Past Secrets and Present Times
Chapter 10
By Megan
Specs realized that as promised Oscar and Maurice had been covered in bandages. Hotshot's black eye was quite a spectacle, and interested any newsie she came in contact with. One of Les' friends was going around with David, Jack, and Les that morning when Specs and Hotshot ran into them and went to grab some lunch at Tibby's. He'd already heard the story of the fight from numerous newsies and not knowing who she was began telling Hotshot the story, completely exaggerating everything.
Hotshot laughed, "What's you's name, kid?" she asked.
"Roger."
"You gonna be a newsie like Les here when you get older?" She'd taken her hat off so he knew she was a girl.
"Yeah," he smiled widely.
"Jack, we gotta call this one 'Hyperbole' when he gets up here."
Jack looked at her sideways, "A. why? An' B. what does dat mean."
"Hyperbole is and exaggeration and that's what dis kid is doin' to my story."
"No," Roger claimed, "Dat story's about Hotshot. He's a newsie." The table erupted into laughter and Roger looked around confused, "What's so funny?"
Hotshot smiled, "Nice to meet you Roger. I'se Hotshot."
"You! But you's a goil."
"That don't got nuthin' ta do wit' it Roger. She's been a newsie in Brooklyn for nine years and she's one a the best fighters 'round here." Jack said, "So you best respect her. Some a us at the boarding house learned that the hard way."
"So what's up with the two a you this afternoon?" Jack asked.
"I was thinkin' a stopping up by the races and visiting Racetrack." Specs said, "Make sure he sold all his papes and doesn't get hisself locked out tonight."
"Smart move," David said, "He'd be livin' on the streets if we weren't here to keep him in line." He nodded to Jack about needing to get the younger kids back to their mothers and doing some things around the house. "I'll see ya all tomorrow." He called back to them as he left. He didn't mind that all the guys were talking about Hotshot; he was just glad to have beaten Oscar up.
"Well," Jack said as they walked out the door, "I gots some papes to sell. You two have fun at the races and make sure Race don't go overboard."
They hitched a ride to Sheepshead on the back of a wagon and walked to Race's usual spot. He was looking over the wall at the horses running in the next race. Specs and Hotshot walked up next to him and examined the horses as well.
Racetrack was concentrating so hard he didn't even notice them. "Fifty on numba t'ree," he told the man in charge of bets giving away his money.
Hotshot reached over his shoulder, "Same on numba ten." She stated.
Racetrack jumped, surprised to find any of the other newsies standing over his shoulder, especially Hotshot. "What are you's doin'?" he asked, "I ain't never seen you here before."
"I ain't been here in years," she told him, "My dad used to bring me and me brutha when we was little and Andres took me after he got arrested, but I ain't been here since Andres died."
"Well let's see how good you are at this," Specs said as the race started. Racetrack was out of his chair screaming for number three to go faster and get him some more money. He almost fell over when number ten crossed the finish line first. His jaw dropped and he turned to Hotshot as she collected her money.
"How'd you do that?"
"Easy," she said, "I picked the horse in the best physical condition." She pointed out the flaws in Race's pick and how her's was better. Race followed her advice and won money in the next race. They stayed the rest of the afternoon and got back to the lodging house reasonably early.
Race was bragging about his winnings and Hotshot was playing cards with Dutchy when Specs found Kid Blink. "How you doin' taday?" he asked.
Kid smiled, "I ain't coughed once all day."
"Just be sure it stays that way." Specs walked off hoping that Kid Blink had been telling him the truth.
Kid Blink did seem to be much better that week. He slowed down his selling for a few days and didn't seem as tired. Specs only heard him cough around the other guys once or twice and it didn't seem as bad as the night he'd been sick. Therefore Specs kept his mouth shut about it to Jack and everyone else.
Since it was now mid August the city was the hottest it had been all year. Many of the newsies who wore a jacket, vest, or one shirt over another, would leave them at the lodging house or take them off halfway through the day. Hotshot was the only newsie that had a problem with the heat. Usually she wore long pants, boots, and a button down shirt over a tank top. If she took off the buttoned shirt it was obvious that she was a girl so by the end of the day she was dying. Because of her predicament there were also a lot more poker games in the bunkroom. Every afternoon she would only buy half the papers she normally did and go back to the lodging house after she finished selling. She'd throw the buttoned shirt on her bunk and start a game with whoever was there.
She was sitting on a bunk playing Black Jack with Mush one night when the other guys started coming back from selling. They would each strip off their shirt to cool off. She laughed as Race sat to start a game of poker.
"An' just what is so funny?" Jack asked quizzically.
"I'm jus' thinkin' that I must be the luckiest girl in New York."
"Oh yeah, and why is dat?" Jack asked, smiling cockily.
"Well how many girls gets ta see eighteen of the cutest newsies without their shirts on everyday," She grinned right back at him.
"Well now you know why the ladies is always after us." Mush said
"So which one a us is the best lookin' wit'out his shirt Hotshot?" Race asked.
She picked up a book that had found it's way under her bed and opened it, "No comment."
"Ooohhh, we's gots a reporta on our hands gentlemen," Itey chimed in.
Jack sat down on her bed and pulled the book out of her hands, "You ain't gettin' outta it that easy." He told her.
She sighed and looked around the room. Other than Jack there were sixteen other guys in the room. "Where's Dave?" she asked.
"Dave don' live here so he don't count." Swifty put in.
"What don't I count for?" Dave asked coming into the room, "Jesus, guys it's hot in here." He reached up and began to unbutton his shirt.
"Dave wins," Hotshot declared.
"C'mon Hotshot, give us a real answer." Snitch said.
"The only problem is it would be my personal opinion, not the opinion a all the girls in New York." She tried again to get out of it.
"Well if you's so smart which one a us would the ladies of New York find most attractive?" Snoddy asked.
She carefully examined each of the guys and narrowed it down from eighteen to ten. Ten to eight. Eight to five. The final five were Jack, Mush, Bumlets, Kid Blink, and Specs. "Mush," she finally decided, "Jack and Blink tied for second."
Mush's usual smile spread across his face, "As if there was any doubt."
Hotshot threw a pillow at him and settled back on her bunk as the rest of them took their seats. The light wasn't so good, and they guys were being loud, so she did what she usually did to read, went to the roof. It was hotter up there than ever but it was quiet and there was shade.
"So what place did I get?" Specs asked as he sat down a few minutes later.
"Since there was a tie for second you came in fourth. Not bad out of eighteen guys." She shrugged.
"And what was the rank on your personal list."
"We're so not going there."
Specs held up his hands in defeat, "Fine, but just to tell you, you inflated Mush's ego way to much."
She smiled, "If he doesn't tone down the bragging tell him that I'll tell all the girls in New York…" She whispered the rest in his ear and he was grinning when she pulled back.
"You're evil you know that, I'd hate to be on your bad side." He jumped up and hurried downstairs. When Hotshot walked into the bunkroom an hour later Mush's bragging had long since ceased. She only smiled at him as she passed him.
On Thursday Kid Blink went with Specs, Hotshot, Mush, Dutchy, Skittery and a few other newsies to the party in the bar down near Town Square. He regretted it somewhat when he came home. He was exhausted and coughing hard from the smoke that had surrounded the place. He made sure that Specs was fast asleep before he went into the washroom and coughed up a small amount of blood. When he was sure his coughing fit was over he crawled back into bed.
The next day it was hard for him to sell. With the help of Mush and Crutchy he sold his last few papers and they grabbed a quick lunch at Tibby's. About half of the guys had had good sales during the morning so they were going back to the lodging house. Kid Blink hadn't sold very well but wanted them to think he had so he walked to the lodging house with them.
Kid Blink, Specs, Dutchy, Skittery, Bumlets, Jack, Dave, Hotshot, Mush, Crutchy, Snipeshooter, Race, and Boots sat around the bunkroom playing a few large games of poker. In Hotshot, Race, and Jack's game the jackpot would get as high as over a dollar, while the others stayed around fifty cents. His shirt seemed tight over his chest so he unbuttoned it and took it off. It was also a lot harder to concentrate than it had been the day before. Because he was off he lost quite a few card games before he sat back and watched the action. Eventually all of the groups melted into one large one. Bumlets was telling them about an incident at the bar the previous night.
"The bartender a course is hittin' on the girl that I'se wit' and so ya see I had ta do sumthin' so I accidentally elbowed him in the face. Here I'll show you 'xactly what happened. Race c'mere you can be the bartender." When Racetrack turned down the offer Bumlets reached for him. Race leaned back in his chair to get out of the older newsies reach but leaned back too far and had his face introduced to the hard floor.
"Ugh," he complained pulling himself up. The others were all starting to laugh at him and he just laughed along with them still trying to keep out of Bumlets reach.
Kid Blink laughed along with his friends, thinking nothing of it. He stood quickly when Race came running toward the bunk he was sitting on. As Race dove through it Kid Blink found himself dizzy and holding onto the metal frame to keep from falling over. He quickly regained his composure and watched the scene before him.
Race was diving through bunks and climbing over them with Bumlets hot on his tail. Race may have been the master of tricks, but Bumlets was one of the masters of getting away from the bulls.
Kid Blink was the other. The two had often caused trouble when they were younger. Bumlets' older brother had taught Bumlets how to pick pockets and Kid Blink was able to pick locks easily. The two of them knew every alley, street, and escape route in the city, and used them on a regular basis.
Race dove through another set of bunk beds and landed off balance. Sensing Race's disadvantage Bumlets dove through the bunks after him. He tackled the shorter newsie to the ground. "Oofff," escaped Race's lips as he hit the ground. He hadn't been able to regain his balance soon enough. Within seconds he had control of his senses again and the two began wrestling on the floor. They rolled over and over while the other eleven newsies in the room laughed at their antics. As always the bunkroom was never boring.
After a few minutes of rolling around and throwing punches Bumlets was victorious. He was sitting on top of Race and had pinned Race's arms to the ground by holding down his wrists. "I win," he simply stated.
"Alright, you win. Now get offa me," Race struggled to get out from under the larger boy.
"Say it."
"Say what?" Race knew very well what Bumlets wanted him to say but wasn't giving in that easily.
"Say Uncle."
"Never," a thin laugh escaped Race's lips as Bumlets put more pressure on his wrists and stomach.
"Man, you's gonna sqish 'im." Mush warned.
"Nah, I know his breaking point." As Bumlets looked at Mush for a moment Race tried to throw him off but was not successful.
"It ain't gonna be that easy midget," Bumlets warned.
"Don' call me a midget," Race complained, "I ain't no midget."
"Sure, whatever you say Race. Now say Uncle."
"Just say it Race," Crutchy urged the doomed newsie.
"No," Racetrack cried. He looked at his position on the floor for a minute. "Uh, Bumlets?"
"Yeah?"
"It really don' look good wit' you on top a me like dat. Maybe you should get off."
Bumlets just laughed, "That's the oldest trick in the book me vertically challenged little friend. You's gonna hafta do better than that."
"Um, Look it's Kloppman."
"Keep goin'."
"I'm thinkin' a them as fast as I can. Gimme a minute."
Bumlets only laughed and shook his head.
"I think I hear me mudah callin'." Race again tried to slide out from under the older boy.
"I don't think so." Bumlets tightened his grip and leaned down closer to Racetracks' face, "Just say 'Uncle'."
Racetracks comments continued flowing out of his mouth and eventually it turned to a conversation. A few miutes later Racetrack brought up a question, "Why is it you's still on top a me?"
"I don't recall that you's said 'Uncle' yet." Bumlets said smirking nastily. Again he leaned down over Racetrack.
"Bumlets man, go brush your teeth. Dear me what has you been eatin'." Race tried to bring his hand up and push Bumlets' face away from him.
Kid Blink began to laugh at both Race's comment and the look on Bumlets' face. Once he started he couldn't stop, even when his chest seemed to tighten up. He tried to stop before he started coughing but the hacking coughs broke through everyone's laughter. The first person he looked at was Specs. Specs had stopped laughing completely and his face was completely serious. Kid Blink didn't realize he'd fallen until Specs arms were under his, keeping him from hitting the floor. Specs was the only one who seemed bothered by him falling. Kid Blink coughing and people falling over were a common occurrence around the lodging house. The fact that Specs had been standing next to Kid Blink seemed to help them notice even less.
When Kid Blink looked up at the older newsie he was sure there was a disappointed look on his face. However, his vision was getting blurry and he couldn't tell. The coughing was still hitting him in waves but he seemed to have better control of it as it was starting to slow down.
Specs immediately pulled him to his feet when he seemed ready. Kid Blink leaned on the frame of a bunk bed a little but his cough was slowing and his vision was clearing. The disappointed look on Specs' face was still there though he also looked somewhat relieved that no one had noticed.
Just then Race cracked another joke that sent them all into hysterics again.
Kid Blink tried desperately to keep himself from laughing but a giggle escaped and turned into a full out laugh. And because of the laughter another wave of hacking coughs hit him. This time, however, it was much worse than before. He picked up a handkerchief off of his bed and put it over his mouth as the coughing started.
The entire groups laughter was broken by a loud hacking cough that seemed to be getting louder and louder, and worse and worse. They all looked over at Kid Blink, whose whole body shook with each new wave of coughs. Specs had a worried look on his face and had a hand on his shoulder.
"Uncle," Race said quickly, "Damn, Bumlets. Get offa me."
Bumlets was off of him in seconds and the two were up off the ground. They all surrounded Specs and Kid Blink.
Specs kept a tight grip on his friend who was to didn't seem as strong as usual and didn't put up much of a fight when Specs made him sit down. This made Specs worry even more. Usually when one of the guys told Kid to do something he would argue with them about it, and always insisted that there was nothing wrong with him.
"Kid, you ok?" Jack asked as he rubbed Kid Blinks back.
The boy tried to nod but kept coughing into the rag in his hand.
"C'mon Kid, calm down," Mush tried to help him. He though maybe if Kid Blink weren't so nervous or worried that the coughing would slow down.
Kid Blinks coughing seemed to climax sharply and start to decline. Throughout the decline he would get worse again and then better. It had been going on for more than ten minutes when he finally seemed to stop. Up until then the only sounds heard in the room were Blink's coughing and a few supportive remarks made by the other guys. When the coughing ceased Kid Blink struggled to take full, deep breaths without another assault of coughs beginning. One last, short attack started and ended abruptly and Mush kept an arm securely around Blink's shoulder when he swayed a bit and almost fell off of the bunk.
As the coughing stopped Jack whispered, barely daring to break the silence, "Kid, what's wrong with you?"
Kid Blink was staring at a card that lay at the end of the bunk he was sitting on. He looked up when Jack addressed him with a pale look on his face. He brought the rag away from his face to reveal a dark, crimson stain where it had covered his mouth.
Hotshot was behind a few of the taller boys and struggled to push her way through when she heard Jack whisper, "What the hell?"
She pushed Skittery and Dutchy and they let her through. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Kid Blink. The bright eyed and excited newsie that had greeted her when she had first come to the lodging house over a month before was almost the total opposite. His skin was a pasty white and his eyes were dull and lifeless. He looked as though if Mush weren't holding him up he would fall over. When she saw the blood on the cloth she found her breath caught in her throat.
"No," she whispered, "Not him. This can't be happening."
"Brooke," Jack used her real name, "What's wrong with him?"
"He has tuberculosis," Saying it seemed to make it all real and her brain started functioning again, "Shit, we have to get him to a hospital. Someone get Kloppman." When no one moved she yelled, "Now!!!"
"Is it dangerous," Jack asked as a few others went running and Mush lowered Kid blink to the bed.
"Not only is it dangerous," Hotshot said, "It kills almost everyone who has it."
A/N: Heehee cliffhanger. Read and review if ya want some more.
Chapter 10
By Megan
Specs realized that as promised Oscar and Maurice had been covered in bandages. Hotshot's black eye was quite a spectacle, and interested any newsie she came in contact with. One of Les' friends was going around with David, Jack, and Les that morning when Specs and Hotshot ran into them and went to grab some lunch at Tibby's. He'd already heard the story of the fight from numerous newsies and not knowing who she was began telling Hotshot the story, completely exaggerating everything.
Hotshot laughed, "What's you's name, kid?" she asked.
"Roger."
"You gonna be a newsie like Les here when you get older?" She'd taken her hat off so he knew she was a girl.
"Yeah," he smiled widely.
"Jack, we gotta call this one 'Hyperbole' when he gets up here."
Jack looked at her sideways, "A. why? An' B. what does dat mean."
"Hyperbole is and exaggeration and that's what dis kid is doin' to my story."
"No," Roger claimed, "Dat story's about Hotshot. He's a newsie." The table erupted into laughter and Roger looked around confused, "What's so funny?"
Hotshot smiled, "Nice to meet you Roger. I'se Hotshot."
"You! But you's a goil."
"That don't got nuthin' ta do wit' it Roger. She's been a newsie in Brooklyn for nine years and she's one a the best fighters 'round here." Jack said, "So you best respect her. Some a us at the boarding house learned that the hard way."
"So what's up with the two a you this afternoon?" Jack asked.
"I was thinkin' a stopping up by the races and visiting Racetrack." Specs said, "Make sure he sold all his papes and doesn't get hisself locked out tonight."
"Smart move," David said, "He'd be livin' on the streets if we weren't here to keep him in line." He nodded to Jack about needing to get the younger kids back to their mothers and doing some things around the house. "I'll see ya all tomorrow." He called back to them as he left. He didn't mind that all the guys were talking about Hotshot; he was just glad to have beaten Oscar up.
"Well," Jack said as they walked out the door, "I gots some papes to sell. You two have fun at the races and make sure Race don't go overboard."
They hitched a ride to Sheepshead on the back of a wagon and walked to Race's usual spot. He was looking over the wall at the horses running in the next race. Specs and Hotshot walked up next to him and examined the horses as well.
Racetrack was concentrating so hard he didn't even notice them. "Fifty on numba t'ree," he told the man in charge of bets giving away his money.
Hotshot reached over his shoulder, "Same on numba ten." She stated.
Racetrack jumped, surprised to find any of the other newsies standing over his shoulder, especially Hotshot. "What are you's doin'?" he asked, "I ain't never seen you here before."
"I ain't been here in years," she told him, "My dad used to bring me and me brutha when we was little and Andres took me after he got arrested, but I ain't been here since Andres died."
"Well let's see how good you are at this," Specs said as the race started. Racetrack was out of his chair screaming for number three to go faster and get him some more money. He almost fell over when number ten crossed the finish line first. His jaw dropped and he turned to Hotshot as she collected her money.
"How'd you do that?"
"Easy," she said, "I picked the horse in the best physical condition." She pointed out the flaws in Race's pick and how her's was better. Race followed her advice and won money in the next race. They stayed the rest of the afternoon and got back to the lodging house reasonably early.
Race was bragging about his winnings and Hotshot was playing cards with Dutchy when Specs found Kid Blink. "How you doin' taday?" he asked.
Kid smiled, "I ain't coughed once all day."
"Just be sure it stays that way." Specs walked off hoping that Kid Blink had been telling him the truth.
Kid Blink did seem to be much better that week. He slowed down his selling for a few days and didn't seem as tired. Specs only heard him cough around the other guys once or twice and it didn't seem as bad as the night he'd been sick. Therefore Specs kept his mouth shut about it to Jack and everyone else.
Since it was now mid August the city was the hottest it had been all year. Many of the newsies who wore a jacket, vest, or one shirt over another, would leave them at the lodging house or take them off halfway through the day. Hotshot was the only newsie that had a problem with the heat. Usually she wore long pants, boots, and a button down shirt over a tank top. If she took off the buttoned shirt it was obvious that she was a girl so by the end of the day she was dying. Because of her predicament there were also a lot more poker games in the bunkroom. Every afternoon she would only buy half the papers she normally did and go back to the lodging house after she finished selling. She'd throw the buttoned shirt on her bunk and start a game with whoever was there.
She was sitting on a bunk playing Black Jack with Mush one night when the other guys started coming back from selling. They would each strip off their shirt to cool off. She laughed as Race sat to start a game of poker.
"An' just what is so funny?" Jack asked quizzically.
"I'm jus' thinkin' that I must be the luckiest girl in New York."
"Oh yeah, and why is dat?" Jack asked, smiling cockily.
"Well how many girls gets ta see eighteen of the cutest newsies without their shirts on everyday," She grinned right back at him.
"Well now you know why the ladies is always after us." Mush said
"So which one a us is the best lookin' wit'out his shirt Hotshot?" Race asked.
She picked up a book that had found it's way under her bed and opened it, "No comment."
"Ooohhh, we's gots a reporta on our hands gentlemen," Itey chimed in.
Jack sat down on her bed and pulled the book out of her hands, "You ain't gettin' outta it that easy." He told her.
She sighed and looked around the room. Other than Jack there were sixteen other guys in the room. "Where's Dave?" she asked.
"Dave don' live here so he don't count." Swifty put in.
"What don't I count for?" Dave asked coming into the room, "Jesus, guys it's hot in here." He reached up and began to unbutton his shirt.
"Dave wins," Hotshot declared.
"C'mon Hotshot, give us a real answer." Snitch said.
"The only problem is it would be my personal opinion, not the opinion a all the girls in New York." She tried again to get out of it.
"Well if you's so smart which one a us would the ladies of New York find most attractive?" Snoddy asked.
She carefully examined each of the guys and narrowed it down from eighteen to ten. Ten to eight. Eight to five. The final five were Jack, Mush, Bumlets, Kid Blink, and Specs. "Mush," she finally decided, "Jack and Blink tied for second."
Mush's usual smile spread across his face, "As if there was any doubt."
Hotshot threw a pillow at him and settled back on her bunk as the rest of them took their seats. The light wasn't so good, and they guys were being loud, so she did what she usually did to read, went to the roof. It was hotter up there than ever but it was quiet and there was shade.
"So what place did I get?" Specs asked as he sat down a few minutes later.
"Since there was a tie for second you came in fourth. Not bad out of eighteen guys." She shrugged.
"And what was the rank on your personal list."
"We're so not going there."
Specs held up his hands in defeat, "Fine, but just to tell you, you inflated Mush's ego way to much."
She smiled, "If he doesn't tone down the bragging tell him that I'll tell all the girls in New York…" She whispered the rest in his ear and he was grinning when she pulled back.
"You're evil you know that, I'd hate to be on your bad side." He jumped up and hurried downstairs. When Hotshot walked into the bunkroom an hour later Mush's bragging had long since ceased. She only smiled at him as she passed him.
On Thursday Kid Blink went with Specs, Hotshot, Mush, Dutchy, Skittery and a few other newsies to the party in the bar down near Town Square. He regretted it somewhat when he came home. He was exhausted and coughing hard from the smoke that had surrounded the place. He made sure that Specs was fast asleep before he went into the washroom and coughed up a small amount of blood. When he was sure his coughing fit was over he crawled back into bed.
The next day it was hard for him to sell. With the help of Mush and Crutchy he sold his last few papers and they grabbed a quick lunch at Tibby's. About half of the guys had had good sales during the morning so they were going back to the lodging house. Kid Blink hadn't sold very well but wanted them to think he had so he walked to the lodging house with them.
Kid Blink, Specs, Dutchy, Skittery, Bumlets, Jack, Dave, Hotshot, Mush, Crutchy, Snipeshooter, Race, and Boots sat around the bunkroom playing a few large games of poker. In Hotshot, Race, and Jack's game the jackpot would get as high as over a dollar, while the others stayed around fifty cents. His shirt seemed tight over his chest so he unbuttoned it and took it off. It was also a lot harder to concentrate than it had been the day before. Because he was off he lost quite a few card games before he sat back and watched the action. Eventually all of the groups melted into one large one. Bumlets was telling them about an incident at the bar the previous night.
"The bartender a course is hittin' on the girl that I'se wit' and so ya see I had ta do sumthin' so I accidentally elbowed him in the face. Here I'll show you 'xactly what happened. Race c'mere you can be the bartender." When Racetrack turned down the offer Bumlets reached for him. Race leaned back in his chair to get out of the older newsies reach but leaned back too far and had his face introduced to the hard floor.
"Ugh," he complained pulling himself up. The others were all starting to laugh at him and he just laughed along with them still trying to keep out of Bumlets reach.
Kid Blink laughed along with his friends, thinking nothing of it. He stood quickly when Race came running toward the bunk he was sitting on. As Race dove through it Kid Blink found himself dizzy and holding onto the metal frame to keep from falling over. He quickly regained his composure and watched the scene before him.
Race was diving through bunks and climbing over them with Bumlets hot on his tail. Race may have been the master of tricks, but Bumlets was one of the masters of getting away from the bulls.
Kid Blink was the other. The two had often caused trouble when they were younger. Bumlets' older brother had taught Bumlets how to pick pockets and Kid Blink was able to pick locks easily. The two of them knew every alley, street, and escape route in the city, and used them on a regular basis.
Race dove through another set of bunk beds and landed off balance. Sensing Race's disadvantage Bumlets dove through the bunks after him. He tackled the shorter newsie to the ground. "Oofff," escaped Race's lips as he hit the ground. He hadn't been able to regain his balance soon enough. Within seconds he had control of his senses again and the two began wrestling on the floor. They rolled over and over while the other eleven newsies in the room laughed at their antics. As always the bunkroom was never boring.
After a few minutes of rolling around and throwing punches Bumlets was victorious. He was sitting on top of Race and had pinned Race's arms to the ground by holding down his wrists. "I win," he simply stated.
"Alright, you win. Now get offa me," Race struggled to get out from under the larger boy.
"Say it."
"Say what?" Race knew very well what Bumlets wanted him to say but wasn't giving in that easily.
"Say Uncle."
"Never," a thin laugh escaped Race's lips as Bumlets put more pressure on his wrists and stomach.
"Man, you's gonna sqish 'im." Mush warned.
"Nah, I know his breaking point." As Bumlets looked at Mush for a moment Race tried to throw him off but was not successful.
"It ain't gonna be that easy midget," Bumlets warned.
"Don' call me a midget," Race complained, "I ain't no midget."
"Sure, whatever you say Race. Now say Uncle."
"Just say it Race," Crutchy urged the doomed newsie.
"No," Racetrack cried. He looked at his position on the floor for a minute. "Uh, Bumlets?"
"Yeah?"
"It really don' look good wit' you on top a me like dat. Maybe you should get off."
Bumlets just laughed, "That's the oldest trick in the book me vertically challenged little friend. You's gonna hafta do better than that."
"Um, Look it's Kloppman."
"Keep goin'."
"I'm thinkin' a them as fast as I can. Gimme a minute."
Bumlets only laughed and shook his head.
"I think I hear me mudah callin'." Race again tried to slide out from under the older boy.
"I don't think so." Bumlets tightened his grip and leaned down closer to Racetracks' face, "Just say 'Uncle'."
Racetracks comments continued flowing out of his mouth and eventually it turned to a conversation. A few miutes later Racetrack brought up a question, "Why is it you's still on top a me?"
"I don't recall that you's said 'Uncle' yet." Bumlets said smirking nastily. Again he leaned down over Racetrack.
"Bumlets man, go brush your teeth. Dear me what has you been eatin'." Race tried to bring his hand up and push Bumlets' face away from him.
Kid Blink began to laugh at both Race's comment and the look on Bumlets' face. Once he started he couldn't stop, even when his chest seemed to tighten up. He tried to stop before he started coughing but the hacking coughs broke through everyone's laughter. The first person he looked at was Specs. Specs had stopped laughing completely and his face was completely serious. Kid Blink didn't realize he'd fallen until Specs arms were under his, keeping him from hitting the floor. Specs was the only one who seemed bothered by him falling. Kid Blink coughing and people falling over were a common occurrence around the lodging house. The fact that Specs had been standing next to Kid Blink seemed to help them notice even less.
When Kid Blink looked up at the older newsie he was sure there was a disappointed look on his face. However, his vision was getting blurry and he couldn't tell. The coughing was still hitting him in waves but he seemed to have better control of it as it was starting to slow down.
Specs immediately pulled him to his feet when he seemed ready. Kid Blink leaned on the frame of a bunk bed a little but his cough was slowing and his vision was clearing. The disappointed look on Specs' face was still there though he also looked somewhat relieved that no one had noticed.
Just then Race cracked another joke that sent them all into hysterics again.
Kid Blink tried desperately to keep himself from laughing but a giggle escaped and turned into a full out laugh. And because of the laughter another wave of hacking coughs hit him. This time, however, it was much worse than before. He picked up a handkerchief off of his bed and put it over his mouth as the coughing started.
The entire groups laughter was broken by a loud hacking cough that seemed to be getting louder and louder, and worse and worse. They all looked over at Kid Blink, whose whole body shook with each new wave of coughs. Specs had a worried look on his face and had a hand on his shoulder.
"Uncle," Race said quickly, "Damn, Bumlets. Get offa me."
Bumlets was off of him in seconds and the two were up off the ground. They all surrounded Specs and Kid Blink.
Specs kept a tight grip on his friend who was to didn't seem as strong as usual and didn't put up much of a fight when Specs made him sit down. This made Specs worry even more. Usually when one of the guys told Kid to do something he would argue with them about it, and always insisted that there was nothing wrong with him.
"Kid, you ok?" Jack asked as he rubbed Kid Blinks back.
The boy tried to nod but kept coughing into the rag in his hand.
"C'mon Kid, calm down," Mush tried to help him. He though maybe if Kid Blink weren't so nervous or worried that the coughing would slow down.
Kid Blinks coughing seemed to climax sharply and start to decline. Throughout the decline he would get worse again and then better. It had been going on for more than ten minutes when he finally seemed to stop. Up until then the only sounds heard in the room were Blink's coughing and a few supportive remarks made by the other guys. When the coughing ceased Kid Blink struggled to take full, deep breaths without another assault of coughs beginning. One last, short attack started and ended abruptly and Mush kept an arm securely around Blink's shoulder when he swayed a bit and almost fell off of the bunk.
As the coughing stopped Jack whispered, barely daring to break the silence, "Kid, what's wrong with you?"
Kid Blink was staring at a card that lay at the end of the bunk he was sitting on. He looked up when Jack addressed him with a pale look on his face. He brought the rag away from his face to reveal a dark, crimson stain where it had covered his mouth.
Hotshot was behind a few of the taller boys and struggled to push her way through when she heard Jack whisper, "What the hell?"
She pushed Skittery and Dutchy and they let her through. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Kid Blink. The bright eyed and excited newsie that had greeted her when she had first come to the lodging house over a month before was almost the total opposite. His skin was a pasty white and his eyes were dull and lifeless. He looked as though if Mush weren't holding him up he would fall over. When she saw the blood on the cloth she found her breath caught in her throat.
"No," she whispered, "Not him. This can't be happening."
"Brooke," Jack used her real name, "What's wrong with him?"
"He has tuberculosis," Saying it seemed to make it all real and her brain started functioning again, "Shit, we have to get him to a hospital. Someone get Kloppman." When no one moved she yelled, "Now!!!"
"Is it dangerous," Jack asked as a few others went running and Mush lowered Kid blink to the bed.
"Not only is it dangerous," Hotshot said, "It kills almost everyone who has it."
A/N: Heehee cliffhanger. Read and review if ya want some more.