The bird of Manhatten

Chapter 7 - in which a childhood is over

June 1895
The streets of Manhattan and Medda's Theatre, New York City
Magpies P.O.V.

I have only one pape left, when da pain starts again.
Da lower part of my stomach is hurtin' like someone stabbed me an' is now twistin' da knife.
I quietly groan an' press my hand against my stomach.
An old lady stops beside me. "Is everything ok, dear?", she asks.
"Yes, 'mam. Everythin' is fine. Wanna buy my last pape?"
"Sure. How much?"
"A penny, 'mam."
"Here you go little one." The old lady hands me a penny an' smiles. I give her my pape an' wait 'till she's gone. Then I run off.
My destination? Miss Medda.
She's da only female person, I know well enough ta tell 'bout such... things. Well, actually I have known her for about half a year now, but... she's still da only female person I personally know.
What things I mean? Things like da pain an'... da other thing.
I open da door ta da theatre an' walk inside. A man in a black suit stops me.
"What are you doing here, street rat? This is a theatre. Out with you!", he tries ta shoo me away.
"Please.", I say. "I have ta see Miss Medda."
"She is busy. Now get lost."
"Please. It's urgent."
"I said go away. Go now, or I'll make you." He starts walkin' towards me, but I jus' run past him an' head through da door ta da performance hall. I cross da auditorium an' da stage an' stop backstage. There I find Medda.
"Hey, little one.", she greets me. "Nice to see you again. How are you doing?"
"Good, thank ya." Then I hesitate. "Miss Medda? Can I ask ya somethin'?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"Well...", I begin, not knowin' how ta continue. "Um... So, I... um... got these strange stomach arches since a few days. Well, not da whole stomach. Only around here." I point at da lower part of my stomach. "An' when I woke up this mornin'... um... there was... blood in my bed. It came from... ya know?" I blush an' look at my feet, slightly rockin' back an' forth.
Ta my confusion, Miss Medda begins ta laugh. Bewildered I look at her again.
"Oh sweetheart.", she says. "You have your first period."
"My period? Will I die of it?"
"No, Darling.", she softly smiles. "That is perfectly normal. All girls have it once a month."
"I'll have it every month? Foa how long?"
"Well, that's varying from girl to girl. Some have it only two days, others almost two weeks."
"But... Why?"
"Your period shows you're ready to have children."
"What? I can have babies now? But why? I's only eleven."
"I know dear. You're early but that's absolutely no problem."
"But... what will da boys say?", I ask worryin'.
"Don't worry, sweety. They will understand. Trust me."
"Ya sure?"
"I'm sure. Are you in pain?"
"A bit. I feels like someone stabbed me in da stomach an' is now twistin' da knife."
"That's your conception of 'a bit'?"
I blush again. "Jack always says, I's playin' things down."
"So? He says that?" Medda softly chuckles.
"Yes. Um... Can I wash my sheets here? I don't want da boys ta see... da blood."
"Of course. Feel free to do whatever you want."
"Thank ya." I hug her and head ta da washroom.

I's almost alone.
A young woman is washin' a blue dress in one of da sinks.
I take da sink next ta her an' begin ta wash my bloody sheets. Da young woman looks up at me, sees what I's doin' an' smiles understandin'.
I smile back.
But gettin' da stains out ain't as easy as I thought.
I rub an' rub but da stains stay where dey is.
The young woman looks ova ta me.
"Do you need help, honey?", she asks after watchin' me strugglin' foa a minute.
I look down at my stained sheets, den up at her an' nod. "Yes, ma'am. Please."
Da woman smiles warmly. "Please call me Sally. Now, let me see."
Sally takes da sheets from my hands an' takes a look at it.
"See.", she says. "At first you have to soak it in cold water."
She fills da sink wit' cold water an' drops da sheets inta it.
"Now, while we wait a bit, you can go and get some soap. I guess you don't have any with you?"
"No, Ms. Sally. I don't."
"Don't worry, dear. Here, use mine." Sally offers me her soap, which I gratefully take.
After a few minutes she allows me ta take da sheets out. She shows me how soap da stains right. Den, again, we have ta wait.
"It has to act upon the sheets. Afterwards the stains will be gone."
Wit' big eyes I watch as da stains really disappear.
"Thank you so much, Ms. Sally.", I say gratefully. "How can I ever make dat up ta ya?"
"Kid.", she says smilin'. "I only helped you wash your sheets. It's ok."
"Thank you.", I give her a genius smile.
Sally den shows me where I can hang my laundry ta dry.

I walk back up an' ask Miss Medda if she needs help.
She gladly accepts an' so I end up helpin' da stage goils wit' their dresses, cleanin' backstage an' runnin' from one side of da theatre ta da other ta tell Medda how da light is.
As a reward she lets me stay foa da show.