That evening, some of us were doing extra work, not counting me. I was offered to join some of the kids to a game of poker. We got the cards from the office with permission from Mrs. Fletcher. We ran into the boy's shack to play. 

"Deal," David said to Petey.

Petey dealed the cards. A small group was playing while the rest, including me, were watching. I have experience playing cards myself. I used to play with my whole family. 

"Can we use money?" Henry asked .

"Nah, we can't gamble! We're not alllowed. No money, just an innocent card game," Petey replied.

We kept playing cards with us taking turns playing the winner. Henry won, I wanted to play.

"Who wants to play the winner?" David asked us.

"Let Sally play, she hasn't gone yet!" Annie said.

"Sure. Sally, why don't you deal us?"

"Fine."

I shuffled the cards and dealed. We started playing.

"Two," Petey said as he put down two cards.

I gave him two new ones.

"One please," David said.

I gave him a card.

"Show your cards," David said.

We showed our cards. David won.

"Annie, play winner."

"Fine."

"What is going on here!?"

As Annie was about to sit down to play, we were interupted by a man standing in the doorway. He had short hair, facial hair too. He was wearing a brown shirt with black pants with suspenders. The stern look on his face gave me a huge idea of who he was.

Mr. Fletcher!

"Mr. Fletcher, sir, you're back!" David said.

"Yes I am. Now answer my question! What is going on?"

"We're just playing cards, sir."

"Gambling?"

"No sir!"

He walked closer to us at the table and saw that there was no money involved.

"Who gave you kids permission to get into my cards?"

"Mrs. Fletcher."

He nodded.

"Clean these cards off the table and give them to me."

We gathered up the cards and gave them to Petey to give to him.

"It's time for your evening work. Get to work now!" He pointed outside.

We got up and left.

At dinner, dinner for the first time with Mr. Fletcher around for me. He spoke.

"Mrs. Fletcher said we got new faces."

He looked at me, Henry, and Petey. He knew we were the new faces.

"You, stand up!" He pointed to Petey.

"What's your name?"

"Peter, sir."

"Age?"

"Sixteen."

"Runaway or orphan?"

"Both."

"Both?"

"Yes sir."

"Why both?"

"A few years back, my parents were killed in the Dust Bowl. I got sent to a youth home and ran away. I rode the rails, got arrested a few times, here I am."

He nodded.

"I'm sorry about your parents."

"Thank you sir."

"Sit back down."

He looked at Henry and pointed.

"You, stand up!"

Henry stood up.

"What's your name?"

"Henry, sir."

"Age?"

"Twelve."

"Runaway or orphan?"

"Runaway."

"Why?"

"I heard my parents say I was a burden."

He nodded.

"Sit back down."

He sat down. It was my turn.

"And you young lady, stand up."

 I stood up.

"What's your name?"

"Sally, sir."

"Age?"

"Twelve."

"Runaway or orphan?"

"Runaway."

"Why?"

"To help my family. My goal, sir, is to send my pay to them, to help them."

"All of your pay?"

"Yes sir."

"Why not keep some for yourself?"

"I think it's the right thing to do."

"You should keep at least half of it for yourself."

"No thank you sir."

He smirk at me.

"You're a tough one aren't you?"

"Yes sir!"

"Well, I'll have my eye on you, young lady."

"You go right ahead sir, I ain't gonna do nothing, nothing but my job."

He went from a smirk to a small grin.

"I think I'm gonna like this girl!" He said to his wife.

I sat down. We continued to eat. I couldn't stop smiling. I couldn't believe my ears! I impressed my boss!