Hi,
It's been very cold here lately, so cold I had to buy my dog boots because the frozen ground has been hurting his feet. So, suffice to say, I've been spending a lot of time indoors; writing...and sadly; eating.
I've changed the locations of different attractions and places of NYC just to make it easier for Tim to get around...hence; fanfiction.
/
Slowly, a memory of Tony handing him a quarter replayed in his dreams that turned into conscious thoughts. 'Buy something to eat but be careful and don't lose the rest of the change.' Tim fully woke, opening his fist to find the coin in the center of his sweaty palm. He searched the area around himself to see if Tony was nearby.
"Tony?"
Tim had slept into the late morning, vaguely remembering Tony nudging him earlier when it was still dark. He said he was going...Somewhere and that he'd be back. He promised…Tim knew he had said that for sure. Tony always made promises to fulfill his commitments to him. He had a way of making Tim feel safe; no matter what the circumstances were.
Tim stretched then made his way behind a dumpster to relieve himself.
"Find something to eat, huh?" Tim thought out loud then a memory of the aroma from the peanut vendors that they passed on their way home from work each day began to make his mouth water. His stomach rumbled on queue as he habitually pressed on it with his fist. Licking his lips he headed out of the alley towards the street. He crossed, running as fast as he could till he reached the edge of the sidewalk and gasped. Central Park was in front of him; erasing any plans of finding food but drawing him in, as he grew excited at the sudden idea of exploring it.
He had heard of the infamous 'turtle pond'; located somewhere within its vicinity. He had been told there were ducks in the pond by his stepbrother Ernest, showing him a picture of one from one of his school books. He took a deep breath then entered the park, smiling to watch the beautiful green of the grass pass in a blur underneath his running feet.
When he came to the top a small incline, he stopped to look around and see if there was anyone close by then lay down; letting his body roll freely to the bottom. He lay there laughing out loud looking up to watch white, puffy clouds flit quickly across the powder, blue sky. The ground was cool and wet but he didn't mind. He rolled onto his stomach when he spotted a green bug sluggishly crawling on a blade of grass, studying it.
When he felt that the front of his shirt was good and drenched from the wet soil beneath the grass he continued on his journey. He kept opening his hand to make sure he hadn't dropped the quarter as he walked. He was afraid he would lose it if he stored it in his pocket and wanted to keep a watchful eye on it at all times.
Almost losing hope at finding the pond after walking a considerable distance he yelped with enthusiasm, first seeing the tall reeds and grass that outlined the perimeter of the body of water. The pond was long in length. He spotted a small group of ducks further along its edge half way down so he ran ahead to investigate. The ducks were much bigger than what he had thought they'd be. He especially liked the green one and wished he could reach out and run his hand over its shiny feathers but he didn't dare step to close to the water.
A woman stood close by feeding bread to the birds then offered some to him to throw to them, as well. "Thank you." He giggled when they paddled closer to where he stood to fetch the stale bread. The woman warmly smiled at him and he blushed. When she noticed him take a bite of a roll for himself she told him to eat the rest giving him the last roll she had. He pocketed it for later…to save for Tony.
The woman's bread was all gone, so she left while the ducks continued to float about in front of Tim. He sat on a rock and let the morning sun warm him while drying the front of his shirt. If he concentrated, he could make out music in the distance, wondering what it was coming from. After a while, the music's strong hold lured him to the park's carousel located not too far away. He sat on a bench in front of the merry-go-round, lying face down to watch the continuous motion of the beautifully carved horses, continuously circling. He was tempted to buy a ticket for a ride, but decided he'd rather go on when Tony could. His eyes began to close and he fell into a deep sleep. He woke some time later to find a family standing in front of him, looking at him.
He rubbed his eyes, ignoring them, leaving the bench to find his way back to the streets.
Now where did Tony say he went? Tony had told him to get something to eat so that was just what he was going to do…No more distractions.
He left the park then crossed a few streets leading him to the seaport. He heard the strong screech of seagulls overhead, looking up when one of their shadows loomed in the sunlight. The harbor was busy and chaotic. Men hauled crates of fish from boats onto the docks as they were then hauled to other men, stacking them and carrying them to the harbor's market to be displayed.
Shaved ice overflowed from the boxes spilling onto the ground. People were mulling through the stands haggling, making offers and purchasing whole-bodied fish. Everything looked cold and wet but Tim enjoyed the confused bustle and the people weaving in and out through the different displays. He liked watching the men lift the heavy crates with ease; displaying a sort of choreographed rhythm. Most of the men wore rubber aprons and gloves as they filleted fish for customers.
A peanut vendor was stationed on the outskirts of the market and Tim's mouth began to water. He opened his fist making sure the quarter was still there. Just as he stepped towards the direction of the vendor he was grabbed from behind. Two hands held his upper arms not letting him go. Three boys confronted him, two of them much bigger than him and older than even Tony and a small boy, close to his own age, hiding behind them.
"Let me go!"
/
It was dark, as it always was when Tony finished work, as he left the factory.
He had hemmed and hawed all night, agonizing over the dilemma if he should return to work, hoping his stepfather would not fire him. During the day, as he operated his machine his stepfather had walked through his department making eye contact with him, saying; nothing. So now, Tony's biggest fear was the answer to the question, if the man would pay him at the end of the week, or would he send him on his way. He knew it was a risk he'd have to take, in order to afford the cost of meals and clothes and to keep themselves alive on the streets. Tony knew he was a good worker; that was something his father couldn't deny.
He stood outside the factory for a short while to see if Tim would meet him there. With no sign of him he started his way back to the alleyway by his stepfather's apartment. On the way, he stopped to purchase a plate of clams by one of the street vendors. He sat on a nearby stoop, dipping the clams, individually into the melted butter served on the side. When he was done he deposited the empty plate in the trash, licking his fingers as he continued on his way home.
When he reached the alley way there was no sign of Tim. He walked the alley's full length, searching behind dumpsters and under boxes to see if he had fallen asleep. When he called out his name and received no response, he started to panic, where could he be?
Tim had been half-asleep when he left him in the morning…all he instructed him to do was buy something to eat. Tony left the alley way and walked up and down the street making sure to observe every doorway and stairwell. Different scenarios played out in his imagination as he searched; he could have been hit by a streetcar or horse carriage, murdered, lost, abducted for unknown reasons; Tim could be dead and gone forever and Tony would never know.
Tony felt weak and exhausted. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he located the same spot they had both slept the night before. He curled into a ball, wrapping his arms around his bent legs but he couldn't sleep, keeping his eyes peeled for Tim if he entered the alley. Tony's heart beat furiously with anguish; he never felt so all alone. As the night progressed, he began to see dark shapes shift and loom through the alley from where he sat but it was too dark to distinguish what they were.
He remembered what his mother had told him, when all else fails; pray. God will listen; right now, he was the only one who would. He finally fell into a fitful sleep.