Mrs. Thomas' was either. I looked at the paper. The address was in Brooklyn. I at least could get there and then find someone to ask. My dilemma decided, I began walking as fast as I could towards Brooklyn.

Once I had crossed the bridge into Brooklyn I had no clue where I was. Wondering if this had been a very bad idea, I pondered who I should ask for directions. Cowboy who I had learned was also called Jack had warned me that there were some parts of the city a sensible person just didn't wander around in. I shook off the worry that had descended on me and turned my attention to getting directions. Who would know the city? I almost smacked myself. I needed a Newsie.

When I looked down the street I was on I didn't see any of the boys from the lodging house and was about to head down another street when I saw a young man hawking headlines and carrying a stack of papers. It took me a moment to recognize him as a newsboy before I reminded myself that I couldn't possibly know every Newsie in New York.

"Excuse me." I walked up to him.

"A paper, miss?" he asked.

"No thank you. I was just wondering if you knew how I could get to this address." I held out my scrap of paper.

The newsie glanced at it. "Sure I can take you there."

I nodded. "Thank you." I followed him across street and down the next block. "I don't believe I've met you before." I said before I could help myself.

He smirked. "Spot Conlon."

"I'm Abigail."

He inclined his head. "Well here you are. Mrs. Thomas is on the 3rd floor."

"Thank you so much, Spot." I dug in my pocket for a coin.

"No need." He waved the money away. "I knows who you are, Abbey." And he walked off. I stared after him trying to reassure myself that I had said my name was Abigail not Abbey.

Mrs. Thomas turned out to be Mrs. Howard's mother. A small ferocious gray haired lady who cleared the sidewalk before her with her handbag. She ignored me except to screech over her shoulder once or twice for me to walk faster. After escorting her to the bakery I cleaned up the morning's baking and headed home with Boots turning up to walk with me. I made my uncle a late lunch and started on my cleaning duties.

About half way through sweeping the bunk room I noticed I wasn't alone. Racetrack was leaning against the door frame, watching me. I started to smile at him but saw that his usual cocky grin was absent. "Is something wrong?"

"You went over to Brooklyn today."

"Yes?" I was confused.

"You shouldn't have gone all by yourself."

"Why?"

"It's dangerous to wander around by yourself and Brooklyn's not our territory." He seemed to be avoiding something and getting worked up over it.

"I can take care of myself," I stated the stress of the morning and his tone making waspish.

"You'll ruin your reputation."

"What?!" I gasped.

"You should have had someone go with you," he insisted.

Inside me the dam burst. "And walking to Brooklyn with a newsie would have been any better!?" I snapped. He stared at me. I covered my mouth and turned around quickly so my face was to the wall. I couldn't believe I'd said it. The room was dead silent.

Then, "What do you mean?"

I shook my head and when I didn't hear him leave shook it again harder, feeling one of the pins slip out of my hair. The pin clattering against the floor was the only sound. I sat down on the bunk next to me and Racetrack came slowly over.

"What does that mean?" His voice was low. He sounded slightly hurt.

"It's nothing," I whispered. "Nothing. Just forget I said it."

"No-" We both heard the scrape of Kloppman's chair downstairs and knew he had decided Racetrack had been up here long enough. Race's voice hardened and he said, "We can talk later." We both stood. I continued my sweeping while he went over to dig through the drawers of one of the bedside tables. He pulled a half smoked cigar out and was going through the doorway as my uncle appeared at the top of the stairs. "See you later Abbey. I think Specs found a new ballad we can all look at tonight." He left.

My uncle stood there a moment, unsure of what to use as an excuse for coming upstairs. "Would you like some help today?"

I made a valiant effort to smile at him and replied, "I'm almost done. Thanks though."

Later that night as the newsies started drifting in, I was getting some of the rugs from the apartment off the roof. They'd needed a good airing. I had meant to have them in earlier but my uncle had wanted to talk about the Howards' new baby after dinner.

Footsteps sounded on the roof and I turned to see Racetrack again. True to his word Specs had come in earlier with another broadside. I didn't think that had anything to do with him being here now.

"Came to help you bring in the rugs. Bet the others I could carry all of them on my own." He grinned inviting me to help him ease the mood.

I smiled back appreciating his effort. "I'm sorry I said what I did earlier. Really you shouldn't worry about it."

"I want to know what made you say it." He began rolling up the bigger of the two rugs.

"It's really nothing." He glared at me. I sighed, "People just have opinions that influence how they react to certain people."

"What people have what opinions?"

"About reputations."

"That can be fixed. I'm sure the rest of the boys would be glad to lend a hand. Or a fist."

I shook my head. "Really it's not like that," I said hoisting the smaller rug into my arms as he gathered up the other.

"Don't worry we-"

I cut him off. "You can't soak all the women in the neighborhood," and headed down the stairs.

Downstairs Mush said, "Didn't know you were on your way to Brooklyn this morning."

"Does everyone know I went to Brooklyn?" There was a pause then the majority of the boys nodded. "Really?" I was ready to start fuming.

"Well, You see Abigail. Brooklyn is Spot Conlon's territory. We all know Spot Conlon," said Jack lounging against a bunk.

"We all respect Spot Conlon," Boots added. This time everyone nodded and a few looked a little worried.

"He's one of the biggest newsies in New York," Jack continued. "And youse was talking to him."

I shook my head and threw my hands in the air hoping to look defeated. "Not a mistake I will make again."

"Don't worry Abbey. We ain't stalking you" Crutchy mumbled.

"Youse just leave a trail of flour behind that a blind man could follow." Kid Blink chuckled.

I stuck my tongue out at him. As the boys relaxed and shifted I looked at Race. He inclined his head slightly. I relaxed too, grateful he seemed to be satisfied.