(Nori): "Howdy!" (Katrinka): "Have you been watching Bonanza again?" (N): "There was a marathon!" (K): "Oy, just ask the nice people for reviews." (N): "If you'd kindly review we'd be much obliged to ya." (K): "That's it, no more Bonanza!"
David was reading the headline for the afternoon edition of the World when he felt someone jump on him from behind.
"Hey," he said, jumping up.
"It's just me," Detta said smiling.
"Oh, hey Detta," he said, smiling a little himself. "Where were you yester day?"
"We'll talk about that later," she said, wanting to avoid talking about the Orson incident. "Now let's sell those papers of yours."
"You sell papes?"
"No," she said bluntly. "But if I perform, people will come and you can sell to them. It's win, win."
That's how David ended up yelling headlines as Detta leaped through ring. As it turns out, this was a rather good selling tactic because David ran out of papers quickly and, according to Detta, she had gotten an enormous amount of tips.
"I think we should get something to eat," she said, smiling as she counted her earnings. "My treat."
David smiled, "Hard to argue with that."
They headed over to Baxter Park (if there is a Baxter Park we don't own it), picking up two apples from a street vender. Once they made it to the park the two sat down and talked about anything that came to mind.
"So, where's Les?" Detta asked, whilst munching her apple.
"He wanted to sell with Snipeshooter and Boots to day," he replied. "So you never told me where you were yesterday."
"Just visiting some friends in Coney Island," she replied offhandedly.
David raised an eyebrow at her strange tone.
"Is everything alright?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," she said, with a forced smile (she was obviously as bad a liar as Dave). "Why would anything be wrong?"
"Yes," a voice said before Davy could question Detta further. "Why would anything be wrong?"
"Orson!" Detta squeaked. "Why are you here?"
"I just wanted to visit my good friend," he said, studying Detta's short form closely. "I didn't know you would be busy."
"Um…hi, I'm David," Davy said, offering his hand to shake trying to smooth things over (You could've cut the awkwardness with a knife).
"I know," Orson said coldly.
"Okay-wait, how do you know that?" David said, taking his hand back.
"I get around," Orson said, looking back to Detta.
"Well, as happy as I am to see you, Orson," Detta said, getting up from her seat on the bench. "I have to go home."
"You mean that theater?" Orson asked, knowing that he was right.
"How do you know that?" Detta asked, her eyes wide.
"Like I said, I get around."
"Detta, I think we should leave," Davy said, quickly. "Now."
"Is he the reason you won't go out with me?" Orson questioned, moving closer to the pair. "Do you think he can protect you like I can? That he'll understand you like I can?" Suddenly Orson grabbed Detta by her shoulders, yanking her away from David. Then, leaning closer to her he whispered: "Do you think he can stop me from getting what I want?"
As soon as Orson had said that Davy heard a little voice in his head yell "SOAK 'IM!", so he did. More precisely, he spun Orson around so that they were facing each other and Davy swiftly brought his fist into Orson's face so hard that the slimy dirt bag fell to the ground. Then David grabbed Detta's hand and ran towards Newsie Square.
At Newsie Square
Detta and David gasped for air once they stopped in front of the Hoarse Greenly statue.
"Who (gasp) was that?" David asked, looking back to make sure Orson wasn't fallowing.
"Orson Rellan," Detta said, also gasping. "He's related to an old friend of my. Apparently he likes me."
"Apparently!"
"Why did you take me here?" Detta said, ignoring David's comment.
"It's the end of the selling day, a lot of my friends are here." David said, shrugging his shoulders. "I figured that there's safety in numbers."
"Ah, good thinking." Detta said, looking around to see several newsies from the party.
"We're gonna need to find you a new place to stay," David said, brushing aside the complement. "He knows where you live, which is not a good thing."
"Heya Davy," Jack said as he and Les walked towards the two. "I see you brought Detta with you today."
"Yes, but I'm afraid it's not under as happy circumstances as last time." Detta said, sadly.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked, looking to Davy.
"It seems that one of Detta's friends is slightly obsessed," David said, sighing.
"He's not my friend," Detta said, angrily. "He's related to an old friend of mine."
"What does obsessed mean?" Les asked.
"It means Detta has some serious problems," Jack answered for the others.
"Jack, this guy knows way too much. He knows where she lives, who she talks to and when she sneezes!"
Jack sighed and began to pace.
"Well one things for sure," he began. "She can't go back to her house. She'll have to stay with a friend."
"But the only friends I have are in Coney Island and that's where Orson lives."
"She needs to be somewhere that she'll be safe," David said in a calculating voice.
"How about she sleeps over at the lodging house like I do?" Les asked in the innocent way that only a child could manage.
"No," Jack and David answered together.
"It's not a bad idea," Detta said to Les. "Your friends would protect me, but sometimes older boys can be jerks, ya know what I mean?"
Les didn't really understand but decided to nod anyways.
"Well if you can't stay at the lodging house, you can stay at our house!" Les proclaimed, thinking it was the best solution.
Detta and David both looked completely shocked by this suggestion.
"Hm…" Jack said, rubbing the bottom of his chin. "That might actually work, Les."
While Jack was saying this Davy was mouthing "No, no Jack no!" over and over again while shaking his head no. When Detta turned to him he stopped abruptly.
"Well…" she started awkwardly. "Would that be okay with your parents?"
"Uh, I think so," he said, with equal awkwardness.
That's how Detta ended up walking with David and Les back to their apartment to meet their parents (yes, we're ignoring Sarah).
David showed Detta up the steps as Les talked to her.
"Wait until you meet mama," the small boy was saying. "She's really nice and she'll like you. And papa's all better from his factory accident. And…"
The conversation trailed on from there but David didn't pay attention to it. He was too busy thinking about how to explain to his parents why he was bringing a random girl they had never met before home, not just for dinner, but to sleep on their couch for at least a night.
Taking one last breath of air David open the door to their apartment.
"Hello Mama," he said to his mother as the group of three walked through the door.
"Hello Davy," she was speaking to David but looking at Detta. "Who's this?"
"Mama, this is my friend Detta," he said, clearing his throat. "She's in a bit of trouble and I was wondering if she could stay here for the night?"
Ester Jacobs looked from her eldest son to the girl that he had brought home.
Just at that moment David's father walked in.
"Hello Dear, hello boys, hello-" the man paused for a moment.
(ten minutes of Parents to Son talking later)
"Well Detta," Mr. Jacobs said, smiling. "If you need a place to stay you are more than welcome here."
"Thank you so much," Detta said with a sigh of relief.
"Not a problem," he said. "Ester, why don't you add some water to the soup?"
(Katrinka): "Well I think that went rather well, don't you Nor- Nori? Nori where are you?!" (Nori): *runs into room with older brother's laptop* "They have Bonanza Fanfictions!" (K): "I told you no more Bonanza!" (N): "Fine, Gunsmoke!" (K): "ARGE *tackles Nori*"
Bravo Yankee Echo, Katrinka and Nori.
P.S. Do you think we're making Orson too creepy?