Ch.14 Finding Smudge
I thought about our conversation as I ran towards the Alley. He had some good reasons for avoiding me after I was out of the hospital, but what about while I was in the hospital. My anger was at him was less but not completely gone. He still should have come to talk to me, but at least he told me his secret. I got there just after the talk was over. Davey was trying to keep people calm and doing his best to prevent them from soaking the scabs. When Jack yelled out, " Let's soak em for Crutchy", the newsies went crazy. It was like a big mob rushing towards the poor scabs with their papers. They turned and beat against the gates hoping that someone would let them in. The gates did open, and out stepped a gang of men with chains and clubs. Race yelled out, " It's a trick", trying to warn us. Copper barreled into me yelling at me to get out. I pushed people trying to get to the exit but it was impossible. The gates to the Alley were shutting and I was locked inside. I made my way to a side wall trying to get out of the main action. The alley had become a war zone and I was in no condition to fight. Copper stayed by me punching and kicking men who came too close to us. He kept repeating, " You shouldn't be here. You're still recovering. You shouldn't be here." He was becoming annoying so I said, " Look, I can't exactly get out so quit saying that." Copper got the point. I must say that we made quite a team. He did most of the fighting, but if he got cornered or out numbered I would pitch in and help. We stayed like that, out of the way, until Brooklyn showed up. I saw Spot's gang pop up on the roofs of the surrounding buildings. Then Spot appeared saying, " Never fear Brooklyn is here." That was the turning point in the "war." Copper was standing by me ready for any attack when I saw something that shocked me.
In the midst of all the fighting and flying stones from Brooklyn's slingshots I saw a small boy. He looked about four years old, because he was so small. The kid had hair so black that there was almost a blue shine to it. He was going to get killed out there. I wondered how he'd gotten there and knew that he couldn't stay where he was. In a moment's split decision I abandoned Copper and my safety to save the boy. I ran into the mass of fighting boys stopping only to snatch up the little boy. With the boy in my arms I fought my way back to Copper. I think I startled the boy into a state of shock because he didn't object to being carried by a strange girl. The kid made it harder to run which made it all the easier for some goon to give me a vicious blow to my side with his club. I screamed and almost dropped the kid, but Copper came to my rescue. I don't think I've ever seen Copper that mad, and I certainly hope that he never becomes that angry at me. He attacked the goon that hit me and soaked him proper. I carried the kid as far away from the fighting as I could. I set him down, and noticed for the first time that he was crying. I got down on eye level with him and said, " What's your name?" After much sniffling, he replied, " Me name's Smudge." I thought to myself," What an interesting name. I wonder if he's a newsie. He was awful young though." Smudge had a pale skin mostly covered with dirt and blue eyes. He was a cute kid. " Where's your parents?" He began to cry again. I hugged him and after a while the crying stopped. He eventually told me that he didn't think he had parents. He informed me that he was four and a half. I really didn't know what to do with him but he couldn't stay on the streets. He was only four, excuse me, four and a half years, old for crying out loud. " It'll be okay. You can come with me for right now and I will try to find you a new mommy and daddy." He smiled at me and put his small hand in mine. I prayed that I was doing the right thing.
By the time our talk was over so was most of the fighting. The Manhattan newsies together with Brooklyn's help had pushed the goons back behind the gates. They shut the gates on them. Wild cheering broke out; we had defeated the enemy. The big guys had to notice our cause now. Earlier in the fight, Brooklyn had opened the outer gates so now we were no longer trapped in the alley. Copper, Smudge and I walked back to the street where we met up with Les. The boy was terribly excited and could barely make out the important news. A newspaperman, by the name of Denton, had befriended Jack and David. He believed in our strike and was writing articles in his paper, The Sun, about us. He had invited the newsies to a local restaurant called Tibby's to celebrate. The nice man had even said all the lunches were on him. I grew excited about this because Smudge looked like he needed a good meal and to be honest so did I. The three of us followed Les to the restaurant. It had ceiling fans and real leather seats. Tibby's was the first restaurant I'd ever been too and by my account one of the best. I helped Smudge get dinner first making sure he ate all the right stuff. The poor child probably hadn't had milk in ages. I ate a sausage and bun combination that the boys referred to as hotdogs. After such a large meal Smudge fell asleep his head leaning against my arm. I spent my time listening to everyone talk, and Jack's further plans for the strike. He came up with the idea of a huge rally involving all the newsies in New York. The plan was to cause enough of a stink so that the other papers would have to right about our strike. The celebration was over by evening and Smudge and I headed back to the lodge. The boy needed a bath but he was so exhausted that I put him down to sleep in Double's bed. My brother wasn't going to need it just yet, and he could just share it for awhile. I prepared for bed myself but instead of sleeping I waited up for Double once again. It was close to midnight when Double creeped in. This time I didn't let him fall asleep. I leaned over the side and whispered, " Be careful! You better not wake up Smudge." He opened his mouth like he was going to complain or something but I glared at him. " You owe me and he needs a bed too." I told him. I wanted to catch Double off guard so I quickly whispered, " Where were you really when I was in the hospital?" He uttered a huge sigh muttering, "If you really want to know..." It was all I could do not to start shouting at him. " Of course I want to know" I said coldly. Double was in bed now and was trying very hard to fall asleep. I leaned over some more and poked harshly in the ribs. " Alright, alright. You got me. I was in the Refuge, okay!" He took his pillow and put it over his head. I knew he wouldn't say anymore to me tonight.
(A/N: My character Copper is in the movie Newsies. He is one of the dancers with no speaking parts. You can see him in the song Carrying the Banner. I thought he was cute and decided to make him a part of my story. Oh well, just thought it was cool to know.)