Racing Threw

1, Meeting

1890 something was going by slower and slower, being a homeless girl is harder than it is for a boy. Multiple reasons, guys are favored, they can work, lastly, they don't have to find another guy to live off of. Men and women will point to their kids' boys or girls saying along the lines of 'don't become her, marry a man fast.' or 'Don't fall for a girl like her.'

Downtown New York City is always something, many boys running around screaming paper and something about it. Watching them after time you learn that these boys are all friends, they help one another and work very hard to make a living. I learned a few of their names. 

Crutchie who has a limp and is very sweet and kid. Always smiling at those who walk pass him no matter what the News maybe he always sells faster than the rest, only since he has a bad left foot and needs a crutch. The boys call him this and often tease him about his disability he shakes them off with a smile.

Romeo is the other one who is always flirting with any women who walks passed, often becoming distracted by the way a women walks or even looks his way. He never goes too far that I've noticed, he usually smiles at me before nodding his head and wishing me a good day not in a mocking tone or anything.

Davey is a newer boy who just joined, he's more educated and well knows it. He still treats the boys as they treat him. Course he is one of the leaders almost like the brains of their little gang. Making sure they aren't causing too much trouble, he's almost like the father.

Les is the younger brother of Davey and well he fit into the group pretty easy, all the boys watch out for him only being maybe ten. He's a charmer and a smart one as well, always with the bigger boys of the group.

Jack Kelly, well he's famous he was in all the papes not too long ago. Sharing a ride with Theodore Rosevelt. He's the ringleader of all the Newies on the lower part of the city, he made the most money of all the newies knowing what to say to have the people interested.

Lastly, there is Race, race always had a cigar in his mouth as he shouted out to the world, but that never stopped him from flirting with the girls who walked by. His baby blue eyes can make anyone look his way again, smiling and laughing with the boys, he's usually the one who gets in the most fights and witty comments because of this.

All the boys protect one another from harm, always going out in pairs. Course other newies are around but those are the main ones, the ones everyone in their little community wants to know and be with. All selling their papes faster and gaining their money quickly.  I wanna join them, I need to be part of something like their little group.

Let's say being a boy isn't easy, wrapping my breast in bandages to die down my boobs, along with putting my hair up and doing my best to make it look as if I have short hair like the rest. Putting on overalls and the classic run down jacket hugged my body in a way that made everything feel...feel as if I'm meant to do this.

Walking to the lodge and no surprise Race was outside with his cigar in his mouth talking to another newies. 

"Race, looky new meat." the newies spoke smacking Race in the chest, Race looked over and nodded his head.

"What's your names?" I just looked at him and said nothing, "yous ignoring me?" Race growled walking at me. "I's don't like beings mocked." his warning was clear to hear and let's just say the rasp in his voice made my heart melt.

"Race, he's a mute...I think." I nodded my head quickly agreeing with what was said. Race looks at me before the other kid.

"Buttons go get Jack." Race looks back at me as Buttons runs inside the Lodge. "So you're a mutt, whats we gonna call yous? Why yous look so familiar?" Race looks back at the Lodge when the Jack Kelly steps into view. I looked back at Race who studies me before sitting on the step.

"So yous the new boy, yous ain't much to look at," Jack comments before looking me over once again.

"You tryin' to tell us something, Jack?" Race grins his boyish grin that causes me to grin slightly back. Jack ignores his comment before nodding his head.

"Yous can stay and join us, there are rules with us. No stealin' from one another, no fighting with yous brothers unless it's smartass over there." Jack looks at Race who waves smiling back. The boy is one of a kind. "No going somewheres without someone else, lastly this ain't our rule but no newies is allowed to be a girl." I nod when Jack looks at me once again. "What's yous name?"

"He don't talk." Jack smiles widely before clapping his hands. Race looks over at me before sighing. "Yous have Davy and Les, gives someone else him." Race groans, Jack only waves him off before smiling at me once again.

"Welcome to the Manhattan newies...Blue-eyed Bandit...Bandit yous Bandit comes meet the rest of the boys." Jack walks into the lodge while Race stares my way before raising his eyes before gesturing to the door.