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Katherine turned to go into her building but stopped to look up the street, to see Bryan's form disappearing around the corner.
Katherine entered the building, smiling as she started her long trek up the stairs. She really couldn't believe his honor and loyalty to those boys. He really quit his job to stand up for what he believed in. She couldn't imagine any of the boys from her former life doing anything that would hurt their trust fund. The poor man didn't know what he was going to do next, and he didn't look like he could afford to be without a job. He was the kind of person she strived to be, just a "good" person, truly selfless.
Katherine was pulled out of her thoughts as she turned into her floor's hallway. She stopped in her tracks, noticing a man standing at the door to her apartment. This man was the last person she expected to see.
Her father, Joseph Pulitzer was standing with his back to her. He seemed to be examining the lock on her door. Upon hearing her footsteps he turned around.
Joe stood at the door and checked the address on the paper Hannah had given him. The address was correct. He cringed a little as he surveyed the surroundings. He knew Katherine wouldn't ever be able to afford a place as nice as she grew up in, but he never imagined she'd be living in a place like this. Joe turned the knob to check the lock on the door. It seemed pretty secure. A single girl living on her own was almost unheard of, and an easy target for robbery or worse. Truth was, since Katherine had moved out he had never had a full night's sleep. Nightmares filled his nights with images of Katherine being mugged, hurt, rapped, or dead. As he was testing the knob he heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to see his baby girl.
Both just stood there, looking each other over. It had been such a long time since either one had seen the other. Her father's face seemed to have grown older in the last few years, and his hair was starting to turn from gray to a stark white. The weight of the world that Katherine felt most days seemed to be weighing him down as well.
Upon seeing her father, Katherine's first impulse was excitement. She had missed him and her mother so much over the last 3 years. But that excitement quickly turned to anger and sadness as she remembered the reason she hadn't seen them. She wasn't their daughter anymore, Joe had made that very clear the day she moved out.
The biggest question on her mind: why was he here at her apartment? She knew her father could easily figure out where she lived, he had never made an appearance here. She took a deep breath and continued down the hall as if nothing was wrong. Perhaps if she ignored him and went straight into her apartment she could avoid talking with him. But she knew he was here to deliver a message of some kind.
Joseph looked at his daughter. This was not the girl he'd seen leave his house 3 years ago. This was a strong young woman who was taking on the world. She was dress very plain, just a basic blouse, and skirt. Nothing like the fashions she wore when her mother, or Edith selected her clothes. These were much more practical for a career woman. Her hair was down, a bit unkempt and hung at her shoulders. It slightly longer and more curly than he remembered. There was dirt and mud were splashed across her skirt. Her face had much more color and freckles sprayed across her nose, which happened when she had been in the sun without a hat. She looked older, and exhausted, but underneath it all he could still see the spark of excitement Katherine always had for life. He had to smile. Even though he hated to admit it, this life seemed to suit Katherine, far more than the life he wanted to give her. There was not a day that went by that she didn't think about her. Joe's shifted almost simultaneously with Katherine's when the both realized the reason for this arrangement.
Katherine took a deep breath and started towards her father, pulling her keys out as she walked toward the door.
"Good evening, Miss PLUMBER."
He made sure to accent the last name. As proud as he was of her, Katherine giving up his surname, while it made sense for her to cut ties so she could live her own life uninhibited by the Pulitzer name, still hurt. It made it seem like Katherine Pulitzer, his daughter had never existed.
Katherine upon hearing him accent her name, was a little hurt. It was strange for her father refer to her in such a formal way, almost like they were strangers. To Papa, she had always been Kitty, Kat, Kathy or even Katherine (when she was in trouble). But as they both knew, Katherine Pulitzer didn't exist anymore.
Katherine stepped in front of him to unlock her door. Avoiding eye contact.
"What I do for you Mr. Pulitzer?"
"I have something to discuss with you, and felt it would be better if I came to speak with you rather than sending a message through Hannah."
Katherine knew this must be something serious if her father was seeking her out after 3 years without any contact. She finished unlocking the door and stepped aside and gestured into her apartment.
"Won't you come in, Sir?"
Joe took off his hat as he entered the small apartment. Katherine ran over to light the kerosene lamps to illuminate the quickly darkening room. As the room lit up Joe took in the space. It was a large room that combined a sitting room, kitchen, and office. A door led off to what he assumed was the bedroom. Joe was a little taken aback by her living situation. He had hoped she would be doing a little better than this.
Katherine watched her father's face and knew exactly what he was thinking: this place was an insult to her status. Joseph Pulitzer's daughter should never be living in such accommodations. But Katherine had never needed much. The apartment was already furnished when she moved in, and she didn't feel the need to buy expensive things, other than the basics. A majority of her income was being saved in the bank, and given out to people who just needed it.
Joe walked over to the kitchen table and put his hand on the typewriter, a present to Katherine on her 16th birthday. This was one of the few things she had taken from home. Katherine treasured her typewriter, not only because it was rare for a journalist to have a personal typewriter, but because she knew how special it was for her father to give it to her.
Katherine walked into her kitchen, remembering her hostess manners.
"I'll start some tea, is there anything else I can can get? "
Joe looked over at her.
"No, I can't stay very long. I promised your mother I'd be home soon, and I'd prefer she not be informed of your latest escapades"
"What are you tal-"
"Do you know what happened outside of my building today?"
Katherine gave him a shocked and confused look. How could he possibly know what happened so quickly.
"The newsboys started rioting about the increase for their papers. They ripped their papers up, threw them on the ground, and refused to sell. One of them even had the audacity to write STRIKE across my headline board.
Katherine upon seeing where this was going sank down into a chair. Watching her father speak, bracing herself for the other shoe to drop.
"When this was brought to my attention I immediately turned to my window. I was just in time to see Mr. Wiesel chasing the offenders off the property. As I continued to watch them exit, I happen to notice a young woman tailing them. A young woman who looked surprisingly like my daughter."
Katherine lowered her eyes and fidgeted with her hands.
"Now I told myself: my eyes must have been deceiving me. My Katherine would never be caught up with a group of ruffians like those boys."
Joe looked down at her, and Katherine's eyes made contact with his. He knew the answer, but wanted her to confess. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction, so she stayed quiet.
"Then after sending Hannah out to find what was going on, I come to find that the young woman was none other than my very own daughter."
There was a chill in the air, the tension was almost unbearable. Katherine didn't know what to say, she knew he'd be angry if he knew she was aiding those boys, but she didn't imagine him this angry. She started to defend herself, but seemed to be having trouble finding the words.
"Papa...I…"
Joe put his hand out to quite her.
"Hannah went on to tell me that you promised to write a story for these boys, aiding their cause in the strike. No doubt fueling a fire that should have been extinguished right there."
Joe went behind Katherine and put his hand on her shoulder and giving it a slight squeeze to emphasise his point
"These boys don't understand the lesson I'm trying to teach them. That if they work hard and sell 10 extra papers they will be making the same that they always do."
He released her shoulder and patted it. Then walked to the other side of the table.
"I know it will be a little harder on them, but it's things like these that build our character, Katherine."
At these words Katherine could not suppress her anger any longer. She stood up from her chair, slammed her hands on the table, and look her father straight in the eye.
"PAPA! You can't honestly believe what you're saying! These boys, some of them struggle to eat once a day! By raising the price even a penny more a paper, could be the difference between them eating or having a roof other their heads!"
Joe was a little taken back by Katherine's anger. He had never seen Katherine stand up to him in this way.
Katherine's face was red her hands clenched in fists, and tears were pooling in her eyes. His stomach learched. He hated to see Katherine this angry and upset.
"You have to put the price back to where it was! If you do they will go back to work without any fight, and there will be no article for me to print…..Please Papa?"
Katherine used the last word to hopefully soften him a little, and help empathise with the newsies.
Joe was silent for a few minutes. He seemed to be weighing options and calculating different scenarios in his head. He also wanted to hug reach out and hug his daughter, but he stifled that instinct. Katherine was a grown woman now, she needed to understand the world was far from fair.
"It cannot be done, I'm sorry Katherine. If I go back on this now the Newsies will think I'm soft. Then start demanding other things. No, there is absolutely no way I can go back now."
Joe put his hat back on and prepared walk towards her door. Katherine tailed right behind him.
"Then I cannot sit by while you steal from these boys."
Joe turned back towards her.
"You're a grown woman now, so if that's your decision, I can't stop you. But know this, if you publish an article slandering my name: you won't work in this town again. Not at The Sun or any other newspaper publican."
"You don't own The Sun you have no control over what is printed in their paper!"
"You are absolutely right, I don't own The Sun, and I don't get to decide what Charles Dana publishes in his paper. He is free to print up anything Katherine Plumber can type up. But mark my words, young lady, if you write that article it will be the last one you'll ever publish in this town."
"What are you saying Papa?"
"What do you think Charles would say if he found out he was publishing articles written by Katherine PULITZER the daughter of the biggest News Tycoon in the country?"
Katherine tried to hide the shock and hurt in her face. She didn't imagine her father would stoop to this level to control her. If he did oust her it would take away everything she had worked for over the last 3 years.
"You wouldn't do that!"
"No paper in town would hire you without getting permission from me, which they wouldn't. You'd be out of a job and very soon out of money, just like those boys. Then you'd have no choice but to come home. You will have to decide which is more important to you: the freedom of living on your own, and pursuing your career? Or aiding a bunch of ruffians you just met?
Joe turned the handle and opened her door, and continued into the hallway. As he walked Katherine followed him into the hallway, watching him leave.
"I think it's best you stay out of this, darling. This is clearly a fight you cannot win. But don't worry this will all blow over soon, and those boys will be back to selling papers by weeks end."
He turned to look at her one last time, and tipped his hat.
"I hope you have a pleasant evening, Miss Plumber."
Then he disappeared down the stairs and away from view.
Katherine slammed the door so hard that Joe could hear the echo all the way down the stairs.