Chapter 3: Racetrack
Race sold papers at the sheepshead race track which was closer to Brooklyn than to Times Square. Spot never had a problem with putting up Jack's boys, and there were many nights where it was to late to go all the way back to Times Square, so Race would head to Brooklyn. Tonight was one of those nights, and he slowly made his way towards the lodgin' house.
When Race woke up the next morning, there was something weird, and he soon discovered why. Spot was standing right above his bed, waiting to talk to him.
"Hey Race, I needs ya ta do me a favor," this was odd, Spot never asked for anything from anyone, except Jack. "I needs ya ta guide this goil back to Manhattan for me."
"Sure ting Spot, where is she, who is she?" Race thought it appropriate to ask the specifics.
"She never told me her name, and I never told her mine, but she says she from Frisco," Race stared straight at Spot. Was he lying, he couldn't tell, she couldn't be back.
"Are you tellin' me dat…"
"Shhh, I don't know see, I never metta, and you did, so youda known." Spot pointed her out, and right then Race knew it was her. He nodded, and started walking towards the Bathroom.
"Ya know Lanie, I thought you was neva coming back," Race smiled in spite of himself, he had just scared her out of her boots, and he knew it too. She cracked open the door.
"Race; of course, of all the people I had to run into in this stinking place." She sounded annoyed.
"Never fear, I'll bes gettin' you to Jackie boy in a Jiffy," He was smirking. "I bet he'll be wanting to see ya, I mean how long has it been 7 years?" Now that he thought about it, it had been an awfully long time
"So I suppose you are the one guiding me to Manhattan?" She was fiddling with her trousers, "Since you must know every nook and cranny of the city by now."
"Sure am!" He was parading the fact that he was better at something than her. Ever since they were kids Lanie had tried to make herself seem better than Jack and his friends. "I bets ya don't remember anyting bout' the city do ya?" He was giving her a hard time now. She rolled her eyes and walked towards the sink. He had won, and he knew it so he let it go.
"Hey, Race'll take care of ya, you'll get there fine with him." Spot was trying to be encouraging but Race could tell that it wasn't working for her.
"Thanks, I'll see you sometime," She was ready to go, he could see it, so he started heading towards the door shouting on his way.
"See ya lata Spot!" And they started their journey. They didn't talk most of the way. Lanie didn't show any interest, therefore Race didn't push it. But when they did talk, she seemed to want to talk about anything except Jack.
"So Race, I am guessing that you still have a strange fascination with Sheepshead?" He smiled at her. She always made fun of him for his dreams about gambling.
"Lanie, whos ya think ya talkin' to?" He continued, "I mean did ya ever know me to not love money?" He laughed at her expression of annoyance. "So where dids ya learn to talk all 'spectable?" This time it was her turn to laugh.
"Remember when I left with Aunt Martha? Well, she decided I should be educated, so I went to school. After she died I didn't have the money to continue my education, but I had the few years that I needed." He looked at the ground, ashamed. He couldn't believe that Lanie had gotten farther in life then himself and the others. Jack was going to get hell for being less than she was. "Why? Do you have a problem with me talking this way? I find it better than street talk, its easier to understand." She said, getting defensive, he didn't mean to offend her, it was just odd.
"Lanie, ya know I don' care how ya talk, I was just askin' a simple question thas' all." They continued the rest of the trip in silence.
