Ten Cent Dinner (Thad Turner)

[Street]

Street didn't particulary like Belmont's, but it was affordable and best of all-warm. She smiled at Thad. "Well, where do ya wanna sit. There's a couple table open."

The truth was, this place made Street nervous, there was just so many people. Reminded her of the orphanage. She clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking. She kept thinking back to Thad's fight. She felt like she had seen that all happen before... But where?

Street waited patiently, and stepped aside when a rowdy newsboy rushed past with a couple of his friends. The boys settled at the bar, the bartender didn't care that the were obviously thirteen or younger, they had money. Street held tight to her and Thad's dime. She had more money in her hand then she had had in about a week.

"I'm thinkin' about gettin' a sandwhich or somethin', what about ya? Everythin' is pretty cheap here, that's why I like ta come-" Street was cut off as a boy pushed her aside, the place was almost full now. And getting rowdier by the minute. "That's why I like ta come here when I'm strapped for money." Street finished, as if nothing had happened.

[Thad Turner]

As they walked into the pub Thad regained feeling in his feet that were completely frozen for the fact that Street still had his boots, but he didn’t care. ‘Good old Belmonts,” He thought to himself. He spent a lot of time here. Probably too much time.

"Well, where do ya wanna sit. There's a couple table open."

Thad looked around. He caught a few familiar faces glaring at him angrily, but tried not to notice. “Uh, how ‘bout over there?” Thad said pointing to a table by a window. He could feel the eyes of the others burning a hole right through him, but took a deep breath and ignored them.

A couple of younger newsies ran past Thad and Street to the bar. Thad watched them. That’s where he normally found himself; at the bar wasting money on alcohol. ‘I could go for a drink,’ he thought to himself. Shaking his head he dismissed the idea quickly.

More and more people were rushing in from the outside. Thad tapped his fingers against his thigh restlessly. If he could just stay calm and keep out of trouble while they ate he’d be fine.

"I'm thinkin' about gettin' a sandwich or somethin', what about ya? Everythin' is pretty cheap here, that's why I like ta come-"

Street began to talk, but stopped as a rowdy boy pushed her aside. Thad glared at him and was going to say something, but stopped himself. He was now also tapping his foot trying to keep his temper under control.

"That's why I like ta come here when I'm strapped for money." Street finished, as if nothing had happened.

“I’ll just have whatever you’re havin’. I ain’t picky.” Thad replied. As he looked at Street he could tell something was wrong. She seemed really uncomfortable. “Hey you alright?” Thad asked worried about his friend.

[Street]

Street looked to where Thad pointed. "Oh! A window view. I like sittin' by windows and watchin' the snow fall!" Street nodded, sitting at said table. Street noticed him tapping against his thigh, and then tapping his foot. "There ain't no music," She joked.

Street gave a passing waiter their orders and sat, holding her hands together tightly, she fidgeted in her seat while watching the people move around them. She turned to Thad when he spoke to her. "Nah, I'm fine. It's just... well, it's crowded, don't ya think? I ain't a fan of crowds, unless I'm pickpocketin' and then it's a little easier because I disappear and it's outside." She took a steadying breath, "But when it's inside like this... well, ya can imagine."

She paid the waiter with the dime when he came with their food. She ignored the glares directed at what seemed to be them, until she leaned in and asked in a quiet whisper, "Why are they glarin' over here? It ain't like we're bulls or somethin', we're kids just like them..." Street shook her head and took a bite of her sandwhich.

[Thad Turner]

Thad laughed as Street picked on him for tapping his hand and foot. “Just a nervous habit I guess,” he said. He watched the people walking in the street. He was just happy he wasn’t out in the snow.

"Nah, I'm fine. It's just... well, it's crowded, don't ya think? I ain't a fan of crowds, unless I'm pickpocketin' and then it's a little easier because I disappear and it's outside." She took a steadying breath, "But when it's inside like this... well, ya can imagine."

“Yeah I see,” Thad nodded. “Crowds don’t bug me. People’s attitudes bug me. Crowds make me a little eager to fight though I guess you could say,” Thad laughed, “Of course I’m always eager to fight.” He understood what Street meant though. He could see how a person didn’t like crowds, but it didn’t seem like it was just the idea of the crowd that bugged her; there seemed to be something more. He could tell by the way she was acting that there lied a deeper reason than just not liking them for the heck of it.

"Why are they glarin' over here? It ain't like we're bulls or somethin', we're kids just like them..."

Thad looked around. He didn’t realize that people were still glaring. “Oh…yeah they don’t like me,” he said plainly. “They’ve seen me when my temper got out of hand, and quite a few of them learned about my temper the hard way. They think by glarin’ they are bugging me, and in truth I guess they are a bit, but I’m ignorin’ them- for now,” Thad explained. “Tomorrow they may regret those glares,” he added grinning before taking a bite of his sandwich. It was delicious he hadn’t eaten good food in days.

“Tell me Street, why do you hate crowds so bad. There has got to be a reason,” Thad’s mood got a bit more serious.

[Street]

"A nervous habit huh? I don't really have one of them..." She thought. "Nope, no nerbous habits." She grinned.

“Yeah I see,” Thad nodded. “Crowds don’t bug me. People’s attitudes bug me. Crowds make me a little eager to fight though I guess you could say,” Thad laughed, “Of course I’m always eager to fight.”

"Ya know, I kinda noticed that. Why do ya fight so much?" Street asked. "I don't think black eyes are gonna be popular soon." She gestured to his eye.

“Oh…yeah they don’t like me,” he said plainly. “They’ve seen me when my temper got out of hand, and quite a few of them learned about my temper the hard way. They think by glarin’ they are bugging me, and in truth I guess they are a bit, but I’m ignorin’ them- for now,” Thad explained. “Tomorrow they may regret those glares,”

"Why don't they like ya? Have ya ever gave them a reason ta hate ya, truly hate ya like they seem ta? I mean I can understand bein' a little weary of your temper, but hatin' ya because of it? I just don't get it..." Street shook her head. "Like I said, try not ta get yourself killed, yeah?"

“Tell me Street, why do you hate crowds so bad. There has got to be a reason,”

Street rubbed the back of her neck uncomfortably. Then, after taking time to chew her bite slowly, she said in an attempt to be offhand, "It reminds me of the orphanage is all. We were just stacked on top of each other, and when the little ones started screamin' in the night..." Street was suddenly remembering her first night there; four years old, alone and abandoned, it was completely dark and then the screams started as the matron made her way around... She shivered and wrenched herself back to the present.

"I guess just because it was a bad time for me and I was scared, I didn't like crowds. That's why I started stealin', to get away from there." Street finished before taking another bite.

[Thad Turner]

"Ya know, I kinda noticed that. Why do ya fight so much?" Street asked.

Thad thought a moment. He knew the reason he just needed to find a way to word it. “Well…” he began, “I didn’t have much guidance as young kid. Where I came from if someone makes you the slightest bit mad you fought them. I made people mad a lot so someone was always fightin’ me and I got tough real quick. Plus with the way my uncle was I had to fight to stay alive. So I guess fighting has always been there, it is second nature to me. When I don’t fight I feel off.”

"Why don't they like ya? Have ya ever gave them a reason ta hate ya, truly hate ya like they seem ta? I mean I can understand bein' a little weary of your temper, but hatin' ya because of it? I just don't get it..." Street shook her head. "Like I said, try not ta get yourself killed, yeah?"

“Maybe they hate me because I’m different from them…I really don’t know. I mean my temper can get pretty bad though- when mixed with drinkin’,” he admitted unwillingly. “And don’t worry I won’t got killed. Not by any of them anyway. Plus I got the gun just in case. Ya know?,” Thad assured Street.

Thad just nodded as he listened to Street talk about the orphanage. That explained it. Just like Thad hated people grabbing his neck from behind. It reminded him of bad times. He’d gotten in a few fights around this place just because people had done that. “I understand what you mean,” Thad said nodding, “The orphanage was a bad experience and crowds remind you of that. I’ve never been near an orphanage and never hope to be there.” One of the familiar faces walked past the table and said, “Hope ya won’t be causin’ trouble taday Turner.” Thad shot the boy a mean look, and tried to stay calm.

[Street]

“I didn’t have much guidance as young kid. Where I came from if someone makes you the slightest bit mad you fought them. I made people mad a lot so someone was always fightin’ me and I got tough real quick. Plus with the way my uncle was I had to fight to stay alive. So I guess fighting has always been there, it is second nature to me. When I don’t fight I feel off.”

"I see what ya mean. It seems like they're always forgettin' us kids, the ones at the bottom. We never get a lot of guidance." Street grinned, she had no room to talk about lacking guidance.

“Maybe they hate me because I’m different from them…I really don’t know. I mean my temper can get pretty bad though- when mixed with drinkin’,” he admitted unwillingly. “And don’t worry I won’t got killed. Not by any of them anyway. Plus I got the gun just in case. Ya know?,”

"Different, huh? I don't see no difference, ya got ten fingers and toes, a brain, and a heart, just like them. Well, I don't know about the fingers and toes part..." Street said as a boy missing a finger walked by. "I've seen some of ya temper, I hope I never see the rest. And be careful what ya say about that gun. Somebody hears that and they cut your throat in your sleep. Honest!" Street nodded matter-of-factly.

"Ya never want ta go ta an orphanage. Some of the richer ones, the ones with less kids, might be better, but the one I was in..." Street drifted off, remembering The Screams.

“Hope ya won’t be causin’ trouble taday Turner.” A boy said. Street turned to him.

"Now, why do ya think Thad would cause trouble? He's eatin' here just like ya. Give me a good reason, a reason beyond doubt, and we'll leave right now." Street demanded, her grey eyes boring into him.

[Thad Turner]

"I've seen some of ya temper, I hope I never see the rest. And be careful what ya say about that gun. Somebody hears that and they cut your throat in your sleep. Honest!" Street nodded matter-of-factly.

“You’re right I should be more careful about the gun,” Thad agreed. He said nothing about his bad temper. He hoped Street never saw the rest of it either. He didn’t plan for her to, but if someone made him mad enough he wasn’t going to be able to control it.

"Now, why do ya think Thad would cause trouble? He's eatin' here just like ya. Give me a good reason, a reason beyond doubt, and we'll leave right now." Street demanded, her grey eyes boring into him.

Thad smiled as Street talked to the boy who was frazzled at first because he hadn’t expected her to talk to him that way. “Well…That’s just how he is,” the boy said, “He causes all of us trouble.” Thad looked at him, “Oh yeah like none of ya ever start it. You guys know how to push me and you do it just for fun. Then I fight ya and I am the one gettin' blamed for everything. Don't listen to him Street he's a liar." The boy just looked at Thad and grined, "Sorry I forgot you were so perfect." Thad could feel the anger rising in him. 'No don't get mad that is just what he wants,' he told himself.

[Street]

“You’re right I should be more careful about the gun,” Street shrugged at this. She took a slow bite and took time to chew.

Street cocked her head at the boy, listening intently. “Well…That’s just how he is,” the boy said, “He causes all of us trouble.” She looked outraged at this.

"He ain't causin' me no trouble. Perhaps ya should just talk ta him, ya might be surprised." Street said heatedly, her grey eyes becoming even more animated.

“Oh yeah like none of ya ever start it. You guys know how to push me and you do it just for fun. Then I fight ya and I am the one gettin' blamed for everything. Don't listen to him Street he's a liar."

Street threw a quick glance at Thad. Then, she stood quickly and faced the boy, though she was a couple inches shorter. "Nobody is perfect, and until ya get that through your skull, you're just gonna keep bein' miserable. Until ya accept your faults ya cannot stand there and pick at others. Ya know what your fault is? Ya don't know how ta be polite or keep ya mouth shut about somebody. That goes for the rest of ya too," She turned to the rest of the room, which was staring at her with open mouths. "The more ya pick at others flaws, the more your's stand out. So, until each of ya can come ta me and tell me your flaw, I don't wanna hear nothin' about nobody in this place!" Street finished, sitting down and taking another bite, almost like nothing had happend.

[Thad Turner]

Thad sat back with a very surprised look as Street tour into the boy. Now Thad could tell she was from Brooklyn by her attitude. She was showing no mercy to the kid, and Thad was glad. In one way he was surprised that she was actually standing up for him. He knew she said she would before, but now she actually was. Another thing that amazed him was that she could handle the situation without throwing a single punch.

The boy stood staring at Street speechless with his jaw dropped. Thad grinned when he saw this. Street did have a way with words. She could say so much without going on forever, and she always had a good point. The whole room was silent. No one spoke. Everyone starred in awe. There were no more angry glares; only surprised looks. Thad took in every word. This didn’t just go for the other kids it went for him too. He knew his faults though. His temper and his rough time with trust that made feel the need to be tough.

What was even more amazing was how Street just sat down after talking like it was nothing. The boy stood for a moment by the table still speechless. “I…I…” He tried to speak but gave up and quickly left the pub. Slowly everyone began to talk again. Thad looked around the room. Not a single person glared at him. “What…I mean…really…I…How did you do that?” Thad said to Street still stunned.

[Street]

Street was quite pleased with what she said, she had said what she had meant to and she believe she got the point across to the others. They were certainly not staring anymore. Street hummed inside her mind, she usally did, if she wasn't thinking-which wasn't often.

Street turned her attention to Thad when he spoke to her. She saw the boy leave and felt a little bad, perhaps he hadn't eaten? Thad looked around the room. Not a single person glared at him. “What…I mean…really…I…How did you do that?” Thad said to Street still stunned.

"Huh? Do what? Oh, make them stop bein' rude and idiotic? I just told them what I felt and what I knew ta be the truth. I didn't say nothin' I didn't believe in. If ya believe in somethin' enough, ya can achieve a lot of things, especially if ya believe in yourself." Street said, tilting her head again. "If that boy had hit me, or done anythin' other then use words, I would've punched him. Honest! I read somewhere though that words can hurt more then actions." Street was off in thought again, trying to remember which of the numerous books she had read and had the librarian read to her contained this piece of information.

"So, do ya think ya can come in here more often now? Ya know, I bet people like ya, they're just don't understand ya so they never approach ya. I mean, ya let me approach ya and now look! We're closer then two peas in a pod, honest!" Street grinned, completely and utterly happy with this fact.

[Thad Turner]

“I read somewhere though that words can hurt more then actions."

“Yeah and that’s true. I wish I was better with my words, but I’m not. You are good,” Thad laughed, “That’s for sure. You know how to speak your mind. I have trouble with that. It’s too hard for me to get my thoughts organized quick enough to use them. That is why I find myself throwing my fists up and punching people. That I know how to do.”

"So, do ya think ya can come in here more often now? Ya know, I bet people like ya, they're just don't understand ya so they never approach ya. I mean, ya let me approach ya and now look! We're closer then two peas in a pod, honest!" Street grinned, completely and utterly happy with this fact.

“Yeah I can probably come here more often. I just need to be more open. I really took a chance talking to you today and for me it wasn’t easy at first,” Thad smiled, “ But just like you said look at us; best friends now. No one can take that away. I’m not alone anymore, and once again thank you for that.”

[Street]

“Yeah and that’s true. I wish I was better with my words, but I’m not. You are good,” Thad laughed, “That’s for sure. You know how to speak your mind. I have trouble with that. It’s too hard for me to get my thoughts organized quick enough to use them. That is why I find myself throwing my fists up and punching people. That I know how to do.”

"I think too much. More then most people. Most of this stuff is just waitin' there, ready ta be said one day." Street shrugged.

“Yeah I can probably come here more often. I just need to be more open. I really took a chance talking to you today and for me it wasn’t easy at first,” Thad smiled, “ But just like you said look at us; best friends now. No one can take that away. I’m not alone anymore, and once again thank you for that.”

"Nobody?" Street asked, smiling sadly. "Yeah, nobody can take the bond away." She grinned and said, "Honest!"

[Thad Turner]

"I think too much. More then most people. Most of this stuff is just waitin' there, ready ta be said one day." Street shrugged.

Thad wasn't sure it was possible to think too much. Maybe if you got stuck on things then yeah, but not just in general. He chuckled, "I don't think enough. But I see what you mean. You think ahead even when you don't mean to, and it comes in handy. I am making a resolution right here right now to try and start thinking about things before I do them. Maybe then I will stop getting in so much trouble."

Thad looked out the window. He could see darkness creeping up on the city. Where would he sleep tonight? He had several choices. One: a park bench-probably the worst option. Two: the back alley where he found himself many nights huddled up against he side of a cold brick building. Third- a doorstep of an abandoned building- this would be the best choice because it served shelter from the snow. That was probably the one he'd pick.

"I like night," Thad said out of no where," I like walking the streets. The shadows hide you. No one really cares about what you do at night."

[Street]

"I don't think enough. But I see what you mean. You think ahead even when you don't mean to, and it comes in handy. I am making a resolution right here right now to try and start thinking about things before I do them. Maybe then I will stop getting in so much trouble."

"Oh, like on of them New Year resolutions right? The nuns who visited the Orphanage use ta make us pick one, and then try ta follow it. Mine was always 'I shalt not steal'. But I always failed at it." Street said.

She too looked out the window, it was getting dark. She shook her head. She wanted to be under the bridge by now, sleeping. That way, when she woke up, it would be dawn. She liked it that way, she never had to sleep the night.

"I like night," Thad said out of no where," I like walking the streets. The shadows hide you. No one really cares about what you do at night."

"The shadows hide a lot of things..." Street said quietly, watching him carefully. "They show me what I hide from. That's why I don't like ta see them. There are awful things in them shadows... Things I don't understand. A lot of people are afraid of the dark, ya know. The librarian told me it's not so much the dark, but the unknown. Aren't ya ever afraid of the unknown that's in the shadows? I mean, ya never know what's there, right around the corner. It could be a bull, or another kid, or an orphanage matron with grey hair comin' ta talk ya back so ya can work for her..." Street smiled sadly. "I hate the night, it's so sad for me."