Two weeks had gone by and Jen and Mush had been talking regularly in
the yard each
day for a few minutes. She thought she was starting to like him, but at the
same time, she
wasn't, which was very confusing for her.
She also made daily visits to Race and the rest of the Manhattan newsies. Sometimes Spot would be there, but she couldn't risk going to Brooklyn to see him and getting back home too late.
"Moinin' Mush," said Jen. She sensed that Mush was behind her, and she could always tell.
"I swear, I can't sneak up on you'se," said Mush.
"Shoah can't," said Jen.
"So how're ya doin'?" asked Mush, sitting down on the ground.
"Race says I'm doin' okay," said Jen. "I think I'm startin' ta get over it,"
"Oh," Mush had always seemed a little uncomfortable whenever Jen mentioned Race. Despite all of their talks, Jen had never really mentioned Race being her brother to Mush, and Mush got the impression that they were going out. "I haven't seen much of the guys lately,"
"Dat's too bad," said Jen. "Hey, der's a pokah game between Brooklyn an' Manhattan tanight, I'm goin' ta see Race. Ya wanna come?"
"Shoah," Mush's face lit up. Jen looked at her watch.
"Five...four." Mush looked confused.
"What're ya doin'?" asked Mush.
"Three..two...one," Jen finished. She stuck her hand in the air as a familiar voice called out:
"Aaron!" Mush smiled at Jen.
"I'll see ya tanight,"
"Meet me in da kitchen at five," said Jen.
* * * * *
"Heya fellas, look who I brought wid me!" Jen called out to the newsies.
"Mush!" Blink cried happily. "Good ta see ya,"
"Hiya Blink, fellas. Hi Spot." Spot looked up from his game of poker and waved to him. Mush looked around the lodging house. "Looks da same as I left it."
Out of the corner of his eyes, Mush saw Jen go over to Race and kiss him on the cheek. Race put his arm around her and they walked over to the poker table together. Mush sighed sadly. He knew that he could never be with her, but he had still hoped.
* * * * *
"So, did ya have fun?" asked Jen as she and Mush walked back to the Moore estate.
"Yeah, it was good seein' da guys again."
"It's too bad dat ya on'y got a couple more years ya kin actually see em," said Jen.
"I'm beginnin' ta see yer side of da story bettah now dat I've gotten ta know Lynn," said Mush. Jen laughed.
"If ya'd lived wid her for ten tears you'se wouldn't be able ta stand her either," said Jen.
"You're prolly right," said Mush.
"Ya know Mush, we haven't had much time ta tawlk 'bout how you'se came ta live wid yer parents," said Jen. Mush smiled.
"I was boin inta dat woild, when I was 'bout five, our house caught fire an' it was destroyed. I thought dat me mom an' dad were dead so I ran off and was found by Jack." said Mush. "I lived with da newsies for a few years but when I was ten, me mom an' dad saw me sellin' papes an' took me away ta live wid dem again."
"Dat musta been a hard change," Jen commented. Mush nodded.
"It was. Dey hated da way I talked but dey couldn't force it outta me. I.."
"Ya had spent five yeahs tawlkin' like dis an' it was hard ta erase it," Jen finished for him. Mush smiled at her.
"Gosh Jen, ya always knows when I'm behind ya an' now yer finishin' me sentences. What next? Reading' my mind?" asked Mush. Is dis supposed ta mean somethin?
"Maybe," said Jen. She stopped and looked up at the moon. "Isn't it beautiful Mush?" Mush stopped and stood next to her.
"Wow," he said. Then Jen decided to change the subject.
"Ya knows what?" Jen asked. "I think I oughtta have a newsie name," this took Mush by surprise.
"A newsie name?"
"Yeah, like yers. How'd ya get yers anyway?"
"Da guys took one look at me skin and Jack said dat it looked like oatmeal, all mushed up tagada." Jen laughed.
"Ya kin come up wid mine if ya want," Jen said.
Mush looked into Jen's green eyes that were shining brightly underneath the pale moonlight. It only took him a moment to think about it.
"Illumination," were the first words that popped out of his mouth.
"Illumination?" Jen repeated. "Why?"
"I hoid what Rosa said ta ya a few weeks ago, how yer beauty illuminates da nights an' uh..yer eyes really seem to illuminate da night sky," Mush said. He started blushing.
"Dat's real sweet Mush," said Jen. "I'se like it. Illumination Higgins,"
Mush felt his heart drop. She an' Race must be engaged too, he thought.
"Well, Illy," said Mush. Jen smiled at the nickname. "I think it's time we'se got home,"
"I couldn't agree more," said Illy.
* * * * *
Five months had passed and it was now August, which meant more work for Illy. Mush's visits were more frequent, and sometimes he would pick up a rake and join her.
"Moinin' Mush," said Illy as she was raking the leaves.
She could always tell when Mush was there. She didn't know why or how but she always could. It had become a game with them. Every morning Mush would try to sneak up on her in different ways, but Illy won all the time.
"Moinin' Illy," said Mush. He walked over to the shed and picked up a rake. "So how's Illumination dis moinin'?"
"I'm fine thank you'se," Illy replied. "It's gettin' chilly out heah though."
"Yep, it's August," Mush replied. Illy sighed.
"I just love dis time a yeah," Illy dropped her rake and looked up at the sky. "Everythin's so pretty an' changin' colors." Illy started spinning around in circles.
Mush watched as a huge gust of wind blew the leaves that she had already raked up blow around her. Her dark brown hair was being tossed around violently in the wind with the leaves bustling about her. But then Mush's playful side kicked in.
He dropped his rake and ran into the pile after Illy, knocking her down. Illy started laughing and threw a handful of leaves at him. Mush picked up his rake and tried to pile leaves on top of her in return. Illy ran from him and for a moment he couldn't see her.
"Boo!" Illy poked his back. Mush turned around and stuck his hands up.
"I surrender!" he cried. He got down on his knees. Illy pushed him down onto the leaves and knelt down next to him. Mush looked up at her.
"I might forgive ya dis time," she said. She gave Mush her hand and started to help him up from his position on the ground. He sat up.into Illy's face. He stared into her green eyes intently.
Illy looked into his deep brown eyes and was overwhelmed at how much power they had to keep her glued to his face.
They both felt the same thing and they wanted it to happen. Their faces got closer, their lips were just beginning to touch, they both felt a small spark of electricity but before they could actually kiss, a voice called out to them.
"Aaron!" Illy quickly pulled away from him. Mush looked disappointed and tried to hide it.
"I uh.I bettah go," he said. "I'll see ya at da pokah game tanight?"
"Yeah," Illy said. She picked up her rake and started raking again as Mush turned and walked towards the house.
As soon as Mush was out of sight, Illy collapsed. She didn't know how she felt. Had she wanted it to happen? Why had she felt the spark before they could kiss? She tried to concentrate on her raking but couldn't, she was too confused.
* * * * *
That night, Illy and Mush walked to the lodging house in silence. When they entered the lodging house, Race sensed that there was something wrong.
"What's wrong Illy?" asked Race.
"Uh..nothing'," she said casting a glance at Mush. Mush looked embarrassed and walked over to the poker table and didn't hear Race's next sentence.
"Ya can't fool yer brudder Illumination," said Race. "I'll find out," Illy just nodded in reply.
But being in the lodging house made it impossible for Illy and Mush to be that quiet for too long and by the end of the night, they were laughing and talking as if nothing had happened between them.
Illy had won several games of poker that night and had five dollars. Mush hadn't been so lucky and he had lost five dollars. Race had found this somewhat amusing.
"Well dat was fun," said Illy, fingering her money. Mush just nodded. They walked in silence until they came to the Moore estate. Mush walked her to the back door.
"I guess I'll see ya tamarra?" asked Mush hopefully.
"Yeah," a moment of tension set in. Mush wanted to kiss her, but he didn't know if he should or not.
Illy was looking into Mush's brown eyes, wishing that they could finish what was started. After a few moments, she realized that even if he did want to kiss her, they couldn't. Mush was engaged.
Illy quickly turned and turned the knob to the back door. She suddenly looked up at Mush with a pale face.
"Whatsa maddah?" he asked.
"Da door's locked," she whispered.
"Dat's okay, ya kin just come in da front door wid me," said Mush.
"An' risk gettin' caught by Lynn? Uh-uh," Illy shook her head. She turned and started to walk away.
"Where are ya goin'?" asked Mush.
"Ta da lodgin' 'ouse," Illy replied. "I kin stay der an' if der ain't any free bunks, I kin sleep wid Race."
"Oh," Mush slowly walked to the front door of the estate. He turned the knob to the house, it was locked too. He couldn't risk getting caught either, he also didn't want to get Illy into any kind of trouble. He quickly decided to go with her to the lodging house.
* * * * *
She also made daily visits to Race and the rest of the Manhattan newsies. Sometimes Spot would be there, but she couldn't risk going to Brooklyn to see him and getting back home too late.
"Moinin' Mush," said Jen. She sensed that Mush was behind her, and she could always tell.
"I swear, I can't sneak up on you'se," said Mush.
"Shoah can't," said Jen.
"So how're ya doin'?" asked Mush, sitting down on the ground.
"Race says I'm doin' okay," said Jen. "I think I'm startin' ta get over it,"
"Oh," Mush had always seemed a little uncomfortable whenever Jen mentioned Race. Despite all of their talks, Jen had never really mentioned Race being her brother to Mush, and Mush got the impression that they were going out. "I haven't seen much of the guys lately,"
"Dat's too bad," said Jen. "Hey, der's a pokah game between Brooklyn an' Manhattan tanight, I'm goin' ta see Race. Ya wanna come?"
"Shoah," Mush's face lit up. Jen looked at her watch.
"Five...four." Mush looked confused.
"What're ya doin'?" asked Mush.
"Three..two...one," Jen finished. She stuck her hand in the air as a familiar voice called out:
"Aaron!" Mush smiled at Jen.
"I'll see ya tanight,"
"Meet me in da kitchen at five," said Jen.
* * * * *
"Heya fellas, look who I brought wid me!" Jen called out to the newsies.
"Mush!" Blink cried happily. "Good ta see ya,"
"Hiya Blink, fellas. Hi Spot." Spot looked up from his game of poker and waved to him. Mush looked around the lodging house. "Looks da same as I left it."
Out of the corner of his eyes, Mush saw Jen go over to Race and kiss him on the cheek. Race put his arm around her and they walked over to the poker table together. Mush sighed sadly. He knew that he could never be with her, but he had still hoped.
* * * * *
"So, did ya have fun?" asked Jen as she and Mush walked back to the Moore estate.
"Yeah, it was good seein' da guys again."
"It's too bad dat ya on'y got a couple more years ya kin actually see em," said Jen.
"I'm beginnin' ta see yer side of da story bettah now dat I've gotten ta know Lynn," said Mush. Jen laughed.
"If ya'd lived wid her for ten tears you'se wouldn't be able ta stand her either," said Jen.
"You're prolly right," said Mush.
"Ya know Mush, we haven't had much time ta tawlk 'bout how you'se came ta live wid yer parents," said Jen. Mush smiled.
"I was boin inta dat woild, when I was 'bout five, our house caught fire an' it was destroyed. I thought dat me mom an' dad were dead so I ran off and was found by Jack." said Mush. "I lived with da newsies for a few years but when I was ten, me mom an' dad saw me sellin' papes an' took me away ta live wid dem again."
"Dat musta been a hard change," Jen commented. Mush nodded.
"It was. Dey hated da way I talked but dey couldn't force it outta me. I.."
"Ya had spent five yeahs tawlkin' like dis an' it was hard ta erase it," Jen finished for him. Mush smiled at her.
"Gosh Jen, ya always knows when I'm behind ya an' now yer finishin' me sentences. What next? Reading' my mind?" asked Mush. Is dis supposed ta mean somethin?
"Maybe," said Jen. She stopped and looked up at the moon. "Isn't it beautiful Mush?" Mush stopped and stood next to her.
"Wow," he said. Then Jen decided to change the subject.
"Ya knows what?" Jen asked. "I think I oughtta have a newsie name," this took Mush by surprise.
"A newsie name?"
"Yeah, like yers. How'd ya get yers anyway?"
"Da guys took one look at me skin and Jack said dat it looked like oatmeal, all mushed up tagada." Jen laughed.
"Ya kin come up wid mine if ya want," Jen said.
Mush looked into Jen's green eyes that were shining brightly underneath the pale moonlight. It only took him a moment to think about it.
"Illumination," were the first words that popped out of his mouth.
"Illumination?" Jen repeated. "Why?"
"I hoid what Rosa said ta ya a few weeks ago, how yer beauty illuminates da nights an' uh..yer eyes really seem to illuminate da night sky," Mush said. He started blushing.
"Dat's real sweet Mush," said Jen. "I'se like it. Illumination Higgins,"
Mush felt his heart drop. She an' Race must be engaged too, he thought.
"Well, Illy," said Mush. Jen smiled at the nickname. "I think it's time we'se got home,"
"I couldn't agree more," said Illy.
* * * * *
Five months had passed and it was now August, which meant more work for Illy. Mush's visits were more frequent, and sometimes he would pick up a rake and join her.
"Moinin' Mush," said Illy as she was raking the leaves.
She could always tell when Mush was there. She didn't know why or how but she always could. It had become a game with them. Every morning Mush would try to sneak up on her in different ways, but Illy won all the time.
"Moinin' Illy," said Mush. He walked over to the shed and picked up a rake. "So how's Illumination dis moinin'?"
"I'm fine thank you'se," Illy replied. "It's gettin' chilly out heah though."
"Yep, it's August," Mush replied. Illy sighed.
"I just love dis time a yeah," Illy dropped her rake and looked up at the sky. "Everythin's so pretty an' changin' colors." Illy started spinning around in circles.
Mush watched as a huge gust of wind blew the leaves that she had already raked up blow around her. Her dark brown hair was being tossed around violently in the wind with the leaves bustling about her. But then Mush's playful side kicked in.
He dropped his rake and ran into the pile after Illy, knocking her down. Illy started laughing and threw a handful of leaves at him. Mush picked up his rake and tried to pile leaves on top of her in return. Illy ran from him and for a moment he couldn't see her.
"Boo!" Illy poked his back. Mush turned around and stuck his hands up.
"I surrender!" he cried. He got down on his knees. Illy pushed him down onto the leaves and knelt down next to him. Mush looked up at her.
"I might forgive ya dis time," she said. She gave Mush her hand and started to help him up from his position on the ground. He sat up.into Illy's face. He stared into her green eyes intently.
Illy looked into his deep brown eyes and was overwhelmed at how much power they had to keep her glued to his face.
They both felt the same thing and they wanted it to happen. Their faces got closer, their lips were just beginning to touch, they both felt a small spark of electricity but before they could actually kiss, a voice called out to them.
"Aaron!" Illy quickly pulled away from him. Mush looked disappointed and tried to hide it.
"I uh.I bettah go," he said. "I'll see ya at da pokah game tanight?"
"Yeah," Illy said. She picked up her rake and started raking again as Mush turned and walked towards the house.
As soon as Mush was out of sight, Illy collapsed. She didn't know how she felt. Had she wanted it to happen? Why had she felt the spark before they could kiss? She tried to concentrate on her raking but couldn't, she was too confused.
* * * * *
That night, Illy and Mush walked to the lodging house in silence. When they entered the lodging house, Race sensed that there was something wrong.
"What's wrong Illy?" asked Race.
"Uh..nothing'," she said casting a glance at Mush. Mush looked embarrassed and walked over to the poker table and didn't hear Race's next sentence.
"Ya can't fool yer brudder Illumination," said Race. "I'll find out," Illy just nodded in reply.
But being in the lodging house made it impossible for Illy and Mush to be that quiet for too long and by the end of the night, they were laughing and talking as if nothing had happened between them.
Illy had won several games of poker that night and had five dollars. Mush hadn't been so lucky and he had lost five dollars. Race had found this somewhat amusing.
"Well dat was fun," said Illy, fingering her money. Mush just nodded. They walked in silence until they came to the Moore estate. Mush walked her to the back door.
"I guess I'll see ya tamarra?" asked Mush hopefully.
"Yeah," a moment of tension set in. Mush wanted to kiss her, but he didn't know if he should or not.
Illy was looking into Mush's brown eyes, wishing that they could finish what was started. After a few moments, she realized that even if he did want to kiss her, they couldn't. Mush was engaged.
Illy quickly turned and turned the knob to the back door. She suddenly looked up at Mush with a pale face.
"Whatsa maddah?" he asked.
"Da door's locked," she whispered.
"Dat's okay, ya kin just come in da front door wid me," said Mush.
"An' risk gettin' caught by Lynn? Uh-uh," Illy shook her head. She turned and started to walk away.
"Where are ya goin'?" asked Mush.
"Ta da lodgin' 'ouse," Illy replied. "I kin stay der an' if der ain't any free bunks, I kin sleep wid Race."
"Oh," Mush slowly walked to the front door of the estate. He turned the knob to the house, it was locked too. He couldn't risk getting caught either, he also didn't want to get Illy into any kind of trouble. He quickly decided to go with her to the lodging house.
* * * * *