Hey everyone….here is the third installment of "Heart Of Stone" and look! Nice and long! ::: Smiles:::
Thank you to everyone who reviewed. ::: dances :::: ok maybe not, please remember to review.
Disclaimer: Minnie + me = MINE! Newsies + me = wishful thinking. Any questions?
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The duo walked the cold streets of New York City. They were now walking in the classy areas of the city. The two were silent the entire trip, lost in their own thoughts. Finally Minnie stopped, in front of a gate, through the gate they could see a large house.
"These," Minnie gestured to the rich houses, "are the people who 'ave the worst Christmas'."
Skittery's mouth dropped open, "How can ya say dat?" He asked, "Dey're rich, dey got everythin'!"
"Everythin' money can buy I agree wid you, but, they can't buy love or happiness, it don't matter how much money ya got, take dis house for instance." She pointed to the mansion.
"Joseph Pulitzer lives 'ere, da richest man in New York, he owns dis city. But look at da house."
Skittery and Minnie grabbed the icy bars, Minnie continued, "He's got all dat money and no one ta share it wid, no wife, no children, hell no relatives. Who's 'is friends? His servants? It's pretty lonely at da top."
"Yeah, but'cha eat better." Skittery added.
Minnie shook her head and let go of the bars, "Dat ain't da point Skit."
"Then what is it?"
"Da point, is dat we may be dirt poor, an' we may nevah be as rich as ol' Joe there." She pointed to the mansion, "but we're loved, which makes us richah then Pulitzer."
Skittery let go of the bars, "I don't believe ya, ya can't eat love, love don't pay da bills, when ya got money, you got everythin' of course you'll 'ave friends."
"Friends or people hanin' around you'se for yer money?"
Skittery was silent.
Minnie sighed, "Me point exactly an' yes money helps ya through life, but if ya ain't got someone to share yer life wid, whether it be a goil or friends, then what's da point."
Skittery looked at his feet, Minnie got his attention again, "Take this house," she pointed to the mansion across the street, "I worked 'ere for a couple months. When da mother got sick, she passed on this last April, dis is dere foist Christmas without 'er, you an' I both know it's da hardest da foist year."
Skittery said nothing, but nodded his head.
"Anyway, da kids are heart broken, an' dere fadda has buried 'imself in his work, he goes days without seein' his kids. He lost one thin' important to him, but he's forgetting the other important things in his life."
Skittery shook his head, "yeah so what? They ain't loved, love ain't all dat important anyway." Skittery turned and walked away. Minnie chased after him.
"Love is everything Skit! It's the most important ding! How can ya say somethin' like dat? You're loved Skit, da oudda newsboys love ya, and God will always love ya!" She caught up to him. Skittery stopped and looked at her.
"Oh yer one of dose peoples." He started walking again.
"What do ya mean 'dose peoples'?" Minnie hotly asked.
"Dose people who believe in an aftah life, in God, dere always sayin' God dis and 'Jesus' dat, 'God' loves ya, an' all dat shit, if god gave a flyin' rat ass about me, me parents would still be livin' and so would yours." He didn't look at Minnie, and they kept walking fast.
"Skitt-" Minnie began, but Skittery cut her off.
"What? Minnie, ya gunna tell me dat I'm gunna burn in hell? Dat I need to accept Christ? I don' need dat today, I get enough doity looks from da nuns, so if ya wanna preach go 'eah, but it won't do no good." Skittery vented.
"I was jist gunna say I'se feel sorry for you, but do ya feel better?" Minnie smiled.
Skittery thought for a second, "surprisingly…yes."
"Good," Minnie said, "now follow me, I'm takin' ya some where."
Skittery groaned.
"Ahhh shut up, you'll like it." Minnie scolded, and with that, the two walked out of the classy neighborhood, however they were talking more.
The rich neighborhood melted away, and the rest of the city was revealed. They were walking for a long time and Skittery's feet began to hurt.
"Are we dere yet? Me feet are killin' me." Skitter complained.
Minnie shook her head, "nevah thought I'd see da day when a newsie complains 'bout sore feet, I thought you boys walked a lot."
"Yeah, well we usually take breaks and ain't forced ta walk all ovah da city!"
"Oh hush," Minnie playfully smacked him, "we're here anyway."
They stood in the worst part of town, even Skittery was a little nervous being here. They stood in front of an old apartment building, candlelight filled the windows, and surprisingly, the sound of laughter.
Skittery looked around, "why are we in dis part of town?"
Minnie scoffed, "It's Christmas 'ere too ya know." She turned her attention to the building, "come on let's go inside."
Minnie walked inside, a reluctant Skittery followed behind.
Minnie and Skittery stopped in front of a door and Minnie knocked softly. Feet scurried across the floor.
"I'll git it!" a little girls voice could be heard through the thin door.
"No me!" a small boy argued.
You could hear a small fight beginning and Minnie yelled, "if ya two don' open dis door dere's gunna be bloodshed!"
"MINNIE!" The door opened rather quickly and two small children, about the age of 6 and 7, attacked Minnie, and hugged her legs.
"Hello Ann, William." Minnie patted their heads, "can we come in?" Ann and William let go of Minnie and noticed Skittery for the first time. They looked up at him, sizing him up, but let them both come inside anyway.
"Mom! Dad!" Ann yelled, "Minnie's 'ere,"
From out of the kitchen came two people, a young woman and man.
The woman smiled, "hello Minnie."
"Hi Ester, John." Minnie smiled, "dis is me friend Skittery."
"Skittery?" John raised an eyebrow.
"Wow!" Will grabbed Skittery's pant leg, "you'se a newsboy ain'tcha?"
Skittery looked at the boy, "yeah."
"Wow!" Will said again, "I wanna be a newsie, but papa won' let me."
Skittery smiled, "an' yer dad's right, he needs ya here."
"Well," Ester smiled, "we were just about to sit down to dinner, you two are welcomed to join us if you want."
Skittery shook his head, "that's alright, we don't wanna be a bother ta nobody."
Minnie nodded her head, "Alright." Minnie walked to the table.
"Here," Will grabbed Skittery's hand and nearly dragged him to the table, "you'se can sit by me!"
The family sat down enjoying the small feast they had. After dinner they talked of Christmas' past and soon the clock struck 10. Minnie stood up.
"We need to go." Minnie smiled, "Thank you for dinner, it was delicious."
"Yes," Skittery agreed, "thank you for lettin' us eat."
"Oh," Ester blushed, "don't worry, it was nice to meet you, bye Minnie."
"Good bye," Minnie called and the duo was out the door, and soon on the street.
"Didja like dat?" Minnie asked.
"Yeah," Skittery smiled, a real smile, a first in a long time, "how do ya know 'em?"
Minnie sighed, "Estah and John took me in aftah da fiah, but I don't live wid 'em anymore, but I'll visit every once an' a while…dere dirt poor ya know, poorer den you an' me, ya wouldn't know it by lookin' at 'em though."
"Why did ya take me dere?" Skittery asked.
"Ta show you what love is, because it looked like you'se forgotten it." Minnie said softly. "The newsies would show ya dat love too, if you'd let 'em."
Skittery was for once in his life silent, not knowing what to say, a long time passed before he spoke again.
"Where are we goin' now?"
"To my place." Minnie said, "I'se cold an' wanna go ta bed, I'se guessin' yer manager's locked up da buildin' by now, ya can spend da night wid me."
"Alright," Skittery nodded his head, he didn't mention that curfew wasn't until 10:30 and if he ran he would probably make it, and even if he didn't he could go up the fire escape. But Minnie's place sounded a lot more inviting. He didn't want to answer his friends questions yet.
The friends stepped into Minnie's apartment. It only had three rooms, a bedroom, kitchen and common room. It had little to no furniture. But it was just right for one person.
"Ya live by yourself?" Skittery asked amazed.
"Yeah, I've been livin' by meself for awhile now." Minnie closed and locked her door.
Skittery shook his head, "I don't believe dis."
"What?"
"You! Ya tell me dat I shouldn't be alone on Christmas, but yer alone too, yer a…a…."
"A hypocrite?"
"Yeah! A hypocrite!"
Minnie shook her head, "Skit, I'm hardly ever alone, besides I was planning on spending da night at John an' Estah's but…plans change."
"Wait because of me?"
"Well, yeah, I jist saw ya at da cemetery and thought ya needed someone."
"Great!" Skittery sat down on a chair, "me own Christmas was horrible so I had ta ruin someone else's Christmas."
Minnie shook her head and step foreword, "You ain't ruined anyone's Christmas, not even yours, it ain't Christmas yet, and it ain't too late ta change." Minnie sighed, "can I get ya some coffee or somethin'?"
Skittery nodded his head, "yer speaking me language." Minnie smiled and retreated to the kitchen. Only to return 5 minutes later with two cups. She handed one to Skittery.
"Dat was quick."
"I'se a fast person." Minnie insisted.
Skittery took a sip, "ya know, I'se nevah met a goil like you'se before."
Minnie sat down, "den you either nevah talk to goils or nevah get out, a lot of goils are like me."
Skittery shook his head and sipped his coffee again, "nah, yer different!"
Minnie raised an eyebrow, "oh yeah how?"
"I don' know…yer jist different." Skittery set his cup on the table. Minnie set hers down too.
"Now ya listen 'ere Skit, I ain't nothin' special, an' you best remember dat alright?" Minnie insisted.
Skittery laughed, hard.
"What's so funny?" Minnie looked offended.
"It's jist…yer provin' me point. Most goils try to convince everyone dat dere different, but you'se, you'se wants ta be da same, derefore, yer different."
Minnie smiled, "I guess you do 'ave a point."
"Minnie?" Skittery's face turned serious, "when I go back to da lodgin' house tomorrow, I wantcha ta come wid me, meet all da guys, dey'll love ya."
"Sure din' Skit, I'll come wid you'se, but aftah tomorrow, I'll probably nevah see ya again." Minnie admitted.
Skittery's face fell, "what why not? Yer one of da best friends I've evah had!"
"Me job requires me ta move around a lot, it ain't nothin' personal Skit."
"Den quit yer job, come wid me, be a newsgoil, ye're jist tellin' me dat money ain't dat important." Skittery was pleading.
"Skit, I can't quit me job, I like me job, I like what I do, if circumstances were different, I'd go wid you, but I'se accounted for, I need ta stay wid him and me job." Minnie explained.
"Oh," Skittery looked at the floor, "of course, I should of known, a good lookin' goil like you'se, havin' a boy, I'se jist stupid."
Minnie lifted his chin up, "You ain't stupid, I'll go wid you'se tomorrow, to da lodgin' house, I'll say goodbye dere."
Skittery smirked, "alright."
Minnie smiled, "good," she stood up, "hey look it's snowin'!" Skittery and Minnie raced for the window.
"Looks like will 'ave a white Christmas aftah all." Skittery smiled.
Minnie chuckled.
"What?"
"I jist thought I'd nevah see ya smile when Christmas was said." Minnie smiled.
"Well, maybe you've accomplished yer goal." Skittery smiled.
Minnie was speechless, her mouth gapped open. Skittery chuckled.
"Maybe we should go ta bed." Skittery suggested.
Minnie snapped out of it. "yeah," she stuttered, "of course, da blanket's on da couch…good night."
With that Minnie left the room, and climbed into bed, but neither of them got any sleep, they were thinking too much on Skittery's changed outlook. While outside the snow fell.
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annnnnndddddd…..it's done. Now please remember to review, there's still much more to come.