Chapter 1

July, 1887

Dear Diary,
Today is Emily's sixth birthday! She looks so pretty in the pink dress Teddy bought her for today. It's pink, like I said, with very dark pink sashes around her waist, and shoulders, and the bottom of the dress. He bought it a few days ago, but he hid it the very back of the closet in our room. Emily is so happy today. She's smiling, and laughing, and dancing around the living room with her father. I made her a cake this morning, a chocolate cake, her favorite, and the smell of it woke her up earlier than usual. Oh, I must go. She's asking Teddy if we can go to the Candle Shoppe and he just said yes, and since I go with, I should go. I shall write more tomorrow. Good day.
~Sarah Rose
The tall brunette stood up, closed her twine-bound diary and said, "Come on, Emily! Teddy! Let's get going to the Shoppe!" The little blonde girl came running over, laughing, and took a hold of her mother's hand. The three headed outside and down the street to the big building with a sign hangin above the door that read "The Candle Shoppe." Before they could enter the Shoppe, a voice called out, "Hey, Mom!!! Momma, Papa, Emmy! Wait up!" All three turned around, and a boy came running down the street in slacks and a button up plaid shirt, waving his hand. Emily smiled, and said, "Hello, Derek."

"Happy birthday, Emmy. How old do you feel?" he asked.

"I feel six! I feel my age!" she exclaimed, smiling. Derek opened his arms, and Emmy ran into them.

"How are you, li'l sistah?" he asked.

"I'm fine. You?" she asked, looking up at him. It was then that she realized that he had a patch over his left eye.

"Derek? What happened?" she asked.

"A little accident with a marble," he said. Emily raised her eyebrow.

"Who did it?" she asked.

"Just a friend, but he didn' mean ta. The marble slipped outta his grip, and whacked me in da eye.can't see from it no more," he said. Emily pressed her head against his chest and said, "You feeling okay?"

"Yep. Feelin' fine. Hey, mama, papa," he said. They hugged their son, and Teddy asked, "When did you get hurt?"

"About a week and a half ago, papa," he said.

"Well, will you come with us?" they asked.

"Where?"

"We're going to buy your sister a candle for her birthday. Would you like to come with?" Sarah asked.

"Ah, no thanks, mom. I'm kinda busy today.got papes ta sell," he said. He kissed his mom's cheek, hugged his dad, and then turned to Emily.

"Listen. I'll come by and get you tomorrow, and you can sell with me," he said.

"Really? Ya mean it? Oh, boy!" she exclaimed.

"Well, Derek, why not take her today? It can be your birthday gift to her," Teddy said.

"Sure, why not?" he asked.

"You mean.? Oh, wow, thanks, Derek!"

Emily came running at her brother, her dress now exchanged for slacks and a shirt.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Yup!" He took her hand, and led her to the distribution center. He stepped inside, and a boy whose hair was covered in a hat, and a black vest, looked up from the steps.

"Heya, Blink! Who's dat, your girlfriend?" he asked, standing up.

"Oh, gross. No way. Dis is me sistah. This is Emily. Emmy, this is Racetrack, Race for short," he said.

"Hi, Race."

"Hiya, Emmy." Derek began towards the barred window, when Race said, "Oh, by the way, I'm still sorry bout the marble."

"No problem. It stopped hoitin," he said. Derek pulled out a coin, slammed it onto the counter, and said, "Hundred papes." The man behind the bars slid out a hundred papes, and called, "Next!" Derek put the papes on his shoulders, took his sister's hand, and headed out of the gates.

All the papers were gone by the time night fell, so Derek took his sister's hand, and led her back to the lodging house.

"Alright, I'm gonna intro you to da gang, and then I'm takin' you home, aight?" he asked.

"Alright," she replied. Right in front of the lodging house, Emily stepped into a dip in the street, and fell forward. Blink caught her before she could hit the ground, and said, "Whoa, there, sis. You alright?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Now, come on," he said, firmly gripping her hand, and leading her inside. He stepped in, and newsboys were strewn all over the place.

"Emmy, this is Specs, Skittery, Itey, Jake, Boots, Snipeshooter, Pie Eater, Crutchy, Mush, Snitch, Dutchy, Snoddy, Swifty, Bumlets..hey, where's Jack?" he asked.

"Who knows. Probably still sellin his papes," Race said. Derek nodded, and said, "Well, this is Emmy. She's me sistah." Everyone waved and he said, "I'm gonna walk her home, then I'll be back." Race nodded, and Derek walked out the door with Emmy.