Chapter Two
Bright sunlight streamed in through the large windows of the Lodging House. Raindrop sleepily opened her eyes and sat up. For a moment she couldn't remember where she was. Then it all came back to her. She was with the newsies. Which would explain all the boys running around and shouting all thorugh the large room. A reluctant few were still fighting for a few minutes more sleep. Most, however, were half dressed and tearing around the room. She watched for a while, listening to their conversations about someone named Weasel, and The World, which she assumed was the paper they sold for. A few early risers left, shouting for others to meet them at Tibby's for dinner. Raindrop stood as Kid Blink walked over to her.
"Heya Raindrop! Ya ready fer yer foist day o' sellin'?" He smiled his wide smile. Raindrop shook her head.
"I'se not heah ta sell." Blink nodded slowly, not really understanding.
"See ya latah den? At Tibby's?" he asked hopefully. Raindrop grinned.
"I wouldn't miss it fer da Woild," she said, hoping he'd find it funny. Blink grinned and started out of the room with Mush in tow. Raindrop sat down again thoughtfully. So far the newsies were really great.
Jack sleepily dressed and walked to Raindrop's bunk.
"Mornin' Lissa. Ya sleep awright?" he asked. She nodded, and he took a deep breath. He really didn't want to force this on her, but he had to know.
"Okay. Good, good. Look, um, hey, I have ta ask ya a question."
So far, so good.
"Well, um, some ah da boys is wond'rin' what youse doin' heah an' all, an' since I'se da leadah an' all, dey wanted me ta ask youse." She stared hard at the floor.
"Well, ya ast me ta come...so I did." she said quietly. Jack sighed.
"Raindrop, you knows what I mean. What was ya doin' out dere in da rain last night?"
"It ain't sumpt'in' wanna tawk about, Jack." Jack stood up and paced a bit.
C'mon, we ain't gonna hoit ya. Is someone aftah ya 'r sumpt'in'? We kin soak 'em 'r sumpt'in'. C'mon. Jist tell me." She took a deep breath.
"Me muddah and me faddah was killed. Da bulls t'ought it was me sistah dat killed 'em. So dey t'rew 'er in jail. Den me bruddah dis'ppeahed an' I didn' have nobody else, an' I'se spent days loikin' fer Bev, cause I know she didn' do it." She glared at floor. Jack frowned. Most of the newsies' life stories were cruel. Raindrop's was obviously no different. She also was very guarded about what she said. She hadn't said a word about how she felt about any of it. Jack nodded soberly.
"T'anks Rain. I'se really sorry. I'll tell da uddahs. We'll keep an eye out fer dis Winston, an' any one else dat tries ta find ya...we'll soak 'em. C'mon. I'll go wit ya an' we kin loik in da jails fer yer sistah. 'Bout time I seen me old man again." Raindrop looked up in surprise, but said nothing. She stood, Jack put his arm around her shouldes, and they walked out of the now silent Lodging House.
Jonathon wandered aimlessly around New York. He turned and headed for Queens, to search for his parents' murderer.
With Mush and Blink in tow, Race entered Tibby's and the threesome bombarded Jack and Raindrop about where they had been all day. Jack waved them away and continued happily telling Raindrop all about his favorite topic.
"So den I says, "Well, we only used da best, Joe. So I jist wanna say, t'anks again." You shoulda seen 'is face! It wuz da funniest t'ing I evah saw!" Jack grinned happily, like a school boy. Then their food arrived and the pair fell silent.
Jack's a really nice guy. Raindrop mused as she thought back on the day. He'd taken her to almost all of the jails in New York. With any luck, they'd find Bev tomorrow, or the next day.
It wasn't long before Tibby's was filled with the Manhattan newsies. Boots walked in with a pape which he handed to Raindrop.
"Fer yer foist day wit day newsies. Almost didn' get it saved fer ya." Skittery spoke up, "Yeah, real good headline. Some goil on trial fer killin' 'er parents. Didn' even have ta improve da headline 'r nuttin'." Raindrop tensed.
"Killin' 'er parents?" she repeated softly.
"Yeah," Jake said. He unfolded her pape and pointed to the headline, complete with a picture. "Dat's da goil," he glanced back at Raindrop. "Loiks kinda like youse." Raindrop stared at the picture, growing paler every minute. Mush touched her arm.
"Raindrop? You'se awright?" She swallowed hard.
"Dat's me sistah, Jack. Dat's me sister."