Well, here it is, I'm finally updating!! WOO HOO!! As you, my three loyal
readers and reviewers know, I'm not into the whole shout out thing, but, I
offer a brief thank you to Rhapsody, Dreamer and Raeghann for hanging with
me on this. You guys are the best!! As for the romance thing, Rhap, I'm
honestly not sure where it's going, but I'm not much of a romance writer-
heck, I'm not much of a writer period (but you've been reading this and you
know that). The update has taken so long because I gave all my OJ and
animal crackers to Raeghann and have been finding energy from fruit snacks
and belly button lint (ewww, even just typing it seems gross)-gotta have
your fiber when you hit my age. Okay, so, without further ado, I shall be
off and let you be on with the story. Thanks again!! Happy reading!
(Somebody quick take away the exclamation point before I over use it
again!!!!!!!)
Though tired, Emerson stifled yawn after yawn happy to be in Jack's company, not wanting to cut the time short. For the first time in days she was finally able to release all the thoughts and feelings plaguing her mind while allowing her to feel a bit more at ease. a lot less alone and she was not about to give it up for sleep.
Finished with her own tale, Emerson sat back and listened as Jack spoke. Listening to him recount the events of the strike caused her to flashback again to last July. Once she and John left the lodging house, John spoke of Jack quite fondly. He had instantly taken a liking to the boy, telling Emerson how he wished his employees had half of Jack's drive and ambition. "If given the opportunity that young man could really do something." How right John had been, but his role in the strike did little to help his station in life. For here he was still living the life of a newsie. No sign of regret in his tone or words, just sheer unaltered pride, as he spoke.
"And that's when me and Davey went to talk to Pulitzer to end the strike. You shouldda seen the look on the old man's face when he realized it was his printing press we used to print our paper. I wish Denton couldda been there to take that picture."
Emerson could not help but to smile at the enthusiasm with which Jack spoke. Ironically she and her parents read about the strike in the papers, the very papers which they went to war against. John meant to stop by the lodging house and see the boys again, but time had gotten away from him. During the short self-reminisce time, she failed to hear the footsteps which caused Jack to jump in surprise.
He stood in defense, placing his hand over his heart as the new occupant to the roof became visible. "Mush, you nearly scared me to death."
"Sorry, Jack, I woke up for a drink and noticed you was gone. Just wanted to be sure you was okay."
"I'm fine, there was a little noise in the attic I went to investigate. I discovered the cause of the noise and brought her up here to talk so as not to wake the whole house."
Jack stepped slightly aside for Mush to see Emerson seated on the crates. Nodding Mush pulled a cigarette out from behind his ear, lit it and blew a ring of smoke before speaking again.
"Hello there Sarah, how are things up state?"
"You see, I told you people wouldn't recognize you." Jack said with a smile and a quick snort.
Smiling back, she rose from the crate walking over to where Mush stood. "Do you have another one of those?"
"You don't smoke Sarah." Looking from Jack to Emerson and back again caused him to realize his mistake. "So's you ain't Sarah?" Shaking her head, sticking out her right hand in introductory fashion, Emerson proceeded to do so. "You probably would not remember me, I think you were headed out on a date the night my father and I were here. I'm Emerson Lewis."
With a bit of a blank look on his face, Mush searched the inner workings of his mind. "I never forgets a girl. Ain't that true Jack."
"Yup, Mush here has the face of every girl he's ever met in his head. Mush, Emerson here is the daughter of the guy who paid our lodging fees during the strike."
"Really? Whatcha doin' here?"
"It's a long story Mush best left for in the morning when we can talk to everyone."
"Yeah, right, whatever you say, Jack."
Unable to hold in another one, Emerson covered her mouth as she pulled in a large breath of the cool April air and yawned. The contagiousness spread through them all and back again creating a symphony of yawns.
"It seems we could all use a bit more of sleep before morning. Let's head back inside."
Emerson wanted to protest, but her droopy eyes and continuous yawning betrayed her. Finally concurring with Jack's assessment she allowed the boys to escort her off the roof, back down the stairs and through the window into the third floor. Mush continued down the fire escape to the boy's room a Jack helped her to settle back into bed.
"There are a few spare beds downstairs. It's not by far the cleanest or quietest, but if you want to come down, we have room."
"Jack, no offence to you or any of the boys, but I think it is best I stay of here. The others do not know about me yet. What would happen in the morning if they work up with me there?"
"Uh, yeah, they's used to strange guys showing up from time to time, but we don't get many girls here." Shuffling his feet, looking a little nervous as if not sure what to say next, Jack helped her to lay the mattress back on the floor.
"Well, Jack, I guess I'll see you in the morning. Thank you for missing a couple hours of sleep to talk. It was just what I needed."
"Hey, anytime, um, listen, I could stay up here with you so's you won't be alone."
"Thank you, but I'm sure I will be fine." "Okay then, I'm right at the bottom of these stairs if you need anything."
Emerson smiled at his concern and reluctance to leave her alone. "Goodnight, Jack."
Settling onto the mattress, laying her head on the pillow, Emerson let out a low sigh of relief. Jack cracked a slight grin and threw an extra blanket over her before turning to the stairs.
"Goodnight, Em."
Though tired, Emerson stifled yawn after yawn happy to be in Jack's company, not wanting to cut the time short. For the first time in days she was finally able to release all the thoughts and feelings plaguing her mind while allowing her to feel a bit more at ease. a lot less alone and she was not about to give it up for sleep.
Finished with her own tale, Emerson sat back and listened as Jack spoke. Listening to him recount the events of the strike caused her to flashback again to last July. Once she and John left the lodging house, John spoke of Jack quite fondly. He had instantly taken a liking to the boy, telling Emerson how he wished his employees had half of Jack's drive and ambition. "If given the opportunity that young man could really do something." How right John had been, but his role in the strike did little to help his station in life. For here he was still living the life of a newsie. No sign of regret in his tone or words, just sheer unaltered pride, as he spoke.
"And that's when me and Davey went to talk to Pulitzer to end the strike. You shouldda seen the look on the old man's face when he realized it was his printing press we used to print our paper. I wish Denton couldda been there to take that picture."
Emerson could not help but to smile at the enthusiasm with which Jack spoke. Ironically she and her parents read about the strike in the papers, the very papers which they went to war against. John meant to stop by the lodging house and see the boys again, but time had gotten away from him. During the short self-reminisce time, she failed to hear the footsteps which caused Jack to jump in surprise.
He stood in defense, placing his hand over his heart as the new occupant to the roof became visible. "Mush, you nearly scared me to death."
"Sorry, Jack, I woke up for a drink and noticed you was gone. Just wanted to be sure you was okay."
"I'm fine, there was a little noise in the attic I went to investigate. I discovered the cause of the noise and brought her up here to talk so as not to wake the whole house."
Jack stepped slightly aside for Mush to see Emerson seated on the crates. Nodding Mush pulled a cigarette out from behind his ear, lit it and blew a ring of smoke before speaking again.
"Hello there Sarah, how are things up state?"
"You see, I told you people wouldn't recognize you." Jack said with a smile and a quick snort.
Smiling back, she rose from the crate walking over to where Mush stood. "Do you have another one of those?"
"You don't smoke Sarah." Looking from Jack to Emerson and back again caused him to realize his mistake. "So's you ain't Sarah?" Shaking her head, sticking out her right hand in introductory fashion, Emerson proceeded to do so. "You probably would not remember me, I think you were headed out on a date the night my father and I were here. I'm Emerson Lewis."
With a bit of a blank look on his face, Mush searched the inner workings of his mind. "I never forgets a girl. Ain't that true Jack."
"Yup, Mush here has the face of every girl he's ever met in his head. Mush, Emerson here is the daughter of the guy who paid our lodging fees during the strike."
"Really? Whatcha doin' here?"
"It's a long story Mush best left for in the morning when we can talk to everyone."
"Yeah, right, whatever you say, Jack."
Unable to hold in another one, Emerson covered her mouth as she pulled in a large breath of the cool April air and yawned. The contagiousness spread through them all and back again creating a symphony of yawns.
"It seems we could all use a bit more of sleep before morning. Let's head back inside."
Emerson wanted to protest, but her droopy eyes and continuous yawning betrayed her. Finally concurring with Jack's assessment she allowed the boys to escort her off the roof, back down the stairs and through the window into the third floor. Mush continued down the fire escape to the boy's room a Jack helped her to settle back into bed.
"There are a few spare beds downstairs. It's not by far the cleanest or quietest, but if you want to come down, we have room."
"Jack, no offence to you or any of the boys, but I think it is best I stay of here. The others do not know about me yet. What would happen in the morning if they work up with me there?"
"Uh, yeah, they's used to strange guys showing up from time to time, but we don't get many girls here." Shuffling his feet, looking a little nervous as if not sure what to say next, Jack helped her to lay the mattress back on the floor.
"Well, Jack, I guess I'll see you in the morning. Thank you for missing a couple hours of sleep to talk. It was just what I needed."
"Hey, anytime, um, listen, I could stay up here with you so's you won't be alone."
"Thank you, but I'm sure I will be fine." "Okay then, I'm right at the bottom of these stairs if you need anything."
Emerson smiled at his concern and reluctance to leave her alone. "Goodnight, Jack."
Settling onto the mattress, laying her head on the pillow, Emerson let out a low sigh of relief. Jack cracked a slight grin and threw an extra blanket over her before turning to the stairs.
"Goodnight, Em."