A/N: Hello again. Here's the next chapter. In this chapter, Kurt learns more about the gang. This chapter was fun to write, and it may be weird, but I swear there's a method to my madness. Still don't own anything. Enjoy!
Chapter Four: Of Pals and Pickpockets
"Alright dears, come along." Goolsby called the group to the table, if one could even call it that. It was more the group sitting in a circle as they attacked the food. The 'table' was a plank of wood. Kurt had never seen so much food in one place before, so he began the only way he knew how.
He folded his hands and bowed his head. This received stares from everyone at the table. "Eh, Kurt what're ya doing?" Blaine asked.
"Ain't it obvious Dodge?" Sam asked with a smirk. "He be thankin' the good Lord."
"That's positively green." A girl at the table laughed. She couldn't be any older than Sam. She looked younger than Kurt, but not by much.
"Cut it out mates. We don't wanna be bad comp'ny." Blaine said, but a barely visible smirk was on his lips as well.
"C'mon Dodge, you know you wanna laugh." The girl teased.
"I be wonderin' if you be an old codger sometimes Dodge." Sam said. "The way you're prancing about."
"Cheeky…" Blaine rolled his eyes.
"Tina, Sam, Dodger calm down now." Goolsby chuckled. "If the lad wants to pray, we let 'im without bein' rude." Goolsby tried to calm them down, but he, too was clearly amused.
Kurt lifted his head, and unclasped his hands before looking at Goolsby. "May I…"
Goolsby looked puzzled, before finally comprehending. "Oh of course dear. Just help yourself."
"Ya don't have to ask mate." Sam said. "Where'd ya come from anyway, having to ask and pray?"
"Sammy shut your mug." Blaine elbowed. Sam mouthed green, before going back to his food.
Kurt looked up, confused. "What did I do?"
Tina patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry 'bout them sweetie. They 'ave no manners."
"You're one to talk." Sam said.
"Shut your trap." Tina smiled as she spoke, making the remark all the more puzzling to Kurt.
They sure are a strange bunch.
"A'right dearies, five minutes and then we'll show Kurt 'ere our favorite game." Goolsby said. He walked away, leaving the kids alone.
"So what's your story pal?" Blaine asked, jumping onto an old ratty sofa, and motioning for Kurt to join him.
Kurt shrugged, unsure of how much to tell, but Blaine seemed nice enough. "I ran away. I'm tryin' to find my family."
Blaine laughed, wrapping a playful arm around the younger lad. "Well ya found 'em mate. We're your fam'ly," Seeing the boy's expression he added quickly "if you be lettin' us."
"I guess so…" Kurt replied.
"Brilliant. Well some introductions I believe are in order."
"Ya already met Sammy o'er there. He be a bit rough cut, but he's a real good chap to have with ya in a pinch. Loyal as a pup."
Kurt looked around, noticing the boy next to Sam, he spoke. "Who's he?"
"That bloke is Finn. 'Im and Sammy be inseperable. He's our resident franken-teen. A big teddy bear he is. Nicer chap you'll never meet. He ain't the smartest in the bunch, but once he knows you, he be there for ya no matter what."
Kurt turned as someone walked in. Goolsby. "Dodger, get the others ready."
"Make sure you're watchin' mate." Blaine said as he walked away to get the others so they could start their game.
The 'game' had a few components to it. For one, a long coat. Goolsby always put a long trench on, similar to what gentlemen around London wore. He didn't want it to be an obstacle to the kiddies after all. They had to know how to find their way around so to speak. For another, a tobacco pipe, purely for effect, along with a gentleman's hat. Another component that was essential was knick knacks, lots of them. The kids had to know how to dig for the good stuff, no matter what; Pocketbooks, watches, pocket hankies and the like. The final components, a cane and a gruff attitude. Let the game begin.
Kurt watched as the scene unfolded. Goolsby paced back and forth, grumbling like an old man as Sammy and Finn snuck behind him. Goolsby whirled yelling obscenely, as Blaine walked onto the scene. He turned Goolsby around, putting a hand around his shoulder. Kurt watched as Blaine's hand crept closer and closer to the man's waist pocket. He pulled out a pocket hankie and snuck it to his own pocket, as Finn and Sammy grabbed treasures from his back pockets. Goolsby didn't even flinch. It didn't even appear that the man felt any of this going on. Kurt laughed, applauded and cheered them on as he watched. Brilliant.
A child that hadn't grown up in Kurt's situation might see the wrongness of such a display up front. But Kurt hadn't been out in the world outside the parish for very long, and as such had no clue just how cruel the London streets really were, and how this silly game was truly a game of villains and thieves. He was truly a child, a simple minded child. He had not a clue that the boys and girls around him were not as trustworthy as they appeared, nice maybe, trustworthy not. Every lad for himself as the old saying goes. Kurtis Twist would learn soon enough.
A/N: I know you may be confused, considering Kurt's an Atheist; I wanted to stay as close to both Charles Dickens and the Glee characters, but in the book, and the version of the film I watched, they prayed before meals, and I needed to give the gang another reason to tease Kurt a little bit. Don't hate me for it. Hope you enjoyed! Oh by the way, here's another definition. Codger: An eccentric fellow, or in context of the way Sam used it, an old man.
