But things were not better. The next day Andrew Bridin went to work, but
the second he came home he began to complain to Kass for hours on end. She
was surprised he made it through the day. She asked him how work had gone
and he whined that they threatened to fire him.
/And rightfully so./
The second day he did not come home and complain. Instead, he went straight to his room and nearly slept all of the next day. Kass thanked her lucky stars it was Saturday, knowing she didn't have the strength, physically or mentally, to remove her father from his bed.
On Monday it was the same. Andrew would come home and promptly ignore her. At first she was grateful for the change, but then she realized why he was ignoring her, or one of the reasons anyway. She had realized it sitting in front of her mirror one day. She looked an awful lot like her mother, and that resemblance was most likely tearing Andrew apart inside. She felt pity for her father, but not much. /It's his own fault./ She told herself, and her father.
He refused to listen to her, even when she threatened to run away and join the circus. "You hate circus folk." He said simply. /At least he spoke./ As the weeks turned into months, Kass started to weigh out the pros and cons of running away. It broke her heart to even think of leaving her father, but at least if he /was/ fired, he wouldn't have to worry about feeding two.
-----
She worked on her plan for almost a full month before she attempted to carry it out. Runaways were a common occurrence, and she figured if they could do it, so could she. She worked on her street accent, which wasn't hard to do considering the people she'd been schooled with. After that came clothes. She climbed into the cramped attic and rooted around until she found her father's trunk of old clothes. Pulling out several outfits, she chose three, that being the most she could carry and still run. She knew enough to where she could defend herself if attacked; her father being a worrisome father had taught her many things about fighting. All that was left to do was scrap some money together. She cracked open her ceramic piggy bank, kissing its pug nose before gutting it, and removed her ten dollars. She calculated that she would be able to live on that amount comfortably until she found a job. For a runaway it was a great amount, and Kass planned to keep it in her shoe when she wasn't using it.
The night she had picked, almost five months after her birthday, was a clear one. The moon was out, providing a light to guide her on her trek; and with the temperature being as it was as of late, she needn't worry about a warm place to sleep. Things were finally going her way.
She said good-bye to her room, and most of the stuff in it, including her necklace. Crying, she had placed it back in its box, trying to convince herself that it wasn't smart to bring it along. /It'll get broken, or ripped off and pawned while you sleep, or lost...besides, if you happen to run out of money, would you even want to/ think /of selling it?/ Just having the option disturbed her. She lay the box on her pillow on top of a note.
The note read: Dearest father - and mother if you have finally decided to care about me, I have run away. This should be plain to you, but I felt I should tell you anyway. I haven't joined the circus, or become a 'woman of the night' or anything awfully wrong. Quite frankly I don't know what I will do now that I am on my own. I shall see where the wind takes me and go from there. I love you both, and this is one of the reasons I must leave you. Don't worry, father, and don't cry, mother. I will be fine. And in a few years, who knows? Maybe I will drift your way once again. Love, your daughter, Kass Bridin.
She closed her door tightly and crept down the hall to her father's room in full street garb, her hair braided and tucked under a cap she had bought. She peered through the crack in the door and blew Andrew a kiss, blew an imaginary one to her mother, and left.
-----
Kass walked for what seemed like days. Her ten dollars didn't stretch as she had planned, and before three weeks were up, she had spent it all. Lost, hungry, dirty, and penniless for the first time in her life, Kass was miserable.
She caught the arm of a passing businessman, who tried to shrug her off.
"'Scuse me sih, but wheah am I?" She inquired of the man, surprising herself at how easily the accent came out.
"Why should I care?" He growled, pushing past her.
Kass put her hands on her hips and muttered a few choice words in his direction. She crossed the street and entered a bookstore. Removing her cap, she stepped up to the counter. "'Scuse me, miss? Wheah am I?"
The thin woman looked up sharply from her book. She sniffed, then wrinkled her nose, turning it upward. "New York."
/No joke./ "No ma'am, I means, which paht of Noo Yawk might I be in?"
The woman wrinkled her nose further. "Hempstead, and if you aren't a paying customer I suggest you leave immediately before I am forced to call the police." She jabbed a finger towards the door and Kass followed it.
"T'ank ya ma'am." She said upon exiting. Once outside again she took a different tone. "So's your ole' lady!" She yelled, stumbling on the curb. She righted her hat and continued down the sidewalk in search of a suitable place to stay for the night.
-----
About a mile or so of wandering through the unfamiliar streets of Hempstead, Kass removed her jacket, throwing it over her shoulder. She ran a hand across her brow and silently cursed the heat. She stuck her free hand in her pocket and lifted her chin. Further on down the street stood a building, which hosted a group of girls on its front steps. Furrowing her brow, Kass stopped and chewed her lower lip. Always wary around strangers, she was unsure of what to do. Her eyes roamed over the pack, sizing each up.
One girl, her hat having been removed, had a head of golden hair covered by a bandanna. Next to her stood a short haired brunette, her rather large nose seemingly out of place on her pretty face. After that there were two that looked similar to Kass, black hair and green eyes, two more blondes, and rounding out the bunch was a tiny gray eyed girl. They were talking and laughing, pushing each other in mock fights.
Kass's eyes softened in jealously. Growing up she hadn't had many friends, and had always longed for just one. Gathering up her courage, she strode onward, telling herself that she wouldn't speak until they had. She drew closer, heart beating faster as the voices became louder. She put her head down and ran, suddenly scared out of her wits. When she opened her eyes again she was at the other end of the sidewalk.
No one had said anything. Her heart sank, but being the determined girl she was, she simply spun around and marched back again.
A solemn, lanky girl gave her a queer look as she approached. Kass mustered up a weak smile, only drawing a stranger look from the girl.
The shorter blond called out to her, hand on a jutting hip. "Hey! What are you doing?" A smile played across her lips. The rest of the girls turned, wanting to see the newcomer who had interrupted their fun.
Kass dropped her smile. "I—uh—I..."
"You don't talk much, do you?" One of the girls with features similar to Kass's pushed the short blond aside and stepped forward, extending a hand after spitting in it.
"Whirlwind Stanton." She waited for Kass to take it. "What?" She looked down at her hand. "Oh, do ya not do dat yet?"
Kass glanced up at her, a look of disgust on her face.
Whirlwind wiped her hand on her pants and extended the opposite one instead. "Dat bettah?"
Kass nodded and took her hand gratefully.
"Now it's /your/ toin."
"Oh, yeah," She stammered, slipping easily back into her accent. "Me name's Kass."
"Nice ta meetcha Kass." Came a voice from the stairs. A blond with green eyes turned to her.
Whirlwind jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "Dis's Killah, she's one a da leadah's heah."
/Leader?/ "Wheah 'zactly is /heah/?" She asked, pointing to the ground.
"Da Hempstead Lodgin' House 'a 'coise. Can'tcha read?" Killer pointed at the overhead sign.
"Oh. I guess I missed dat."
"Apparently." Muttered the lanky brunette from the stairs.
Kass peered at her curiously over Whirlwind's shoulder.
"Virginia." Hissed gray-eyes disapprovingly through a thick Russian accent.
Virginia stood and brushed off the seat of her pant, rolling her eyes. "I'se got bettah t'ings ta do den sit heah." She nodded stiffly to Kass. "Nice meetin' youse." She stalked inside.
"Jus' ignoah huh, she warms up ta youse aftah a while."
"Fat chance," Snorted the blonde with the bandanna. "She has yet ta warm up ta /us/."
The gray-eyed girl walked over and introduced herself. "Mimi Borishkhov, it's very nice to meet you."
/What a name/! "You too." Kass smiled at her.
The bandannaed blonde held out a hand. "South."
"So...whadda youse guys doin' out heah?" She asked after greeting South.
"Well, it's a nice evening, so we decided to wait for Ice outside." Announced the short blond. "Oh, I'm Cheeky." She said, nodding to Kass in greeting.
"You shoah are." Whirlwind mumbled, receiving a smack from the aforementioned.
Kass smiled sadly, longing to be friends with them, to be one of them.
"So, visitin' or runnin'?" Killer asked smoothly.
Startled, Kass looked up at her. She hadn't been expecting questions further than "What's your name?"
"'Sok, ya don't hafta answer if ya don't wanna." She continued, noticing Kass's obvious discomfort with the question.
"I don't care, I'se runnin'." She said frankly, wondering if they'd shun her because of it.
Killer nodded. "T'ought so."
"Do you need a place to stay?" Asked Cheeky, blue eyes sparkling.
Kass nodded again. "Yeah, dat'd be nice."
"Evah t'ink 'a becomin' a newsie?" Came a voice from behind her.
Kass turned and found herself looking at, whom she assumed to be, Ice.
"Ice Princess Luciano."
"Kass." They shook on it and Ice repeated her question.
"No, not really."
"Ya have now." Ice pointed out, grinning widely. "Ahright Kass no-last- name, ya a newsie now."
/Well/ that /was fast.../ "Is it really as easy as it looks?" She asked as Ice draped an arm across her shoulders and began leading her up the stairs.
Whirlwind shrugged and followed them. "At times."
Cheeky ran ahead of the group and pulled open the door.
"Hey Mimi." Killer called over her shoulder. "Who's bed can she have?"
The little girl titled her head in thought. "I do not know, I guess we shall see once we get up there."
"Good point." Once inside, Killer galloped up the wooden stairs to make arrangements as Ice made sure Kass knew the rules and signed in.
Cheeky nudged her with an elbow. "So, what are we going to call you?"
Whirlwind stepped up to the challenge. "How 'bout Blackboid?" She suggested, going for the obvious nicknames first.
Cheeky shook her head. "Too...common..."
Kass dug back in her memory banks to her mother teaching her German. A name suddenly popped into her head and she blurted it out. "Corby."
Everyone studied her for a second. Slowly smiles began to spread around the room.
"I like it." Cheeky began. "Suits you."
Killer tromped back down the stairs. "I'se gotta bed for ya, what'd youse guys name 'er?"
Mimi leaned against the banister and stretched her legs. "She named herself." She called out while lifting her foot to her head.
"Russian ballet, right?" Kass asked softly.
Mimi looked surprised but smiled and nodded. "I love the ballet." She remarked, eyes going soft again, her accent slipping slightly as she thought back to her old life.
"Well what'd she name huhself den?" Killer leaned against the railing.
"Corby." Whirlwind called from the other side of the room.
"Hmmm...nice. Come on up you guys, we's gotta get huh situated. And don't worry, aside from a grumpy newsie dere ain't nuttin' to be scared 'a." She smiled down at Corby, then disappeared into the bunkroom again.
One by one the girls trekked up the stair.
Whirlwind and Cheeky got on either side of Corby. "So, what's Corby mean?" Asked Cheeky softly.
"Black as the raven." Corby's cheeks pinkened.
Whirlwind groaned. "Dat's da same t'ing I said only in...what's dat, French?"
"German." Corby corrected.
"It's da same t'ing I said only in German!"
The three girls entered the bedroom. Cheeky nodded. "Yeah, but it sounds better in German."
/And rightfully so./
The second day he did not come home and complain. Instead, he went straight to his room and nearly slept all of the next day. Kass thanked her lucky stars it was Saturday, knowing she didn't have the strength, physically or mentally, to remove her father from his bed.
On Monday it was the same. Andrew would come home and promptly ignore her. At first she was grateful for the change, but then she realized why he was ignoring her, or one of the reasons anyway. She had realized it sitting in front of her mirror one day. She looked an awful lot like her mother, and that resemblance was most likely tearing Andrew apart inside. She felt pity for her father, but not much. /It's his own fault./ She told herself, and her father.
He refused to listen to her, even when she threatened to run away and join the circus. "You hate circus folk." He said simply. /At least he spoke./ As the weeks turned into months, Kass started to weigh out the pros and cons of running away. It broke her heart to even think of leaving her father, but at least if he /was/ fired, he wouldn't have to worry about feeding two.
-----
She worked on her plan for almost a full month before she attempted to carry it out. Runaways were a common occurrence, and she figured if they could do it, so could she. She worked on her street accent, which wasn't hard to do considering the people she'd been schooled with. After that came clothes. She climbed into the cramped attic and rooted around until she found her father's trunk of old clothes. Pulling out several outfits, she chose three, that being the most she could carry and still run. She knew enough to where she could defend herself if attacked; her father being a worrisome father had taught her many things about fighting. All that was left to do was scrap some money together. She cracked open her ceramic piggy bank, kissing its pug nose before gutting it, and removed her ten dollars. She calculated that she would be able to live on that amount comfortably until she found a job. For a runaway it was a great amount, and Kass planned to keep it in her shoe when she wasn't using it.
The night she had picked, almost five months after her birthday, was a clear one. The moon was out, providing a light to guide her on her trek; and with the temperature being as it was as of late, she needn't worry about a warm place to sleep. Things were finally going her way.
She said good-bye to her room, and most of the stuff in it, including her necklace. Crying, she had placed it back in its box, trying to convince herself that it wasn't smart to bring it along. /It'll get broken, or ripped off and pawned while you sleep, or lost...besides, if you happen to run out of money, would you even want to/ think /of selling it?/ Just having the option disturbed her. She lay the box on her pillow on top of a note.
The note read: Dearest father - and mother if you have finally decided to care about me, I have run away. This should be plain to you, but I felt I should tell you anyway. I haven't joined the circus, or become a 'woman of the night' or anything awfully wrong. Quite frankly I don't know what I will do now that I am on my own. I shall see where the wind takes me and go from there. I love you both, and this is one of the reasons I must leave you. Don't worry, father, and don't cry, mother. I will be fine. And in a few years, who knows? Maybe I will drift your way once again. Love, your daughter, Kass Bridin.
She closed her door tightly and crept down the hall to her father's room in full street garb, her hair braided and tucked under a cap she had bought. She peered through the crack in the door and blew Andrew a kiss, blew an imaginary one to her mother, and left.
-----
Kass walked for what seemed like days. Her ten dollars didn't stretch as she had planned, and before three weeks were up, she had spent it all. Lost, hungry, dirty, and penniless for the first time in her life, Kass was miserable.
She caught the arm of a passing businessman, who tried to shrug her off.
"'Scuse me sih, but wheah am I?" She inquired of the man, surprising herself at how easily the accent came out.
"Why should I care?" He growled, pushing past her.
Kass put her hands on her hips and muttered a few choice words in his direction. She crossed the street and entered a bookstore. Removing her cap, she stepped up to the counter. "'Scuse me, miss? Wheah am I?"
The thin woman looked up sharply from her book. She sniffed, then wrinkled her nose, turning it upward. "New York."
/No joke./ "No ma'am, I means, which paht of Noo Yawk might I be in?"
The woman wrinkled her nose further. "Hempstead, and if you aren't a paying customer I suggest you leave immediately before I am forced to call the police." She jabbed a finger towards the door and Kass followed it.
"T'ank ya ma'am." She said upon exiting. Once outside again she took a different tone. "So's your ole' lady!" She yelled, stumbling on the curb. She righted her hat and continued down the sidewalk in search of a suitable place to stay for the night.
-----
About a mile or so of wandering through the unfamiliar streets of Hempstead, Kass removed her jacket, throwing it over her shoulder. She ran a hand across her brow and silently cursed the heat. She stuck her free hand in her pocket and lifted her chin. Further on down the street stood a building, which hosted a group of girls on its front steps. Furrowing her brow, Kass stopped and chewed her lower lip. Always wary around strangers, she was unsure of what to do. Her eyes roamed over the pack, sizing each up.
One girl, her hat having been removed, had a head of golden hair covered by a bandanna. Next to her stood a short haired brunette, her rather large nose seemingly out of place on her pretty face. After that there were two that looked similar to Kass, black hair and green eyes, two more blondes, and rounding out the bunch was a tiny gray eyed girl. They were talking and laughing, pushing each other in mock fights.
Kass's eyes softened in jealously. Growing up she hadn't had many friends, and had always longed for just one. Gathering up her courage, she strode onward, telling herself that she wouldn't speak until they had. She drew closer, heart beating faster as the voices became louder. She put her head down and ran, suddenly scared out of her wits. When she opened her eyes again she was at the other end of the sidewalk.
No one had said anything. Her heart sank, but being the determined girl she was, she simply spun around and marched back again.
A solemn, lanky girl gave her a queer look as she approached. Kass mustered up a weak smile, only drawing a stranger look from the girl.
The shorter blond called out to her, hand on a jutting hip. "Hey! What are you doing?" A smile played across her lips. The rest of the girls turned, wanting to see the newcomer who had interrupted their fun.
Kass dropped her smile. "I—uh—I..."
"You don't talk much, do you?" One of the girls with features similar to Kass's pushed the short blond aside and stepped forward, extending a hand after spitting in it.
"Whirlwind Stanton." She waited for Kass to take it. "What?" She looked down at her hand. "Oh, do ya not do dat yet?"
Kass glanced up at her, a look of disgust on her face.
Whirlwind wiped her hand on her pants and extended the opposite one instead. "Dat bettah?"
Kass nodded and took her hand gratefully.
"Now it's /your/ toin."
"Oh, yeah," She stammered, slipping easily back into her accent. "Me name's Kass."
"Nice ta meetcha Kass." Came a voice from the stairs. A blond with green eyes turned to her.
Whirlwind jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "Dis's Killah, she's one a da leadah's heah."
/Leader?/ "Wheah 'zactly is /heah/?" She asked, pointing to the ground.
"Da Hempstead Lodgin' House 'a 'coise. Can'tcha read?" Killer pointed at the overhead sign.
"Oh. I guess I missed dat."
"Apparently." Muttered the lanky brunette from the stairs.
Kass peered at her curiously over Whirlwind's shoulder.
"Virginia." Hissed gray-eyes disapprovingly through a thick Russian accent.
Virginia stood and brushed off the seat of her pant, rolling her eyes. "I'se got bettah t'ings ta do den sit heah." She nodded stiffly to Kass. "Nice meetin' youse." She stalked inside.
"Jus' ignoah huh, she warms up ta youse aftah a while."
"Fat chance," Snorted the blonde with the bandanna. "She has yet ta warm up ta /us/."
The gray-eyed girl walked over and introduced herself. "Mimi Borishkhov, it's very nice to meet you."
/What a name/! "You too." Kass smiled at her.
The bandannaed blonde held out a hand. "South."
"So...whadda youse guys doin' out heah?" She asked after greeting South.
"Well, it's a nice evening, so we decided to wait for Ice outside." Announced the short blond. "Oh, I'm Cheeky." She said, nodding to Kass in greeting.
"You shoah are." Whirlwind mumbled, receiving a smack from the aforementioned.
Kass smiled sadly, longing to be friends with them, to be one of them.
"So, visitin' or runnin'?" Killer asked smoothly.
Startled, Kass looked up at her. She hadn't been expecting questions further than "What's your name?"
"'Sok, ya don't hafta answer if ya don't wanna." She continued, noticing Kass's obvious discomfort with the question.
"I don't care, I'se runnin'." She said frankly, wondering if they'd shun her because of it.
Killer nodded. "T'ought so."
"Do you need a place to stay?" Asked Cheeky, blue eyes sparkling.
Kass nodded again. "Yeah, dat'd be nice."
"Evah t'ink 'a becomin' a newsie?" Came a voice from behind her.
Kass turned and found herself looking at, whom she assumed to be, Ice.
"Ice Princess Luciano."
"Kass." They shook on it and Ice repeated her question.
"No, not really."
"Ya have now." Ice pointed out, grinning widely. "Ahright Kass no-last- name, ya a newsie now."
/Well/ that /was fast.../ "Is it really as easy as it looks?" She asked as Ice draped an arm across her shoulders and began leading her up the stairs.
Whirlwind shrugged and followed them. "At times."
Cheeky ran ahead of the group and pulled open the door.
"Hey Mimi." Killer called over her shoulder. "Who's bed can she have?"
The little girl titled her head in thought. "I do not know, I guess we shall see once we get up there."
"Good point." Once inside, Killer galloped up the wooden stairs to make arrangements as Ice made sure Kass knew the rules and signed in.
Cheeky nudged her with an elbow. "So, what are we going to call you?"
Whirlwind stepped up to the challenge. "How 'bout Blackboid?" She suggested, going for the obvious nicknames first.
Cheeky shook her head. "Too...common..."
Kass dug back in her memory banks to her mother teaching her German. A name suddenly popped into her head and she blurted it out. "Corby."
Everyone studied her for a second. Slowly smiles began to spread around the room.
"I like it." Cheeky began. "Suits you."
Killer tromped back down the stairs. "I'se gotta bed for ya, what'd youse guys name 'er?"
Mimi leaned against the banister and stretched her legs. "She named herself." She called out while lifting her foot to her head.
"Russian ballet, right?" Kass asked softly.
Mimi looked surprised but smiled and nodded. "I love the ballet." She remarked, eyes going soft again, her accent slipping slightly as she thought back to her old life.
"Well what'd she name huhself den?" Killer leaned against the railing.
"Corby." Whirlwind called from the other side of the room.
"Hmmm...nice. Come on up you guys, we's gotta get huh situated. And don't worry, aside from a grumpy newsie dere ain't nuttin' to be scared 'a." She smiled down at Corby, then disappeared into the bunkroom again.
One by one the girls trekked up the stair.
Whirlwind and Cheeky got on either side of Corby. "So, what's Corby mean?" Asked Cheeky softly.
"Black as the raven." Corby's cheeks pinkened.
Whirlwind groaned. "Dat's da same t'ing I said only in...what's dat, French?"
"German." Corby corrected.
"It's da same t'ing I said only in German!"
The three girls entered the bedroom. Cheeky nodded. "Yeah, but it sounds better in German."