It had been hours since Gavin had left and I had moved on from drying clothes outside. The conversation from my brother still in the back of my mind as I worked. I was fortunate enough when our parents died to get work as a maid at an estate. While the pay was minimal, we got housing and meals, which was more than most could ask for. While Gavin was young he also worked at the house, mainly keeping the children of the family entertained, but when he grew older the mistress demanded he work or be sent on his way. Without much work to be had in the house, the housekeeper helped me find him work and lodging as a newsie.
While it hurt, that over the years we drifted apart via the heavy workload, we both had to support ourselves, but it hurt more that while I was still family, we had never been further apart. Many of the other workers tried to assure me it was just because of work, but they all had families they were able to visit and spend time with them on their off days. While I am not ungrateful for the work that Gavin and I have it, continually keeps us busy.
"Jasmine," a voice called from outside the kitchen. I turned from the dough I was kneading to look towards the entrance of the kitchen to see the stern face of the housekeeper Mrs. Winskey. I rush forward hastily drying my hands on my apron.
"Yes, Mrs. Winskey."
"There is a newsboy at our back gate asking for the one related to a 'Snipeshooter'." While I had never called Gavin by that name, and never would, I knew that was a name he went by amongst the newsies. He came bragging to me about it the first day he received it.
"Yes, that would be me. What does he need?"
"He says he left his hat here." I had remembered him leaving his hat, and I wished he would have forgotten it, or rather just noticed I had left it at the exact place he had dropped it.
"I will grab him and send him on the way, Mrs. Winskey." I brushed past Mrs. Winskey, and hurriedly moved down the hallway towards the backyard. Not even bothering to remove my apron or the flour all over my cheek, I moved outside spotting and grabbing the newsboy cap that lied on the small drying table, that housed an arrangement of drying clips. I moved towards the small iron gate that separated the backyard from the servant's entrance, and instantly noticed the boy from earlier smoking a cigarette.
"Stop smoking," I hiss at the boy as I go through the gate. He jumps, dropping the cigarette that hangs between his feet. He stomps at the cigarette, before turning to me with an annoyed face.
"That cost me half a day's wages!" he said with a scowl on his face.
"Look for someone who cares," I thrust his cap at him, "Here's your hat now, shoo." He grabbed his hat from my hands, looking it over before placing it on his head. His shoulders shrugged in relief as he looked ten times more at ease with the cap on his head. When he looked back up, he only looked half annoyed.
"Jamie, right?" I nodded and he extended his hand. I shook it, although skeptically since he had given me a look of annoyance not even a minute it ago. "My friends call me Skittery. Snipeshooter speaks very highly off you and as his best friend I just wanted to introduce myself."
"Well its nice to meet you Skittery," I say with the best cheery voice I could muster, "Glad you remembered your cap eventually." He looked sheepish and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well glad it was still here, if my head was not attached to my body or if no one had heard my yelling, it would be gone."
"Well, you should be grateful I was the last one drying out there or else it would be gone."
"Yeah well I owe you big time then." He got this boyish grin on his face, and I knew it was trouble. "Maybe I could take you out sometime if you'd like. I got some wages saved to just get more than water at a restaurant!" While he was the most attractive boy I had ever seen and I heard everyone one of my friends gossiping about boys, in the back of my mind I knew I couldn't. The fact that this was one of my brother's closet friends, considering the million of stories I heard about him, and he looked like every other boy that just wanted a quick fling.
"Try again next time Skittery, don't lose your hat again." I turned and closed the gate behind me, trying not to feel like an immense life event just passed me by.
It's been a minute, but I got some inspiration recently, and I am planning on continuing to update this story!