"Tony!"
Tony stopped dead in his tracks then looked back at Tim. He had big tears in his eyes, clutching onto Abby's skirt. "Please...don't."
"Earnest?" Tony took a few steps to cover the distance from him to his big brother. "You got a back door to this place?" Earnest started walking towards the kitchen waving for them to follow.
They entered the hustle-bustle of the active, steamy kitchen and Tony noticed the back door but Earnest stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder. "Wait." He hurried as he grabbed different food items from shelves and cupboards packing them into a duffle bag while a couple of the employees objected. Earnest ignored them. "I want you to take this." He handed Tony the over-stuffed bag. Tony draped the duffle's strap over his shoulder as he turned to leave.
"Hey…chief?" Earnest spoke over Tony's shoulder.
Tony took a moment to meet Earnest's gaze as the rest of the gang continued through the door.
"Take care of yourselves."
Tony nodded then followed Jimmy through the wooden screen door.
Tony could barely hear Earnest over the slam of the door yell something else but he was already planning their next move. He may never see Earnest again, but his concern was for his new family.
"This way will bring us through the park back to Broadway!" Abby yelled.
The motley group of kids stood in front of him-their expressions weary, fearful yet full of determination. Tony grasped the strap on his shoulder firmly and started towards the group, "Lead the way, Abs! You know these streets better than me!"
After they ran over the lush green lawns, winding cobblestone paths, passed a small pond and dodged a couple horse carts in the park they came to the fountain in Bethesda Terrace and decided to rest on benches. Tim and Ellie automatically took off their shoes and socks to wade in the water, dodging the heavy, falling flow of the fountain with fits of laughter.
Tony smiled proudly glancing towards Abby, "Well, we gave Butch the slip-"
"Yeah? Only for now." Her face was deeply creased. She sat next to Tony, her legs stretched out in front of her, her arms tightly crossed over her chest. "This is bad. We're on his 'hit list' He won't stop till he's made a statement. He has a notorious reputation to uphold."
Tony groaned in response. His scowl quickly turned into a smile when he heard a splash and watched Ellie push Tim into the water. He went under then came up sputtering and spitting water into Ellie's face. They exchanged belly laughs. Well, least he was getting a bath, Tony thought. I may have to accompany them.
A lady covered with eager, cooing pigeons sat on a bench, close by. The birds pecked seeds from her open palm. Tony winced when he noticed a few splatters of pigeon poop on her shoulders. He didn't think much of her, having seen people like this many times in the park occupying park benches. "Don't worry, Abby, we can take him. How mean and bad can he be?" asked Tony, shrugging.
"You need to change your attitude, Mister!" Abby stood abruptly, waving her arms as she yelled. Jimmy quickly leaped by her side, trying to calm her. "Tim is lucky to be alive-Tony-don't you realize? If it hadn't been for Jethro, you may have never seen your brother again. We're going to have to stick together. Large numbers are safer."
"But, Abs-I have to go to work tomorrow." said Tony.
Abby stared back at him and Tony began to wonder if she had heard him over the pounding of the fountain's spray. "Uh, oh. That's not good. I will be leaving on a trip to China with my parents this week-for the next two weeks. Dornie will be selling his papers. That leaves Jimmy to watch Ellie and Tim." Tony and Abby had now redirected their gazes to the spectacled, curly, dark-brown-haired boy.
"Jimmy?" Abby's voice was slow and even.
"Uh, yes?"
"Butch has at least six in his gang. It'll just be you and Ellie and Tim. What is your strategy going to consist of?" Abby asked.
Jimmy gulped. "Uh. Hide behind the dumpster in the alley off of Canal Street all day?"
Tony and Abby frowned.
"I can watch them."
Tony, Abby and Jimmy brought their gaze to the pigeon covered woman on the bench near by. "Excuse me, mam?" asked Tony.
The woman had not looked up but continued to talk. "I'd love to watch them. They remind me of Betsy and Daniel when they were that age." Tony slowly stood then stepped towards her. She had short, bright red hair-that shone like copper in the strong sun. When he approached her, the birds took to flight and she looked up at him. He gasped when he saw her sparkling green eyes.
This woman was beautiful, hidden and covered under a ratty, wool hat, old, holey, dirty shawls and-bird poop. "Mam?" All three children were now surrounding her, gaping with curiosity.
"Yes, Tony?" said the woman. "Sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation so I do happen to know your names, already."
"That's okay, but, uh…Tim can be a handful..."
"Oh sweetheart-I'll have no problem occupying them. We'll eat popcorn, sit by the turtle pond, ride the carousel, take naps under the large oak at the East end of the park and I'll tell them stories. They won't be any trouble, I'm sure."
Abby spoke up, "No disrespect, mam, but they're a little more difficult than-birds."
"Oh please hun, call me, Jenny, will you Abby dear?"
"Oh, then let me formally introduce myself." said Abby. She held her hand so Jenny could shake it, "Miss Abigail of Lower Manhattan." She curtseyed. "But please, keep calling me Abby."
Jenny smiled.
"Uh, Jenny? Who are Betsy and Daniel?" Jimmy asked.
"My own children-they were so-lovely-perfect children."
"Were? Where are they now?" asked Tony.
Jenny's eyes clouded-she seemed to struggle to keep the smile on her face as her chin trembled. She watched Tim and Ellie splash each other in the fountain's pool and her smile strengthened. "They drowned, sweetheart." Jenny finally met Tony's gaze. His face couldn't hide his shock and disbelief-he froze—not knowing how to respond.
Tears formed in the woman's eyes and they glimmered like emeralds. She licked her lips bringing color to their eloquent shape. "They were on a boating trip-with their father. The night before, I protested. I didn't want them to go, but he insisted-"
Tony, Abby and Jimmy surrounded her, placing their hands on her arms and shoulders to try to comfort her. "They hadn't even learned to swim yet." She tried to stifle her cry but broke down. She embraced Tony quietly crying on his shoulder. "They were just… babies. My husband… committed suicide two days…later. "Tony stared back at Abby, wide-eyed with an expression of 'Holy crap-what-should-I-do? Abby patted Jenny's back. Jimmy knelt by Jenny's side, patting her knee.
"Don't cry Mrs. Bird Lady-"
"Jimmy, her name is Jenny-" Abby barked under her breath.
"I'm so sorry for crying like this-I'm sure it makes you feel uncomfortable but I haven't cried or talked to anyone about this for so long. It feels so good someone is finally listening to me. Thank you," said Jenny.
"You're welcome." Jimmy wore a goofy smile. "I'm sure Tim and Ellie would love to spend the day with you." Jenny smiled as she softly laughed. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and sniffled. "I would guard them with my life."
Tony felt the sincerity in the strange woman's voice and didn't doubt her-but a sinking feeling filled his chest hitching his breath. He glimpsed at Abby with her arms around the woman crying just as hard as she was. She was nodding adamantly towards Tony as if to say, 'she's perfect for the job'.
Tony glanced towards the fountain and realized Tim and Ellie were gone. He stood and frantically scanned the area but there was no sign of either one of them.
"Abby. Where's-"
"'Scuse me! Did you drop dis?" Tim was now behind the bench they sat in, standing on a large rock so he could reach Jenny as he tugged on her arm. Ellie was standing next to him. Tony sighed with relief. Resting in Tim's open palm was an elegant peacock brooch designed with blue and purple gems. "It's a bird! You'd probably like this, huh?" He handed it to her.
"Oh my goodness! I've been looking for that for the last week! Was it under the bench?" asked Jenny.
Tim was nodding, enthusiastically, losing his balance on the rock. He began to flap his arms to regain his footing. "I'm glad I found it for you."
"This was a gift from a special friend."She was looking at the pin, adoringly. "Gibbs gave it to me."
Abby gasped. Tony was speechless. Jimmy chuckled.
"I know-d him!" yelled Tim.
"Come here Tim, dear." Tim scurried around the bench until he faced Jenny. She pulled him onto her lap. "It would seem I do not know how to take good care of my belongings-" said Jenny.
"I'm good at that. I didn't let Butch and his gang take the quarter Tony gave me!" said Tim.
"Well then you're the perfect man for the job." She opened his vest and pinned it onto his shirt so it wasn't visible.
Tim's chest swelled as if he had just been appointed deputy by his sheriff. "Danks."
/
The next two weeks ran smoothly as Tony went to work, Jenny kept a close eye on Jimmy, Ellie and Tim in the park. Dornie sold his newspapers and Abby was expected to return from her trip from China any day.
Over the first week, Tony came up with the brilliant idea for Tim to meet him every day for lunch on the fire escape of the third floor—the floor he worked on. Since the factory was securely locked once all employees entered the building in the morning till they left late at night-to avoid any breaks they might sneak, Tony had made a deal with Katherine, one of the floor managers, a young teen, to unlock the door to the fire escape so he could meet Tim at noon. He made sure to time his rendezvous with Tim when Mr. Harris departed for his usual trip to the deli so he wouldn't get caught. He promised Katherine, he would not rat her out if he was discovered and make up a story how he stole a key from the office. He had conned her with hard candy that he received from Earnest when he had seen him at the restaurant. This way Tony could spend more time with Tim and know he was okay. He trusted Jenny to watch Tim but he still carried disconcerting feelings over the agreement for reasons he was unable to explain.
/
Tim stepped onto the curb then turned. Jenny held Jimmy's hand on one side of her and Ellie's on the other. They stared back at him. Ellie and Jimmy slowly waved. They were watching from the other side of the street, their usual routine for the last week. He was on his way to meet Tony for lunch at the factory then meet the trio back here in an hour.
Tim was confused with their solemn expressions, the unknown fear that lurked in their eyes. Were they feeling the same unexplained fear he was? And why? It was almost as if they all subconsciously knew something bad was about to happen that day but didn't know what to do about it.
But, Jenny would never allow anything bad happen to him or any one of them-she was an adult-a grown-up. But, come to think of it, adults had no more control over 'bad things happening' than kids did-he'd learned that long time ago when his mother died.
Just ignore this feeling he told himself. It's nothing. It's all in your imagination. Tony said he had a big imagination that was always getting bigger-that's all it was. Stop being a dunderhead. He'd meet Tony for lunch when he arrived at The Triangle Shirt Company within the next few minutes that it'd take for him to walk there just as he did the previous days.
Jenny abruptly stepped forward towards him then stopped, almost tripping on the sidewalk as she let go of Jimmy's hand. She bit her thumbnail then looked up and down the street. She hesitated then called to him, "We'll be waiting for you right here within the next hour, Tim! Be extra careful today, okay?"
Tim flashed a smile to ease her tension then waved. "Yus, I will!" He walked on.
/
Tony could feel the exhaustion deep in his marrow. There had been an argument in one of the apartments nearby in the middle of the night where they slept that had attracted the police keeping him awake till early dawn. He rolled his neck a couple times then blinked hoping for more energy. It was almost lunch time. He was looking forward to the break from work and knew it would revive him and help him get through the rest of his work day.
"Hey, Tony! You're brother get his job back?"
Tonya, a girl two years older than Tony with curly blond hair passed his work station.
"Huh?"
"I saw him go into the men's room…not two minutes ago." Tonya continued, not showing any interest in an answer.
Hhhmm, Tim's early? I'll have to tell him coming into the building is not a good idea. If he got caught...
Some of the employees towards the west end of the floor began coughing, enough for Tony to become interested. Something caught his eye. He looked up. A thin haze of smoke floated just below the ceiling. He glimpsed towards a door leading out to the elevator and saw smoke billowing into the room through the cracks. Some of the others noticed the smoke, too and began to yell.
'Fire!'
'We have to get outta here!'
'Run!'
His heart hammered against his chest. Had Katherine already unlocked the door? She must have if Tim was already in-Ahh, shit-Tim! Tony ran towards the exit to the hall.