It had been a week since Seamus and Brendan had told the family about the movie collection they had found. Jessye had decided she shouldn't be mentioned.

She had shrugged her shoulder saying," I wasn't there when you found it, so you should get the credit."

The three children had also failed to mention the two secret trips in the middle of the night to watch them.

After the adults had been told, they had gathered up clan Lahey-Harper and organized the retrieval. Managing to get the movies and equipment home all on one trip, without being spotted by a Dragon patrol, had been easier than figuring out the best way to take advantage of them. Of course, every one in the neighborhood wanted to trade for one, but there was only one viewing unit. After much discussion and compromising it was decided to turn an old storage area into a screening room. It would be in one of the underground complexes that were used mostly to hide from the Dragans during slave raids.

Anyone who bought a "movie" could book viewing time for a small "fee" to the Harpers, whose job it was to keep it working. Others would eventually build viewers, but parts were scarce so it would be a while before that happened.

The neighborhood was buzzing with talk of the find. To the inhabitants of the Boston Harbor Ghetto, the antique movie collection was priceless. The excitement was only natural. Having enough food, water, and shelter is important for survival, but a way to forget your troubles for a while, especially when supplies were running short, that was precious.

"This is going to be the best market day ever," Seamus said to his tall cousin.

Rubbing his hands together, Brendan's green eyes scanned the collection of items in his family's stall. Among the usual hand made clothing items, small gadgets, mostly inventions of Seamus, and household implements, was a collection of movies.

"Our treasure. Well, sighed Brendan, the family's treasure now."

Looking up from the table of sweaters she had been organizing, Margaret Lahey smiled at her son as she draped an arm across his small cousins shoulders.

"Yes, Bren, and the family owe you and Shay a debt of gratitude. Those "movies" of yours will hopefully get us through the winter comfortably." A shadow crossed her face as she remembered two winters ago. The carefully gathered supplies hadn't been enough to last the unusually long and harsh Bostonian winter.

Stepping into the booth, James Lahey said, "You boys can go and enjoy the market. Margaret and I can handle the booth. Shay, your mom is walking the market, checking who has food to trade. When she's done she will come and help us too."

As the two boys started to walk away, James called out to his son, "And Brendan, try to stay out of trouble this time."

The two boys took there time with the first pass at the stalls, talking to friends and flirting with girls. They also were careful not to show too much interest in the items they wanted.

As they paused in the center aisle of the market Brendan asked,

"Well cuzzo, what do you want to get first?"

" I need to pick up that part I saw at Mr. Tadashis' booth, said Seamus as they turned into the teck aisle of the market. "Mr. Burges has an old ' Principle of Slipstream Drive' manual and I promised him a heating unit for it. Its almost finished but I need a coil."

At Mr. Tadashis' stall, Seamus got down to the business of haggling. Knowing it was bound to take a while Brendan went to look for a place to sit. The nearest bench was under the shade of a sprawling maple tree. Walking over to it, he noticed Jessye sitting there, with her face turned up to the clouds.

" It had better be soon. I don't know how much more of this I can take." she said to the sky.

" Who are you talking to Jess?" Brendan asked as he sat down.

Jumping slightly, she exclaimed, " Oh! Bren, I didn't see you." Looking up at the sky she said, "My lucky star."

Looking up, Brendan said, "It' day time and cloudy to boot. You can't possibly see any stars."

Smiling she said, "You don't have to see your lucky star to talk to it."

Looking at the passers by in their worn clothes, some in little more than rags. Jessye turned to Brendan and asked,

"With so many people in the streets aren't you afraid the Dragans will come looking for slaves?"

Shaking his head he said, "It's an unwritten rule. The Dragans almost never raid on Market Day. That's why everyone enjoys them so much. It's the one day of the month where people can relax a little. Even the Dragans realize were no use to them if we all die of starvation. Dead people make pretty bad slaves.

So mostly, they leave us alone unless they're at war with one of the other big prides, then all bets are off."

Pointing to a near by rooftop, he continued to explain. "There are lookouts to warn us on the off chance this is the day they decide to come."

Frowning down at her he asks, "I know you've only been with us two months, but didn't you have Market Days were you come from?"

Flushing, Jessye suddenly found something at her feet very interesting. " No…. things

were….. different, where I come from."

Walking up to the pair with a wide smile on his young face, Seamus said, "I got the coil I needed. Smiling at Jessye, he added, "Hey, shorty! You got any food? I'm starving."

"Me too," added Brendan.

"Stop calling me that!" Jessye growled as she swatted at Seamus, who stepped out of range, with a chuckle.

"You two are always starving. What makes you think I have any food?" she asked.

Reaching a hand towards Jessye, Seamus said, "Come on, you always have something stashed in those pockets of yours."

Smacking his hand away, she patted her pockets one by one. From various parts of her clothing started to appear food. An apple, a chunk of cheese, and some bread.

Dividing it up, they settled down to eat.

"Jess was just saying that they didn't have market day were she comes from." said Brendan.

A quick look passed between the boys. The mystery of Jessye's past was a hot topic in the family. Margaret Lahey had found her in the alley behind her home two months ago, looking very lost and upset. Taking the waif in, the only information Margaret was able to get out of her was that she had just arrived in Boston and that her family was dead. When pressed for details Jessye would become very upset and withdrawn. After a few days, people just stopped asking.

As casually as he could Seamus asked, "How did your family get supplies?"

Jessye was furious with herself. All she could think was, "Crap! I walked right into that one." Glancing at Seamus, she flushed and looked at her feet. "SHIT! No fair! He's smiling at me! Damn dimples!"

Watching Jessye squirm Brendan almost laughed. He wasn't the only one who had noticed that when Shay was nice to her, she had a hard time denying him anything. "Poor kid. She's got it bad." he thought. The fact that Seamus didn't have a clue was no surprise. "You may be a genius cuzz,"
he thought, "but some times you're as thick as a brick."

Turning big brown eyes to Seamus, Jessye decides she had to tell him something. "Ok," she thought. "Remember Rule # 1. Never lie unless you absolutely have to. Rule # 2, if you have to lie, hide it within a truth."

"I don't have a family." Jessye said softly, I haven't had one since I was very young. I was taken from my home and my family." Shaking her head she sighed. "I escaped eventually, but my family was already dead by then." I've been traveling from place to place trying to avoid the Dragans and the Magog." Ignoring the tears that were falling she continued, "I've been alone a very long time." Jessye looked at Brendan and Shamus with a sad, affectionate smile. Laying a hand on Seamus' arm, she said, " You guys are the closest thing to a family I've had since then. I don't usually stay in one place very long. I just trade with whomever I meet along the way.

Though Brendan was pleased to be called family by his little friend, he didn't know what to say. It wasn't exactly what he had expected to hear. True, Boston was filled with gangs of orphaned kids. But to live outside the city? A little girl, all alone? He couldn't imagine what she has had to do to stay alive.

Trying to lighten the mood, Seamus suddenly jumped up and exclaimed, "Hey, we're wasting a Market day. Lets go have some fun."

As the two boys stood and started walking towards the hustle and bustle of the market, Jessye thought to herself, " Oh, man! What a whopper! I am so going to hell. Oh, well! I wouldn't have known anyone in heaven anyways." Placing a sweet smile on her face she ran to catch up with her friends.