Part 2: A Life Worth Living?


Four mysterious girls ran down the wet streets of Manhattan. They nearly missed there stop on Duane Street where the Newsboys Lodging House was located. They stood there huffing from running so far and fast.
"Wese got caught!" the red headed girl shouted loud enough to wake the whole New York State.
"Chaos, will ya pipe down. Hawkeye is gonna hear ya" Cricket whispered in a yelling tone.
"Youse roight, Meery-Jane" a dark shadow said from the ally way. Cricket sighed in frustration, and rolled her eyes at the way the figure pronounced her real name - Mary-Jane. The figure stepped out of the darkness toward them. "Ya's didn't think I'd know you was gone?"
"We're stupid, 'kay! So, skip da speech, Hawk." Cricket throw her arms up.
"Ise wasn't gonna give any kinda speech. I am gonna say get ya lousy hides inside before I soak 'em till next Wednsday."
He pushed Cricket in the front door of the lodging house, and held it for the other three girls.
"Nice…clothes, Doll Face" he said to the last one in noticing more than just her clothes. She smiled intently.
The girls signed in, left their night's pay on the front desk, and headed upstairs to their bunk room. Hawkeye let the girls - Chaos, Dice, and Doll Face - go into the girl's room. He peered at Dice though, and said he'd deal with her later. She was, after all, his cousin - and he had to deal with her in his own way. He pulled Cricket back before she could join them.
"Y'know ya suppose ta be da responsible leadah, but ya out in a bar makin' money offa slobs. Whys dat Meery-Jane?" he asked almost sounding hurt.
She glared at him for a moment. "Ya know why. Waterbug got sick. The doctor demanded money. Wese tryin' ta pay da bill off reasonably." She folded her arms, and snorted. "Besides, we don't do it offen anymore."
"But, sellin' Doll Face ta dose…"
She cut him off. "Ise don' sell Doll Face or any a me girls off ta anyone! She nevah gets touched, because I make sure a dat!" Mary-Jane breathed hard. "Ise roight dere da whole time."
Hawkeye's clear green eyes glared right through her. She hated when he did that. It made her nervous at how someone could intimidate her with their eyes especially Hawkeye. She know he was upset with her. She know he cared. They'd been friends for over eight years. She also knew he wouldn't stay mad for long.
Without another word spoken between them, they parted ways into their own rooms. Hawkeye in the boys. Cricket in the girls. Spitfire wanted to slam the door, but realize she'd wake up everyone in the whole house. Good thing I think before I act. Sometimes. She walked to her bed. Some of the girls were still up. She walked past one of them, who was leaned up against the bed post passed out. "Wha' happen ta her?" Cricket asked to the girl on the top bunk of that bed.
"She came in, and passed out" Bally ((pronounced Ba-lee)) replied looking down at the girl. "She was out drinking again. This time she came back wit a bunch money in her pocket. Must of been in a drinking contest." The girl in topic was Harlem Quarter, a heavy drinker amoung the girls.
"Did ya take any of her money? She'd nevah know." Cricket gave her a mischievous grin.
Bally's faced turned serious in a flash. "You know I don't do that anymore, Cricket."
"Ise sorry." She held up her hands as a peace offering. "It was only a joke."
Bally flopped on her pillow hard - upset over Cricket's remark. She hated being reminded of her past, but who didn't at the lodging house.
"So, Hawk is mad at ya's again?" asked Doll Face from behind her.
"Yeah." Cricket turned to look at her best friend - the living porcelain doll. "But, he'll get ovah it. He always does. How much did we make tanight?" She asked Chaos who was slowly strolling up to them.
Chaos handed her a handful of money. "Ten dollars. Ain't sucha bad night afta all."
"Good. Now we can get payin' on dose doctor bills." Cricket stuck the money in her felt pouch then walked over to the youngest member of the newsies - Waterbug. She was asleep already. Cricket smiled. The little curly haired girl looked so peaceful clinching her tattered teddy bear. Your worth every penny of our sacrifice, Waterbug. Even if the sacrifice is playing dirty.