Chapter 7: Getting to Know You
After sending the children off to bed, Fagin quietly sneaks out of the door and takes a last-minute peak on them to assure they're tucked in. He finally closes the creaky door and leaves the premises.
An awkward silence was present…
"Is he gone?" asked one of the boys.
"I think so.." replied another.
"The coast is clear." Dodger said.
"Okay! Now that the old mister left the building, I say we 'ave a 'lil party in 'ere."
Dodger gets on a pile of boxes, clears his throat and calls their attention. "'Ere yea! 'ere yea! Today, I welcome you a new member of the clan, This 'ere is our new friend, Jude!"
The boys all applaud as Jude joins Dodger on top of the pile.
"Me and me bud, Oliver met the ol' bean over 'ere at the market, apparently he caught us doing our job and got a 'lil interested." Narrated Dodger
"Now tell us more about y'self Jude."
Jude stands confidently and looks over the crowd. "Well, let's just say I somehow drifted out of thin air... and somehow landed onto the gates of the church nearby."
"Yea, yea, Same story, priest takes me in; tries to make a good -for-nothing bell ringer out of me; didn't like it; and left him without word."
"That's real interesting, and I'm not just saying this, most of us 'ere are orphans and chimney sweeps and sellers and stuff, what we all 'ad in common was that we never knew our parents, What's your family history then, chum?" interrupted Dodger.
"Well, they're blow-offs." Says Jude.
"Likely story.. Well, now that you explained yourself, How 'bout a drink?" Dodger offers.
"..I don't think that's quite necessary though, thanks. You guys go 'ave fun" Jude muttered as he walks off on his own.
"What's 'is problem?" Charley whispers to Oliver
"I'll talk to him, he just has a problem." Smiles Oliver as he follows him to his room.