Autumn, 1994

"Today was a good sellin' day," Race said as the walked up the stairs. "You's a good luck charm, kid. Can't wait for tomorra'."

"Tomorrow?" Romeo repeated.

"Yeah," Race said. "You's a newsie now. Ya sell papes. Carryin' the banner!"

He pushed open the door at the top of the stairs, still chattering on about something as he crossed to a bunk and fished around under the mattress for a box of cigars. Glancing around, Romeo got his first glimpse of the bunk room. It was exactly what it sounded like- a big room full of bunk beds, with a dozen or so boys lounging around, some talking, some playing cards, some already in bed.

An older boy near the door stood up as they entered. "Geez, Racetrack," he said. "Give the kid a chance ta get a word in edgewise."

Romeo had to tilt his head back to look the boy in the face. He was at least six feet tall and built like a brick wall. His shaggy black hair was just a little too long, and he kept pushing it back out of his eyes. Intimidated, Romeo shrunk back behind Race.

"Heya, Butch!" Race said, spitting in his hand and shaking the older boy's hand enthusiastically.

Butch laughed, returning the shake and clapping Race on the back. "And who's this?" he asked, turning to Romeo. "Ya bring home another stray?"

Romeo felt color rise to his cheeks. "I ain't a stray!" he said defensively. "I'm Romeo. I sell papes, so I get ta stay here... right?"

"Yeah, that's right," Butch acknowledged. "But ya gotta prove yourself first. Why'd ya start sellin' papes?"

Romeo paused, searching for his answer. "I found a nickel in the street," he said. "I thought I could double it by sellin' papes. I did, too."

Butch crouched down to his level, looking impressed. "Ya found some money in the street, and ya decided ta try and double it? Didn't spend it on candy, or nothin' like that?"

Romeo shook his head. "See?" he said, holding out his handful of coins.

Butch looked him up and down, nodding appraisingly. "Alright," he said. "Ya can stay. Welcome aboard, kid."

"Hey, Romeo!" someone called. A brown-haired kid, the one who always stuck close to Crutchie. What was his name again? Jack?

"We's gonna play some poker," Jack said. "Wanna join?"

Romeo perked up. "Sure."

He wasn't the best at cards, but he was a good bluffer. There were three other boys playing- Jack, Race, and Kid Blink. They each tossed a penny in the pot, and the game began.

Almost immediately, Jack gave up. "I fold," he announced, tossing down his cards and moving to sit by Crutchie. They soon lost interest in the game, whispering back and forth together.

Romeo glanced up. He had a decent hand- three eights and a jack.

Now let's see how the others are doin'.

Kid Blink was grinning, but that could be a ploy. Race's face was set in a neutral expression, harder to read. He added a nickel to the pot, and Kid Blink did the same.

Romeo hesitated a second before counting out five pennies. Allowing a small grin, Racetrack raised the stakes by a dime. Kid Blink folded, muttering something about a bad selling day.

"Aw, whatsamatter, Blinky Boy?" Race called. "Ya quittin' already?"

"Don't call me that," the one-eyed boy retorted, knocking Race's cap off.

Race just laughed before turning to Romeo. "What about you, kid?" he asked.

Time to bluff.

Romeo added two nickels to the growing pile in the middle. The silence seemed to stretch, until finally Race threw down his cards. "Okay, kid," he said. "Guess ya win."

Romeo's face split into a smile. "I won!" he said, his pride soaring.

Race grinned good-naturedly, ruffling the younger boy's hair. "You's tellin' me," he said. "Ya said ya didn't know how ta play."

"I lied," Romeo said matter-of-factly.

Jack laughed out loud. "Ya found someone who can give ya a run for your money, Race," he said.

"Oughta help your ego some," Crutchie added with a smile.

"Hey, quit it!" Race said, acting hurt. Then he turned back to Romeo. "C'mon, kid, spill. How'd ya get so good at bluffin'?"

"Ya don't make it through a year on the streets without lyin' some," Romeo said, counting the coins and dropping them in his pocket.

Jack leaned forward. "Ya were on the streets for a year?"

Romeo felt a sudden sense of unease. Had he said the wrong thing?

"Good for you, kid," Kid Blink said, breaking the stretch of silence. "What are ya, eight? After that, sellin' papes'll be nothin'."

"Like you would know," Race scoffed.

"Maybe I do!" Kid Blink countered, getting to his feet. "You don't know me, Racetrack! You don't know where I been!"

"Who're you yellin' at?" Race demanded, clenching his fists.

Luckily, Butch caught was wind of what was happening and put a stop to it before a fight broke out. "C'mon, boys, settle down," he warned. "You make a mess in here and it'll be me you'se a-tanglin' with."

Both boys backed down pretty quickly after that.

"All of you's better be gettin' ta bed," the leader said, glancing out the window. "I'll see ya in the mornin'." Jamming his hat on his head, he clattered off downstairs.

"Where's he goin'?" Romeo whispered to Race.

"Aw, he's goin' out ta meet his goil," Race said offhandedly. "He won't be back 'til late. C'mon, you can have the bunk below mine."

"Romeo!" Race yelled through the door. "You's gonna make us late!"

"Comin'!" Romeo called, appearing fully-dressed in the doorway.

"Finally!" Race said. "C'mon. If we hurry, the nuns'll still have some food left."

"The nuns?" Romeo questioned.

"Yeah," Race said as they joined the other boys in the street. "The nuns. They hand out bread and coffee for all the kids. You musta seen 'em, if you was on the streets."

Romeo shook his head. "I ain't from 'Hattan," he said. "I usta live in the Bronx."

"The Bronx," Race repeated. "How'd ya get here?"

Don't think. Don't answer questions.

"Long story," Romeo said finally.

Race sent him a sideways glance and decided to change the subject. "Let's get some food."

The two of them each got a hunk of bread -only slightly stale- and a tin mug of lukewarm coffee.

Romeo wolfed his down, and was done before Race had swallowed two bites.

"Slow down, kid," Race remarked. "When did ya eat last?"

"Yesterday morning," Romeo said, handing his empty cup back to one of the nuns.

Race's eyes widened. "Here," he said, handing Romeo what was left of his bread. "And we's stoppin' by Jacobi's later for a real lunch. We made enough yesterday, and Lord knows ya need one."

Romeo didn't argue. "Thanks, Race," he said around a mouthful of bread.

Race threw an arm around his new friend's shoulders. "Let's get our papes and get out there," he said. "You keep usin' that charm of yours on the ladies and I bet ya you can push thirty papes a day, easy."

(A/N): Hello, lovely people! Thank you so much to AutumnBelle101 for following this and my other story, Santa Fe (which you should totally check out, btw) and to Obsessed 2k17 for reviewing! The rest of you should follow their example... It's my birthday tomorrow, and I would love nothing more than to wake up to lots of notifications and reviews! Also, just for the record, I highly doubt that I'll be updating this often in the future. I'm just posting these as I finish them, and I'm pretty excited about this story right now. Please leave reviews with what you'd like to see in future chapters! Thanks, y'all!

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