Mush had been looking around the newsie lodging house for the past half hour. He wanted to find his best hat for his date tonight, but he thought one of the other boys must have borrowed it, since it was nowhere to be found. He went back into the newsies bunkroom.
"Heya Cowboy! Waddya do wit me new hat? I wanna wear it tonight."
Jack and Crutchy walked into the room. "I dunno where your stinking hat is, Mush. Ask Race."
"Hey Race!"
"Yeah?" Race followed the sound of Mush's voice into the bunkroom.
"Where's me hat?" Mush asked, really frustrated now.
"Oh, I borrowed it fah a date I had last night. Here ya go lover boy." Race threw the hat at Mush's head. Mush caught it, scowling. That was a waste of a half hour.
Race continued to stare at Mush.
"What?" Mush asked, quite frustrated now.
"Well, it's just………. I nevah seen ya hang onto a goil this long since………….well ya know."
Mush sighed. "Yeah I know. But this ones different. She wont hurt me like the last one. Anyway, Ive been wit her for 3 months. I think Laura actually might ya know……….love me. And I might………..love her."
Race and Jack burst out laughing. "That sounded so rich comin from you, Mush. Mush, the ladies man of ladies men, has finally found a goil he thinks that loves him and he loves! Why don't you two just get married lover?" Race sneered, throwing a pillow at Mush's head.
"Oh shut up Race." Mush was not gonnna get into it with these two. "If I love her, I'm allowed to say it and remain wit her for the rest of my life. Maybe."
Race's and Jack's laughs were still ringing in Mush's ears as he walked out the door.
As Mush walked into the cool night air tons of memories came flooding back to him. He thought about Cassandra, and how she had hurt him by first sleeping with then running off with his former best friend, Racetrack. How it had taken him forever to get over her. And that's why he was trying to stay with girls for longer then one night. He didn't want anyone to be hurt the way he was hurt. Mush didn't think anyone should have to go through that. But that was 2 years ago. Mush tried to put all those negative thoughts into the back of his head so it wouldn't ruin his date with Laura.
Mush's foot hit something hard. "Shit!" he exclaimed. He looked up from the ground and found that his thinking had led him right to Laura's doorstep. He rang the doorbell and stood back to wait.
Inside Laura's house, there was a tiny battle going on. A battle between a sister and her brother.
Laura screamed, "Give me my shoe so I can go Seth!"
Seth just laughed. "Why do you want it so bad? Your boyfriend won't even be able to see it. I mean, I am assuming he's blind, since he is going out with you."
Laura looked like she was about to explode. She tried talking calmly to Seth. "Please Seth, just hand my shoe over and I will leave you here all by your lonesome self for three whole hours."
That did the trick. Seth was a sucker when it came to getting the house to himself. "Okay little sis. Just get out of here and make sure your back by 11."
"Shut up Seth! You are so NOT my father."
Seth replied without a trace of a smile. "Well, someone has to be."
Laura shrugged. "I'll see you later Seth." She went to open the door. It creaked open slowly. God, they had to get those hinges fixed. They sounded like they were living in a haunted house.
Mush smiled when he saw Laura. "Laura dahling, you look be-u-tiful tonight."
"Thanks, Mush. But cut the crap. We both know that you're no gentleman. And that I'm no lady."
"Yes Laura my dear, but sometimes, it is fun to pretend."
And with that, he took her arm, and they strolled into the cool September evening.
Mush steered Laura into Medda's place. He turned to look at her as they entered the doorway and saw her look of apprehension. He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her lips to calm her. "Don't worry baby, everything will be fine." Mush said in a soothing voice.
Laura just nodded.
Mush led her into a back room where most of the guys were sitting. Even though he had been
dating Laura for 3 months, he had been reluctant to let her meet the other newsboys. He was afraid what impression his friends might leave on her, and if she would ever talk to him again. But he figured that they would have to meet sometime, so it might as well be sooner rather then later.
"Okay Laura, this is Jack, David, Specs, Dutchy, Blink, Crutchy, Boots, and Spot. He's from Brooklyn, but he hangs out with us sometimes cause were just that cool."
Laura smiled weakly. "Hey guys." She waved. There was a chorus of "heys" from around the room.
"Wow, Mush. She's even better looking then the last one. Where do you find these goils?" Spot snickered.
"Shut up Spot, before I make you shut up." Mush took Laura's hand and led her away from the guys. "Do ya wanna stay any longer? Cause we can go now if you wanna."
"Without even dancing first? C'mon Mush. You owe me at least one dance."
Mush smiled. "Whateva ya say, dahling." He let her lead him onto the dance floor.
But unknown to Laura or Mush, someone was watching them. Someone who thought Laura was very good looking indeed. Someone who wanted Laura all to themself.