It had taken 30 minutes to get everyone settled in the hay barn for the night but soon everything was ready. After eating and getting settled the older newsies began to tell stories as they all laid on top of their blankets swatting at flies and making hand shadows on the wall from the fire light. Most of the stories were just harmless tales meant to cause a shiver but not really scare. Mr. Jacobson felt that the newsies would be fine on their own and had taken up Sid Swanson on the offer to stay in the house, leaving the newsies with out supervision.

Somehow this ended up being the night where Kit and Josh learned the facts of life. It was an accident, at least that is what Cray would later claim, but some how the over 11 crowd of newsies started to brag about their "conquests" with girls and Josh had innocently asked what getting laid meant. Kit chimed in that she wanted to know and this caused a lot of hemming and hawing on the part of the boys. Finally it was decided that Harry would tell them. After it was all explained to them both Kit and Josh screwed up their faces and said that was gross and that it was all a lie before stalking off to the back of the barn and going to sleep.

"Swanson Olson, I can't believe you made me tell them." Harry looked at the two younger boys. "You at least could have told them, he is your brother Olson and Swanson Kit is your cousin, and she's a girl." Harry looked as if he wanted to go jump in the nearest crick.

Cray didn't even miss a beat, "Harry how did you learn this stuff?"
"Well…I learned it at a thing like this, my first year." Harry spoke looking to where the two young kids had gone off too.
"So did the rest of us. Just think of it as passing on a tradition, when Kit and Josh are 16 they can pass on the story to the next generation." Buddha was quick to point out, and the rest of the guys in ear shot nodded.

"Fine I guess that is true, but still Kit is a girl, some girl should have told her." Harry whined.
"Yeah but what girl would have told her? Some one has to start it off right, just as well be you." Cray justified as the newsies began to turn in.

"Fine, but if they say anything to your folks or Jacobson I am giving all the blame to you." Harry mumbled as he stretched out.
"Sure blame me, I would have to have told her anyway some time. Her mom's pregnant again, she was gonna wonder where that kid came from. You just saved me some embarrassment." Cray grinned and ducked the hay that Harry threw at him.

"Get to sleep you bummers. Jacobson ain't gonna let us sleep till noon, that don't happen till after we get to the site not before." Harry bellowed silencing the whispers, soon all that could be heard were the crickets and the soft breathing of 40 some odd boys and one girl



The weeks vacation went by very quickly and suddenly it was the last day before the group of newsies would head back to Lincoln for school or to work. The week had been great fun, Swan, Cray and Buddha had taught the city boys how to fish. While they weren't great at it there was always at least some fish for dinner. Most of their time was spent in and around the water, no one getting out until they were hungry and shivering.

Cray and Buddha had kept a close eye on their young charges making sure they didn't get lost in the rough housing newsies. While Kit and Swan called Crale "Cray" most of the newsies just called him Swanson which was at times confused with Swan. That was until this last day.

It was the last swim of the day, which was pretty early since Mr. Jacobson wanted to make the farm by nightfall. Kit had been keeping close to the bank watching the small minnows and the crayfish scurry around her feet and under rocks trying to stay out of sight. Josh had come over once or twice but Kit would wave him away with warnings about the crayfish.

She had been so caught up in watching the small creatures that when Cray had come up behind her she didn't even notice. Cray picked up the small girl intent on throwing her out toward the deep part of the river. Kit started screaming and struggling. Cray kept a hold of her but wasn't watching where he was walking. Suddenly the stone he had stepped on moved and something pinched his big toe.

Cray struggled not to drop Kit at this point as he joined her in screaming. This caused the newsies to look at them and begin laughing, Cray made his way quickly out from the shallow bank of the river and dropped Kit unceremoniously into the river before grabbing his foot and pulling off the crayfish that was still attached to his toe.

Kit came up sputtering ready to start yelling at her older cousin but when she saw the crayfish in his hand she began laughing. "Cray that isn't how you are supposed to catch crayfish."
Cray scowled at her but as the other newsies began laughing he joined in also. Harry came over and put an arm around Cray, "Well Crayfish Hunter it serves you right for making me tell Kit that stuff at the beginning of the week."

Buddha came over and began to tease his friend also. "So Crayfish boy what are you going to do with your pet?"
Cray looked down at the small creature, "Well he's too small to eat, maybe I know." Cray took the creature and put right in Kit's face. "Come one Kit kiss the crayfish."

Kit squealed and ran to the bank yelling that she was gonna tell his mama on him. Mr. Jacobson who watched it all allowed the boys time to play a bit long giving Kit time to get dressed before calling them all out. "Let's go boys, we need to get going."

The boys quickly climbed out of the water and dried off then began to pick up the camping site, putting away their belonging back onto the wagon. Soon the signal was given and they began the walk back to the farm.

Kit had climbed up to the driver's seat and refused to talk to any of the boys. She would talk to Mr. Jacobson and as a result a lot of what she wanted to say to the boys went through Mr. Jacobson first.

"Kit I am really sorry. It was a joke, we use to throw you in all the time." Cray walked next to Kit who studiously ignored him and kept talking to Mr. Jacobson.
"Mr. Jacobson can you tell Crale that I am not talking to him and to leave me alone." Kit asked.
Jacobson relayed the message, with a sigh. "Kit you can't stay mad at me forever. I am really sorry. Please forgive me." Cray asked before walking off.
Kit didn't even say anything just turned her back to him as she curled up on the bench and fell asleep.

Jacobson waited till Kit was asleep before motioning Cray over. "Crale, she won't keep this up forever I am sure by tomorrow this will all be forgotten and she will be back to talking to you."
Cray nodded, "I am sure but I still feel pretty stupid."
Jacobson nodded, "Don't worry about it boy girls seem to make us guys feel stupid all the time. You know you should keep your eye on her though. She has all the signs of being quite a hellion if you aren't careful. Probably going to break a lot of hearts."

Cray nodded, "Just what I am afraid of." The twelve-year-old looked at his cousin in all seriousness, the girl was going to get him in lots of trouble he could feel it in his bones already.