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Jack walked down the dirty city streets alone, smoking a cigarette and thinking over the night's events. He couldn't get her out of her mind. Her fair hair, her twinkling eyes, her sweet kiss. And her the sister of Brooklyn! It was all too much to bear. It was too much to think about. Then he stopped cold. He knew what he'd do. Long before when he and Spot had been good enough friends to bond for the Newsies strike, he had been to Spot's domains. If she was Spot's sister, he would find her there. Struck by this inspiration, Jack began to walk quicker, then began to run as the sounds of voices infiltrated the darkness.
"Cowboy! Cowboy! Where are ya?" Kid Blink called, scanning his surroundings with his one good eye. "Look Blink, he's probably back at da Lodgin' House in BED! Which is frankly where I'd like ta be if ya don't mind!" Racetrack mumbled, attempting to leave Kid Blink. "Don't go Race! YOU call him! He'll listen to you!" Kid Blink said, grabbing Racetrack before he got away. Racetrack rolled his eyes. "Fine, but I'll do more dan call him. I'll scream fer him!" Racetrack said, setting his lips determinedly. "HEY COWBOY! YOU OVA HERE! OR ANY WHERE, OR OVA DERE? HEY LISTEN! IT'S TIME TA COME HOME NOW! SO, OKAY, I SUMMON YA BY, um, CUPID! YEAH CUPID! 'MEMBA DAT ANGEL WHO'S CAUSED YA SO MUCH DREADFUL PAIN?" Racetrack mocked as Kid Blink chuckled in his hands.
"I CALL FER YA ON ROSIE'S PRETTY CHEEKS, AN' HER FIERY RED HAIR, an' um, HER SWEET LIPS DAT YA LONG TA KISS!!! How was dat Blink?" Racetrack asked. "Good, but he ain't comin' out." Blink said, scratching his head. "Well I'll tell ya one ting. I'm tired of shoutin'. My throat is all hoarse an' I need it ta urge me lucky hawse on!" Racetrack said with resolution as he walked away. "Awww, but Race!" Kid Blink protested as he ran after his friend. "Don't 'but Race' me! I'se gots ta git SOME sleep! Even if Cowboy don't! I ain't his keepa!" Racetrack said, ignoring Kid Blink's urgings to turn back.
It didn't take long for Jack to find the Brooklyn Lodging House. He snuck around the back and looked for a way inside that didn't have him crossing right in front of Spot's nose. But as he looked, he heard a voice coming from the nearby alley. He stopped still, fearing one of Spot's boys, but relaxed as he heard the feminine tone with which it spoke. One glance told Jack all he needed to know. It was the one that he seeked. He snuck along the alley behind her, listening to her words. "It ain't fair. It really ain't. Of all da boys I hafta finally fall in love wit' I hafta fall in love wit' Jack Kelly. Da leada of Manhattan! I mean, I'm basically tellin' me own brudda ta kick me out! But den again, if he weren't Jack. If he would change who he is, maybe disguise himself somehow, I could trick Spot!" Jack smiled and watched Jewel stop in confusion in the alleyway.
"But no. Den he would be false. Dat ain't da way he is. It's only his name dat is my enemy. I really don't hate anybody, 'cept Pairs." Jewel said with a chuckle, resuming walking again. "Even if Jack had anotha name, he would still be Jack Kelly. Dere's no way around it. But it would help if he wasn't." Jewel said with a sigh. "Den dats all well an' good! I kin be anyone ya want!" Jewel started as Jack jumped out of the alley into her line of vision. "Jest say da woid sweetie, an' I'll neva be Jack Kelly again!" Jack said with a smile. "What kinda guy are ya? Listenin' in on me thoughts!" Jewel protested, squinting to see Jack's face in the dim moonlight.
"Well it ain't a name I'm proud of, 'cause you ain't proud of it. So really sweetie, I don't know how ta say it. Ya know?" Jack said softly. Jewel gazed at him in wonder as she realized his identity. "I've barely met ya, but I know ya. Yer Jack Kelly, ain't ya?" Jewel asked sadly. "Nope. I ain't. Not if ya don't want me ta be." Jack said, grinning once more. "How'd ya git here an' find me? I mean, well, who'd ya bribe? Did Tinka tell ya? 'Cause if he did," Jewel started angrily. "No one told me where ya was lady. I jest followed some obvious signs." Jewel cocked her head, waiting for more. "I knew dat unfortunately ya was Spot's sista right? So, if ya were his sista, most likely ya'd stay wid him, right? So I came hea an' was sneakin' around lookin' fer a way ta git in when I found ya's luckily." Jack said.
Jewel was silent, and when she spoke again, her hand was on the boy's smooth face. "Ya must care a great deal ta come an' find me like dis, when yer in so much danga." She said softly. Jack nodded. "It's only 'cause me heart won't let me alone uddawise ya know? I mean, I coulda left ya alone, but I dunno. I woulda gone crazy anyway." Jewel smiled. "An' plus, it ain't dat I care." Jewel raised her head suddenly. "It's dat I love ya." He finished quietly. Jewel's face reddened and she dropped her head. "Swear it." Jack grinned. He knew that what he was doing seemed rash, swearing his love to a girl he barely knew, but still loved. At this point he would have run head on with Spot if she had so told him to do, therefore he settled for her request. "Okay, I swear it." Jewel's gray eyes flitted up to his own brown ones, making his heart pump faster and faster. "Do ya really mean it?" She asked quietly. "I really mean it. I would neva have said it if I didn't mean it. Let it neva be said dat da leada of Manhattan don't keep his woid." Jack said, his finger touching her cheek gently.
Jewel seemed to flinch at the name of the district, realizing her sin that she was committing against her brother. Her brother ruled all of her, but he could not, and would never rule her heart, this she decided in one swift moment. "Jewel! Jewel where are ya's? Jewel? Julia Conlon!" Jewel's gray gaze quickly looked up at the Lodging House. She saw the outline of her brother, leaning over the fire escape. "Wait here Jack. I'll be back. Please don't go." As she pattered off into the darkness, Jack slumped up against the wall of the alley. He couldn't believe even himself. He never thought that a love like this existed. He thought only fairy tale loves come this swiftly and suddenly. Here he was, just meeting her, and already a distinct thought had crossed his mind. Marriage. He wanted to marry her. Jack chuckled at himself, remembering his near disastrous relationship with his friend David's sister Sarah. "Well thank God, she sure as hell ain't no Sarah." Jack said with a smile.
"Psst! Kelly! Kelly!" Jack quickly ran and stood under the fire escape, where he could make out the form of the girl, her blonde hair falling gracefully over her shoulders. "I cain't stay out much longa, Spot'll git ansy, but I wanted ta ask ya sometin'." Jewel whispered as loud as possible. "Anytin' fer you me lady." Jack called up with a smile. "If ya really love me, den jest say da woid by temorra an' we'll git ourselves married." Jack stopped short, his smile frozen on his cheeks.
We must be meant ta be. She read my mind. What a goil. Jack thought.
"But, if ya don't want ta, I won't hold it against ya. Jest don't be surprised ta read in da papes dat a goil drowned herself at da Brooklyn Bridge." Jack chuckled and ran his hands through his hair, glancing up as Jewel disappeared again.
He started to walk away, thinking as he did. Him? Married? He, Jack Kelly? It didn't seem possible for him to even imagine marriage. The boys would be so surprised. Jack halted. But no, they couldn't know. Ever. If they ever found out that he was married to the sister of Brooklyn and the word got out, it would be disastrous. He could get killed. That would leave Jewel all alone. No, he could tell no one. "Hey Kelly! Where do ya tink yer goin'? Doncha have betta mannas dan ta walk out on a lady while she's speakin'?"
Jack hurried back to the spot and grinned up at her. "Dats betta. Now, when should I send me boy to ya?" Jack pondered the thought a moment. "How 'bout nine o'clock? At da alley behind da Greeley statue. I'll be waitin' fer him." Jewel smiled. "It'll seem like an eternity, but dat'll hafta do. See ya Cowboy." She said sweetly. "How'd ya know me Newsie name. I tought you Brooklyn kids jest cursed us, ya know?" Jack said with a smile. Jewel laughed much to Jack's appreciation. "I jest know. I ain't dumb Cowboy. Good-night. Hopefully I'll see ya temorra." Jewel said with a smile as she crept back inside the Lodging House. "Good-night lady. Till temorra den." Jack said blowing a kiss up to the fire escape, praying that it reached the blushing cheek of the one he loved.
Jack walked down the dirty city streets alone, smoking a cigarette and thinking over the night's events. He couldn't get her out of her mind. Her fair hair, her twinkling eyes, her sweet kiss. And her the sister of Brooklyn! It was all too much to bear. It was too much to think about. Then he stopped cold. He knew what he'd do. Long before when he and Spot had been good enough friends to bond for the Newsies strike, he had been to Spot's domains. If she was Spot's sister, he would find her there. Struck by this inspiration, Jack began to walk quicker, then began to run as the sounds of voices infiltrated the darkness.
"Cowboy! Cowboy! Where are ya?" Kid Blink called, scanning his surroundings with his one good eye. "Look Blink, he's probably back at da Lodgin' House in BED! Which is frankly where I'd like ta be if ya don't mind!" Racetrack mumbled, attempting to leave Kid Blink. "Don't go Race! YOU call him! He'll listen to you!" Kid Blink said, grabbing Racetrack before he got away. Racetrack rolled his eyes. "Fine, but I'll do more dan call him. I'll scream fer him!" Racetrack said, setting his lips determinedly. "HEY COWBOY! YOU OVA HERE! OR ANY WHERE, OR OVA DERE? HEY LISTEN! IT'S TIME TA COME HOME NOW! SO, OKAY, I SUMMON YA BY, um, CUPID! YEAH CUPID! 'MEMBA DAT ANGEL WHO'S CAUSED YA SO MUCH DREADFUL PAIN?" Racetrack mocked as Kid Blink chuckled in his hands.
"I CALL FER YA ON ROSIE'S PRETTY CHEEKS, AN' HER FIERY RED HAIR, an' um, HER SWEET LIPS DAT YA LONG TA KISS!!! How was dat Blink?" Racetrack asked. "Good, but he ain't comin' out." Blink said, scratching his head. "Well I'll tell ya one ting. I'm tired of shoutin'. My throat is all hoarse an' I need it ta urge me lucky hawse on!" Racetrack said with resolution as he walked away. "Awww, but Race!" Kid Blink protested as he ran after his friend. "Don't 'but Race' me! I'se gots ta git SOME sleep! Even if Cowboy don't! I ain't his keepa!" Racetrack said, ignoring Kid Blink's urgings to turn back.
It didn't take long for Jack to find the Brooklyn Lodging House. He snuck around the back and looked for a way inside that didn't have him crossing right in front of Spot's nose. But as he looked, he heard a voice coming from the nearby alley. He stopped still, fearing one of Spot's boys, but relaxed as he heard the feminine tone with which it spoke. One glance told Jack all he needed to know. It was the one that he seeked. He snuck along the alley behind her, listening to her words. "It ain't fair. It really ain't. Of all da boys I hafta finally fall in love wit' I hafta fall in love wit' Jack Kelly. Da leada of Manhattan! I mean, I'm basically tellin' me own brudda ta kick me out! But den again, if he weren't Jack. If he would change who he is, maybe disguise himself somehow, I could trick Spot!" Jack smiled and watched Jewel stop in confusion in the alleyway.
"But no. Den he would be false. Dat ain't da way he is. It's only his name dat is my enemy. I really don't hate anybody, 'cept Pairs." Jewel said with a chuckle, resuming walking again. "Even if Jack had anotha name, he would still be Jack Kelly. Dere's no way around it. But it would help if he wasn't." Jewel said with a sigh. "Den dats all well an' good! I kin be anyone ya want!" Jewel started as Jack jumped out of the alley into her line of vision. "Jest say da woid sweetie, an' I'll neva be Jack Kelly again!" Jack said with a smile. "What kinda guy are ya? Listenin' in on me thoughts!" Jewel protested, squinting to see Jack's face in the dim moonlight.
"Well it ain't a name I'm proud of, 'cause you ain't proud of it. So really sweetie, I don't know how ta say it. Ya know?" Jack said softly. Jewel gazed at him in wonder as she realized his identity. "I've barely met ya, but I know ya. Yer Jack Kelly, ain't ya?" Jewel asked sadly. "Nope. I ain't. Not if ya don't want me ta be." Jack said, grinning once more. "How'd ya git here an' find me? I mean, well, who'd ya bribe? Did Tinka tell ya? 'Cause if he did," Jewel started angrily. "No one told me where ya was lady. I jest followed some obvious signs." Jewel cocked her head, waiting for more. "I knew dat unfortunately ya was Spot's sista right? So, if ya were his sista, most likely ya'd stay wid him, right? So I came hea an' was sneakin' around lookin' fer a way ta git in when I found ya's luckily." Jack said.
Jewel was silent, and when she spoke again, her hand was on the boy's smooth face. "Ya must care a great deal ta come an' find me like dis, when yer in so much danga." She said softly. Jack nodded. "It's only 'cause me heart won't let me alone uddawise ya know? I mean, I coulda left ya alone, but I dunno. I woulda gone crazy anyway." Jewel smiled. "An' plus, it ain't dat I care." Jewel raised her head suddenly. "It's dat I love ya." He finished quietly. Jewel's face reddened and she dropped her head. "Swear it." Jack grinned. He knew that what he was doing seemed rash, swearing his love to a girl he barely knew, but still loved. At this point he would have run head on with Spot if she had so told him to do, therefore he settled for her request. "Okay, I swear it." Jewel's gray eyes flitted up to his own brown ones, making his heart pump faster and faster. "Do ya really mean it?" She asked quietly. "I really mean it. I would neva have said it if I didn't mean it. Let it neva be said dat da leada of Manhattan don't keep his woid." Jack said, his finger touching her cheek gently.
Jewel seemed to flinch at the name of the district, realizing her sin that she was committing against her brother. Her brother ruled all of her, but he could not, and would never rule her heart, this she decided in one swift moment. "Jewel! Jewel where are ya's? Jewel? Julia Conlon!" Jewel's gray gaze quickly looked up at the Lodging House. She saw the outline of her brother, leaning over the fire escape. "Wait here Jack. I'll be back. Please don't go." As she pattered off into the darkness, Jack slumped up against the wall of the alley. He couldn't believe even himself. He never thought that a love like this existed. He thought only fairy tale loves come this swiftly and suddenly. Here he was, just meeting her, and already a distinct thought had crossed his mind. Marriage. He wanted to marry her. Jack chuckled at himself, remembering his near disastrous relationship with his friend David's sister Sarah. "Well thank God, she sure as hell ain't no Sarah." Jack said with a smile.
"Psst! Kelly! Kelly!" Jack quickly ran and stood under the fire escape, where he could make out the form of the girl, her blonde hair falling gracefully over her shoulders. "I cain't stay out much longa, Spot'll git ansy, but I wanted ta ask ya sometin'." Jewel whispered as loud as possible. "Anytin' fer you me lady." Jack called up with a smile. "If ya really love me, den jest say da woid by temorra an' we'll git ourselves married." Jack stopped short, his smile frozen on his cheeks.
We must be meant ta be. She read my mind. What a goil. Jack thought.
"But, if ya don't want ta, I won't hold it against ya. Jest don't be surprised ta read in da papes dat a goil drowned herself at da Brooklyn Bridge." Jack chuckled and ran his hands through his hair, glancing up as Jewel disappeared again.
He started to walk away, thinking as he did. Him? Married? He, Jack Kelly? It didn't seem possible for him to even imagine marriage. The boys would be so surprised. Jack halted. But no, they couldn't know. Ever. If they ever found out that he was married to the sister of Brooklyn and the word got out, it would be disastrous. He could get killed. That would leave Jewel all alone. No, he could tell no one. "Hey Kelly! Where do ya tink yer goin'? Doncha have betta mannas dan ta walk out on a lady while she's speakin'?"
Jack hurried back to the spot and grinned up at her. "Dats betta. Now, when should I send me boy to ya?" Jack pondered the thought a moment. "How 'bout nine o'clock? At da alley behind da Greeley statue. I'll be waitin' fer him." Jewel smiled. "It'll seem like an eternity, but dat'll hafta do. See ya Cowboy." She said sweetly. "How'd ya know me Newsie name. I tought you Brooklyn kids jest cursed us, ya know?" Jack said with a smile. Jewel laughed much to Jack's appreciation. "I jest know. I ain't dumb Cowboy. Good-night. Hopefully I'll see ya temorra." Jewel said with a smile as she crept back inside the Lodging House. "Good-night lady. Till temorra den." Jack said blowing a kiss up to the fire escape, praying that it reached the blushing cheek of the one he loved.