Part 3: Long Time, No See


Francis walked down Duane St. headed to his old home. The building still looked like it would fall at anytime, but on the inside it was as steady as a rock. It was around afternoon so he known most everyone would be gone. At least the recent residents. He opened the front door, and stepped inside to see a familiar figure hanging on a crutch, turned to the wall - head down looking over a book. Francis smiled. It couldn't be who he thought it was. He walked up to the desk quietly, and rang the bell.
The figure turned slowly. "What can I do for…" He froze when he realized who it was. "Jack! Is that you?! It can't be Cowboy."
"That's me. How ya been, Crutchy?" he asked, placing a hand on his old friend's shoulder.
Crutchy smiled. "I been fine. I run the lodgin' house now. Hard work, but I gotta bunch good kids livin' heah. So, Jack, where you been?"
"I finally made it to Santa Fe."
"Just like you always said ya would. I never doubted you, Jack. Nothin' could hold ya back from your dream."
The door flow open all the sudden. Two tall boys strolled in cutting up. The now named Jack - again - glanced at them. One of them automatically reminded him of himself. The two boys stopped when they saw their landlord had company.
One boy glared at him with piercing green eyes. Eyes that looked like they shot right through him. Jack glared back at him, not realizing how much time had passed since they walked in.
"Heya Hawkeye! Heya Townshend!" Crutchy greeted the boys. "I want you to met someone." Crutchy hobble from behind the desk. "Boys, this is the one and only Jack Kelly."
"Jack Kelly? Cowboy? Hey, it's great to finally know that you're real and not just a legend." Hawkeye spit in his hand and extended it. Jack smirked doing the same. It was good to be back. "I'm Hawkeye, the leader of this joint. Well, Crutchy is a peg above me, but he lets me boss the others around." He smirked in amusement. "For fun."
Jack looked over at his companion who was being awfully quiet with his hands jammed in his pocket. "And who are you, kid?"
The shy looking boy eased up. "I'm Townshend Turner. Some people call me Townie." He shook Jack's hand as well.
"Wha't kinda name is Townshend?"
"It's me given name. Y'see, I have such a weird name, I didn't need a nickname."
"Townshend heah is me best pal. We been together since we was t'ree years old" Hawkeye said proudly, throwing an arm around his friend's neck, and shacking him.
"How long have you been heah?"
"Goin' on six years."
"You know anyone besides Crutchy that was heah for the strike?"
"Of course, we do. We knew Boots, and Snipeshooter, and Slider and Ace. In fact, Snipeshooter became the leader heah for a couple of years. Then he left leavin' the job open for me."
Jack stopped the boy. "Wait, wait, wait. I don't know any Ace."
"Yeah you do, Jack" Crutchy spoke up. "That wasn't what he was called when you was heah." Jack looked at him confused. "The boy in question is no other then Les Jacobs."
"Les!" His eyes lite up with content. "How'd he get a nickname like Ace?"
"He was the best seller at one time" Townshend cut in.
Jack shook his head, staring off. "I knew that kid would be the best someday. Where is he now?"
They all looked at him in suddenly saddened. Townshend's head dropped with a sorrowful frown. "He's died."
Jack's faced turned to shock. His first day back to New York, and he finds that the kid who adored him more than anything - was died. He felt his stomach roll into a knot. "How did it happen? Wait, what happen? I can't believe..." The happiness was gone from his voice.
"It was a fire" Crutchy began. "His apartment building was on fire. He was helpin' one of his neighbors when the roof collapsed on him. Newsies all over the city went to his funeral."
The room fell silent. Hawkeye stared at Jack. He had pictured the great Jack Kelly to be different, but he felt like Jack was more like him. He heard footsteps coming, and turned. His smile returned when he saw who it was.
"Meery-Jane!" The sorrowful moment was broken. "Back so soon" he said to Cricket and Doll Face as they walked in.
Cricket leaned toward her companion. "See. I told you he wouldn't stay mad for long" she whispered.
"I heard that" Hawkeye informed them, pretending to slug her cheek.
"That's great! At least we know you're not stupid. Although…" Cricket shot a wicked glance at Doll Face. "Don't you agree with me, Doll?" she asked her friend elbowing her in the side.
Doll's eyes narrowed, and her head spun to look at her. "Just because you don't like him like dat, doesn't mean I can't."
Cricket rolled her eyes. Doll Face had had a crush on Hawkeye since she arrived at the lodging house a couple years ago. Cricket knew it, and often got a kick out of teasing her over it. She finally noticed the new face in the lobby.
"You look familiar. Who are ya?" she asked Jack smugly.
Crutchy stepped in to inform her of their guest. "This is…" He didn't get there fast enough.
"Jack Kelly! You're Cowboy! Man, I'd never thought I'd get to meet you!" she shouted, gesturing wildly.
"Yeah. That's me" he replied, with a grin planted on his lips. His grieving would have to wait for later. "Geez, Crutchy. You must of told everyone every detail about me."
"Actually, Jack, they've seen a pit'cha of you." Crutchy pointed to a picture hanging on the wall behind his desk.
Jack walked over the it. His eyes grew wide. "That's the pit'cha of us when we got in the papes. How did…" He stopped turning back to the others, too surprised to finish his sentence.
"About a year ago, Mary-Jane and Townshend was helpin' me go through boxes of old paper work. The kids found it and had a frame made for it and gave it to me."
Jack turned back to the picture. Seeing all the faces of his old friend was about to make him cry until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder to see Cricket behind him.
"Ever since I was a lil' kid, you been me hero because you and all the other boys…" She turned her head to smile at Crutchy. "Includin' Crutchy, gave me the courage to live on my own." She glanced back at Hawkeye. "Of course, I had a little help from Hawkeye and Townie after they found me in the park."
Jack didn't know what to think of the kind words a girl he'd never met say to him. He slapped his hands together, and switched his view to the rest of the crowd. "I didn't know when I came back to this city, I'd get such a warm welcome."
"Why wouldn't the one and only Jack Kelly not get a warm welcome" Hawkeye remarked.
Jack looked around and smiled. The two girls in his presents looked very familiar to him. Where have I seen those two before?