First I'll be needin' yer full name, honey. It's for my confidential records. Lord knows none o' the girls actually uses 'em.

The nuns named me Eve. An’ then Abbey, a’cause tha’s where I was found. So Eve Abbey.

So what do people actually call ya? An' why?

Peep. Stage says it’s a’cause I’m so little an’ my hair is all fluffy, like a chick.

Age an' birthday? Just estimate if ya ain't sure, hon.

I think I’m nine? I was found on Christmas, so tha’s my birthday.

Now you's gonna give me a physical description. Height, build, hair, eyes, the clothes ya wears--everythin' down to the last freckle, ya hear? *gives you a sober look* If one o' my goils goes missin'...well, it pays to be prepared, I always say.

Well, I’m real little. Real skinny. I think Stage said I’m jus’ under 4 feet tall? Somethin’ like that. I got blonde hair, it’s down to my shoulders and it’s real fluffy and don’t like to stay in braids or nothin’. I got green eyes. I got two dresses, one is brown and kinda has a check pattern, the other is blue and has a flower pattern. They’re both about knee length but that’s only a’cause Stage hemmed ‘em up. They used to be hers and they’re too big for me. So I gotta cinch in the waist. But Stage says that’s good, a’cause I can wear ‘em for a long time. Then I wear black stockings and boots.

I know you'll be sellin' papes, but are ya doin' any odder kinda work? If so, I gotta know about it. *gives you a sharp look* Yes, even that.

Nah, I just sell papes. I’m too little to do nothin’ else.

What's yer personality like, dearie? Sweet, grumpy, shy, outgoin', overly fond o' the boys? *smiles* It's all perfectly fine here in Greenwich Village.

I dunno. I’m sweet, I guess. Cheerful. I like havin’ fun and talkin’ to people. I get a little scared sometimes, of the dark and strangers and bein’ alone, but Stage is always there so I feel better.

Now, most o' the Village is real keen on the arts. Got any special talents I should know about? If ya sing, dance, act, draw, paint, write, or sweep a stage, I guarantee the goils'll find ya some extra work. *winks* You can tell me about any non-artistic talents while you's at it.

Nah, I dunno. I like taggin’ along with Stage to the Butler. I don’t do nothin’ like sing or dance, though. I jus’ watch. Stage is tryin’ to talk me into getting up on stage but I don’t know if I wanna… *frowns but quickly brightens* I’m a real good reader, the nuns taught me that an’ my sums.

Any ghosts hauntin' ya that I should know about? I don't mean the kind that supposedly haunts the attic--I mean the bad things that follow ya from yer past, or the bad habits ya just can't seem to shake.

Nah, I don’ think so.

Who ya know in the area, hon? Friend or foe, I wanna hear about it. An' have ya got any fam'ly left?

I love Stage, she’s the best person ever and she’s like my big sister! So I know her! An’ the other girls here, a’course. An’, uh… I guess the nuns back at the abbey? They don’ really count…

Seein' anyone special, dear? *smiles slyly*

*sticks her tongue out* Nah, boys are gross. Stage is always gigglin’ about some cute boy and it’s gross.

Now, last of all, baby, I need ya to tell me why you's here. Where'd ya come from, an' what kinda life did ya have before?

Well, I’m a foundlin’. The nuns found me on the steps of the abbey Christmas mornin’ when I was just a tiny little baby. They raised me at the abbey until I was six, then I got adopted by this couple a’cause I was a real cute kid, all blonde and big-eyed. It was the man’s idea to adopt me a’cause the woman thought she couldn’t have babies or somethin’. She never really liked me. I wasn’t the same as havin’ her own kid. I lived with them for about a year an’ then the woman got pregnant so thy put me out on the streets. Stage found me an’ brought me here. An’ I’ve been livin’ here an’ sellin’ papes for near two years now. Stage says I gotta go to school, so I do that, but then I sell papes with her in the afternoon.

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Profile By: Peep Shakespeare

E-mail Address: melgre2@aol.com

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