November 1898

Skittery looked at the girl walking next to him. He didn't know what had compelled him to help her. Well, if he was honest with himself, he knew what compelled him to help her – she was a girl, for crying out loud, and not a bad looking one. But he saw girls in distress every day, and never stopped to help any of them. But on his walk from his selling spot near Battery Park to the Manhattan lodging house, he saw her pass him, cross in front of him, and walk alongside him on the opposite side of the street no less than three times. She was clearly lost.

So when he saw her sitting on a bench, looking lost, the snow falling all around her, he felt bad for her.

"You need some help?" he asked.

"I am lost," she said, a heavy German accent coloring her voice.

"Maybe I can help ya," said Skittery. "Where ya headed?"

The girl held out a piece of paper to him. Skittery took the paper and saw an address written on it.

"I know where this is," said Skittery. "Come with me, I'll show you."

"Oh, danke…thank you!" she said with a grateful expression. She grabbed her small suitcase and followed him.

"So, you got a name?" he asked, as they walked.

"Magdalena," she said. "Magdalena Albrecht."

"Magdalena. That's pretty," said Skittery. "I'm Skittery."

"Skittery," she repeated, though it came out as "skit-tree."

As they walked, he noticed she was shivering. "Ain't you got a coat?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"Here." He shrugged off his own coat and put it around her shoulders. She gave him a grateful smile.

Skittery led her down several blocks, and around a corner. They began to see signs in German, and heard snippets of German being spoken by people on the street. They came upon a street sign that matched the street name on the piece of paper.

"Here we are," said Skittery, pointing to the sign. He looked at the paper again, checking the numbers. "This way." He walked down the street. Soon, they came upon a burned out building.

"Oh," said Skittery. "Um…this is it." Magdalena put her hand over her mouth, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm so sorry."

"Oh…" was all Magdalena could say. "My family…my family was here."

"This the only address you have for them?" Skittery asked.

Magdalena nodded. She sighed, looking around, lost once more.

Skittery rubbed the back of his neck, wishing he could do something to help her.

"Come on, let's get some lunch," said Skittery. "Maybe I can help ya."

"I have no money," said Magdalena. "I spent my last at immigration."

"It's on me," said Skittery. He walked her to the nearest deli, which was crowded with patrons trying to keep out of the cold. He managed to wind his way to the front. "Two please." He pointed to a case with soft pretzels.

He paid the vendor, who handed him two pretzels. He handed one to Maggie and they managed to find an unoccupied corner of the deli.

"I know a place you can stay," said Skittery. "There's a girl's lodging house not far from here. There's good girls there."

"No, thank you," said Maggie. "I would like to stay where I know the language. I do not speak English very good."

"I understand," said Skittery, disappointed. "Well, at least let me give you this." He dug out some coins from his pocket. He kept just enough to buy papers in the morning, and handed the rest to Magdalena.

Magdalena stood on her tiptoes, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "You are so wunderbar," she said. "Thank you. Thank you much."

Skittery gave her a smile. "Can I help you find somewhere to stay?"

"No, I will be fine," said Magdalena, finishing her pretzel.

"Alright. Can I come around and see you again?"

Magdalena hesitated, and then nodded, smiling.

"Great," Skittery grinned. He glanced at the clock in the deli. "I, uh, I gotta get goin'. You sure you're gonna be okay?"

Magdalena nodded. "Yes, thank you."

Skittery gave her a smile and walked out of the restaurant.

"Skitts? …Skittery?" Race waved a hand in front of Skittery's face.

"What?" Skittery asked, annoyed.

"We lost you there for a second," said Race, gathering up the cards.

"What were you thinkin' so hard about?" Ellie asked, counting her money.

"Nothin'," said Skittery.

"Oh, I don't think it was nothing," said Baby who was sitting next to Jack, watching the poker game.

"There's only one thing that can make Skittery smirk and daze off like that," Jack added.

"A girl," Baby finished, grinning. Her light English accent contrasted with Jack's New York one.

"Want me to deal you in on this hand?" asked Race.

"Nah, I can't play today," said Skittery. He'd given the money he planned on gambling in the game to Magdalena

"So who is she?" Lily asked.

"No one," said Skittery. "I mean, there is no 'she.'"

"Ah, come on, spill," said Specs, picking up the cards Race had dealt him.

Skittery sighed. "Just a girl who was lost."

"Well who was she?" asked Baby.

"I don't know much about her. Just that her name is Magdalena, and she was looking for Little Germany," he said. "She barely knew any English."

"And you wanted to teach her the universal language?" Race smirked, which earned him an elbow in the side by Lily.

"No," said Skittery, shooting him a look. "She was just a girl. I'll pro'ly never see her again, so just drop it."

"So are you going to look for her?" asked Jack.

Skittery sighed. "Just let it go, everyone."

"Oh come on, any girl who manages to get grumpy ol' Skittery's attention has got to be something special," Baby grinned.