Ch.9 Catching Up
Spot looked at the both of us and said, " I see ya found what I wanted ta talk ta ya about." I thought I had never been happier in my life. I made a great big whoop then ran over to Spot and gave him a hug too. I tried to keep my voice quiet, but couldn't and yelled out, " Thank you, thank you, thank you for find my brother!" I then realized that I was practically squeezing him to death, and quickly let go. I mumbled an ashamed, " I'm sorry." I heard him laugh and say, " Hey its alright, its not everyday someone thanks me like that." I could feel my cheeks turning red, and I'll bet he knew just how embarrassed I was. I ignored him and everyone else who was laughing and begged my brother to come back with me to Manhattan. At first he didn't want to because he liked working in Brooklyn. I convinced him to just come for a visit and that he could always go back. He finally agreed, and the four of us said our good-byes to the Brooklyn newsies.
" James, you can't call me Molly any more. I'm Fury now", I explained to him. We were walking together quite some distance behind Jack and David. They decided that it would be best if were left alone to catch up. James just gave me a look that meant I can call you anything I want. I told him my story starting with getting lost at the station to my being the first girl newsie. He told me how frantic he'd been when we were separated on the train and about the hours he looked for me at the station. James left the station before I did and wandered the streets of Manhattan wondering what to do. On his second day in the city, he stole some food was almost caught by the Bulls. In his attempt to escape from them he got hopelessly lost and walked in different directions until he reached Brooklyn. James had been idly walking down a certain street not particularly looking where he was going and bumped right into Spot. The whole time he was telling me his story I kept thinking how incredibly lucky we were, that everything happened as it did. Spot offered him a job as a newsie and James took it. Later he found out that he was given the job because he looked so much like me. That's how James got his new name, Double, because he was my spittin' image. I asked him if he liked his new name and to my relief he did.
At first it was hard for us to call each other by our new names but soon the old ones were almost forgotten. Double and I had talked almost the entire way back and my throat was sore from it. We soon caught up with Jack and David; it was about time that they had a formal introduction to my twin. " If you didn't already guess this is my brother, Double. He's a Brooklyn newsie. Is it okay if he sells with me for a few days?" I asked Jack. " Sure, it'll be fine. He can stay at the lodge or where ever you sleep." Jack answered. This brought the conversation back around the subject of where I was sleeping. I didn't know why they were so concerned. Then Double wanted to know too, and if there is anything I can't do its lie to my brother. I couldn't stay at the lodge it was full of boys and the very idea of me staying with them was so improper. The other reason that I avoided the question was the fact that I detest charity out of pity. If I told them they would try to help me and I wanted to make it by myself. The three boys left me out of their next conversation, and I relieved to be out of the spotlight ran ahead of them.
It was late evening when we returned home. David had to leave us quickly; he was afraid he'd get in trouble for staying out so late. Jack had persuaded Double to come spend the night at the lodging house so he could meet the rest of the boys. I felt a twinge of jealously for I wanted to meet them too. At the door of the lodge I left them to find somewhere to sleep. To add to my mounting problem a gentle rain began to fall. I settled down in a covered alleyway, preparing to make things as comfortable as I could. Resting against a wall I thought I saw a flicker of movement in shadows at the back of the alley. I was just beginning to nod off when a hand clamped down hard on my mouth. An arm went around my waist and hoisted me to my feet.