Blaze sighed as she changed trains yet again. With all the money she was spending on the trains, she'd be broke by the time she reached New York City, her destination, but Blaze didn't want to walk and didn't know any other way to reach New York. Back in Los Angeles she had tried to find someone else that she could go with, but could find no one whose price she was willing to pay. After living in LA for her entire life, Blaze was ready for a change, and where else could she find excitement but in New York City, the city that never sleeps? Right now, however, Blaze was ready for a nap and tried to get comfortable in the uncomfortable train seat.
When Blaze awoke she was just out side of Manhattan and according to the conductor, they'd reach the train yards in about twenty minutes. Blaze was excited, but she reminded herself that she had better find a place to stay, and maybe even a way to earn money, before she could go exploring. By the time the train reached the station, Blaze was off in her own little world, but she became alert again as the train jerked to a stop. Blaze grabbed her small bag, which contained her belongings (she didn't have much) and got off the train. She looked around and wondered how she was ever going to find a place to stay in this giant city. She decided to just start walking and hope for the best.
Blaze was walking and staring at the giant chalkboard that seemed to have the news written on it (she had learned to read by looking at thrown away books, magazines, and newspapers) when she suddenly bumped into someone.
"Oh, excuse me miss," said the boy, "would you like to buy a pape?"
Blaze looked at the boy, wondering what a pape was, then looked at what the boy was holding out to her. She realized a pape was a paper just as the boy spoke again.
"It is only a penny."
"I'm sorry, but I'm just about broke and all the money I have I need to spend on food and housing, once I find it." Blaze said the last part irritably for she was having no luck finding somewhere to sleep.
"You need a place to stay? Well, I know a place, just five cents a night, but you're only aloud to stay there for one night if you ain't a newsie."
"What's a newsie?" Blazed asked curiously.
"I'm a newsie, someone who sells papes. You ain't from around here are ya?" Blaze shook her head. "Didn't think so not knowing what a newsie is, and ya have a faint accent, though I can't place it. I'm Jack, Jack Kelly. What is your name?"
"Blaze, at least that's what I've been called for as long as I can remember. I've been living on the streets in LA since I was five."
Jack whistled through his teeth, "Five, huh? Wow! LA, that's in California, right? Why don't you come stay at the Lodging House for the night? Then in the morning you can decide what to do, maybe I or one of me buddies can help ya."
Blaze thought this over as Jack sold his last three papes to passerbys. "Okay," she said when Jack turned back to her, "but no funny business, got it? I don't want you or anyone else getting any ideas."
Jack grinned, "Don't worry, there are three other girls there, and I'll tell the boys to keep their hands off ya."
"Will the listen to you? Back home, no one listened to anyone. I ain't apt to follow orders real good, I'm my own girl and don't listen to nobody unless I feel like it."
Jack looked at Blaze, curiosity and apprehension in his eyes, and wondered if this time he was getting in over his head. She's only staying for one night, he reminded himself, you don't have to worry about her causing trouble.
"Come on, we'll stop at Tibby's for dinner and you can meet most of the guys and then we'll go to the Lodging House."
