AFL Chapter 18
I didn't wake up until much later, but from what I heard from the boys, Jack carried me back to the Lodging House. Since Kloppman knew me and all, he allowed them to take me up to the bunk room.
When I finally stirred, I found Mush smiling down at me. "I'm sorry, Mush," I said, trying to muster strength to talk to him, even though it hurt my raw throat. "I didn't mean—"
"Shhh," Mush said, looking down at me. I was relieved that he wasn't filled with hatred anymore. "It's okay now. You's home. We's gonna take real good care a ya." All I could do was smile weakly up at him. He leaned down and kissed my cheek. "I missed ya, Daffodil." He took my hand and, feeling comfortable for the first time in months, I burrowed down in his bed that smelled so wonderfully of him and, holding his hand to my heart, fell fast asleep.
When I awoke again, it was late in the next day. Kloppman was the only one around, because all the boys had gone to sell the afternoon papes. "I practically had to throw Mush out," the old man chuckled as he forced me to eat some food.
There were loud footsteps on the stairs of someone running, and Mush burst in. "Is she awake?" he asked, then grinned happily when he saw me sitting up and eating.
"Now, don't go making her all excited," said Kloppman. "She had a nasty cold when she set out, and sitting in the snow didn't help her any." (I had told him about the cold, but had downplayed it; he had arrived at the "nasty" adjective all by himself) Kloppman brought a spoonful of hot broth to my lips, but with his age the spoon wavered and some drops escaped onto the sheet.
"Heah, Kloppman!" cried Mush, racing over. He took the spoon. "I'll feed 'er!"
"Well, I do have some bookkeeping to do…" Kloppman mumbled, then left the room and went downstairs. Mush took his chair and began to feed me.
"I'se bin real messed up since I left ya, Daffodil," he confessed quietly. "I'se even wen' t' yer house t' apologize, but yer mom said she didn' have no daughtah, only 'er baby son. She gave me dis meaningful look as she said it, and she was holdin' da baby. I didn' know wheah ya wen' to."
"Mother had a son?" I asked, smiling. "I wonder what his name is…" Mush shut me up by forcing more broth down my throat.
"I was gonna check Brooklyn, but I didn' wanna have all my feahs confoimed, so I didn'. Is dat wheah ya were?" he asked. I checked his expression. It was tender and sweet and caring as he brushed back a piece of my long, messy hair.
"Yes," I answered quietly. "Not because I really wanted to, but because I didn't know where else I could go. I had made YOU mad beyond forgiveness, I thought, and I couldn't stay at my house because Father wanted to marry me off to Philip and Grandfather told me to leave. Spot said he'd never hurt me, never leave me, ever. I figured he was my only friend. So I went to Brooklyn."
Mush put the spoon back in the bowl of broth on the bedside table and then leaned over and gave me a huge hug. "I'se so glad you'se back, Daffodil," he said. "I'se been cryin' out in me sleep an' annoyin' all da boys t' death!"
"I did that, too," I admitted. "I wasn't very popular over there." He pulled away out of the hug and gave me a huge grin. Then I asked for something I'd been aching after for months: "Mush, will you kiss me?"
His grin grew even wider, if that was possible, and he leaned down to me. It was even better than I'd remembered. Everything that had gone wrong between us disappeared, as we kissed and kissed and kissed. He climbed onto the bed with me so it was more comfortable for him and put his strong arms around me, and I kissed him back as hard as I could.
"Whoa!" cried someone's voice. "Jus' gettin' me hat… don' mind me…"
"Shuddup, Cowboy," said Mush with a laugh. He began to kiss me again. I happily complied with his lips.
"Jus' don' let Kloppman catch ya," Jack warned, backing out of the room. "He t'inks you'se feedin' 'er!" He scratched his head. "Well, maybe in a way, ya are." I could practically see the wicked grin on his face, even though I wasn't really listening to him; I was more in tune with Mush at the moment.
"KLOPPMAN!" Jack screamed. "COME SEE WHAT THEY'SE DOIN'!"
"I'se gonna kill ya, Jackie Boy!" shouted Mush gleefully, jumping off the bed and chasing Jack down the stairs. I shook my head. Boys. Then I began to feed myself some more broth.
*
That night, it was just like any other night I'd ever spent at the Manhattan Boys' Lodging House. Racetrack, Snipeshooter, Skittery and Jack played cards, Mush and I sat talking, and the other boys either slept (that was Bumlets, who was apparently exhausted enough to sleep through all the noise) or played little games among themselves or practiced sword-fighting. All of them had brought me daffodils, too. Mush had (once again) given money to Jack and had three of the flowers for me. I nearly cried at the sweetness of it; in fact, I did cry. I had missed all of these boys so much.
Mush gave up his bed for me that night again, and he kissed me goodnight before Kloppman came up. "G'night, Daffodil. I love you." The statement was so simple yet so sweet that it made me smile.
"I love you, too." I pulled his sheet up and smiled to myself. Mush had been right earlier: I WAS home now. This was where I belonged. The only place in the whole world for me.
Halfway through the night, Mush climbed into the bed. "Shhh," he whispered as I woke with a start. "I'll make shore dat I'm back on da floor before Kloppman comes up in da morning." He laced his arms around me and gave me another kiss.
Falling asleep in his arms was wonderful. I had never, ever felt more safe. Mush was my security. I thought of all the experiences I'd had since I'd met Mush. Sneaking out of my house at all hours of the night to meet him… running away… selling papes… dancing in the streets… Mush's birthday… the fire… going back home… going to Brooklyn… believing Mush didn't love me… Spot and Chestnut kissing… running to Manhattan… being reunited with Mush. My life had been a see-saw: up, then down, then up again. I opened my eyes. Mush was already asleep. The moonlight from the window played upon his face, showcasing his closed eyes and smile. I wondered if he was dreaming about me. I knew it really didn't matter, because he was mine, and I wouldn't let him go again.
What a fine life we had, carrying the banner. A mighty fine life.
**The End**
**Disclaimer: Disney owns all of the newsies in the above story, except Victoria (Daffodil, A), Snap (hmmm, he just seemed to disappear… I forgot about him… whoops, maybe he'll come back if I write a sequel), Fire, Stormy, Clementine, Saga, Chestnut (Judy), and Chile. They also own Kloppman, Snyder and Pulitzer. I, however, own the aforementioned listed newsies, as well as Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Pierre, Rose, Bonnie, and Joseph. And the gardener, I forget his name as he had no major part. But yeah, he's mine too. So there. :P LOL. So now, clicky on that little button and tell me how you like the ending. Do you want a sequel? Should I make a series? Let me know. Thanks.
Copyright © Mondie 2002
I didn't wake up until much later, but from what I heard from the boys, Jack carried me back to the Lodging House. Since Kloppman knew me and all, he allowed them to take me up to the bunk room.
When I finally stirred, I found Mush smiling down at me. "I'm sorry, Mush," I said, trying to muster strength to talk to him, even though it hurt my raw throat. "I didn't mean—"
"Shhh," Mush said, looking down at me. I was relieved that he wasn't filled with hatred anymore. "It's okay now. You's home. We's gonna take real good care a ya." All I could do was smile weakly up at him. He leaned down and kissed my cheek. "I missed ya, Daffodil." He took my hand and, feeling comfortable for the first time in months, I burrowed down in his bed that smelled so wonderfully of him and, holding his hand to my heart, fell fast asleep.
When I awoke again, it was late in the next day. Kloppman was the only one around, because all the boys had gone to sell the afternoon papes. "I practically had to throw Mush out," the old man chuckled as he forced me to eat some food.
There were loud footsteps on the stairs of someone running, and Mush burst in. "Is she awake?" he asked, then grinned happily when he saw me sitting up and eating.
"Now, don't go making her all excited," said Kloppman. "She had a nasty cold when she set out, and sitting in the snow didn't help her any." (I had told him about the cold, but had downplayed it; he had arrived at the "nasty" adjective all by himself) Kloppman brought a spoonful of hot broth to my lips, but with his age the spoon wavered and some drops escaped onto the sheet.
"Heah, Kloppman!" cried Mush, racing over. He took the spoon. "I'll feed 'er!"
"Well, I do have some bookkeeping to do…" Kloppman mumbled, then left the room and went downstairs. Mush took his chair and began to feed me.
"I'se bin real messed up since I left ya, Daffodil," he confessed quietly. "I'se even wen' t' yer house t' apologize, but yer mom said she didn' have no daughtah, only 'er baby son. She gave me dis meaningful look as she said it, and she was holdin' da baby. I didn' know wheah ya wen' to."
"Mother had a son?" I asked, smiling. "I wonder what his name is…" Mush shut me up by forcing more broth down my throat.
"I was gonna check Brooklyn, but I didn' wanna have all my feahs confoimed, so I didn'. Is dat wheah ya were?" he asked. I checked his expression. It was tender and sweet and caring as he brushed back a piece of my long, messy hair.
"Yes," I answered quietly. "Not because I really wanted to, but because I didn't know where else I could go. I had made YOU mad beyond forgiveness, I thought, and I couldn't stay at my house because Father wanted to marry me off to Philip and Grandfather told me to leave. Spot said he'd never hurt me, never leave me, ever. I figured he was my only friend. So I went to Brooklyn."
Mush put the spoon back in the bowl of broth on the bedside table and then leaned over and gave me a huge hug. "I'se so glad you'se back, Daffodil," he said. "I'se been cryin' out in me sleep an' annoyin' all da boys t' death!"
"I did that, too," I admitted. "I wasn't very popular over there." He pulled away out of the hug and gave me a huge grin. Then I asked for something I'd been aching after for months: "Mush, will you kiss me?"
His grin grew even wider, if that was possible, and he leaned down to me. It was even better than I'd remembered. Everything that had gone wrong between us disappeared, as we kissed and kissed and kissed. He climbed onto the bed with me so it was more comfortable for him and put his strong arms around me, and I kissed him back as hard as I could.
"Whoa!" cried someone's voice. "Jus' gettin' me hat… don' mind me…"
"Shuddup, Cowboy," said Mush with a laugh. He began to kiss me again. I happily complied with his lips.
"Jus' don' let Kloppman catch ya," Jack warned, backing out of the room. "He t'inks you'se feedin' 'er!" He scratched his head. "Well, maybe in a way, ya are." I could practically see the wicked grin on his face, even though I wasn't really listening to him; I was more in tune with Mush at the moment.
"KLOPPMAN!" Jack screamed. "COME SEE WHAT THEY'SE DOIN'!"
"I'se gonna kill ya, Jackie Boy!" shouted Mush gleefully, jumping off the bed and chasing Jack down the stairs. I shook my head. Boys. Then I began to feed myself some more broth.
*
That night, it was just like any other night I'd ever spent at the Manhattan Boys' Lodging House. Racetrack, Snipeshooter, Skittery and Jack played cards, Mush and I sat talking, and the other boys either slept (that was Bumlets, who was apparently exhausted enough to sleep through all the noise) or played little games among themselves or practiced sword-fighting. All of them had brought me daffodils, too. Mush had (once again) given money to Jack and had three of the flowers for me. I nearly cried at the sweetness of it; in fact, I did cry. I had missed all of these boys so much.
Mush gave up his bed for me that night again, and he kissed me goodnight before Kloppman came up. "G'night, Daffodil. I love you." The statement was so simple yet so sweet that it made me smile.
"I love you, too." I pulled his sheet up and smiled to myself. Mush had been right earlier: I WAS home now. This was where I belonged. The only place in the whole world for me.
Halfway through the night, Mush climbed into the bed. "Shhh," he whispered as I woke with a start. "I'll make shore dat I'm back on da floor before Kloppman comes up in da morning." He laced his arms around me and gave me another kiss.
Falling asleep in his arms was wonderful. I had never, ever felt more safe. Mush was my security. I thought of all the experiences I'd had since I'd met Mush. Sneaking out of my house at all hours of the night to meet him… running away… selling papes… dancing in the streets… Mush's birthday… the fire… going back home… going to Brooklyn… believing Mush didn't love me… Spot and Chestnut kissing… running to Manhattan… being reunited with Mush. My life had been a see-saw: up, then down, then up again. I opened my eyes. Mush was already asleep. The moonlight from the window played upon his face, showcasing his closed eyes and smile. I wondered if he was dreaming about me. I knew it really didn't matter, because he was mine, and I wouldn't let him go again.
What a fine life we had, carrying the banner. A mighty fine life.
**The End**
**Disclaimer: Disney owns all of the newsies in the above story, except Victoria (Daffodil, A), Snap (hmmm, he just seemed to disappear… I forgot about him… whoops, maybe he'll come back if I write a sequel), Fire, Stormy, Clementine, Saga, Chestnut (Judy), and Chile. They also own Kloppman, Snyder and Pulitzer. I, however, own the aforementioned listed newsies, as well as Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Pierre, Rose, Bonnie, and Joseph. And the gardener, I forget his name as he had no major part. But yeah, he's mine too. So there. :P LOL. So now, clicky on that little button and tell me how you like the ending. Do you want a sequel? Should I make a series? Let me know. Thanks.
Copyright © Mondie 2002
