The Raven and the Racetrack *** Chapter 4
Raven went home that night thinking about the fire, and how it was almost exactly like her dream. There were a few details that were a little different in her dream, then in real life, but that didn't matter. All the important things in her dream had been true.
There was one thing that was bothering her. It was the fact that something else important had happened, but she couldn't remember it. She knew that it had been a big event, but she still couldn't picture what it was. So she went to sleep, hoping that she would redream the dream and get herself ready for what ever bad had happened.
Racetrack was worried about Jack. Jack seemed to be sicker than he should be. It's probably because of Sarah, he thought. That little wench wouldn't have known hardship if it hit her in the butt. Racetrack knew that Sarah had died last night.
Racetrack went off to sell his papes, thinking of ways to cheer Jack up. But all proved worthless. He hoped that the new girl Sprite would help. She had vowed to take care of Jack, after he saved her life. He also hoped that Jack wouldn't be too angry that someone was taking care of him.
Racetrack had to chuckle to himself, at the thought of Jack's independence. That was probably what had got him into the whole newsie strike in the first place. Jack would not be told what to do. The only person that Jack listened to was himself. Not even Sarah could change his mind about something. Racetrack went about his day pondering the turn of events.
Raven woke up that morning with a start. The FIRE! She thought. Oh yeah, Sprite is ok. She is probably getting ready to take of that kid Jack.
Raven got out of bed, and started getting ready for work. Last night before she left the factory site, she was told by one of boss's assistants, that she would be paid if she came to help clean up the factory. The boss was being fair about this fire, by still paying his workers, and by adding a small bonus to their pay for helping clean up.
In a couple of weeks the insurance would be in order, and they could move into a temporary building while the factory was rebuilt. Raven was glad that she worked where she did. She had a really nice boss, and worked good hours, and made good money. Her and Alicat were pretty well off, considering some of the other working kids in New York.
Raven woke up Alicat, and they got ready for work, said goodbye to Sprite, and went on their way. Raven was thinking about her family and the little information she knew.
"Hey Alicat, do ya ever think aboit our family?"
"Yeah.I do. Ise think aboit them a lot."
"Really?"
"Really."
Raven started thinking about her family, the Carter family. She could almost remember them, sometimes. Then she would realize that she was dreaming things about her family. She knew that she had older siblings, and that she had decent parents. Sometimes, she wished that they hadn't died, but then she would realize that she would have missed out on some cool things if they hadn't.
Racetrack was excited; his horse Whirlwind had just won the horse race down at the track. Race had just won himself 3 bucks. Of course Whirlwind wasn't really his horse, but he loved Whirlwind, and always bet on that horse.
Racetrack was on his way home, when he saw a pretty, black-haired girl about to cross the street. She was obviously off in her own little world, because she had no idea that there was an out of control carriage coming her way, and she paid it no heed. Racetrack knew he had to push her out of the way. She was going to get herself killed.
Racetrack ran with all of his might towards the girl. But to get to her, he had to cross the street. But that didn't stop him. He kept running towards the girl. He screamed at her to get out of the way, but when she looked up at the carriage, she went into shock, and it looked like she couldn't move. Racetrack was running out of energy, but gave one last spurt of energy towards the pretty girl.
Raven had never been more scared in her life. She had heard the boy to tell her to get out of the way, but when she looked up, her legs wouldn't move at the sight of the speeding carriage coming towards her.
Just then, Raven felt a powerful impact hit her body, and she sailed to the ground. At first she thought that she had been hit, but then she realized that the boy was laying on top of her, and that she was OK except for the bump on the back of her head that was starting to hurt.
"Oh my god, thank ya sir! Yous jist saved me life!" Raven panted as she thanked the cute boy.
"Don't you'se worry aboit it."
"But."
"No buts, yous better jis get yous self home, and watch where you'se goin' next time OK?" His blue eyes were full of compassion, with just a hint of tiredness. Raven knew that he wasn't mad at her, he was just trying to help.
"OK, thanks again. Can Ise do sumthin' for ya? Ise mean Ise owe ya me life."
"Naw, jis foygit aboit it."
Raven went home that night thinking about the fire, and how it was almost exactly like her dream. There were a few details that were a little different in her dream, then in real life, but that didn't matter. All the important things in her dream had been true.
There was one thing that was bothering her. It was the fact that something else important had happened, but she couldn't remember it. She knew that it had been a big event, but she still couldn't picture what it was. So she went to sleep, hoping that she would redream the dream and get herself ready for what ever bad had happened.
Racetrack was worried about Jack. Jack seemed to be sicker than he should be. It's probably because of Sarah, he thought. That little wench wouldn't have known hardship if it hit her in the butt. Racetrack knew that Sarah had died last night.
Racetrack went off to sell his papes, thinking of ways to cheer Jack up. But all proved worthless. He hoped that the new girl Sprite would help. She had vowed to take care of Jack, after he saved her life. He also hoped that Jack wouldn't be too angry that someone was taking care of him.
Racetrack had to chuckle to himself, at the thought of Jack's independence. That was probably what had got him into the whole newsie strike in the first place. Jack would not be told what to do. The only person that Jack listened to was himself. Not even Sarah could change his mind about something. Racetrack went about his day pondering the turn of events.
Raven woke up that morning with a start. The FIRE! She thought. Oh yeah, Sprite is ok. She is probably getting ready to take of that kid Jack.
Raven got out of bed, and started getting ready for work. Last night before she left the factory site, she was told by one of boss's assistants, that she would be paid if she came to help clean up the factory. The boss was being fair about this fire, by still paying his workers, and by adding a small bonus to their pay for helping clean up.
In a couple of weeks the insurance would be in order, and they could move into a temporary building while the factory was rebuilt. Raven was glad that she worked where she did. She had a really nice boss, and worked good hours, and made good money. Her and Alicat were pretty well off, considering some of the other working kids in New York.
Raven woke up Alicat, and they got ready for work, said goodbye to Sprite, and went on their way. Raven was thinking about her family and the little information she knew.
"Hey Alicat, do ya ever think aboit our family?"
"Yeah.I do. Ise think aboit them a lot."
"Really?"
"Really."
Raven started thinking about her family, the Carter family. She could almost remember them, sometimes. Then she would realize that she was dreaming things about her family. She knew that she had older siblings, and that she had decent parents. Sometimes, she wished that they hadn't died, but then she would realize that she would have missed out on some cool things if they hadn't.
Racetrack was excited; his horse Whirlwind had just won the horse race down at the track. Race had just won himself 3 bucks. Of course Whirlwind wasn't really his horse, but he loved Whirlwind, and always bet on that horse.
Racetrack was on his way home, when he saw a pretty, black-haired girl about to cross the street. She was obviously off in her own little world, because she had no idea that there was an out of control carriage coming her way, and she paid it no heed. Racetrack knew he had to push her out of the way. She was going to get herself killed.
Racetrack ran with all of his might towards the girl. But to get to her, he had to cross the street. But that didn't stop him. He kept running towards the girl. He screamed at her to get out of the way, but when she looked up at the carriage, she went into shock, and it looked like she couldn't move. Racetrack was running out of energy, but gave one last spurt of energy towards the pretty girl.
Raven had never been more scared in her life. She had heard the boy to tell her to get out of the way, but when she looked up, her legs wouldn't move at the sight of the speeding carriage coming towards her.
Just then, Raven felt a powerful impact hit her body, and she sailed to the ground. At first she thought that she had been hit, but then she realized that the boy was laying on top of her, and that she was OK except for the bump on the back of her head that was starting to hurt.
"Oh my god, thank ya sir! Yous jist saved me life!" Raven panted as she thanked the cute boy.
"Don't you'se worry aboit it."
"But."
"No buts, yous better jis get yous self home, and watch where you'se goin' next time OK?" His blue eyes were full of compassion, with just a hint of tiredness. Raven knew that he wasn't mad at her, he was just trying to help.
"OK, thanks again. Can Ise do sumthin' for ya? Ise mean Ise owe ya me life."
"Naw, jis foygit aboit it."