Writer talk: Once again, another delightful chapter in the lives of the Delancey sisters! I was wondering while writing this chapter, what would Delilah and Tilda look like ? since I have never described that detail before. I will tell you right now what I think they look like. Delilah is like a female version of Morris, but minus the changing facial hair. Her hair is long, she's tall like him though, her face is sort of sour except when she's smiling, but she's a little better looking than Morris ;)
Tilda is the female version of Oscar. Her hair is shoulder length, she's short, has an impish face, and is kind of girly looking. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!
Part 4: Like Moma always said, "Eat your cottage cheese first."
"This," Skittery displayed, proudly. ", is where all the newsies in this area eat."
The sisters stared at the glass-windowed restaurant called Tibbys with uninterested faces. "Now I see why we never came here" Tilda murmured. They walked in anyway since the boys were so enthusiastic about eating there. They grabbed a table by the wall, and was ready to order a minute later.
"What would you like, Ma'am?" asked Wally, the dancing waiter, holding his pencil and pad up.
"Mmm...an actually meal, I better order good" Delilah commented, looking at the waiter. "The roast beef and a saparilla, please."
"Good choice." Wally smiled, writing that down. "You, ma'am?"
Tilda bit her lip in a manner of sheer concentration. She looked at him straight in the eye, all serious-like. "Do you have any mutton covered in tartar sauce?" she asked in a sophisticated voice.
"Um..." Wally was caught off guard. He made a face. "No ma'am, we do not."
Delilah rolled her eyes. Her sister was being an idiot...for the millionth time! The boys were just looking confused by her odd request. Wally was starting to think he was a bad waiter.
"All right." Tilda shrugged, throwing him a grin. "Just give me a knockwurst and a glass of water."
Wally sighed in relief. He jotted the order down, and turned to his usual customers. "You, sirs?"
"Give us the usual" Skittery said, grinning. Wally walked off, apparently knowing what that was. Skittery turned his attention to the girls. "What is it like living with Weasel, Oscar, and Morris?"
Tilda cocked her brow. "And, you really want to know?"
"It is sort of an interesting idea...in a strange way" Skittery replied, shrugging a shoulder.
"I don't know how well you know our brothers" Delilah started, leaning forward on the table. ", but it's hard to describe. Uncle Weisel became our guardian after our mother died six years ago."
"That's when everything pretty much went down hill" Tilda said, offhandedly.
Delilah continued, not paying mind to Tilda's comment. "Uncle Wiesel is this greasy man who likes to throw his weight around. We never liked him. Oscar thinks he's tough…"
"And, a regular Casanova" Tilda laughed, which made Dutchy and Skittery go wide eyed.
"He's a 'ladies man'?" Skittery asked. Tilda nodded, trying not to laugh even louder at the faces they were making.
Delilah went on, as if she'd never been interrupted. "Morris is a little different from the other two. He's actually slightly likable."
Tilda snorted in disgust, and rolled her eyes. "That's because you two are somehow…close."
"Will you shut your trap and let me talk!" Delilah swatted her sister. "Morris is as ape-like as Oscar, but at least he as a -little- sense!"
"Morris does seem to be like the brains of the two," Dutchy stated then a smirk. "if you could call what they have as brains."
Tilda stuck out her hand, indicating to Dutchy to shake it. He did. "That's the gospel truth."
"Speaking of your brothers," Dutchy said, leaning back in the booth, "we've known them working at the distribution office for a good time now. Where were you two this whole time?"
Delilah and Tilda exchanged mischievous glances. "We were thrown into a boarding school in the Bronx about a year ago" Delilah replied.
"Yeah, after we set the factory on 54th on fire" Tilda informed, nonchalantly.
Skittery eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Wait. I remember that story in the papes. That was right before Weasel and your brothers came to work at The World."
"You're saying you set that factory on fire?" Dutchy asked in surprise. His mouth stayed open like a fish.
The sisters nodded proudly with matching smug smiles. Skittery laughed with a hint of nervousness. "You two are one surprise after another."
"Here's your meal, ladies and gentlemen" Wally said, interrupting their conversation. He had their meal. There was silence as he placed their plates in front of them. But, after Wally left and they had started digging into their food, the conversation boiled up again - but with a different subject.
"Listen girls," Skittery started, suddenly acting serious. ", you two don't know how to fight, right? I mean, the way you handle everything by running and we did find you getting your rears kicked in the alleyway and…"
Delilah heaved, and slammed her hand on the tabletop - making the plates bounce. "Skittery, you rubbed it in enough. What is your point???"
"Oh yeah, how would you like to learn how to fight from the best?"
"From you two?" Tilda quirked an eyebrow.
"He surely isn't talking about our brothers, Tilda Blanche" Delilah inquired with much sarcasm.
"Not even from us" Skittery continued.
Dutchy jumped in, saying proudly, "We know someone who is the best and he'll teach you."
Skittery wiped his mouth then gestured for Dutchy to move out of the booth. "I'll go get him. You three meet me in the alley across the street from here."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I hope Skittery gets back soon" Tilda complained, arms folded over her chest as she sat on the ground against the wall next to Dutchy. "It's not my habit to wait."
"That's because you were born with no patience!" Delilah shouted from the other side of Dutchy. She looked at him. "How long is it going to take Skittery to find this 'best' guy you two speak so highly of?"
Dutchy shrugged. "Not sure. Depends on where he is at."
"That's means whoever Shivery…"
"Skittery" The other two corrected in unison.
Tilda waved her hand as if she could care less. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whoever he is getting could be in the next borough and that will take all day for them to get back. Why can't you teach us?"
"Because the best is now here" a familiar, arrogant voice proclaimed. The girls looked to the mouth of the alleyway to see Jack Kelly triumphantly standing there…with the loose woman hanging all over him. They groaned.
"This is the 'best' you were talking about?!?!" Delilah yelled, jumping up and smacking Skittery on the shoulder as he entered with Jack.
"Ow!" He held his shoulder, frowning. "Yeah."
Jack raised his left hand - since his right arm was around the loose woman. "Goils, I promise you it will be worth your while. You will thank me later for all that you'll learn today."
"Yeah, thank him like I would a horse that kicks me in the head" Delilah murmured.
"Hey Jack" Dutchy called. "who's the new goil? I thought you were courting Sarah?"
"I still am. Two girls are better than one" Jack answered, with a wink. "This is Bimbet. We met last night at the gambling place."
The blonde-headed, skimpy-clothed girl giggled. "We clicked right away" she cooed, kissing Jack on the cheek.
"Bet you did a lot more than clicking" Tilda remarked, with a grin, that received a laugh from her ground-mate.
"Dave ain't going to like you courting his sister," Skittery started then gestured to Bimbet nervously, "and flaunting around with this girl."
Jack shook his head. "That's Dave's problem."
"If I were this Sarah girl, I'd kick your arse to the curb" Tilda quipped, taking the offered hand from Dutchy - who had just stood.
"Can we discuss this situation a little later" Delilah said with some impatience. "We need to get on with this fighting lesson of some sort."
"Look who has no patience now." Tilda exclaimed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour and a half later, the Delancey sisters were already acting out full blown fights with Jack. They were, to say the least, quick learners. Delilah had already taken her turn with Jack; Tilda was up. The other three had taken a seat on the ground against the wall on one side of the alleyway while Bimbet sat on a crate, cheering Jack on.
"Come on, Tilda," Delilah yelled, as her sister took a swing at Jack. "Hit him where it counts!"
Jack dodged the swing, and caught Tilda off guard - smashing his fist into her nose. She cried out in pain,
hands immediately flying to her nose where blood had already began to seep out.
Jack laughed, very amused. "You should watch your opponent at all times."
"Oh really?" Tilda said, her voice muffed slightly. She whipped her hands from her nose and slammed her balled fist into Jack's stomach then contacted with his cheek. He doubled over as she calmly walked to the wall, and sat down besides Dutchy. "You should of been watching your opponent."
"Jack, you shouldn't of done that so hard!" Dutchy said, seeing how much blood was dripping out of Tilda's nose. He took his handkerchief from his pocket, and held it under Tilda's nose to stop the bleeding. Delilah hurried over to her sister, asking if she was all right.
"Yeah, you know their just beginning" Skittery added.
"Hey, there are guys out there who will do much worse than give a little bloody nose" Jack informed, sitting down next to Bimbet - who began babying him.
"Unfortunately," Delilah started with a frown, "he's right. There's no telling what kind of pickles we'll get into later."
"Especially with our trouble record" Tilda chuckled then grimaced. Dutchy still held the now bloodied handkerchief over her nose as she lay her head back on the brick wall.
"I think that'll be all the lesson today for you goils" Jack said, standing with Bimbet.
"Thanks, but no thanks. We've had all the lessons we can take." Delilah heaved. The sun was lowering behind the buildings. Dusk was about to set. She knew what that meant. "It's getting late. We better be heading home before Uncle gets back."
Skittery nodded. "We'll walk you home"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Good night, ladies" Skittery and Dutchy said, watching the sisters climb the fire escape to their tenement.
Tilda turned from going up another step, and leaned over the railing. "Dutchy, here's your handkerchief back!" She dropped the blood stained piece of cloth. It landed on the ground directly at the boys' feet. Dutchy picked it up without hesitation, nabbing the little white that was left.
"Miss Tilda, may we see you goils tomorrow?" he asked.
"Oh, you'll see us, but we'll come to you." She winked before disappearing over the fire escape stairs.
The boys turned to leave. Much to Skittery's observation, Dutchy slipped the handkerchief in his pocket. "You know that's unsanitary. It has her blood on it" he said, scrunching his nose in disgust.
Dutchy shrugged. "It's almost dry. I'll clean it later."
Inside, the sisters were gloating over the day…well, sort of.
"Wasn't this an inneresting day" Tilda said, smugly. "We have actually made us some friends."
Delilah smiled. "Yeah, it's pretty hard to believe."
"And, you said all boys were apes like our brothers" Tilda laughed, pushing her sister. "I think we found two who are at least an inch above that line. Did you see how Dutchy instantly took out his handky and stuffed it up my nose to stop the bleeding." She sighed, receiving a impish look from Delilah. "What?"
"Oh just," Delilah couldn't finish, for a familiar gaggle caught her ear. "Awe crud, Uncle Wiesel is coming! Hurry, get in the closet."
They hustled into the closet, Delilah quickly played with the lock with a hair-clip to lock it again. They listened as the front door opened, and the loud complaining of their Uncle flooded the room.
"Where are they?" Weasel asked.
"In there." That was Oscar.
"Then, let them out!"
The closet door swung open, revealing the sisters plopped on the floor - looking rather pathetic. Delilah was leaning against the wall, staring into space. Tilda's arms were wrapped around her knees, her head lay down on them.
"Hey girls" Oscar said, roughly. "Get up."
The sisters raised their heads slowly with the most pitiful expression plastered on their faces. "You finally came to let us free?" Tilda asked, her voice cracking.
The brothers were taken aback by her tone, but only for a second. "Yeah."
Tilda jumped up. "It's about time! I needed to visit the porcelain seat four hours ago!" She started for the bathroom, but turned around. "And, I am not responsible for what I left on the floor."
"Yuck! I'm not cleaning it up!" Oscar announced, running to the brothers' room.
Morris stood in the doorway staring at Delilah. His body shadowed the light out, letting Delilah only see a black figure. "Can we talk?" Morris asked, finally.
"Yes" Delilah replied, slowly.
"Did Tilda really do something on the floor?"
Delilah rolled her eyes, and wanted to laugh at what Morris had said. "No, she didn't, but she would of if you two had been longer."
Morris stepped in the closet, the light from the main room taking over the dark space. He sat beside his sister. He seemed very somber. "You know I love you, Lila."
"Those are big words coming out of someone who locked his own sisters in a closet for an entire day" Delilah bit back in sarcasm.
"I did it for your own good" he continued, in a soft tone. "You don't know how the street trash is. They'll take advantage of you, and I don't want that."
"Morris, they're our friends. They actually stood up for us; one of them got his face bashed in to protect me."
Morris cocked an eyebrow. "How long have you been spending time with those jerks?"
"None. Of. Your. Concern." Delilah punctuated every word to be more meaningful. Although, she doubted Morris would listen.
"From now on I want you and Tilda to stay away from them." He grabbed her arm, pulling her inchs from his face - his tone still incredibly calm. "You hear me?"
Delilah winced. "Of course, I hear you." Doesn't mean I'll obey what you say - she mused.
"Good. Now, come here." Morris pulled her into a hug, which Delilah reluctantly gave back. She loved her brother, but he was being too difficult to like at the moment. He let go of her, and stood up. "You want to play a few games of gin before it's time to hit the sack?"
Delilah shrugged. "Why not? Nothing better to do especially around this household."
They walked out the closet. Just then, Tilda ran in with Oscar behind her. "Hey, where did that bloody nose come from?" he yelled, poking her real annoying-like.
"Delilah did it" Tilda lied, swatting his hand away. "This," she indicated her nose, "is what happens when you lock us up together for an entire day."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The sisters, of course, didn't stop going to see their newsboy pals. They just had to be more careful in not getting caught - which was pretty easy since they were slicker then their brothers. For over a week, everything was fine. Until Uncle Wiesel called a 'family meeting' one morning…
Tilda is the female version of Oscar. Her hair is shoulder length, she's short, has an impish face, and is kind of girly looking. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!
Part 4: Like Moma always said, "Eat your cottage cheese first."
"This," Skittery displayed, proudly. ", is where all the newsies in this area eat."
The sisters stared at the glass-windowed restaurant called Tibbys with uninterested faces. "Now I see why we never came here" Tilda murmured. They walked in anyway since the boys were so enthusiastic about eating there. They grabbed a table by the wall, and was ready to order a minute later.
"What would you like, Ma'am?" asked Wally, the dancing waiter, holding his pencil and pad up.
"Mmm...an actually meal, I better order good" Delilah commented, looking at the waiter. "The roast beef and a saparilla, please."
"Good choice." Wally smiled, writing that down. "You, ma'am?"
Tilda bit her lip in a manner of sheer concentration. She looked at him straight in the eye, all serious-like. "Do you have any mutton covered in tartar sauce?" she asked in a sophisticated voice.
"Um..." Wally was caught off guard. He made a face. "No ma'am, we do not."
Delilah rolled her eyes. Her sister was being an idiot...for the millionth time! The boys were just looking confused by her odd request. Wally was starting to think he was a bad waiter.
"All right." Tilda shrugged, throwing him a grin. "Just give me a knockwurst and a glass of water."
Wally sighed in relief. He jotted the order down, and turned to his usual customers. "You, sirs?"
"Give us the usual" Skittery said, grinning. Wally walked off, apparently knowing what that was. Skittery turned his attention to the girls. "What is it like living with Weasel, Oscar, and Morris?"
Tilda cocked her brow. "And, you really want to know?"
"It is sort of an interesting idea...in a strange way" Skittery replied, shrugging a shoulder.
"I don't know how well you know our brothers" Delilah started, leaning forward on the table. ", but it's hard to describe. Uncle Weisel became our guardian after our mother died six years ago."
"That's when everything pretty much went down hill" Tilda said, offhandedly.
Delilah continued, not paying mind to Tilda's comment. "Uncle Wiesel is this greasy man who likes to throw his weight around. We never liked him. Oscar thinks he's tough…"
"And, a regular Casanova" Tilda laughed, which made Dutchy and Skittery go wide eyed.
"He's a 'ladies man'?" Skittery asked. Tilda nodded, trying not to laugh even louder at the faces they were making.
Delilah went on, as if she'd never been interrupted. "Morris is a little different from the other two. He's actually slightly likable."
Tilda snorted in disgust, and rolled her eyes. "That's because you two are somehow…close."
"Will you shut your trap and let me talk!" Delilah swatted her sister. "Morris is as ape-like as Oscar, but at least he as a -little- sense!"
"Morris does seem to be like the brains of the two," Dutchy stated then a smirk. "if you could call what they have as brains."
Tilda stuck out her hand, indicating to Dutchy to shake it. He did. "That's the gospel truth."
"Speaking of your brothers," Dutchy said, leaning back in the booth, "we've known them working at the distribution office for a good time now. Where were you two this whole time?"
Delilah and Tilda exchanged mischievous glances. "We were thrown into a boarding school in the Bronx about a year ago" Delilah replied.
"Yeah, after we set the factory on 54th on fire" Tilda informed, nonchalantly.
Skittery eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Wait. I remember that story in the papes. That was right before Weasel and your brothers came to work at The World."
"You're saying you set that factory on fire?" Dutchy asked in surprise. His mouth stayed open like a fish.
The sisters nodded proudly with matching smug smiles. Skittery laughed with a hint of nervousness. "You two are one surprise after another."
"Here's your meal, ladies and gentlemen" Wally said, interrupting their conversation. He had their meal. There was silence as he placed their plates in front of them. But, after Wally left and they had started digging into their food, the conversation boiled up again - but with a different subject.
"Listen girls," Skittery started, suddenly acting serious. ", you two don't know how to fight, right? I mean, the way you handle everything by running and we did find you getting your rears kicked in the alleyway and…"
Delilah heaved, and slammed her hand on the tabletop - making the plates bounce. "Skittery, you rubbed it in enough. What is your point???"
"Oh yeah, how would you like to learn how to fight from the best?"
"From you two?" Tilda quirked an eyebrow.
"He surely isn't talking about our brothers, Tilda Blanche" Delilah inquired with much sarcasm.
"Not even from us" Skittery continued.
Dutchy jumped in, saying proudly, "We know someone who is the best and he'll teach you."
Skittery wiped his mouth then gestured for Dutchy to move out of the booth. "I'll go get him. You three meet me in the alley across the street from here."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I hope Skittery gets back soon" Tilda complained, arms folded over her chest as she sat on the ground against the wall next to Dutchy. "It's not my habit to wait."
"That's because you were born with no patience!" Delilah shouted from the other side of Dutchy. She looked at him. "How long is it going to take Skittery to find this 'best' guy you two speak so highly of?"
Dutchy shrugged. "Not sure. Depends on where he is at."
"That's means whoever Shivery…"
"Skittery" The other two corrected in unison.
Tilda waved her hand as if she could care less. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whoever he is getting could be in the next borough and that will take all day for them to get back. Why can't you teach us?"
"Because the best is now here" a familiar, arrogant voice proclaimed. The girls looked to the mouth of the alleyway to see Jack Kelly triumphantly standing there…with the loose woman hanging all over him. They groaned.
"This is the 'best' you were talking about?!?!" Delilah yelled, jumping up and smacking Skittery on the shoulder as he entered with Jack.
"Ow!" He held his shoulder, frowning. "Yeah."
Jack raised his left hand - since his right arm was around the loose woman. "Goils, I promise you it will be worth your while. You will thank me later for all that you'll learn today."
"Yeah, thank him like I would a horse that kicks me in the head" Delilah murmured.
"Hey Jack" Dutchy called. "who's the new goil? I thought you were courting Sarah?"
"I still am. Two girls are better than one" Jack answered, with a wink. "This is Bimbet. We met last night at the gambling place."
The blonde-headed, skimpy-clothed girl giggled. "We clicked right away" she cooed, kissing Jack on the cheek.
"Bet you did a lot more than clicking" Tilda remarked, with a grin, that received a laugh from her ground-mate.
"Dave ain't going to like you courting his sister," Skittery started then gestured to Bimbet nervously, "and flaunting around with this girl."
Jack shook his head. "That's Dave's problem."
"If I were this Sarah girl, I'd kick your arse to the curb" Tilda quipped, taking the offered hand from Dutchy - who had just stood.
"Can we discuss this situation a little later" Delilah said with some impatience. "We need to get on with this fighting lesson of some sort."
"Look who has no patience now." Tilda exclaimed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour and a half later, the Delancey sisters were already acting out full blown fights with Jack. They were, to say the least, quick learners. Delilah had already taken her turn with Jack; Tilda was up. The other three had taken a seat on the ground against the wall on one side of the alleyway while Bimbet sat on a crate, cheering Jack on.
"Come on, Tilda," Delilah yelled, as her sister took a swing at Jack. "Hit him where it counts!"
Jack dodged the swing, and caught Tilda off guard - smashing his fist into her nose. She cried out in pain,
hands immediately flying to her nose where blood had already began to seep out.
Jack laughed, very amused. "You should watch your opponent at all times."
"Oh really?" Tilda said, her voice muffed slightly. She whipped her hands from her nose and slammed her balled fist into Jack's stomach then contacted with his cheek. He doubled over as she calmly walked to the wall, and sat down besides Dutchy. "You should of been watching your opponent."
"Jack, you shouldn't of done that so hard!" Dutchy said, seeing how much blood was dripping out of Tilda's nose. He took his handkerchief from his pocket, and held it under Tilda's nose to stop the bleeding. Delilah hurried over to her sister, asking if she was all right.
"Yeah, you know their just beginning" Skittery added.
"Hey, there are guys out there who will do much worse than give a little bloody nose" Jack informed, sitting down next to Bimbet - who began babying him.
"Unfortunately," Delilah started with a frown, "he's right. There's no telling what kind of pickles we'll get into later."
"Especially with our trouble record" Tilda chuckled then grimaced. Dutchy still held the now bloodied handkerchief over her nose as she lay her head back on the brick wall.
"I think that'll be all the lesson today for you goils" Jack said, standing with Bimbet.
"Thanks, but no thanks. We've had all the lessons we can take." Delilah heaved. The sun was lowering behind the buildings. Dusk was about to set. She knew what that meant. "It's getting late. We better be heading home before Uncle gets back."
Skittery nodded. "We'll walk you home"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Good night, ladies" Skittery and Dutchy said, watching the sisters climb the fire escape to their tenement.
Tilda turned from going up another step, and leaned over the railing. "Dutchy, here's your handkerchief back!" She dropped the blood stained piece of cloth. It landed on the ground directly at the boys' feet. Dutchy picked it up without hesitation, nabbing the little white that was left.
"Miss Tilda, may we see you goils tomorrow?" he asked.
"Oh, you'll see us, but we'll come to you." She winked before disappearing over the fire escape stairs.
The boys turned to leave. Much to Skittery's observation, Dutchy slipped the handkerchief in his pocket. "You know that's unsanitary. It has her blood on it" he said, scrunching his nose in disgust.
Dutchy shrugged. "It's almost dry. I'll clean it later."
Inside, the sisters were gloating over the day…well, sort of.
"Wasn't this an inneresting day" Tilda said, smugly. "We have actually made us some friends."
Delilah smiled. "Yeah, it's pretty hard to believe."
"And, you said all boys were apes like our brothers" Tilda laughed, pushing her sister. "I think we found two who are at least an inch above that line. Did you see how Dutchy instantly took out his handky and stuffed it up my nose to stop the bleeding." She sighed, receiving a impish look from Delilah. "What?"
"Oh just," Delilah couldn't finish, for a familiar gaggle caught her ear. "Awe crud, Uncle Wiesel is coming! Hurry, get in the closet."
They hustled into the closet, Delilah quickly played with the lock with a hair-clip to lock it again. They listened as the front door opened, and the loud complaining of their Uncle flooded the room.
"Where are they?" Weasel asked.
"In there." That was Oscar.
"Then, let them out!"
The closet door swung open, revealing the sisters plopped on the floor - looking rather pathetic. Delilah was leaning against the wall, staring into space. Tilda's arms were wrapped around her knees, her head lay down on them.
"Hey girls" Oscar said, roughly. "Get up."
The sisters raised their heads slowly with the most pitiful expression plastered on their faces. "You finally came to let us free?" Tilda asked, her voice cracking.
The brothers were taken aback by her tone, but only for a second. "Yeah."
Tilda jumped up. "It's about time! I needed to visit the porcelain seat four hours ago!" She started for the bathroom, but turned around. "And, I am not responsible for what I left on the floor."
"Yuck! I'm not cleaning it up!" Oscar announced, running to the brothers' room.
Morris stood in the doorway staring at Delilah. His body shadowed the light out, letting Delilah only see a black figure. "Can we talk?" Morris asked, finally.
"Yes" Delilah replied, slowly.
"Did Tilda really do something on the floor?"
Delilah rolled her eyes, and wanted to laugh at what Morris had said. "No, she didn't, but she would of if you two had been longer."
Morris stepped in the closet, the light from the main room taking over the dark space. He sat beside his sister. He seemed very somber. "You know I love you, Lila."
"Those are big words coming out of someone who locked his own sisters in a closet for an entire day" Delilah bit back in sarcasm.
"I did it for your own good" he continued, in a soft tone. "You don't know how the street trash is. They'll take advantage of you, and I don't want that."
"Morris, they're our friends. They actually stood up for us; one of them got his face bashed in to protect me."
Morris cocked an eyebrow. "How long have you been spending time with those jerks?"
"None. Of. Your. Concern." Delilah punctuated every word to be more meaningful. Although, she doubted Morris would listen.
"From now on I want you and Tilda to stay away from them." He grabbed her arm, pulling her inchs from his face - his tone still incredibly calm. "You hear me?"
Delilah winced. "Of course, I hear you." Doesn't mean I'll obey what you say - she mused.
"Good. Now, come here." Morris pulled her into a hug, which Delilah reluctantly gave back. She loved her brother, but he was being too difficult to like at the moment. He let go of her, and stood up. "You want to play a few games of gin before it's time to hit the sack?"
Delilah shrugged. "Why not? Nothing better to do especially around this household."
They walked out the closet. Just then, Tilda ran in with Oscar behind her. "Hey, where did that bloody nose come from?" he yelled, poking her real annoying-like.
"Delilah did it" Tilda lied, swatting his hand away. "This," she indicated her nose, "is what happens when you lock us up together for an entire day."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The sisters, of course, didn't stop going to see their newsboy pals. They just had to be more careful in not getting caught - which was pretty easy since they were slicker then their brothers. For over a week, everything was fine. Until Uncle Wiesel called a 'family meeting' one morning…