Ch 2

Jack Kelly's affable knack for getting into, but more, getting out of trouble was that of legend among the street kids. He was a hero to many of them, the strike he and his newsie friends waged against the upper class posh of New York having been the high point of many of their generally dark, dreary and hard working lives. There were those who would've rather seen him ride of into the sun set, a seemingly romantic and dashing goodbye to the man who helped them taste a bit of justice. Yes to them, it would've been far more dramatic if he were never to be seen again. But those who knew him, the real him, if anybody actually new the real from the falsified glamour he created with his words and charisma, were overjoyed when he returned to them. They loved their Cowboy after all, even his faults, all of them…and there were many.

Jono smiled as he stared at the legend known as Jack Kelly. If only they could see him now, curled up in bed with his thumb in his mouth and drool dripping onto this pillow. Jono wondered how he should wake the sleeping prince of newsie strike stardom up and decided on the way that would amuse him most. He slapped him…right on his sleeping rump.

"JESUS!" Jack cried out, jumping up in bed, swinging to hit the mystery intruder.

"Shhh!" rang out through the room and Jono began chuckling silently.

Jack glared at him as he rubbed his stinging "cheek", "Well…I'm awake…" He said irritably.

Jonothan grinned, "You're so dreamy and charming when ya first wake up, Jack."

Jack shook his head, "I'm going to kill you…you know that right?"

Jono shrugged, "Well worth it…"

"What brings ya here at…what the hell time is it?! You do know I hafta get up early and sell don't'chu?"

Jono nodded and his face went serious, "I know, I'm sorry, Jack. It's just…I…we need your help."

Jack's eyebrows rose, "And you thought slappin' me in the ass was the best wa ta start of this conversation?"

"Well…no…but it was the most amusing…"

Jack rolled his eyes, "You ain't funny Jono…you think you are…but you're mistaken…Now what do ya need my help for?"

"It's the orphanage, they found people to adopt us--"

"Well that's great!" Jack exclaimed, interrupting him.

"Shhhh!" and "Shut up, Kelly!" Could be heard from a few in the room, but most slept through it.

"No…no…they found to separate couples to adopt us…they're trying to split us up, Jack. That can't happen. Jassy would be lost without me."

Jack nodded slowly, "I gotcha…you want ta stay here, huh?"

Jono nodded.

"I'm sure it'd be fine, but ya gotta ask Mr. Kloppman."

Jono nodded, "Thanks Jack. Can we stay here til' morning?"

Jack nodded, "Yeah, where's yer sister?"

"She's waiting outside."

"Alright, go get 'er and you can take the extra bunk over dere." Jack said pointing to an empty bunk bed in the corner, "Kid Blink and Mush are in Brooklyn visiting Glorianna."

"Thanks, Jack."

"Now I'm goin' back ta sleep."

Jono went back down the stairs to where Jassy was waiting, "Sorry it took so long, sis."

"I was scared."

"I know, I'm sorry," He said, hugging her, "Come on, Jack agreed to let us stay the night, then we talk to Kloppman to see if we can stay permanently."

Jassy nodded and followed her brother up the stairs. She was nervous about staying in a room with a bunch of strange boys. They had kept her isolated at the orphanage will other girls who had terrible consequences from a traumatic incident. They thought they needed extra care. They were probably right, but Jassy had hated being treated differently.

They entered the room through the window and he lead her into the corner bunk. Her nose wrinkled at the smell of sweaty, sleeping boys but she ignored it and laid down in the bunk her brother indicated and fell into a peaceful sleep. As long as she and Jonothan were together she knew everything would be okay.

((hey, this is unrelated…but, anybody else think that David Moscow looks a lot like Kirk Cameron from Growing Pains?…))