"Fingers…Fingers…" I heard someone calling my name softly as to not jolt me out of my slumber. I made no response, sleep was good. "Fingers! Wake up before I soke you'se in ta tomorra!" The person yelled in my ear. This made me jump five feet in the air. My eyes snapped opened and there stood Cards grinning like the mad man he was.
"Holy Cow Cards!" I shouted as I coved my ear in attempt to lessen the ringing noise in my ears. "What…why…"
"Cause you'se needed ta get up and me dad was goin' crazy over where you were," Cards said offering his hand to me. I took it and he helped me up. I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my back. Mental note to self; never, ever again sleep on the roof in a sting position.
"Thanks," I muttered as we headed over towards the fire escape. "How'd you know where I was?" I asked as I followed Cards down the ladder to the alleyway that was next to the lodging house.
"I saw you'se go up dere last night," Cards said smiling. OK so maybe the boys didn't horse around with me but Cards was still one of my best friends. "So what were you'se thinkin' about?" He asked hopping off the ladder.
"Ummm…I donno stuff," I said shrugging I joined him on the ground moments later.
"So what are you'se gonna do taday?"
"Go bust Rusty out'a school," I said as we headed out of the alleyway. Cards gave me a grin I knew all to well. "Cards don't go thinkin' dat I'se head-ova-heels for da guy….cause I ain't," I snapped at him.
"Sure you'se ain't," Cards gave me one of those looks that mean 'I know you better than you know your self most of the time'.
"You'se know I'se gotta head ova dere anyway," I said as I turned down the street the opposite direction of Cards.
"Can I come?" Cards shouted out after me.
"Don't you'se have some papers ta sell," I said glaring at him. Cards just laughed and I turned towards Mrs. Johnson's apartment. I figured it would be better to go there with out her son. Mrs. Johnson was never happy when Eric skipped school.
About five minutes later I arrived at Mrs. Johnson's apartment building. It wasn't as nice as my Uncle Dave's but it wasn't shabby either. I climbed the stairs to the third floor and come to apartment C17. I rapped on the door softly. Moments later Mrs. Johnson answered the door holding a little girl of about three years old in her arms.
"Heya Kelly!" Mrs. Johnson greeted me warmly. I remember coming over here with my dad before he left for Santa Fe and playing with Eric. I used to go over there a lot even after dad left, and then after awhile when Eric and I were both old enough we started selling. About a year later his mom decided that he should quite being home-schooled by his father and go to a real one. After that my visits to the Johnson's 'house' become les frequent.
"Hiya Mrs. Johnson," I said taking my hat off as I entered the apartment.
"Eric's in school today," Mrs. Johnson said sitting on the red couch in her living room, she began bouncing the little girl on her knee.
"Yeah I'se know," I said plopping down in a chair. "I'se jest came by ta tell you'se dat me dad's coming home tamorrow. He sent me a letta sayin dat he was an wanted me ta tell you'se," I explained fanning myself with my hat.
"Your father is coming home tomorrow?" Mrs. Johnson asked me. Why didn't anyone believe me the first time I said this. Sighing I nodded my head. "Yeah," I said smiling. Whenever I thought about my dad coming home I couldn't help but to crack a smile.
"That's wonderful Kelly!" Mrs. Johnson shouted smiling. "So what are you planning to do with your Dad?"
"I'se donno," I replied shrugging. "Take him 'round town an' talk I'se guess." I said standing up. "Well I'se gotta get ova ta Brooklyn ta tell Mr. Conlon da news."
"Alright honey," Mrs. Johnson said standing up and walking with me over to the door. "Bring your Dad by sometime tomorrow ok?"
"OK Mrs. Johnson," I said grinning, boy was Dad gonna be happy.
"Oh Kelly," Mrs. Johnson said as I headed out the door.
"Yeah?"
"You can call me Medda you know."
"Ok, Bye Medda," I said as I walk down the steeps. So now to get Eric aka Rusty outta school.
Every time I busted Rusty outta school I had to come up with a different plan. Last time I pulled him into an alleyway as he was walking to school, and another time I pulled him away during his lunch break. This time I was going to venture into the land of the unknown; I was going to go into the school. This was something I had never tired before. Slowly I made my way up the steeps to the towering building. My palms began the sweat and my stomach began to get butterflies in it. I made my way to the main office and walked up to the desk.
"Excuse me," I said in a small voice, I don't know why but the school had me scared to death. I guess it was because I was scared they figure out that I was living at the Lodging House and would find out I was a street rat and call the bulls.
"Yes?" I lady behind the desk said, peering at me over her glasses.
"I'm here to pick up Eric Johnson," I said losing my street accent, I figured if they were going to believe I was related to Eric I had to appear a bit more…more…well…more something.
"He's in classes right now, as should you," The lady said. So far I wasn't to fond of this lady.
"Well I'm from out of town," I explained. "You see Eric's Dad is really sick and my father, who is Eric's uncle, came down to take care of his brother and his family. And Eric's Father is getting worse and we need him back at the apartment really badly," I said hoping this lady would buy my sob story.
"Oh my gosh," She gasped, her hand flying to her chest. "I didn't know, I'll go get him right away. Why don't you come with me?" The lady said standing up.
"Thank you Ma'am," I said following her down the hall. We finally stopped out side a door close to the end of the hall and the lady went inside. I leaned up against the wall and waited for her to return with Eric. I didn't have to wait long for in a matter of moments the lady returned with Eric.
Eric was a little older than me and a few inches taller. He his hair was brown with a strong rust red tint, he had deep green eyes which sparkled when he saw me.
"Here you go young lady," The lady said to me.
"Thank you so much," I said smiling. The smile plastered on my face was completely fake let me tell you.
"I hope your father gets better soon Eric," the lady said and with that she turned and walked back down the hall to the main office.
"Come on, let's go out the back way," Eric said grabbing my hand as he pulled me down the hall in the opposite direction as the lady had gone. Just as I thought the hall was going to end it made a sharp right and lead to a door and the end of the hall. "So," Eric said dropping my hand and opening the door. "What's this about my father getting well?" He asked as we exited the building.
"Well I'se told her your pop was sick an' me dad was here ta help him get betta," I explained regaining my accent.
"And she bought it?" Eric asked amazed. "Wow you don't know how many times I've tried to fake sick and go home, but she never believes me."
"It all comes from sellin' papes, I guess," I answered shrugging.
"So where are we off to?"
"Brooklyn," I said shortly. A dark look swept across Eric's face. "What? You'se gots a problem wid Brooklyn?!" I asked Eric, playfully shoving him.
"Well….yes….no….maybe," Eric said grumpily. "It's just last time we were there those boys wouldn't stop flirting with you." At this comment Eric's face began to turn pink. This wasn't exactly the answer I had expected.
"What? You'se ain't jealous are you'se?" I asked grinning.
"No it's just weird….i donno, forget I said anything," He muttered shoving his hands into his pockets. But I couldn't forget.
"Ok we'se almost ta Brooklyn," I announced to Eric.
"Why ARE we going to Brooklyn?" Eric inquired as we stopped in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge.
"Me Pop's commin' home tamarrow…gotta tell Rover's pop," I said it casually but inside I was jumping up and down as I had some many times before.
"Tomorrow?! Wow that's great Kelly! You happy?"
"Course I'm happy! I can't wait to show my Dad around you'se know?" I looked at the water rushing below Eric and meself. "Hey Eric?"
"Yeah?"
"You'se thinkin' what I'se thinking?"
"Probably." Eric and I looked over at each other then leaned over the railing of the Brooklyn Bridge and yelled at the top of our lungs.
"Ok, we'se can go on inta Brooklyn now."
As soon as Eric and I set foot in Brooklyn we saw one newsie sprint down the street towards the docks. Rover has all of these little 'birds' that tell him what's going on most of the time. It's kind-a funny, lots a time he knows what going on even before the Mayor does. Eric and I made our way to the docks. When we arrived half of Rover's newsies were swimming around the dock in their under clothes. The first time I had ever come to Brooklyn this had been a shock, now I'm just used to it.
"Fingers! Rusty!" A familiar voice called out from his perch above the entire dock.
"Hey Rover, get yer ass down here, we'se gotta talk!" I shouted up to the Brooklyn leader.
"Look if you'se got somethin' ta say ta me then all me boys can hear it as well," Rover said gesturing to the boys who had gathered around us.
"Alright Rover, when you'se see yer Pop tell em dat Jack Kelly is commin' home! Got that?"
"Yea, I'se got it," Rover said crossing his arms over his chest as some of his newsies drifted away seeing that nothing special was going on.
"Ready to go Rusty?" I only call Eric Rusty when we are around other newsies. Eric nodded and we turned to go.
"Hey 'Fingers wait a sec." A voice called from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw Jed walking up towards me.
"What do youse want Jed?"
Jed tossed an arm around my shoulder and began to whisper in my ear. "Come on why don't you ditch school-boy over dere an lemme show you a real good time?" I looked at Jed's faces that was only inches from mine and smirked.
"Jed, maybe when pigs fly," Was the only answer I gave the bum as I shrugged his shoulder off my arm and walked up to Eric. Eric was scowling when I joined him.
"You know he wanted you in his pants for a one night thing, this is why I hate Brooklyn," He said with disdain.
"You's jealous ain't you's?" I asked grinning. I looked over at my best friend and saw his checks turn the lightest pink color.
"Why would I be jealous? I mean you're my friend, I just don't want you to get hurt or nothing," Eric told me as we began to cross the Brooklyn Bridge.
"So if it's not me who you'se like who is it?" I asked prying. Hey what was a best friend for if they couldn't pry?
"I donno, I guess there isn't anyone really."
We walked the next few minutes in silence. I looked at Eric. I knew for a fact that all the girls at his school were head-over-heels for him…Rover isn't the only one with 'birdies'. Eric could have any girl he wanted but he didn't want anyone. Besides none of the girls at his school are right for him, Eric needs someone to make him look at things the way those snot nose girls can't. He needs someone who knows him inside and out, knows what he likes, dislikes and how to clam him down when things go the wrong way. You know maybe just being his best friend I don't think anyone out there is good enough for my pal. Just like he said he doesn't want me to get hurt it's the same thing the other way around.
"Wanna go ta Tibby's an' see all the guys?" I asked. "Youse know day miss youse…weather dey say so or not."
"Yeah it'll be nice to see Cards again…and the rest," Eric answered longingly. I knew just as well as he did he missed the streets and the thrill of the city life outside of the stuck up school of his. "I wonder if Cards will bring Annie."
"Annie his twin sister Annie?" I asked curiously.
"Yeah, her."
"You'se like her don't youse?!" I shouted smiling. Eric began to blush and looked at the ground.
"No…well I donno she's pretty and nice…why can't I like her?"
"I didn't say youse couldn't…its Cards who might object."
"True, true."
We soon entered Tibby's and were greeted by many hellos. A lot of Eric or Rusty as he was now…friends came over to talk to him. Soon Rusty was pulled into a booth with Annie and Cards. Rusty landed the seat next to Annie while I took the seat next to Cards.
"Well well well Rusty, where have youse been? How's school goin'?" Cards asked as he spit into his palm and held it out to Rusty who repeated the gesture and they shook hands.
"School's school," Rusty said with a shrug. I sat back and watched Annie bat her eyelashes at Rusty who turned the color of his hair. I rolled my eyes and sighed. Sometimes Cards would go and get Annie from school and bring her here to lunch, she was an example of the brainless girls who Rusty shouldn't be with. Cards himself had dropped school and became a newsie, his parents weren't to happy but you could always tell that Mr. Higgins didn't mind as much as he let on.
"So youse two went ova ta Brooklyn I hear," Cards said before he took a gulp of his drink.
"Yeah, Jed tried to get me in the sack again," I answered. I noticed Rusty, Eric, frowned at this.
"I hate those boys," He muttered as Annie kept staring at him.
"Da Brooklyn Boys do have a rep for getting goils," Cards said smiling over at me. "But no one's gonna land dis goily…she's to damn mean."
Lemme fill you in a little here. Cards and I were together a few months back; nothing big ever happened if you know what I mean. Anyway we both kind-a lost the spark of each other and broke-up, now were buddies and closer in some ways then when we were together. But half the time when Cards and I were together he would tick me off somehow and I'd either give him a shiner to remember or disappear for the night and go over to Eric's house.
"I's am not," I muttered sinking down into the booth.
Rusty and Cards started talking about something happening down in Mid Town next week and I glanced under the table. As I looked at the feet of the three other people joining me at the booth I noticed that Annie was rubbing her foot up and down Eric's leg. Kind-a curious at this I cocked my head to one side and watched her try and play footsie with Eric. When Rusty began to join her I felt something in me begin to boil. Eric wasn't supposed to do that. HE told me he didn't like anyone and I've never know Eric to flirt with someone who he didn't like…I had picked this up from some of his previous relationships.
"So what do you think Fingers?" I was brought back to the real world when Cards spoke to me.
"Huh?" Was all I could manage to say.
"Have you been listening at all?" Rusty asked. I looked down at the table and noticed that Eric and Annie were holding hands.
"No, youse two babble about anythin and everythin so why should Ise listen ta youse?" I asked. Something about Eric and Annie wasn't right. I saw pictures of them in my mind kissing and cuddling and it was making me see red. "I'se gotta go." With that I stood up from that goddamned table and left Tibby's. So I heard foot steeps behind me. I knew who it was before I even looked over my shoulder…or at least I thought I knew who it was.
"Fingers! Wait up!" Cards shouted running after me. Soon, with out trouble, he caught up with me.
"What got into youse back dere? One minute youse fine and da next youse stormin' outta dere like it was hell or somethin'."
"I donno," I said covering my face with my hands. I then sat down on the curb and Cards sat next to me. "I donno what's wrong with me."
"I do," Cards answered smirking. "It's cause you'se head-ove-heels for da boy. I'se know it and all da other boys know it, but youse don't' seem to grasp the fact dat you'se in love wid yer best friend."
"I'M NOT IN 'LOVE' WITH ERIC!!!" I shouted at Cards. This action made many of the people who were passing by stare at me and Cards.
"Sure you'se aint'. Come on why don't youse come on back ta Tibby's and I'll take Annie back to school."
"You go ahead….I need ta think."
"Oh…I didn't know youse could," Cards said lightly. Glaring at the stupid older, but not to bad looking, guy sitting next to me I dove at him and pinned him to the ground. "GOOD NIGHT!" He shouted as I began to tickle him, I wouldn't soak him for something as stupid as that. "I WAS KIDDIN'!"
"Well, maybe youse should stop kiddin'." I got off of my friend and helped him up.
"Yeah, maybe I should…alright well see youse tonight?"
"Naw, I'se gonna crash at Dave's," I answered as I turned towards Central Park.
"Alright, be sure to bring yer Pop by me sellin' spot tomorrow."
"Sure thin'." And with that I headed towards the huge park.
Just as the sun was beginning to set I headed towards my Uncle's apartment. With in minutes I was knocking on his door. The door swung open and there stood a blond, tall woman in a plain baby blue dress.
"Hey Miss Clare," I said smiling. Clare was Dave's girlfriend and were quite happy together.
"Hey honey, David told me your dad is coming home tomorrow, that's great!"
"Ummhum," I said nodding. "Is Uncle Dave here?"
"Yeah…David! Kelly's here!" Clare shouted over her shoulder. "Come on in."
I followed Clare into the apartment and sat down in one of Uncle Dave's big armchair. Soon Dave entered the room and smiled when he saw me.
"Kelly! You can help us so much!" He shouted his grin growing wider. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Oh…uhh…needed a place ta crash tonight…if dat's alright."
"Course it is…now you want to run a few errands and get some of the old newsies together for a party for your Pop when he gat in tomorrow night?"
Smiling I nodded and Dave gave me a list of names and addresses. For the rest of the night I was running all over Manhattan and everywhere else telling all of dad's friends about his coming home party. I arrived back at Uncle Dave's flat just as the sun was beginning to rise, as I fell into bed I thought I could catch a few hours of rest before I met up with my Dad for the first time in what felt like forever.