Chapter 10: Settling In
"Jack, is it true?"
"Yeah, is it? Are dey really stayin'?"
Jack stops midstride and spins around to face his Newsies. All morning the only thing they had done was pester him about Kit and her girls. He looks across the group, their faces bright with a strange light. With a groan and roll of his eyes, Jack forces himself to speak.
"Yeah, its true. Da goils are gonna be stayin' wid us. You got a problem wid dat?"
To his surprise, the boys let out a cheer of excitement.
"Dat's great, Jack!" Mush cried. "We's got sistah's now!"
Jack rolls his eyes and quickly scans the room for his right-hand man.
Race stood off to the side puffing his cigar, a slightly bemused expression on his face. He was glad Kloppman was letting the girls stay, but he was not about to go prancing around the city proclaiming it from the rooftops. He only hoped that the enthusiasm of the boys would not be off-putting to Kit. They could be an exuberant bunch, and he knew Kit had liked a bit of order and quiet about her orphanage.
"Race," Jack implored, coming to stand beside his long time friend. "Please tell me you ain't squealin' like a goil over dis too."
After taking a drag on his cigar, Race answered. "I's just glad dey got a safe place to stay where dey can be together. Now, if ya don' mind, I's got papes ta sell." He tightened his coat against the chill and wandered out into the city streets to sell his papers.
The rest of the Manhattan Newsies took the hint and buckled down to work. They transmuted their excitement over the girls into improving the truth of the boring headlines of the day. It was with a little extra spring in their step that they took to the streets for a day of selling.
Kit stands in the attic room, given to her and the girls by Kloppman, looking around and making an assessment. The former orphanage girls barely filled about half of the beds in the room. Despite the mess and dust from long disuse, the furnishings were in good condition, and they had a washroom of their own. She was grateful for everything that Kloppman had done for them. The horrors that had once been ever present were beginning to slowly fade into the background. Never had she dreamed that things would work out this way.
Kit turns to face her girls. "Alright girls, we's got some work ta do. Time ta turn dis into a home."
With unusual enthusiasm, the girls set themselves to the task of cleaning. It is backbreaking work, but they do not seem to mind overmuch. Years of living in the High Street Orphanage under Madame Ashworth had conditioned them to the mind-numbing, backbreaking work. Early on, they had all learned the difficult lesson that in order to survive you had to work, and work hard. It was the same lesson the Newsies had learned.
To lighten the mood, Song entertained them with songs of both her own composition and ones she had learned over the years. Two-Bit offered jokes and amusing stories about the Newsies they were now living with.
As she worked, Kit smiled to her self. Despite all of the hardship her girls had experienced, they still had a bit of precious innocence. Elenora was napping on a bunk, her tiny face peaceful in sleep. Kit thanked the powers that be that little Elenora would never know the evil of the High Street Orphanage. She also prayed that the little girl would never know the pain of being hungry and homeless.
Unbeknownst to the girls, Kloppman watches from the stairwell. He smiles at the bustle of female activity. The presence of these girls will have a calming effect on his usually rowdy boys. Perhaps in time, as they all grow up, the pains of a difficult childhood will leave them all and they can enjoy lives of fulfillment and happiness. As he watches Kit, he knows he has made the right choice in his successor of the lodging house. She will watch over her charges with compassion and with just the right amount of firmness wild runaways and orphans need.
The bright ding of the desk bell pulls Kloppman away from watching his new girls settle in. Coming down the stair, he sees a police officer dressed in a somber blue uniform waiting for him.
"Good evening. Are you the owner of the establishment?"
"I am. How can I help you?"
The officer pulls a sealed envelope from his coat pocket. "I was informed that a Miss Kitten Knight could be found here. I have some important documents for her."
Having been a lodging house owner for most of his life, Kloppman was able to read people to see what their intentions towards his charges were. He sensed no ill will towards Kit from this officer, but he was still hesitant. "If you'll just wait a moment, I'll get her for you."
Kloppman hurries up the stairs to fetch Kit. As they head down to the lobby he gives her a quick summary of what to expect. Kit looks at him wide eyed, wary of what this mysterious officer may want.
"Miss Knight?" The officer inquires when he sees her at the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes?" Kit's voice is small and fearful.
"I have here an envelope from Madame Whitefield's lawyer. He said this was to be given to you as soon as possible." He hands off the envelope, then tips his hat. "I bid you both good night."
As soon as the officer closed the front door behind him, Kit hurries over to the desk and tears open the envelope. At the very top of the packet of paper is a letter addressed directly to Kit.
Ms. Knight,
Greetings. I am Adam Hastings, your late benefactor's lawyer. It was instructed to me by Madame Whitefield that upon the destruction of her High Street Orphanage, that her assets held by the bank were to be summarily given to you. All of the exact legal details are contained within her will, which I have included in this packet. You will find a letter of introduction to the bank manager, which will allow you access to Mdm. Whitefield's account and transfer them into a new one of your holding. If you have any trouble accessing this account, please come to me directly. I have also included a copy of the coroner's report, proving the death of Madame Ashworth.
Sincerely,
Adam Hastings
Kit looks up in surprise at Kloppman. "I've just inherited from Madame Whitefield. I'm not a poor orphan anymore." Her gaze turns back to the letter. The world feels as though it has tilted sideways. A whole new set of opportunities has opened before her. Never again would she have to struggle to support herself. It was a new, overwhelming feeling for her. Just a few pieces of paper changed her life.
Turning her attention back to Kloppman she says to him, "Tomorrow, we are going to go to the bank and get these accounts taken care of. Afterwards, we are going to work on making this the best lodging house in all of New York."