Glint was working in the kitchen, and beginning to make dinner when her Pa walked through the door. Startled, Glint looked up at her Pa from the stove. He never gets home this early. By the look on his face, Glint knew something was wrong. Jason, her older brother, got up from a chair and walked over to Pa with a questioning look on his face.

Before anyone could say anything, Pa asked Jason to go into the second room of our tiny tenement. Since a draping of cloth only separated the rooms, Glint stationed herself outside the doorway and eves-dropped on the conversation.

"Jason, I got laid off today," said her Pa.

"What? But, why?" asked Jason.

"We live in a large city that is growing uncontrollably. More and more people are coming and looking for jobs. If someone asks for a raise, or comes in a minute late, then they are fired without a second thought, because they can be replaced with someone who will work for less pay," replied Pa solemnly.

"So, that is why you were laid off..." reasoned Jason.

Pa nodded slowly, "I won't be able to find work very easily, since jobs go so quickly, and for people who are willing to be paid less."

"Then, what are we going to do?" asked Jason. "My job at the factory can't support all three of us! We would lose the tenement!"

"Sh," Pa said. "Quite down, or else Cara will hear you... I have an idea. I have heard news about a city in Illinois named Chicago. The population isn't as high, and I would be able to find a job easier. I was thinking about going there. Then, once I get more stable I will send for Cara."

"Send for Cara?" asked Jason. "But what about me?"

Outside, Glint's heart started to race. He can't leave her? Can he? This was impossible. What was -she- going to do? She was about to rush into the room, but stopped herself to listen further.

Pa continued, "I need you to come with me. I need someone to help out. Cara is a big girl now. She is sixteen. I heard of these logging houses. She can pay for her rent by selling papers. I know Cara will be fine, but I need you to come. We can send for her to come later."

That was it, Glint couldn't take it anymore. There was no way Pa and Jason could leave her! She rushed into the room, "Pa you can't!!"

Both Pa and Jason turned quickly to look at Glint. Shaking his head Pa tried to calm her down, "It's the only thing that I can think of Cara. We will send you letters to keep you up to date, and we will send you money eventually to come join us." You could tell in Pa's face that it hurt him to leave his only girl.

Jason wasn't thrilled with the idea either. He worried about how Glint was going to be able to defend herself in this large city. Jason knew how the streets could be to a sixteen-year-old girl. He wanted to stay to protect his sister. "Look, Cara. I will have Adam look after you. How does that sound?"

Offended, Glint snapped, "Adam? I don't need him to look after me. I want to come with you! Please!"

Pa walked over to his daughter. He knelt in front of her. You could see the pain in his face. Every time he looked at his daughter, Glint looked more and more like her mother. He tried to calm her down and tears came to his eyes, "Cara... Glint, my glint, my precious little light, please, listen to me. We can't afford to take you with us right now, and I don't know what Chicago is like. I need for you to stay until we can send for you, and we know it is safe. Please, Glint. Jason has a good idea… He can have his friend Adam check in on you, and if you ever have a problem you can go to him, all right? I will put you into the lodging house tomorrow, so that Jason and I can be on our way."

"Tomorrow?!" Glint cried out. "I won't even have any time to say goodbye!"

"Please, Glint. The sooner the better," replied Pa.

About to cry, Glint decided that there was nothing that she could do, and that she was only making things worse for everyone by protesting. "Fine," she finally said as she stopped out to continue to make dinner.