Chapter 7: Lanie
Lanie wouldn't call it enjoyment, not that she didn't like Race, she loved Race, they had just said too much at one time. But as they reached Manhattan, Race avoided the awkward silence and started talking about the strike.
"It was amazin', everyone new 'bouts us Lanie, they knew our names!" she laughed at his enthusiasm, and little to her surprise he still admired her brother. Race was always more of an equal to Jack than some of the other kids. But from what it sounded like every sweat shop kid in all of New York still admired Jack Kelly, and after this strike Lanie wouldn't be surprised to find her brother as a copper statue in Times Square.
But she had other things to worry about, because they were there- good ol' Manhattan. She took in a deep breath, feeling the dirty, yet comforting Manhattan air.
"Almost there kid, I'll just brings ya to da lodgin' house, alrigh'?" He wanted her confirmation on if this was okay, she rolled her eyes at him.
"Yes Race, that is fine, but what do you want me to do once I get there?"
"We'll work that out afta we talks to Kloppmon."
"Who?"
"Neva you minds."
Who was Kloppmon? And what did he have to do with her? As they got closer to Times Square she saw more and more boys around her age, all dressed similarly- two of them even waved at Race, but he shrugged off the gesture.
"Do you not like those boys?" Lanie asked curiously, she never knew Race to shrug anyone off even if he didn't like them.
"I's not tha I don't likes em, I's more like I don't have times for em, right now…understan'?"
"No, but I suppose I don't have too."
These were their last words before they stepped into the lodging house, as for Lanie, she was stepping into a whole new world.
