|
|
Post by Anthony Higgins on Mar 29, 2009 13:26:04 GMT -5
It had been three weeks since Racetrack Higgins left the lodging house, and for those three weeks, he had been known, permanently, as Anthony Joseph Higgins. He dressed well now, as a young gentleman should. He lived with his brother Thomas, a student and Columbia University, and Thomas tutored Anthony when he could, so he would have at least a high-school education. Anthony was a bit loath to sit down for three hours every day and study, but Thomas was about as firm as their father had been. Tom also forbidden him from going to the tracks, something he'd been angry about but eventually got used to.
By the third week, old Race Higgins had cleaned up very well. His hair was shorter, his clothes newer. He stopped smoking, and swore far less. He met Tom's friends, who were scholars and businessmen, and was surprised at how well he could hold a conversation with them: he was, hands down, the most knowledgeable about the newspaper business among them. They accepted him, and told him quite honestly that he had a knack for business, which is what he wanted to hear.
His old life wasn't completely forgotten. He would sometimes spot a newsboy, usually unfamiliar, and wonder how his old friends were doing. He wondered if he should have left so quickly, and whether it had been for the better. Just went to show how quickly a life can change in such a short amount of time. Anthony knew his parents would be proud of him and where he was going in life, something that he'd never been quite sure of before. He finally felt as if he was going somewhere. He finally grasped the fact that the future went beyond tomorrow. And he felt as if he was a better person for it.
It only took one painful reminder to bring Anthony's new perspective on life crashing down to nothing.
|
|
|
|
Post by David Jacobs on Mar 29, 2009 14:07:07 GMT -5
David Jacobs felt as if his world was falling apart. He rarely saw his sister, Sarah. She was off doing her own thing with suspicious characters, he didn't like it at all. He didn't get to see Jack as much because his parents wanted him to be more focused on school. David didn't mind, academics always came easy to him. But he really did miss his friends. And he heard that some of the boys left the lodging house, such as Racetrack. That was hard for him to imagine, Racetrack seemed like one of the most involved of the boys. To visit the lodging house and have him missing would be like his house with only him, Les and his mother there. It would feel empty, like an incomplete family.
He decided to visit his friends, maybe they would still remember him. He didn't know, the last time he visited them was in October. It was January now. Maybe the forgot him and his trip would be a waste. Well, it wouldn't be a total waste. He could be at home doing nothing. A walk would be nice.
On his way to the lodging house he thought he saw someone who looked like Racetrack. He did a double take, that was Racetrack! Only, this guy had shorter hair, nicer clothes and wasn't carrying a cigar or cigarette. He blinked he was sure that was Racetrack though. What should he do? Should he approach him, or ignore him? David decided to approach him, "Hey, m-mister! Racetrack! Its me, David Jacobs! Remember me?" He called, running after him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Anthony Higgins on Mar 29, 2009 19:59:54 GMT -5
Anthony had been visiting with one of Tom's friends, Bobby O'Rourke. Bobby was a Shakespearean scholar, and Anthony never thought he would be interested in anything by Shakespeare. In his old life he had heard of Irving Hall presenting some plays by him, but was never interested. He vaguely remembered commenting on the funny speech and even funnier costumes. But once you understand what he'd really written, that Shakespeare wrote some bully stuff! Sword fights and all this gore, and witches, and women that wouldn't have been out of place on the streets of today's New York...it was interesting stuff, and once you got past the old English, it was enjoyable, too.
It was a nice day, not as cold as it could be for January, and Anthony was warm with his new coat. He couldn't remember ever being warm in the winter, and it was a great feeling. He couldn't help but grin to himself at the small things that made him happy now. He thought, overall, since being reunited with his brother, he was a happier person.
"Hey, m-mister! Racetrack! Its me, David Jacobs! Remember me?"
Anthony was so shocked to be called Racetrack again that he swung his head around immediately. He saw David Jacobs hurrying toward him, and gasped aloud. David? He hadn't seen him in months! And to see him now...to be called "mister" by him...to be wearing new clothes while David was dressed in what he always wore... Anthony felt a sudden attack of guilt, but he stopped and allowed David to close the distance between them. "David Jacobs, eh? It's bee a while, old friend." He held out his hand for a handshake (a habit he'd developed from meeting Tom's friends).
|
|
|
|
Post by David Jacobs on Mar 29, 2009 22:14:45 GMT -5
"David Jacobs, eh? It's bee a while, old friend."
"It has!" David exclaimed breathlessly, "I can't believe it. Its you!" He grinned, "I haven't seen you since..why, I don't remember when. How have you been, Race?" He asked.
Racetrack looked much different from when David last saw him. Of course he did, most people did look different after a long period of time passed. He wondered how the other guys at the lodging house looked, or if any of them left the lodging house too. That's why he was on his way over there to catch up and visit with them. He missed his friends. He missed the wild spontaneity they brought into his boring, miserable life.
"So uh...I heard you left the old lodging house. I'm assuming that's true, because you're dressed up all nice. If you were out selling papers you wouldn't be wearing that. I'm not saying you look bad, cause you look really nice. And I..." He trailed off, "I don't really know what I'm saying." He said with a sheepish grin. "You look all important." David smiled again.
|
|
