Racetrack Higgins was sitting, his back to an alley wall. He had been selling papers all morning, but stopped when he felt himself overcome with emotions. There was a family going for a Tuesday stroll, and when Race saw them he froze.
The Mother reminded him of his Mother, with her blond curly locks and her big, bright, contagious smile. The blue and purple dress she wore was similar to the last dress he ever saw his own Mother wearing.
The Father looked happy, suited in a pin stripe suit, happily chatting with his wife. He needed a shave, but his cheerfulness made up for his lack of hygiene. The man seemed like the perfect Father; the kind of guy who would never do anything to harm the ones he loved.
Their child looked to be about five, maybe six years of age. She had light brown, very curly hair that shone in the sun, and twinkling eyes. She was skipping in front of her Mother and Father, singing some random song, lifting her dress and jumping over the cracks in the road.
There was just something about this particular family that made his heart ache a great deal, and then he realized it. The woman looked like his Mother, because it was his Mother. His Mother had made a new family. The part that hurt the most was when his Mother walked up to him and bought a paper.
She looked at him like he was any other Newsie. She didn't notice her own Son, standing right in front of her. She had smiled, given him a nickel, then took the paper, giving it to her new Daughter. Race just stood there the entire time, not finding the courage to confront her.
The family had walked away, and Race didn't know what to do. The last time he saw his Mother was what? Four, five years ago? Weren't Mothers supposed to sense when they were near their children?
From there Race had aimlessly walked, in shock, for what felt like an hour, then he made his way to the alley he was currently sitting in.
He heard a shuffling of feet, and was quick to glance up, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw David. David was towards him and looking at him with a concerned face, and was saying something. Race had to tune back into reality to hear what was being said.
"-were looking for you for like an hour! Where were you? You didn't come back, and we started to worry. Do you know what time it is? Why are you just sitting here?"
Race lightly sighed, looking at the ground. He didn't know so many hours had went by, he thought it was only late afternoon, but when he looked around it was dusk.
"Sorry, David. I's didn' know its was dark,"
David sat down beside Race, feeling slightly bad. Race looked to be upset, and he wanted to somehow help him. He wasn't sure how to help, so he offered the only thing he could think of.
"It's okay. You wanna... talk about whatever's going on in your head?"
Races mental battle with himself was brutal. He knew he could ignore David's offer and say everything was fine, or he could talk about what was going on. For some reason Race wanted to talk about what was going on in his mind. He had never had the urge to tell others his feelings before, and he didn't exactly like it, but knew the only way to make it go away was to play into it.
"I's seen a family,"
David paused before answering. He knew this was a touchy subject.
"Oh."
"Yea. There's was this Motha, an' a Fatha, and a lil kid,"
David nodded at Race's words.
"Theys was walkin', and th'Motha looked like mine... an' she came upta me an' bought a pape and give it to her kid,"
David corrected Race before he could stop himself, making Race look at him funnily.
"Gave."
"What?"
"You said 'give'... the proper grammar is 'gave'..."
David had expected Race to get upset with him about his correction, but to his surprise, Race kept talking.
"Alright, I seen th'Motha gave the pape to her kid,"
David winced at the misuse of the word once again, but kept his mouth shut.
"But I's got a goods look at her b'fore she bought the pape from me, and when she w's buyin' the pape... an'... she was my Motha."
Race stopped talking for a moment. His words sounded crazy, but he knew the woman was his Mother. He had no doubt about it.
"Are you sure?"
Race was quick to answer.
"Yes."
His steely tone threw David off guard, but he made sure to not sound hurt when he spoke.
"Okay..."
"An' it hurts, 'cuz she's was walkin', and theys was laughin' and the kid was happy... an' she wasn' with m'Fatha. She has a new family an'... an' she's happy with them, and theys happy with her... she didn' even recognize me, David. I's was just anotha kid on th' street ta her,"
David felt absolutely horrible for Race. He couldn't even imagine what he must have felt like right now. If David ever saw his Mother or his Father, and they didn't know he was their Son... it made him depressed to think about.
"An' it wasn' like she's was a good Motha or nuthin'. She used ta... well, I's would come over, and she would be actin' all fione, then she would tell m'Father 'bout me comin' over t'her house, jus' t'make him jealous, y'know? I's would wonder if she's even loved me..."
David's eyebrows furrowed, and he looked Racetrack intensely in the eyes.
"Of course she loved you. She was your Mother."
Race only rolled his eyes at David's words.
"Ha. Jus' 'cuz she's my Motha doesn' mean she's loved me. F'r all I's knows I's was just a mistake, an' not the mistake they used ta call me, like a actual mistake,"
Race shrugged, feeling like he was sharing too much, but he couldn't help it. This felt good to say, and he hated to admit it, but David was an amazing listener.
"My Fatha wasn' any better. I liked beings at m'Mothas place more, though. He was more physical, when m'Motha would jus' mess with m'mind,"
David nodded, not knowing what to say. He knew he needed to think of something, and so he said what came first to his head.
"Well, you have us now. Screw your Mother, and screw your Father. We're your family now, and we will always be. We're not going to leave, or abandon you... I'm sorry that happened to you bu-"
"Don' say sorry when it ain't yer fault,"
"-t you can go ahead and forget about all of that because it's never going to happen again."
Race smiled for a moment. Even though he had interrupted David what he said was still beautiful, and he was happy to have a friend like him.
"Thanks, David,"
Racetrack looked at the ground, and David spoke in a playful voice, clearly joking with him.
"Now enough sentimental stuff, the boys are worried sick about you... I swear Spot and Albert were just about ready to murder a Cop,"
Race raised an eyebrow, not totally sure how his disappearance was linked to murdering a Cop, but he still felt honoured that his friends would do that for him. David stood, brushed the dirt from his hands on his pants, then offered his hand to Race. Race greatfully took it, stood, then let go, pulling him into a side hug, walking out of the alley.
"Ya know youse nice ta talk to,"
David smiled, happy that Race seemed to be feeling better.
"Well you can talk to me anytime,"
".... even when yer at home an' it's three in th' mornin'....?"
David paused, staring at Race who seemed to be holding back a grin.
"You know that isn't what I meant-"
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S E N D R E Q U E S T S , I will do any ship, any au, any story :)