Minetta Lane

Chapter 8: Lunch

Chapter 8

Lunch

“YOUR SECOND DAY is going much better than the first, Triple N. Time for lunch. I eat with Slobbering Sam and a few of the other guys. We go down the block and check if the stores will give us any food and then we split everything up. You take the other side of the street and if you get to the alley by the warehouse before me, just tell them you’re with Two-Tooth.” Triple N nodded. The boys separated and worked their way through the neighborhood, which was home to a number of vegetable and fruit stands as well as a bakery and a butcher.

Some of the storekeepers chased Tommy out before he said a word. A few let him make his pitch before dismissing him. One confronted him as he entered. “You’ll not steal from this store. You’re nothing but a criminal.”

“You don’t know me. How can you say that? I work hard as a newsie.”

“You’re all criminals! That’s why you’re on the street. Leave now and don’t come back.”

Tommy turned to leave, but a man standing at the counter waiting to pay for a large stack of fruits and vegetables tossed him two apples and flipped a coin to the shopkeeper in payment.

“Thanks, mister!”

The merchant turned to the customer and said, “You shouldn’t encourage them, I don’t need street trash in my place.”

“I hope you don’t need me either, because I won’t be back. You can forget about all this stuff I was going to buy.”

“But sir, you don’t understand, these street kids . . .”

The man slammed the door on his way out.

Eddie tugged on the skirt of a woman working in the bakery and smiled. She asked, “Are you hungry, little boy?”

He nodded yes.

“I got some rolls that are getting a little stale. You want them?”

Another smile and a question. “You got anything to put on them?”

“You’re a pushy one, but you’re cute.” She pinched his cheek and he laughed.

Eddie lowered his head, and then tilted sideways while raising it. He offered a well-choreographed wink and grin out of the right side of his mouth.

“You sure can work that smile! Here you go.” She handed him a stick of butter and said, “Please don’t start coming around all the time. I can’t afford to do this every day.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Eddie headed outside and found a spot to hide his bag while he made his last stop, the butcher. He stood quietly in the back with his head down while the man at the counter finished cutting some ham. The man started to clean up the carving area and Eddie cleared his throat as he raised his head. “Sir, I don’t mean to bother you, ’cause you’re busy and all, but do you think I could have those leftovers? I haven’t eaten in a long time.” He lowered his head and waited for a response.

The man smiled. He had already bagged up the scraps and added a few decent pieces on top. “Here you go, young man, but you need to understand this is a one-time thing. Off with ya!”

Slobbering Sam had two pears, Fat Franky, a jug of orange juice, and Two-Tooth, just his apples. Tommy looked up, “Here he is, fellas. You’re gonna like him.”

Triple N rushed over and displayed the contents of his bag. Franky stated the obvious, “Ham sandwiches! How the hell did you get all this grub!” Sam patted his new friend on the back and took out his knife to spread the butter. Franky placed the meat inside the rolls and Tommy cut up the fruit. The boys passed around the jug as they laughed, ate, and enjoyed each other’s company.

The feast came to an end and the newsies headed back to their corners. Two-Tooth put his arm around Triple N as they walked toward the ferry. “So how do you like the newspaper business?” Eddie smiled and started to run. “Race you to the corner.” Tommy began a slow jog and arrived well after his guttersnipe, who deserved the win.