In the morning I woke up late. I never woke up late... I expected my mother to drag me out of bed and make some sort of comment about what I had done to my father. I knew that in I hadn't done anything. In fact it was my father who had committed the crime of drinking to much and scaring me to death! Maybe for once she's realized that... I sat up in my bed listening, not knowing what to expect. A sudden fear came over me. What is he's just waiting for me? I thought. I pictured my dad with a bottle of whiskey in his hand waiting for me at the n=end of the hallway. I could see him standing there staring at my door, watching and waiting.

It took all of my courage to stand and slowly walk to my door. I counted my steps. One, two three, four... I opened by the time I got to fourteen I was standing in front of my door. I took a deep breath as I reached for the door nob. My body trembled as I turned the nob and opened the door. I looked down the hall to my relief he wasn't standing at the end of the hall. But I knew that didn't mean he wasn't in the apartment at all. I peered into the parlor. He wasn't there. And there was no sign of him in the kitchen. One last place to look the master bedroom. I made my down the hall nervously biting my lip. I opened the door and there he laid. He was sprawled out on the bed. I saw him and gasped in fear. I expected my gasp to wake him up but it didn't. I watched him for moment. My mother wasn't laying next to him... I closed the door. I hurried away from the room. I looked down at my hands and realized I was shaking. I took a deep breath. I heard the apartment front door open.

"Good morning Maria." I heard mother say.

"Good morning mother."

"Where were you?"

"Out for a little fresh air."

I tried to hide the fact that I was trembling with fear.

"Your hair is a mess Maria!" My mother nagged.

At least she didn't notice you shaking. I thought. She grabbed a brush and violently started brushing through my hair. I thought of a question.

"Why is father home I thought that he had to go to work now?" I asked.

"He took the day off today. He told me he wanted to spend some time with you."

I felt my heat drop. Why would he want to talk to me after what he had done to me? Better yet how could he talk to me? Mother snapped me out of my thoughts by putting the brush through my knotted hair again. I felt a few hairs getting pulled out of my head. Pain.

"I do have important people to see today so it will just be you and your father." She said.

My chest tightened. As I stood trying to understand what was happening to me, my father walks in. I feel a chill go down my spine. Pure utter fear. I looked down at my arms. They were covered with goose bumps.

"Good morning." He said smiling as if everything was alright.

"Good morning." mother mumbled.

"Uh... G-good morning." I stuttered.

I stared at my father as he stepped into the room. He looked up at me. Our eyes met. I felt sick like I was about to vomit all over the floor of my apartment. An awkward silence between us ensued.

"Well," mother said ending the silence "I should get going soon..."

I could tell she was trying to escape the awkwardness. With that my mother left me there with my father. Questions swirled around in my head. Had my father told my mother what happened? Where was mother going? If she knew what happened then why was she leaving me alone with my father?

"So Maria," My father began. "is there something you would like to talk to me about?"

Inside I wanted to scream yes there is something I would like to talk to you about! Don't you understand what you did? Why did you hurt me? How could you put your hand on your own child? But outside really I said "No... No nothing."

"Oh I see."

I felt disappointed in myself. I should have said something. I tried but each time I did I couldn't seem to find the words

and my mouth went dry.

"Maria I..." He started then he just shut his mouth.

Was he cutting off an apology? I felt rage build up inside me! I was about to blow!

"You what?" I seethed.

He silently motioned me over, like a slave. His slave. I managed to hold in my anger. I walked over to him. He placed a hand on my shoulder. It wasn't the warm loving father I once knew. Even tough he had his rants he was still a wonderful person. But now that was gone the hand on my shoulder was cold to the touch. I looked at him. Who was this man? It didn't feel like my father. He acted nothing like my father. If I could describe how I felt in one word it would be vertigo. I felt sick and I was about to fall over from it. As if I was about to fall over. The whole situation just made me feel dizzy.

"Maria I wanted to... apologize." He said.

For some reason the apology didn't make me feel better it just made me feel rage swell up inside me. I had reached my boiling point!

"You want to apologize? That is your best? You were there you know what you did! How could you? I don't need you god damn apologies!" I screamed.

I stormed out the door without even looking into my fathers eyes. I didn't want to see his reaction. I didn't need it. I ran down the stair case until I reached the lobby. I hurried out. I walked down the street looking behind my shoulder every few minutes in fear of my father following me. I walked just a bit passed Broadway until I got to a smaller building. The Newsboys Lodging House. I walked through the door. Kloppman sat behind his desk reading the same book he'd been reading the last time I was there. I rushed up the stairs. He looked up from his book.

"Good morning ."He said.

"Hello Kloppman."

I hurried up the stairs and into the crowded room with the bunks. I opened the door. The room was all empty except for Faith who was sitting on her bunk.

"Welcome back." She said once again without looking at me.

How does she do that? I wondered.

"You must be looking for Jack right?" Faith asked.

I nodded my head.

"Well he's not here, he's out selling. He should be back in about one or two hours." She went on.

"And why aren't you selling?" I asked.

She looked at me then. "I have plans for a little bit later. I took a day off. I haven't been sleeping well."

I noticed her dark circles had gone away. She seemed less drowsy.

"Well I guess I should be on my way." I turned around ready to leave.

"No, why don't you stay for a while? It would be nice to have another girl to talk to around here." She smiled.

I smiled back.

"Why not go to Jack's room for some privacy?" she asked.

"Okay."

We walked down the hall and into Jacks room. It was a small room. It has a small bed in the left corner and a table with some playing cards spread across the it and something else... I walked over to the small table. It was a picture, two pictures actually. One of Jack and a girl his age a boy also his age and a younger boy who looked about nine. Jack had his arm around the girl. For some reason I felt my heart drop. Was that Jack's girl?

"Who are these people?" I asked nervously.

"Oh them?" She paused as if not sure what to say next."Well Jack doesn't like us talking about it... But I guess I could tell you."

Faith sat on the bed and patted the seat next to her.

"David the boy in the picture was a Newsie back in the strike days. The kid is Les his brother. David was a pretty big part of the strike and became Jacks best friend. Sara was his sister and Jack and her fell in love by the end of the strike. But not to long after the strike the David, Sara and Les were sent back to school by they're father and Jack and Sara's relationship didn't work out." She explained.

I felt slightly relieved. I didn't want Jack to be with anyone...

"And the other picture?" I asked.

"Oh this one." She laughed. "Just a picture from the strike. See the boy next to Kid Blink?"

"Yeah, what about him?"

"That's Spot Conlon." She said with pride.

"Who?"

"Spot, he's the leader of the Brooklyn newsies. We've been together for a while." She smiled.

She looked so happy. Almost like nothing else really could upset her. I'd never felt like that... Her eyes were bright and dazzling.

I heard the creek of the door open. I turned to see Jack standing in the doorway. Our eyes met.

"Uh... Hey. What are you doing in here?" Jack asked.

"Nothing, just talking." Faith said.

She quickly put turned around and put the photos behind her back. I wasn't exactly sure what to say. I didn't want to open my mouth and have the whole story about Faith and I looking through Jacks things. Our eyes were still locked. I didn't want to break this, but it was getting a little odd.

"Okay... You guys need piracy or something?" He asked awkwardly breaking our stare.

"Oh don't worry Jack we'll be out in a few minutes." I said.

Jack closed the door.

"Nice save back there." Faith smiled. "Hey did you notice Jack was staring at you?"

"He was?" I acted as if I'd never noticed.

"Jack is just being... strange I guess." She laughed. "I think he just likes you."

"Maybe he does."