We were buying our papes and then heading over to Manhattan. We would have to saty for a night or two, because I had a gig at Medda's. I had tried to limit my staying in Manhattan, and when I did stay I never left one of the Newsies' sides.
"Do I have tah sell tomorrah, Spot?" I asked as we walked through the busy streets.
"Babe, da headlines been bad, hard fer us tah come up with a catchy one. Ya know dat, we need da money. Why don't ya evah wanna woik when we go tah 'Hattan? Ya nevah wanna sell, wha's ya problem?"
We had reached the end of the bridge and I reached for his hand, pulling myself close. "Manhattan isn't me home no more. I'se don't git tah see many o' me friends. I'se like tah jist visit wit 'em."
"Well, can ya sell tomorrah a'least? Jist one day, we'se need da money," he questioned protectively wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Aight, jist dis once."
-----------------------------------
Sweets sat with Sprite and Clue waiting for the others to show up. Things in New York were slow; money was hard to come by even though the war was over. Pulitzer had just slightly changed the pay, but we knew there was nothing we could do but sell. The bell rang above the door, drawing the girls' attention to the new customer.
"Oh heya..." The girls couldn't wait to reunite with their Brooklyn friend and the usual newsies didn't impress them.
"Oh, so dats all I'se get?" Race addressed Clue.
"What? Ya think ya somethin special? I'se gotta see ya everyday, you'se ain't nothin I'se hasn't seen in three weeks," Clue shot back. The girls laughed as Race stumbled back pretending to be hurt. Clue pulled him to her, tugging him by his suspenders. He gladly accepted her kiss, and replied with one of his own making sure she knew how much she meant to him.
"Mushy, come here!" Sprite whined, "Ya, didn't come to meet me tahday. Wha ya doing?"
"Sellin', you'se know its been hard lately. Sides I'se take a good many more den ya." He kissed her lightly, and placed her on his lap.
Blink was all ready kissing Sweets neck, when she saw us. Sweets stood, rushing out the door towards me.
"Vixen!" Sweets shouted running to me.
I saw her and took off running, "Sweets! Oh I'se missed ya!"
"I'se miss..." She stopped in her tracks not finishing her sentence. I couldn't stop fast enough and skidded into her.
"What's da mattah? Ya aight?" Sweets shook her head, as she put her attention back on me.
"Morris and Oscar are behind me bruddah." she whispered to me. I slightly turned my head, and sure enough they were looking past Spot at a different target. I knew Oscar's eyes were roaming over my body and Morris was starring at Sweets, his eyes filled with mischief.
"Spot," I called a little too nervously, "hurry it up."
"Hiya Sweets," He jogged up to us, and I was quick to place myself in the protection of his arms.
"Heya, c'mon le's go!" She was quick to get in the restaurant, using it as her sanctuary. I pulled Spot into Tibby's speeding up as well. Once we were inside, we made our rounds saying hello. The door opening disrupted us, and Sweets and I stood frozen afraid to see if they were stupid enough to come in. But sure enough we caught sight of them as they passed by. Jack was ecstatic to see me again, missing his sister.
"Merriweather! Oh I'se missed ya!" I gladly jumped up into his arms.
"Would ya stop callin me Merriweather?" He shook his head, and soon caught up in conversation with Spot and the boys.
I smiled at the girls, but yanked Sweets to the side, "Dey haven't bothered ya, have dey?"
"I'se been fine, fer now anyways. I'se try tah limit me selling, but it's been too hard."
I nodded, understanding, "I'se know, Spot's making me sell. I'se don't want to though... ya still havin dose dreams?"
"Dose damn haunting memories of that night will never leave me, I'se 'fraid."
I wanted to cry, "Oh Sweets when will it end? I'se can't even stand being touched by ya bruddah no more. I'se a'ways see him, he won't leave me mind! I wish ya bruddah knew, maybe dat would stop it. But I'se fraid dat until dey are gone I can't be wit him."
She hugged me tightly, "We'll figure something out! Somehow, you'se will be wit Spot."
