Out of Time 01 - Out of Time

search for employment. Block after block they walked, hoping to see a help wanted sign in a window. They asked for leads at various stores, but very little was forthcoming. One job was going to be hard enough to find, but two was looking downright impossible. The late afternoon sun started to fall behind the taller buildings and sent long shadows stretching down the street.
    A man at the haberdashery had suggested they try closer to the Bowery, so they decided to take a short cut over to Canal Street and try their luck there. A group of children huddled in the middle of the street arguing. Barely visible among them was a small priest. His face was shiny with sweat, and he mopped his brow as he tried to settle the boys down.
    “Now, Jimmy,” he said with a delightful Irish lilt. “If your toe’s not touchin’ the base there’s not much chance you’re safe, now is there?”
    A pimple-faced boy scuffed his shoes on the pavement and pointed toward a dirty shirt on the ground. “But he yanked the bag away!”
    “Who’s the umpire here?”
    “You are,” the boys chorused in what was obviously a trained response.
    “That’s right, I am. And what I say goes. And I say you should get back to playin’ ball before this old priest melts in the sun.”
    The boys reluctantly agreed and went back to their positions in the street.
    “And you were out by a mile, Jimmy,” the priest added with a wink.
    Elizabeth and Simon stood on the sidewalk with the priest as the stickball game resumed. It was nice to watch something so normal, so human regardless of the time. She caught the priest’s eye and he bowed his head in greeting. He looked like he’d fallen off a charm bracelet. No more than five foot two and with hair that swooped back from his forehead in gray waves, he was Barry Fitzgerald incarnate.
    “They’re a lively bunch, but they keep me young. Name’s Father Cavanaugh,” he said extending his hand for a shake. “I don’t think I’ve seen you two around before. New in town?”
    Elizabeth grinned. “Does it show?”
    His bright, pale blue eyes crinkled at the edges. “A little.”
    “My name’s Elizabeth and this is Simon, my husband,” she added quickly.
    “Father,” Simon said and took the priest’s hand.
    “I don’t suppose you know of any jobs available in the neighborhood?” Elizabeth asked.
    The father tugged on his ear in thought. “Not off the bat, no. But I’ll be sure to ask around. I’m over at St. Patrick’s,” he said. “If you need a little hand.”
    “Thank you, Father. That’s very kind of you.”
    “You’re very welcome,” he said, before his attention was pulled back to the game. “Now, Vincent, none of that! We play a clean game or we don’t play at all.” He walked out into the street and was once again lost in the crowd of children.
    “We still have time for a few more blocks before it gets dark,” Simon said.
    “Right. Once more unto the breach.”
    * * *
    Elizabeth wiped a bead of perspiration from her forehead and sighed. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink.”
    “A little early for that, isn’t it?”
    “I meant a soda,” she said.
    He looked almost chagrined, but covered it with a frown. “Why don’t you rest for a moment in the shade. I’ll get us something.”
    Elizabeth smiled gratefully and walked over into the shade. She watched Simon disappear down the block into a small grocers. Leaning against the brick wall, she closed her eyes. At this rate, they were going to run out of money long before they ran out of time.
    “What am I supposed to do now?” she heard a deep, gruff voice say.
    Elizabeth glanced over and saw a large, brawny man talking to a pretty little red-head. The woman smiled up at the older man. “I’m sorry, Charlie. We didn’t plan it, but...” her voice trailed off as she placed a hand over her stomach.
    Charlie smiled wistfully. He looked like a bear, barrel-chested with a belly to match. “He take good care of ya?”
    “The best. I know I’m leavin’ ya in the lurch, but Tommy’s kinda old-fashioned. Specially now I’m in a family way and all.”
    Charlie shook his head. “Don’t know what I’ll do without ya, Viv. Where am I gonna find another girl like you?”
    Viv grinned and laughed. “We’re everywhere.” She looked around the street. “See there’s one right there,” she said pointing at Elizabeth.
    Elizabeth quickly looked away and pretended she hadn’t been blatantly