Chapter One Shoe GirlThe tenements loomed toward the sky on either side of the alley like glowering giants, but theyd keep the wind off. There was plenty of trash in the narrow space between them. It stank to high heaven, but, then, so did he. He began to burrow into the heap like a rat. A number of rodents squawked and scrambled away. Hells bells! He hoped they wouldnt bite him while he was asleep. Rat bites hurt like fury.For a moment he stopped digging, but the freezing air drove him farther in.He tried to warm himself by cursing his pa. The words inside his head were hot as flaming hades, but they didnt fool his hands and feet, which ached from the cold. Hed heard of people freezing to death in their sleep. It happened to drunks all the time. He sometimes even wished it would happen to his pa, although he knew it was wicked to wish your own pa dead. But how could Jake be expected to care whether the brute lived or died? The man did nothing but beat him. Dead, he wouldnt beat me or steal all my pay for drinkand then beat me for not earning more. He was keeping himself agitated, if not warm, with hateful thoughts of the old man when he heard light footsteps close by. He willed himself motionless. It was a small person from the sound, and coming right for his pile. You cant have my pile. This ones mine. I already claimed it. I chased the rats for it. I made my nest in it. .. . He began to growl. Whos there? It was the frightened voice of a childa girl, if he wasnt mistaken. What do you want? He stuck his head out of the pile. The girl jumped back with a little shriek. Stupid little mouse. Who are you? she asked, her voice shaking. Its my pile. Go away. I dont want your pile. Really, I dont. She was shaking so hard, her whole body was quivering. II just need to look in itto find something. In here? I think so. Im not sure. He was interested in spite of himself.What did you lose? Mymy shoes, she said. How could you lose your shoes? I guess I sort of hid them. You what? I know, she said. He could tell she was about to bawl. It was stupid. I really need new ones. But Mamma said Anna had to stand up all day on the line and she needed shoes worse than me. I thought if I lost mine . . . It was stupid, I know. She began to cry in earnest. Okay, okay, which pile? He stood up, old bottles, cans, and papers cascading from his shoulders. She put her left foot on top of her right, to keep at least one stockinged foot from touching the frozen ground. You smell awful, she said. Shut up. You want help or not? Please, she said. Im sorry. They dug about in the dark. At length, Jake found the first shoe, and then the girl found the other. She nodded gratefully, slipped them on her feet, and bent over to tie what was left of the laces. You didnt lose them so good. No. I guess I knew all along Id have to find them. She gave a little sigh. But thank you. She was very polite. He figured she went to school even in shoes that were more holes than leather. Excerpted from Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
