Uptown Girl
Secrets Revealed
The next morning after circulating the Newsie Banner, David returned to the lodging house in search of Rose. But instead, he found Katelyn sitting in the window sill staring out mindlessly. "Where's Rose?" David asked gently so as not to startle her.
"She was gone when I woke up," Kate answered, not removing her eyes from the panes of glass. That is until Jack and Mush clattered into the lobby evidently in a rush.
"Time ta go Dave!" Jack called from the doorway.
"You coming?" Mush asked, quietly extending a hand to Kate. She willingly took it and all four made their way quickly out onto the street.
Evy had left the lodging house just after the boys had left that morning. Somehow it had lasted longer than she had anticipated. She was trying to decide what to do next. She wasn't sure if she ever wanted to go back to a home where her life was run for her, but her only alternative was to stay with the newsies. Unfortunately, that meant she would have to keep lying, something that she hated to do. Her thoughts were interrupted by shouts that seemed to echo through the empty New York streets. Unable to control her curiosity, she followed the voices until she neared the square, which was now filled with more sweatshop kids than she'd seen in her whole life. She scanned the crowd desperately searching for David, or any familiar face for that matter. Then a head of fiery red curls caught her attention. "Katelyn!" she screamed as loud as humanly possible, but her voice just seemed to disappear into the crowd. She finally made her way through the sea of unfamiliar faces until she was within voice range of her friend. Only now did she notice that Race, Kid, Mush and most of the other newsies surrounded her. "Where's David?"
"He and Jack went in there with Seitz," Kate replied quickly pointing toward the office doors. Evy instantly took off. "Evolyn! Where are you going?"
"Evolyn?" The boys echoed in unison.
"You know him as well as I do Kate. Jack's supposed to be in the refuge and David tried to help him escape. One guess what he plans to do."
Kate's face clouded over with worry. "You're right, go!"
Race listened to the two girls as they spoke, growing more confused by every word. "Go where?"
"And who's Evolyn?" Mush added.
Evy turned back reluctantly, ready to explain the truth as quickly as possible, but Kate stepped in. "I'll explain it to them, you go."
The office building was bustling as Evy made her way up to her father's office. As she stood outside the door, attempting to regain her composure, she began to hear muffled voices from within. Before she could change her mind, she stormed into the office; all eyes came to rest on her.
"Rose?" David and Jack asked in unison.
"Evolyn Rose Pulitzer," her father boomed. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"These boys are right and you know it Father," she began, speaking as fast as possible so that no one could interrupt her. "It's awfully difficult to have power when no one is listening. And without these boys and all the newsies out there, no one is reading your paper. So you see you need them."
Her father stared at her dumbfounded for a moment before retaliating. "I do not need anyone. Especially not this street trash!"
"How can you say that? You don't even know them."
"And you do?"
"Father, these boys are my friends, and they're good people. And like it or not, you need them."
Coldness covered Joseph's face as he stared at his daughter. "Why do you insist on defying me Evolyn?"
"Because you're wrong," Evolyn stated, surprisingly calm. "And you know it."
Suddenly the doors opened, baring any further conversation, and Morris entered in a hurry. "Evolyn we have some plans to discuss—"
"Oh would you just give up and leave me alone!" She snapped, and then turned to her father. "If you expect me to go along with this, you're sadly mistaken. I swear I'll leave home in a heartbeat."
Joseph studied her face for a long moment, wondering if she was serious. The anger flaring in her eyes told him that she was dead serious. "Alright Seitz, have the prices lowered. And Morris—"
"I already know," he said in disgust. He stalked toward the door glaring at Evy all the way out. "You'll regret this."
"No, I won't," she replied simply as the door closed behind him. She turned to her father once more. His cold features seemed to have melted away so that Evy almost recognized the man that had disappeared years before. She flashed him a sweet smile, then glanced over to Jack and David.
They had taken in the whole conversation in mute confusion. Once they realized that they had won the battle over Pulitzer, they exited as well. Evy started after them, but stopped short when she remembered that her father was still staring at her.
"Go ahead Evy," he said before she even turned around. "We'll talk later."
Quickly, she darted out of the office and almost ran into Jack and David who had evidently been waiting for her. "What happened in der?" Jack asked coolly.
"You lied to us!" David exclaimed.
"I didn't lie," Evy protested. "I just didn't tell you the whole truth."
"You're Joseph Pulitzer's daughter, that was something you should have told us!"
She was starting to lose her cool. "And what would you have done in I did David?" Without answering her, he stalked out of the building. As soon as he was gone, she felt hot tears welling up in her eyes.
"Give him time Ro- Evolyn, he'll come around," Jack spoke up, protectively resting his arm around her shoulders. "He cares bout ya."
"Thanks Jack. And you can call me Evy." Once they had exited the building, Evy and Jack parted ways.
She headed home, exhausted from the day's events. Ashe collapsed into her bed and as soon as her head hit the pillow, sleep consumed her.
The next thing she knew, Seitz was calling her. "Miss Pulitzer, there are some young men here to see you."
Jacks comment about David coming around instantly crossed her mind and she was filled with excitement. "I'll be right down." She ran halfway down the stairs until she discovered that the gentlemen waiting for her were the Delancy brothers and their uncle. Her heart sank. "What can I do for you gentlemen?" she asked in the most courteous voice possible.
None of them said anything for a long time until Mr. Wiesel pinched Morris in the arm. "Ow," he said just loud enough that Evy heard. "Alright, alright." He turned to face her as she walked down the last few steps. "I wanted to apologize for my behavior the last few days," he started in a louder voice. "I was out of line." His statement earned him an approving glance from his uncle.
"Apology accepted," she replied only because she wanted as little interaction with him as possible. At least if she forgave him, he wouldn't hang around he trying to apologize.
"Thank you," Mr. Wiesel said for him. "If you'll excuse us, we'll be going now."
"Goodnight," Evy called stalely.
Once the door had closed, Seitz stepped back into the room. "A rare show of character, well for that boy anyway."
She smiled. "Yes it is, even if it was forced." The two stood in silence for a few moments before she began to yawn again. "I think I'll head up to bed now. Goodnight Seitz."
"Goodnight Evy." She was almost out of sight when he called to her again. "Evy?"
"Yeah?"
"What you did today, for those boys, it took guts," he said in a fatherly tone. "I'm proud of you."
"Thank you Seitz." With that Evy collapsed into her bed once again, but this time, despite her efforts, sleep wouldn't come. Finally she gave up and let her mind wonder. She desperately searched for a way to make things right, but eventually realized that maybe time was all that David needed. She decided that she was willing to wait. Faintly, she heard something hitting against her window, she waited for a minute, and then heard it again. She bolted out of bed and went to the window. She slowly opened it a blast of cold air hit her face as she searched the lawn below. Suddenly, she saw movement in the shadows and David stepped out into the dim beam of light cast from the window.
"Hi," he said simply. "Can we talk?"
Evy pulled a finger to her lips. "Shhh. I'll be right down."
She disappeared from the window and soon reappeared on the grass. "How did you…"
David motioned to the shadows, where Katelyn, Mush and Jack sheepishly stepped out into the moonlight. "We're just gonna… yeah," Jack whispered, shooing the other two away.
"Look," David started, suddenly serious. "What I said before was unfair to you. I didn't give you a chance to explain. I was just so… confused and hurt."
"I didn't mean to lie to any of you," she replied, vainly attempting to dam up the tears that threatened to pour over her cheeks. "I just wanted to help."
"I know and you were right this afternoon. If you told us who you were who knows how we would have reacted?"
A weary silence consumed them. They could vaguely hear Jake Kate and Mush mumbling nearby. "So what now?" Evy asked, finally breaking the silence.
David let the question hang in the air for a moment befor forming an answer. "I care about you Evolyn and I don't want to lose you. But-"
A smile spread across her face as he called her by her real name, but it soon vanished with that one word. "How did I know that there would be a but?"
David gave her a small smile before he continued. "I don't know if I can trust you."
"Ok then, how about we start over?" she suggested hopefully. "No lies this time."
David seemed to take an eternity to think it over, then finally extended a shaky hand. "David Jacobs."
A smile spread across her features as she took his hand and shook it. "Evy Pulitzer."
He tightened his grip on her hand and gently pulled her to him, placing a delicate kiss on her lips.
"Nice to meet you Evy," he whispered as they pulled apart.
OK there you are folks. You like? Let me know. I promise I'll try to get a different story out as soon as one comes to me. Until then I look forward to reading all of your writings!