January 2, 1900
"May I help you?" the woman at the door asked kindly. Sixteen-year-old Race knew two things. Firstly, this was where Davey, Les, and their family lived. Secondly, the newsies all felt terrible for the way things had ended with the Jacobs. So that day, Race knew he had to fix it.
"Hiya, Ise lookin' for David Jacobs. Is 'e 'ere?"
"Yes. Come in, come in."
Race followed the woman through the house. Everything looked a lot more expensive and cleaner than the Lodging House. That being said, Kloppman didn't have enough money to make the Lodging House not look like a dump.
"Race?!" Race glanced up to find Davey staring at him with his mouth agape. Les's face lit up as he jumped out of his seat and tackled Race in a hug.
"Who's this, David?" a man asked. Race assumed that the man and woman were Les and Davey's parents. The younger girl and youngest boy that were sitting at the table must have been their siblings.
"Name's Racetrack Higgins, Sir. Youse can calls me Race. Ise 'ere ta talk ta Davey an' Les," Race said boldly. Mrs. Jacobs excused Davey and Les from the table and Davey, with Les still clinging to Race, led them into a bedroom.
"This is mine and Les's," Davey explained quickly, "Now, what are you doing here?"
"Wese miss you an' Les, Davey. Youse ought ta be newsies again."
"We're in school, Race. We can't just leave."
"What 'bout on weekends? Youse at school den?"
"Well no, but – "
"Exactly. Youse could sell den."
"We have a deal with our parents."
"But – "
"Goodbye Racetrack."
Davey escorted Race to the door and pried Les off him. Race sighed and, with his head down, headed back towards the Lodging House.
December 15, 1896
"But youse can't leave!"
"Ise can't stay either Racer. Yer gonna be a great second, Ise knows dat."
The thirteen-year-old stared at his brother. Tracks was finally leaving the Lodging House. Race didn't want the sixteen-year-old to leave just yet, but he knew it was going to happen eventually.
"Youse all gonna come back ta visit us, right?"
"Course wese are, Racer, wese gonna be back 'fore youse knows it."
January 2, 1900
Race was nearing the Lodging House now. Tears were streaming down his face and sobs racked his body. He had already paid his six cents to Kloppman, so as soon as he was inside, he rushed into the empty bunkroom upstairs and threw himself onto his bed.