"Heya, Cowboy." Jack heard Oscar Delancy's voice echo behind him. Jack
turned around to face him, still walking forward.
"Well, if it ain't me favorite Delancy brudda." Jack replied cockily, then turning back around to walk with Ayleiyah. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta get back to da Lodgin' House."
"Ah, naw, Cowboy, stay and play a little while." Oscar insisted. Jack tried with all his might to ignore him so he didn't cause any trouble in front of Ayleiyah, but Oscar pushed Jack from behind, not taking 'no' for an answer. Jack kept walking his strong hands balled up in fists. Oscar pushed Jack again, harder this time, and out of the blue, Ayleiyah turned around, gave him a right hook, and he went flying to the ground.
**Jack's P.O.V.
She walked ova to him, gave him anudda punch square on da nose, an'he stahted to swing. She ducked and got 'im in da stomach. Osca Delancy was gettin' beat by a goil-I was so amazed I couldn't move. I tink Osca was more amazed dan I was, dough. He jis' stood deah, lookin' funny at'ah, like he wanted'a do somethin' to'a.
"I dare you." She said, lookin' him straight in da eye. "I dare you to touch me. Do it." She threatened. "Otherwise get the hell outta here before I kick your ass for what you did to me last week."
He looked at'a wit' huge eyes, den toined around and ran like a little kid from her, whimperin' like a baby. I just stood deah, lookin' at her.
"So, was that a show or what?" She asked, waklin' up to me. I just looked at her, speechless.
"I know, I know, too good for words. Come on, let's go." She said, grabbin' me arm and pullin' me back to da Lodging House, which was only about a quahtah mile away. As we got closa, I noticed all da Newsies standin' outside. Dey stahted cheerin' when we got closa.
"It's a true match for ya, Cowboy." Racetrack said, shakin' me hand like an idiot. Dey was all cheerin' for Jewels-dey had seen da whole fight. Blink walked up ta Jewels an' laid Les' toy sword on her shoulda, makin'ah get down on 'er knees.
"I now dub thee," he said, clearin' his throat, tryin' to sound all proper and junk, "Cowgoil." The crowd erupted in cheeahs. Jewels just laughed and Blink pulled'a offa her knee.
"Just hope dey neva disagree." Mush yelled from da back. We all laughed. "It could get bloody."
**Ayleiyah's P.O.V.
I couldn't help but laugh, it was kind of funny. "I've never actually done that before to anyone." I said. "He just pissed me off, and I couldn't help but remember what they did last week, so I went for it. It was pretty fun. The look on his face was a classic."
"Come on, kid, le's all go in and get some sleep. We'a gonna need it tamorrow when both da Delancy bruddas show up for moah. And den we can get dem back in da slamma, wheah dey was befoah dey got thrown back onto the streets." Jack said, grabbing my hand. "I'm proud'a my goil fer standin' up f'herself." He kissed my cheek.
"I think I mostly surprised him, I doubt he's ever had a girl beat him up before. But at home, girls are just as tough, if not tougher, than some guys are. Athleticism is important. It's nice knowing that I actually am strong enough to defend myself now."
He laughed. "I'd probably get soaked if I eva went to your home."
"Naw, it's not, like, a regular occurance or anything. It's just something you should be prepared for. Girls can't be wimps anymore, or they won't make it anywhere in life. As I always say, 'Girls can do anything.' A girl can do anything a guy can do. If not more and better." I said.
"Oh, really?" He asked me, giving me a surprised look. Lookin' at goils tuhday, ya'd neva guess. I wish goils weh like dat now. Now, ya gotta be careful wit' 'em, dey'ah too fragile and ya can't even play around wit' 'em, ya know?"
I laughed. "Do you really?"
"Well.now dat I t'ink about it, I'd probably get moah black eyes dan I do now." He laughed with me. "But if dey was all like you I'd be a much happiah man."
I hugged him. "We'd better be getting to bed, or else I'm not getting up early in the morning." I said, scowling at the idea of getting out of bed before noon.
"Yeah." He said, walking in behind me. "Besides, I gotta be ready ta protect ya from da Delancy's."
I turned around and hit his arm, causing him cry out in pain. "I can fend for myself, thank you." I laughed, letting him know I was kidding.
"Dat seems ta be da case." He said, smiling and giving me a good-night kiss.
"Hey," I whispered before he got up into his bunk, "Thanks for the night, Jack. It was wonderful." I smiled.
"Glad ta be of soivice, 'Cowgoil.'" He said. "Besides, it was jis' cuz I was havin' so much fun m'self."
*~*THE NEXT MORNING: Narrator
Ayleiyah woke up the next morning to Jack, standing over her and smiling a viciously evil smile.
"Wake up, Sleepin' Beauty. 'S time ta go."
"Five more minutes," She muttered, burying herself under the blankets. "I'll get up."
"I know's ya too well, Allie." He laughed. "Ya won't get up in fifty minutes, much less five."
"So?" Ayleiyah asked from under her pillow. "I'll catch up with you later."
"So ya gonna leave jis' me ta fight da Delancy Bruddas? Come on now, dat ain't faih!" He whimpered.
"Ugh." She threw her pillow at him. "For you, that's nothing new."
"Well.yeah, but now I gots someone ta fight 'em wit', get up!" He threw the pillow back at her. He turned his smile into a sweet pout. "Please?" He whined.
Ayleiyah couldn't resist. She slowly got up and walked into the bathroom, getting ready. "Give me 20 minutes," She said. "I'll meet you at the Distribution Center."
"Ya promise? Ya promise ya won't go back ta bed afta I leave?" He asked.
Ayleiyah hesitated-the thought had crossed her mind. But she couldn't leave him there like that. "I promise. Just don't get mad if I'm a little late. You know how Kloppman likes to chat with me."
"Okay." He said, and left me to get ready. She took a shower, got dressed in her khaki flares and put on a navy blue, knit ribbed, empire waist camisole that lay just above her belly button. It was her favorite summer outfit.
Ayleiyah hummed as she put on her makeup and did her hair. She walked down the staircase and tried to sneak past Kloppman. He loved chatting with her, about so many different things it was hard to keep track. It wasn't that Aylieyah didn't like talking to him; she just didn't want to be late to the Distribution Center.
She managed to get out the door, and started for the Distribution Center.
Ayleiyah looked ahead and saw Kid Blink just turning onto West 57th Street, parading down the street in his usual stance; hands in pockets, looking up at the sky. "Blink!" She yelled, grabbing his attention.
"Heya, kid!" He said, walking up to Ayleiyah and wrapping his left arm around her in a slight hug. "What's new?"
"Nuthin much, how about you?" She asked.
"Evert'in's fine, I guess."
"You guess? What's the matter, Blink?"
Blink looked at Ayleiyah with his one good eye, once again sticking his hands in his pockets. "Maybe you can tell me somethin."
"What? Is it about Melaena?"
"Well.yeah." He started. "I just wanted'a know, uh.back in youse guys's time, was theah somebody.did she have a.somebody she loved? Was she somebody's goil?" he looked at Ayleiyah, silently pleading her to tell him what he wanted to hear.
She stared blankly at him for a second. "Umm.well there was this guy named Josh."
Blink stared at Allie, his face dropping.
".They had been going out for almost a year, and then he broke up with her. A lot of things happened after that, and he and a bunch of other people really messed her up, ya know? She was still in love with him and he kept sending her mixed signals, you know-one minute, crying to her and the next ignoring her? It was really hard for her, sometimes we wondered if she'd make it through. But I think, because of you, she's over him. And I'm glad she has you now. I like you a lot better than I liked Josh-I disliked him from the beginning. And I know you'll treat her the way she needs and deserves to be treated. You deserve each other." Ayleiyah said, suddenly realizing that she was rambling.
But that didn't matter when she saw the look on Blink's face. "Really?" He beamed, his good eye sparkling. "Ya mean dat?" He asked excitedly.
"Of course I mean that. I couldn't ask for a better guy to take care of her. You're the best, Blink."
"Naw, you'ah da best! T'anks sweethawt!" He said. "I gotta go find'ah!" He smiled at Ayleiyah as she shook her head, laughing at his excitement.
"You'ah a true friend, kid." He said, giving the girl a hug and kissing her cheek. Allie kissed him back and they went off to find the others. Kid Blink danced the whole way to the Distribution Center, reminding Ayleiyah of a little kid who'd just found his previously lost puppy. She found it rather humorous.
"Ahh, deah dey is!" Jack yelled, waving at the approaching two from the line inside the gates. "Heya fellas!" Blink yelled, practically galloping to Melaena, wrapping his arms around her, both of them enlocked in a deep kiss. Allie smiled; they were so cute together.
"Heya, Jewels." Jack said, pulling Ayleiyah close to him.
"Nice to see ya, Cowboy." She laughed, kissing his cheek. "Any word from the Delancy's?"
"Actually, uh, theah won't be-I hoid dat dey got thrown back in da slamma. Summa dem Bulls found out what happened, and dey got'em both. So we won't be seein' any'a dem for awhile."
"Aww, I was kind of looking forward to seeing them again." Ayleiyah remarked, smiling. By then, Jack had gotten up to the window. "Da usual." he said, tossing the man a half-dollar. "I was too, kid. But tha's okay, it's one less black eye for da both of us."
"Well, if it ain't me favorite Delancy brudda." Jack replied cockily, then turning back around to walk with Ayleiyah. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta get back to da Lodgin' House."
"Ah, naw, Cowboy, stay and play a little while." Oscar insisted. Jack tried with all his might to ignore him so he didn't cause any trouble in front of Ayleiyah, but Oscar pushed Jack from behind, not taking 'no' for an answer. Jack kept walking his strong hands balled up in fists. Oscar pushed Jack again, harder this time, and out of the blue, Ayleiyah turned around, gave him a right hook, and he went flying to the ground.
**Jack's P.O.V.
She walked ova to him, gave him anudda punch square on da nose, an'he stahted to swing. She ducked and got 'im in da stomach. Osca Delancy was gettin' beat by a goil-I was so amazed I couldn't move. I tink Osca was more amazed dan I was, dough. He jis' stood deah, lookin' funny at'ah, like he wanted'a do somethin' to'a.
"I dare you." She said, lookin' him straight in da eye. "I dare you to touch me. Do it." She threatened. "Otherwise get the hell outta here before I kick your ass for what you did to me last week."
He looked at'a wit' huge eyes, den toined around and ran like a little kid from her, whimperin' like a baby. I just stood deah, lookin' at her.
"So, was that a show or what?" She asked, waklin' up to me. I just looked at her, speechless.
"I know, I know, too good for words. Come on, let's go." She said, grabbin' me arm and pullin' me back to da Lodging House, which was only about a quahtah mile away. As we got closa, I noticed all da Newsies standin' outside. Dey stahted cheerin' when we got closa.
"It's a true match for ya, Cowboy." Racetrack said, shakin' me hand like an idiot. Dey was all cheerin' for Jewels-dey had seen da whole fight. Blink walked up ta Jewels an' laid Les' toy sword on her shoulda, makin'ah get down on 'er knees.
"I now dub thee," he said, clearin' his throat, tryin' to sound all proper and junk, "Cowgoil." The crowd erupted in cheeahs. Jewels just laughed and Blink pulled'a offa her knee.
"Just hope dey neva disagree." Mush yelled from da back. We all laughed. "It could get bloody."
**Ayleiyah's P.O.V.
I couldn't help but laugh, it was kind of funny. "I've never actually done that before to anyone." I said. "He just pissed me off, and I couldn't help but remember what they did last week, so I went for it. It was pretty fun. The look on his face was a classic."
"Come on, kid, le's all go in and get some sleep. We'a gonna need it tamorrow when both da Delancy bruddas show up for moah. And den we can get dem back in da slamma, wheah dey was befoah dey got thrown back onto the streets." Jack said, grabbing my hand. "I'm proud'a my goil fer standin' up f'herself." He kissed my cheek.
"I think I mostly surprised him, I doubt he's ever had a girl beat him up before. But at home, girls are just as tough, if not tougher, than some guys are. Athleticism is important. It's nice knowing that I actually am strong enough to defend myself now."
He laughed. "I'd probably get soaked if I eva went to your home."
"Naw, it's not, like, a regular occurance or anything. It's just something you should be prepared for. Girls can't be wimps anymore, or they won't make it anywhere in life. As I always say, 'Girls can do anything.' A girl can do anything a guy can do. If not more and better." I said.
"Oh, really?" He asked me, giving me a surprised look. Lookin' at goils tuhday, ya'd neva guess. I wish goils weh like dat now. Now, ya gotta be careful wit' 'em, dey'ah too fragile and ya can't even play around wit' 'em, ya know?"
I laughed. "Do you really?"
"Well.now dat I t'ink about it, I'd probably get moah black eyes dan I do now." He laughed with me. "But if dey was all like you I'd be a much happiah man."
I hugged him. "We'd better be getting to bed, or else I'm not getting up early in the morning." I said, scowling at the idea of getting out of bed before noon.
"Yeah." He said, walking in behind me. "Besides, I gotta be ready ta protect ya from da Delancy's."
I turned around and hit his arm, causing him cry out in pain. "I can fend for myself, thank you." I laughed, letting him know I was kidding.
"Dat seems ta be da case." He said, smiling and giving me a good-night kiss.
"Hey," I whispered before he got up into his bunk, "Thanks for the night, Jack. It was wonderful." I smiled.
"Glad ta be of soivice, 'Cowgoil.'" He said. "Besides, it was jis' cuz I was havin' so much fun m'self."
*~*THE NEXT MORNING: Narrator
Ayleiyah woke up the next morning to Jack, standing over her and smiling a viciously evil smile.
"Wake up, Sleepin' Beauty. 'S time ta go."
"Five more minutes," She muttered, burying herself under the blankets. "I'll get up."
"I know's ya too well, Allie." He laughed. "Ya won't get up in fifty minutes, much less five."
"So?" Ayleiyah asked from under her pillow. "I'll catch up with you later."
"So ya gonna leave jis' me ta fight da Delancy Bruddas? Come on now, dat ain't faih!" He whimpered.
"Ugh." She threw her pillow at him. "For you, that's nothing new."
"Well.yeah, but now I gots someone ta fight 'em wit', get up!" He threw the pillow back at her. He turned his smile into a sweet pout. "Please?" He whined.
Ayleiyah couldn't resist. She slowly got up and walked into the bathroom, getting ready. "Give me 20 minutes," She said. "I'll meet you at the Distribution Center."
"Ya promise? Ya promise ya won't go back ta bed afta I leave?" He asked.
Ayleiyah hesitated-the thought had crossed her mind. But she couldn't leave him there like that. "I promise. Just don't get mad if I'm a little late. You know how Kloppman likes to chat with me."
"Okay." He said, and left me to get ready. She took a shower, got dressed in her khaki flares and put on a navy blue, knit ribbed, empire waist camisole that lay just above her belly button. It was her favorite summer outfit.
Ayleiyah hummed as she put on her makeup and did her hair. She walked down the staircase and tried to sneak past Kloppman. He loved chatting with her, about so many different things it was hard to keep track. It wasn't that Aylieyah didn't like talking to him; she just didn't want to be late to the Distribution Center.
She managed to get out the door, and started for the Distribution Center.
Ayleiyah looked ahead and saw Kid Blink just turning onto West 57th Street, parading down the street in his usual stance; hands in pockets, looking up at the sky. "Blink!" She yelled, grabbing his attention.
"Heya, kid!" He said, walking up to Ayleiyah and wrapping his left arm around her in a slight hug. "What's new?"
"Nuthin much, how about you?" She asked.
"Evert'in's fine, I guess."
"You guess? What's the matter, Blink?"
Blink looked at Ayleiyah with his one good eye, once again sticking his hands in his pockets. "Maybe you can tell me somethin."
"What? Is it about Melaena?"
"Well.yeah." He started. "I just wanted'a know, uh.back in youse guys's time, was theah somebody.did she have a.somebody she loved? Was she somebody's goil?" he looked at Ayleiyah, silently pleading her to tell him what he wanted to hear.
She stared blankly at him for a second. "Umm.well there was this guy named Josh."
Blink stared at Allie, his face dropping.
".They had been going out for almost a year, and then he broke up with her. A lot of things happened after that, and he and a bunch of other people really messed her up, ya know? She was still in love with him and he kept sending her mixed signals, you know-one minute, crying to her and the next ignoring her? It was really hard for her, sometimes we wondered if she'd make it through. But I think, because of you, she's over him. And I'm glad she has you now. I like you a lot better than I liked Josh-I disliked him from the beginning. And I know you'll treat her the way she needs and deserves to be treated. You deserve each other." Ayleiyah said, suddenly realizing that she was rambling.
But that didn't matter when she saw the look on Blink's face. "Really?" He beamed, his good eye sparkling. "Ya mean dat?" He asked excitedly.
"Of course I mean that. I couldn't ask for a better guy to take care of her. You're the best, Blink."
"Naw, you'ah da best! T'anks sweethawt!" He said. "I gotta go find'ah!" He smiled at Ayleiyah as she shook her head, laughing at his excitement.
"You'ah a true friend, kid." He said, giving the girl a hug and kissing her cheek. Allie kissed him back and they went off to find the others. Kid Blink danced the whole way to the Distribution Center, reminding Ayleiyah of a little kid who'd just found his previously lost puppy. She found it rather humorous.
"Ahh, deah dey is!" Jack yelled, waving at the approaching two from the line inside the gates. "Heya fellas!" Blink yelled, practically galloping to Melaena, wrapping his arms around her, both of them enlocked in a deep kiss. Allie smiled; they were so cute together.
"Heya, Jewels." Jack said, pulling Ayleiyah close to him.
"Nice to see ya, Cowboy." She laughed, kissing his cheek. "Any word from the Delancy's?"
"Actually, uh, theah won't be-I hoid dat dey got thrown back in da slamma. Summa dem Bulls found out what happened, and dey got'em both. So we won't be seein' any'a dem for awhile."
"Aww, I was kind of looking forward to seeing them again." Ayleiyah remarked, smiling. By then, Jack had gotten up to the window. "Da usual." he said, tossing the man a half-dollar. "I was too, kid. But tha's okay, it's one less black eye for da both of us."
