Scamp awoke to the sun shining in her eyes. She saw that all the other boys were awake. M&M was talking to the guy named Racetrack about something while the other's played a game of cards.
"Look sleepin' beauty is finally awake," M&M said as he noticed Scamp sitting up.
"How long have I'se been asleep?"
"Bout a day an' a half."
Scamp looked at M&M in disbelief. Then as to clear her mind she shook her head. "Hay I'se got another question."
"Shoot."
"Why did the Manhattan bulls and the Brooklyn bulls come?"
"Oh I can answer dat one," Kid Blink said. "Usually when dere is a big fight on da bordea of a part of da city dey send bulls from both parts. Den da bulls take whatevea kids they get to da Refuge from their part of town." Kid Blink explained. Christy nodded her head, as everything made more since.
"Ok an' since Spot was taken by a Brooklyn bull he was taken to Brooklyn…." Christy began to say.
"An we were taken by a Manhattan bull so we'se in Manhattan." M&M finished for her.
Christy sat down on the bed hard. She knew that she couldn't leave the Refuge hurt like she was now, but she wanted to find Spot.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
It had been five months since Christy had come to the refuge. She had changed a
Lot in those few months. She was now a few inches taller than she had been. Her hair had grown too. Her soft brown hair was now past her shoulders and she had grown in other places too. Her side was now completely healed and she only had a scar down her side to remind her of that night…well that and the dull pain she felt when she remembered Spot.
Ever since she had been able to move with out being in pain Christy tried to escape the refuge, but her attempts were worthless. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't escape. Nor could any of the boys. They said that things tightened up after a new man named Snyder took over the place.
One day Christy was staring out the window when the door to the room swung open. Christy whipped around to see Snyder's body filled the frame. He reached behind him and he threw a young girl into the room.
"Dirty street rats," Snyder mumbled as he slammed the door shut.
Everyone in the room stared at the new girl. She was small and had rusty-red long curly hair. She was covered with dirt and looked as if she had been living on the streets. Christy noticed that none of the boys were making any attempt to welcome the new girl.
"Hiya, my name's Scamp," Christy said extending her hand to the new girl.
"Hi I'm Clover," The new girl said shaking hands with Scamp. (Note…yes Clover is from the stories by Kora who also puts her stuff on this site…no Clover is not mine and this is still b4 the strike…Clover is living on the streets but is still a newsie)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
A few days later Scamp and Clover numbly climbed out between the bars on the window, they weren't very close together. It was the deadest part of the night and finally Scamp was sure she was going to get away from the Refuge. As soon as the girls' feet hit the pavement they sprinted away from the huge brick building. Several blocks later Scamp allowed herself to take a rest. She sat down on a create. Clover stopped running when she didn't hear the sound of Scamp's feet. She turned and walked over to her friend.
"Why'd ya stop?" Clover asked between breaths.
"I was thinking," Scamp replied.
"Bout what?"
"Well I was thinking about going out west on a train…"
"What? Why?!" Clover shouted.
"I donno I wanna see some new things other than New York. I've already seen the south and now the north. I feel a calling to go west…I can't explain it really Clover." Christy fought for words to help her explain.
"Ok I'es get it…sort-a. Where out west?"
"Texas I think…"
"You know if you hurry you can catch the early train out west," Clover said kindly to her friend. Scamp looked up to her friend and smiled.
"Thanks," Scamp said she stood up and hugged Clover good-bye. "Tell M&M bye for me." Tears were forming in Scamp's eyes as she ran towards the train station. Just as she had done with Spot that one night Scamp jumped onto the back of the train just as the sun was rising. Little did Scamp know that while the train was leaving the state that the newsies in Manhattan were going on strike against one of the most powerful men in the State, Joseph Pulitzer.
Scamp didn't realize how much were going to be changed when she came back.
OK every one what'd you think? I had fun typing this…oh and a kind-a squeal with Kora…it's gonna be really good so look out for it…we don't have a name for it yet…