Sunday came very slowly. Elizabeth practically leapt for joy when she rose early that morning. A light drizzle of snow littered the Manhattan landscape. She was all aglow as she walked quietly with the rest of the school on their usual path to the Catholic Church.

"Buy a pape, Miss?" Kid Blink nodded slowly, ushering toward MacBeth, paper outstretched.

"No, but you may throw this away for me, kind sir," she replied, thrusting a slip of paper into his other hand as she continued with the others.

"I'm not your servant!" Blink cried after her.

She quickly turned back to look at him. Blink noticed her sudden wink and slight smirk. He made sure to let out an exasperated sigh as he turned back to the passing pedestrians. He secretly smiled inside as he carefully opened the slip of torn notebook paper.

Blink,

I'll drop by this afternoon. Be prepared to go out.

MacBeth

****

At 1:00 P.M. MacBeth crossed through the merchant's stands, collecting random displays of sandwiches, breads, and cakes. She entered the Duane Street Lodging House with a bang as the doors swung open and snow went swirling everywhere. The boys sitting around the lobby shuddered from the sudden chill.

"It's great to see ya again!" Dutchy smiled, waving her into the room.

"Yeah, hurry up and get in. You're lettin' all a da warm air out," Jack grinned.

Kid Blink looked her up and down curiously. Her arms were buckled under the weight of a wicker basket, packages wrapped in brown paper, and a couple of Holly wreathes. Her thin shoulders were draped in a thick wool shawl and a Christmas garland full of red berried. A large wreath sat askew atop her brow, a mess of hair accompanying it.

"What is all of this? You look like you're about ta topple ova'," he asked, tugging the parcels from her limp arms.

"It for you, all of you," she smiled.

Jack frowned, eyebrows raised. "We don't need your charity."

Elizabeth's eyes turned gray with anger. She raised a haughty finger at the two guys, eyes flashing. "The boys, those little boys over there-," she began, motioning across the room where a few of the small boys where thoughtfully playing make believe amongst themselves. "They deserve a Christmas.... You deserve a Christmas. So here-," she smirked, shoving a wreath into Jack's arms. "Help me with this."

His eyes wandered to the decorative Holly wreath he clutched, then to Elizabeth's pleading eyes. "Well, all right." He let out a gasp as she jumped up onto his back, then to his shoulders. They shakily got the decorations in place with the help of the rest of the newsies.