Chapter 14: Home Again

"Are you sure we're allowed to be back here, Jack?"

"Shhh! Dere's still a show goin' on."

Jack led Kate through piles of used and old scenery stored backstage as another one of Medda's cabaret shows took place onstage. Medda was just winding up another show and the crowd was going wild, as usual. Thunderous applause filled the theater as the red velvet curtain swung in from either side.

"Wonderful show, Ms. Medda," called a nearby stage hand.

"Thank you, Ben. You're really startin' to get the hang of this stage hand job, aren't ya?" She playfully tousled his hair as she walked off to her dressing room. The boy smiled, blushing slightly from the compliment he had just received. Only thirteen years old and he already was getting the hang of a job usually intended for older men. He fixed his short brown hair back into place, and started to gather up the flowers audience members had tossed onstage.

"Psst! Ben! Over 'ere!"

"Jack? Is'at you?" He peered into the shadows on stage right as Jack and Kate made their way onstage. Ben beamed at the sight of Jack and quickly set down the flowers he was holding.

"Good to see you again, Jack!" he said, spitting into his free hand.

"Yeah, you too, kid." Jack returned the gesture and they shook.

Ben suddenly noticed that Jack wasn't alone and curiously eyed Kate, who was looking all around the stage.

"Who's that, Jack?" whispered Ben.

Jack also suddenly remembered that he wasn't alone, and quickly apologized. "Oh, Ben, dis here's Kate." Kate snapped out of her reverie and stepped up next to Jack. "Kate, meet Benjamin Hardaway. One of Medda's best stage hands." Ben smiled at the praise and stuck his hand out.

"Nice ta meet you, Kate."

"You too, Ben," replied Kate, shaking his hand in return. She smiled at him and he promptly blushed. Sure, he was only thirteen, but it seemed that women were already having an effect on him.

"Say, Ben...d'ya think that we could stop by an' see Medda real quick? I wanted ta introduce 'er to Kate."

"Sure, sure. Ya want me to go get 'er?"

"Nah, dat's alright. I wanna surprise 'er. See ya later, Ben." Jack reached for Kate's hand.

"Nice to meet you, Ben," said Kate. Ben watched Jack and Kate find their way offstage and shook his head. Cowboy's at it again, he mused. However, Ben knew that he too wanted to be just like Jack someday. Sighing, he grabbed a spare broom and continued with his work.

A descending staircase led down to an opulently decorated room, as Kate followed Jack into the basement of the theater. A lavishly upholstered crimson couch sat in the corner near a very colorful lamp. A border of gold surrounded the beige walls. Rich red hues dominated the atmosphere, and it smelled sweetly of peppermint.

"She certainly can decorate," Kate remarked, as she marveled over the beauty of the room.

Jack shrugged. "Dat's Medda for ya." He crossed the room and ventured over to a door with a small gold star painted on the front and carefully knocked three times.

"Just a minute!" yelled Medda's sweet, melodic voice from within the dressing room. "I'll be right there!"

Jack stuck his hands in his pockets and turned on his heels, looking over at Kate. She was staring at some pictures on a nearby coffee table. Jack smiled to himself, reminiscing about the night after Medda's show. He had done it. He had finally told her how he felt. And now, everything felt different. There was something about her that had changed the way Jack looked at things. His spirit had improved; there was no question about that. He hadn't fully realized Kate's impact on him until Kloppman greeted him as he left the lodging house two days ago. Jack yelled out his usual goodbye to Kloppman, who, with a puzzled look on his face, said "Why're you in such a good mood, Cowboy?" Jack just shrugged him off, but realized a few moments later why indeed he was in a good mood: it was because of her. There was absolutely no way a girl like this could be involved with Harlem. Jack pushed all thoughts of betrayal out of his mind and trusted his instincts. Spot would not make a fool out of him.

Jack walked over to Kate, who had picked up a certain photograph of Medda and Denton. He placed his hand on top of her shoulders.

"Who's this, Jack?" she asked, holding the picture up for Jack to see.

"Ah, dat's Denton. He's a paper reportah dat helped out a lot wit' da strike. Nice guy. I should introduce ya to 'im sometime." Kate gently placed the frame back onto its rightful place on the coffee table as Jack's hand found its way into hers.

"Kelly, what are you doin' down here?" a voice rang out. Jack spun around to find Medda, dressed in her best attire, waiting for him by her dressing room door. Jack pushed back the hair from his face and walked over.

"Well, I here dat one of the best performers of all time works at dis theater, and I was wonderin' if I could get 'er autograph?" said Jack, as he swept Medda's hand into his and placed a small kiss on it.

"Always and forever a charmer," laughed Medda. "Shouldn't you be out sellin' your papers?" she asked, sending a reproachful, yet harmless, look in his direction.

"Yeah, but first, I wanted ta introduce you ta someone." Jack walked over to Kate and took her hand. "Medda, dis is Kate. She's been stayin' up at da lodgin' house for quite a while now, and, as it turns out, she also likes da theater."

"Nice to meet you!" Medda said. "Are you a performer as well?" Jack tensed up, fearing that the subject of this question would make Kate feel uncomfortable.

Surprisingly, Kate just smiled and said "I like to sing now and then, I suppose." Jack breathed a sigh of relief. "I greatly enjoyed watching your show, Ms. Larkson."

Medda stifled a small laugh. "Please, dear, call me Medda. All of my friends do. And thank you for the compliment. It's good to have a fellow performer's opinion once and a while."

"Medda 'ere helped out a lot with da strike last year." Medda blushed and attempted to quiet Jack. "She let us use Irvin' Hall once for dis big rally we had."

Medda smirked and said "It wasn't anything big. Just tryin' to help out my boys. For working so hard, they do deserve something in return. Speaking of work, whattya hanging around here for on a perfectly nice day? It's a great day for selling, don't you think?"

Jack made a quick glance at Kate and said "Ah, wouldya believe we already sold out?" Medda shot him a questioning look, but let it subside and just laughed. "Kate's actually pretty good at sellin' papes as well."

"Jack's dragging you along with him to sell papers?" exclaimed Medda.

Kate slyly smiled. "Yeah, but it's fine. I don't mind selling with Jack one bit," she said, as she threw a quick glance in Jack's direction. Meanwhile, Medda stole a quick look up and down at Kate.

"How tall are you?" she asked. Kate, looking utterly confused, replied "Um, about five, five."

Medda furrowed her brow. "Turn around."

Kate cocked her head, but Medda continued to insist. "No, it's all right, just turn in a circle, would you?"

Obliging, yet still confused, Kate slowly made a circle. When she finished, a smile crept across Medda's face. "It just might work," she thought aloud. Kate looked to Jack, who was as bewildered as she was.

"Now," began Medda, "you say you can sing, yes?" Kate nodded affirmatively. "Can you do both choral and solo singing?" Again, Kate nodded in reply.

"Whattya getting at Medda?" asked Jack.

"What I'm getting at," replied Medda, "is that just last night, I had a girl drop from my show...who was about five foot five. It wouldn't have been a problem except she does have some solo singing. Now, I'll have to take over her song, but that leaves a gap in the show."

Slowly realizing what Medda was trying to say, Kate's eyes lit up. "So, if you can hold a part, I might be able to use you in my show." A look of bliss took a hold of Kate's face, as she beamed to Jack. "But, I do want to see what you're capable of. Kelly, is it alright if I borrow her for the afternoon?"

Jack, who had up until now been speechless, finally broke his silence and said "I dunno, Medda. I don't know if Kate here really would like ta do it." He was promptly answered with a swift slap in the arm from Kate. They all laughed and Kate responded "I would love for that chance, Medda."

"Good. Well, that settles it then. You come along with me and I'll show you the music." Medda began to walk down the hall and Kate followed her, as did Jack.

"Uh uh, Kelly. This is a closed rehearsal. Performers only!" Medda smirked at him, and Jack, protesting, crossed his arms over his chest. Medda took the hint and said "I'll, uh...just be right down here, Kate. Just meet me down there when you're ready to go. See ya later, Kelly."

With that, Medda hustled off towards another room. "What was dat?" asked Jack, his arms still crossed across his chest.

"You heard her, Cowboy. Performers only!" Kate began to shoo away Jack, but he caught her hands and wrapped them behind her back. She giggled in protest.

"I'll see you back at Tibby's den?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes. "Of course," she replied, her face inches from Jack's. Swiftly, he bent down and kissed her on the lips. As much as she wanted to stay with Jack, she broke away after a few seconds, and said "Duty calls!" Jack gave her hands one last squeeze and headed for the stage.

"Coming, dear?" called Medda.

Kate took one last look around the parlor and sighed to herself, content. "Yep. I'll be right there."