Chapter 2

Katherine stormed up the stairs, she had never been more angry at her father than she was right now. When she reached her room she slammed the door so hard she hoped the whole house heard. She collapsed on to her bed throwing the doll, a simmental momento left over from her childhood, across the room.

"Ugh! He is so hypocritical! How can he write so non-partisan as a reporter, but never listen to what I have to say!? He has to know I can't just sit in a house day in and day out being a complacent little wife and mother while my husband is out living his life! There has to be so much more to life than that!"

A breeze ruffled her bangs. She looked over and noticed her window had been left open. Edith, their housemaid, must have left it open when she was cleaning. Katherine walked over and looked out over New York. It was early evening and the whole city was bustling around after a hard-day's work.

"A hard day's work...now that's something I've never done!"

Everything in her life had been done for her. Everything had been laid out just so nicely. It was true she always tired in school, but even that was easy for her. Katherine's eyes were drawn to the fire escape outside her window. Her eyes followed ladder that led down to the street. She always had the opportunity to leave, but she never had the guts to really do it. But she had also never been this angry at her father before. This was her chance. She packed her messenger bag complete with her journal, and writing utensils. Katherine pulled herself onto the fire escape. She stood looking down at the street, and looked back at her room. She wasn't running away, she just needed some time away from this life. The life that society and her parents wanted for her. She needed to go write escape from the world for a moment. She shimmied down the ladder and onto the street. Looking over her shoulder to make sure no one had seen. She picked up her skirts and took off down the street.

Katherine didn't know where she was going, just that she was out of that house. She would go back, probably before anyone realized she was gone. Katherine had learned that when she would fight with her father like this her mother found it best to keep them apart for the night, get perspective, and they would apologize in the morning. She had the whole night. She did need some cooling down time. She needed to find a place where she could walk, observe, or write. She decided on Central Park. During the days her father was unable take her with him to The World, her Nanny,Bridget, would take Katherine here to walk and explore. Bridget was a huge influence in her childhood. Bridget encouraged her to follow her heart. She told her that young girls need to run, jump, and climb trees just as much as boys did. Bridget had grown up in a small town in Ireland before she and her parents came to America.

"We have a much better life here, but there are things I miss about Ireland."

Her town was near the sea.

"Now we can go to the sea here but there is far too much City for my taste."

She told Katherine about how she would swim, explore caves, and climb cliffs with her brother and neighborhood kids. Katherine thought this sounded like a dream life. She was a little jealous of anyone who had siblings. She longed for a playmate, or someone to share the burden of being "a Pulitzer child." A brother, that would seem to solve a few problems in their family life.

"I wish I had a brother to play with!" Katherine told her one day. "And then maybe Papa would have someone to give the paper to when he's gone."

"Now Kitty don't count yourself out! Times are changing little lass, you might just take over that paper one day!"

Katherine turned the corner into central park. She smiled remembering her conversation with Bridget. She missed her. The girl probably wasn't much older than Katherine was now when she worked for the Pulitzers, and she had worked for a family in Ireland before they came to America. She had worked from the time she was very young. Katherine had never had to work for anything her whole life. She didn't even know if she COULD work or hold a job.

Katherine stopped under a her favorite climbing tree Bridget also let Katherine take off her skirts and climb trees in her bloomers. Because her skirts kept getting caught in the branches of the tree. She remembered the day Edith found rips and holes in a pair of her bloomers, and told her mother. Poor Bridget got an earful that day. But she never stopped letting Katherine climb trees. Katherine wondered if she would have a little girl someday. If so she would let her climb trees to her heart's content.

She sat underneath the tree and opened her journal. A gift from her father on her 18th birthday.

"You're an adult now Kitty, It's time to start the story of your life!"

Katherine sighed. Start the story of her life. She took a deep breath of the late summer air. She loved this time of year. It was finally starting to cool down from the blazing hot days of summer. It was the perfect night. She wanted to freeze this moment of perfect weather. The City would be covered in a blanket of snow before long. Katherine started to write not on anything specific, just writing whatever came to her mind. Her father had always told her:

"Kitty that always how great stories begin."

As she wrote the world melted away. Before she knew it the sun had disappeared and was replaced by a dim twilight. Katherine had been so involved in writing that she barely noticed how dark it had gotten. She had never been out this late unescorted. She felt silly feeling scared by this fact. She knew she was capable of walking home alone.

As she got up to leave she heard a twig snap behind her. She whipped around to see two young men not much older than her standing staring at her. She wasn't sure how long they had been watching her, but the way they were looking at her...it made her feel uneasy. They weren't the nicest looking boys and were dressed in very worn clothing, with dirty matted hair and a smattering of stubble across their chins. The breeze blew and she caught a strong stench of alcohol coming off of them.

"Well lookie Oscar! What do we have here..."

"You don't see this kind of girl here at this time of day do ya Morris? She looks like a regular 'lady'."

One of them took a long swig from something in a paper bag then handed it to the boy named Oscar. They eased closer to Katherine, who was soon stuck to her spot, unable to move. One boy was behind her blocking her exit, and she faced the other one. She turned away as the first man stroked her cheek.

"What's wrong sweetheart? We'se ain't gonna hurt ya if you's cooperate."

"We'se nice men...when we want to be."

Katherine swallowed deeply, and closed her eyes tight, wishing that she had stayed in her room.

"This will go much easier if you talk little lady."

The boy behind her, Morris, pounced on her grabbing Katherine around the waist and neck. Making it impossible for her to move away. She struggled against his arms but he brought his face to the crook in her neck and he inhaled her sweet scent. He hugged her closer, so she was flesh to his front. She could feel his excitement on her lower back. Realizing the reality of the situation her fear began to rise. She let out a strangled scream scream. Morris immediately clasped his hand over her mouth.

"Now that's going to cause us to get upset, and then the night won't end so pleasant for yas."

Oscar, who was standing in front of her, moved Morris' hand from her face. She turned away but didn't dare to make another noise.

"Wait…" Oscar put his hand on her chin and forced her to look at him.

"Ain't I seen yas around The World?"

Katherine's eyes filled with fear and she struggled against Morris' grip, praying Oscar wouldn't make the connection.

"You's Joe's little girl ain't ya?'

He looked down at her, lingering on her chest.

"Well, I guess 'little' wouldn't be the right word to use. You's all grown up ain't ya sweetheart?"

"You've gotta be shitting me Oscar! Now here I thought we was gonna have have to visit Metta's Burlesque house, and spend our hard earned money. But looks like we've got our entertainment right here."

"Deflowering my boss' precious baby girl….Not bad for an end of the week treat.. I hope you's don't mind Morris if I do the honors this time? Don't worry I'll save a piece for you. "

She couldn't see Morris' answer, but she felt him loosen his grip. Just as quick he let got Oscar grabbed Katherine and roughly kissed her. She could taste cigarettes and whiskey as he forced his tongue into her mouth. Morris pulled her behind the tree as Oscar pushed her to the ground. She hit the ground hard. Her head to bounce off a root that was sticking up from the tree. Her vision blurred. Oscar pinned her small frame down with his much larger body. Morris took her hands held them above her head. She tried to scream, but Oscar slapped his hand over her mouth and pulled out a knife. He held it right up to her face. The look in his eyes scared her.

"We asked you's NOT to do that Sweetheart."

He shook her so her head slammed into the ground.

"If you continue we won't only be rough with ya's, but we just might kill you. And you'll never see your rich Daddy again! Got it?"

Oscar pushed the blade of the knife into her cheek. She felt a little blood oozing out from the cut he had made. She carefully nodded. Oscar pulled his hand away from her mouth.

"I knows you's a virgin, and yeah this is gonna hurt. But if sit tight sweetheart you's just might learn something."

"Don't you's mean when she has her turn with me?"

Katherine felt so weak and small. There was nothing she could do to fight back. Tears started pooling in her eyes. She didn't want to give these perverts the satisfaction of seeing her cry, but she couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks. She felt Oscar rip her blouse open. The cool evening air blowing on her now exposed skin.

"Please…" She whispered.

But neither boy seem to hear, or they didn't care.

TO BE CONTINUED...