SHAMELESS
As The Orphan Train Saga continues, Cindy and her mother continue to uncover the secrets in the journals that are hidden in her grandmother’s attic. The story resumes in 1914 as young Tobias is forced onto the streets of New York City. Like so many other orphans of the era, he learns to lie, cheat, and steal just to survive. Armed with a silver tongue, and his wits, Tobias soon finds himself headed west on one of the orphan trains. When that placement doesn’t work, Tobias is returned to NYC and back on the streets he once called home. Slightly older and much wiser, Tobias thrives in his new setting. That is, until he becomes obsessed with Mileta and finds himself on yet another an orphan train headed west and adopted into the infamous Purple Gang Society. Will this gang, with its emphasis on criminal activity at any cost, claim what is left of the young man’s soul? |
Excerpt from Shameless
Late September, 1914
The sound of breaking glass shattered the silence. Seconds later, Tobias cringed as his father’s voice boomed his displeasure, chastising Tobias’ mother for her clumsiness. He scurried behind a tattered chair in an attempt to put as much distance between himself and his father as possible, knowing any movement would subject him to his father’s wrath. It wouldn’t be long before his sister Anastasia came for him, shuffling him and his brother Ezra out of the house as she’d done so many times before. The shouting intensified, and Tobias whimpered as a shadow crossed in front of his hiding spot. He looked past the shadow, saw his mother kneeling to pick up the pieces of broken glass, and whimpered as his father raised his arm, moving closer to his mother.
Anastasia replaced the shadow. She grasped Tobias’ hand, motioning for Ezra to follow. The three of them crept across the room as she led the way to the front door.
Once in the hallway, Tobias watched as Anastasia paused, her thin fingers lingering on the doorknob. She sucked in air as their mother screamed, then slowly pulled the door closed. She pulled her hand free of his and placed a finger to her lips, warning them to be quiet. Tobias nodded, knowing full well the danger that lurked behind that closed door.
Anastasia reached for his hand, which he willingly gave, sighing as she wrapped her fingers tightly around his. She moved quickly, and he struggled to keep up as she led the way down the stairs and out the front of their building. He wanted to ask where they were going, but in truth, he didn’t care. Anything was better than staying inside listening to his mother’s screams.
Anastasia released their hands only after they’d exited the building. He and Ezra followed as she led them through the alley, down two side streets, and onto the bustling street where the food carts lined both sides, vendors shouting for people to come and buy what they were selling.
“What shall we have for breakfast?” Anastasia asked, kneeling in front of them.
“Apples,” both brothers shouted at once.
She smiled and touched the side of each boy’s face. She pulled the ribbon from her hair, ran her fingers through the long, dark strands, and then replaced the fringed ribbon. “Apples it is. But I need you both to do something for me.”
“What kind of something?” Ezra didn’t seem pleased.
“What kind of something?” Tobias parroted.
Anastasia stood, searching from side to side. Finding what she was looking for, she smiled. “See those steps over there?”
“Yes.” The boys nodded.
“I want both of you to go sit on the top step and wait for me to come for you.”
“But what about our breakfast?” Tobias groaned.
“I’m going to get you the apples, but you need to wait here. Don’t move until I come for you, promise?”
“Promise,” Tobias said, nodding his head.
“You too,” Anastasia said, looking at Ezra.
Ezra sighed. “Yes, I will stay.”
Anastasia kissed them each on the cheek before leaving.
Tobias moved to the top of the stairs and watched as Anastasia crossed the street, made her way to the apple cart, and stood looking at the red, green, and yellow bounty in front of her. When the apple man was busy bagging apples for a lady standing next to Anastasia, his sister turned to chat with the woman. When Anastasia pointed down the street, the lady shook her head and pointed in the opposite direction. Tobias’ stomach rumbled as Anastasia moved closer to the woman, pointing in the same direction. As she did so, she reached out with her free hand and pocketed three bright red apples, one at a time. She smiled at the lady then moved in the direction they had pointed. Moments later, he saw his sister hurrying down the dirt sidewalk towards where they sat. As she approached, she handed each boy an apple, and sitting beside them, pulled one out for herself.
“You forgot to pay for the apples,” Tobias chided.
“I couldn’t pay. I had no money,” Anastasia said between bites.
Tobias frowned. “Father will be mad.”
Anastasia turned towards him and narrowed her dark eyes. “If you tell Father, I will never bring you with me again, do you understand?”
“But what if the apple man would’ve caught you?” Tobias asked.
Anastasia took another bite. “I know how to be careful. The man won’t catch me.”
Tobias didn’t like her answer. “But what if he did catch you?”
Anastasia sighed. “Then I would give him something to keep him from being mad.”
“What kind of something would you give?”
His sister sighed once more. “I would give him something only girls have to give.”
“What kind of something?” Tobias pestered.
“She would kiss him,” Ezra said with a snicker.
Tobias wiped the juice from his chin and licked it from his grubby hand. “A kiss is better than money?”
“Sometimes it is.” Anastasia took another bite of apple and tossed the core onto the street. “What shall we do today?”
“You’ll teach us how to steal apples,” Ezra said, dropping his core off the side of the porch.
“I will do no such thing.” Anastasia rose and started to leave the stoop.
Ezra caught hold of the hem of her dress to stop her. “But you will.”
She slapped his hand. “And why would I do that?”
Ezra rubbed at his hand. “Because if you don’t, I will tell Father what you did, and he will beat you with the belt again.”
Tobias watched as his siblings bickered. He had felt his father’s belt many times and couldn’t understand why Ezra would purposely do anything to make his father use it on their sister. Apparently, Anastasia was as terrified of being hit by the belt as he, because she quickly consented to show them how to steal apples.
“Okay, I’ll show you, but you’ll need to do as I say. Understand?”
The boys nodded their agreement. At ten years old, Anastasia was older and presumed smarter.
“First, you need to wait until there is someone else at the cart. That will keep the apple man busy. Then you step up as quietly as possible, so the apple man does not notice you. You will take the apple and be gone before he even knows you are there.”
Tobias thought of the little mouse that frequented their apartment, sneaking in and stealing scraps of bread and cheese before anyone could stop him.
“Quiet like a mouse?” he asked.
Anastasia smiled. “That’s right, Tobias; I want you to be quiet as a mouse. Just remember, no squeaking. You’re going to walk very softly, take the apple, and hurry along before anyone sees you. That goes for you too,” she said, looking at his brother. “After you get the apple, hurry down the street that way. Circle behind the food carts and hurry back to this spot. Wait for me and then we’ll all go home together. Understand?”
Ezra nodded, and Tobias did the same.
“I will go first and talk to the apple man to distract him. Once he is talking to me, take your apples and do as I told you.”
Fear crept over him. “What if the apple man sees me?”
“You’re four years old. He will not see you unless you forget to be quiet as a mouse. Remember, Tobias; you’re a mouse and mice are very quiet.”
“I’m a mouse,” Tobias repeated.
“Okay, we will all start walking together, and then I will move ahead. Once I’m talking to the apple man, you do what I said. Ezra, you’re older, and I expect you to watch over your brother.”
“I will.” His brother promised.
“Do not let him out of your sight. If he gets in trouble, you come back and get him.” Anastasia’s voice was firm.
Doubt crossed Ezra’s face. “Where will you be?”
“I’ll be talking to the apple man. But if I’m delayed, I want you two to go back home. Do you remember how to get there?”
Tobias thought that to be a strange question, as they all knew how to get to the market. It was something they did on a daily basis during outings with their mother.
“Don’t be stupid I’m not a baby,” Ezra bristled.
Anastasia smiled. She stooped to look Ezra in the eye. “I didn’t say you were a baby. You are six years old and are a smart fellow. I want you to promise me that you’ll see to it that your brother makes it home if I’m delayed. Can you do that for me, Ezra? Can you watch over your little brother when I’m not around to do it?”
Ezra shrugged and nodded his head. “Sure I can.”
Anastasia stood and patted Ezra on the head. “Good. Now follow me and do not take your apple until you see that I have the apple man’s attention.”
Anastasia held Tobias' hand until they neared the apple cart. Tobias felt a gentle squeeze before she released his hand, and without looking backward, walked towards the apple cart. For a brief moment, he wanted to yell at her and tell her to stop, but she was older and probably wouldn’t listen if he had. The apple man frowned as she approached. Anastasia whispered something they could not hear, and the man’s lips turned upward. Anastasia moved to the other side of the cart, and the man moved closer to where she was standing. With his attention focused on their sister, the boys made their move.
“Come on, Tobias,” Ezra said, tugging at his shirt.
“I’m not Tobias. I’m a mouse,” Tobias said, following.
“Okay, Mouse, come on. You’ll get caught if you don’t hurry,” his bother scolded. Ezra reached the cart first. He had a bright green apple in his hand and was putting it in his pocket just as Tobias reached for an apple of his own.
“Not that one,” Ezra whispered as Tobias pulled one from the bottom of the pile.
Too late, Tobias pulled his prize free, and the pile began to shift, several toppling from the cart in quick succession, landing on the hard dirt in four quick thuds. Ezra caught hold of Tobias’ arm and pulled him in the opposite direction. As they were racing off, Tobias heard his sister yell for them to keep running. The boys ran for several moments before Ezra looked over his shoulder and slowed.
“Ya goof, you nearly got us caught,” Ezra scoffed. “What were you thinking taking the apple from the bottom anyhow?”
Tobias felt his lips tremble. “I couldn’t reach any higher. Where’s Anastasia?”
Ezra looked past him. “Let’s go find out. Stand behind me and don’t do anything stupid.”
He didn’t know what kind of stupid thing Ezra didn’t want him to do, but he followed anyway.
Ezra crossed to the opposite side of the road and kept behind the carts that lined that side of the street. When they reached the stoop where they had sat earlier, Ezra pointed. “You go up there and wait. I’ll go check on Sister.”
Tobias wanted to object to being left alone but decided against it. Taking his apple, he climbed to the top of the stairs and watched as Ezra pocketed his apple and casually walked towards the apple cart. A few moments passed before Ezra came running in his direction, motioning for him to follow. Tobias scampered from his resting place and raced to where his brother stood.
Ezra’s face seemed to have lost its color. But what concerned Tobias the most was that his brother’s eyes were brimmed with tears. Wiping away the moisture, Ezra choked back a sob. “Anastasia, she’s gone.”
Late September, 1914
The sound of breaking glass shattered the silence. Seconds later, Tobias cringed as his father’s voice boomed his displeasure, chastising Tobias’ mother for her clumsiness. He scurried behind a tattered chair in an attempt to put as much distance between himself and his father as possible, knowing any movement would subject him to his father’s wrath. It wouldn’t be long before his sister Anastasia came for him, shuffling him and his brother Ezra out of the house as she’d done so many times before. The shouting intensified, and Tobias whimpered as a shadow crossed in front of his hiding spot. He looked past the shadow, saw his mother kneeling to pick up the pieces of broken glass, and whimpered as his father raised his arm, moving closer to his mother.
Anastasia replaced the shadow. She grasped Tobias’ hand, motioning for Ezra to follow. The three of them crept across the room as she led the way to the front door.
Once in the hallway, Tobias watched as Anastasia paused, her thin fingers lingering on the doorknob. She sucked in air as their mother screamed, then slowly pulled the door closed. She pulled her hand free of his and placed a finger to her lips, warning them to be quiet. Tobias nodded, knowing full well the danger that lurked behind that closed door.
Anastasia reached for his hand, which he willingly gave, sighing as she wrapped her fingers tightly around his. She moved quickly, and he struggled to keep up as she led the way down the stairs and out the front of their building. He wanted to ask where they were going, but in truth, he didn’t care. Anything was better than staying inside listening to his mother’s screams.
Anastasia released their hands only after they’d exited the building. He and Ezra followed as she led them through the alley, down two side streets, and onto the bustling street where the food carts lined both sides, vendors shouting for people to come and buy what they were selling.
“What shall we have for breakfast?” Anastasia asked, kneeling in front of them.
“Apples,” both brothers shouted at once.
She smiled and touched the side of each boy’s face. She pulled the ribbon from her hair, ran her fingers through the long, dark strands, and then replaced the fringed ribbon. “Apples it is. But I need you both to do something for me.”
“What kind of something?” Ezra didn’t seem pleased.
“What kind of something?” Tobias parroted.
Anastasia stood, searching from side to side. Finding what she was looking for, she smiled. “See those steps over there?”
“Yes.” The boys nodded.
“I want both of you to go sit on the top step and wait for me to come for you.”
“But what about our breakfast?” Tobias groaned.
“I’m going to get you the apples, but you need to wait here. Don’t move until I come for you, promise?”
“Promise,” Tobias said, nodding his head.
“You too,” Anastasia said, looking at Ezra.
Ezra sighed. “Yes, I will stay.”
Anastasia kissed them each on the cheek before leaving.
Tobias moved to the top of the stairs and watched as Anastasia crossed the street, made her way to the apple cart, and stood looking at the red, green, and yellow bounty in front of her. When the apple man was busy bagging apples for a lady standing next to Anastasia, his sister turned to chat with the woman. When Anastasia pointed down the street, the lady shook her head and pointed in the opposite direction. Tobias’ stomach rumbled as Anastasia moved closer to the woman, pointing in the same direction. As she did so, she reached out with her free hand and pocketed three bright red apples, one at a time. She smiled at the lady then moved in the direction they had pointed. Moments later, he saw his sister hurrying down the dirt sidewalk towards where they sat. As she approached, she handed each boy an apple, and sitting beside them, pulled one out for herself.
“You forgot to pay for the apples,” Tobias chided.
“I couldn’t pay. I had no money,” Anastasia said between bites.
Tobias frowned. “Father will be mad.”
Anastasia turned towards him and narrowed her dark eyes. “If you tell Father, I will never bring you with me again, do you understand?”
“But what if the apple man would’ve caught you?” Tobias asked.
Anastasia took another bite. “I know how to be careful. The man won’t catch me.”
Tobias didn’t like her answer. “But what if he did catch you?”
Anastasia sighed. “Then I would give him something to keep him from being mad.”
“What kind of something would you give?”
His sister sighed once more. “I would give him something only girls have to give.”
“What kind of something?” Tobias pestered.
“She would kiss him,” Ezra said with a snicker.
Tobias wiped the juice from his chin and licked it from his grubby hand. “A kiss is better than money?”
“Sometimes it is.” Anastasia took another bite of apple and tossed the core onto the street. “What shall we do today?”
“You’ll teach us how to steal apples,” Ezra said, dropping his core off the side of the porch.
“I will do no such thing.” Anastasia rose and started to leave the stoop.
Ezra caught hold of the hem of her dress to stop her. “But you will.”
She slapped his hand. “And why would I do that?”
Ezra rubbed at his hand. “Because if you don’t, I will tell Father what you did, and he will beat you with the belt again.”
Tobias watched as his siblings bickered. He had felt his father’s belt many times and couldn’t understand why Ezra would purposely do anything to make his father use it on their sister. Apparently, Anastasia was as terrified of being hit by the belt as he, because she quickly consented to show them how to steal apples.
“Okay, I’ll show you, but you’ll need to do as I say. Understand?”
The boys nodded their agreement. At ten years old, Anastasia was older and presumed smarter.
“First, you need to wait until there is someone else at the cart. That will keep the apple man busy. Then you step up as quietly as possible, so the apple man does not notice you. You will take the apple and be gone before he even knows you are there.”
Tobias thought of the little mouse that frequented their apartment, sneaking in and stealing scraps of bread and cheese before anyone could stop him.
“Quiet like a mouse?” he asked.
Anastasia smiled. “That’s right, Tobias; I want you to be quiet as a mouse. Just remember, no squeaking. You’re going to walk very softly, take the apple, and hurry along before anyone sees you. That goes for you too,” she said, looking at his brother. “After you get the apple, hurry down the street that way. Circle behind the food carts and hurry back to this spot. Wait for me and then we’ll all go home together. Understand?”
Ezra nodded, and Tobias did the same.
“I will go first and talk to the apple man to distract him. Once he is talking to me, take your apples and do as I told you.”
Fear crept over him. “What if the apple man sees me?”
“You’re four years old. He will not see you unless you forget to be quiet as a mouse. Remember, Tobias; you’re a mouse and mice are very quiet.”
“I’m a mouse,” Tobias repeated.
“Okay, we will all start walking together, and then I will move ahead. Once I’m talking to the apple man, you do what I said. Ezra, you’re older, and I expect you to watch over your brother.”
“I will.” His brother promised.
“Do not let him out of your sight. If he gets in trouble, you come back and get him.” Anastasia’s voice was firm.
Doubt crossed Ezra’s face. “Where will you be?”
“I’ll be talking to the apple man. But if I’m delayed, I want you two to go back home. Do you remember how to get there?”
Tobias thought that to be a strange question, as they all knew how to get to the market. It was something they did on a daily basis during outings with their mother.
“Don’t be stupid I’m not a baby,” Ezra bristled.
Anastasia smiled. She stooped to look Ezra in the eye. “I didn’t say you were a baby. You are six years old and are a smart fellow. I want you to promise me that you’ll see to it that your brother makes it home if I’m delayed. Can you do that for me, Ezra? Can you watch over your little brother when I’m not around to do it?”
Ezra shrugged and nodded his head. “Sure I can.”
Anastasia stood and patted Ezra on the head. “Good. Now follow me and do not take your apple until you see that I have the apple man’s attention.”
Anastasia held Tobias' hand until they neared the apple cart. Tobias felt a gentle squeeze before she released his hand, and without looking backward, walked towards the apple cart. For a brief moment, he wanted to yell at her and tell her to stop, but she was older and probably wouldn’t listen if he had. The apple man frowned as she approached. Anastasia whispered something they could not hear, and the man’s lips turned upward. Anastasia moved to the other side of the cart, and the man moved closer to where she was standing. With his attention focused on their sister, the boys made their move.
“Come on, Tobias,” Ezra said, tugging at his shirt.
“I’m not Tobias. I’m a mouse,” Tobias said, following.
“Okay, Mouse, come on. You’ll get caught if you don’t hurry,” his bother scolded. Ezra reached the cart first. He had a bright green apple in his hand and was putting it in his pocket just as Tobias reached for an apple of his own.
“Not that one,” Ezra whispered as Tobias pulled one from the bottom of the pile.
Too late, Tobias pulled his prize free, and the pile began to shift, several toppling from the cart in quick succession, landing on the hard dirt in four quick thuds. Ezra caught hold of Tobias’ arm and pulled him in the opposite direction. As they were racing off, Tobias heard his sister yell for them to keep running. The boys ran for several moments before Ezra looked over his shoulder and slowed.
“Ya goof, you nearly got us caught,” Ezra scoffed. “What were you thinking taking the apple from the bottom anyhow?”
Tobias felt his lips tremble. “I couldn’t reach any higher. Where’s Anastasia?”
Ezra looked past him. “Let’s go find out. Stand behind me and don’t do anything stupid.”
He didn’t know what kind of stupid thing Ezra didn’t want him to do, but he followed anyway.
Ezra crossed to the opposite side of the road and kept behind the carts that lined that side of the street. When they reached the stoop where they had sat earlier, Ezra pointed. “You go up there and wait. I’ll go check on Sister.”
Tobias wanted to object to being left alone but decided against it. Taking his apple, he climbed to the top of the stairs and watched as Ezra pocketed his apple and casually walked towards the apple cart. A few moments passed before Ezra came running in his direction, motioning for him to follow. Tobias scampered from his resting place and raced to where his brother stood.
Ezra’s face seemed to have lost its color. But what concerned Tobias the most was that his brother’s eyes were brimmed with tears. Wiping away the moisture, Ezra choked back a sob. “Anastasia, she’s gone.”