Kit waited until the Brooklyn newsies had left to eat dinner before heading to the roof. As she climbed up on the roof she started talking "Alright you wanted me here, what's so important." She crossed her arms and looked at Cray expecting an answer.
Cray cleared his throat, "You ain't gonna like this one bit. Pop is dying. Mama sent Swan a telegram telling him that Pop is asking for all of us to come home. She wired us money and stuff to take the train. Swan got the tickets we're leaving on the 6 o'clock train tomorrow."
Kit stood with her back to Cray, as she turned she began yelling, "What do you mean WE'RE leaving tomorrow. He isn't my father I have no reason for going back to Nebraska. I have all the family and friends I need right here I am not going."
"You are going. He might not be your father but he is mine and he is your guardian. You are going even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming back to Manhattan."
"I am not going. I had enough of that man when he kicked me out of the house after accusing me of being a slut. I don't need to go back to that type of abuse."
"Ami, he wants to apologize."
Kit interrupted him, "I don't give a wit about what he wants to do. He hurt me, I am not going back to let him hurt me again. I took it every winter until we left. I told you when we left I was never going back and I am still not going back."
"Ami you don't have a choice. Wil would kill me and Swan if we left you here."
"You're scared of a 16 year old kid? I don't believe this. Wil knows why I left and he would rather have me here than back under the roof with that man."
"That man is my father and your uncle. He might not be a saint but he is your family. We are going to respect his wishes and all of us are going home. If you can get Mama and Wil to agree you can come back. But I am betting that will take a lot of convincing."
"I am not leaving Crale. I don't care what you say. You're right, Wil is never going to let his older sister go off on her own back to New York City to be a newsie. I am not giving him the chance to tell me I can't go. I will not be going back to Nebraska."
"Ami think about it, what is it going to look like to your friends. Your brother and your best friend leave you behind to fend for yourself in a city like this? I am not abandoning my family." Cray tried logic, but it backfired.
"The don't go. You don't like Syd any more than I do. You would rather stay here admit it. You don't want to be a farmer for the rest of your life."
"Ami I was born to be a farmer, I am stuck being a farmer. Nothing you say is going to change it. Pop is asking that we come so he can get forgiveness before he dies. I ain't gonna hold that back from him. And I ain't gonna let you do that either."
Kit crossed her arms. "Fine, I'll go but you have to promise you'll help make Rose and Wil see why I have to come back here. I never had friends besides you, Swan and Josh. Josh is gone and I ain't gonna stay in Nebraska with all those bad memories."
"Okay then get your stuff. We are meeting Swan and Mills at my apartment."
"What you said the train left at 6 tomorrow evening. Why can't I come in the afternoon?"
"Kit the train leaves at 6 in the morning. I don't trust you to get over to Manhattan and to the train yards before it leaves. Get your stuff together, I want to get over the Bridge before dusk." Cray stated as he started the climb down the fire escape. "You got 15 minutes Kit or I'll come and take you out myself over my shoulder."
"You jerk, I don't even get to say goodbye. They all went for dinner to give us some privacy." Kit began to cry.
"Then leave them a note. We are leaving and you aren't going to stall me." Cray hardened his features against her tears.
She had hit home when she said he didn't want to be a farmer. But if he was going to support himself and a family he needed way to do it, and while being a bouncer at Medda's was good money he didn't want to raise a family over the bars and brothels of downtown Manhattan. Farming would be a way to support a family plus he already knew how to do it. Cray wasn't going to admit it to the crying girl but he would rather leave her behind and face her brother's wrath than to take her along. But they still had appearances to keep and while Manhattan may know their secret Brooklyn wouldn't till after they were gone.
Kit packed her belongings into a case, it didn't take long and she still had some time left to write a note for her boys. She looked at Cray with pleading eyes but he held up his hands and said, "Ten minutes that's it." She wiped away tears and taking a pen and her notebook she began to write. The first note was to all the newsies.
iDear boys- I am sorry something has come up in Nebraska, I have to go back. I will do my best to keep in touch. And I want to come back. I love you all and you will always be my boys. Kit/i
The second note was harder to write:
iSpot, He is making me leave, I don't have a choice. You should know Cray and Swan are my cousins not my brother and my best friend. My uncle is dying and is asking that we all come. I will miss you more than I can say in a short note. I love you. Ami
P.S. I will be back./i
After addressing both notes she gathered up her belongings. "Can we go out the front door I want to tell Kosei good bye and make sure the boys get these." She wiped the tears from her eyes as she spoke.
"Fine." Cray answered looking over her head.
They walked solemnly down the stairs and over to Kosei's desk. "Kosei? I wanted to say good-bye, I am going back to Nebraska." Kit bit her lip to keep from crying.
"You want me to tell the boys?" Kosei said as he came around the counter and gave her a hug.
"No just give them the letters tomorrow. Tell them I went to Manhattan for the night. Just make sure Spot reads his first. I'll miss you Kosei."
"Miss you too Kit. Try to keep in touch."
"I'll try really hard."
"Kit come on they'll be back soon then we'll never get out of here." Cray said impatiently from the door.
"Bye Kosei, make sure they know I love them."
"Will do Kit, bye."
Cray and Kit walked down the street and out towards Manhattan not speaking. They didn't speak till they were over the Bridge and almost to the apartment. "I just walked away from the best part of my life. I hope you're happy." Kit said as she ran up the stairs to the apartment.
Cray looked at her retreating back, "I am not happy. Don't believe for a second I am happy."
The night was long and drawn out, Kit spent most of it on Cray's bed crying. Mills sat rubbing her back trying to calm down the other girl, but knowing it was useless. The men sat at the table drinking coffee and staring into space. It was a relief when they realized it was time to head for the train station.
Bryon walked them there, "Mills ya know I'll always be here if ya need me. Don't hesitate to send me a telegram or just come out."
"Bye Bryon, I wish you would come with."
"Can't Katie girl, I won't leave Medda in the lurch like that. Bye Bonnie Girl."
"Bye Blarney Man."
After the good-byes were said in the crisp morning air the four boarded the train and set off to the west. Leaving behind family and friends. Out to find what was in store for them out west.
BAlmost The End/B
I Josiahgirl passes out some tissues before taking one for herself. Before you bring out the axes and guns, there will be one more story, I even have the outline for the first chapter done. Now after saying that I have no clue when I will even start on the next story. I do have that first chapter in my head but getting around to the next one is going to be a bit hard, as I have no idea how to go about it. As for Kit's reaction to the President's death, I am hoping that in light of the events of 9-11 more of you can understand why she is acting the way she acts. I was hoping to use her as a picture of how some people react nation-shattering events, and McKinley's death was one such event. So please read and review and I am off to work more on the other two back stories and see if I can get that fourth story started. *waves*/I
Cray cleared his throat, "You ain't gonna like this one bit. Pop is dying. Mama sent Swan a telegram telling him that Pop is asking for all of us to come home. She wired us money and stuff to take the train. Swan got the tickets we're leaving on the 6 o'clock train tomorrow."
Kit stood with her back to Cray, as she turned she began yelling, "What do you mean WE'RE leaving tomorrow. He isn't my father I have no reason for going back to Nebraska. I have all the family and friends I need right here I am not going."
"You are going. He might not be your father but he is mine and he is your guardian. You are going even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming back to Manhattan."
"I am not going. I had enough of that man when he kicked me out of the house after accusing me of being a slut. I don't need to go back to that type of abuse."
"Ami, he wants to apologize."
Kit interrupted him, "I don't give a wit about what he wants to do. He hurt me, I am not going back to let him hurt me again. I took it every winter until we left. I told you when we left I was never going back and I am still not going back."
"Ami you don't have a choice. Wil would kill me and Swan if we left you here."
"You're scared of a 16 year old kid? I don't believe this. Wil knows why I left and he would rather have me here than back under the roof with that man."
"That man is my father and your uncle. He might not be a saint but he is your family. We are going to respect his wishes and all of us are going home. If you can get Mama and Wil to agree you can come back. But I am betting that will take a lot of convincing."
"I am not leaving Crale. I don't care what you say. You're right, Wil is never going to let his older sister go off on her own back to New York City to be a newsie. I am not giving him the chance to tell me I can't go. I will not be going back to Nebraska."
"Ami think about it, what is it going to look like to your friends. Your brother and your best friend leave you behind to fend for yourself in a city like this? I am not abandoning my family." Cray tried logic, but it backfired.
"The don't go. You don't like Syd any more than I do. You would rather stay here admit it. You don't want to be a farmer for the rest of your life."
"Ami I was born to be a farmer, I am stuck being a farmer. Nothing you say is going to change it. Pop is asking that we come so he can get forgiveness before he dies. I ain't gonna hold that back from him. And I ain't gonna let you do that either."
Kit crossed her arms. "Fine, I'll go but you have to promise you'll help make Rose and Wil see why I have to come back here. I never had friends besides you, Swan and Josh. Josh is gone and I ain't gonna stay in Nebraska with all those bad memories."
"Okay then get your stuff. We are meeting Swan and Mills at my apartment."
"What you said the train left at 6 tomorrow evening. Why can't I come in the afternoon?"
"Kit the train leaves at 6 in the morning. I don't trust you to get over to Manhattan and to the train yards before it leaves. Get your stuff together, I want to get over the Bridge before dusk." Cray stated as he started the climb down the fire escape. "You got 15 minutes Kit or I'll come and take you out myself over my shoulder."
"You jerk, I don't even get to say goodbye. They all went for dinner to give us some privacy." Kit began to cry.
"Then leave them a note. We are leaving and you aren't going to stall me." Cray hardened his features against her tears.
She had hit home when she said he didn't want to be a farmer. But if he was going to support himself and a family he needed way to do it, and while being a bouncer at Medda's was good money he didn't want to raise a family over the bars and brothels of downtown Manhattan. Farming would be a way to support a family plus he already knew how to do it. Cray wasn't going to admit it to the crying girl but he would rather leave her behind and face her brother's wrath than to take her along. But they still had appearances to keep and while Manhattan may know their secret Brooklyn wouldn't till after they were gone.
Kit packed her belongings into a case, it didn't take long and she still had some time left to write a note for her boys. She looked at Cray with pleading eyes but he held up his hands and said, "Ten minutes that's it." She wiped away tears and taking a pen and her notebook she began to write. The first note was to all the newsies.
iDear boys- I am sorry something has come up in Nebraska, I have to go back. I will do my best to keep in touch. And I want to come back. I love you all and you will always be my boys. Kit/i
The second note was harder to write:
iSpot, He is making me leave, I don't have a choice. You should know Cray and Swan are my cousins not my brother and my best friend. My uncle is dying and is asking that we all come. I will miss you more than I can say in a short note. I love you. Ami
P.S. I will be back./i
After addressing both notes she gathered up her belongings. "Can we go out the front door I want to tell Kosei good bye and make sure the boys get these." She wiped the tears from her eyes as she spoke.
"Fine." Cray answered looking over her head.
They walked solemnly down the stairs and over to Kosei's desk. "Kosei? I wanted to say good-bye, I am going back to Nebraska." Kit bit her lip to keep from crying.
"You want me to tell the boys?" Kosei said as he came around the counter and gave her a hug.
"No just give them the letters tomorrow. Tell them I went to Manhattan for the night. Just make sure Spot reads his first. I'll miss you Kosei."
"Miss you too Kit. Try to keep in touch."
"I'll try really hard."
"Kit come on they'll be back soon then we'll never get out of here." Cray said impatiently from the door.
"Bye Kosei, make sure they know I love them."
"Will do Kit, bye."
Cray and Kit walked down the street and out towards Manhattan not speaking. They didn't speak till they were over the Bridge and almost to the apartment. "I just walked away from the best part of my life. I hope you're happy." Kit said as she ran up the stairs to the apartment.
Cray looked at her retreating back, "I am not happy. Don't believe for a second I am happy."
The night was long and drawn out, Kit spent most of it on Cray's bed crying. Mills sat rubbing her back trying to calm down the other girl, but knowing it was useless. The men sat at the table drinking coffee and staring into space. It was a relief when they realized it was time to head for the train station.
Bryon walked them there, "Mills ya know I'll always be here if ya need me. Don't hesitate to send me a telegram or just come out."
"Bye Bryon, I wish you would come with."
"Can't Katie girl, I won't leave Medda in the lurch like that. Bye Bonnie Girl."
"Bye Blarney Man."
After the good-byes were said in the crisp morning air the four boarded the train and set off to the west. Leaving behind family and friends. Out to find what was in store for them out west.
BAlmost The End/B
I Josiahgirl passes out some tissues before taking one for herself. Before you bring out the axes and guns, there will be one more story, I even have the outline for the first chapter done. Now after saying that I have no clue when I will even start on the next story. I do have that first chapter in my head but getting around to the next one is going to be a bit hard, as I have no idea how to go about it. As for Kit's reaction to the President's death, I am hoping that in light of the events of 9-11 more of you can understand why she is acting the way she acts. I was hoping to use her as a picture of how some people react nation-shattering events, and McKinley's death was one such event. So please read and review and I am off to work more on the other two back stories and see if I can get that fourth story started. *waves*/I