Spit Fire sat quietly next to Jack. She hadn't known this about Jack and felt sorry for him. She figured it must be tough on him, "I am so sorry Jack." She said quietly, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No, theah's nothin' you'se can do." He said watching the streets below looking at each person hoping they weren't his father. Jack turned around and closed the window behind him.
Blink, Spot, Race, and Mush watched the two of them out on the fire escape, "Shoul' one of us go out theah or somethin', yah know jus' in case he tries tah push her off dah fire escape?" Blink asked them.
"Nah, I'se bettin' if he tries tah she'll hit him." Race said as he reached into his pocket, "Any one wanna make a bet?"
"Race, put yer money away." Spot said watching Spit Fire and Jack. He was worried because he had never seen Jack shove any one before just for talking to him. Plus he had never seen Spit Fire back away from any one, not some one who had soaked the leader of the Bronx.
**********
Spit Fire looked over at Jack, "Jack?" She asked seeing as he had shut the window she grew worried.
"Spit Fire you know I ain't afraid of nothin' right?" He asked her. Still keeping his eyes focused on the street below.
"Yeah I know that you aren't afraid of anything. Jack what are you getting at?" She asked him really worried that he might do something stupid or something that he would regret later.
"Me fadda he was abusive tah me sistah, muddah, and me…" He cleared his throat when he mentioned himself in there, "An' I'se never been afraid of nothin', but me fadda scares me a lot. I'se afraid he's goin' tah come aftah me when he gets out. He was a drunk and blamed everythin' on me. He said that I was the oldes' and need tah set and example, go out and get a job so he could take all me money and got get drunk. Spit Fire we'se had nothin' and the lil' we'se had he woul' take and squander on alcohol. He tol' me dah nigh' dah bulls took him d'at if he evah got out he'd come find me. I nevah though' he woul' get out. I felt safe, but d'ese las' few days"
Spit Fire figured this must have been hard on him to tell her all this, she only wished she was better at comforting people. It was one of the traits she never learned, "I am sorry I am not better at knowing what to say."
"Don' be sorry." Jack said understanding that some people had never been cared for so it made it harder for them to know what to do in cases like this.
"If you want I can soak him for you." She said elbowing him slightly. Jack smiled and put an arm around her.
"Thanks Fire, but I'se think I'se gonna have tah deal wid d'is one on me own." He said to her.
Spit Fire looked at him, "Jack I may not be one to speak, but you shouldn't push people away. You should let them help you."
"Yer right yah ain't one tah tawk, but I'se gonna listen tah you'se." Jack stood up and extended a hand to Spit Fire, "I'se gonna go for a walk I'll be back latah. Tell dah guys d'at d'ey ain't got nothin' tah worry about now."
Spit Fire nodded taking his hand and standing up, "Jack, don't do anything I wouldn't do." She smiled at him and went to go inside. Jack climbed off the fire escape and towards the streets.
"Hey everything's okay for now." Spit Fire said to the four of them, "He went for a walk and will be back later."
Race smiled, "Well now d'at he ain't heah any one up fer a game of cards?" He asked. Race had been unable to play cards for a week now afraid to play against Jack.
"Shoah." Blink and Mush pulled up a chair along with Spot. Spot pulled one up for Spit Fire.
"You gonna play?" He asked her. Spit Fire shook her head.
"No, I'm just going to watch." She said jumping up onto her bunk and watching from there. She could pretty much see everyone's hand.
*********
Jack walked down the street thinking about what he was going to do. He found himself headed towards the train yards. He walked across the tracks and hopped up onto the platform across the way, "Can I help you?" The lady behind the ticket counter asked.
"Ah, yeah." Jack placed his cowboy hat onto his head and leaned against the counter…
To be continued