AN - I am so glad to get positive reviews on this! I love feedback -- I love it! =]
Important - This is a short chapter…I know. It's very short, in fact. But, it's short for a reason, and is just pretty much introducing you. The next few chapters may also be short. Simply to let you know, I am well aware that the chapter's length is somewhat brief. --Stepherz
The Re-birth
By Stepherz
Mush's POV
I crept from the alley, and ran to the end of the line at Weasel's. I waited for less than a minute, then Jack appeared. He smiled, and stopped in line in back of me. When it was my turn, I asked for 50 papes, and paid the debt. I stepped out of the way, and waited at the bottom of the steps for Jack.
With fifty papes in his hand, he strolled down to meet me. With a casual grin, he slapped my shoulder.
"Looks like you're my sellin' partner today." I smiled.
"No objections here."
We moved into a square, crowded with people moving off to work. Jack found a barrel, and stood on it. I was next to it, the lowly spectator. He smiled, and thrust his newspaper into the sky.
"Extra! Extra! Explosion on 54th street!" He grinned down at me, and I couldn't help but laugh and shake my head. I found a bench, and stood on that…I joined in with Jack, to make up a truly horrendous headline.
In counter to his declaration, "Thousands of lives at risk!"
"Numerous injuries."
"Several casualties!"
And so it went, on and on. We'd made this story up about a blown fuse in one of the flats on 54th street. After an hour or two, we'd sold all 150 papes. Good, that meant we wouldn't have to eat them. We jumped down from our very productive perches, and I memorized the area in case we ever came back.
We made our way to the Lodging House. I was so elated. I mean, Jack was coming back! I felt my pulse quicken with excitement as we neared the building. I was leading the way, and I turned to look at him. For some strange reason, I had a feeling he wasn't really going to stay.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" He smiled.
"It's a roof, and it's getting colder outside. I can't be a guttersnipe forever, y'know." I knew.
"Okay then, but it's pretty full…" He laughed, and shoved me forward.
"You act like you don't want me to stay." He turned and slugged him gently in the shoulder.
"You know better, too." He smiled, and we walked forward.
We were a rather awkward couple, I'm sure. I mean, he was the genius, and me…well, I wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree. He was taller than I was too, and older. I kind of felt like he shadowed me sometimes. Like, he was better…plain and simple. I took care to keep quiet when I felt like this, because he'd catch onto my bitterness, and then we'd sure get right down to the problem.
As we walked into the room, every one greeted Jack as if he were a king. Maybe he was. I walked silently over to my bunk. I'd gotten used to him having so much attention. I don't think I get jealous really easily, but I have to get used to the idea before I'm totally okay with it. I watched as he plowed through them. Luckily, he was a pretty tall guy, and he smiled at me over their heads. Once he was through, he looked around.
"So, Which bunk's mine?" A few kids scattered off their bunks, and he laughed. "I don't want to take a bunk from anyone."
"They're all taken, in that case." Specs shouted from his shared bunk. Some of the boys had to share bunks, because there were so many residents. The moment was kind of awkward as Jack looked around, deciding which bunk he would share. The majority of them were already shared, and he cast me a secretive look. I knew which bunk he'd pick.
After a moment, a raspy voice shouted up the stairs. "Lights out!"
At least a dozen boys moved to turn the lights out. Jack walked over to my bed, took off his hat, and slipped under the covers without bothering to undress. I suppose he was very tired. He shifted against me, and I reached for him. The room was pitch black, and I couldn't see him, or anything for that matter. My hand caught his, and I held it there. He pressed his lips against the ridge of my knuckles, I wondered if anyone had night-vision, and could see us. Common sense won over on that one, and I shifted so that I was facing him. He put his head on my chest, and I rolled onto my back. He was in my arms, and that's all that mattered to me.
"Goodnight Mush" He whispered, and I smiled, not that he could see it.
"Goodnight Jack."
Slowly, he drifted to sleep. I could feel his breathing level, and he seemed heavier. I stroked his cheek, and kissed his forehead silently. I was content simply to hold him, and I began to drift off to sleep.
Suddenly, I wondered what would happen if they found us like this in the morning. I shifted as gently as possible away from him. The beds were small, and were definitely not made for boys our size, not to mention two boys of our size.
I felt more secure, and reluctantly closed my eyes. The bliss of sleep enclosed me.
