The Runaway, Part 1
***
That night the
rain came down hard as Cornelius silently slipped out the first floor window.
As soon as his feet had touched the walk outside the nice town house on a posh
side of New York City, he was soaked. Scowling at the weather, he pulled his
satchel after him and quickly closed the window.
"Tonight of
all nights it had to rain," he mumbled. He looked in both directions and
convinced no one was in sight, took of down the street.
*~~~~~~~~*
Cornelius
stopped suddenly from his run, panting violently, and clutched his sides in
pain. Never had he run so far and so fast in his twelve year old life. Leaning
on a statue close by, he leaned his head back and let the cold rain wash his
sweaty face. Just then he felt a sharp little pain in his leg. Looking down in
the flickering lamp lite he could barely see that he a a jolly good rip in his
new knickerbockers and a little blood was oozing from it.It had been form when
he had fallen in his flight.
"Horsefeathers!"
he ejaculated. "Mother will have a fit, for sure!"
Then he
remembered. He wouldn't see his mother, not for a very long time. Cornelius had
just run away. He was sick of his boring life. He had seen the kids on the
street, espescially the newsies; on their own and free, or so he thought. He
longed to be one of them and had run away. Suddenly homesickness and
helplessness overwhelmed him and he slid down in front of the statue of Horace
Greeley and sobbed himsalf to sleep as the rain poured on.
The next morning
dawned bright and clean. Cornelius was toed awake by a boy that towered over
him.
"Hey, kid.
You look new to these parts." Jack Kelley eyed the kid who had rain soaked
cap covering his dark hair and really fancy clothes on. Cornelius sat up
blinking.
"Who are
you?" Cowboy grinned. "The name's Jack Kelley. And you?"
"Cornelius
VanCamp."
Jack whistled.
"Dat's quite a mouthful, kid. You'll get a fat lip for that kind of name.
Would'jah like a new name, kid?" Cornelius nodded. Jack glanced once again
at the kids fancy clothes. "Let's see. How's 'bout Knicks, shoiot for
kickerbockers?" The younger boy nodded eagerly.
Jack helped the
kid up and gave him a soft noogie. The boy reminded him of Les, his good friend
Davie's brother. The Jacobs had moved to Chicago a few short weeks ago, because
of a new job his father had been able to get. Everything these days reminded
Jack of David and his family.
"Let's go,
Knicks. I's got some papes to sell. But foist I gotta buy some. You wanna be a
newsie? You'se looks like youse in the need of a job."
"Yes, sir,
Mr. Jack Kelly, sir!"
Jack laughed.
"Hey, the name's Jack. No, Mr." They had reached the circulation
office where all the other newsies had gathered, waiting for Weasel to collect
hisself and sell them some papes before they fell back to sleep.
"Hey yah,
Race! Look at what what I found meself!" Jack shouted.
Racetrack
Higgins whirled around. "I was wonderin' where you was, Cowboy! I - Hey!
If it ain't anudder Les! Where'd he come from?"
Jack chuckled.
"This here is Knicks. I found him over by our ol' friend Horace."
Cornelius
sneezed. "That's not really my name. It's really -" Jack covered his
mouth quickly. If the rest of the newsies found out his name, they'd laugh him
out of New York.
"What this
kid needs is some clothes. Can't youse guys see he's wet tr'ough?" There
was some murmering and Pie Eater, one of the smaller newsies was sent to get
his spare of clothes.
By then everyone
had agreed that Cornelius reminded them of Les a lot, and so he quickly became
the popular little mascot among the boys. The other thought that they all
shared was: Where in New York had he gotten those fancy clothes?
*~~~~~~~~*
As was the
tradition, after selling their papes, Jack, Race, and Boots took the kid to
Spot Conlon for inspection. Crossing the bridge was an ordeal. Cornelius was
afraid of heigths AND water.
"A newsie
afraid of water!" Boots cried. "And heighths?! Where did he come
from?"
Knicks pouted,
pulling his cap low over his sulking eyes. "I - I'm not crossing the
river."
"Tough,
kiddo." Jack swung Knicks onto his back. "We gotta do what we gotta
do." Without letting the kid respond, Jack took off across the bridge with
Boots and Racetrack close behind.
*~~~~~~~~*
"Hey yah,
Jackie Boy! How's the boys doin'? And hows me ol' friend Wease?" Spot
Conlon jumped down from his perch, spit shook with Jack and grinned at
Racetrack and Boots.
"Yeah,
they's just fine. I brought you a new newsie fer inspection."
Spot laughed at
the small waif upon Jack's back. He was still trembling from the trip across
the famous bridge. "He looks fine to me. Appears to be a noimal kid. Don't
like me bridge hey, kiddo?"
"Thank you
just the same, Mr. Spot, sir, but no I don't. And my name isn't Kiddo, it's
Knickerbockers."
Spot burst out
laughing and couldn't stop for a whole minute.
Jack grinned.
"Uh, actually we just calls him Knicks. Well, Spot, does he have your
approval?"
Still chuckling
he managed to say, "Sure, sure. See ya around."
*~~~~~~~~*
As Jack, Race
and Boots crossed the Brooklyn Bridge once again, Knicks still upon Cowboy's back,
they started to question the boy.
"So where's
you from, Knicks?" "Yeah, and why did you have such fancy duds
on?" Cornelius stiffened and clung even more to Jack's back, staring down
at the water.
"Don't talk
to him right now. He's still scared."
When they
reached Tibby's restraunt, most of the newsies were there.
"So, how
was Spot, Jack?" they all asked.
"Fine. He's
seem to have takin' a likin' to our little Knicks here." Soon a hot dog
and a sasparilla had been bought for Cornelius from a collection form the
newsies all around. As soon as he was settled Racetrack quietly sat in front of
the lad and smiled.
"So,
Knicks, where's ya gonna sleep?"
Cornelius
tightened his lips. "I don't know. I'll find a place no problem."
"Well, to
tell ya da truth it's a dangerous place out dere. I've got a spare bed in me
bunk. How's 'bout you sleep dere until you find lodgin's to suit ya."
Cornelius
grinned into his glass of sasparilla, swallowed and said, "Thank you Mr.
Racetrack. I think I will take you up on that offer."
A wave of
chuckles went through Tibby's as the young lad drank to eveyone's health.
*~~~~~~~~~~*
At the lodging
house Cornelius snuggled into the top bunk of Race's bed and was soon fast
asleep. Race and Jack tucked him in, smiled and went to bed themselves.
*~~~~~~~~~~*
The next morning
Racetrack awoke early for no reason in particular. He usually was one of the
first ones up every morning, planning the horses he would bet on for the day.
Suddenly remembering, he got out of bed and looked to the top bunk.
"J -
Jack!!! You'se gotta see dis!!" His jaw was open off it's hinges. Jack
stumbled out of bed mumbling, until he saw... By this time most of the newsies
had been awakened and had gathered to see what had awakened them.
There, laying on
the top bunk, sleeping peacefully, was Knickerbockers. His cap had fallen off
in his sleep to reveal long dark brown locks covering the pillow. Suddenly
Knicks woke up to see many pairs of eyes staring at her.
"What -
what is wrong? Why are all of you looking at me?" Then Knicks felt her
head to find that her cap was missing. Tears welled up in her eyes. "You -
you weren't supposed to know!"
Suddenly Jack
cried, "Scatter, youse guys. Start gettin' ready before Kloppman comes up
heah." They obeyed for concern of their health.
Race patted her
on the back. "Why don't ya tell us everyt'ing?"
She sniffled and
began. "My real mane is Cordelia VanCamp, and I wanted to be like you so
much. I wanted to be free and earn my own keep. I was tired of no adventures
and boring piano lessons and school. So I left home and ran until I stopped and
fell asleep by the statue. That's where Jack found me."
"Where did
ya live before?" Jack asked gently.
"On 5th
avenue."
"What!!!"
Race cried. "You ran away from dat???" His eyes clouded over.
"Food, parties, your own carriage...."
Jack smiled.
"I think you need to go back home." Cordelia nodded.
"Goils
everywhere, a poimenant box at the Sheep's Head Races..." Race dreamed on.
*~~~~~~~~~~*
After the
morning's worth of newspapers had been sold, Jack, Racetrack, Bumlets, Dutchy,
Boots, and Snipeshooter escorted the little runaway home. Jack carried her
along, she was so nervous that she couldn't walk the long distance.
"Jack? Will
you tell Mr. Spot everything that happened?"
"Of
course."
"My name is
still Knickerbockers isn't it?"
"Dere never
will be anudder one," Race piped in. Cordelia smiled. Just then they
reached her house, and every newsie was in awe. Race slowly and revrently
mounted the stairs and rang the bell with great respect. Instead of the
expected butler, the door was flung open by a beautiful young lady.
"Oh!"
she cried. "You've brought her home to me!" She ran down the steps
and taking her daughter from Jack's arm's hugged and kissed her profously.
"I thank all of you! I am so very greatful!" She took Cordelia by the
hand and started to walk up the steps. The newsies turned to go.
"Oh, don't
go, young men. You must not go without some reward!"
"Dat's not
what we brought her back for, ma'am," Jack replied softly. "It was a
real honor to have known her." The other newsies agreed whole heartedly.
"But you
must be rewarded. I have been beside myself with worry. You have lifted that
from me. My husband will see to it that each of you have five dollars in your
pocket and you must stay for dinner." Every newsie there shared a huge
smile and followed the woman and their Knickerbockers into the house.
Turning to Race
Cordelia whispered, "Maybe I should run away more often!"
"Sure, kid,
sure." Race pulled her cap down over her eyes. "But I don't t'ink
so."