Authors note: Starting now this story is in first person. I feel that it makes more sense, and it's easier for me to write in, so yeah....

Crutchy never left my side for the two days that I was in the

hospital. The day I was released, he walked up two flights of stairs to get to my apartment.

"You didn't have to do that," I said as we walked into the apartment.

"'Course I did," he replied, pecking me on the cheek. Thomas started to make retching noises behind us.

"Would you can it?" I said using lingo I had picked up from the boys in the hospital.

"Okay, sorry!" Thomas said in defeat.

"Well, uh, youse had better lay down," Crutchy said awkwardly.

"I'm sick of lying down! I've been doing nothing but for the past two days. I want to go out and see the world!" I exclaimed

"Okay," Crutchy replied eagerly.

"What?" Thomas yelled. "You just had surgery! There is no way I'm letting you out of this apartment."

"It wasn't a major surgery," Crutchy said shrugging.

"What do you mean it wasn't major? She's missing a freaking arm!"

I pulled my hand down my face. "Guys!" I exclaimed.

"Sorry," they said in unison.

"Thomas," I said. "I'm going to spend the day with Crutchy. I'll be fine."

"It's true," Crutchy added. "Moira will be poifectly safe wit' me."

It took a little bit of convincing, but Thomas finally agreed to let me spend the day with Crutchy

****

We were immediately put to work making signs for the strike when we got to the park. Most of the boys quickly lost interest, so it was just Swifty, Crutchy, and me working.

"Double down!" Racetrack called from next to us.

"Classic Race," Swifty said rolling his eyes. I laughed as I remembered the multiple times that Racetrack had tried to start a poker game in my hospital room.

"Indeed," I agreed. We were just about to stop working on the signs to watch the game when Jack, David, and Boots started towards us. The game immediately ceased as the boys noticed Jack.

"So where's Spot?" Racetrack asked.

"He was concerned 'bout us being serious. You imagine that?" Jack said incredulously.

"Well, Jack, maybe we ought to ease up a little."

"Without Spot and the others, there ain't enough of us Jack," Blink added.

"Maybe we're moving too soon," Mush said. "Maybe we ain't ready, ya know?"

"I definitely think we should forget about it for a while." Skittery said.

"Oh, do ya?" Jack asked glaring at him.

"Yeah."

"Yeah, I mean, we're not Brooklyn... you know?" Racetrack added glumly.

"Spot was right, is this just a game to you guys?" Jack asked disappointedly.

The boys stood around dejectedly as David tried to cheer them up. I wasn't really paying attention to Dave because Jack had started talking to us.

"Hey Crutchy," he said sitting down next to us.

"Hiya, Jack," Crutchy replied. "So Brooklyn didn't join?"

Jack shook his head.

"Shame. The Bronx said they'd join if Spot did."

"There and everywhere else," Jack said angrily.

"Well moping around won't help us prove to Spot that we's is serious, now will it," Crutchy said, trying to bring Jack's mood back up.

"I guess not," Jack said jumping up. As soon as he was on his feet the circulation bell started ringing. "Did anybody hear that?" He asked.

"No!" Everybody replied.

"So what are we gonna do 'bout it?"

"Soak 'em!" The boys yelled back.