Chapter 15

Chapter 15

When I went into the bunkroom, I saw no one. But then I heard someone call out my name. To my surprise, it was a female voice. I whirled around, and when I spied the dark brown hair, I cried out.

"Hope!"

She wrapped her arms around me tightly.

"I'm so glad dat you're heah! I was afraid dat you wouldn't be heah!"

I suddenly stopped hugging her and my face grew hot.

"I'm really sorry, Hope…I…"

She stopped me quickly and gave me a faint smile.

"I knows why you'se heah, ya don't need ta tell me,"

My eyes welled up with tears. I turned away from Hope and sat down on the bunk. She quickly walked over to me and sat down also.

"Bristles, Sunny and I think dat it would be a good idea dat you'd stay heah in Manhattan,"

I looked up and stared at Hope. Seeing my face, she quickly told me that since I didn't really want to see Spot right now, I should stay here. And since my birthday was coming up, I could just have a party here with the Manhattan newsies. Of course, the Brooklyn newsies would be here too. I asked if Spot was coming, and Hope said she didn't know. Although I was upset, I knew I was feeling disappointed that I wasn't going to see him.

"What about you guys though?"

"wese'll miss ya, alright, but we'll still come ta see ya every week. Every day even. Weah still heah for ya, in case you're worryin. But do ya wanna stay heah in Manhattan?"

I thought about this. Staying in Manhattan would be different from Brooklyn. And I wouldn't see Sunny or Hope that often either…but the thought of Spot still troubled me. And so I said that I would stay here. I could sense disappointment in Hope's voice when she told me that would be fine, but I did not want to think about it. I quickly changed the subject and asked Hope a question.

"So, uh, why didn't Sunny come to see me?"

"Well, she, uh, went to discuss sumpthin wit Spot…don't warry, it's nutin bout you,"

"Oh…well, why are you here?"

"ta see you, of course!"

"Anyone else?" I could see Hope starting to blush, but she didn't answer my question. I started smiling and said, "he went out, but he'll be back, he might've been headed for Brooklyn…I wonder why?" She looked at me quickly and asked me if I had said anything. Seeing that I was still smiling and hadn't replied to her, she pinned me down and said she was gonna soak me.

"relax, I haven't said a thing. Besides, what're you worrying about? He likes you, and you know that, now let me go,"

Hope loosened her grip and quickly and looked at me with some suspicion, but did not pursue the subject. We started talking about how my birthday party was going to be planned out. She wouldn't stop asking me about what I wanted for my birthday, but I wouldn't tell her anything. Because I did not want her to do something like give up a week's salary just to get me a present.

"Aw, c'mon, dere's gotta be sumpthin u want…I promise dat I won't do anytin stupid about it if ya tell me,"

I firmly answered no, and Hope flopped on the bed and sighed in frustration.

"youse and stubborn as a kid dat's gonna be given a bath, Bristles…well, I guess I'd betta be leavin now, cuz I don't wanna be distoibin nobody."

"wait! Don't you wanna stay for a while? Maybe you could spend the night. I betcha that there's an extra bunk, and you could share with me if there isn't,"

Hope seemed to ponder this over, but only after ten seconds did she agree, and I didn't bother to ask why. We sat on the bunk for a while, and then I heard Jack call from downstairs. I suddenly realized that I was starving; all the talking must have stirred up my hunger. Hope seemed to have the same feeling, for she flew down the stairs long before I did, but I did hear Jack greet Racetrack before he called us down….