Ch.11 Visitors
A familiar blonde haired blue-gray eyed boy peeked in at me. In utmost surprise I questioned my visitor, " Spot?" I didn't know why he was here; shouldn't he be in Brooklyn. He was looking at me with such concentration that he didn't hear me. I asked him again, " Spot, why are you here?" He blinked and said, " Well, ya must be okay if yer talking." " Hey, I asked you a question." I said slightly annoyed. " I was the one ta find ya, so its only natural that I see how yer doing?" Spot went on to tell me how he'd found me. He'd had some business and was on his way home, but felt tired and decided to just sleep in Manhattan. He remembered seeing something lying on the steps of the lodge. That was where he found me, he also took me inside the building too. I thanked profusely after learning that he had taken me off of the street. He shrugged and said, " Wasn't nothing." This whole time he had been constantly walking around the room, but finally chose to sit on my bed. He turned his head so he was looking at the wall and said, " We were all pretty worried about ya. Ya didn't look so good when I found ya. I thought ya were dead or somethin'." I had forgotten all about Double. " Is Double wanting to see me? Where is he? " I asked quickly. " Don't get yerself all worked up, he ain't here," was his reply. I buried my head in the pillow so that Spot couldn't see how disappointed I was. It didn't work because he said, " Hey, it ain't his fault. The Manhattan boys are busy soaking the scabbers down at Newspaper Alley. He'll come later I bet." The pain medication was wearing off and I had to end the visit. " Spot, I'm not feeling so good. Thanks for coming to see me, it's kinda boring here. Send Double to see me." He left with waving goodbye.
Later that day I had more visitors. In the afternoon, at least I think it was the afternoon, Jack, David and Copper walked in. The nurse had delivered some more medication so I was feeling a lot better when they came to talk. Copper sat in the corner chair and watched us talk. Many things had happened since this morning. Jack told me how they had soaked the scabbers and destroyed the newspapers. David wasn't pleased that they had beaten up the scabs, but had a fine time telling me how it was practically snowing newspapers outside the distribution office. I wished I could've been there. They had some bad news to tell me also. The Delancy brothers had soaked one of the newsies and put him in the Refuge. The boy's name was Crutchy. I didn't know who the Delancys were or what the Refuge was, so they had to explain. The Delancy brothers are mean scabs who like to soak people for fun, and the Refuge is a jail for kids. Jack spoke of his plans to free Crutchy from the Refuge that night. I hoped that they were successful. Jack and David didn't stay long, because they had to get ready for the escape. I expected Copper to go with them but he stayed. I was curious why he came and didn't say anything. The entire time he'd been here all he'd done was stare at me. Copper was making me nervous. " Heya Copper, how's it rolling?" I said trying to lighten the heavy mood. I decided to stare right back at him to see how he liked being watched. After a minute of intense staring I noticed that he had the biggest green eyes that I had ever seen. I broke the silence by saying, " What are you staring at me for? Why don't you say anything?" Copper stood up out of the chair and walked over my bed. Gazing down at me he said, " I been trying to think of somethin' ta say, alright? I'm glad ta see yer doing fine." He picked up his hand and patted my head. I knew, right then, that he was the one who had comforted last night. " Thanks Copper for helping me last night", I whispered to him. He bent down and kissed my forehead then ran from the hospital room. The experience both confused me and wore me out. It wasn't however an unpleasant experience. I was beginning to like Copper. A huge yawn escaped my lips, and I knew that my nurse must have given me something else besides just pain medicine. I leaned my head back into the pillow and let sleep claim me.