Warning: This story contains adult language, graphic violence, attempted
rape, attempted suicide, and sexually explicit themes. Reader's discretion
is advised.
Rating - R.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.
Chapter 12: Love and Remembrances
Several months had passed and Apollonia's demeanor had improved somewhat. Sitting in the parlor, Apollonia stared out of the window, watching the passersby as they went on about their business. From upper class natives to lower class immigrant servants, she looked on as the various persons of Manhattan life went on about their business. The world going by her window did not do anything to assuage her feelings. The temperate sunshine shone through the sheer, white curtains, warming her face as she caught a glimpse of the sun. Within moments, Giselle walked into the house with an armload of packages from her shopping.
"Bonjour, cherie. I went shopping today and I thought that this might lift your spirits a little." She presented her with a box that contained something with a significant amount of weight to it. Giselle was anxious to see Apollonia's reaction to the gift. She opened the box to find a beautiful porcelain music box inside. It was white with pretty pastel colors decorating it. A picture of a carousel horse adorned the top of the lid. The horse reminded her of the horse that she and Spot rode on the carousel at Dreamland Park. Bittersweet memories began to penetrate her mind. She softly smiled to herself before thanking Giselle for the sentimental present.
"Merci, Giselle. Merci." Giselle hugged her and sat with her on the sofa, her head leaning on Apollonia's shoulder, as they listened to the timely tune of the music box.
~
Apollonia stepped into the morning sunshine like a queen emerging from her palace. She felt refreshed and renewed after her nine-month slump into depression. She still felt sad and alone, but her determination to move on with her life was very strong. She decided to go to the Lower East Side where she could chat and enjoy the company of her friends. Racetrack, Kid Blink, and Mush would occasionally stop by to check up on her. They would even help out at the bookstore to assist her and Giselle with daily operations of the bookstore. They were more than friends to her. They were like brothers. Occasionally, she would join the guys at their apartment to watch them play a few games of poker. Racetrack almost always won.
They would also see Medda in one of her performances from time to time. Kid Blink would go as her date while the other guys had their girlfriends with them. He did not like the idea of her being by herself while everyone else had somebody with them. Afterwards they would go to Tibby's or to Brady's for a round of drinks and some late-night fun. She felt very blessed to have a loving brood of guys looking after her. They, along with the rest of the former Manhattan and Brooklyn newsies, seemed very genuine in looking out for her.
During a session of poker, Racetrack was racking up with the winnings while Mush and Blink lost game after game. "Okay, guys. Let's keep moving. I got a lot of debts to pay back at Sheepshead and I ain't gonna stop until I've finally covered my losses." Blink and Mush rolled their eyes as Racetrack shuffled and dealt the cards. Blink and Mush did not mind losing their money to Racetrack, as long as they could afford to. Apollonia watched them quietly, as she would sometimes drift off into her little dream world while the guys enlisted in their male comradeship. She took pleasure in their brotherly company, but every once in a while she slipped into mild bouts of depression.
"You seem very quiet, Apollonia."
"Am I? I'm sorry, I have forgotten my manners."
"Your manners are fine. It's your spirit I'm talkin' about. You know, many of us are sufferin' almost as much as you are."
"I know. That's the tragedy of feeling sorry for oneself. It eliminates one's sympathy for others."
"Dat's true, but you don't need to worry, I'm your friend. And I was his friend, too."
Apollonia looked up into his sole blue eye thoughtfully. She got up from the table and walked over to the window. She stared out into the vision of New York's Manhattan neighborhood, watching the streets that were garnered with its universal citizens coming home from a long day's work. She studied the different faces, trying to figure out what their lives might be like.
She saw a middle-aged man, wearing a threadbare jacket and worn shoes. He walked swiftly down the street, keeping his eye on the sidewalk. She wondered what he did for a living. She speculated that he probably worked in a factory working to support a wife and kids who also worked to maintain their household. She then took notice of a woman who looked tired and dreary from her workday. Her slow-moving steps had given Apollonia the impression that her job was grueling and arduous.
She soon caught sight of a couple who were walking arms-linked together, engaging in heavy conversation. Based on their sentimental conduct, she could see that they were hopelessly in love. Their behavior caused twinges of pain to occur in her heart and stomach. She remembered how she and Spot would walk along the docks of Brooklyn, cross the Brooklyn Bridge, or stroll through the park together, looking contentedly into each other's eyes. Whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears was one of their favorite pastimes. She loved how he would sometimes say something very touching to her one minute and say something ribald the next. She would laugh at his playful ways while delighting in his love. She could not forget how two hearts met breathlessly in the atmosphere of Brooklyn. Smiling back on the good times, she took her eyes away from the window and rejoined her companions.
Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. Apollonia, Giselle, Checkers, and other miscellaneous characters are all mine.
Chapter 12: Love and Remembrances
Several months had passed and Apollonia's demeanor had improved somewhat. Sitting in the parlor, Apollonia stared out of the window, watching the passersby as they went on about their business. From upper class natives to lower class immigrant servants, she looked on as the various persons of Manhattan life went on about their business. The world going by her window did not do anything to assuage her feelings. The temperate sunshine shone through the sheer, white curtains, warming her face as she caught a glimpse of the sun. Within moments, Giselle walked into the house with an armload of packages from her shopping.
"Bonjour, cherie. I went shopping today and I thought that this might lift your spirits a little." She presented her with a box that contained something with a significant amount of weight to it. Giselle was anxious to see Apollonia's reaction to the gift. She opened the box to find a beautiful porcelain music box inside. It was white with pretty pastel colors decorating it. A picture of a carousel horse adorned the top of the lid. The horse reminded her of the horse that she and Spot rode on the carousel at Dreamland Park. Bittersweet memories began to penetrate her mind. She softly smiled to herself before thanking Giselle for the sentimental present.
"Merci, Giselle. Merci." Giselle hugged her and sat with her on the sofa, her head leaning on Apollonia's shoulder, as they listened to the timely tune of the music box.
~
Apollonia stepped into the morning sunshine like a queen emerging from her palace. She felt refreshed and renewed after her nine-month slump into depression. She still felt sad and alone, but her determination to move on with her life was very strong. She decided to go to the Lower East Side where she could chat and enjoy the company of her friends. Racetrack, Kid Blink, and Mush would occasionally stop by to check up on her. They would even help out at the bookstore to assist her and Giselle with daily operations of the bookstore. They were more than friends to her. They were like brothers. Occasionally, she would join the guys at their apartment to watch them play a few games of poker. Racetrack almost always won.
They would also see Medda in one of her performances from time to time. Kid Blink would go as her date while the other guys had their girlfriends with them. He did not like the idea of her being by herself while everyone else had somebody with them. Afterwards they would go to Tibby's or to Brady's for a round of drinks and some late-night fun. She felt very blessed to have a loving brood of guys looking after her. They, along with the rest of the former Manhattan and Brooklyn newsies, seemed very genuine in looking out for her.
During a session of poker, Racetrack was racking up with the winnings while Mush and Blink lost game after game. "Okay, guys. Let's keep moving. I got a lot of debts to pay back at Sheepshead and I ain't gonna stop until I've finally covered my losses." Blink and Mush rolled their eyes as Racetrack shuffled and dealt the cards. Blink and Mush did not mind losing their money to Racetrack, as long as they could afford to. Apollonia watched them quietly, as she would sometimes drift off into her little dream world while the guys enlisted in their male comradeship. She took pleasure in their brotherly company, but every once in a while she slipped into mild bouts of depression.
"You seem very quiet, Apollonia."
"Am I? I'm sorry, I have forgotten my manners."
"Your manners are fine. It's your spirit I'm talkin' about. You know, many of us are sufferin' almost as much as you are."
"I know. That's the tragedy of feeling sorry for oneself. It eliminates one's sympathy for others."
"Dat's true, but you don't need to worry, I'm your friend. And I was his friend, too."
Apollonia looked up into his sole blue eye thoughtfully. She got up from the table and walked over to the window. She stared out into the vision of New York's Manhattan neighborhood, watching the streets that were garnered with its universal citizens coming home from a long day's work. She studied the different faces, trying to figure out what their lives might be like.
She saw a middle-aged man, wearing a threadbare jacket and worn shoes. He walked swiftly down the street, keeping his eye on the sidewalk. She wondered what he did for a living. She speculated that he probably worked in a factory working to support a wife and kids who also worked to maintain their household. She then took notice of a woman who looked tired and dreary from her workday. Her slow-moving steps had given Apollonia the impression that her job was grueling and arduous.
She soon caught sight of a couple who were walking arms-linked together, engaging in heavy conversation. Based on their sentimental conduct, she could see that they were hopelessly in love. Their behavior caused twinges of pain to occur in her heart and stomach. She remembered how she and Spot would walk along the docks of Brooklyn, cross the Brooklyn Bridge, or stroll through the park together, looking contentedly into each other's eyes. Whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears was one of their favorite pastimes. She loved how he would sometimes say something very touching to her one minute and say something ribald the next. She would laugh at his playful ways while delighting in his love. She could not forget how two hearts met breathlessly in the atmosphere of Brooklyn. Smiling back on the good times, she took her eyes away from the window and rejoined her companions.
