Note: So you guys are definitely glad I got this up right? I'm sorry I took so long. There is a busy place called real life that beckons me with dishes and school and everything else. Anyway, I hope you like this! Oh Bekah and Shadow, though you aren't in this chapter, you are a very important part of the next chapter. Once again I hope that you who are in this one like how I depicted your characters! Oh, one more thing. Thank you whoever nominated me for the New York Newsies Awards. It really made my day! Please let me know whoever it was so I can thank you personally. If you would like to nominate me the links are on my profile. Nominations end the fifth! Thanks once again!
Disclaimer: Here we go again. Disney= Newsies, Awkward Quail= Runaround, and Eruanna Undomiel= Melody.
Place To Belong - Chapter 4 - Newsies Know
Lillith awoke early her second morning in the lodging house. She carefully let herself down, trying not to step on the boy below her bunk. When she reached the floor, Lillith tiptoed into the bathroom. If she was to get cleaned nicely at all she would have to do it before the boys awoke. Lillith shut the bathroom door, then filled the tub with water. Before she got in the girl found something to shove against the door - just in case one of the newsies woke early. The hot water felt refreshing and Lillith was glad to find some soap. When she was done with this, the girl put her boy clothes back on. Now, to tackle her hair. Lillith hadn't really thoroughly brushed her hair since the day she was kicked out. Now, she grabbed Racetracks comb and pulled it through the thick locks. It was a very hard task, for many knots had accumulated over the two days. As she stood there, trying to get the comb through a particularly nasty knot, she heard the door knob jiggle. There was no lock on the door so the person on the other side immediately began pushing.
" 'Ey, what's goin' on," a voice called out. It was Racetrack. " Who's in da bathroom?" The boy was pushing and Lillith knew that the little box she had shoved against the door wouldn't hold him long.
" Don't come in!" she yelled, hoping he would stop. No such luck.
" Trickster?" Race yelled, " Let me in da bathroom this instant or I will poisonally break it down!" he threatened. Apparently he didn't like people hogging the bathroom. Lillith looked around frantically for her string, but was unable to find it. In a desperate way Lillith tucked her hair under her cap. I didn't look as convincing as the first time, for when she left her stepfathers she had been wearing her hair in a bun. Now of course she had taken it down and didn't have time to fix it as she did in the water closet the time before.
" I warned ya!" Racetrack cried, bursting into the room, an extremely irritated look on his face. The boy stopped, a comical look on his face as his eyes looked at the comb in Lillith's hand. One of his suspender straps hung limp, but Race stepped forward, his mouth open.
" You - you," he sputtered. Lillith looked at the comb, then hesitantly offered it to the boy. He grabbed it out of her hand, glaring at her.
" Nobody uses my comb," he said, washing it as if he thought she might have lice. Then he noticed something else.
" How come your 'ats so puffy?" he asked. Lillith blushed when in the mirror she saw her hat sticking up.
" It's um…" she trailed off, not having an explanation. Then Race did the thing she dreaded. He did what Jack had done. He took her cap off. Racetrack stepped back in pure surprise.
" T- Tom.. You're a - a girl," it wasn't a question. It was a statement. Then Lillith heard Race mutter under his breath.
" How did I not see it?" The noise Race had been making had apparently woke some people because Kid Blink and Mush were soon looking in the door. Lillith watched as their mouths dropped open. She was doomed now.
" What's going on?" Blink asked while Mush stood there dumbfounded.
" Kid," Racetrack said, taking hold of her arm. " You've got some things to explain." By the time all the boys were up Race had Lillith in the room, showing that she wasn't Tom as they had thought she was. When the other boys first saw her and her long thick hair a collective gasp went around the room.
" So," Race said, chewing his cigar. " Explain." Lillith gulped, looking to where Jack leaned against the wall, smiling. So Lillith did explain. She told them about her stepfather getting rid of her, and how she was afraid with no place to stay. After she had explained everything the boys looked at her in wonder. When he noticed the girls sad look Mush spoke up.
" You managed to fool us all day. That's pretty good!" Lillith gave him a slight smile.
" Well," she said, picking up her canvas bag. " I suppose I will be going now. I'm sure you are all mad at me," Lillith prepared to walk bye the boys but a chorus of voices protested.
" Wait!"
" You don't have to go!"
" We're not mad!" Lillith paused, smiling gently at the boys.
" Thanks, but I probably couldn't have survived that bed another night anyway." Crutchy stepped up, putting a hand on the girls arm.
" You can have my bed Trickster," he said, motioning to one of the bunks.
" No!" Lillith hadn't even realized Kloppman had entered the room. " That wouldn't be proper at all," he said. Lillith sighed, and it was echoed by all the boys in the room.
" She can have the little back room. I don't use it much anymore. However, I do need one of you to donate a mattress. I know that the one on the bed she was sleeping on is terrible." Lillith stared at the man, her mouth open. Then she laughed.
" Oh Kloppman!" she cried attacking the old man with a hug.
" Wait, wait," he said, pushing her off though he gave her a smile.
" She can have my mattress," Crutchy offered, and was followed by several other offers.
" Thanks boys, but I don't want you to be uncomfortable." Lillith said, blushing at their concern now that they were aware she was a girl. So the newsies drew straws to see which would give their mattress and Bumlets was given the honor. In his joy of being able to give Lillith his mattress, the boy did one of his signature fan spins. Lillith shook her head, smiling a bit. These boys never failed to amuse and confuse her.
" Looks like you'll be needing a new nickname," Mush said, cap in hand. " I don't know dat Trickster is so good for a lady." Lillith smiled at him. If she had known before hand how the boys would accept her so easily she would never have dressed as a boy. Lillith had told the boys her name and Jack had boasted about figuring it out before. Now the girl once again picked up her bag. This time Itey came forward and took it from her.
" Let me carry that miss," he said, hoisting it on his shoulder as he would papes. Lillith followed behind him, and the other boys trailed her. It was strange how boys could change so quickly. First your just another newsie, then you're a girl, which meant something obviously for they were treating her with such cordiality.
" Here's da room," Itey said, setting the bag down.
" Watch out!" Bumlets called, and Lillith back away from the door as he and Mush came through with the mattress. They sat it on the iron bed frame in the room. Jack shooed the boys away then turned to Lillith.
" Hey," he said, a serious expression on his face.
" I think it would be best if ya pretended to be a boy outside of dis house. Got it?" Lillith nodded, and Jack smiled. " Alright den. Hurry up Lillith." With all the boys gone the girl looked around her new room. Besides the bed frame there was a small stand by the bed with a lamp on it, and a small chest of drawers. Kloppman must have been staying here. Lillith picked up the pile of blankets Boots had dropped on the floor and made the bed. There was a knock on the door and Lillith answered quickly. " Who is it?"
" It's Crutchy, Jack says it's time to go!" Lillith left her new room with a glad feeling inside her. She fixed her cap on her head and joined the boys heading to the distribution center. Blink gave her a friendly grin, and Lillith wondered why she had ever thought they would not accept her.
" Uh oh," Race said as they came in view of the center. " Looks like de Delancys are back from dere vacation," he said, grimacing a little. In the short time Lillith had been with the newsies she had heard a lot about the Delancys. Apparently they were dangerous, ignorant thugs. Jack had warned Lillith to stay away from them. He told her they would sooner beat a newsie up then speak civilly to them.
" Lil," Jack said, coming to the girl side. " Do exactly what I told ya yesterday, got it?" Lillith nodded, walking in line behind Itey. When she reached the window, Lillith pulled out her money. " Twenty papes please," she said to Weasel, a rather rude man.
" Twenty papes," he told the two grown men beside him who Lillith decided must be the Delancys. They both sneered at her as they slammed the papers down in front of them.
" Well what do ya know. We've got ourselves a new one." One of them said. " Yeah," the bigger one piped in. " This one seems a bit scrawny though. Hey kid," the speaker made a fist at Lillith. " Watch out," he said in a menacing tone. Then he and his brother started laughing and Lillith hurried down from the platform as fast as she could.
" Not very friendly," Lillith muttered to no one in particular.
" Ya think?" Blink asked, giving her another grin. Lillith shrugged, then turned to Jack.
" Where should I sell?" she asked, unsure of what to do this day. He shrugged.
" You could try Central Park for now.. And maybe da harbor after lunch." Lillith nodded, waving as she started off towards the big park. Her father had taken her there as a little girl and she knew it wasn't far from the lodging house so she shouldn't get lost. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breman Mcdugal sat in the New York Lawyers Office, listening to the man who had handled Paul Reynolds case.
" It's just not possible," the lawyer, Mr. James Richards said, adjusting his spectacles as he read over some pages.
" Mr. Reynolds will clearly states that his money cannot be withdrawn by anyone other than his daughter, Miss Lillith Reynolds. There was a set amount for his wife as well but the majority was left to his child. I also understand that your late wife already withdrew the money before her death." Mr. Mcdugal nodded, his emotion not showing on his face though a turmoil went on inside.
" Isn't there some way to take the money out? I was going to bring it as a surprise to Lillith. You wouldn't want to ruin her happiness now would you?" he spoke, lying through his teeth. The lawyer stared at him, before giving a little smile.
" The child could withdraw the money herself if she wanted. You see, usually the receiver must be at least eighteen to get the money. However, the court, for some unknown reason allowed Mr. Reynolds to make it so his daughter could withdraw at an age as young as sixteen.. Which I hear is her age now?" Mr. Mcdugal nodded stiffly.
" So," the lawyer continued, " You must either bring her to receive the money or get Lillith to sign it so you can withdraw. There is no further way I can help you." Mr. Mcdugal nodded. Somehow he would have to find the girl he had just gotten rid of. Some how.
" Hey!" Melody called, running up to Lillith from behind. The girl turned, wondering what her friend was doing in Central Park.
" Hi," Lillith said softly, then saw that Runaround was with her. She gave the girl a smile, then turned back to Melody.
" What are you doing here?" she asked, waiting for an answer. Melody brushed a blond wisp of hair that the wind had blown into her face away.
" I talked to Snipeshooter on the way over. He told me you were here." Lillith smiled.
" I thought Spot didn't want you to come over without a protector?" It was more of a question then a statement and Melody grinned.
" He doesn't know," she said, then turned to Runaround. " Do you think he'll be mad?" The girl who now wore a purple vest stepped up, her eyes twinkling like a star. " You bet. I'm glad I came with you though. I wanted to come see Mush, Blink, and Skittery," she said, naming them off on her fingers and flashing Lillith another grin.
" Anyway, Melody wanted to come here first. So are you going to go to Tibby's with us?" Lillith looked up, surprised.
" Again?" she asked, a bit confused. Melody nodded, smiling big.
" The newsies go there every day. It's like their hangout spot. You know?" Lillith nodded her understanding.
" So are you ready?" Runaround asked, eying the papers under Lillith's arm. The girl nodded.
" Sure. I'm starving. Jack says I can sell whatever I have left at the harbor." The other girls nodded and they left the park.
When the three girls entered the newsies quiet their cheerful banter and changed instead to a new sound.
" Trickster, I saved ya a seat!" Crutchy said, pointing to a chair by his side.
" Melody come sit with me!" Les said, giving her puppy dog eyes. Melody laughed and did as the little one requested.
" Hey Runaround! How's it goin?" Blink asked, while Mush pulled a chair out for her. Lillith sat down next to Crutchy, heaving a sigh.
" Long day?" he asked, biting a piece of bread. Lillith nodded.
" Whoever though selling newspapers could be so hard. The boy grinned.
" Don't worry. We're gonna make it easier for ya." He smiled again. Lillith smiled at her friend with appreciation.
" So," the newsie continued, " Because of your obvious exhaustion," Lillith laughed at this.
" I am going to buy your lunch." Lillith protested but Crutchy could just not be swayed. So she enjoyed a meal she didn't have to pay for, then stood up, determined to sell the rest of her papers by three.
" Hey Trickster!" Melody called, and Lillith turned to see what she wanted.
" Remember to come walk me home before four. Since Spot didn't give me a specific time," she winked, " I'm just gonna take it slow." Lillith nodded, smiling.
" I'll do my best!" Melody nodded, and Lillith waved good bye to Runaround. Then the once rich girl left, walking towards the harbor. Never guessing what was in store.
