Ch. 3

Jassy awoke the next morning to the sound and sight of a bunch of bare chested boys getting dressed in a hurry. Scurrying about with their slicked back hair and sideways turned hats.

She turned and hid her head in the pillows, deeply embarrassed.

"Psst! Hey Jassy!" Jonothan was shaking her gently, "Wake up, we gotta go talk with Kloppman and I want to introduce you to the boys."

Jassy peaked up at him from beneath her bangs and nodded.

When she stood up all eyes were on her. She felt terribly nervous and squeezed and Jonothan's hand.

"Guys, this is my sister, Jassy. Jasmine." Jono gestured to her in a grandiose manner, with a bit of a bow, like she was someone really important and she blushed and waved at them shyly.

"Heya, Jassy. Da name is Jack Kelly and It's a pleasure to meet'cha." The Older looking boy said with a grin as he took of his hat. With his handsome smile and unruly hair he reminded her of Jono and she instantly trusted him.

"I've heard of you." She gestured.

Jack looked at her and nodded as if he knew exactly what she was saying, then glanced at Jono.

"She says heard of you."

Jack nodded, "Well, I hope it was all good things, Jassy."

Jack and Jono took her around and introduced her to the other boys. There were so many names she knew she wouldn't be able to keep them all straight. Afterwards they took her over to Kloppman.

He was the kindest old gentleman she'd ever seen and he agreed to allow Jono stay. He said he didn't know about a girl, however and asked if it were possible for her to stay somewhere else. Jono wouldn't hear of it and explained the whole situation to him. They had left the orphanage so they could stay together. Kloppman understood and said she could stay but if she were to stay she'd have to earn her keep working in the house and at the distribution center with him. Jassy readily agreed and spent the rest of the day with Kloppman. They communicated fairly easily using a pad of paper and a pen. Jassy had learned to read and write by her mother, who had been a teacher at a very high class school in New England before she had become a wife and mother.

Jassy was sweeping the stair case and had worked her way down to the last step when she heard someone's foot steps behind her. She swung around quickly, holding the broom in front of her in a defensive stance. The tallest young man she'd ever seen stood in front of her with a wide, gentle grin on his face. Her eyes widened at the size of him, he had to be at least six foot two or more and he was all muscle. Broad shoulders, strong, work ready arms and hands, and a firm jaw. He looked big, tough, and brutal, but his eyes were kind, gentle, full of warmth, glinting with blue brilliance, brought out by the blue shirt he was wearing, tucked into black pants which were held up by red suspenders. His thick, unruly black hair was peaking out from beneath the backwards cap that barely concealed it. Jassy was struck somewhere within and knew she would never recover from whatever it was.

"Good afta'noon, miss. The name is Benjamin, though most call me, Gospel the infamous Brooklyn newsie…well, dey don't call me da last part, I just added it on for effect." He grinned at her, looking for a response, but her face remained impassive, her eyes glued to his, and it was clear that she didn't quite understand the Brooklyn reference. He shrugged, his grin not fading a notch, "Well, uh…I'm just gonna wait around 'til Blink gets back if ya don't mind."

She nodded her head and continued sweeping slowly, her eyes discreetly following his movements as he jumped up to sit on the front desk.

"May I ask yer name?"

She shrugged at him and tapped her mouth and shook her head.

Gospel sighed, his grin fading, "Oh…sorry girl…well…What shall I call ya then? I guess girl will do."

She frowned and shook her head.

He chuckled, "You have somethin' against the species."

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

"Nah, just the name, is that right?"

She nodded quickly and placed the broom against a wall. Turning on her foot slowly she moved behind the counter Gospel was sitting at and pulled out a small black board and some chalk and wrote the word, "Jasmine".

"Jasmine, eh?"

She nodded.

"Dat's a lovely name for a lovely girl." Gospel said charmingly.

She shook her head and wrote, "Silly."

"So…what're you doin' heah anyway?"

"Hiding. Staying together. Brother and I." She wrote short clipped words.

"Who's ya brudder?"

"Jonothan. Jono." She smiled.

"Oh yeah…I've met da guy once 'er twice…who ya hidin' from?"

"Orphanage. We don't want to be split up."

He nodded, "Unda'standable. I don't think they'll come searchin' for ya, so no worries."

She nodded and wrote, "Thanks," then, "Back to work." And put the slate down and began sweeping again.

Gospel was a talkative fellow and could only quietly watch her sweet for so long before he began talking to her about seemingly random things, people he knew and current events. He spoke for quite a length about a girl named Glori, Kid Blink's sister and Jassy was under the impression that his appreciation for her went beyond just friendship. She felt something sink at the revelation, but didn't delve to deeply into it. Who was she kidding anyway? What would a handsome, friendly guy like her want in a thick boned, too tall boyish lump of a girl? She sighed and continued sweeping.

"So anyway," Gospel went on, "I come ta see Blink because Spot's decided he don't want Glori to build this great school so far away from Brooklyn…so he's stickin' to her side like glue and won't let'er out of his sight, he even went so far as sittin' outside of 'er room last night so she wouldn't leave. He's crazy or somethin'. So now they're fightin' constantly and I'm hopin' Blink and Jack can help out. Ya know yer really easy to talk to."

She smiled shyly and shrugged, Of course I'm easy to talk to she thought to herself bitterly, I can't interrupt.

Soon Jono, Blink, Mush, David, Les and Jack strode into the boarding house laughing and joking with each other. Jono went to Jassy and gave her a quick squeeze as Jack and the rest of the boys went to greet Gospel.

After some of the noise died down Gospel told them what was going on and the boys exchanged amused looks.

"Spot's really gone loopy over dat goil. Why is he actin' so strange?" Jack asked.

Gospel shrugged, "Well, I think it's less that he thinks he's right and more dat he just wants ta win dis particular argument."

"Plus…people do crazy things when they're in love." Jack said grinning.

"Yeah, you should know, Cowboy." Blink said grinning.

Jack shrugged and then said, "So, what're we goin' ta do? Go to Brooklyn, rescue Glori from da evil clutches of Spot, or what?
Gospel smiled, "I didn't mean dat, I just thought you guys should know what was goin' on."

Suddenly the door swung open and the most breathtakingly beautiful girl Jassy had ever seen came running in, thick blonde hair windblown and streaked across her face. She was out of breath and read with heat and anger, but she was still exquisitely beautiful. Crashing in from behind her was a thinner girl, very cute, with a straggly dishwater blonde braid down her back and ink stained fingertips.

"He's crazy!" The blonde gasped out angrily.

This has to be Glorianna. Jassy thought sadly, no wonder Benjamin is crazy about her.