Now the first thing to findin a place is knowin your budget. Ya know…how much yer willin to spend and all that. Now seein as how I don't have a job, I'm lookin for cheap. Now if I was gunna try to push it I may just get an apartment. Ya know for privacy and all. But once you get done wit the company of the water that leaks in the cellin, the mold on the walls and all the rats runnin on the floor…who can say they are really alone. So I think I'll just get a bed in a cheap lodging house. Now speakin as a street rat it has been awhile since I have slept in a bed wit a roof over my head and all that and the first mistake us street urchins do is just live in the first Lodgin house we see. Now the smart way to do it is to shop around…check out the prices... ya know. So that when someone tries to cheat ya you can hit um wit, "well dat place down da street will give me a room for half dat price." Then you can get da real story ya know.

So as I was tourin the lodgin houses on Dwaine Street…I figured that the average price was about a dime a day. Then when I came to the end of the street and was about to turn around I came upon da last one. Even though it said News Boys Lodging House on the front I figger money is money and I highly doubt the landlord or the care taker to give a rip if a dame stays there as long as she's got the cash. On my way up the stoop I take a look at my surroundings. The stars are already out and I figger it about 8-9 o'clock. I can't believe it is this late. Well ya know what dey say…time flys when your tryin not to get took. Well in my moments of reflection I hit my boot on the tip of the next stair and stubbed my toe. In a normal reaction as anyone has had I looked down to look at the menacing concrete to see the damage. Well my foot is fine but the stair way looks like it has been through hell and back. The rail is hangin by a thread; the stairs have soot and this brown/green gook that I don't even think I want ta know what it is. While remembering not to step in that crap I finally make it to the door and go in the last contender.

It's average I suppose, wit the wallpaper fallin off and all the curtins and furniture moth eaten. I go to da front desk to get the information on da joint.

Ay ya da owner a da joint

Yea da names Kloppman can I help ya

Do ya got any beds open

Yea…it costs 5 cents a day

5 Cents a day…wow I can't believe dis…half da price…wait wut's da catch?

Yea but it's a good deal and all. Spare cloths get washed wit dis rate…if ya have any that is.

He looked me over wit a disgusted look in his eye. Can't really say I blame him…years on da street will do dat to a girl.

I got cloths and what I ment was dat it's a bit cheap…shit why did I just say…fuck he's gunna raise da price right now I can feel it!

It's cheap cause charity groups like to keep the prices low on child housing

Well lucky day fur me I guess huh

I say dat wit a smile…who knows I may need dis guy yet I mean he is da landlord and all. I lay down da nickel and was about to get a better hold on my knapsack so I could run upstairs when I felt a tug at my sleeve. I turn to face the old man

Ya have ta sign in first Ms…..?

Ms Petrillo…Max Petrillo…god I'm getting a bed I can't wait pillows and sheets…uhhh a mattress…

I wrote my name in da ledger and was about to go upstairs when he stoped me again…

Right up the stairs…it's da first door to your right…that's da bunk room asked da kids where the empty one is and sleep there. (no shit) I don't care what time ya come in but ya have ta pay by 10:30 pm to sleep here and I lock da door at 11.(ya don't care when I come in…how am I gunna get in if the doors lock? Smuck) The washroom is further in the bunk room…it's very hard to miss (no shit…it's probably the da only other room in dis dump)…if you have any problem wit da guys tell me and I'll straighten it out (right like ya really care).

After that I figured he was done so I continued to go up when he called me…

Kid…ya are a newsie right…only newsies can stay here…(shit I'll be your mother if it means room and board for 5 cents a day)

I gave him a node and finally went up the stairs to see what a nickel can buy me in New York…