Click! "Alright, last one!" the photographer called out to the small group of girls.

"No goof-offs this time, kay?" Michelle turned to the seven other girls surrounding her. "This one's serious."

Cori and Meg nodded solemnly with the rest but gave each other their infamous "looks".

"Hold on a sec, my shoe's untied," Cori ducked down and, once she made sure no one was paying any attention, started untying the shoes hanging down from the chair on front of her, which happened to belong to Michelle.

Meg sighed impatiently. "C'mon, Cor. How long does it take to tie your shoes?" she bent down and pretended to help Cori but actually set to work on Lacy's shoes.

The two girls finished knotting the pairs of laces together and stood up, concealing their smirks.

"Took you long enough!" Michelle pouted.

"Sorry. I try not to be stupid," Cori grinned idiotically at her.

"Can we just take the picture already?" Andrea huffed good-naturedly. The girls smiled brightly as the camera clicked one last time.

Lacy, Michelle, Andrea and Katie stood up, anxious to get out of the unusually hot April sun and into the shade. Cori and Meg watched with great interest as Michelle and Lacy took their first steps and landed in a pile on the dusty ground.

"Look Cor! Stupid people!" Meg pointed at the two and elbowed Cori in the ribs.

Cori snickered. "Hmm, wonder how that happened?" she commented sarcastically and held out her hand to help Michelle, who had stopped scowling and fixed her shoelaces.

"You think you're so funny, don't you?" she growled and helped Lacy up.

Cori smirked and she and Meg spoke simultaneously. "No, we know we're funny."

"Don't forget to read pages 13-24. We'll have a test on Monday," Mr. Rozen monotoned in his nasally voice. "Class dismissed."

Cori was out of her seat before the sentence was finished. Six hours of being copped up in the one-room schoolhouse was a bit more than she could handle. She grabbed her books and lunchbag and impatiently waited for Meg to finish gathering her things.

"Hey ‘Chelle. D'you get the pictures from your party back yet?" she asked her tall, reed-thin, brunette friend.

Michelle grabbed her things and the three girls exited the schoolhouse. "Yeah, they finished them yesterday." She pulled a brown envelope out of her bag and handed out copies to Meg and Cori. "I gave everyone else their's at lunch. You would've gotten them then, too, but no . . . you had to go and pass notes again," she chided jokingly.

"If stupid Robbie woulda kept his fat mouth shut we wouldn't have been caught. We had the whole system worked out perfectly!" Meg whined as they shuffled down the quiet dirt road.

Cori pulled a face and resumed studying the black and white photos in her hand. She snickered when she saw the last one, Michelle and Lacy smiling primly at the camera, completely unaware of the state of their shoes.

"We're so great!" Meg laughed when Cori pointed it out to her.

"I know," Cori bluntly agreed.

Michelle rolled her eyes. "I'll see you later," she called and turned down the other street, heading toward her family's brick home.

The two remaining girls waved and continued their journey. "So what'd the note say?" Meg inquired, pushing her golden brown hair out of her face.

"Just the usual ‘I'm so incredibly bored and Jeremy's b.o. is making me sick.' Nothin' earth shattering."

"Hey, Herc!" Cori glanced around at the familiar voice.

"Ryan! Hey, why weren't you in school today?" she turned and greeted her life-time friend and next door neighbor.

Ryan shrugged and grinned his trademark smile. "Didn't feel like it."

Cori rolled her eyes and sighed in disgust. "Why is it that you can skip whenever you feel the urge and the first time I try and cut I get caught?"

"Cause you don't got the skills like me," he grinned.

"Somebody's not stuck on themselves, oh no," Meg muttered sarcastically.

"Nice to see you too, Meggie," Ryan quipped. The two were also life-long next-door neighbors (Ryan living between Cori and Meg) but didn't always get along.

Meg gave him her best withering look (which was pretty durn good!) And turned to Cori. "You gonna sleep over tonight? My parents are being weird again and I need someone to keep me sane."

"I'm not sure Herky here's the best person to keep somebody sane," Ryan butted in, clapping Cori on the shoulder.

She wacked him in the gut but otherwise ignored him. "Yeah. I'll be over after dinner." The two said goodbye and Meg departed down her road.

"So what'd you today while I was dying of stench overkill and Mr. Rozen kept droning on about Shakespeare or something like that?" Cori asked the slightly taller boy, feigning bitterness.

"Ah, the usual. Went for a walk, took a nap in the woods, went swimming in the creek, nothing much," he shrugged enjoying the glares she kept sending him. "Sounds like I missed a blast of a day at school. I take it Jeremy hasn't taken his yearly bath, yet?" The two laughed and Cori crinkled her nose remembering the smell.

"Next time you cut, lemme come," she pleaded.

"No way. They might suspect somethin', Herc!" Ryan grinned, using the nickname Cori had pronounced on herself at age five when she decided she was no longer Cora Ann Hall, but the mighty Hercules.

"I say we give them somethin' to suspect!" Cori smirked flirtatiously. Ryan laughed and looped his arm around the blond girl's shoulders.

"Sounds good to me!" he grinned back and they laughed again. Ryan was the only boy Cori would ever dare flirt with, and even then it was just two friends goofing off and knowing that it wasn't serious.

"I'll talk to you later," Ryan sprung into the tree near the small road leading to his family's farm and pulled his schoolbooks out of their hiding place. He flashed Cori another grin and left her to walk the last couple hundred feet to her house alone.

"Shooting star," Meg pointed toward the northern sky. Cori craned her neck.

"Missed it," she said bluntly. "So what're you gonna do for your birthday?" They had been discussing Michelle's recent party.

Meg sighed. "I dunno. See if ma actually let's me invite some boys this year." Cori grinned. The two girls were stretched out on a makeshift mattress of blankets, gazing up at the night sky.

"How about you?" Meg asked.

Cori snorted. "It's four months away! I have no idea!"

"So why are you asking me!? Mine's only two weeks before yours, genius!"she shoved Cori slightly and laughed.

"You wanna fight, huh? Let's go!" Cori shoved Meg off the blankets and onto the long grass and weeds growing near the fence surrounding the Schulz's property.

"That's it!" Meg stood up and raised her fists. "You better start running'," she grinned evilly. Cori jumped up and took off as fast as she could toward the east end of the field, being careful not to trample any of the crops. Meg chased after her, shouting threats.

As she neared the end of the property, Cori slowed. She was laughing too hard to keep running. Meg was wheezing and hacking like her grandfather.

"Come back here, you whipper-snapper!" she gasped and wheezed some more.

Cori grabbed onto the fence to balance herself as Meg collapsed on the ground, but quickly released it as a figure leapt over it, nearly landing on top of her.

She screamed and stumbled back, tripping over the fallen Meg.

"Cori!" the figure gasped, trying to regain his breath.

Cori peeked through the fingers covering her eyes. "Ryan! Your idiot, I almost wet myself!"

Meg laughed and pushed her friend off of her. "Doesn't anyone use a door anymore?" she scowled and the two girls erupted into fits of hysterical laughter.

"Can't you smell the smoke?" Ryan asked, clearly not amused.

They stopped laughing. "What smoke? Ry, what's going' on?" Cori asked confusedly.

"You'd better come quick, Cor. There's a fire at your place." The girls instantly jumped to their feet.

Cori vaulted the fence and tore across the Sander's field, not even noticing the burrs sticking into her bare feet. Meg and Ryan followed close behind. They jumped the fence and entered the Hall's property, the smell of smoke suddenly overpowering.

"Oh no," Meg muttered as they stood at the edge of the field, a bright orange glow lighting up their worried faces.

The men of the surrounding farms had started a bucket brigade, but it was too late. It was only a matter of moments until the entire farmhouse collapsed into a pile of ashes.

Cori stared in horror. "Where's my family?" she demanded.

Ryan shuffled his feet, unable to make eye-contact. "I...I'm sorry, Cor," he murmured sympathetically. She stared at him incredulously. "It was too late," he continued.

The news hit her like a ton of bricks. She swallowed but the lump in her throat remained, making it difficult to breathe. She didn't know how to respond, whether to cry or scream or put on the brave face. Her grip on Ryan's arm tightened, and her two friends wrapped their arms around her as she broke down in shocked tears.

"Your parents had some money in the bank. It's not much, but it's all yours now," the attorney flipped through his briefcase. He and Cori were seated in the Schulz's living room, where Cori had been calling home for the past week.

"So where'm I gonna live? I don't have any relatives," she said icily. "The Schulz's can't afford another kid."

"Well, uh, actually, you do have another relative. A great-uncle on your mother's side." He pulled a paper out of his briefcase. "Mr. James A. Kloppman, lives in New York City, Single, no children," he read. Cori rolled her eyes. Great. An old geezer in New York.

"So I have to go live with this guy? I'd rather live in a tree," she scowled.

The lawyer shifted uncomfortably. "According to your parent's will, legal guardianship has been given to the only living relative. We've telegrammed Mr. Kloppman of your arrival. The train leaves tomorrow morning."

"What!? Thanks for telling me about this!" Cori shouted, not caring that Meg and all her family could hear. Her normally calm disposition had totally flown out the window the past week.

"I was just doing my job, Miss Hall."

"So that's it? I'm just throwing all of my non-existent belongings into a bag and moving to New York? Sounds like a thrilling idea!" she quipped sarcastically. "So what happens when the geezer croaks? Guess I'll just have to find a vacant park bench then, won't I?"

The lawyer closed his briefcase and stood. "I had no choice but to follow your parent's wishes," he held out a wad of cash bound together. "This is what's left of your parent's account. I suggest you get whatever you need today so you'll be ready to leave tomorrow. Here's your ticket."

Cori took the items and glared at the middle-aged man. She showed him to the door and muttered the worst phrases she could come up with as he exited the house.

"Promise to write?" Cori whispered as she threw her arms around Ryan. The train whistle blew again and he nodded.

"I'm gonna miss you, Herky-Jerky," he hugged her back and pulled away grinning.

"I'll miss you too, Chicken Legs," she smiled and turned to Michelle, who was crying up a storm.

"We'll still stay close, no matter what!" Michelle sobbed as they hugged.

"If you don't write to me I'll kill you," Cori growled, smiling. She gave Michelle one last hug and turned to Meg. "In two years, I'll come back and we can run off somewhere to find incredibly handsome men who are very rich," she grinned and tried to blink back tears. You're the strong one, you don't cry she scolded herself.

The two hugged until the conductor screamed "All aboard!" Cori sighed, picked up her bags and smiled at the small group surrounding her.

"I guess that's me,' she grinned falsely, hoping that her tear ducts would cooperate. She paused awkwardly and stepped onto the first step. What to say, what to say? I'll write as soon as I get there," she said and the floodgates collapsed. She quickly wiped off her cheeks embarrassedly, waved, and stepped the rest of the way into the car.

"Final stop, New York City!" the conductor shouted. Cori's eyes snapped open as the train started to slow. She grabbed her bag and clutched it to her chest. How'm I supposed to find an uncle I've never met in this mess? she wondered as they pulled into Grand Central Station and she got her first glimpse of the normal crowd of people.

The doors opened and she stepped into the sea of people, hoping she didn't look as terrified as she felt.

"Ms. Hall," one of the attendants on the train grabbed her elbow. "Your uncle is over here." He led her through the crowd to a small lobby near the exit.

A feeble-looking old man in a homespun suit stood nervously next to a tall young man dressed in even dirtier clothes. "I found her, Mr. Kloppman." Cori cringed inwardly, as his comment made her sound like some idiot that had to be retrieved before she started running around with her underwear on her head. The attendant disappeared, leaving Cori to stare at the two strangers (not that she minded looking at the younger one all that much).

"I'm so happy to finally meet you, Cora," the old man smiled.

"Uh, I go by Cori most of the time," she mumbled. Her name was a sensitive spot (but not too sensitive, mind you).

"Fine, fine," he smiled again. "And I go by Kloppman or Kloppy," he glared at the young one who grinned back. "But you can call me Uncle Jim if you like. You know, you look just like your mother when she was your age."

Cori smiled politely and bit back her sarcastic remark. Really? Oh jeepers mister, thanks for bringing up THAT subject Really ‘preciate it!

The younger one stuck out his hand. "I'm Jack," he introduced himself.

Cori gripped his hand firmly. "A cousin?" she asked.

Kloppman and Jack laughed. "No, no. I guess they didn't tell you where I live, did they?" Cori shook her head and he continued. "I run a lodging house for newsboys. But we do have about ten girls staying right now. Cowboy here's kind of the unofficial leader of our little group. You'll be staying in the girl's bunkroom, is that alright?" he asked.

Cori nodded as they set out into the busy New York streets.

"Well, here we are. Home sweet home," Kloppman smiled as they came to a stop in front of a run-down building on Duane Street. He pushed open the door and the three stepped inside.

"Blink! Dat ain't funny no more! C'mon! Blink!" Cori jumped back (nearly trampling Jack) as a blond boy nearly charged into her. He was laughing crazily and clutching a pair of long johns to his chest. The boy who was shouting followed close behind. He blushed immediately when he saw Cori and Kloppman standing in the doorway and pulled the blanket surrounding him tighter around his bare lower half.

"Ahem!" Kloppman cleared his throat and sent a withering look to the blond that stopped him in his tracks. "What's goin' on here, boys? Mush, where are your clothes!?" he asked gruffly.

Jack tried to stifle his laughter and Mush turned even redder. "Blink took ‘em," he mumbled. The blond stepped forward to defend himself.

"We was just playin' a game, Kloppy. We didn't think you'd be back so soon," he tried to smooth-talk his way out of it. Kloppman gave him another look, this one saying, ‘don't-you-dare-think-you're-off-the-hook-we'll-talk-about-this-later.'

"This is my niece, boys. Cora, er, ‘scuse me, Cori, this is Mush and Blink. They'll be perfect gentlemen from now on."

"Don't worry. Mush usually ‘as his clothes on," Jack quipped softly.

A loud thud from upstairs drew an exasperated sigh from the old man. "I'd better go see what they broke this time. Excuse me for a minute, Cori," Kloppman trudged up the stairs, leaving the four teenagers alone in the lobby.

"So what game you guys play dis time?" Jack flopped down onto the weary old couch. Mush stood nervously in a corner, holding onto his blanket for dear life.

"Desert. I can't tell you how ta play it ‘cause it ruins da whole fun of it, but it involves da takin' off a' clothes," Blink grinned at Cori and winked quickly. "Maybe we'll play it again someday."

Jack burst out laughing. "Cheese, Blink! Git yer mind outta the sewer. Yer gonna scare the poor goyl ta death," he said between fits of laughter. "Just tell me da goyls weren't playin' it with ya."

"Nah. It was jus' me, Blink, Race, and Skittery. Everyone else is still sellin'," Mush spoke up.

"Yeah, Cowboy. We still ‘ave some morals!" Blink grinned. "Where youse from again?" he asked Cori, who was trying to make sense of the crazy scene.

"Ohio. A little farming town called Compton." she answered. Just then the door swung open and three girls strolled in, pulling a rather large dog by his leash.

"Did we come at a bad time?" one grinned as she caught a glimpse of Mush, and his lack of clothing. He blushed even more, as if that were possible.

"I should, uh, go change now, okay?" Mush mumbled. [Author's Note: Sorry, but "Muppets from Space" is just a cool movie. Don't worry if you don't get it, it's not all that funny. ~Lauren] He snatched his long johns back from Blink and scampered up the stairs. The three girls watched in confusion.

"Anyone care to explain what's going on?" a brown haired girl piped up.

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "Don't ask me, I jus' got here."

"You must be Kloppman's niece," a black haired girl said quietly to Cori.

She nodded. "Cori Hall."

The three introduced themselves as Dusk, Panda and Beaner. "And this is

Pup," Beaner gestured to the scruffy white dog sniffing the carpets. "He's a big lug," she grinned pleasantly.

"Oh good, the girls are back," said Kloppman, clomping down the stairs. [Author's Note: "Kloppman clomped" that just sounds too cool! Shutting up. ~Lauren] "Why don't you three show Cori up to the bunkroom."

The four girls and Pup exited the lobby and trudged up a flight of rickety stairs. "Dis heeh's the boys' room," Dusk gestured to the door in front of them. "An' up heeh's where we sleep," they went up another flight of stairs to the top floor. "It's not much, but it's a roof ovah our heads."

Cori surveyed the small room. Five bunk beds lined the two long sides of the room, which was only slightly larger than her room back in Ohio. "The bunk under Sketch's is open. Is that okay?" Dusk pointed to a bunk next to the small window.

"Yeah, that's fine," Cori walked to the rickety bed and tossed her small bag onto it. They turned as they heard loud voices laughing downstairs.

"Sounds like everyone else is back," Beaner commented. "We'd better head down there an' see what's goin' on." Cori nodded, still not sure what to make of all of it.