There were only two other people in the main room of the Lodging House when the Captain and I got there. An older man shuffled through papers behind a desk and a small girl with black curls lay on the couch reading a book. When the door opened both of them looked up as the Captain let himself in and I followed.
"Ham? Is that you, Ham?" The old man dropped the papers and hobbled over towards the Captain. I held in impending laughter. I mean honestly what kind of nickname is Ham, especially for my uptight father? Oh, wasn't about to let him live his one down.
"That's Captain to you." The Captain's harsh tone took even me by surprise and caused me to throw him a questioning look. By now the girl who had been so absorbed in the book was laying on her stomach, chin in her hands, listening intently. The older man looked baffled. The Captain laughed light-heartedly and hugged the confused man who hesitantly hugged him back. Releasing him 'Captain Ham' continued, "How have you been Kloppman?"
"Good, good." He smiled warmly. "Look atcha!" He said motioning towards his uniform. "Ya really did it! Yer a cap'n now! Congratulations!"
"Thanks Kloppie. I want you to meet the little girl who kept me going." He pushed me forward a little bit. "This is my daughter, Mary Jean."
"Pleased ta meetcha. Da name's Kloppman and I run the Lodging House." He shook my hand and his toothy smile remained plastered on his face. I smiled back.
"She's gonna be staying here for a couple months." The Captain added for me.
"Excellent! She'll stay with the other girls in the attic. It's gonna cost a nickel a night."
"Hey! You always made me pay a dime!" The Captain blurted out and fake punched Kloppman as I laughed. It was weird seeing him act relaxed but I was glad he wasn't so uptight. He'd always been fairly by the book and most of the time when we were on ships, he stayed strict and in control the whole time.
"Little, get ova heah." He called to the dark-haired girl.
"Whadaya need?" She asked. She seemed nice enough.
"Dis heah is Mary and she's stayin' wit us. Will ya show up ta da attic?"
"Yeah, yeah sure. I'm Little." She smiled at me and led me up the stairs to a bunk room while the adults took yet another stroll down memory lane. "Dis is the boys room." She gestured around the room. "Ova there would be the washroom and this-" She opened a door with stairs behind it, "Is our room." She led me up the flight of stairs and there was a low-ceilinged room with ten single beds in it. The light from the sun, let in through three windows, revealed thousands of little dust particles dancing through the air. It was surprisingly cozy and welcoming. Skirts, pants, socks, shirts and boots littered the floor by some unmade beds while others were neatly made and all the clothes were probably folded neatly in the small drawers of the bedside tables. Little sat down on a bed that had obviously been made too quickly and with little care. "That one ova there can be yours." She pointed to a bare bed. "We'll find you some sheets and a pillow downstairs later. Youse can unpack yer suitcase now if ya want."
"Alright." I said brightly. I started unpacking and Little laid down on her bunk.
"If ya don't mind me askin', why are you entering the elite squad of the newspaper distribution apparatus?"
I quirked an eyebrow but kept my focus on keeping my few clothes folded. "Well my father used to captain merchant and immigrant ships so I always went with him because my mother passed away. He recently joined Navy and I can't go along with him like I used to. He used to be part of the 'elite squad of the newspaper distribution apparatus' so he figured I could do this 'til he gets back."
"Oh, I see." She changed the subject after an appropriate pause. "Ya know, most newsies have nicknames. I think I got one for ya. Ya wanna hear it?"
"Of course, as long as it isn't as bad as the Captain's."
She snickered and said, "Naw, Ham ain't no good foah you. Hows about Navy? I mean it's the reason yer hear ... sorta. Do ya like it?"
After a moments thought I nodded my head. "Yeah, I like it."
"Mary!" I heard the Captain calling me for the second time today. "Come on, I can't be late!"
"I have to go, but I'll see you later today." Little nodded understandingly.
"Where're ya goin'?" She asked as I walked down the stairs.
"The Captain casts off in an hour." I said, stopping short halfway down. "Uh, I forgot! I'm supposed to wear white." I said in reply to Little's skeptical look as I sprinted up the stairs again. I threw open my drawer with too much force and pulled out a white skirt. Luckily I was already wearing a white shirt.
"Mary!" The Captain called again as I changed as fast as I could.
"Coming!" I yelled back. "I'll see you in a couple hours."
"Alright." She said calmly as I waved and kept running.