Chapter Two
Central Park
New York City
The little girl who was jumping up and down excitedly at the sight of a polar bear in Central Park Zoo seemed to flow right from the real world onto Jack's drawing paper. Her mass of brown curls bobbed up and down with her as she looked up at a man who was probably her father and pointed at the bears, proving to him that even when his own life sucked hard, there was still beauty and joy in the world.
"What's wrong, mia amico?" his friend Fabrizio asked.
Jack sighed, brushing his dirty blond hair out of his eyes. "Well, looks like the landlord upped the rent on my apartment again, so I gotta find a way to make a little bit of extra cash."
For what seemed like the millionth time in the last month, Jack Dawson was struggling to make ends meet. He'd lived on his own in New York City since he was fifteen, and he'd never tricked himself into believing that that was any sort of easy task. Still, it would be a heck of a lot easier if the stupid landlord could decide on a rate for rent and leave it there.
Fabrizio rolled his eyes at his friend, looking exasperated. "I tell you Jack, you come and live with mia famiglia. Mama take care of you, she already have six. One more is no big deal."
"Fabri," Jack said tiredly, "your mom doesn't need another mouth to feed. She's got enough on her hands. I'll find a way to make things work; don't you worry." If he'd said it once, he'd said it a thousand times. Mr DeRossi worked a part-time job at some sort of factory and Mrs DeRossi hadn't worked a day in her life and didn't have a penny to her name. Somehow they managed to take care of their six children, and it was a little bit easier now that Fabrizio could find some quick jobs once in a while, but the children ranged in age from nine to 20, and the last thing they needed was another person to support. Jack had managed to look after himself for five years, and somehow he'd continue to do just that.
"That's a nice picture you draw," Fabrizio noted. "How come you no sell it?"
Jack studied the charcoal drawing on his lap. It was, admittedly, very good, but he could never sell it. In fact, he'd intended to find a non-awkward way to give it to the little girl. He sold most of the pictures he drew, and that was pretty much how he made his living, but every so often he came across a subject that he had a soft spot for- that he wanted to keep in his heart forever. This little girl was one of them.
He didn't bother to answer his friend's question. He wasn't in the mood for talking just now. He stared at the little girl, running around so happily, gazing with wonder at the animals in front of her. She couldn't have been more than six or seven. Something about her complete and total happiness pulled at Jack's heartstrings. For some reason, he was completely drawn to her. He wanted to protect her from all of the bad things in the world... to run up to her and grab her by the shoulders and say, 'The world is a beautiful and happy place if you choose to make it that way. No matter what happens, stay in school and listen to your parents and always, always, try to make each day count because you never know when it's going to be your last.'
Without even thinking about it, Jack rose from his seat on the bench and walked across the lawn to where the little girl was standing.
"Eh, Jack!" Fabrizio called. "Where you going?"
When he was only a few paces away from the little girl, a strong breeze picked up and knocked her hat off her head. Perfect, he thought.
"Excuse me, Miss," he said quietly as the little girl whipped her head around to chase after her hat. Her mass of curls got all caught up in her eyes and mouth, making her sputter.
Jack smiled. "I think you dropped this."
The girl stood no taller than his waist, and he crouched down onto her level so that he could look her in the eyes properly. She blushed a little bit, though Jack had no idea why. He extended his hand out and then girl took her hat back but didn't place it on her head.
"Thanks," she murmured quietly, as though she couldn't really think of anything else to say. Around her, leaves painted all the colours of autumn stirred softly on the ground.
"I'm Jack," he said, putting his hand out for the little girl to shake.
Smiling shyly, she replied, "I'm Cora. Thanks for saving my hat."
"You're welcome, Cora," Jack said. "So, ever had a picture drawn of you?"
Cora shook her head. She was such an innocent, shy little thing. Her thin fingers tightened their grip on her hat- one of those wool beret things that little girls wore.
"Well, would you like one?"
Her face lit up like a million shining stars at the idea. "Ooh, I'd love one. I've never had one before," she reiterated, although Jack figured she probably hadn't realized that bit. He reached into the worn, leather book that held all of his drawings and pulled out the one of the little girl named Cora, handing it to her with a boyish smile on his face.
Cora's smile grew even brighter when she saw the charcoal sketch, reaching her big brown eyes. "That's so beautiful, Jack!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe you did that. Can I keep it?"
Laughing, Jack said, "It's yours," just as the man he'd seen before walked up behind Cora and placed his hand on her shoulder. He eyed Jack, who still knelt in front of Cora, but there was no suspicion or anger in his eyes. Thank God. Jack could easily see how someone might not like a strange young man talking to a little girl in Central Park.
"Uncle Tommy," Cora exclaimed, "look at this! This man's name is Jack. He drew it of me while I was looking at the polar bears!"
Jack rose so that he was at eye level with the man Cora had referred to as Tommy. He was a little bit shorter than Jack, but bigger and probably stronger. He had a sort of tired look about his face, as though he'd worked for harder than anyone his age should have to. His eyes were happy and smiling though, and in a way he reminded Jack of himself.
He extended his hand to Jack. "Tommy Ryan," he said. "This is my niece, Cora."
Shaking it, Jack said, "Jack Dawson. I was just watching your niece here looking at the polar bears, and it seemed like a perfect thing to put on paper."
Tommy beamed down proudly at his niece, as though they were all each other had in the world. Jack hoped it wasn't so. Although Cora clearly adored her uncle, and vice versa, he had had to learn the hard that no one could replace your parents. Quickly, Jack refocused his attention on Cora and Tommy. He didn't let his mind go there, back to those places...
"Yeah," Tommy said. "She's quite the cutie, ain't she?"
Jack nodded, looking Cora right in the eyes. She was one of those kids; the ones you always wanted to feel happy, no matter what.
"Very much so," he replied. Cora smiled at this, but she couldn't help turning a million shades of red.
"Thanks," she said simply. She appeared to be enamoured with Jack, because she couldn't take her little eyes off him, but other than that youthful mistake, she knew well enough, even at her young age, not to let that show.
Giving his niece's shoulder a squeeze, Tommy turned to Jack and asked, "So, what brings you here this morning?"
Jack shrugged. He really didn't like to tell people about his life, especially because most people found it to be horribly inadequate. While it was true that people like him, and even worse off, were all too common in New York City, and that most of the wealthier folk were sympathetic to them, admitting that he had no job or any real material possessions to his name wasn't something that had ever been easy for Jack.
"Trying to make a penny, I guess," he explained. "Just like everybody else. Usually I just sit in that bench over there and sell sketches for ten cents apiece. It's not much, but so far it's worked for me."
Tommy didn't respond at first. He seemed hesitant, as though he wanted to know more about Jack's background, but didn't feel comfortable asking. Which, to be frank, suited Jack right down to the ground, because he didn't like to tell people how he'd gotten to where he was now. It wasn't really any of their business. The only person who knew anything about the life before he'd dropped out of school in the tenth grade- the life where his parents were alive- was Fabrizio, and even he only knew the bare minimum. When Jack was first out on his own, he let Fabri in on just enough so that there were no holes in the story, but only that and no more. Some things were personal. The silence between him and Tommy was getting uncomfortable for both of them.
"Umm," Tommy said slowly, as though he was looking for a way to put a thought into words. Jack stared intently a tree just to the left of Tommy's head, so that it seemed as though he was sort of looking him in the eyes. "Uh... Jack, I don't really know how to ask this, and its okay if yer all offended and whatnot, but, well, I know you don't know me and you've got no reason ter trust me and all..."
The tree behind Tommy's head hadn't started to turn orange yet; maybe a little bit in the stems, but not the leafy parts. Jack kept his visual focus on the tree, but couldn't help listening hard to what Tommy was saying. His lilting Irish accent made his voice easy to just... listen to. It was impossible to be bothered by him.
"Okay," he said, taking a deep breath. "Here's the thing. Me brother-in-law, Cora's father, he manages an art gallery downtown, Heller, I think it's called. Now, this is where I'm worryin that ye might be offended, but hear me out. Bert- that's Cora's da- he's been sayin how they need a new night custodian or something like that. The pay's alright, eleven bucks an hour, but here's what I'm thinkin. So, if you take this job, Mr Dawson, since it's an art gallery an' all, maybe some big shot there'll see them drawings you do. Cause they're good."
Jack didn't know what to say. He'd loved art ever since he could remember, even before he knew he was any good. His parents had wanted him to go to art school when he grew up. They'd always told him that as far as art went, New York was the place to be. And they'd been right. To be honest, as great as it would have been to have his stuff displayed in some gallery, that wasn't going to happen. As far as that went, Tommy was out of his ever loving mind. But just being around art all the time... and getting paid for it on top of it all... it was just too much to even imagine.
"Wow... I- I don't know what to say," he muttered. He really didn't. Here was this complete stranger, not judging him, not looking down on him... just offering him another shot at life. What was he supposed to say?
"Well, maybe you should say yes!" That interjection came from Cora, who had been pretty much silent thus far, but must have recognized the need to speak up at that moment. Jack decided right then and there that Cora was going to grow up to be a very intelligent and strong little girl.
He couldn't say no to her. "Well, I guess... I guess I'd love that!" Jack exclaimed. "Umm, should we meet sometimes to talk about it? Cause sorry, but my buddy's waiting for me, and I should really be getting back to him."
Tommy smiled broadly at Jack. His bright expression was echoed by his niece. "Umm, yeah, that sounds great. Why don't you meet us at the Dunkin Donuts on East 43rd tomorrow? Joe will want you to start as soon as possible, if that's alright with you."
Normally, Jack wouldn't even consider stopping at Dunkin Donuts- the money just wasn't there, as far as those things went. But hey, he was a working man now! Coffee couldn't cost that much, could it?
His smile was a good bit brighter than it had been only a few minutes ago as he said, "That sounds great." Not really knowing what to do with himself, he sort of started to walk away while still facing Tommy and Cora. He said goodbye and waved quickly, noticing that Cora was waving back at him enthusiastically. She was one hell of a cute kid.
As he made his way back over to the bench where Fabrizio was still waiting for him, he still had a huge, goofy smile painted on his face.
"Eh, mia amico, what's going on?"
"God, Fabri, you're never gonna believe this," Jack began as he sat down next to his old friend. He couldn't wait to tell his friend all about the new life that had just been turned over in his life. Right at that moment, Jack Dawson felt like the luckiest guy in the world.
