It was a beautiful day in New York City, a place of wonder and delight. And also runaways, thugs, and sewer rats... But there was a nice breeze that blew through woman's hair. The humidity was just right, and the hot sun didn't seem so hot. It was almost perfect.

Couples lie in the grass, looking at the clouds and smiling. Kids were running around the streets, trying not to be late for their classes. The busy business men and woman were jogging to bat be tardy to their very important meeting. The homeless people strummed their guitars happily, hoping for a good amount of money to buy them a fresh meal for the week.

Yes, the streets were full of cheer and rush, but not everyone was enjoying their time in New York, New York.

———-

"Sidney, get up!!" Rue exclaimed, angrily. Sidney was the kid she adopted illegally.

"I don't want to!" The ten year old complained. Even though Sidney was old enough to stay home alone, Rue wasn't taking any chances.

"GET UP!!" Rue demanded, and Sidney groaned. She got up muttering, "Fine, Mom."

Rue just rolled her eyes. She was late for her interview at the old antique shop, and she couldn't afford to miss it. She didn't bother dressing up, though. She figured she would have to wear a uniform anyway, if she got the job.

Rue didn't want the job, she needed it. She watched Sidney get ready as she thought about her life. She looked at the dumpster of her home (it was two dumpster put together to form two walls against a hotel wall, with blankets and cardboard boxes all over for mattresses). Sidney threw on her small, old, and stained sweater and her torn shoes, and started walking with Rue to the streets.

Rue looked down, sad that this was her life. She was certain that she was important, but her life wasn't going the way she had planned. In no time, though, they were at Grandma O's Unique Antique.

A tall woman greeted them. "My name is Courtney. How can I help you?" She looked Rue and her companion, and hinted disgust. She quickly forced a smile and waited patiently for Rue to answer.

"Umm, I'm Rue. This is Sidney. I have a interview here, and umm, I am a little late. Also, I hope you don't mind if I brought her along, she's my sister," Rue lied. Sidney was everything but her sister.

"Okay... Well, Journey Corks is in the back, she is the manager. She will interview you. Good luck!!" Courtney smiled, and walked back to behind the counter as a man walked in. "Hello! Thank you for choosing Grandma O's Unique Antique. My name is Courtney. How can I help you?"

Rue walked to the back of the store, hoping to find Journey. When she did, she repeated what she said to Courtney. Journey smiled and set down the necklace she was looking at.

"Rue, huh? Did Jennifer tell you where I was?" The elder woman asked. She looked about sixty, with her grey hair in a bun, and her orange tee shirt with jeans.

"Who?" Rue asked, confused.

"Jennifer!" Journey answered. "I guess I am not the only one with hearing issues. JENNIFER!!"
When nobody came to her aid, Journey walked over to the front desk. "Jennifer!" She exclaimed to Courtney.

"It's Courtney, m'am," Courtney corrected politely.

Journey stared at Courtney in disbelief. Rue walked up to the front desk and reminded Journey about her interview.

"Oh, yeah. Okay. Let's go. She picked up a clipboard and a pencil and led Rue to the Employees Only part of the store, leaving Sidney with Courtney, who didn't seem happy about that. "There are ten questions."

"Sounds good," Rue noted.

"Yeah, whatever. Number one; Why are you here?"

"Truthfully?" Rue questioned.

"Yes," Journey answered.

"Well, because I got kicked out of my other jobs... Ms. Journey," Rue gulped.

"Okay," She started and started hitting down some notes. "Oh, please call me Jo. Anyway, question two; What experiences do you have?"

"Well... I have been a cook at the deli, a librarian at the library, a clerk at many stores, and a waitress at Marty's Place," Rue listed, feeling more ashamed with every word. "And I was fired from every job I have had. Except for the job at the gas station... I quit my job there..."
Rue knew she should have lied, so she would get the job, but lying always made the words heavier.

"Thanks for the honest, er, answer... Question three; Would you say that you are dependable?"

"I mean, kind of... I tend to get angry and independent, but that's only because I have had a tough life..."

"Is that your excuse?" Journey asked suddenly.

"Umm, yeah. Err, no. I don't know!!" Rue burst out.

Jo stopped writing and looked deeply into Rue's eyes. "At my shop, we don't DO excuses!!"

"Yeah, well, how is it YOUR shop if YOU ARE NOT GRANDMA O!!! YOUR ANTIQUES ARE NOT EVEN THAT UNIQUE!!!" Rue yelled.

"That's it! You are done. We have enough employees anyway. Good day!!" Jo replied back, trying to calm her voice.

"Fine, Jo!"

"You will call me Ms. Corks, now."

"Ugh!" Rue stormed out and grabbed Sidney by the back of her arm. "We're going," she declared.

As they walked away, Sidney had questions.

"How did it go?"

"Oh, awesome. I just decided that I am too good for that place anyway," Rue replied sarcastically.

"Oh... What do we do now?" Sidney asked sadly.

"We buy ourselves a meal for lunch and come up with a plan," Rue sighed. She pulled out ten dollars, the last of her dollars from her back pocket. The breeze messed up her already gross hair. "Where should we eat?"

"Calister Round?" Sidney asked, hopeful that Rue would say yes.

"Fine. Go get some Callister Round. Get me a burger," Rue said blandly and have her the ten dollars. Rue sat on a bench and waited.

When she saw Sidney again, she was running, with no food in her hands. She was getting chased by three big boys, probably the legendary Boxx Brothers, who roam New York like they own the place. Rue ran towards the action.

The three boys were Billy, Bolly, and Bert. Billy was the oldest, and the skinniest. He had a green shirt on, with some yellow shorts that didn't match at all. He was twins with Bolly, who wore a navy blue shirt that said Knights on it. Bolly also wore read shorts and a purple bandana. Bert looked the most mess up. He had scars all over, he wore black clothing, and he was the fattest of the brothers. But Rue wasn't scared of these guys.

"Hey you!" She called. "What has this girl ever done to you?"

"If it isn't Rugby Rue!" Billy laughed, his two brothers behind him.

Sidney stopped running and coward behind Rue, how was standing tall. "And if it isn't the Big Boxx Brothers? Sidney let me introduce you to Big Bill, Bigger Boll, and Biggest Bert!" She replied cooly, despite her rage from the interview.

"You know Rue, that isn't an insult anymore, like it was when we were kids," Billy stated.

"You're right, it's too flattering," Rue smiled.

"Knock yourself out with compliments," Bolly mocked.

"Whatever."

"You know brothers, I'm not hungry anymore," Billy sighed.

"We can't waste the food though," Bolly smiled. "What do you say Bert?"

"FOOD FIGHT!!"