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The boy took another breath of a cigarette and blew it thoughtfully into the air as he examined the site. He turned the teenage girl quivering in front of him. "Well Checks, she did it again. Whaddya got ta say fer yerself? An' her fer dat matta." He asked. The girl gulped and pushed a strand of brown hair out of her eyes. "Archer, it ain't nothin' dat he didn't deseive. I mean, he, well he was messin' wid her. You know Cape. He's always been pickin' on her. She just slammed 'im a little too hard dats all." Archer scoffed as he looked into the girl's brown eyes. "Ya tink dats sometin'? Oh she jest slammed 'im a bit too hard? No. No, she's been doin' dis fer too long an' I cain't have her around no more. I warned her."
The girl's eyes widened. "But Archer, Cape an' some of da udda's ain't got no respect for her! Ya know dat! Yer probably da only boy besides Fox who respects her. An' plus, we ain't got no place ta go!" Checks pleaded. "Ya call dat a reward fer disrespect! Huh? He's hoit! He's hoit bad! What am I supposed ta do huh?" Archer asked furiously pointing at the boy sitting up against the wall, with other boys surrounding him and tending to his wounds. "No Checks. Dis ain't gonna happen again. I warned her. An' she didn't listen." He said firmly. "Archer, we ain't got nowhere ta go." Checks whispered. "You don't hafta go. Jest Blue. I gave her a chance. Don't git me wrong. Now she has ta git outta here. She hasta go to her brudda. An' I know dat she don't wanna go back dere, but she ain't got no choice. If she comes back ta Queens I'll peisonally soak her. Me an' all me boys, you included. Make sure she knows dat."
Checks paled. "Ya mean, ya want, me ta get her outta here?" Archer nodded, taking another dreg of the cigarette. "You gotta, or else I'll kick you out too. You escort her to da line and make sure she crosses. I don't want her comin' back here. She ain't welcome. Now Checks undastand dat I'm givin' her a chance ta leave widout me soakin' her foist. An' believe me I've got a strong mind ta send her out wid a beatin'. So you let her know her options if she wants ta rebel. Again." Archer remarked. Checks nodded. "I'll do it. Archer, I wish dis didn't hafta end dis way though. She's me friend." Archer nodded. "Yeah, I know. She's my friend too. But obviously she don't feel da same way about me if'n she's beatin' up on me buddies. Get da job done Checks. Make sure she don't come back or she'll suffa da consequences." Archer walked away from the girl and approached Cape, who was still lying against the wall. Checks sighed shakily and made her way to Blue's hideout.
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Blue hissed furiously under her breath as she shouldered what few belongings she owned in a extra blanket.
Stupid Cape! Why da heck did he hafta go topside an' push me ovaboard like dat! He knows dat I cain't hold me tempa! I tink he musta wanted me outta dere or sometin'. Dangit Archer! Why does he hafta kick me out an' make me go ta stupid ol', Manhattan!
Blue thought, emphasizing her thoughts as she kicked a rock far across the sidewalk. She crossed the line and looked back at Checks who was still standing on the edge of Queens, waving. Blue turned and waved back, then sighed and continued to walk.
She walked for a long time, purposely taking the long way so that she would delay her return to Manhattan. But finally she reached the border and stepped into Manhattan. Even at five o'clock in the evening, the streets were still buzzing. Vendors were still selling their wares, and the newsies were still hawking the headlines. She looked about for a familiar face, but found none. So she approached a tall, lanky boy with dirty brown hair. A black cowboy hat hung down his back and a bright red bandanna was around his neck. "Hey! I need ta find somebody." She said as she approached the boy. The boy turned to her. "Yeah whaddya want kid?"
"I need ta find a guy named," Here Blue paused. She tried to remember the Newsie name that her brother had taken when he worked with the Queens Newsies. Finally it came to her. "Kid Blink. Eva heaid of him?" The boy laughed and set his papers on the ground. "Of course I know Kid Blink. He's one of me best friends. Who are you?" Blue pursed her lips. "I'm a friend." The boy nodded. "I'm Cowboy or Jack Kelly. What does dis 'friend' want wit' Kid?" Jack asked. "None of your business, now if you'll jest point me to his sellin' spot we kin all git along." Blue said harshly. Jack laughed. "Yer tough kid. What's yer name?" Blue shrugged. "Nothin' of importance to you." Jack shook his head. "Well, da Lodgin' House boys is gonna meet at Tibby's in a few minutes. Wanna join us? Den you kin see Kid Blink an' we kin all git ta know ya. 'Specially if yer gonna stay in Manhattan."
Blue's eyes widened. "How did ya know I was comin' from somewhere else?" Jack smiled and pointed to her bag. "It was pretty obvious. So ya wanna come?" Blue hesitated. "Look its da only way ya kin see Kid Blink right now. Uddawise ya might not see him fer hours." Blue sighed. "Fine. I'll do it." Jack smiled as Blue shouldered her bag again and followed him towards the restaurant. Blue pulled her cap closer to her head as she and Jack shouldered through the crowds of people gathered outside the restaurant. They finally slipped inside the doorway and found a table. Jack sat down, but Blue remained standing. "Ain't ya gonna sit down?" Jack asked. "No, I wanna see him when he comes in." Jack shrugged. "Suit yerself."
A short Italian youth approached the table where Jack was sitting, a cigar in his mouth. Blue stepped out of the way, and the boy looked at her curiously. Blue took a deep breath just in case the boy made some comment to her, but he merely slipped into the booth next to Jack. Three more boys came, but Kid Blink still didn't show. Blue sighed and leaned up against a pillar. The Italian eyed her. "So, ya gonna sit down, or do ya need a peisonal invitation?" Jack and the others laughed as she scowled, but didn't respond. "Shut up Race. She's waitin' fer Kid." The boy Jack called Race looked at her again, then turned back to Jack. "She his goil or sometin'?" Blue's eyes widened and she turned to him. "I'm hardly his goil! Please! Da very idea is revoltin'!"
"Hey guys!" Blue stopped her venting immediately as Kid Blink pushed past her without a glance. Blue turned to him in shock as he sat down next to a dark skinned boy that Jack called Mush. Jack smiled at Blink. "Hey Blink. Someone's been waitin' fer ya." Jack said as he motioned to Blue. Kid Blink looked up at Blue and smiled. "Yeah? What kin I do fer ya?" Blue paled. "Ya don't know me Kid?" Kid Blink looked surprised. "Should I?" Blue shook her head. "Yeah. Its kinda propa ta know yer kin." Kid Blink paled as Blue took off the derby hat and shook out her shoulder length blonde hair. Kid Blink gulped several times but still didn't speak. Race and Jack looked at Kid Blink then back at Blue. "Who is dat Blink?" Race asked.
"Its my kid sista. Cecilia." Kid Blink said softly. The whole table was silent and they all stared at Blue. "Well, yer awfully short fer Kid's sista." Race remarked. "Yeah? Well yer no beanpole yerself!" Blue said quickly. The boys at the table hooted and Race rolled his eyes. "Shud up you guys! Ain't nothin' ta laugh at!" Kid Blink stood up and faced Blue. "So, did ya come here ta stay?" Blue sighed. "If dats okay wit' you. An' by da way, I'se got a Newsie name now. Its Blue." Blue said proudly. Kid Blink nodded a smile finally appearing on his face. "Well, sure you kin stay. But what happened? Why'd ya come back? I tought dat Mama wanted ya ta stay wit' her?" Blue cringed. "Momma died. I joined da Queens newsies. But I sorta got kicked out."
"Ya got kicked out by Archer? Whaddya do? Say his knickers was tacky?" Race asked. The boys at the table laughed. "No, I jest beat up one of his friends an' I kin easily do dat ta you, ya grasshoppa!" Blue said cooly. Racetrack stood up and rolled up his sleeves. "Ya wanna say dat ta me outside?" Blue nodded but Kid Blink grabbed her arm. "Cool it Race. C'mon Blue, sit wid us and eat sometin'." Blue shook her head as she watched Racetrack sit down. "Don't got no money. Even Archer didn't have da decency ta give me a little cash." Kid Blink pulled her down. "I'll pay." Blue sat down reluctantly.
"So tell me 'bout everybody. If I'm gonna stay heah I might as well know all of ya."
Jack nodded. "Dats Mush, an' obviously Kid, an' Snipeshoota's ova dere. An' I'm Jack Kelly of corse. Dis is Racetrack." Jack said motioning to the Italian. He rolled his eyes. "Unfortunately I've already had da pleasure." Racetrack mumbled. Jack introduced the rest of the boys and the boys waved from across the room as they were introduced. "So ya got any goils in dis Lodgin' House? I had a friend in da one at Queens who was a goil. Real nice she was. Checks. Pity she had ta toin traita an' help kick me outta Queens." Blue said angrily. "Well, we do got one goil. But she ain't here." Jack said quickly. "Yeah. Her name's Bright Eyes." Mush put in. "So where is she?" Blue asked. "Well she's in Brooklyn right about now seein' Spot." Racetrack said.
"Spot who?" Blue asked. The boy's mouths fell open. "Ya don' know who Spot Conlon is?" Mush asked in a shocked tone of voice. "Of course I know who Spot Conlon is. He's da leada of Brooklyn. I've neva seen him. But ya must mean anotha Spot 'cause from da way Archer talks 'bout Spot, he makes him out ta be da kinda guy who would be too slippery fer any goil ta hold." The boys burst out laughing and Blue frowned. "What?" She asked. "Spot ain't datin' Bright!" Kid Blink laughed. " Yeah! Kin ya imagine Bright, 'Oh Spot I love you!' 'Me too sugaplum! Lets smooch!'" Racetrack howled. Blue crossed her arms across her chest and waited for the laughing to calm down.
"So why is she dere den?" Blue asked. "Spot is her best friend. Has been since dey was kids." Kid Blink explained. "An' occasionally, Bright goes down ta see Spot. One, 'cause she wants ta see Spot an' da uddas, an' two 'cause its my peisonal opinion dat she's a bit homesick an' she'll neva eva stop bein' homesick fer Brooklyn. Its where she grew up." Jack said. Blue nodded. "Okay, I get it now. Ya didn't hafta laugh at me fer so long dough." She said crossly. Kid Blink chuckled. "Well, it was jest, jest, so funny!" Mush laughed, starting the boys up all over again.
The rest of the meal was spent discussing old times and now new times, seeing as Blue might become a permanent member of the Manhattan newsies. Kid Blink smiled as his sister made another smart-aleck comment and he looked at her. He had left Queens when he was eight in order to sell papers to support his mother. He had tried to stay with the Queens newsies, but they were too rough and hoity toity for him. He didn't want to spend his time with newsies who didn't have fun and thought they were better than any other low down newsie in the gutters.
When he had left, his sister Cecilia was only five years old. She had been so small and he remembered the time he used to just sit her on his lap and tell her stories, just to keep her occupied. Also to keep her from noticing his mother's frequent drinking spells. She had been doing it more often since her husband had been killed in a railway accident. But now he was twelve years old, Cecilia or Blue, was now nine.
Kinda a small age ta be beatin' up on kids. But I guess it runs in da family.
Blink thought, flexing the muscles in his arm. Blue hadn't changed much since he had last seen her, with the exception of her height.
As Racetrack had pointed out, she was rather short for an nine year old. Her light blonde hair was longer, but her eyes were still the same, changing from blue to green as the moods came and went. She didn't seem to have changed at all with the exception of her looks. But she probably was merely hiding her feelings deep within her, much like he did.
Mama's death probably hoit her bad. But she won't talk I'm sure. Dats one ting dat probably hasn't changed at all. Neva talkin' 'bout her feelin's.
"So where do I get ta sleep if I'm stayin' wit' you boys?" Blue asked, changing the subject. Jack put his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "Well, you could stay in Bright's room till she came back I guess. Dat is if ya don't mind bunkin' wit' an eleven year old."
Blue shrugged. "Nope. I ain't got no problem wit' dat. Jest so long as she's sociable." Jack smiled. "She's sociable alright." He said, poking Racetrack who grinned. "So Blue. Ya play poka?" Racetrack asked. Blue lit up. "Sure I do! Love poka! I ain't very good, but I love it!" Racetrack's brown eyes gleamed when Blue mentioned how she played. "I'll deal da cawds den." Racetrack grinned as he passed out the cards with a hope of winning. Five deals later, Racetrack's money was partially gone when he cashed in. "Okay Blue. Dats it, I quit. How much ya got?" Blue shook the money in her pocket. "Couple dollas. Good game." Blue grinned. Racetrack sighed. "Yeah you too. Neva fails, I even lose against a goil who says she ain't dat good!"
"You always lose Race no matta what. You know dat!" The group turned towards the female voice and Blue beheld a girl, almost the age of Kid Blink and the others. She was rather tall and slightly brown from the sun. She grinned at her and sat down, shaking her shoulder length brown curls out from under her hat. "Blue, dis is da one an' only Bright Eyes O'Connor of Brooklyn an' Manhattan. Bright is it okay if she bunks wit' ya?" Jack asked after making the introductions. Bright Eyes smiled and her blue eyes flashed. "Sure. Though it looks like I ain't got no choice."
Blue smiled shyly at Bright Eyes and the girl in turn smiled back. "I hope you boys have been decent an' have introduced everybody?" Bright Eyes asked, turning to Racetrack. "Sure. She's already won a couple bucks off me too. How's Spot?" Racetrack asked. Bright Eyes shrugged. "He's Spot. Jest normal I guess. Jest as opinionated as eva. An' he's still copin' wit' Fish dying an' him bein' elected leada of Brooklyn. Its a big job, but he kin handle it." Bright Eyes said knowingly. "Spot hasn't been leada of Brooklyn fer very long. When da forma leada of Brooklyn, Fish, died Spot got chosen to succeed him. Pretty neat I say. Spot is a real leada an' he'll be fine." Kid Blink explained to Blue. "Yeah, sometime Bright should take ya down ta Brooklyn ta sell sometime. Den you kin meet da guys an' maybe even Spot." Mush said.
Bright Eyes scoffed. "Wit' all da stuff Spot has goin' on da last ting he needs is me an' Blue hangin' around." Jack smiled. "Don't believe her Blue. No matta what she says, she kin always git Spot Conlon ta do her every whim. Its a talent she's got." Bright Eyes sighed and smacked Jack with her hat. "Not my fault he's soft on da inside. But don' tell him I told ya." Bright Eyes said offhandedly to Blue. Blue nodded. "Sure. No problem. So should we be goin'. I want ta see da neighbahood." The boys and two girls stood up and exited the establishment into the hot summer evening.
The boy took another breath of a cigarette and blew it thoughtfully into the air as he examined the site. He turned the teenage girl quivering in front of him. "Well Checks, she did it again. Whaddya got ta say fer yerself? An' her fer dat matta." He asked. The girl gulped and pushed a strand of brown hair out of her eyes. "Archer, it ain't nothin' dat he didn't deseive. I mean, he, well he was messin' wid her. You know Cape. He's always been pickin' on her. She just slammed 'im a little too hard dats all." Archer scoffed as he looked into the girl's brown eyes. "Ya tink dats sometin'? Oh she jest slammed 'im a bit too hard? No. No, she's been doin' dis fer too long an' I cain't have her around no more. I warned her."
The girl's eyes widened. "But Archer, Cape an' some of da udda's ain't got no respect for her! Ya know dat! Yer probably da only boy besides Fox who respects her. An' plus, we ain't got no place ta go!" Checks pleaded. "Ya call dat a reward fer disrespect! Huh? He's hoit! He's hoit bad! What am I supposed ta do huh?" Archer asked furiously pointing at the boy sitting up against the wall, with other boys surrounding him and tending to his wounds. "No Checks. Dis ain't gonna happen again. I warned her. An' she didn't listen." He said firmly. "Archer, we ain't got nowhere ta go." Checks whispered. "You don't hafta go. Jest Blue. I gave her a chance. Don't git me wrong. Now she has ta git outta here. She hasta go to her brudda. An' I know dat she don't wanna go back dere, but she ain't got no choice. If she comes back ta Queens I'll peisonally soak her. Me an' all me boys, you included. Make sure she knows dat."
Checks paled. "Ya mean, ya want, me ta get her outta here?" Archer nodded, taking another dreg of the cigarette. "You gotta, or else I'll kick you out too. You escort her to da line and make sure she crosses. I don't want her comin' back here. She ain't welcome. Now Checks undastand dat I'm givin' her a chance ta leave widout me soakin' her foist. An' believe me I've got a strong mind ta send her out wid a beatin'. So you let her know her options if she wants ta rebel. Again." Archer remarked. Checks nodded. "I'll do it. Archer, I wish dis didn't hafta end dis way though. She's me friend." Archer nodded. "Yeah, I know. She's my friend too. But obviously she don't feel da same way about me if'n she's beatin' up on me buddies. Get da job done Checks. Make sure she don't come back or she'll suffa da consequences." Archer walked away from the girl and approached Cape, who was still lying against the wall. Checks sighed shakily and made her way to Blue's hideout.
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Blue hissed furiously under her breath as she shouldered what few belongings she owned in a extra blanket.
Stupid Cape! Why da heck did he hafta go topside an' push me ovaboard like dat! He knows dat I cain't hold me tempa! I tink he musta wanted me outta dere or sometin'. Dangit Archer! Why does he hafta kick me out an' make me go ta stupid ol', Manhattan!
Blue thought, emphasizing her thoughts as she kicked a rock far across the sidewalk. She crossed the line and looked back at Checks who was still standing on the edge of Queens, waving. Blue turned and waved back, then sighed and continued to walk.
She walked for a long time, purposely taking the long way so that she would delay her return to Manhattan. But finally she reached the border and stepped into Manhattan. Even at five o'clock in the evening, the streets were still buzzing. Vendors were still selling their wares, and the newsies were still hawking the headlines. She looked about for a familiar face, but found none. So she approached a tall, lanky boy with dirty brown hair. A black cowboy hat hung down his back and a bright red bandanna was around his neck. "Hey! I need ta find somebody." She said as she approached the boy. The boy turned to her. "Yeah whaddya want kid?"
"I need ta find a guy named," Here Blue paused. She tried to remember the Newsie name that her brother had taken when he worked with the Queens Newsies. Finally it came to her. "Kid Blink. Eva heaid of him?" The boy laughed and set his papers on the ground. "Of course I know Kid Blink. He's one of me best friends. Who are you?" Blue pursed her lips. "I'm a friend." The boy nodded. "I'm Cowboy or Jack Kelly. What does dis 'friend' want wit' Kid?" Jack asked. "None of your business, now if you'll jest point me to his sellin' spot we kin all git along." Blue said harshly. Jack laughed. "Yer tough kid. What's yer name?" Blue shrugged. "Nothin' of importance to you." Jack shook his head. "Well, da Lodgin' House boys is gonna meet at Tibby's in a few minutes. Wanna join us? Den you kin see Kid Blink an' we kin all git ta know ya. 'Specially if yer gonna stay in Manhattan."
Blue's eyes widened. "How did ya know I was comin' from somewhere else?" Jack smiled and pointed to her bag. "It was pretty obvious. So ya wanna come?" Blue hesitated. "Look its da only way ya kin see Kid Blink right now. Uddawise ya might not see him fer hours." Blue sighed. "Fine. I'll do it." Jack smiled as Blue shouldered her bag again and followed him towards the restaurant. Blue pulled her cap closer to her head as she and Jack shouldered through the crowds of people gathered outside the restaurant. They finally slipped inside the doorway and found a table. Jack sat down, but Blue remained standing. "Ain't ya gonna sit down?" Jack asked. "No, I wanna see him when he comes in." Jack shrugged. "Suit yerself."
A short Italian youth approached the table where Jack was sitting, a cigar in his mouth. Blue stepped out of the way, and the boy looked at her curiously. Blue took a deep breath just in case the boy made some comment to her, but he merely slipped into the booth next to Jack. Three more boys came, but Kid Blink still didn't show. Blue sighed and leaned up against a pillar. The Italian eyed her. "So, ya gonna sit down, or do ya need a peisonal invitation?" Jack and the others laughed as she scowled, but didn't respond. "Shut up Race. She's waitin' fer Kid." The boy Jack called Race looked at her again, then turned back to Jack. "She his goil or sometin'?" Blue's eyes widened and she turned to him. "I'm hardly his goil! Please! Da very idea is revoltin'!"
"Hey guys!" Blue stopped her venting immediately as Kid Blink pushed past her without a glance. Blue turned to him in shock as he sat down next to a dark skinned boy that Jack called Mush. Jack smiled at Blink. "Hey Blink. Someone's been waitin' fer ya." Jack said as he motioned to Blue. Kid Blink looked up at Blue and smiled. "Yeah? What kin I do fer ya?" Blue paled. "Ya don't know me Kid?" Kid Blink looked surprised. "Should I?" Blue shook her head. "Yeah. Its kinda propa ta know yer kin." Kid Blink paled as Blue took off the derby hat and shook out her shoulder length blonde hair. Kid Blink gulped several times but still didn't speak. Race and Jack looked at Kid Blink then back at Blue. "Who is dat Blink?" Race asked.
"Its my kid sista. Cecilia." Kid Blink said softly. The whole table was silent and they all stared at Blue. "Well, yer awfully short fer Kid's sista." Race remarked. "Yeah? Well yer no beanpole yerself!" Blue said quickly. The boys at the table hooted and Race rolled his eyes. "Shud up you guys! Ain't nothin' ta laugh at!" Kid Blink stood up and faced Blue. "So, did ya come here ta stay?" Blue sighed. "If dats okay wit' you. An' by da way, I'se got a Newsie name now. Its Blue." Blue said proudly. Kid Blink nodded a smile finally appearing on his face. "Well, sure you kin stay. But what happened? Why'd ya come back? I tought dat Mama wanted ya ta stay wit' her?" Blue cringed. "Momma died. I joined da Queens newsies. But I sorta got kicked out."
"Ya got kicked out by Archer? Whaddya do? Say his knickers was tacky?" Race asked. The boys at the table laughed. "No, I jest beat up one of his friends an' I kin easily do dat ta you, ya grasshoppa!" Blue said cooly. Racetrack stood up and rolled up his sleeves. "Ya wanna say dat ta me outside?" Blue nodded but Kid Blink grabbed her arm. "Cool it Race. C'mon Blue, sit wid us and eat sometin'." Blue shook her head as she watched Racetrack sit down. "Don't got no money. Even Archer didn't have da decency ta give me a little cash." Kid Blink pulled her down. "I'll pay." Blue sat down reluctantly.
"So tell me 'bout everybody. If I'm gonna stay heah I might as well know all of ya."
Jack nodded. "Dats Mush, an' obviously Kid, an' Snipeshoota's ova dere. An' I'm Jack Kelly of corse. Dis is Racetrack." Jack said motioning to the Italian. He rolled his eyes. "Unfortunately I've already had da pleasure." Racetrack mumbled. Jack introduced the rest of the boys and the boys waved from across the room as they were introduced. "So ya got any goils in dis Lodgin' House? I had a friend in da one at Queens who was a goil. Real nice she was. Checks. Pity she had ta toin traita an' help kick me outta Queens." Blue said angrily. "Well, we do got one goil. But she ain't here." Jack said quickly. "Yeah. Her name's Bright Eyes." Mush put in. "So where is she?" Blue asked. "Well she's in Brooklyn right about now seein' Spot." Racetrack said.
"Spot who?" Blue asked. The boy's mouths fell open. "Ya don' know who Spot Conlon is?" Mush asked in a shocked tone of voice. "Of course I know who Spot Conlon is. He's da leada of Brooklyn. I've neva seen him. But ya must mean anotha Spot 'cause from da way Archer talks 'bout Spot, he makes him out ta be da kinda guy who would be too slippery fer any goil ta hold." The boys burst out laughing and Blue frowned. "What?" She asked. "Spot ain't datin' Bright!" Kid Blink laughed. " Yeah! Kin ya imagine Bright, 'Oh Spot I love you!' 'Me too sugaplum! Lets smooch!'" Racetrack howled. Blue crossed her arms across her chest and waited for the laughing to calm down.
"So why is she dere den?" Blue asked. "Spot is her best friend. Has been since dey was kids." Kid Blink explained. "An' occasionally, Bright goes down ta see Spot. One, 'cause she wants ta see Spot an' da uddas, an' two 'cause its my peisonal opinion dat she's a bit homesick an' she'll neva eva stop bein' homesick fer Brooklyn. Its where she grew up." Jack said. Blue nodded. "Okay, I get it now. Ya didn't hafta laugh at me fer so long dough." She said crossly. Kid Blink chuckled. "Well, it was jest, jest, so funny!" Mush laughed, starting the boys up all over again.
The rest of the meal was spent discussing old times and now new times, seeing as Blue might become a permanent member of the Manhattan newsies. Kid Blink smiled as his sister made another smart-aleck comment and he looked at her. He had left Queens when he was eight in order to sell papers to support his mother. He had tried to stay with the Queens newsies, but they were too rough and hoity toity for him. He didn't want to spend his time with newsies who didn't have fun and thought they were better than any other low down newsie in the gutters.
When he had left, his sister Cecilia was only five years old. She had been so small and he remembered the time he used to just sit her on his lap and tell her stories, just to keep her occupied. Also to keep her from noticing his mother's frequent drinking spells. She had been doing it more often since her husband had been killed in a railway accident. But now he was twelve years old, Cecilia or Blue, was now nine.
Kinda a small age ta be beatin' up on kids. But I guess it runs in da family.
Blink thought, flexing the muscles in his arm. Blue hadn't changed much since he had last seen her, with the exception of her height.
As Racetrack had pointed out, she was rather short for an nine year old. Her light blonde hair was longer, but her eyes were still the same, changing from blue to green as the moods came and went. She didn't seem to have changed at all with the exception of her looks. But she probably was merely hiding her feelings deep within her, much like he did.
Mama's death probably hoit her bad. But she won't talk I'm sure. Dats one ting dat probably hasn't changed at all. Neva talkin' 'bout her feelin's.
"So where do I get ta sleep if I'm stayin' wit' you boys?" Blue asked, changing the subject. Jack put his hand on his chin thoughtfully. "Well, you could stay in Bright's room till she came back I guess. Dat is if ya don't mind bunkin' wit' an eleven year old."
Blue shrugged. "Nope. I ain't got no problem wit' dat. Jest so long as she's sociable." Jack smiled. "She's sociable alright." He said, poking Racetrack who grinned. "So Blue. Ya play poka?" Racetrack asked. Blue lit up. "Sure I do! Love poka! I ain't very good, but I love it!" Racetrack's brown eyes gleamed when Blue mentioned how she played. "I'll deal da cawds den." Racetrack grinned as he passed out the cards with a hope of winning. Five deals later, Racetrack's money was partially gone when he cashed in. "Okay Blue. Dats it, I quit. How much ya got?" Blue shook the money in her pocket. "Couple dollas. Good game." Blue grinned. Racetrack sighed. "Yeah you too. Neva fails, I even lose against a goil who says she ain't dat good!"
"You always lose Race no matta what. You know dat!" The group turned towards the female voice and Blue beheld a girl, almost the age of Kid Blink and the others. She was rather tall and slightly brown from the sun. She grinned at her and sat down, shaking her shoulder length brown curls out from under her hat. "Blue, dis is da one an' only Bright Eyes O'Connor of Brooklyn an' Manhattan. Bright is it okay if she bunks wit' ya?" Jack asked after making the introductions. Bright Eyes smiled and her blue eyes flashed. "Sure. Though it looks like I ain't got no choice."
Blue smiled shyly at Bright Eyes and the girl in turn smiled back. "I hope you boys have been decent an' have introduced everybody?" Bright Eyes asked, turning to Racetrack. "Sure. She's already won a couple bucks off me too. How's Spot?" Racetrack asked. Bright Eyes shrugged. "He's Spot. Jest normal I guess. Jest as opinionated as eva. An' he's still copin' wit' Fish dying an' him bein' elected leada of Brooklyn. Its a big job, but he kin handle it." Bright Eyes said knowingly. "Spot hasn't been leada of Brooklyn fer very long. When da forma leada of Brooklyn, Fish, died Spot got chosen to succeed him. Pretty neat I say. Spot is a real leada an' he'll be fine." Kid Blink explained to Blue. "Yeah, sometime Bright should take ya down ta Brooklyn ta sell sometime. Den you kin meet da guys an' maybe even Spot." Mush said.
Bright Eyes scoffed. "Wit' all da stuff Spot has goin' on da last ting he needs is me an' Blue hangin' around." Jack smiled. "Don't believe her Blue. No matta what she says, she kin always git Spot Conlon ta do her every whim. Its a talent she's got." Bright Eyes sighed and smacked Jack with her hat. "Not my fault he's soft on da inside. But don' tell him I told ya." Bright Eyes said offhandedly to Blue. Blue nodded. "Sure. No problem. So should we be goin'. I want ta see da neighbahood." The boys and two girls stood up and exited the establishment into the hot summer evening.