"I'se will share me bed wit you'se if you'se tell me bout youself." He stated as matter a factly. "But foist I'se will shah infahmation bout meself. I'se was boin in Italy but as soon as I toined seven me muddah faddah and meself decided ta stoit a new life here in da usa. So da three of us came here from a really small town in Italy. Me faddah died on da joiney ova and me muddah quickly remarried. About a month afta we moved ta Manhattan I'se watche das me stepfaddah beat me muddah ta death. He repeatedly beat her around her face and chest finally smashing her skull into her brain. Then he toined on me and began to beat me. I tried me hardest ta foight back but I'se was young andnot really all dat strong. Plus, I'se had absolutely no idea how ta fight. So me step faddahcontinued ta beat me, dat was when Jack and a few of da otha more olda newsieshoid me yellin and screamin. Dey'se came in loik a hurricane and saw me step faddah beatin da hell out of me and dey pulled him off. They got me outta der in da nick of time and intraduced me to da loif of da newsies. I'se loik ta hang out at da sheepshead races and dats how i'se got da name racetrack. So now what about you'se what brings ya here ta Manhattan New York? I'se don't recognize you'se accent from anywhere familiar."
I took a deep breath before I was ready to tell him my story. I pretty much told Spot a lot of it just not the whole thing. I felt as if I could trust this Racetrack kid with my entire story and all of my secrets. "Well, my names Leilana Alexis Van Buringsle I was born in Sydney Austrailia in 1883, so that would make me sixteen. My brother and father were shot down in our front yard and soon my mom remarried. My step father was nice at first until I got older than he became mean and abusive. I was soon arranged to marry a man named Mitchell Delancey. At first I was reluctant to agree until Mitchell claimed that he wanted to bring me to America to meet his sons." As soon as I had finished I looked at Racetrack tears forming at the corners of my eyes. He was looking at me taking everything in. Then suddenly his eyes lit up and a huge crooked grin crossed his lips.
"What?" I asked raising an eyebrow, but all he continued to do was grin.
"I'se got da poifect nickname fah you'se. you'se are very Patient ta put up wid us afta what you'se told me. So now you'se will be known as Patience." HE said smiling, "Now I'se bet you'se as tired as I am so why don't we get some shut eye."
I nodded my head and smiled, I was glad to have a bed to sleep in and a friend to share it with. He layed down close to the window then patted the bed next to him. As soon as my head hit the pillow I fell into a peaceful dreamless sleep, then the nightmare began. I was running as fast as I could go in the pouring down rain when a voice called out to me. It was my stepfather, he kept yelling for me to stop or he would shoot me. I froze in midstep and fell to the ground screaming. I must have woken Racetrack up because I was suddenly in his arms and he was trying to comfort me. Sooner or later I ended up drifting back to sleep free of any nightmares. I was very comfortable in this bed and had no intentions of getting up right away. The sounds of wolf whistles and laughter made me open eyes. I looked and found myself laying on top of a shirtless, sleeping Racetrack, his arms were wrapped tightly around me as if I were a stuffed teddy bear. At first I didn't think he was awake until he looked at me, smiled then winked.
"You can let me go now." I told him gently unravelling myself out of his grasp. As soon as I was up I went straight towards what I believed was the washroom. I overheard some of the boys asking Racetrack how he managed to get me to go all the way with him when I turned Spot down. I slowed my pace because I wanted to hear Racetracks response to such absurd statements.
"Well you'se see boys if Patience and me did do anything you'se would of hoid it. So no nothing happened, and Patience is not dat type of goil." Racetrack glared at his friends.
Satisfied with his answer I continued to the washroom but stopped suddenly as several newsies came out. Some were shirtless wearing only boxers others only had towels wrapped around their waists. Only god and the boys them selves knew what lie beneath the towels. My jaw dropped and I looked away blushing from embarassment. Jack must have seen me cause he walked over to me with a smirk on his face. Instead of receiving some smart comment from him I ran out the door into the streets of Manhatten. I conpletely ignored Racetrack and Jacks pleas for me to return to the lodging house.