"Hey Dash! Get in heah!" Race's voice rang through the lodging house.
"Wudda want, Race?" Dash wearily entered the lobby, taking note of the small girl standing next to Race.
"I want ya ta meet one of your new roommates. Dis is Feah," The girl stepped forward and extended her hand. Dash looked at it, but did not move.
"Nice ta meet ya. I'm Dash, as I'm shoa you already know," Dash looked Fear over. She certainly did not look like anyone to fear. The girl was short, with frizzy brown hair pulled back into a messy bun, and a noticeably hourglass figure.
"Race told me all about ya, Dash. I'm lookin' forward ta livin' wid ya," Fear gave her a broad smile.
"I t'ought da two of you'se could sell tagetha t'day. Feah's a newsie ova in Brooklyn." Dash held in a sigh.
"I can't. I told Scatta I'd sell wid her t'day," Dash lied. "We got some t'ings ta take care of."
"Well, Feah can go wid you guys! I'm shoa Scatta…"
"Dat's alright, I gotta get back ta Brooklyn anyhow," Fear interrupted Race. "It was nice meetin' ya, Dash. I'll see ya around!" The girl called cheerfully as Dash made a hasty exit to the streets.
Dash didn't buy her usual stack of papers, but instead made her way toward Brooklyn. Along the way, she bought a single paper from a young newsie she didn't recognize. She found the classified section, and searched for available apartments. Dash spent the rest of her day walking all over town, looking at each possible apartment or room for rent. It was started to grow dark outside when Dash approached what she had decided would be the last one for the day. It was a small house in Brooklyn, on Sheepshead Bay. She cautiously knocked on the door, and an elderly woman appeared.
"Why hello there, young lady! How can I help you?"
"Hi… I…um… was wonderin' about da apartment for rent?" Dash stuttered.
"Oh of course! It's right upstairs." Dash followed the woman up a flight of stairs, where she paused to unlock the heavy wooden door at the top. "We just converted the top floor of our house into a small apartment. After my sons moved out, my husband and I just had no need for the whole house. My name is Mary Winters, by the way. What did you say your name was, dear?"
"Dash McCullen. Nice ta meet ya, Mrs. Winters," the old woman smiled pleasantly.
"There are two bedrooms, with a small bathroom connecting them. This room that we're in now can serve as a sitting room, or you can use it as a kitchen. There's a sink and a small stove in the back corner."
"How much is the rent?" Dash couldn't believe this place. It was almost too good to be true.
"It's ten dollars a month. There's no heat or electricity up here though, so you'll have to use the stove and candles. Is that a problem?" Dash shook her head, thinking about how that would save money.
"I hafta talk it ova wid me friend, but I t'ink we'll prolly take it. Thank you very much, Mrs. Winters. I'll prolly be back!" Dash grinned as they said goodbye. She ran all the way back to the lodging house, excited to tell Scatter about her find. Their plan was almost ready to be put into action.
"Dash?" A voice called from behind her. "Is dat you?" Dash turned to see a slightly familiar girl.
"Yeah, its me. Feah, right?"
"Yup! Wudda ya doin' heah in Brooklyn?" Fear asked curiously.
"Oh.. I was just… visitin' an old friend. In Sheepshead Bay," Dash was certain that Fear was satisfied with her lie.
"Well, why don't I walk back ta Manhattan wid ya?" Dash thought for a minute. She really didn't want Fear to walk with her, she didn't even know the girl! Plus, she wanted to tell Scatter the good news as soon as she saw her, and wouldn't be able to if Fear was with her. Then again, there was supposed to be a poker game tonight, so she probably wouldn't be able to talk to Scatter alone until later anyway.
"Shoa, why not." The two girls started walking in silence. "So why are ya comin' ta Manhattan? I neva saw ya hangin' around befoah." Dash realized how rude she sounded, and cursed herself for not thinking before speaking.
"Well, Race wanted me ta come ta da poker game," Fear paused to think. "But I think he really just wanted you and me ta get ta know each odda betta, seein' as we'se livin' tagetha and all." Dash nodded. The two girls chatted casually the rest of the walk, leaving Dash pleasantly surprised. Maybe dis goil ain't so bad afta all, she caught herself thinking. Too bad I ain't gonna live wid her…
