N'kay thanks to all of you who have reviewed and special thanks to Kora who is my grasshopper and helped me come up with some of the names. Well please rewiew!
When I was done selling I ran up the steeps of the Lodging House, and instead of going into the bunkroom I turned and went into my small room. Mr. Higgins had given me this room when I first came here when I was about six years old. It was MY room no one ever went in it but me and Mr. Higgins and that was a rare occasion.
My room was plastered with pictures, newspaper clippings and letter than my father had sent me from New Mexico. I had many dream catchers hanging from the ceiling and different objects that my father had sent me. I had a small cot in the corner. The cot was actually my dad's old bunk from when he was a newsie; Mr. Higgins thought it'd be really cool if I had my dad's old bunk. I was apathetic on the whole thing.
I collapsed onto the bed and pulled the letter out of the back of my pocket. By now it was all wrinkly from all the times I had sat on it or pulled it out to just look at it. My father's unmistakable handwriting had scrawled the Lodging House's address on the front of the envelope. Carefully I opened the letter and pulled a sheet of paper out.
Dear Kelly, (the letter began) How are thing's going up there? Nothing
much is happening down here, I found this really interesting tribe of Indians,
they're really nice compared to what everyone says up there in New York.
How's Mr. Higgins doing? And Dave?
Man I really miss all of you guys, especially you. Actually I'm coming back
home on the 25th of June. I'm arriving on the 3 o'clock train. I
can't wait to see how much you've grown. Since I haven't been there for a few
years your going to have to show me around, and I can show you where I used to
hang out as a kid. I have so many questions to ask you about how your life is
up there. Are all the boys treating you right?
Well tell Dave and Mr. Higgins that
I can't wait to see them and if you get a chance can you tell Mrs. Medda Johnson
and Luke Conlon that I'm coming up? I can't wait to see you…I said that already
didn't I? Well see you soon.
Your Loving Father.
I read the letter over three times to make sure I had read it right. My dad coming back home? I mean he'd been gone for…well since I was six and I'm fourteen now so that's…like nine years! And he was coming home the 25th of June. Oh my gosh that was the day after tomorrow! Holy Cow! I couldn't believe it. I jumped up off my bed and ran down the stairs to Mr. Higgins desk. Most of the boys were coming back after selling their papers.
"Mr. Higgins! Mr. Higgins!" I shouted jumping up and down. A lot of the boys gave me funny looks but figured it was a girl thing and went on upstairs.
"I hear ya! I ain't deft!" Mr. Higgins yelled from his office.
"Well at least not yet," Cards said as he went up the stairs.
"Ha ha very funny Daniel," Mr. Higgins said coming out of his office using Cards real name. Cards shot him an evil glare and went up to the bunkroom. "Now 'Fingers what did you'se need me for?"
"Uh…well nothin' really…but Dad's commin home!" I shouted smiling and leaping up like twenty feet into the air I was so happy.
"He is?" Mr. Higgins asked. All I could manage now was to nod. "Wow Jackie-boys coming back!" Mr. Higgins said grinning. I gave Mr. Higgins a confused look. "Your dad's nickname," Mr. Higgins said explaining.
"Oh yeah! I'se remember now!" I shouted. "I'se gonna run over and tell Dave n'kay?" I asked.
"Go ahead, but hurry," Mr. Higgins said smiling.
"Thanks! Be right back!" I shouted as I ran out the door jumping over the few steeps that lead up to the door.
"Oh Fingers!" Mr. Higgins shouted.
"What?" I said from the bottom of the stoop.
"When's your dad coming back?"
"Da day after tomorrow."
"Alright, thanks."
I smiled up at Mr. Higgins and ran down the streets towards Uncle Dave's apartment. It wasn't to far from the Lodging House. Well my luck is that my Uncle Dave lives on the 6th floor of the apartment building. I ran up the first three floors, walked up the fourth floor and barley made it up to the apartment. Panting I knocked on my Uncles door. Almost at once my Uncle opened the door.
"Kelly? What are you doing here? Is everything alright?" Uncle David asked, sometimes he can be so pessimistic.
"Dad…commin…home…in…two days," I finally gasped out in-between breaths.
"Really? He's coming home?" I nodded regaining my hyper active happiness.
"Uh huh! Isn't dis great! Well I'se just wanted ta tell ya…I'se gotta go back to da Lodgin' House."
"Alright, still see you tomorrow?"
"You'se bet! Bye Uncle Dave!" I shouted over my shoulder as I ran back down all six flights and back to the Lodging House. I must have been at my Uncles longer than I thought because when I got to the Lodging House it was already locked up. Either this was Mr. Higgins idea of a sick joke or I had really been gone longer than I thought. Oh well no worries…there is always the fire escape and none of the boys are asleep at this hour. I deftly climbed up the fire escape to the bunkroom and paused. I looked in and saw all the boy laughing and joking around. We were all friends but the boys never joked around with me like that. I mean inside I had always wanted the boys to just get it through their heads that I was a girl but not like all the other girls. Sighing I continued my climb up onto the roof. I didn't really feel like sleeping in the bunkroom and it was a nice night, I could use the fresh air to think.
I sat down and leaned up against the knee-high wall that surrounded the edge of the roof. I still had to tell Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Conlon about Dad coming home. Maybe I should just take the next few days off from selling…I could sleep in for once. Oh yeah and Medda Johnson meant Eric Johnson her son and my best friend. My last thoughts were of Eric and of how I could get him out of school to skip the next day.
SO what did all of ya'll think? I hope you like it and you
WILL review. Yes thanks bye I'll add more soon!