*Note from Author* You guys are sooooo patient! Thanx! Here's the sequel!
"The Darkness Before the Dawn"
The ship pulled into port just as the morning light was fully spreading over the horizon, throwing the city beyond into a flurry of activity. As the tourists and travelers gradually stepped off the boat, they admired the snowy steeples and buildings arising in the distance. Praise was heaped on the large bridge stretching across the canal, which was the pride of its community. The last person to step off, was a woman. Actually, if one observed her closely, they would see that she was just on the brink of becoming a woman. If they looked even closer, they would see that she had grown up quickly and earlier than most children. This had happened by some mishap or accident that had occurred in her young life. A person could tell by these qualities that she knew how to handle life easily. But despite these, she had the elements that convinced one that she was an associate with society, her well polished manners apparent even as she walked across the pier.
Her brown red hair was piled atop her head, a plain red scarf resting upon it, a muffler covering her neck from the cold. The skin was white, but with a red tinge on her cheeks not applied by rouge or any such make-up. Her natural color flattered her face tremendously and she had been praised for it more than once. The girl's eyes were what caught the casual observer. They were a brilliant, bright blue, shining at all times, but grew dark and stormy when anger struck. They twinkled when she laughed and when she did, one could almost see the little girl of her lost youth peeking out from behind them.
The girl stopped on the dock and was silent, a small smile flitting across her lips. On the outside she was demure and silent, but on the inside, the little girl jumped up and down screaming with joy. As her bags were thrown into a pile, she scooped up the long skirt, a little too high for some old ladies near the boat, and ran towards the growing pile of luggage. With a grin, she neglected help from the sailor and picked up her bags with ease. Then she set off, catching a ride in a carriage to Manhattan.
When she arrived there, she had the cabby stop near Central Park. She paid him and stepped off lightly, entering the park. She walked, shivering along the paths until she arrived at the very edge of Central Park. There she could see the ice that had spread over the water, inviting couples and children to skate upon it. The girl gazed out across the frozen water, then sat down on a bench under an old oak tree. After a bit, the girl smiled and eased herself out of the bench, shouldered her bag and made her way back out of the park. When she did, she headed toward the very heart of Manhattan. She stopped to buy a few nuts from a vendor and looked around. As she kept walking, a voice came to her ears, and as she walked seemed to be coming closer and closer.
The voice was singing a song, and it sounded as if it came from a boy. Finally the singer was revealed near the very center of the market square. He was holding papers and singing at the top of his lungs, holding out his cap as he did so.
Oh, buy me papes,
One and all,
Come buy me papes,
Come on, good ol' Miss Randall.
Only a penny a piece,
An' I tell ya dis,
Dats real cheap,
When ya buys 'em from me!
The crowd laughed as the boy danced around to his own lively tune, grinning and tossing papers right and left. The girl smiled as she watched the boy. He was rather short, but looked about fourteen years old. He had bright blue eyes and a thin frame. His hair was brown, with a natural wave, and uncovered as he collected money with his hat. He was rather popular with the young girls, she noticed, for whenever he came near, they would giggle and blush as he flashed them a winning smile. One girl even went so far as to kiss him on the cheek as he passed by, causing him to exclaim, "Well by George, I believe dat dis little lady is tryin' ta soften me up so dat she don't hafta pay! Well if dis is gonna be da pay, its all on me sweetheart!" He said with a grin. The girl laughed as her friends poked her knowingly.
"Well me friends, I best get goin' on to anotha sellin' spot. So get yer papes here while ya can! Got people ta see ya know!" The boy yelled above the groans, mostly from the girls. A whole herd of people came all at once, asking for papers right and left, surprising the girl. "He's pretty sharp." She murmured. When all the people had drifted away, and the boy was about to walk away himself, the girl cried out to him, "Hey kid! Wait! I want to talk to you!" The boy stopped and smiled, rubbing his hands together as she ran up.
"Ya wanna buy a pape miss, fer yer husband? I gots jest da one fer you! Tain't soggy 'er nothin'! After all, tis Christmas Eve!" The girl held out her hand to shake and the boy spit into his and extended his grubby hand. The girl accepted it and shook fiercely, surprising the boy. "Well, why didn't ya gross out? I plumb fergot not ta spit shake wit' anybody 'cept da Newsies, but ya didn't care?! Dats a new one on me. A lady who'll spit shake wit' ya?" The boy wondered aloud as the girl quickly withdrew her hand. "Whats your name boy?" The girl asked. The boy straightened up stoutly and saluted smartly with an irresistible grin. "Me name's Arthur James Dominic Andrew McCoy, the thoid. But me friends call me Tenor."
The girl's eyes widened with surprise. "My what a name! I was afraid that I was going to have to call you by all your names. Are you called Tenor because you sing?" The boy nodded. "Yup, me good pal Cowboy gave it to me. He thought dat da udda one was too long too. So, whatcha want wit me?" The girl shivered and rubbed her gloved hands together as a wind blew against the pair. "Well, I need some information about some certain people." The boy smiled cockily. "Whats in it fer me? Miss Nameless." The girl smiled and clapped her hand against her forehead. "So sorry I fergot, forgot. My name is Anne McClaen. I'll pay you, ummmmm. How 'bout, about, a quarter?" The boy nearly dropped his papers in surprise. "A quarter!? Fer me? But dats, whoa!"
Anne smiled. "What? Too much?" The boy started violently. "Heck no! Not by a longshot! Its jest havin' a whole quarter of me very own! An' on Christmas Eve too! Wow! Whaddya wanna know? I'll tell ya everything!" Anne smiled and placed the shiny quarter in the boy's hand. "Well I need to know about some Newsies. Their whereabouts and such. Their names are, Jack Kelly, Kid Blink, Spot Conlon, and Racetrack Higgins." As she spoke the last name, her voice gained a certain dreamy tone, that altered as soon as she realized what she was saying. The boy scratched his head and pocketed the quarter.
"Well les see. Jack Kelly is also called Cowboy by da Newsies. He lives in Manhattan an' he's 19. He's one of me best friends. Kid is still a Newsie an' he does anotha job too. An' he's 19 too. Racetrack is 18 an' one of da best gamblers in da Lodgin' House, an' Manhattan in fact." "Still?" Anne broke in, surprising Tenor. Anne blushed. "I mean, I heard that he gambled, but I didn't know that he was still doing it." She blundered. Tenor shrugged his shoulders and continued his litany. "Race still lives in Manhattan too. Spot Conlon is a hard one. Nobody really knows allot about Spot. He keeps to himself allot. If ya really wanna know 'bout 'im, ya should ask Red in Brooklyn. He's his best pal." Tenor remarked enviously. "I wish I was Spot Conlon's best pal. Dat all ya wanted ta know?"
Anne rubbed her cheek thoughtfully. "Well, come to think of it. Maybe you can help me here. Have you ever heard of or seen a Newsie called, oh I think it was, Bright Eyes?" The boy looked at Anne thoughtfully before he answered. "Bright Eyes? I don't know if she even exists. I mean, Spot says dat its jest a story, but da boys in da Lodgin' House say dat she was as real as you an' me an' Spots' jest makin' it up 'cause she hurt 'im so bad. Da boys said dat she was once a Newsie like dem. An' one of da best." Tenor looked up at Anne and saw tears peeking out from behind the blue of her eyes. "Well, what happened to dis, this girl?"
The boy now watched Anne closely as he spoke. "She flew da coop. Ran away one day. Last year da boys said. Dey still don't know why though. Why do ya wanna know about Bright Eyes?" The boy asked curiously. "No reason. Hey, you said Kid Blink has another job? What is it?" Anne motioned for the boy to whisper it in her ear. After he told her, she smiled and whispered in his ear as he approved it. "Yeah..............not bad.........no kiddin'.............well I'll try............probably........yeah, ya got yerself a deal miss! Hey and danks fer everythin'!" Tenor said as he began to walk toward a street corner, waving as he went. "Tenor, here." Anne tossed another quarter to Tenor who caught it and stared at the money, speechless. "Merry Christmas Tenor!" She yelled as the boy waved and ran off.
Tenor ran to the nearby corner and stood waiting for his friend. As he waited he glanced back at the girl. She was blamed beautiful! Dem eyes of hers jest see right through ya an' dere so kind an' friendly. I wonda why she wanted ta know 'bout da boys. Sometin' important. Maybe she knows where dere families are or sometin'. Dat would be interestin'. Dat would kinda 'splain why she wanted ta find dat Bright Eyes goil. She found her ma or dad or sometin'. A carriage rolled into Tenor's thoughts as it passed by. Tenor saw it and yelled to the driver. "Heya Blink! Stop! I's got a customer fer ya!" The driver held back his horses and turned as the boy came running up.
"Merry Christmas ta you too kid! Whats dis 'bout customers? I've had so many customers teday dat I don't know if I kin hold meself up dis evening." Kid Blink remarked as he removed his hat and ran a hand through his brown-blonde hair. Tenor smiled and patted one of the horses as he spoke. "Well, its a lady. An' she's standin' on da corner ova dere. She wants a ride. An' Blink, she's been askin' 'bout ya's. Jack, Race an' Spot too. Even dat goil Bright Eyes." At the mention of the last name, Blink lifted his head slightly. "What did she ask 'bout Bright, Tenor?" The boy shrugged and smoothed the horse's mane lovingly. "Not much. Jest wanted ta know if she lived here an' what happened to her an' stuff. Like I said, nothin' much."
Kid Blink sighed and sat his cap back on his head. "I wish people would let her rest. Its been a little over a year now. She ain't comin' back, everyone knows dat. Old Mrs. Russell over on Crook Road still doesn't believe it though. All of her most popular buyers cain't believe it, dat she would run away. Well now they've seen everything I guess, me included. Well, I'm gonna do dis last ride an' den I'm comin' home okay Tenor. Tell da boys dat I'll be home soon."
Tenor smiled and waved as Kid Blink pulled to the corner where the lady stood. "Kin I help ya miss?" He queried with a smile. The girl smiled and gazed at Blink in a way that made him uncomfortable. "Miss?" The girl started and climbed into the carriage. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help thinking that I had seen you somewhere before. Forgive me if I made you uncomfortable. I would like you to drive me to the Greeley statue please." Blink tapped the horses lightly with the reins and the carriage resumed its slightly bumpy canter. "So ya live in Manhattan miss? Don't believe I've seen ya around here whereabouts. Whats yer name?" Blink asked as he drove.
"Anne McClaen. I lived here once. I'm here to visit friends." Blink laughed. "Ya think yer gonna find 'em at da Greeley statue? Is dat an' old haunt or sometin'?" The girl gave a small laugh. "Yes, it is an old haunt of mine. A very dear one in fact." Blink smiled as he remembered his childhood days at the statue, recollecting the tone of reverence with which the girl spoke its name. "Yeah, same here. Ya have a slight accent, miss. Did ya live here long?" The girl was silent as she gazed out at the cobblestone streets and the peasants and the rich people walking in them. "I lived here my whole life, until I was forced to leave." Blink turned and gazed briefly at the girl before turning round again.
"Um, me friend, da little kid said dat you was askin' 'bout me an' a few of me friends. Might I ask how ya knew 'bout 'em an' why you've come?" The girl stared at Blink's back, then turned out towards the snowy drifts. "I knew them, from my childhood. I saw them alot." Blink rolled his good eye. "How could you have seen them alot? We boys change our sellin' spots sometimes, an' from da way Tenor said it, ya acted like ya knew us personally." Blink said, aggravation rising in his voice. The girl stared out at the drifts as she murmured, "Dats 'cause I did know ya personally Blink." Kid Blink turned around in shock at the total dropping of her proper tone of voice and resuming a strong New York accent. As he gazed at the girl slumped in the back seat staring back at him, he remembered, he recollected.
"Bright?" He whispered, almost reverently. "Bright, is dat really you?" The girl smiled, then laughed sweetly at the seriousness of her friend. "Yeah, yeah its me Blink!" They both grabbed each other in a fierce hug that lasted for a long moment before they let go. "Wow, look at ya! In dose duds! I didn't even recognize ya! Yer so grown up an' different! An' witout yer accent, I barely knew yer voice!" Bright Eyes laughed. "I know! It was a pain to drop my accent totally, so I left a tinge of it for my own comfort. And da clothes, I'm gonna change as soon as I go to da Lodgin' House. I'm a journalist Blink! A real journalist! My paper in Chicago has even printed a few of my pieces!" Blink gazed at his friend in admiration, the horses and carriage forgotten completely. "Dats great Bright! A real journalist! An' in Chicago! Da boys will freak! Why did ya change yer name Bright? I mean, from what it was before. Wasn't yer last name O'Connor?"
Bright Eyes smiled. "Yeah, but I didn't want me dad ta find me or nothin'. McClaen was my mother's maiden name. So when do we go to da Lodgin' House?" Blink smiled and grasped the forgotten reins. "Right now!" Bright Eyes laughed as the horses jolted and began to move quickly. "I can't wait till we get dere! We kin talk along da way! Oh Blink, I've got so many tings ta ask an' stuff!" Blink grinned as Bright Eyes rambled. "Well shoot. Whaddya wanna hear 'bout?" Bright Eyes sat back in her seat thoughtfully. "Well, dat kid Tenor said some stuff 'bout Spot. Like dat he's been tellin' everybody dat I'm jest a story an' stuff. Whats dat all about?"
Blink sighed, dejectedly. "Well eva since ya left Bright, Spot's been kinda withdrawn an' more tough dan normal. He saw ya go away dat night Bright. Red saw ya an' he told Spot. Spot followed ya to da dock an' saw ya go. He was shocked an' hoit real bad. I guess dat ya didn't say goodbye or even give him any hints." If Blink had turned and glanced at Bright Eyes at that moment, he would have seen the look of pure shock covering her face. "I gave him a few hints! Like da day before I left I came to him an' talked to him! I gave him as many hints as I could without givin' it away!" Bright Eyes choked. "I'm sure ya did. But lets jest say dat Spot ain't as fergivin' as some of us boys. Ya know dat. Ya know dat Spot's jest like dat." Bright Eyes sighed sadly and held her hand out to catch the falling snow in her gloved hand. "So tell me 'bout da udda boys. How dey been doin'?" She asked. And so Blink proceeded to tell Bright Eyes about all of the boys and how they had been since her departure. To the observer the scene would've been rather unusual; a lady dressed in rather fine clothes speaking in a fierce New York accent to a grubby boy who barely had enough warm clothes for himself.
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Back at the Lodging House, things were in a tizzy preparing for the big night ahead. Ever since Bright Eyes started it, the boys had been putting up garlands and wreaths in the Lodging House at Christmas time. Only this year, it would be bigger than ever. Spot Conlon had been invited to the dinner being prepared, and he surprisingly had accepted. There was a tree in the living room, or what served as a living room to the boys, and it was being decorated with gingerbread men baked by Kloppman's niece Jane, glass ornaments that had been collected from years past and candles.
Racetrack was standing on a tall ladder so as to put a pine bough wreath above the front door. Lovingly, he took out of its box, a small glass ornament shaped like a newpaper that Bright Eyes had brought home a long time ago. She had started hanging it on a wreath above the door to as she said, "symbolize dat all Newsies is welcome in dis Lodgin' House." No one knew where she had got a hold of it. She had refused to tell. Racetrack's personal belief was that she had made it, for what person would sell a newspaper ornament with the names, "Jack, Racetrack, Spot, and all the Newsies" painted in extremely small letters on it.
Racetrack held the small ornament in his hand for a moment, remembering its owner, before he sighed and attached it to the wreath. "That looks good Race. A little to the left though. Great!" The Jacobs family had also been invited and so Les had gladly assumed the role of decorator. Sarah and Mrs. Jacobs were in the kitchen and David and Mr. Jacobs were talking and helping the the boys as they decorated. "Hey Race! Ya won't guess what some goil gave me teday!" Racetrack looked down from the ladder and saw Tenor standing beneath him. "Well, whatcha got kid?" Tenor smiled a coy smile at Racetrack and held up a small green plant. Racetrack shrugged his shoulders uncaring. "So? Yer becomin' a vegetarian?" Tenor rolled his eyes. "Nope. Its mistletoe."
"Who's got mistletoe?" Jack yelled across the room. Tenor grinned and swung the plant back and forth above his head so that Jack could see. "Whatcha gonna do wit' dat Tenor?" He questioned as the boys crowded round Tenor. "I's gonna hang it up, unda da livin' room door." The older boys looked at each other and grinned, while the younger ones scratched their heads, confused. "So whats dat got ta do wit anythin'?" A small boy named Fish asked. Jack grinned and stooped down to the boy's height. "Well ya see Fish, mistletoe is sometin' special around Christmas time." The boy's brow furrowed in concentration as he listened to the older boy. "Like presents an' stuff."
Jack smiled as the other boys chuckled at the smaller boy's ignorance. "Yeah sorta like dat. But ya see, if ya hang up mistletoe above a doorway an' a boy an' goil walk unda it at da same time, dey hafta kiss. Its tradition." Fish's face crumpled in disgust. "Yuck! Dat ain't hardly as good as a present! Dats disgustin'!" All the boys burst out in laughter. "Yeah well, we olda boys don't seem ta tink so!" Mush laughed as he poked Racetrack. At that moment, Sarah happened to walk in the room.
"Whats going on in here?" Laughter ceased as they looked from Sarah to the mistletoe, now hiding behind Tenor's back. Fish saw Sarah edging closer, and horror swept over his young face. "Don't come any closer Sarah! Please fer yer own sake!" Sarah stopped suddenly with concern spread across her face. "But why Fish?" The older boys began to titter slightly as they watched the boy. " 'Cause theys gonna try an' get ya ta kiss 'em wit' mistletoe!" He burst out. The titters became a huge thunder clap of laughter as the boys howled. Sarah smiled then rolled her eyes and walked out of the room.
"But Jack, whose we gonna kiss? Dere's no one here but Sarah an' her momma. No one else." A boy named Flick questioned. Jack smiled and patted the boy's back. "We'll jest make do I guess." Suddenly, the happy mood went as soon as it had come as Snipeshooter remarked, "I wish dat Bright Eyes were here. Christmas ain't gonna be da same widout her." All the boys were silent. "Rememba when she got me a new crutch an' den painted all sorts of neat designs on it? I still have dat in da closet upstairs fer special occasions." Crutchy sighed as he shifted his weight on his old, plain, wooden crutch. "I 'memba when Bright found me anotha bandanna when I lost mine, 'cause Osca an' Morris snitched it. 'Memba? It was dat nice, clean, beautiful red. All washed an' new." Jack murmured. The boys all shuffled their feet and coughed as they told of the other numerous Christmases long gone by.
"Hey, whats wit' da gloomy faces? Lets get dose away! Brooklyn is here!" A call sounded from the doorway. Everyone turned as Fish gasped and ran to the speaker. "Spot! Spot! Yer really here! I cain't believe it!" The boys smiled as the 17 year old scooped up the small boy, whom Spot had especially christened Fish after one of Brooklyn's finest Newsie leaders and Spot's mentor and hero. " 'Corse I's hea. What ya tink I wouldn't keep me woid?" Spot laughed. "No sir! Spot Conlon always keeps his woid! Ain't dat right?" The boy said proudly as he clasped his arms around his hero's neck. The boys laughed and gathered around Spot, slapping him on the back and grinning. Spot glanced up at the small ornament as the boys took his thin coat, and a shadow passed over his face. He held up his hand and fingered it, then dropped it as though the ornament had shocked him.
"So whats fer dinna, boys? I could smell it a mile away!" Spot queried, grinning at Fish as he tagged along holding Spot's hand in a death grip. "Oh lots of stuff! Dumplin's, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans! All sorts of stuff! An' Misses Davey's mum made it all herself! But we's gotta wait fer Blink though." Fish said with childish seriousness. "Say Tenor, where is Blink anyway?" Jack asked. Tenor shrugged as he altered a wilting bow on one of the wreaths. "I dunno. He said dat he was gonna make one more drop off an' den come on home. He should be back soon." Just then a loud banging sounded on the front door and Racetrack grinned.
"Oops. Musta fergot to unlock da door when I was hangin' up da wreath." He said sarcastically as he slapped Mush playfully. "I'll get it! I wanna be da foist ta tell Blink dat Spot's here!" Fish exclaimed as he ran towards the door. No one challenged him and the boys began to walk toward the dining room, where all sorts of pleasant aromas were drifting through the Lodging House. Racetrack was one of the last boys to walk into the dining room, but he stopped in the doorway when he heard the door open. "Blink! Hi! Spot's here fer dinna! An' we's got, who's dat Blink? She's looks nice." Racetrack slapped Jack as he walked into the dining room, causing him to turn around towards the door with Racetrack.
Blink walked in alone, leaving Fish to gaze in through the doorway at the person beyond. "Whatcha got up yer sleeve Blink?" Racetrack asked curiously. Blink grinned ear to ear and put his hands behind his back. "Nothin' much. Jest anotha Christmas guest." He then motioned with his hand toward the doorway. As the person walked through, a gloved hand reached up and touched the ornament lovingly. Racetrack and Jack didn't move as the person moved into view. Snipeshooter came up from behind the two and followed the two's eyes to the person in the hallway.
His eyes widened and his mouth dropped before he yelled, "BRIGHT EYES! Yer back! Hey fellas! Bright Eyes is back! Bright Eyes!" At his yell there was a general stampede to get to the doorway. Snipeshooter didn't waste another minute and dashed to the figure in white. Bright Eyes threw down her suitcase and grasped the boy in a huge hug. The other boys stood in the doorway staring till Blink said, "Well, you boys jest gonna stand dere or are ya gonna say hello to yer friend?" The boys walked slowly as if in a dream to the girl. Jack stood in front of Bright Eyes, not saying a word. Then he took her by the shoulders and enveloped her in a huge hug. "I knew dat ya wouldn't stay away fer long Bright." He whispered. Then all the boys enveloped her in hugs and smacks on the back and exclamations of joy and disbelief.
David shyly approached Bright Eyes and held out his hand. She looked at him with a large grin across her face and to his surprise, enveloped him in a huge hug. "Hey Mouth! How ya been?" She asked excitedly. David was thrown in to a shock and didn't say a word as he gazed upon her. She was back and life would be as it had been before. Whenever she came around, his tongue would be tied. Plus, why was she even speaking to him when the day before she left, she was yelling and screaming at him? Great, those feelings are also coming back. Goody. I thought I had gotten over her. Bright Eyes looked at him curiously, then whispered in his ear. "Davey, I'm sorry for yellin' an' stuff at ya dat day. I wasn't in me right mind. Will ya fergive me?" A surge of gratefullness and happiness went through David and he grinned. "Of course Bright Eyes! Of course!" Bright Eyes grinned.
"Spot! Bright Eyes is back." Snipeshooter yelled, but the yell deteriorated as he gazed at the Brooklyn leader standing in the doorway. "Yeah, I kin see dat." Spot walked slowly towards Bright Eyes, the boys separating as he came, forming an aisle. Bright Eyes sighed uneasily as he approached. His gray eyes were as cold as ice and looked as though they could spit fire. When he stood directly in front of the girl, Spot stopped and examined her appearence. As he fingered a piece of lace on the collar, he scoffed at it mockingly. "So ya got bigga ain't ya Brighty? Nice clothes, a suitcase wit' some more clothes, well fed. Man Brighty, seems dat you've been livin' da high life of a scabba." He sneered.
Bright Eyes eyes narrowed. "Spot Conlon. I didn't come back to be mocked by you and your anger." Spot laughed and turned to the boys. "She don't even got an accent no more! She even talks like a scabba!" Bright Eyes grabbed Spot's arm, that wrenched away from her as soon as it touched him. "I didn't come here to be mocked." She repeated softly. " I came back here, to be with you boys and to tell you that I'm sorry for leaving. But," "But ya had to. Right Bright?" Spot scowled. All the boys were silent as they watched the former friends combat in a battle of wits and staring combined.
"Spot, I'm sorry dat I didn't tell ya. I ain't forgotten me accent an' I ain't fergotten you. I couldn't Spot. You an' da boys was all I had. I jest couldn't stay an' it wasn't cause of you don't ya undastand? I had ta or somebody would get hoit." Spot scoffed at her statements and stared her right in the eyes as he spoke. "Its too late fer dat sweetheart. Somebody, an' lots of somebodies have already gotten hoit. Ya don't deseaive ta be here. I don't want ya ta be here. Yer nothin' to da Newsies." With that final blow to the girl, Spot retreated to the upstairs bedroom quietly, not daring to look back at the girl's red face for fear that he should take it all back.
Bright Eyes stood stock still, her chin trembling slightly as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. The boys were also silent, comprehending the argument and its significance. Spot Conlon, had renounced Bright Eyes as one of them. To him, she could never, ever be a Newsie again, unless of course he took it back. Racetrack stared at the girl with compassion at her loss. He knew that Spot was like a brother to her. He had been with her from the beginning and losing him was like dying while living to her. He knew the feeling of losing someone he loved. He had felt it today, and it had been redeemed by her coming, and seeing her in pain stabbed him to the heart. Jack patted Bright Eyes on the back. "Hey, he'll get ova it. C'mon an' eat wit' us. Lets don't let dis little incident spoil it." Bright Eyes nodded and patted his arm, her eyes searching for one beloved face. "Go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."
The boys all retreated to the dining room as Bright Eyes moved her suitcase to the stairs leading to the bedroom, her eyes glancing quickly up them. "Bright?" Racetrack's sudden approach startled Bright Eyes. "Race, hello. I'm sorry 'bout everytin' an' all dat." She stuttered as he approached her. "Ya don't need ta say dat ta me. Ya don't have anythin' to apologize fer. I know dat ya did what ya had ta do, dats enough fer me. What 'bout you?" Bright Eyes smiled as the tears began to fall faster, splashing on her red cheeks. "I didn't want him to take dis so hard. I didn't know dat he would. I shouldn't have eva have come back." She sobbed. Racetrack smiled wistfully and lifted her chin slightly.
"Do ya really tink dat? 'Cause I don't, an' neitha do da boys. I don't tink dat Bright." Racetrack whispered as the two edged closer and closer. "Really?" Bright Eyes whispered softly. "Really." Racetrack replied. "I missed you a lot Race." Bright Eyes whispered. "Me too." Bright Eyes then clasped her arms around the boy's neck in a fierce embrace. Racetrack held the girl close, finally satisfied that she was really here in his arms this time, and it wasn't just a dream any longer. Racetrack pulled Bright Eyes away and kissed her quickly before she even had time to react. They stood in the doorway only a few feet away from the mistletoe.
Fish stood in the doorway of the dining room watching eagerly. Jack came up behind him and poked him in the stomach causing him to stifle a giggle. "Stop Cowboy! Look, Race is kissin' dat goil! An' dere not even unda da mistletoe neitha." Fish insisted as Jack picked him up in his arms and began to edge back into the dining room, closing the door as he went. When he reached the room, he sat Fish down and motioned for quiet. "Well, since Spots' mad, an' Bright Eyes an' Race have betta things ta do udda dan eat," he said, grinning, causing the other boys to poke their neighbors in realization at what was going on in the next room. "We'll say grace den! Who's gonna start?" Fish's hand went up instantly and waved furiously. When other hands became higher than his own, he stood on his chair and waved more, practically in Jack's face. "Hey Fish! Do ya know who should say grace?" Cowboy grinned, watching the look of despair on the boy's face. "You kin do it kid! Jest sit down will ya?" The boy sighed with relief at being chosen and plopped down in his chair.
"Dear God, danks fer da food, fer Davey's mom an' dad, an' Sarah, an' fer Les comin' ova ta spend da night. Please bless all da boys an' keep us safe an' healthy durin' dis winta." At that moment, Racetrack and Bright Eyes snuck in and took their seats, faces flushing at the looks passed across the table. "Bless Race an' his goilfriend Bright," Fish started. "Hey kid! Dat ain't right! We ain't said anytin' 'bout dat!" Racetrack burst in. "Shudup Race. I's sayin' grace. Ya were kissin' anyway so dat makes her yer goilfriend." The boy replied smoothly. "Bless Blink tomorra as he goes out ta woik. An' bless all of us boys who is goin' out temorra ta sell papes. Let us have a good day. Bless all da Newsies in da Lodgin' House, in Brooklyn, da Bronx, Midtown, Queens," Fish's litany was intterupted by a look from Jack that cut him short. "Anyway, bless all da Newsies everywhere. Oh yeah, an' bless Spot, cause he's really mad at da nice goil named Bright Eyes whose wit' us as ya know. Make him come down fer dinner, an' don't let him be mad anymore. Amen." Fish finished. "Amen." The boys breathed a sigh of relief as the final word was spoken.
Food was scooped onto plates and refilled as soon as they were emptied. All through the meal, the boys asked Bright Eyes about Chicago and what it was like. She told of the skyscrapers and the apartment buildings and hotels. Of the streets very much like New York and of the Newsboys there. "Dere jest like us. Dey've got a Lodgin' House an' all dat stuff. I did an article on 'em once. Almost won an award fer it. Fer my 'inside opinions on the world of the unfortunate' dey said." The boys laughed, except for the small children, who were still stuffing their faces. When she told of her sending her articles to the paper secretly and under a man's name so she wouldn't be found out, the boys laughed harder. "So Bright, besides dat ya couldn't live anotha day widout us, why did ya come back?" Jack asked. A shadow then came over Bright Eyes' face as she spoke. "I came back, ta take back whats mine, ta set things right, an' settle a few scores."
The boys were silent as they watched the fires alight in their friend's eyes. "Well, if ya guys are all done, I wouldn't feel adverse to a game of poka!" Bright Eyes remarked slyly, eyeing Racetrack. The boys yelled with excitement. Chairs were pushed back, places were cleared and the dishes set in the sink, and all paraded into the living room where a round table had been a new addition to the Lodging House. The boys sat down and Racetrack pulled out his deck of cards and began to shuffle them as they waited for Bright, due to the fact that she insisted that she get out of her dress before they played. As they were getting ready to begin, the shadowy figure of Spot was seen walking down the staircase. All activity stopped save for Bright Eyes walking into the room, dress under her arm, Newsie clothes on. "Hey Spot! Wanna play a hand?" Racetrack asked, smiling for all he was worth. Spot shook his head slowly. "No, I'll watch. I'll bring me food in here." He then made his way to the kitchen, making sure not to make eye contact with Bright Eyes as he went.
Racetrack shrugged and dealt the cards among the players, who consisted of, Jack, Bright Eyes, Racetrack, Kid Blink and Mush. The first hand went quickly. Racetrack won the jackpot, which at the moment had held five dollars even. Bright Eyes eyed Racetrack suspiciously as he eagerly scooped the money into his hat, which he sat on after all the money had been deposited. "Race, I don't tink its my imagination, but I do believe dat you was cheatin' dat time." Racetrack stared at Bright Eyes in mock horror. "Me? Why da heck would ya tink dat I would cheat at, at, poka? Da idea is unthinkable of me especially!" Bright Eyes sighed and rolled her eyes as the boys smacked each other knowingly, sniggering at Racetrack's mock innocence. "Yeah Race. If ya didn't cheat, den it must be a special night!" The boys laughed as Racetrack sighed and dealt the next hand.
Ten hands were played in all. Racetrack won the first, Bright Eyes, Racetrack, Bright Eyes, and so alternating through the hands, the other boys winning here and there. Finally it was down to the last hand. The jackpot was counted. It contained a sum of ten dollars and five cents, a huge amount for the Lodging House, the most money coming from Bright Eyes and Racetrack's pockets. As the hand was beginning, Racetrack leaned over the table and grinned at Bright Eyes as he spoke, "I wanna place a bet, an' I want da udda boys at da table ta place bets on who ya tink will win. Me or Bright?" He sat down with a grin as the boys talked among themselves. Jack stood up. "Okay Race, we'll bet on ya's, but ya hafta do whateva we bet fer, undastood?" Racetrack shrugged. "Sure." Spot glanced devilishly towards Mush, Blink and Jack who were whispering eagerly to themselves and joined them.
Finally the hand began. The bets were to be kept a secret until the winner was announced. Sweat drops began to form on the foreheads of the main contestants, the others having all dropped out. Racetrack sighed. "Okay, I wanna fold." All the boys craned their necks to see his cards as he laid them down. "Two pair, aces." He said smugly. All the boys stared at each other in amazement. Bright Eyes stared Racetrack in the eyes as she set her cards down, the boys gasping as she did. On the table her cards showed all spades. Racetrack sat backwards in disbelief as Bright Eyes gathered the money into her hat happily. "Sorry Race, ya snooze ya lose!"
Jack grinned at Bright Eyes as he spoke. "Yeah, but dere's still a small matta dat we need ta dissolve. Da bets?" Racetrack glanced at Jack uneasily. "Okay, hit me wit' 'em." In the seat next to Jack, Mush and Blink sat sniggering. "Well, it was Tenor's idea. He bet dat Race wouldn't kiss his supposed "goilfriend" in front of everybody." Jack said smiling broadly at Racetrack. "Well he's right, 'cus I ain't gonna." Racetrack said stubbornly. "Who's a fraidy cat now boys?" Tenor questioned, jokingly. The boys laughed as Racetrack's face grew red. "I don't care what ya say. I won't do it!" Racetrack said firmly. The boys then glanced at Bright Eyes, their eyes pleading that she play along for a good show. Bright Eyes shrugged nonchalantly. "He's da man of da poka table. If he says no, den he means no."
The boy's frowned and began to pester Racetrack to change his mind, and as he continued to refuse, the boys fell silent until Spot spoke up. "I gots a bet of me own dat I wanna share." The boy's ears pricked up at the Brooklyn leader as he gazed at Bright Eyes as he spoke. "I bet, dat Bright Eyes won't tell why she left us. She probably neva will eitha." As Bright Eyes stared at Spot, she saw the glimmers of hatred and pain in his gray eyes. She sighed. "Dats anotha ting I cain't do Spot. You'll jest hafta wait till da time is right." Racetrack stared at the two, biting his lip as he watched the tug of war play between them, Brooklyn leader against his childhood friend and confidant.
He couldn't stand it. Racetrack stood up, totally took Bright Eyes by surprise and dragged her up out of her seat towards the mistletoe. When he had her directly underneath the plant, Bright Eyes protested. "What in da woild are ya doin'?" Racetrack lifted her head so that the mistletoe was in her plain sight and then kissed her gently. The boys broke out in cheers. "Well, dey kept one of da bets Spot. It'll jest be a matta of time 'fore da udda one is fulfilled!" Jack told his friend, who surveyed the scene with a stone face. "Yeah right. She won't eva tell an' I wouldn't hold yer breath Cowboy. She jest doesn't care" Spot remarked cooly.
After the boys had left their admiring circle from around Racetrack and Bright Eyes, the girl turned to the boy, eyeing the mischief still dancing in his brown eyes. "Why did ya do dat?" Racetrack grinned. "I hated ta see you an' Spot havin' at each udda an' I didn't want us ta be labled cowards ta boot! Lets jest say dat I lessened yer load a little." Bright Eyes smiled and turned away, stepping on a chair nearby, eyeing Spot, who was heading towards the door. "If I may have everyone's attention, dat includes you Spot." She remarked pointedly. Spot stopped and stood in the doorway, arms folded. "Temorra, is Christmas. An' Christmas isn't really Christmas, widout presents. Well I've got sometin' in my big bag which shall remain hidden till temorrow."
A long groan broke around the room. "But if ya go ta sleep NOW, instead of lata, we kin have 'em in da mawnin'." Bright Eyes reasoned. The boys glaced at each other and then ran up the stairs, the sounds of the beds creaking as they jumped into them resounding throughout the house. Spot was the only one who didn't dash up the stairs in a frenzy. Instead he merely sauntered up the stairs, gazing cooly at Bright Eyes as he went. Bright Eyes shook her head. "Well, ya gonna go ta bed too or what?" Racetrack asked curiously. "Well I don't know. Did ya boys keep me room fer me?" Bright Eyes asked hopefully. "Sure! Cowboy insisted, an' me an' Blink an' some of da udda boys backed him up. Dat was afta Spot tried ta snitch it." Bright Eyes rolled her eyes and walked up the stairs with Racetrack.
"Afta you." Racetrack said softly as he opened the door. Everything was as it had been before she left. Bright Eyes smiled in remembrance and walked in. She then turned and smiled at Racetrack gratefully. "Tell Jack thanks, won't ya?" Racetrack returned the smile, and gently touched her face. "Sure. I'm really glad yer back Bright. Really I am. Before ya go ta sleep though, I tink dis is yers." With that, Racetrack pulled off the silver band off of his ring finger and gave it to the girl, who gave a small gasp of surprise. "You didn't lose it? Ya kept it?" Racetrack smiled. "Course I did. Saved it fer ya. Night Bright Eyes." Bright Eyes leaned across the threshold and kissed him on the cheek, then closed the door quietly.
Racetrack practically waltzed to his bed and collapsed on it, shaking the whole structure. "Hey, will ya keep it down? I'm tryin' ta get ta sleep so dat mawnin' will come soona!" Blink whispered harshly to Racetrack, who was lying in bed grinning like a fool. "Aw, will ya cut me some slack! I jest feel like me heart skyrocketed to da sky an' won't eva come back down!" Blink grimaced and leaned down over the side of the bed. "I ate turkey an' stuff Race. What did you eat? Yer cigars stale or sometin'?" Racetrack grinned and smacked Blink in the face with his cap and rolled over in his bed, sleep coming almost instantly, something that hadn't happened to him for a long time.
Spot Conlon lay spread out on his bed under Jack's bunk, wide awake. He couldn't go to sleep without guilt pricking his consience ever so slightly every time he tried to drift off.
I treated her like I shoulda! She don't deseaive ta be here, like I said. An' I won't take it back no matta what da boys say! She don't deseive my fergivness most of all. How kin da boys jest fergive an' ferget like dat? She abandoned dem an' didn't even say goodbye! An' she was my best friend, so if anyone should be fergivin' her its me! So why cain't I? Oh God, make da hoit go away! Ain't it enough dat ya've got me whole family an' Fish? Ain't it enough dat ya gave me such a proud concsience dat I cain't fergive a goil who's practically me sista? Oh God, jest make da pain go away! Please, make it go away!
As a tear slid down the boy's cheek, he turned over on his side and cried softly, consumed in his grief and the pain that he knew Bright Eyes was feeling on his account.
"The Darkness Before the Dawn"
The ship pulled into port just as the morning light was fully spreading over the horizon, throwing the city beyond into a flurry of activity. As the tourists and travelers gradually stepped off the boat, they admired the snowy steeples and buildings arising in the distance. Praise was heaped on the large bridge stretching across the canal, which was the pride of its community. The last person to step off, was a woman. Actually, if one observed her closely, they would see that she was just on the brink of becoming a woman. If they looked even closer, they would see that she had grown up quickly and earlier than most children. This had happened by some mishap or accident that had occurred in her young life. A person could tell by these qualities that she knew how to handle life easily. But despite these, she had the elements that convinced one that she was an associate with society, her well polished manners apparent even as she walked across the pier.
Her brown red hair was piled atop her head, a plain red scarf resting upon it, a muffler covering her neck from the cold. The skin was white, but with a red tinge on her cheeks not applied by rouge or any such make-up. Her natural color flattered her face tremendously and she had been praised for it more than once. The girl's eyes were what caught the casual observer. They were a brilliant, bright blue, shining at all times, but grew dark and stormy when anger struck. They twinkled when she laughed and when she did, one could almost see the little girl of her lost youth peeking out from behind them.
The girl stopped on the dock and was silent, a small smile flitting across her lips. On the outside she was demure and silent, but on the inside, the little girl jumped up and down screaming with joy. As her bags were thrown into a pile, she scooped up the long skirt, a little too high for some old ladies near the boat, and ran towards the growing pile of luggage. With a grin, she neglected help from the sailor and picked up her bags with ease. Then she set off, catching a ride in a carriage to Manhattan.
When she arrived there, she had the cabby stop near Central Park. She paid him and stepped off lightly, entering the park. She walked, shivering along the paths until she arrived at the very edge of Central Park. There she could see the ice that had spread over the water, inviting couples and children to skate upon it. The girl gazed out across the frozen water, then sat down on a bench under an old oak tree. After a bit, the girl smiled and eased herself out of the bench, shouldered her bag and made her way back out of the park. When she did, she headed toward the very heart of Manhattan. She stopped to buy a few nuts from a vendor and looked around. As she kept walking, a voice came to her ears, and as she walked seemed to be coming closer and closer.
The voice was singing a song, and it sounded as if it came from a boy. Finally the singer was revealed near the very center of the market square. He was holding papers and singing at the top of his lungs, holding out his cap as he did so.
Oh, buy me papes,
One and all,
Come buy me papes,
Come on, good ol' Miss Randall.
Only a penny a piece,
An' I tell ya dis,
Dats real cheap,
When ya buys 'em from me!
The crowd laughed as the boy danced around to his own lively tune, grinning and tossing papers right and left. The girl smiled as she watched the boy. He was rather short, but looked about fourteen years old. He had bright blue eyes and a thin frame. His hair was brown, with a natural wave, and uncovered as he collected money with his hat. He was rather popular with the young girls, she noticed, for whenever he came near, they would giggle and blush as he flashed them a winning smile. One girl even went so far as to kiss him on the cheek as he passed by, causing him to exclaim, "Well by George, I believe dat dis little lady is tryin' ta soften me up so dat she don't hafta pay! Well if dis is gonna be da pay, its all on me sweetheart!" He said with a grin. The girl laughed as her friends poked her knowingly.
"Well me friends, I best get goin' on to anotha sellin' spot. So get yer papes here while ya can! Got people ta see ya know!" The boy yelled above the groans, mostly from the girls. A whole herd of people came all at once, asking for papers right and left, surprising the girl. "He's pretty sharp." She murmured. When all the people had drifted away, and the boy was about to walk away himself, the girl cried out to him, "Hey kid! Wait! I want to talk to you!" The boy stopped and smiled, rubbing his hands together as she ran up.
"Ya wanna buy a pape miss, fer yer husband? I gots jest da one fer you! Tain't soggy 'er nothin'! After all, tis Christmas Eve!" The girl held out her hand to shake and the boy spit into his and extended his grubby hand. The girl accepted it and shook fiercely, surprising the boy. "Well, why didn't ya gross out? I plumb fergot not ta spit shake wit' anybody 'cept da Newsies, but ya didn't care?! Dats a new one on me. A lady who'll spit shake wit' ya?" The boy wondered aloud as the girl quickly withdrew her hand. "Whats your name boy?" The girl asked. The boy straightened up stoutly and saluted smartly with an irresistible grin. "Me name's Arthur James Dominic Andrew McCoy, the thoid. But me friends call me Tenor."
The girl's eyes widened with surprise. "My what a name! I was afraid that I was going to have to call you by all your names. Are you called Tenor because you sing?" The boy nodded. "Yup, me good pal Cowboy gave it to me. He thought dat da udda one was too long too. So, whatcha want wit me?" The girl shivered and rubbed her gloved hands together as a wind blew against the pair. "Well, I need some information about some certain people." The boy smiled cockily. "Whats in it fer me? Miss Nameless." The girl smiled and clapped her hand against her forehead. "So sorry I fergot, forgot. My name is Anne McClaen. I'll pay you, ummmmm. How 'bout, about, a quarter?" The boy nearly dropped his papers in surprise. "A quarter!? Fer me? But dats, whoa!"
Anne smiled. "What? Too much?" The boy started violently. "Heck no! Not by a longshot! Its jest havin' a whole quarter of me very own! An' on Christmas Eve too! Wow! Whaddya wanna know? I'll tell ya everything!" Anne smiled and placed the shiny quarter in the boy's hand. "Well I need to know about some Newsies. Their whereabouts and such. Their names are, Jack Kelly, Kid Blink, Spot Conlon, and Racetrack Higgins." As she spoke the last name, her voice gained a certain dreamy tone, that altered as soon as she realized what she was saying. The boy scratched his head and pocketed the quarter.
"Well les see. Jack Kelly is also called Cowboy by da Newsies. He lives in Manhattan an' he's 19. He's one of me best friends. Kid is still a Newsie an' he does anotha job too. An' he's 19 too. Racetrack is 18 an' one of da best gamblers in da Lodgin' House, an' Manhattan in fact." "Still?" Anne broke in, surprising Tenor. Anne blushed. "I mean, I heard that he gambled, but I didn't know that he was still doing it." She blundered. Tenor shrugged his shoulders and continued his litany. "Race still lives in Manhattan too. Spot Conlon is a hard one. Nobody really knows allot about Spot. He keeps to himself allot. If ya really wanna know 'bout 'im, ya should ask Red in Brooklyn. He's his best pal." Tenor remarked enviously. "I wish I was Spot Conlon's best pal. Dat all ya wanted ta know?"
Anne rubbed her cheek thoughtfully. "Well, come to think of it. Maybe you can help me here. Have you ever heard of or seen a Newsie called, oh I think it was, Bright Eyes?" The boy looked at Anne thoughtfully before he answered. "Bright Eyes? I don't know if she even exists. I mean, Spot says dat its jest a story, but da boys in da Lodgin' House say dat she was as real as you an' me an' Spots' jest makin' it up 'cause she hurt 'im so bad. Da boys said dat she was once a Newsie like dem. An' one of da best." Tenor looked up at Anne and saw tears peeking out from behind the blue of her eyes. "Well, what happened to dis, this girl?"
The boy now watched Anne closely as he spoke. "She flew da coop. Ran away one day. Last year da boys said. Dey still don't know why though. Why do ya wanna know about Bright Eyes?" The boy asked curiously. "No reason. Hey, you said Kid Blink has another job? What is it?" Anne motioned for the boy to whisper it in her ear. After he told her, she smiled and whispered in his ear as he approved it. "Yeah..............not bad.........no kiddin'.............well I'll try............probably........yeah, ya got yerself a deal miss! Hey and danks fer everythin'!" Tenor said as he began to walk toward a street corner, waving as he went. "Tenor, here." Anne tossed another quarter to Tenor who caught it and stared at the money, speechless. "Merry Christmas Tenor!" She yelled as the boy waved and ran off.
Tenor ran to the nearby corner and stood waiting for his friend. As he waited he glanced back at the girl. She was blamed beautiful! Dem eyes of hers jest see right through ya an' dere so kind an' friendly. I wonda why she wanted ta know 'bout da boys. Sometin' important. Maybe she knows where dere families are or sometin'. Dat would be interestin'. Dat would kinda 'splain why she wanted ta find dat Bright Eyes goil. She found her ma or dad or sometin'. A carriage rolled into Tenor's thoughts as it passed by. Tenor saw it and yelled to the driver. "Heya Blink! Stop! I's got a customer fer ya!" The driver held back his horses and turned as the boy came running up.
"Merry Christmas ta you too kid! Whats dis 'bout customers? I've had so many customers teday dat I don't know if I kin hold meself up dis evening." Kid Blink remarked as he removed his hat and ran a hand through his brown-blonde hair. Tenor smiled and patted one of the horses as he spoke. "Well, its a lady. An' she's standin' on da corner ova dere. She wants a ride. An' Blink, she's been askin' 'bout ya's. Jack, Race an' Spot too. Even dat goil Bright Eyes." At the mention of the last name, Blink lifted his head slightly. "What did she ask 'bout Bright, Tenor?" The boy shrugged and smoothed the horse's mane lovingly. "Not much. Jest wanted ta know if she lived here an' what happened to her an' stuff. Like I said, nothin' much."
Kid Blink sighed and sat his cap back on his head. "I wish people would let her rest. Its been a little over a year now. She ain't comin' back, everyone knows dat. Old Mrs. Russell over on Crook Road still doesn't believe it though. All of her most popular buyers cain't believe it, dat she would run away. Well now they've seen everything I guess, me included. Well, I'm gonna do dis last ride an' den I'm comin' home okay Tenor. Tell da boys dat I'll be home soon."
Tenor smiled and waved as Kid Blink pulled to the corner where the lady stood. "Kin I help ya miss?" He queried with a smile. The girl smiled and gazed at Blink in a way that made him uncomfortable. "Miss?" The girl started and climbed into the carriage. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help thinking that I had seen you somewhere before. Forgive me if I made you uncomfortable. I would like you to drive me to the Greeley statue please." Blink tapped the horses lightly with the reins and the carriage resumed its slightly bumpy canter. "So ya live in Manhattan miss? Don't believe I've seen ya around here whereabouts. Whats yer name?" Blink asked as he drove.
"Anne McClaen. I lived here once. I'm here to visit friends." Blink laughed. "Ya think yer gonna find 'em at da Greeley statue? Is dat an' old haunt or sometin'?" The girl gave a small laugh. "Yes, it is an old haunt of mine. A very dear one in fact." Blink smiled as he remembered his childhood days at the statue, recollecting the tone of reverence with which the girl spoke its name. "Yeah, same here. Ya have a slight accent, miss. Did ya live here long?" The girl was silent as she gazed out at the cobblestone streets and the peasants and the rich people walking in them. "I lived here my whole life, until I was forced to leave." Blink turned and gazed briefly at the girl before turning round again.
"Um, me friend, da little kid said dat you was askin' 'bout me an' a few of me friends. Might I ask how ya knew 'bout 'em an' why you've come?" The girl stared at Blink's back, then turned out towards the snowy drifts. "I knew them, from my childhood. I saw them alot." Blink rolled his good eye. "How could you have seen them alot? We boys change our sellin' spots sometimes, an' from da way Tenor said it, ya acted like ya knew us personally." Blink said, aggravation rising in his voice. The girl stared out at the drifts as she murmured, "Dats 'cause I did know ya personally Blink." Kid Blink turned around in shock at the total dropping of her proper tone of voice and resuming a strong New York accent. As he gazed at the girl slumped in the back seat staring back at him, he remembered, he recollected.
"Bright?" He whispered, almost reverently. "Bright, is dat really you?" The girl smiled, then laughed sweetly at the seriousness of her friend. "Yeah, yeah its me Blink!" They both grabbed each other in a fierce hug that lasted for a long moment before they let go. "Wow, look at ya! In dose duds! I didn't even recognize ya! Yer so grown up an' different! An' witout yer accent, I barely knew yer voice!" Bright Eyes laughed. "I know! It was a pain to drop my accent totally, so I left a tinge of it for my own comfort. And da clothes, I'm gonna change as soon as I go to da Lodgin' House. I'm a journalist Blink! A real journalist! My paper in Chicago has even printed a few of my pieces!" Blink gazed at his friend in admiration, the horses and carriage forgotten completely. "Dats great Bright! A real journalist! An' in Chicago! Da boys will freak! Why did ya change yer name Bright? I mean, from what it was before. Wasn't yer last name O'Connor?"
Bright Eyes smiled. "Yeah, but I didn't want me dad ta find me or nothin'. McClaen was my mother's maiden name. So when do we go to da Lodgin' House?" Blink smiled and grasped the forgotten reins. "Right now!" Bright Eyes laughed as the horses jolted and began to move quickly. "I can't wait till we get dere! We kin talk along da way! Oh Blink, I've got so many tings ta ask an' stuff!" Blink grinned as Bright Eyes rambled. "Well shoot. Whaddya wanna hear 'bout?" Bright Eyes sat back in her seat thoughtfully. "Well, dat kid Tenor said some stuff 'bout Spot. Like dat he's been tellin' everybody dat I'm jest a story an' stuff. Whats dat all about?"
Blink sighed, dejectedly. "Well eva since ya left Bright, Spot's been kinda withdrawn an' more tough dan normal. He saw ya go away dat night Bright. Red saw ya an' he told Spot. Spot followed ya to da dock an' saw ya go. He was shocked an' hoit real bad. I guess dat ya didn't say goodbye or even give him any hints." If Blink had turned and glanced at Bright Eyes at that moment, he would have seen the look of pure shock covering her face. "I gave him a few hints! Like da day before I left I came to him an' talked to him! I gave him as many hints as I could without givin' it away!" Bright Eyes choked. "I'm sure ya did. But lets jest say dat Spot ain't as fergivin' as some of us boys. Ya know dat. Ya know dat Spot's jest like dat." Bright Eyes sighed sadly and held her hand out to catch the falling snow in her gloved hand. "So tell me 'bout da udda boys. How dey been doin'?" She asked. And so Blink proceeded to tell Bright Eyes about all of the boys and how they had been since her departure. To the observer the scene would've been rather unusual; a lady dressed in rather fine clothes speaking in a fierce New York accent to a grubby boy who barely had enough warm clothes for himself.
@--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------@
Back at the Lodging House, things were in a tizzy preparing for the big night ahead. Ever since Bright Eyes started it, the boys had been putting up garlands and wreaths in the Lodging House at Christmas time. Only this year, it would be bigger than ever. Spot Conlon had been invited to the dinner being prepared, and he surprisingly had accepted. There was a tree in the living room, or what served as a living room to the boys, and it was being decorated with gingerbread men baked by Kloppman's niece Jane, glass ornaments that had been collected from years past and candles.
Racetrack was standing on a tall ladder so as to put a pine bough wreath above the front door. Lovingly, he took out of its box, a small glass ornament shaped like a newpaper that Bright Eyes had brought home a long time ago. She had started hanging it on a wreath above the door to as she said, "symbolize dat all Newsies is welcome in dis Lodgin' House." No one knew where she had got a hold of it. She had refused to tell. Racetrack's personal belief was that she had made it, for what person would sell a newspaper ornament with the names, "Jack, Racetrack, Spot, and all the Newsies" painted in extremely small letters on it.
Racetrack held the small ornament in his hand for a moment, remembering its owner, before he sighed and attached it to the wreath. "That looks good Race. A little to the left though. Great!" The Jacobs family had also been invited and so Les had gladly assumed the role of decorator. Sarah and Mrs. Jacobs were in the kitchen and David and Mr. Jacobs were talking and helping the the boys as they decorated. "Hey Race! Ya won't guess what some goil gave me teday!" Racetrack looked down from the ladder and saw Tenor standing beneath him. "Well, whatcha got kid?" Tenor smiled a coy smile at Racetrack and held up a small green plant. Racetrack shrugged his shoulders uncaring. "So? Yer becomin' a vegetarian?" Tenor rolled his eyes. "Nope. Its mistletoe."
"Who's got mistletoe?" Jack yelled across the room. Tenor grinned and swung the plant back and forth above his head so that Jack could see. "Whatcha gonna do wit' dat Tenor?" He questioned as the boys crowded round Tenor. "I's gonna hang it up, unda da livin' room door." The older boys looked at each other and grinned, while the younger ones scratched their heads, confused. "So whats dat got ta do wit anythin'?" A small boy named Fish asked. Jack grinned and stooped down to the boy's height. "Well ya see Fish, mistletoe is sometin' special around Christmas time." The boy's brow furrowed in concentration as he listened to the older boy. "Like presents an' stuff."
Jack smiled as the other boys chuckled at the smaller boy's ignorance. "Yeah sorta like dat. But ya see, if ya hang up mistletoe above a doorway an' a boy an' goil walk unda it at da same time, dey hafta kiss. Its tradition." Fish's face crumpled in disgust. "Yuck! Dat ain't hardly as good as a present! Dats disgustin'!" All the boys burst out in laughter. "Yeah well, we olda boys don't seem ta tink so!" Mush laughed as he poked Racetrack. At that moment, Sarah happened to walk in the room.
"Whats going on in here?" Laughter ceased as they looked from Sarah to the mistletoe, now hiding behind Tenor's back. Fish saw Sarah edging closer, and horror swept over his young face. "Don't come any closer Sarah! Please fer yer own sake!" Sarah stopped suddenly with concern spread across her face. "But why Fish?" The older boys began to titter slightly as they watched the boy. " 'Cause theys gonna try an' get ya ta kiss 'em wit' mistletoe!" He burst out. The titters became a huge thunder clap of laughter as the boys howled. Sarah smiled then rolled her eyes and walked out of the room.
"But Jack, whose we gonna kiss? Dere's no one here but Sarah an' her momma. No one else." A boy named Flick questioned. Jack smiled and patted the boy's back. "We'll jest make do I guess." Suddenly, the happy mood went as soon as it had come as Snipeshooter remarked, "I wish dat Bright Eyes were here. Christmas ain't gonna be da same widout her." All the boys were silent. "Rememba when she got me a new crutch an' den painted all sorts of neat designs on it? I still have dat in da closet upstairs fer special occasions." Crutchy sighed as he shifted his weight on his old, plain, wooden crutch. "I 'memba when Bright found me anotha bandanna when I lost mine, 'cause Osca an' Morris snitched it. 'Memba? It was dat nice, clean, beautiful red. All washed an' new." Jack murmured. The boys all shuffled their feet and coughed as they told of the other numerous Christmases long gone by.
"Hey, whats wit' da gloomy faces? Lets get dose away! Brooklyn is here!" A call sounded from the doorway. Everyone turned as Fish gasped and ran to the speaker. "Spot! Spot! Yer really here! I cain't believe it!" The boys smiled as the 17 year old scooped up the small boy, whom Spot had especially christened Fish after one of Brooklyn's finest Newsie leaders and Spot's mentor and hero. " 'Corse I's hea. What ya tink I wouldn't keep me woid?" Spot laughed. "No sir! Spot Conlon always keeps his woid! Ain't dat right?" The boy said proudly as he clasped his arms around his hero's neck. The boys laughed and gathered around Spot, slapping him on the back and grinning. Spot glanced up at the small ornament as the boys took his thin coat, and a shadow passed over his face. He held up his hand and fingered it, then dropped it as though the ornament had shocked him.
"So whats fer dinna, boys? I could smell it a mile away!" Spot queried, grinning at Fish as he tagged along holding Spot's hand in a death grip. "Oh lots of stuff! Dumplin's, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans! All sorts of stuff! An' Misses Davey's mum made it all herself! But we's gotta wait fer Blink though." Fish said with childish seriousness. "Say Tenor, where is Blink anyway?" Jack asked. Tenor shrugged as he altered a wilting bow on one of the wreaths. "I dunno. He said dat he was gonna make one more drop off an' den come on home. He should be back soon." Just then a loud banging sounded on the front door and Racetrack grinned.
"Oops. Musta fergot to unlock da door when I was hangin' up da wreath." He said sarcastically as he slapped Mush playfully. "I'll get it! I wanna be da foist ta tell Blink dat Spot's here!" Fish exclaimed as he ran towards the door. No one challenged him and the boys began to walk toward the dining room, where all sorts of pleasant aromas were drifting through the Lodging House. Racetrack was one of the last boys to walk into the dining room, but he stopped in the doorway when he heard the door open. "Blink! Hi! Spot's here fer dinna! An' we's got, who's dat Blink? She's looks nice." Racetrack slapped Jack as he walked into the dining room, causing him to turn around towards the door with Racetrack.
Blink walked in alone, leaving Fish to gaze in through the doorway at the person beyond. "Whatcha got up yer sleeve Blink?" Racetrack asked curiously. Blink grinned ear to ear and put his hands behind his back. "Nothin' much. Jest anotha Christmas guest." He then motioned with his hand toward the doorway. As the person walked through, a gloved hand reached up and touched the ornament lovingly. Racetrack and Jack didn't move as the person moved into view. Snipeshooter came up from behind the two and followed the two's eyes to the person in the hallway.
His eyes widened and his mouth dropped before he yelled, "BRIGHT EYES! Yer back! Hey fellas! Bright Eyes is back! Bright Eyes!" At his yell there was a general stampede to get to the doorway. Snipeshooter didn't waste another minute and dashed to the figure in white. Bright Eyes threw down her suitcase and grasped the boy in a huge hug. The other boys stood in the doorway staring till Blink said, "Well, you boys jest gonna stand dere or are ya gonna say hello to yer friend?" The boys walked slowly as if in a dream to the girl. Jack stood in front of Bright Eyes, not saying a word. Then he took her by the shoulders and enveloped her in a huge hug. "I knew dat ya wouldn't stay away fer long Bright." He whispered. Then all the boys enveloped her in hugs and smacks on the back and exclamations of joy and disbelief.
David shyly approached Bright Eyes and held out his hand. She looked at him with a large grin across her face and to his surprise, enveloped him in a huge hug. "Hey Mouth! How ya been?" She asked excitedly. David was thrown in to a shock and didn't say a word as he gazed upon her. She was back and life would be as it had been before. Whenever she came around, his tongue would be tied. Plus, why was she even speaking to him when the day before she left, she was yelling and screaming at him? Great, those feelings are also coming back. Goody. I thought I had gotten over her. Bright Eyes looked at him curiously, then whispered in his ear. "Davey, I'm sorry for yellin' an' stuff at ya dat day. I wasn't in me right mind. Will ya fergive me?" A surge of gratefullness and happiness went through David and he grinned. "Of course Bright Eyes! Of course!" Bright Eyes grinned.
"Spot! Bright Eyes is back." Snipeshooter yelled, but the yell deteriorated as he gazed at the Brooklyn leader standing in the doorway. "Yeah, I kin see dat." Spot walked slowly towards Bright Eyes, the boys separating as he came, forming an aisle. Bright Eyes sighed uneasily as he approached. His gray eyes were as cold as ice and looked as though they could spit fire. When he stood directly in front of the girl, Spot stopped and examined her appearence. As he fingered a piece of lace on the collar, he scoffed at it mockingly. "So ya got bigga ain't ya Brighty? Nice clothes, a suitcase wit' some more clothes, well fed. Man Brighty, seems dat you've been livin' da high life of a scabba." He sneered.
Bright Eyes eyes narrowed. "Spot Conlon. I didn't come back to be mocked by you and your anger." Spot laughed and turned to the boys. "She don't even got an accent no more! She even talks like a scabba!" Bright Eyes grabbed Spot's arm, that wrenched away from her as soon as it touched him. "I didn't come here to be mocked." She repeated softly. " I came back here, to be with you boys and to tell you that I'm sorry for leaving. But," "But ya had to. Right Bright?" Spot scowled. All the boys were silent as they watched the former friends combat in a battle of wits and staring combined.
"Spot, I'm sorry dat I didn't tell ya. I ain't forgotten me accent an' I ain't fergotten you. I couldn't Spot. You an' da boys was all I had. I jest couldn't stay an' it wasn't cause of you don't ya undastand? I had ta or somebody would get hoit." Spot scoffed at her statements and stared her right in the eyes as he spoke. "Its too late fer dat sweetheart. Somebody, an' lots of somebodies have already gotten hoit. Ya don't deseaive ta be here. I don't want ya ta be here. Yer nothin' to da Newsies." With that final blow to the girl, Spot retreated to the upstairs bedroom quietly, not daring to look back at the girl's red face for fear that he should take it all back.
Bright Eyes stood stock still, her chin trembling slightly as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. The boys were also silent, comprehending the argument and its significance. Spot Conlon, had renounced Bright Eyes as one of them. To him, she could never, ever be a Newsie again, unless of course he took it back. Racetrack stared at the girl with compassion at her loss. He knew that Spot was like a brother to her. He had been with her from the beginning and losing him was like dying while living to her. He knew the feeling of losing someone he loved. He had felt it today, and it had been redeemed by her coming, and seeing her in pain stabbed him to the heart. Jack patted Bright Eyes on the back. "Hey, he'll get ova it. C'mon an' eat wit' us. Lets don't let dis little incident spoil it." Bright Eyes nodded and patted his arm, her eyes searching for one beloved face. "Go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."
The boys all retreated to the dining room as Bright Eyes moved her suitcase to the stairs leading to the bedroom, her eyes glancing quickly up them. "Bright?" Racetrack's sudden approach startled Bright Eyes. "Race, hello. I'm sorry 'bout everytin' an' all dat." She stuttered as he approached her. "Ya don't need ta say dat ta me. Ya don't have anythin' to apologize fer. I know dat ya did what ya had ta do, dats enough fer me. What 'bout you?" Bright Eyes smiled as the tears began to fall faster, splashing on her red cheeks. "I didn't want him to take dis so hard. I didn't know dat he would. I shouldn't have eva have come back." She sobbed. Racetrack smiled wistfully and lifted her chin slightly.
"Do ya really tink dat? 'Cause I don't, an' neitha do da boys. I don't tink dat Bright." Racetrack whispered as the two edged closer and closer. "Really?" Bright Eyes whispered softly. "Really." Racetrack replied. "I missed you a lot Race." Bright Eyes whispered. "Me too." Bright Eyes then clasped her arms around the boy's neck in a fierce embrace. Racetrack held the girl close, finally satisfied that she was really here in his arms this time, and it wasn't just a dream any longer. Racetrack pulled Bright Eyes away and kissed her quickly before she even had time to react. They stood in the doorway only a few feet away from the mistletoe.
Fish stood in the doorway of the dining room watching eagerly. Jack came up behind him and poked him in the stomach causing him to stifle a giggle. "Stop Cowboy! Look, Race is kissin' dat goil! An' dere not even unda da mistletoe neitha." Fish insisted as Jack picked him up in his arms and began to edge back into the dining room, closing the door as he went. When he reached the room, he sat Fish down and motioned for quiet. "Well, since Spots' mad, an' Bright Eyes an' Race have betta things ta do udda dan eat," he said, grinning, causing the other boys to poke their neighbors in realization at what was going on in the next room. "We'll say grace den! Who's gonna start?" Fish's hand went up instantly and waved furiously. When other hands became higher than his own, he stood on his chair and waved more, practically in Jack's face. "Hey Fish! Do ya know who should say grace?" Cowboy grinned, watching the look of despair on the boy's face. "You kin do it kid! Jest sit down will ya?" The boy sighed with relief at being chosen and plopped down in his chair.
"Dear God, danks fer da food, fer Davey's mom an' dad, an' Sarah, an' fer Les comin' ova ta spend da night. Please bless all da boys an' keep us safe an' healthy durin' dis winta." At that moment, Racetrack and Bright Eyes snuck in and took their seats, faces flushing at the looks passed across the table. "Bless Race an' his goilfriend Bright," Fish started. "Hey kid! Dat ain't right! We ain't said anytin' 'bout dat!" Racetrack burst in. "Shudup Race. I's sayin' grace. Ya were kissin' anyway so dat makes her yer goilfriend." The boy replied smoothly. "Bless Blink tomorra as he goes out ta woik. An' bless all of us boys who is goin' out temorra ta sell papes. Let us have a good day. Bless all da Newsies in da Lodgin' House, in Brooklyn, da Bronx, Midtown, Queens," Fish's litany was intterupted by a look from Jack that cut him short. "Anyway, bless all da Newsies everywhere. Oh yeah, an' bless Spot, cause he's really mad at da nice goil named Bright Eyes whose wit' us as ya know. Make him come down fer dinner, an' don't let him be mad anymore. Amen." Fish finished. "Amen." The boys breathed a sigh of relief as the final word was spoken.
Food was scooped onto plates and refilled as soon as they were emptied. All through the meal, the boys asked Bright Eyes about Chicago and what it was like. She told of the skyscrapers and the apartment buildings and hotels. Of the streets very much like New York and of the Newsboys there. "Dere jest like us. Dey've got a Lodgin' House an' all dat stuff. I did an article on 'em once. Almost won an award fer it. Fer my 'inside opinions on the world of the unfortunate' dey said." The boys laughed, except for the small children, who were still stuffing their faces. When she told of her sending her articles to the paper secretly and under a man's name so she wouldn't be found out, the boys laughed harder. "So Bright, besides dat ya couldn't live anotha day widout us, why did ya come back?" Jack asked. A shadow then came over Bright Eyes' face as she spoke. "I came back, ta take back whats mine, ta set things right, an' settle a few scores."
The boys were silent as they watched the fires alight in their friend's eyes. "Well, if ya guys are all done, I wouldn't feel adverse to a game of poka!" Bright Eyes remarked slyly, eyeing Racetrack. The boys yelled with excitement. Chairs were pushed back, places were cleared and the dishes set in the sink, and all paraded into the living room where a round table had been a new addition to the Lodging House. The boys sat down and Racetrack pulled out his deck of cards and began to shuffle them as they waited for Bright, due to the fact that she insisted that she get out of her dress before they played. As they were getting ready to begin, the shadowy figure of Spot was seen walking down the staircase. All activity stopped save for Bright Eyes walking into the room, dress under her arm, Newsie clothes on. "Hey Spot! Wanna play a hand?" Racetrack asked, smiling for all he was worth. Spot shook his head slowly. "No, I'll watch. I'll bring me food in here." He then made his way to the kitchen, making sure not to make eye contact with Bright Eyes as he went.
Racetrack shrugged and dealt the cards among the players, who consisted of, Jack, Bright Eyes, Racetrack, Kid Blink and Mush. The first hand went quickly. Racetrack won the jackpot, which at the moment had held five dollars even. Bright Eyes eyed Racetrack suspiciously as he eagerly scooped the money into his hat, which he sat on after all the money had been deposited. "Race, I don't tink its my imagination, but I do believe dat you was cheatin' dat time." Racetrack stared at Bright Eyes in mock horror. "Me? Why da heck would ya tink dat I would cheat at, at, poka? Da idea is unthinkable of me especially!" Bright Eyes sighed and rolled her eyes as the boys smacked each other knowingly, sniggering at Racetrack's mock innocence. "Yeah Race. If ya didn't cheat, den it must be a special night!" The boys laughed as Racetrack sighed and dealt the next hand.
Ten hands were played in all. Racetrack won the first, Bright Eyes, Racetrack, Bright Eyes, and so alternating through the hands, the other boys winning here and there. Finally it was down to the last hand. The jackpot was counted. It contained a sum of ten dollars and five cents, a huge amount for the Lodging House, the most money coming from Bright Eyes and Racetrack's pockets. As the hand was beginning, Racetrack leaned over the table and grinned at Bright Eyes as he spoke, "I wanna place a bet, an' I want da udda boys at da table ta place bets on who ya tink will win. Me or Bright?" He sat down with a grin as the boys talked among themselves. Jack stood up. "Okay Race, we'll bet on ya's, but ya hafta do whateva we bet fer, undastood?" Racetrack shrugged. "Sure." Spot glanced devilishly towards Mush, Blink and Jack who were whispering eagerly to themselves and joined them.
Finally the hand began. The bets were to be kept a secret until the winner was announced. Sweat drops began to form on the foreheads of the main contestants, the others having all dropped out. Racetrack sighed. "Okay, I wanna fold." All the boys craned their necks to see his cards as he laid them down. "Two pair, aces." He said smugly. All the boys stared at each other in amazement. Bright Eyes stared Racetrack in the eyes as she set her cards down, the boys gasping as she did. On the table her cards showed all spades. Racetrack sat backwards in disbelief as Bright Eyes gathered the money into her hat happily. "Sorry Race, ya snooze ya lose!"
Jack grinned at Bright Eyes as he spoke. "Yeah, but dere's still a small matta dat we need ta dissolve. Da bets?" Racetrack glanced at Jack uneasily. "Okay, hit me wit' 'em." In the seat next to Jack, Mush and Blink sat sniggering. "Well, it was Tenor's idea. He bet dat Race wouldn't kiss his supposed "goilfriend" in front of everybody." Jack said smiling broadly at Racetrack. "Well he's right, 'cus I ain't gonna." Racetrack said stubbornly. "Who's a fraidy cat now boys?" Tenor questioned, jokingly. The boys laughed as Racetrack's face grew red. "I don't care what ya say. I won't do it!" Racetrack said firmly. The boys then glanced at Bright Eyes, their eyes pleading that she play along for a good show. Bright Eyes shrugged nonchalantly. "He's da man of da poka table. If he says no, den he means no."
The boy's frowned and began to pester Racetrack to change his mind, and as he continued to refuse, the boys fell silent until Spot spoke up. "I gots a bet of me own dat I wanna share." The boy's ears pricked up at the Brooklyn leader as he gazed at Bright Eyes as he spoke. "I bet, dat Bright Eyes won't tell why she left us. She probably neva will eitha." As Bright Eyes stared at Spot, she saw the glimmers of hatred and pain in his gray eyes. She sighed. "Dats anotha ting I cain't do Spot. You'll jest hafta wait till da time is right." Racetrack stared at the two, biting his lip as he watched the tug of war play between them, Brooklyn leader against his childhood friend and confidant.
He couldn't stand it. Racetrack stood up, totally took Bright Eyes by surprise and dragged her up out of her seat towards the mistletoe. When he had her directly underneath the plant, Bright Eyes protested. "What in da woild are ya doin'?" Racetrack lifted her head so that the mistletoe was in her plain sight and then kissed her gently. The boys broke out in cheers. "Well, dey kept one of da bets Spot. It'll jest be a matta of time 'fore da udda one is fulfilled!" Jack told his friend, who surveyed the scene with a stone face. "Yeah right. She won't eva tell an' I wouldn't hold yer breath Cowboy. She jest doesn't care" Spot remarked cooly.
After the boys had left their admiring circle from around Racetrack and Bright Eyes, the girl turned to the boy, eyeing the mischief still dancing in his brown eyes. "Why did ya do dat?" Racetrack grinned. "I hated ta see you an' Spot havin' at each udda an' I didn't want us ta be labled cowards ta boot! Lets jest say dat I lessened yer load a little." Bright Eyes smiled and turned away, stepping on a chair nearby, eyeing Spot, who was heading towards the door. "If I may have everyone's attention, dat includes you Spot." She remarked pointedly. Spot stopped and stood in the doorway, arms folded. "Temorra, is Christmas. An' Christmas isn't really Christmas, widout presents. Well I've got sometin' in my big bag which shall remain hidden till temorrow."
A long groan broke around the room. "But if ya go ta sleep NOW, instead of lata, we kin have 'em in da mawnin'." Bright Eyes reasoned. The boys glaced at each other and then ran up the stairs, the sounds of the beds creaking as they jumped into them resounding throughout the house. Spot was the only one who didn't dash up the stairs in a frenzy. Instead he merely sauntered up the stairs, gazing cooly at Bright Eyes as he went. Bright Eyes shook her head. "Well, ya gonna go ta bed too or what?" Racetrack asked curiously. "Well I don't know. Did ya boys keep me room fer me?" Bright Eyes asked hopefully. "Sure! Cowboy insisted, an' me an' Blink an' some of da udda boys backed him up. Dat was afta Spot tried ta snitch it." Bright Eyes rolled her eyes and walked up the stairs with Racetrack.
"Afta you." Racetrack said softly as he opened the door. Everything was as it had been before she left. Bright Eyes smiled in remembrance and walked in. She then turned and smiled at Racetrack gratefully. "Tell Jack thanks, won't ya?" Racetrack returned the smile, and gently touched her face. "Sure. I'm really glad yer back Bright. Really I am. Before ya go ta sleep though, I tink dis is yers." With that, Racetrack pulled off the silver band off of his ring finger and gave it to the girl, who gave a small gasp of surprise. "You didn't lose it? Ya kept it?" Racetrack smiled. "Course I did. Saved it fer ya. Night Bright Eyes." Bright Eyes leaned across the threshold and kissed him on the cheek, then closed the door quietly.
Racetrack practically waltzed to his bed and collapsed on it, shaking the whole structure. "Hey, will ya keep it down? I'm tryin' ta get ta sleep so dat mawnin' will come soona!" Blink whispered harshly to Racetrack, who was lying in bed grinning like a fool. "Aw, will ya cut me some slack! I jest feel like me heart skyrocketed to da sky an' won't eva come back down!" Blink grimaced and leaned down over the side of the bed. "I ate turkey an' stuff Race. What did you eat? Yer cigars stale or sometin'?" Racetrack grinned and smacked Blink in the face with his cap and rolled over in his bed, sleep coming almost instantly, something that hadn't happened to him for a long time.
Spot Conlon lay spread out on his bed under Jack's bunk, wide awake. He couldn't go to sleep without guilt pricking his consience ever so slightly every time he tried to drift off.
I treated her like I shoulda! She don't deseaive ta be here, like I said. An' I won't take it back no matta what da boys say! She don't deseive my fergivness most of all. How kin da boys jest fergive an' ferget like dat? She abandoned dem an' didn't even say goodbye! An' she was my best friend, so if anyone should be fergivin' her its me! So why cain't I? Oh God, make da hoit go away! Ain't it enough dat ya've got me whole family an' Fish? Ain't it enough dat ya gave me such a proud concsience dat I cain't fergive a goil who's practically me sista? Oh God, jest make da pain go away! Please, make it go away!
As a tear slid down the boy's cheek, he turned over on his side and cried softly, consumed in his grief and the pain that he knew Bright Eyes was feeling on his account.
