pt.1: Leaving Home

"You know we don't want for you to have to do this," she pleaded, sitting tensely on the edge of the bed.

"Of course," the other sighed. "It really is all right, Mother. I know that it's necessary. You don't have to worry. Really."

"And you'll have your brother with you..."

"Yes, and I'll take good care of him." She sighed. "Is father giving Henry this same speech?" Her mother smiled.

"You know it.-" The girl cut her off before she could continue.

"You don't have to worry one bit, Ma. You and Da raised us well. We are completely self-reliant, self-sufficient and-" ~self serving?~ She thought to herself, laughingly. "able to survive on our own."

"Oh, Gertrude," her mother smiled sadly. "I know that, your father knows that. We just... Don't want to let you go..." Gertrude shook her head.

"Now don't you get all soppy on me, Ma.You know we'll be back."

"Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and for church and supper on Sundays."

"Exactly. See? Nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about. Now you'll be sure to watch out for your brother..." She finished stuffing her daughters belongings into a worn, gray sack. She passed it to her, hesitantly, like doing so would be like severing the final thread between her and her eldest. Gertrude grabbed the bag.

"Of course I will." Her mother stood up and walked with her daughter to the kitchen.

"Ma-ah!" James, the youngest Brewster hollered. "I'm sick." He clutched his stomach, making a pitiful face.

"Oh, dearie." Mother shot Gertrude an apologetic look. "Gert, could you please fetch me the stomach medicine?"

"Of course." ~Thank goodness I'm leaving. I get so tired of this! Ruth is 15 years old. She can make herself useful too! But no. She just sits there with her needle work, contented as can be.~ She reached up to a top shelf for the herb. "Ah, here we go." She grabbed a glass and filled it with water and the herb. "I got it, Mother." Gertrude wandered towards her ailing brother. "Open wide, Jamie."

"No." He clenched his jaw tight.

"You know that you won't get better that way."She persuaded. He eased the tension on his jaw."There's a good kid." She put the concoction to his lips. "Now drink." And he drank.

"It tastes terrible!" James forced it down.

"But it works. Now go, and- just go."

"Crank-y!"

"I'm sorry." She cooed. "I'm just tired." He seemed to be satisfied with her explanation, and walked away, already feeling a little better.

Gertrude sighed, and headed again towards the door, muttering something cranky under her breath. Her whole family was waiting there. It lightened her her heart, a little. Very little. Ruth had finished her needlework, and was standing beside their father with a smirk. The twins, both sets of them, looked glad to be rid of her, but also sad to see her go. James, Arthur and Mae, the youngest Brewsters, just looked oblivious. Henry, the oldest boy, looked slightly uncomfortable. Like Gertrude, he could almost taste his impending freedom. He could hardly wait.

"Well," their father spoke up, "are you ready for your first day on the work force?"

"If you could call it that." Ruth snidely cut in. "Peddling newspapers."

"You be quiet." Gertrude hissed.

"Children!" Their mother hushed them. "Now, this is no time for an argument." She gazed at her eldests sadly. "We'll miss you." She wrapped her still youthful arms around her son, then her daughter, embracing them lovingly.

"Oh, Ma." Henry protested. The younger children laughed.

Once all the good-byes were said and done, the eldest Brewsters left their spacious and happy home into the frightening, uncertain world of, well, freedom. Ouch. For both Gertrude and Henry, this will be the beginning of a an interesting, though painful lesson about their own 'disterous innocence'.

pt.2 How I Got Here and Why. Sort of.

"Two lefts, a right and another left. Two lefts, a right and another left... Gertrude Brewster was on her own. "The Bay Ridge Newsgirls Lodging House. That's where I'm going. Bay Ridge..." It was her first day as an individual, a grown-up. An adult. This should have thrilled her, but no. She was terrified and it showed. The world looked big and scary, raw, gritty, real. She felt sick to her stomach, both in nervousnes and in anticiption. She was free. Well, mostly.

She walked quickly and purposfully down the street, pausing every once in a while to make sure she was going the right way. The directions repeated themselves in her head. "Two lefts, a right and another left," over and over. She observed the people around her, going about their lives, laughing,crying, shouting, calling. A rotund, mustashed baker stood in the doorway of his shop, yelling "Stop, thief!" while shaking a golden brown baguette in the air. A little boy dashed accross the street, carrying a loaf of bread. A well dressed woman scolded her daughter, pointing her finger and scowling. Ther daughter was throwing a fit. Lovers walked hand in hand. Dirty old men drank out of flasks, leaning against walls, or sitting on the sidewalk. Young people lauhed and fooled around. A girl about her own age barked shocking headlines, waving her newspapers. "Hmmm. I must be getting close. Ah, here we go. The last left.: She rounded the corner, and glanced around. "There." The Bay Ridge Newsgirls Lodging House. It was an imposing structure, 3 storeys high, made of red brick. She walked towards it, taking in a deep breath. "It's nice." She thought, distractedly. She climbed the steps and paused at the door. "What a lovely door." It was solid wood, cared for well, considering. She couldn't tell what type of wood it was. Walnut, maybe? The knob was brass and warm. She exhaled slowly and knocked three times. She paused again, waiting. Shr listened to see if anyone was there. Sure enough...

"Heya." A rather short, pretty girl stood at the door. "How may I be of service? She had an air of proud insolence about her. "I'm Charity, I run this place."

"I'm Gertrude, Gertrude Brewster. I'm, um, looking for a bunk." Charity smirked, friendly-like.

"You've come to the right place. We got plenty a room for ya." She pointed across the lobbey to a large desk. "First things first. You gotta sign in." Gertrude made her way over, and filled out the form as best she could. She was slightly nervous; she almost spilled the ink. She had just rmembered the suitcase at her side. She clutched its handle protectively. Charity didn't notice, but spoke on. "So where d'ya come frome, ~Gertrude~? She paused, laughingly. "What kinda name is that, anyways?"

"I'm originally from Massechusets, if that's what you mean, but I've lived in the area for years. And as for my name," she spoke coldly, "it's what my mother called me."

"Hey, no need to get defensive." Charity smiled. "Here, I'll show you around." Gertrude picked up her bag and followed her, wondering just what kind of mess she had gotten herself into. She listened intently to Charity's spiel, and observed her surroundings keenly. She boticed the half empty flask in the younger girls back pocket, and internally scorned her. "And this," Charity concluded, "is the bunkroom." Gertrude felt sick to her stomach.

"Oh." She let out.

"You came to late, or early, I guess, to meet the other girls. They're all out sellin' at the moment." She led the new girl through the rowsof bunks, to one that looked unused, clean and tidy.

"This is it. You share it with Lucy."

"Great. Um, thanks." She placed her bag on the ground then kicked it gently under her new bed. "I'm sure I'll be just fine here."

"Mmhm." Charity confirmed, and walked away.

"Oh, and one more thing," Gertrude called."You ~run~ this place, you said, as in...?"

"As in I run it. What's there to not understand?"

"You mean that there's no one above you, no one who owns the building, what?" Charity was mildly annoyed.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I mean." She sighed. "This old couple owned the place, turned it into a lodging house, after their sondied out on the street. Long story. Short of it is, the wife died, and he stopped caring. Just came in once a month to collect the rent. Then he died. Whole lotta loose ends, on their part. She smirked again.

"Wow." Gertrude breathed. "That's very sad." After a brief silence, she was all buisness again. "Does that mean my rent money goes to you? Charity looked dumbfounded. She laughed.

"You're new at this, aren't you?"

A little while later, the steady stream of girls coming and going began. Gertrude sat on the edge of her bunk, in awe. She thought gain, ~What have i gotten myself into? ~ and ~What a life...~. The first girl to come in was dressed somewhat like herself, and timid looking. She had a child in her arms, and it was bawling. The girl was preoccupied with the child, trying to quiet it.

"Hello." Gertrude suprised her.

"Oh! You startled me." The child's crying lessened.

"You're new here, aren't you?"

"Yes, just got here today." She got up, and walked towards her. "I'm Gertrude."

"I'm Melanie." She smiled, slightly. "And this is Jane."

"Nice to meet you." Gertrude motioned towards the child. "She's beautiful. Is she yours?" Melanie blushed a little.

"Yes." She confirmed with a certain quiet finality.

"May I?" Gertrude asked, as to hold her. Melanie looked her over, like to see if she was safe or not. She decided yes, and passed her daugher to her. She took the little girl, and held her like a professional.

"You're good at that." Melanie murmurred.

"I've been through it alot." The other girl looked at her strandely. She smiled. "No, not like that. I'm the oldest child of ten. I've always been at least partially responsible for my younger brothers and sisters." She gently passed Jane back to her mother.

"I can't imagen having so many children. One is enough!" She laughed a bit. "But I love her anyways."

"So how did you end up here?" Gertrude asked, as politely as the question would allow.

"I needed work. My hus-. I needed to support my daughter."

"I shouldn't have asked. Mmmh. I'm sorry, I'm being to forward."

"No. No, don't worry about it." She paused. "What about you? How did you end up here?" By this time, Jane was sleeping in her arms. Melanie spoke softly. Gertrude took the hint.

"Remember those nine brothers and sisters I told you about?" She smirked. "To many mouthes to feed, so here I am. My brother Henry, too; we send the family all that we can. Or will send, this is my first day. Well, tomorrow will be, I guess." She sighed. "But I', talking to much. What about you? Speak?"

"Oh, no. I'm not much of a talker. I'm a listener, really." She smiled a little, shyly.

"Thats a good way to be..." She trailled off.

"Hmm. Would you like you lend me a hand? I have to find a bottle for Jane." Gertrude glanced around, her eyes finally resting on a spot under a tidy bunk. She went to fetch it for the older girl, sprawling herself flat out on her stomach. She reached the gleaming bottle.

"Mph. Here it is." She told her muffledly. She pulled herself out. By this time, Melanie and Jane were hovering just overhead. She swiveled into a seating position, grinning stupidly. Her eyes darted to the doorway, where a male figure was standing. She blushed, embarassed, as their eyes met. He looked at her laughingly, shook his head and walked away. Her attention returned to the task at hand, passing the bottle to Melanie. She giggled.

"What a sight!" Gertrude laughed too.

"I feel pretty foolish." She stood back up, forgetting about the stranger at the door. She straightened her prim brown skirt and dusted herself off.

"Don't worry about it." Melanie assured her. "And thank you for the help." She paused. "Well, I really must be off." She seemed mildly appologetic. "It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise. See you later."

"Most definately." Melanie and Jane exited, and Gertrude was again left alone again. She took advantage of the silence, thinking.~This is gonna be be quite the experience... No landlord, just an alcoholic little girl.~ She laughed. ~so she's nearly a woman, she's still younger than I am. And I pay my rent to her... How humbling. And I have an infant, however well behaved, as one of, say, 15 or so roommates. The mother, Melanie? seems nice. Charity looks to be a bit of a- an angsty youth. As long as her drinking doesn't effect me in a negative fashion, I have no qualms.~ She paused.~ I wonder who that fellow was...~She shook her head. ~I'm really here. Really free...~ She went over the facts in her mind: where things were in and around the lodging house, how to get to the grocers, the distribution center, the pharmacy, the herbalist and the like. She realized that it was to late to buy her papers, and slapped herself mentally for putting it off.~I'm an idiot! A procrastinator. Bah!~ She sighed. ~Oh well.~ She was about to give up anyways, when another girl entered the room. She had an air about her that made the room go cold. She sighed in disgust as she entered, and muttered something under her breath. She was halfways to the armoire, having zeroed in on a pretty hairbrush, when she noticed that there was another person in the room.

"Oh." She stated. "Who are you?" She spoke bluntly and icily.

"My name is Gertrude Brewster, if that's what you mean." She made herself sound jovial and nonchalant, hoping to melt the ice a little. But alas...

"Of course that's what I ment. What are you, daft?"

"Well, that certainly is a possibility, however I prefer tp think of myself as simply a little insane. It makes me feel better." She smiled. The haughty girl did not. Instead, she let out another disgusted sigh. Gertrude went on talking, wanting to see just how angry she could get her. "And who might you be?"

"My name is Victoria Elizabeth Lockhart." She rolled her eyes. "But the girls here seem to insist on calling me Diamond. Foolish as it is, I suppose you may do the same."

"Why thanks so much," she oozed with sarcasm, "for the offer, Vicky, but I'm not much of one for nicknames." Diamond didn't know quite what to make of it. She sighed once again, and went to brush her long blond hair.

"Y'know," she continued, "you're awefully well dressed, for a street urchin." Diamonds eyes widened, and her jaw dropped in anger.

"How dare you call me that?!" She hissed. "You ill mannered, foolish, ugly girl!"

"Calm yourself. I ment no harm." She smirked. "Struck a nerve, have I?" She didn't give the girl a chance to respond."It's just that you really don't seem suited to this type of life." She quickly paused. "But then again, who is, really?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry. Don't mind me. I talk to much, sometimes."

"There's no doubt." Diamond seethed, but remaining as cool as ever. She ventured a little further, while stroking her long blond locks. "But what, pray tell, brings you here?" Gertrude was a picture of seriousness now, sitting up, alert.

"The money. I, well, my family and I, need the money."

"Quite simple, then, I suppose." She paused, disbelieving."You have a family?"

"Mother, father, brothers, sisters. The usual. Well, a little larger than usual, but still."

"Oh?" She enquired.

"I have nine brothers and sisters." She spoke bluntly, embarassed.

"That's why I'm here. My brother, Henry, and I went to work to support them, as well as ourselves." Diamond scoffed.

"How noble of you." Gertrude could tell that she hardly believed her.

"Not at all." She left it at that. "What about you? What brings you here?" Diamond shifted uncomfortably.

"That's really none of your buisness." Even her voice stiffened. Gertrude just shrugged.

"Whatever." ~She's quite defensive. This should prove to be interesting.~ Gertrude went back to what she was doing. Nothing. She sighed. ~Well, I'm not about to waste any more of my time hanging around here any longer.~ Gertrude got up silently and moved towards the door. ~Enough of this, sitting around in the dark.~ She laughed to herself. ~Now to go and sit around in the light. Ah, this is the life...~ She walked down the stairs and out the door, observing the goings on around her. She saw so many people, loud, quiet, short, tall, passive, aggressive, in all sorts of moods. She sat on the far edge of the step, just taking it all in. A few minutes later, her peaceful reverie was interrupted. A pleasent looking young girl, dressed in a mans trousers and a boys shirt, judging by the fit.

"You new here?" She questioned.

"Yeh-yes. Um, just got here this morning." She cringed.

"So why aren't you out sellin' papes?" Her tone was slightly reprimanding.

"Uh, well, I was a little to late, so..." She shook her head, and added quickly, "I'll make up for it tomorrow. I'm new at this." The other girl laughed.

"Go figure." She continued."So what's yer name, kid?"

"Kid?" Gertrude laughed. "I'm older than you are!" She sighed. "I'm Gertrude Brewster."

"I'm Promise Kept. Smyth." Gert looked at her crookedly.

"Nice to meet you. But what kind of a name is Promise Kept?" Promise rolled her eyes.

"You got alot to learn." She just laughed. "Gertrude." She shifted her seating position.

"You're gonna have fun here."

"I don't know..."

"Oh, you will. Just watch yerself. You don't wanna get burnt."

"Is that a threat?" Gertrude was indignant.

"No, not at all. Just a friendly piece of advice. Never take life to seriously, and don't get yourself hurt. That's all."

"Oh. All right..." She hesitantly affirmed. Promise got back up, and stuck out her hand.

"Well, I have to be goin'. It was nice meetin' ya." They shook hands and the younger girl took off. And with that, Gertrude was once again by herself. Sitting silently and unnoticibly. She continued to observe the goings on around her. By the end of the day, she had gained some knowledge of who's who (though not much), and a very sore posterieur. She'd stretched some, walking around seeing where everything was. She even watched other newsies sell their papers, to see how it's done and absorb some technique. She felt ready to take on the world; or at least Bay Ridge.

"At about ten o'clock, Gertrude headed back to the lodging house, annoyed at herself for wasting a day's wages, but otherwise contented. She walked up the stairs and through the heavy wooden door feeling pretty good, on the whole. She quietly trudged up the stairs of the bunkroom. The quiet murmur of voices she had heard from the lobby was steadily increasing into a confused roar. With the rising sound came her rising anticipation. She felt as though she was about to be thrown into, or rather step into, the lions den. People often scared her, especially when they when there were lots of them together. "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" was her motto. Intelligent people in large groups were even worse. She took in a deep breath and walked in the bunkroom door.

"Oh. God." It was like a nightmare come true. Almost twenty squalling, giggling, chatting, shouting girls packed into a room with only two windows. Her eyes widened, her breathing and heart-rate quickened and she felt like turning and running. However, her feet were planted firmly on the ground. Upon seeing her, Charity hopped off her bunk and approached her, laughing at her current state.

"Welcome to Bay Ridge."