Hello all!! A hearty thank you to all who reviewed, as always it is
wonderful to see my three faithful followers once again and a welcome back
to Kaylee. Also, a thank you through flushed face to my anonymous reviewer
for your kind words, but in defense of my fellow writers, there are some
very more than a little decent stories out there. Not all time travel fics
were created equal (you know who you are-Raeghann-and so do all the rest of
us, so take a quick curtsy and blow a few kisses). Hope you enjoy this
Rhapsody; I'm setting you up for something, but what? Also, good pick up
on the pet name!! And finally Dreamer dear, I know everyone is busy and I
should not use that as an excuse. I am taking the time to work on this at
the office while on lunch and breaks. A quick note on the Varuca comment,
don't forget what happened to her in the movie!! One more thing before I
let you all go to read the story----why do we, as fanfic writers, I mean,
have the newsies meet for lunch at Tibby's all the time? Just wondering,
seems like a conspiracy or something. Do we really think they stopped and
paid for lunch EVERYDAY?
Lying on his bunk, Jack on his back wide-awake, unable to sleep thinking about the girl upstairs and her problems. Over the years, he had seen almost every kind of trouble possible, but if what she told him was true, they were up against something worse than ever imagined. Many of the boys came from turbulent backgrounds, but none of them had ever been on the run from unknown people having to beware of everyone.
Maybe it was because he was on the rebound from his recent love loss, maybe it was because of the danger the surrounded her, maybe it was simply that she slightly resembled Sarah or maybe it was just her, of the reasons he was not sure, but when she leaned against him, he had felt something. Haunting his mind and aiding in is insomnia, Jack could still feel the remnants of her warmth. The girl was strong-willed, but not in a masculine manner, sensitive, but not overly feminine, intelligent but not a snob, or at least she had not intended to be, about her education and she listened. Sarah had always seemed to be somewhere else when he spoke. As if what he said never mattered much to her.
"That's enough thought about the girl Jacky-boy. She's from another world anyway. How could she ever be interested in you?"
Upstairs Emerson lie awake with thoughts of her own. The sound of his voice as he called her "Em", just as her father and only her father had done, lingered in her ears filling her mind with his stories, his eyes, his strong demeanor and personality. She could not help but be reminded of her father. Jack had given her comfort and strength without being asked. He wanted her trust, wanted to help her, wanted her to feel safe. She almost could-almost, but there was something in her that held out. Emerson learned through the years that trust was not something to be given lightly.
"Okay, Emerson, get it together. He is just a boy. How could he ever be interested in you anyway?"
Emerson fell into a peaceful, dreamless sleep finding herself well rested, but wanting more sleep as she woke up to a man banging on the walls below.
"Come on boys, up, up, up. Time to carry the banner; let's go move it up and at 'em."
Grumbling from the residents below told Emerson she was not the only one wishing for more sleep. Listening to their shuffling about comforted her in the safety that she was not alone. Below her some twenty or so boys were being dragged from bed and off to ready themselves for the day at hand.
Knowing it would only be a matter of time before she would be greeting them herself; Emerson crawled off her own bed, lifted the mattress back against the wall and folded her blankets. Tugging her bag out of the closet, opening it and producing an object, she carefully pulled the sliver-handled brush through her hair. Because it was shorter, the task was fairly easy compared to the day before. Only once did she feel pain from a small tangle as the brush caught in her hair. The dye had left it with a terrible smell, but the several washings and conditioning left it soft as she ran her fingers through it. Though she lost several inches in length, it was still long enough for her to pull away from her face, a few minutes and pins later only the slightest wisps remained.
Only just finishing the door below opened and footsteps trampled up the stairs. Emerson rose from the window seat to welcome whoever might be on the way up. Jack was the first to reach the top followed by Mush, the boy she met the night before, a tall boy with an eye patch, a short boy with a cigar hanging out the corner of his mouth and a boy with dark curly hair and a sprinkling of freckles over his nose.
"Guys, you remember Emerson Lewis, don't you?"
Thinking as they looked her up and down, Emerson could see a bit of recognition in the faces of the boys. Yes, they knew her from somewhere, that she could tell, but they could not remember from where or when.
"Geez, don't yous guys retain anything?"
"Retain, Jack?" The shorter boy asked pushing the cigar a little further into the corner so he could speak around it.
"Remember, you schumck."
"Thanks Kid, buncha fine guys you is, Emerson's father is the guy who helped out in the financial area during the strike. You might remember now that he and his daughter," Jack paused motioning toward her, "made a visit here to the house one night."
"Yeah, yeah, I's retaining now Jack, you and me was telling stories." Taking her hand, Racetrack gently kissed it failing to remove the cigar first. "Uh, sorry about that."
Emerson smiled at the boy's attempt at chivalry while fighting the urge to laugh. They had lived through so much and still tried to help everyone they met feel more at ease. "Hello again, let me see if my recall is any better than yours Racetrack."
Stunned into silence, he nodded his head in affirmation. Turning from him to his left she smiled warmly and greeted Mush.
"Mush, I met you last evening, lovely to see you in the daylight."
Race, Blink and Davey raised their eyebrows in his direction careful to keep their mouths closed for fear of what might leap out causing problems for their friend.
"It ain't like that guys, Jack was up on the roof with her when I went to find him last night."
Turning on heels from Mush to face Jack each of them sporting and equally inquisitive look of accusation.
"Fellas, Emerson here has found herself in a bit of trouble."
Kid Blink pulled his gaze from Jack and asked the question on the minds of their minds directly to her. Emerson appreciated the fact they recognized she was in the room and we not acting as if she did not exist. Figuring it was a natural reaction to having been ignored so much in their own lives, she went on to tell the story taking note of the concerned look on each of their faces.
Laying out the story, she was shocked at Jack's seldom interruption. He had a way of interjecting everyone's thoughts during the telling of stories or so it seemed. She supposed it was because he was able to explain things better, sort of a translator between the more and less educated.
"And that is what has brought me to your humble home."
"I brought you guys up here to hear the story so we can keep an ear out while selling. There is bound to be a story about her missing and someone out there knows something."
"So, what's the plan Jack?"
"I'm taking her to see Medda today and we'll figure out the rest from there. Medda might have an idea or two.
"Taking her to see Medda is a good idea since she was so worried about her yesterday."
"Ha! Then you must be David. I think you were sick when Father and I were here, but your little brother is quite the drama king."
"Yes that he is."
Introductions had been cut short and Emerson was determined to meet each of the boys individually as she was placing her life in their hands. Taking the time to finish them, she turned to the final boy.
"And I remember you, the charmer of the bunch, Kid Blink."
Embarrassed by the remark, instant heat flushed through his face, suddenly finding his shoes very interesting.
"Well, guys keep your eyes and ears open and your mouths closed. We'll meet you all at Tibby's for lunch."
Lying on his bunk, Jack on his back wide-awake, unable to sleep thinking about the girl upstairs and her problems. Over the years, he had seen almost every kind of trouble possible, but if what she told him was true, they were up against something worse than ever imagined. Many of the boys came from turbulent backgrounds, but none of them had ever been on the run from unknown people having to beware of everyone.
Maybe it was because he was on the rebound from his recent love loss, maybe it was because of the danger the surrounded her, maybe it was simply that she slightly resembled Sarah or maybe it was just her, of the reasons he was not sure, but when she leaned against him, he had felt something. Haunting his mind and aiding in is insomnia, Jack could still feel the remnants of her warmth. The girl was strong-willed, but not in a masculine manner, sensitive, but not overly feminine, intelligent but not a snob, or at least she had not intended to be, about her education and she listened. Sarah had always seemed to be somewhere else when he spoke. As if what he said never mattered much to her.
"That's enough thought about the girl Jacky-boy. She's from another world anyway. How could she ever be interested in you?"
Upstairs Emerson lie awake with thoughts of her own. The sound of his voice as he called her "Em", just as her father and only her father had done, lingered in her ears filling her mind with his stories, his eyes, his strong demeanor and personality. She could not help but be reminded of her father. Jack had given her comfort and strength without being asked. He wanted her trust, wanted to help her, wanted her to feel safe. She almost could-almost, but there was something in her that held out. Emerson learned through the years that trust was not something to be given lightly.
"Okay, Emerson, get it together. He is just a boy. How could he ever be interested in you anyway?"
Emerson fell into a peaceful, dreamless sleep finding herself well rested, but wanting more sleep as she woke up to a man banging on the walls below.
"Come on boys, up, up, up. Time to carry the banner; let's go move it up and at 'em."
Grumbling from the residents below told Emerson she was not the only one wishing for more sleep. Listening to their shuffling about comforted her in the safety that she was not alone. Below her some twenty or so boys were being dragged from bed and off to ready themselves for the day at hand.
Knowing it would only be a matter of time before she would be greeting them herself; Emerson crawled off her own bed, lifted the mattress back against the wall and folded her blankets. Tugging her bag out of the closet, opening it and producing an object, she carefully pulled the sliver-handled brush through her hair. Because it was shorter, the task was fairly easy compared to the day before. Only once did she feel pain from a small tangle as the brush caught in her hair. The dye had left it with a terrible smell, but the several washings and conditioning left it soft as she ran her fingers through it. Though she lost several inches in length, it was still long enough for her to pull away from her face, a few minutes and pins later only the slightest wisps remained.
Only just finishing the door below opened and footsteps trampled up the stairs. Emerson rose from the window seat to welcome whoever might be on the way up. Jack was the first to reach the top followed by Mush, the boy she met the night before, a tall boy with an eye patch, a short boy with a cigar hanging out the corner of his mouth and a boy with dark curly hair and a sprinkling of freckles over his nose.
"Guys, you remember Emerson Lewis, don't you?"
Thinking as they looked her up and down, Emerson could see a bit of recognition in the faces of the boys. Yes, they knew her from somewhere, that she could tell, but they could not remember from where or when.
"Geez, don't yous guys retain anything?"
"Retain, Jack?" The shorter boy asked pushing the cigar a little further into the corner so he could speak around it.
"Remember, you schumck."
"Thanks Kid, buncha fine guys you is, Emerson's father is the guy who helped out in the financial area during the strike. You might remember now that he and his daughter," Jack paused motioning toward her, "made a visit here to the house one night."
"Yeah, yeah, I's retaining now Jack, you and me was telling stories." Taking her hand, Racetrack gently kissed it failing to remove the cigar first. "Uh, sorry about that."
Emerson smiled at the boy's attempt at chivalry while fighting the urge to laugh. They had lived through so much and still tried to help everyone they met feel more at ease. "Hello again, let me see if my recall is any better than yours Racetrack."
Stunned into silence, he nodded his head in affirmation. Turning from him to his left she smiled warmly and greeted Mush.
"Mush, I met you last evening, lovely to see you in the daylight."
Race, Blink and Davey raised their eyebrows in his direction careful to keep their mouths closed for fear of what might leap out causing problems for their friend.
"It ain't like that guys, Jack was up on the roof with her when I went to find him last night."
Turning on heels from Mush to face Jack each of them sporting and equally inquisitive look of accusation.
"Fellas, Emerson here has found herself in a bit of trouble."
Kid Blink pulled his gaze from Jack and asked the question on the minds of their minds directly to her. Emerson appreciated the fact they recognized she was in the room and we not acting as if she did not exist. Figuring it was a natural reaction to having been ignored so much in their own lives, she went on to tell the story taking note of the concerned look on each of their faces.
Laying out the story, she was shocked at Jack's seldom interruption. He had a way of interjecting everyone's thoughts during the telling of stories or so it seemed. She supposed it was because he was able to explain things better, sort of a translator between the more and less educated.
"And that is what has brought me to your humble home."
"I brought you guys up here to hear the story so we can keep an ear out while selling. There is bound to be a story about her missing and someone out there knows something."
"So, what's the plan Jack?"
"I'm taking her to see Medda today and we'll figure out the rest from there. Medda might have an idea or two.
"Taking her to see Medda is a good idea since she was so worried about her yesterday."
"Ha! Then you must be David. I think you were sick when Father and I were here, but your little brother is quite the drama king."
"Yes that he is."
Introductions had been cut short and Emerson was determined to meet each of the boys individually as she was placing her life in their hands. Taking the time to finish them, she turned to the final boy.
"And I remember you, the charmer of the bunch, Kid Blink."
Embarrassed by the remark, instant heat flushed through his face, suddenly finding his shoes very interesting.
"Well, guys keep your eyes and ears open and your mouths closed. We'll meet you all at Tibby's for lunch."