"I am a writer,
Therefore I am not sane."
- Unknown

Where is she?!" Pulitzer boomed through the hall.

The family and James were seated at the long table discussing what had happened to their daughter as Abigail had "found her missing" this morning from her bed.

"I don't know father!" Adam said.

"Do you think she was-" Lucille gasped, "Kidnapped by a commoner?"

"Pish posh!" Said Mrs. Pulitzer.

"Well I for one propose we join a search party!" James said standing up suddenly.

"Excellent!" Pulitzer exclaimed clapping his hands at once.

"We shall find her and we shall bring her back here!" James said.

"I say we start right away!" Said Pulitzer snapping his fingers.

A maid brought forward a torch.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Lucille burst out, "Let's go find Katherine!"

"You will stay here!" Pulitzer said, "This is men's work."

With Lucille pouting and James small twinkle of evil in his eye the men set out on their search party.

***

Katherine and Jack walked along the path to the marketplace hand in hand.

"So what did you mean by 'my girl' back there?" Katherine asked.

Jack's face flushed red, "I- I well, yous my goil now.  I gotta protect you Miss 'Former Princess' therefore yous my goil."

Katherine's eyes averted down, "Oh. . ." She trailed off hoping he meant something else.

"So, are you looking to buy anything?" Jack asked.

"No, not really." Katherine replied sighing.

***

They walked through the marketplace hand and hand and Katherine was surprised that for once she wasn't getting stared at.  Normally she'd be stared at and even people would bow and curtesy at her sometimes.

"Was it fun?"

"Was what?" Katherine asked turning to Jack.

"Being royalty."

"Not one bit." Katherine mumbled.

"What do yous mean? You're filthy rich."

Katherine scrunched up her nose, "Yeah, filthy. And awful people!"

"Well you don't seem half bad."

"My parents and sister are the most dreadful people!"

"Yous gots a brother?"

"Yes but he is alright. He has a wife and a baby."

"That must be nice." Jack said, "Having a real family."

"They're not a family." Katherine muttered.

Jack stayed silent but rolled his eyes, "I ain't never had a family." He whispered.

"Can we not talk about this?" Katherine suddenly snapped letting go of his hand, "I-I'm sorry."

They walked in silence the rest of the way.

They passed by a window and Katherine stopped immediately looking inside. Jack walked back and stood beside her. In the window was a shiny black typewriter. The keys glistened off the sun's rays.

"Haven't you ever seen something so beautiful?"

Jack looked over at her. She looked stunning even then with her nose pressed against the window, her curly brown hair cascaded down her burgundy dress and her eyes glistening at the sight.

"Yeah. . ." He mumbled.

"I have to go buy it." She whispered.

"Ya do?"

"I've wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl. I'd fill up notebooks and journals with reports everyday. Mother always told me it was so unprincesslike but I could have cared less. While all my friends played tea party I was laying on my bed writing my latest story and loving it. I always wanted to buy one of these."

Katherine quickly dashed inside the store, bag in hand, before Jack could let out any protest.

"I'll only be a minute!" He heard her call.

He just shook his head and laughed.

***

Sure enough five minutes later Katherine walked out of the store happy as ever.

"So where is it?" Jack asked.

"My backpack." She grinned.

"How big is that thing?"

"It's a small typewriter!" Katherine said, "Only cost me fifty dollars!"

"Fifty! That's more than I make in a week!"

"What's your job?"

"I sell pape's."

"That's nice." She smiled.

"Not if ya tryin ta keep up with a bunch of newsboys all da time and feed em, clothe em and make sure deyre alive 'nd make it ta da next day."

"Oh. . ."

"Well-"

"There she is!" Someone screamed.

Katherine turned and looked. There stood James pointing at her. Somehow, who knows how, they'd been caught.

"RUN!" Jack yelled grabbing her hand and pulling her.