AN: Sorry about the massive amount of cliffhangers, folks, but hopefully this new chapter makes up for it. I really appreciate the response to it, though :D There's kind of a cliffhanger here, too (I love this chapter, did I mention that? Plot twist!), but I know where I'm going with it ^_^ Actually, there's a 50/50 chance. In the meanwhile, though, enjoy, and review!

Holding Over Water -- Chapter 7

From January second, 1895, on, Speck was officially my selling partner. Around any newsie but me and Duke, the kid was shy as hell at first, but as soon as we got him out on the streets to carry the banner that first day, he was one of the most comfortable kids I'd seen. He looked right at home on a street corner, which you can decide to be a good or bad thing. After that night he would tell me that he had lived on the streets for a while, running away from his father, who, after he found Speck, would give him a few "reminders" as to why he shouldn't leave home. I felt bad for the kid, if you want to know the truth, but at the same time he showed me just how tough he could be. I admit that I treated him special, but I think it helped him open up to the other boys. Watcher, now sixteen, and Patches, a boy of ten, took to him especially well.

After that day, I stopped being depressed. Speck made me realize that there was something to live for without Boxer, and I had to live for Speck, to show him that this life was better than the one he'd had with his father.

What can I say about 1895 other than that? There's the most important, pivotal event in my life, of course: late that spring, I met Jack Kelly, which I know I've talked about already. On that day…there's so much I can say about that day, and not just about Jack.

After we finished our selling that day, Speck and I went back to the lodging house, where I got the biggest surprise of my life. Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. We went back to the Lodging House, still high off our adventurous day, and the two of us were welcomed back by Watcher.

"'eya, Spot an' Speck," he greeted.

"Hiya," Speck said, beaming.

"Heya Watchah," I said. "How's it rollin'?"

"Not bad, Spot, not bad."

"Good sellin' day?"

"Same as usual. How about youse two?"

"It was pretty good," I told him.

"Tell 'im about the guy we met!" Speck, at my side, chirped up.

"Guy?" asked Watcher. "Anudder newsie, Spot?"

I shook my head. "This guy ran into me and spilled all me papes. But we got to talkin' an' he even helped me when Speck was being hassled by some thug."

"And?"

"An' he helped scare 'em off!!" interjected Speck, smiling. Watcher and I both laughed.

"Yeah, that's right, Speck," I agreed. "Why doncha go sign the book fer me?" I asked him. "We forgot on our way in, and Mistah Johansen'll help ya if you need it."

"Okay!" he said, and trotted out of the room.

"Well, what about him?" Watcher asked me as Speck left. "Does 'e got a name, foist of all?"

"Jack Kelly," I said, almost smiling at the sound of it.

"What about this Jack Kelly guy?"

"I think he'd be a good newsie," I admitted. "He reminds me a lot of Boxah."

"An' Boxah was the best," Watcher said approvingly.

"Exactly."

"Den he's got potential."

"If he'd stop bein' a thief."

Watcher nodded. "I knows whatcha mean." After a brief pause, he continued, almost a little cautiously. "Hey…I got a lettah today."

"Really?" I asked. It was rare that any of us got mail. Raff received letters from his older sister, who lived out in the country, occasionally, but I knew Watcher had no family -- or, at least, no family he was willing to mention. "From who?"

"'Member Lanny?"

"Lanny!" I exclaimed with enthusiasm, my face lighting up at the name. "No shittin', Watchah? Lanny sent ya a lettah?"

"Yeah, we'se been exchangin' 'em for a while now."

"Damn, it's been a long time since Lanny was around. How is 'e?"

"He's real good. He's livin' in Chicago."

"Chicago?" I asked. "Hey, ain't that where Boxah…" I trailed off. No way. There was no damn way. "Watchah, were Lanny and Boxah…?"

Watcher bit his lip and then nodded his head. "I wasn't supposed ta tell anyone, though, you understand, right, Spot?"

"Yeah…" I said slowly. "Yeah, I understand."

So these were the kinds of secrets newsies kept. The kinds of secrets even God could keep. Lanny and Boxer. It was almost beyond comprehension. For a moment, I was disgusted by the thought, but then my hatred turned towards myself…I should have seen it in the way those two acted with each other, the way both of them looked at each other, especially when Lanny left for greener pastures. Boxer's face from that day was still imprinted in my mind. I'd thought he had felt a brotherly love for Lanny, but I guess I really had underestimated the bond they had. Lanny and Boxer. Who could have known? And now, it was possible I was going to fall into that same trap after a chance meeting with a boy named Jack Kelly.

"I think I'se gonna take a walk," I told Watcher. All of this was making me feel a little shaky, and I needed to cool my head. "Can ya watch Speck fer me?"

"Shoah," he said. As I headed for the door, he added, "Spot?"

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Lanny told me ta tell ya Boxah says hello."

I didn't say anything in return; I merely nodded, my eyes clenched shut, and then I left, to walk without destination into the world of confusion that had been created for me...all because of one letter.