Racetrack's Newsie Races (A Racetrack Higgin's Love Story)

Chapter 3: A Lonely Life

*Racetrack’s POV*

                I went back to the Newsboys Lounge still thinking about Sydney. Gosh she was pretty and her smile was perfect. She was so nice and her eyes, I couldn’t get them out of my head. I was daydreaming while Kid Blink was talking to me. It wasn’t until he hit me in the arm that I actually paid attention to what he was telling me.

                “What’s ya problem?” Kid Blink asked, “Ya not even listenin’ ta me.”

                “Sorry,” I said, “I was just thinkin’ about somethin’ else.”             

                “What was ya thinkin’ about? Have a bad day at the tracks?”

                “Nah, it was a good day.”

                I lit a cigar and started smoking it. What was wrong with me? I couldn’t think of anything else but Sydney. Her face was the only thing in my mind. What was I thinking of her for? She wouldn’t like a guy like me away. I was a newsie. A street rat. She was rich. She was the daughter of the most powerful man in New York. She wouldn’t like me. I might as well be trash to her. Just then, Jack walked in with Les. He had gone to get her from Brooklyn. She spent most of her days over there now since she hooked up with Spot Conlon. Jack hit me on the back as he walked passed. Les sat down in the bed across from me.

                “Who is she?” she asked me.

                “Who is who?” I said.

                “The girl that ya can’t stop thinkin’ about.”

                “There ain’t no girl.”

                “Yeah there is. Ya look like ya just got hit wit cupid’s arrow. Don’t lie ta me. I know what it’s like to be in love. So who is she?”

                “Woah, Race is in love?” Jack asked coming out of nowhere.”

                “Would ya quit stickin’ ya nose in other people’s business?”

                “Well, at least I know Race is goin’ to tell me who he’s inlove with unlike some people.”

                “Are ya gonna bring that up all the time? Excuse me if I wanted to see Spot wit his face still intact.”

                Jack shook his head and turned back around to me. “So, Race, who is she?”

                “I keep tellin’ ya, there ain’t no girl,” I lied.

                “I ain’t lettin’ ya leave until ya tell us,” Les said, “So ya might as well tell us.”

                I looked from Jack to Les and back. They were both staring at me with anticipated looks. I looked around to make sure no one else was listening in. I didn’t want all the boys getting on me about this. They would tease me for sure and then I would have to knock some heads together.

                “There’s this girl I met at the racetrack,” I started, “I saved her from gettin’ trampled by a horse. She was so pretty with green eyes and brown hair. Her name is Sydney.”

                “Sounds like good girl,” Jack said.

                “There’s only one problem.”

                “What?”

                “She’s Pulitzer’s daughter.”

                I heard the silent gasps from Les and Jack. They looked at each other before they looked back at me.

                “Pulitzer’s daughter?” Les asked, “You’re in love with Sydney Pulitzer?”

                “This is exactly why I didn’ wanna tell ya,” I said, “I knew you would call me crazy.”

                “I’m callin’ ya more than crazy. You’re insane. Ya can’t talk to her. We might have beat Pulitzer once, but dealing with his daughter is uncharted territory.”

                “Don’t ya think I know that? I only talked to her once and for a few minutes at least. It doesn’t even matter. I’ll never see her again.”                                                     

                Les and Jack nodded and walked away. I walked outside to finish my cigar. From the door I could see the lights on in the Pulitzer building. There was a huge window with the lights on. I saw a figure pass by the window. There was female silhouette and then the light went out. I sighed and put my cigar out. The life of a street rat was a lonely one. I had to remember that.