3 Years later...

Katherine had been living as 'Katherine Plumber' for the last 3 years. She hadn't spoken to her mother or father since she walked away from the townhouse. The day she moved her last trunk Joe wasn't there, It was hard to leave her mother, the staff, and the only home she has ever known. Even though they were both mad at each other she missed her Papa too.

Living on her own had been more difficult than she could ever imagine. She could have no contact with anyone from her previous life. She was all alone. Not knowing where to go she found a room at a boarding house for young women. The lady who ran it took a special shining to Katherine. Matilda, was her name. She took Katherine in free of rent for the first month. Katherine told her that her parents had died recently and being an only child she had no one else in the world. After she had enough money, she moved out of the boarding house into her own apartment.

"Now, you promise you will visit often Kathy?"

"Yes Millie, once a week. I have to come help you make dinner for all these girls."

"I'm so proud of you sweetheart! You have made so much of yourself, I'm sure your parents are looking down on you now, and smiling at the beautiful women you've become."

Katherine felt a pang of sadness. Wondering what her parents were up to. And if they thought of her as much as she thought of them.

She soon settled into her apartment and daily life….

Her daily schedule had become a routine. She walked through early morning light of New York City. She purposely woke up early so she could catch the city like this. New York City was only quite at this time. The cool morning air blew past her face. Winter was just turning over into spring, and a hit of warmth filled the air. She walked into at her favorite bakery to grab breakfast. A morning routine she had established since she started her job. When she walked in she was greeted with the delicious smell of baked bread. Katherine was immediately transported back to her childhood home. Every morning Greta, their cook, would make fresh bread for the house. The memory was bittersweet. While there were days she yearned for their love and support, but she was proud of the life she had made for herself.

She bought 2 sweet rolls and a cup of coffee. As she walked out into the streets you could see the sun just starting to peek through the tall buildings. Katherine could hear voices of young children off to work. Her heart went out to them. When she was their age her biggest worry was completing an assignment from her tutor in the proper time, or staining a dress. These children had to work in terrible, unsafe conditions, with long hours, and receive very little pay. She felt very fortunate to work at a "safe" job. Being secretary to the editor at the New York Sun might not be her dream, but she had worked up to it. Katherine hoped the next stepping stone would be a reporter.

All of the sudden Katherine met the source of the voices three young boys burst out from behind an alley rushing past her. Just shortly after a little girl with a tear stained face was struggling to keep up with the boys.

"Jonathan! Andrew! Matthew! Mommy told you to wait for me!"

Just as she passed Katherine she fell, face-planting right into the dirt, sobbing. The boys didn't seem to notice and kept running up the street. Katherine went over to her, bent down to check to see if she was alright. She saw that the girl was crying into the ground.

"Hey there...are you ok?"

The girl looked up and saw Katherine's face close to hers. She seemed to be startled by Katherine because she immediately looked back at the ground and shook her head.

"It's ok I won't hurt you."

The little girl continued to look at the ground her sobs now loud enough to be heard.

Katherine took a seat next to the girl.

"Were those your big brothers?"

"Yes…"

She still wouldn't look up at Katherine, but her crying seemed to lesson a bit. Katherine took this a sign to keep asking questions.

"I never had siblings….I always wanted a big brother or sister."

The girl finally looked up at Katherine and started to sit up.

"You can have mine...They are so mean to me!"

Katherine laughed a little at her response.

"Hey, they can't be as bad as all that! And from what I could see you close to catching up with them. I bet in a few years you will be faster than they are, and by then you can whip them good!"

She giggled. Katherine stood up and helped the girl up.

"What's your name?"

"Ruth"

"Have you eaten breakfast yet Ruth?"

Ruth shook her head. Katherine figured this girl often skipped breakfast, and probably didn't get a proper meal during the day.

"Well, Ruth it's your lucky day. I have an extra sweet roll and I can't think of a better person to share it with."

Ruth looked up the street nervously.

"I have to get to work. If I'm late, they will dock my pay. And mommy will be mad."

Katherine's heart sank for her. She had been living on her own going on 3 years now. While it had been the most difficult time of her life, she knew so many others had it much worse than her. This girl couldn't be more than 7, and she was worried about missing work. It wasn't uncommon for children this young in New York to work, but the only thing Ruth should worry about should be being a kid. A flare of anger filled her. Laws needed to be put into place that helped children like her. Perhaps now that Theodore Roosevelt had been elected Governor of New York there would be changes.

"Take this and we will walk there together. Where do you work?"

She pulled out the roll and handed it to Ruth. She looked at it for a second, but hunger must have won out because she took it from her and took a huge bite.

"The seamstress shop on 64th." She said though bites.

"I work on 65th I'll drop you off on my way!" Katherine and Ruth started walking down the street. She learned that Ruth and her brothers were only 4 of 8 children in her family. 2 of them were way older than her, and the others were too young to work.

"This is my first year working...I wish I could stay home and watch the kids with Mommy like I used to."

She shared that her parents were struggling to feed them all. Ruth loved hearing about Katherine's childhood. She couldn't believe that Katherine had grown up without any brothers and sisters.

"That must be nice! You'd have your parents all to yourself, and you wouldn't have to share ANYTHING!"

Katherine smiled at her, but felt a pang of sadness at the mention of her parents.

They walked for about five minutes when they heard a woman's voice.

"Ruth! You are half an hour late! Get in and start working! I am docking your pay, and don't expect any food or time for lunch today!" Ruth jumped and rushed past the women to the door. Muttering an apology though her tears. She looked back at Katherine and gave her a quick smile.

"Miss, Ruth just had a spill on the street. She was just a little shaken up." The women turned and looked at Katherine.

"That girl has caused me enough trouble. I don't care if she fell, if she was sick, or if she was dying she knows damn well that I expect her to be here and on time. I have no time to have a young women like you tell me how to treat my employees." She then slammed the door in her face.

Katherine was shocked. This women had no understand or care for Ruth, or she assumed the other children in her shop.

"Ruth! For your friends' excuses you will stay late and finish up the work that has piled up due to you being late!"

Katherine watched Ruth through the window sit down and begin to sew. Her tears wetting the cloth as she moved the needle up and down. That poor girl. Something has to be done, something has to change.