Chapter One

Author's Note: Oh boy, a sequel! I really hope this works. I wanted to write this because I think it'll be fun...hopefully. I know that sequels don't work all of the time, but this one will because it's Micky and Crutchy, and that means that I will make it work because both of these guys are awesome. (In case you haven't noticed.) So, if you haven't read "So's the Bronx", get off of this, search for it, and read it, before you read this if you want to know a bit about Micky and maybe a bit about my idea of Crutchy's former life. You don't have to, but a few things might make sense if you do. Anyway, this is to please you guys, so onto chapter one!

I hadn't given much thought to Manhattan since last summer. That was a while ago, and I have only been twice since then. I guess it's kinda dumb that I haven't, but, see, Checkers was demanding that I worked a lot more now that I could walk. Maybe he just felt like since I had gotten much more money off of my leg when it hadn't worked that now I would have to live up to that same amount. Which sucks for me because now I'm not that good at it. I'm only 14 years old.

So when Checkers said that he was going to let me have a day off to go to Manhattan, I could've cried and told him how much I had needed this. But I hadn't known why; he said to wait until I got there. I was just glad I could go. I would go alone, being as I was the only one who Checkers had said would go. He wasn't even going.

So as I walked through the streets on my way to the bridge where I would have to cross over to get back, I didn't think about why I was going this way. All I could think was how happy I'd be to see the Manhattan newsies again. I hadn't talked to Crutchy in forever.

When I finally made it to Manhattan and all the way to the newsies' square, it was about 3 in the afternoon. There had been some traffic. Ironically, here, where all the newsies were, there seemed to be more traffic than on the road. I pushed my way through them, getting greeted with shouts of "Hey Micky!" and "How's it goin'?" and I eventually found Blink. He was near the restaurant door. I didn't notice his tired expression at first, but I soon realized it.

"Hiya Micky. You heah for a visit?" he asked.

"Yeah. What's goin' on? What's wid all dis traffic?" I replied.

"Dey are all jus' waitin' for afternoon papes. An'..." he trailed off.

"What's da mattah, Blink?" I asked him, wondering why he was so tired and worried looking.

"Let's ge' some food an' I'll tell youse aftah." was the reply.

We ate food and then Blink took me to the lodging house. I didn't know why he wasn't selling, but I didn't know about anything that went on here. He turned and faced me. I felt my stomach drop when I saw his expression of pain and worry. I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but I couldn't. He seemed to read my mind because he answered that question a second later.

"Micky, I heard dat Checkers sent ya heah, I made 'im do it. It's 'bout Crutchy." he said. I wondered what on earth was wrong. "He got ... he got sick."

"What...?" I asked, wondering what he meant.

"Dat's what I said. He be sick. Polio or someting like dat." he replied. I looked at him, not believing it.

"Nah, no, it ain't true, is it?" I asked frantically. He nodded. Not polio. Of all things, why did it have to be polio.

I felt my body go numb. It wasn't true. He wasn't sick, not now, Crutchy wasn't sick, he couldn't be. I had hoped to see him as I knew him, happy and awake, and not in a bed, even though last time I was here, we had both been injured. But now, now he couldn't be.

Blink watched as I took in this information, obviously depressed. I didn't know what to do. Crutchy had always been the one I looked up to. Now he was in trouble. Serious trouble.

"He be in heah. I ain't gonna argue if ya wanna stay tonight. Even a week wid us would be fine. I need da company." said Blink, and I nodded, still numb.

We headed in. He took me to his room, where the both of him and Crutchy had lived in for a long time. I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to be in here. But when we walked in, and I saw Crutchy on the bed, I knew I needed to be in here. I had to be.

He was pale and sweaty looking. I had never seen him so weak looking before, he looked even skinnier than ever. I didn't avert my eyes as we approached the bed. He was awake, and looked up at me. I smiled at him, but it was weak and small and I knew he didn't care. He smiled back, kind of.

"Hey Crutch, we's brought Micky in finally." said Blink gently. I didn't ignore the fact that he was looking close to tears.

"Hiya Micky." Crutchy said to me, and I had to crack another smile.

"Hi Crutchy." I replied. At least he could talk. I didn't know what else to think. This was bad.

Blink was merely trying to think elsewhere. I knew he was. The lost look on his face told me that he was depressed and trying to find a way out of it. Crutchy was really too sick to register anything I guess, but I knew as well as he did that he wasn't in a good position.

"Da youse need anytin'?" asked Blink.

"Water." was all Crutchy said, and Blink nodded and went to get a cup, leaving me and Crutchy alone.

"So...dis is what's been goin' on heah." I said.

"Yeah...I suppose ...suppose so." he replied.

"Remember how I feared running? Well, it ain't dat bad, I be good at it now."

"Dat's good."

"Ya know, I don't tink it was fair for me ta stay away all dat time. I be sorry 'bout dat, I jus' didn't find da time."

"Nah...it's ok-okay."

"I jus' wasn' aware of dis." I replied, looking at him.

I knew he wasn't trying to think about the pain he was going through, so I didn't try to ask him any questions about when it had started. Blink would have to answer those.

"Has da doctor been in heah?" I asked him.

"Once. Only...only once. He ain't...ain't in heah much."

"So youse been alone a lot?"

"Nah. Blink...Blink stays in heah...wid me." he answered, and he looked at me in that moment. I could only see weakness and pain.

I wanted to know so many things, but I couldn't ask him them now. I would just have to wait till Blink could or maybe if Crutchy made it. I didn't like that if. It was stupid. Sickness isn't fair. I don't get it. So when Blink walked in again, with the cup of water, I knew in that moment that I needed to do something for Crutchy. I had to. He was my friend, I couldn't let him down, and I wasn't going to do so now. Not yet. He wasn't going anywhere yet.

Author's Note: There's chapter one. Oh man, I don't know where I come up with these things. *sadness*. It was a good chapter though, wasn't it, for a sequel, I think this is going somewhere. Please tell me if that's true. I don't want to ruin the other story, so I'm shooting for something almost as good with this. Please review, and I will take any suggestions from anyone if I can, because I might need some help with the outcome of this story. So thank you and review and give me suggestions, and just tell me if it was good or not. Thanks!