Tuesday, December 6

"I have some very sad news to convey," Father Mulrooney informed the handful of boys that made up the student body of St. Vincent de Paul Academy.

Alex waited for the announcement of Kevin's death. When he'd told the priest about Kevin the day before, Father Mulrooney had seemed genuinely saddened.

"Mr. Kim has died," Father Mulrooney said instead. "Most unexpectedly. His death will be profoundly felt in our community."

Mr. Kim had taught science with enthusiasm if not much scholarship. Alex had liked him well enough, but he wouldn't have been someone he'd miss once he and his sisters were gone.

Still, it was odd to hear he'd died. Another fluicide, he guessed.

Wednesday, December 7

"I need something from you," Alex said to Harvey. "I'm willing to barter."

"Anything for a friend of Kevin's," Harvey replied. "Funny, I haven't seen him the past couple of days."

Alex shrugged. "I need a sled," he said.

Harvey laughed. "Want a dog team to go along with that?" he asked.

"Just a regular sled," Alex said. "But I've got to be able to pull it. Good-sized, too, not a little kiddie one."

Harvey looked thoughtful. "I might be able to do that," he said. "When do you need it?"

"As soon as possible," Alex said. He only wished he'd thought of a sled earlier in the week. But Kevin's death had made it hard for him to think about much of anything. Or maybe he was just too hungry these days to think and Kevin's death was merely an excuse. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered except figuring out a way of getting Bri downtown, and a sled seemed to make the most sense.

"You said you had something to barter," Harvey said. "A sled's a big-ticket item. It ain't no can of green peas. Whatcha got?"

Alex pulled out the diamond ring and Kevin's gun. "How's this?" he asked.

"Pretty impressive," Harvey said. "I like the gun. Always a market for those. You been holdin' out on me, kid? You got any more merchandise like that?"

Alex thought about the last four cans of Papi's beer that he'd been saving for an emergency. "Nothing this good," he said. "I really need that sled, Harvey."

"Tell you what," Harvey said. "You come by tomorrow morning. Either I'll have the sled or I won't, but I'll know by then. You got anything else for me today?"

Alex looked at the cans of spinach on the shelf behind the counter.

"I don't suppose I could have some spinach on account," he said.

"On accounta what?" Harvey asked, then burst out laughing. "Sorry, kid. Cash and carry. No more handouts just because I like someone."

Alex nodded. "Just thought I'd ask," he said.

"Never hurts to ask," Harvey said. "See you in the morning. Maybe I'll have that sled for you. And who knows. Maybe I'll threw in a can of that spinach while I'm at it."

Thursday, December 8

Harvey had outdone himself, Alex thought as he carried the sled into his old basement apartment. The sled was close to perfect. It was large enough for Bri to sit on comfortably and it had footrests so she could shift her weight around during the long trip to Port Authority. It was heavy plastic, with runners high enough that he wouldn't have to worry about Bri getting wet from the snow. Its only drawback was its single pull rope, which meant he'd have to do the dragging by himself. But he and Julie probably wouldn't have been able to pull in unison anyway.

It felt strange unlocking the door to the basement apartment. Alex hadn't been there since the move to 12B, but it made no sense to carry the sled upstairs when they'd be using it in just a few days. There'd been no electricity, not even on weekdays, since the snowstorm. Alex couldn't wait to get out.

Everything smelled damp and musty. It was hard to believe they'd all lived there and never noticed that. We were mole people, he thought. In a few days, though, they'd be the elite.

He went to Mami's bedroom and pulled down the boxes from her closet shelf. It was hard to see anything, since so little natural light came in and he hadn't thought to bring a flashlight or candles with him. But eventually he found their birth certificates and baptismal certificates.

Alex looked through the rest of the apartment, in case there was anything there they needed to take with them. On the kitchen counter by the phone was the note he'd left saying they'd moved to 12B. He wasn't sure what to do about it. There seemed to be no point in writing a new note, since he didn't know where they'd be going.

Once Bri and Julie were settled and safe, he'd somehow locate Carlos and tell him where the girls were. Mami or Papi could find him also, if they ever came back. In case anyone showed up before Monday, Alex left the note. He gave his home one more look. He still remembered moving there when he was five. He'd gone outside to play with some kids and he'd said something in Spanish. The kids had all laughed at him and he'd run back to Mami, crying.

"Here you speak English," she said to him. "No more Spanish."

That had been easy enough; he'd grown up hearing both. But he never tried to play with the neighborhood kids after that. Carlos had, no problem. But Alex always felt the kids looked down on him. They were all Danny O'Briens.

But in five days he'd become a Danny O'Brien. It was like something out of a Dickens novel, he thought. Foundling discovers he's really a long-lost millionaire. Of course he wasn't a foundling or a millionaire, but it was the same basic concept. And he'd earned this trip up the social ladder through his hard work at Vincent de Paul. Mr. Flynn wouldn't have given the passes to just anybody. It wasn't an act of charity. It was an act of respect.

Papi would be proud of me, he thought. I've taken care of my sisters. I've been a man.

Friday, December 9

He'd woken Julie and made her go on the food line with him. He wished he didn't have to, but there was no food in the house and if they were going to make it through the weekend, they needed every can they could get.

The line seemed safe enough, though; there were so few people on it. Alex made sure Julie stood by his side for the couple of hours they waited. He guessed the temperature had fallen below zero. Hell won't be hot, he thought. It'll be cold like this.

"Where's Kevin?" Julie finally asked.

He knew she would ask, but that didn't make it easier. "He's dead," he replied.

"Are you sure?" Julie asked. "Maybe he's just gone."

"I was there," Alex said. "He's dead all right."

"Oh," Julie said. "Three of the sisters died, too. Well, Sister Joanne was just a postulant."

"How'd they die?" Alex asked, not wanting to talk about Kevin.

Julie shrugged. "They got sick," she said. "Sister Rita didn't tell us of what or anything. She was crying, only she was pretending not to. But we could all tell. Not that there are that many of us left. Maybe some of the girls have died, too."

"They've probably just moved on," Alex said. "Most people have."

"I don't want to die," Julie said. "Sister Rita said Sister Dolores and Sister Claire and Sister Joanne are in heaven with the Holy Virgin, but I'd still rather be alive."

"Me too," Alex said.

They stood silently for a while. Then Julie took his hand.

"I'm sorry Kevin died," she said. "He was a good friend."

"Yes," Alex said. "He was."

Sunday, December 11

"Julie, I need you to go to eleven F," Alex said after lunch. "I want you to see if there's anything left we can use."

"Why do I have to go?" Julie said. "There's nothing there."

"You have to go because I told you to," Alex said. "Julie, just do it. Don't give me a hard time."