They didn't have to look far. Spot had begun teaching Becca and Rachel the basics of poker (AN: we start them so young:) and while they had just started Spot said they would make excellent poker players one day, if they ever got poker faces. Kit called Spot over before they left.
"What's up?" Spot asked as he came up.
"I am not sure I can sell this afternoon." Kit looked down at her shaking hands. "I just need to rest. Do you think you can take Jessie and her sisters out?"
Spot looked at Kit worried, "Youse okay? Wes don't need to sell today."
"I just need to be alone, sell and keep teaching Jessie. I'll just come back her after lunch." Kit shrugged as she spoke. "I'll be fine. I'm a bit tired. A nap will do me some good."
"Well if youse sure. Wes walk youse back before wes head out. That okay?"
"Yeah that would be great." Kit's voice was full of relief, she was worrying about the walk back on her own. Not wanting to worry anyone Kit pasted on a smile and quipped. "Now I can clean up this pig sty you say is a washroom and a bunkroom."
Spot grinned, "Well if youse really want to, Ise ain't gonna stop youse. Ise knew bringing youse here was a good idea."
Kit pushed him lightly, "That's what youse think maybe I'll just hide everyone's clothes."
"Only if youse don't mind seeing a bunch of naked newsies."
Kit pretended to think about it, "Maybe I'll just hide yours. Yelk never mind maybe I'll just nap."
Spot laughed at the face she made and pretended to be hurt, "Ise thought youse liked me."
Kit smiled, "I do but there is still Jessie and her sisters around, we don't need to scar them for life."
"Wes better go, Jessie is taking care of those two monsters along with her sisters."
"They ain't monsters." Spot gave Kit a skeptical look, "Okay they ain't always monsters."
"Whose ain't monsters?" Jolly spoke hearing the end of their conversation as they walked up.
"Um the bulls." Kit choked out.
"Nah they is monsters Come on Vinny might be sold out."
They walked up and Bait spoke to the sausage seller. "Hey Vinny can Ise get lets see seven sausages and 4 with sauerkraut, Jessie how youse like your sausages?" Bait called over his shoulder.
"Plain" Jessie wasn't sure how she liked them but sauerkraut sounded nasty.
"I heard la muchacha*. So Srta* Kit when you going to leave this fugitivo* and come be mi esposa*?" The stout Spaniard asked as he had everyday.
"Now Vinny your current wife would be angry if she heard this. I already have a boyfriend." Kit bantered back threading her arm through Spot's. Vinny laughed as he handed out the food to the children and young adults.
They walked back to the lodging house to eat before Kit spoke. "Inny I ain't going to sell this afternoon. Spot can show you the ropes tonight." Kit spoke after her first bite as they sat on the stairs of the lodging house.
Jessie looked up from where she was breaking up Rachel's sausage. "We can stay here."
"No go sell, I am just going to take a nap." Kit said she needed some time alone to cry and she didn't want to explain her tears.
"Yeah Inny, Ise sure you need the money anyway, plus youse sisters need some time outside, youse all too pale." Spot spoke backing Kit up.
Jessie was reluctant but Spot's points were true. She finally agreed and after they finished their meal and left leaving Kit to entertain herself.
Kit went inside quickly, calling out to Kosei, "Kosei I am going up to the roof."
"Okay Kit, be careful."
"Will do father."
"Watch it Ise can always raise youse rent."
"Sure I'm leaving now." Kit quickly sprinted up the stairs and grabbed her notebook and pencil before heading up to the roof to think and write.
As she sat on the roof thoughts and images from Chairs attack and Baltimore came at her in an assault, her memories poured into the conscious mind and it was all she could do not to scream. The tears came in gigantic sobs. Her nose ran as she cried herself dry. Then through sniffle she began to write. The scribblings flew from her pencil and she only stopped to sharpen it. She wrote about her feelings and fears, what had happened and what her fears were about what could have happened. More tears came and she didn't even stop to wipe them away. She didn't stop for dinner and stayed on the roof long after the sun went down.
When the sun had set Kit laid back staring into the sky watching the stars come out. Her thoughts became less jumbled she worked through as much as she could on her own. Someone coming up the fire escape interrupted her thoughts.
"Kit youse still up here?" Spots head popped up over the edge of the roof. "Hey youse okay?"
Kit rubbed at her eyes to erase the tear tracks and whipped her nose. "Yeah I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Well considering youse been up here since 2 and it is almost 10. Kosei said youse didn't come down to eat. Youse hungry?" Spot sat down as he spoke.
"Well, it's 10?" Kit tried to change the subject.
"Yes but Ise wondering if youse hungry? Ise got a roll and some other stuff in the bunk room."
"I guess, can you pass me my book and pencil?" Kit looked around for the stuff she brought up. Spot gave them to her, then helped her stand up. The change in position made Kit a bit light headed. Spot helped her stand until she moved away and began to go back to the bunkroom. The first place Kit went was the washroom to wash her face and cool off her skin.
Kit walked out into the main room ten minutes later and was content to just watch the guys interact with each other. The rough housing and goofing off that was a normal part of the routine faded into the back ground as Kit found herself focusing on the newsies who she had made friends with in the past couple of months.
Rounder and Falcon were shooting craps while Bait, Jolly and the little girls looked on. They seems to be explain the rules and each kid had chosen their favorite newsie to support. Jessie was sitting on someone's bed reading Oliver Twist, which Kit had just picked up a couple of weeks earlier. Spot, Shuffles, Sticks and Park Street were all playing poker. While Spot had said something about food earlier it seemed he was too busy to even tell her where it was.
She walked up behind him and after catching the other's attention signaled for them not to say anything. Spot's attention was focused on his card and he didn't seem to notice Kit's approach. She quietly kneeled down and blew gently on his ear. Spot swatted at what he thought was a fly. Kit did it again, causing Spot to scowl and swat yet again. Kit stood up then and stayed behind Spot looking at his cards. No one acted as if they noticed her and Spot was none the wiser. She watched a couple of hands waiting for him to notice her. Finally he sat down and poked him. "Feed me."
Spot turned to see who had dared to interrupt him. When he saw it was Kit his face lost the threatening look as he went back to finish off his hand. He then went up and grabbed a roll and gave it to Kit as he sat back down. Kit leaned her head on his shoulder and watched the game. Park Street was new and thought he could get a heads up on Spot's hand by watching Kit. But he soon learned her poker face was just as good, if not better than, Spot's.
Even as she began to fall asleep her poker face stayed in place. Her head slipped from Spot's shoulder to his lap as the night wound down. The poker game went on late into the night, as it was a Saturday and Sunday papers didn't sell till the afternoon anyway. Around 2 Spot broke up the game and spoke to Kit to wake her. "Hey Kit, youse gonna have a stiff neck if youse don't get into bed."
Kit roused and was awake enough for Spot to lead into her room and seeing that Jessie had already taken the top bunk, he led Kit to the cot and guided her to lay down. He was tempted to crawl in bed with Kit, but figured Jessie wouldn't like that and took himself to his own bed. As he fell asleep he remembered he hadn't told Kit the headline "President Takes Turn for worse." He figured he could tell her in the morning and soon was fast asleep.
Translations:
Muchacha - Girl
Srta - Miss
Fugitivo - Runaway
Mi esposa - My wife
And yes Oliver Twist was definitely written by this time, Dickens died in 1870.
"What's up?" Spot asked as he came up.
"I am not sure I can sell this afternoon." Kit looked down at her shaking hands. "I just need to rest. Do you think you can take Jessie and her sisters out?"
Spot looked at Kit worried, "Youse okay? Wes don't need to sell today."
"I just need to be alone, sell and keep teaching Jessie. I'll just come back her after lunch." Kit shrugged as she spoke. "I'll be fine. I'm a bit tired. A nap will do me some good."
"Well if youse sure. Wes walk youse back before wes head out. That okay?"
"Yeah that would be great." Kit's voice was full of relief, she was worrying about the walk back on her own. Not wanting to worry anyone Kit pasted on a smile and quipped. "Now I can clean up this pig sty you say is a washroom and a bunkroom."
Spot grinned, "Well if youse really want to, Ise ain't gonna stop youse. Ise knew bringing youse here was a good idea."
Kit pushed him lightly, "That's what youse think maybe I'll just hide everyone's clothes."
"Only if youse don't mind seeing a bunch of naked newsies."
Kit pretended to think about it, "Maybe I'll just hide yours. Yelk never mind maybe I'll just nap."
Spot laughed at the face she made and pretended to be hurt, "Ise thought youse liked me."
Kit smiled, "I do but there is still Jessie and her sisters around, we don't need to scar them for life."
"Wes better go, Jessie is taking care of those two monsters along with her sisters."
"They ain't monsters." Spot gave Kit a skeptical look, "Okay they ain't always monsters."
"Whose ain't monsters?" Jolly spoke hearing the end of their conversation as they walked up.
"Um the bulls." Kit choked out.
"Nah they is monsters Come on Vinny might be sold out."
They walked up and Bait spoke to the sausage seller. "Hey Vinny can Ise get lets see seven sausages and 4 with sauerkraut, Jessie how youse like your sausages?" Bait called over his shoulder.
"Plain" Jessie wasn't sure how she liked them but sauerkraut sounded nasty.
"I heard la muchacha*. So Srta* Kit when you going to leave this fugitivo* and come be mi esposa*?" The stout Spaniard asked as he had everyday.
"Now Vinny your current wife would be angry if she heard this. I already have a boyfriend." Kit bantered back threading her arm through Spot's. Vinny laughed as he handed out the food to the children and young adults.
They walked back to the lodging house to eat before Kit spoke. "Inny I ain't going to sell this afternoon. Spot can show you the ropes tonight." Kit spoke after her first bite as they sat on the stairs of the lodging house.
Jessie looked up from where she was breaking up Rachel's sausage. "We can stay here."
"No go sell, I am just going to take a nap." Kit said she needed some time alone to cry and she didn't want to explain her tears.
"Yeah Inny, Ise sure you need the money anyway, plus youse sisters need some time outside, youse all too pale." Spot spoke backing Kit up.
Jessie was reluctant but Spot's points were true. She finally agreed and after they finished their meal and left leaving Kit to entertain herself.
Kit went inside quickly, calling out to Kosei, "Kosei I am going up to the roof."
"Okay Kit, be careful."
"Will do father."
"Watch it Ise can always raise youse rent."
"Sure I'm leaving now." Kit quickly sprinted up the stairs and grabbed her notebook and pencil before heading up to the roof to think and write.
As she sat on the roof thoughts and images from Chairs attack and Baltimore came at her in an assault, her memories poured into the conscious mind and it was all she could do not to scream. The tears came in gigantic sobs. Her nose ran as she cried herself dry. Then through sniffle she began to write. The scribblings flew from her pencil and she only stopped to sharpen it. She wrote about her feelings and fears, what had happened and what her fears were about what could have happened. More tears came and she didn't even stop to wipe them away. She didn't stop for dinner and stayed on the roof long after the sun went down.
When the sun had set Kit laid back staring into the sky watching the stars come out. Her thoughts became less jumbled she worked through as much as she could on her own. Someone coming up the fire escape interrupted her thoughts.
"Kit youse still up here?" Spots head popped up over the edge of the roof. "Hey youse okay?"
Kit rubbed at her eyes to erase the tear tracks and whipped her nose. "Yeah I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Well considering youse been up here since 2 and it is almost 10. Kosei said youse didn't come down to eat. Youse hungry?" Spot sat down as he spoke.
"Well, it's 10?" Kit tried to change the subject.
"Yes but Ise wondering if youse hungry? Ise got a roll and some other stuff in the bunk room."
"I guess, can you pass me my book and pencil?" Kit looked around for the stuff she brought up. Spot gave them to her, then helped her stand up. The change in position made Kit a bit light headed. Spot helped her stand until she moved away and began to go back to the bunkroom. The first place Kit went was the washroom to wash her face and cool off her skin.
Kit walked out into the main room ten minutes later and was content to just watch the guys interact with each other. The rough housing and goofing off that was a normal part of the routine faded into the back ground as Kit found herself focusing on the newsies who she had made friends with in the past couple of months.
Rounder and Falcon were shooting craps while Bait, Jolly and the little girls looked on. They seems to be explain the rules and each kid had chosen their favorite newsie to support. Jessie was sitting on someone's bed reading Oliver Twist, which Kit had just picked up a couple of weeks earlier. Spot, Shuffles, Sticks and Park Street were all playing poker. While Spot had said something about food earlier it seemed he was too busy to even tell her where it was.
She walked up behind him and after catching the other's attention signaled for them not to say anything. Spot's attention was focused on his card and he didn't seem to notice Kit's approach. She quietly kneeled down and blew gently on his ear. Spot swatted at what he thought was a fly. Kit did it again, causing Spot to scowl and swat yet again. Kit stood up then and stayed behind Spot looking at his cards. No one acted as if they noticed her and Spot was none the wiser. She watched a couple of hands waiting for him to notice her. Finally he sat down and poked him. "Feed me."
Spot turned to see who had dared to interrupt him. When he saw it was Kit his face lost the threatening look as he went back to finish off his hand. He then went up and grabbed a roll and gave it to Kit as he sat back down. Kit leaned her head on his shoulder and watched the game. Park Street was new and thought he could get a heads up on Spot's hand by watching Kit. But he soon learned her poker face was just as good, if not better than, Spot's.
Even as she began to fall asleep her poker face stayed in place. Her head slipped from Spot's shoulder to his lap as the night wound down. The poker game went on late into the night, as it was a Saturday and Sunday papers didn't sell till the afternoon anyway. Around 2 Spot broke up the game and spoke to Kit to wake her. "Hey Kit, youse gonna have a stiff neck if youse don't get into bed."
Kit roused and was awake enough for Spot to lead into her room and seeing that Jessie had already taken the top bunk, he led Kit to the cot and guided her to lay down. He was tempted to crawl in bed with Kit, but figured Jessie wouldn't like that and took himself to his own bed. As he fell asleep he remembered he hadn't told Kit the headline "President Takes Turn for worse." He figured he could tell her in the morning and soon was fast asleep.
Translations:
Muchacha - Girl
Srta - Miss
Fugitivo - Runaway
Mi esposa - My wife
And yes Oliver Twist was definitely written by this time, Dickens died in 1870.