Here you go...
"What did Spot mean when he said that it was best if Rose doesn't come back for a while?" Joker and I had started the walk back in silence but the stillness of the conversation was killing me. I'd tried making small talk but all the fun had been sucked from Joker when Spot appeared.
"Exactly what he said. If Rose knows what's good for her she won't be comin' round here til things cool off with Spot." His tones were clipped and cold for a ten year old.
"I take it then she's not a Brooklyn newsie."
He shook his head, "She and Spot's goil, Valentine, are from Manhattan."
I knew better than to pry into others' personal things, but I just couldn't resist, "How long have Valentine and Spot been together?"
"Two weeks," I nodded for no reason and kept going, trying to get the discussion flowing. My attempts went seemingly unnoticed.
"How'd she get the name Valentine?"
"Not entirely sure. I think Rebel once said it was 'cause she's the heart of Manhattan and has more lovahs then Spot himself." I rolled my eyes. 'Lovers', not even 'gentlemen callers' or 'boyfriends' but 'lovers'. She wasn't even that pretty, her hair was stunning yes but not much else.
"What about Rose?"
"That's an easy one." Joker was starting to lighten up a bit, "Well she's real pretty ta look at, like the rose petals, but her attitude can be a bit sharp, like the thorns."
"That's very poetic."
Joker shrugged, "Cowboy named her, he likes ta put a lot of thought into the names. If ya named by him there's always an interesting story behind it. Every leadah does it different. Spot likes names that ah easy and describe ya perfectly." Thinking back on the names I knew that made sense, Ditz, Harvard, Shadow, Romeo, Freckles, they all fit that description. Rebel, Runner, Razor, Joker…perhaps there was more to their names.
"What's the story behind you name Joker?"
He beamed with pride, "Well there are two things dat account for me name. One is that I'm the best prankster in all of Brooklyn," I rolled my eyes. He sounded as cocky as Spot. "And two, Ise great wid cards."
I smiled, "Perhaps you could teach me one day." He nodded enthusiastically. The rest of the trip was uneventful. We arrived at the lodging house just before nightfall. I was tired and still hungry; 5 cents couldn't fill me up after not eating all day. The bunkroom was loud and full of life, I could see some sort of card game going on but I was too tired to care. I sunk down in the nearest bed and dozed off.
"Get out of me bunk!" I shot up quickly as someone yelled directly at me. My head connected with wood and I fell back, clutching my forehead.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch." I said, rocking slightly.
I felt cold hands on my arms pulling me up into a sitting position, "I don't care, just get out of me bunk." The voice was crisp and full of annoyance, and it was…female? Or a very little boy. I lowered my hands to see Maverick standing in front of me, hands on her hips.
Being careful to watch my head I jumped off the bed, "I'm sorry, I didn't know this was your bed," I placed a hand on the wooden frame to help sturdy myself as I swayed, slightly dizzy from standing so abruptly.
"Yeah, yeah, I bet." She said, impatiently shoving me aside, settling into her bed. A quick look around the room showed me that the newsies were in bed, most asleep, there was very little light coming through the windows. So it must be night time, I concluded. After a minute I laughed, earning me a few glares from those trying to sleep, and realized how stupid that thought really was. I only think really stupid things when I'm really tired. I must have looked crazy for one of the boys got out of his bed and made his way to me.
"Come on," the boy hissed, grabbing my elbow. I looked at him, studying his face, but I couldn't make out who it was in the dark light. He was taller than me and definitely more muscular, but then again, most of the boys were. He led me to the bed that I recognized as Freckles. "Here." He said, sitting me down on the bed.
I leapt up and looked at him, horrified, and nearly screamed, "No way am I sleeping in that bed. Freckles died in that bed." It was a chilling thought to know that only that morning a dead body had lye in the bed.
The boy growled for me to lower my voice (the others were beginning to stir), "It was a peaceful death, no blood anywheres whys it mattah?"
I couldn't explain it, "It just does, it's creepy. Please," I pleaded, "don't make me sleep there."
He thought for a moment, "Fine." He led me back to his bed, "You can have my bed I'll sleep in Freckles old one."
"Thank you." I had such an over bearing feeling to hug him, that I did. The boy tensed under my touch and I wondered if anyone had ever hugged him before. Which was a ridiculous thought, of course someone had hugged him, I was just tired. I fell back into the bed and went straight to sleep, wondering who the mystery boy was.
Well I hate to say it but this is the last
chapter I have pre-written. I'm almost finished with the next chapter
and I'll spend tomorrow trying to get ahead again. Don't worry I know
where I'm going with the story so the next chapters will be up soon...I
hope.
