"Ike!" I scream at his doorstep, I came alone early today. I brought the letter; I'm kinda scared on how he will take it. He came out when I was lost in thought and kissed me. I held it for thirty seconds.
"Why are you crying?" He asks" Let me lift up your face, just don't turn away"
"I need help, look at this letter" I say desperately.
We sit at a small table, while we made some bread and coffee. He takes the letter and doesn't say anything for a long time. It worries me. This is worse than my nightmare. I thought. At least I can control part of this reality. When I think he was going to say something, I was wrong. Today, Star was nice enough to sell my share of papes, I just paid for them. She says she'd give me half the profit. So nice of a friend, I was at Ike's house all day so we could figure this out. He clearly insists it says:
Laura, this is your brother, I need help, come in six months or I will track you down. You have been there for me many times, so please be here for me just this once.
"Seems legit," I say I want to tell the Newsies at dinner. Ike comes with me just to be safe. I love him so much. Before we went back to the Lodging house, we went to the harbor, so far, this is the last time I will ever see him, I thought. Star made ten dollars today, so I got five, but I insist she'd keep it. Not bad for a newsie on her own. After a dinner of soup and sandwiches, Ike and I stood up on a table, and we are wondering what all the other Newsies thought.
"Um, I'd like to say that on account for my brother, I have to leave." I hesitated.
The rest of them were as shocked as I was. I kept on
"I will be back though." I feel the blankness in the room. It is never this quiet in the lodging house, just as quiet as saying I was pregnant. I read the letter I received aloud. I could feel the sadness and confusion, hate maybe? Then Ike started to speak.
"My girl needs to be there for her brother through this time, she really doesn't want to leave, but her brother would track her down." Finally, emotions of understanding.
"Thanks Ike," I whispered. I calmed down enough to say "I would never want to trade anything for being a newsie. This is my family. It's all I have ever been for four years. Sure, there have been some rough times, romances, and people leaving, but we are a family. We are accepted here. Some, yes, are more funny or smarter than others, but that is who we are. I did make up my mind; I am going to Santa Fe. I am leaving late march, Two weeks. Two weeks to make as much money as possible for my journey. Race and Specs chipped in a few dollars for me. Les even gave me fifty cents. What I love about my Newsies, I thought, they care no matter what you go through. Ike helped me off the table. He kissed me again. Holding hands, we went back to his house. Once there, he took out a map and we planned my trip. I was to give this to the driver of my carriage my brother has arranged. This was all we did for three days. My friends will cover for me, when I am gone. We promise to write often, I'd send the first letter so they would know my location. Ike's parents were visiting relatives in a different city. I fell asleep next to Ike wondering what it would be like to live in Santa Fe.
