The Lodging House was dark and quiet when they got back. They went up the
fire escape and through the window. "I'll show ya where she is." Mush
whispered, and lead Spot to his bed, which happened to be the one Abby was
in. David was sitting in a chair next to it. When he heard them, he looked
up.
"Spot, I-" he started, but Spot cut in.
"Don't worry, I ain't mad." he said. He sat down at the end of the bed and looked at her. "Who found 'er?"
"Race did." David paused and looked at Mush. "We told 'im, Spot."
At first Spot looked mad, but then he nodded. Abby groaned and they stopped talking. She opened her eyes and looked at them. "What happened?" she asked, dazed.
"Da Delanceys hoit ya. But youse'll be ok." Mush assured her.
"How'd Ise get heah?"
"Race found ya in da alley. (Author's note-I don't know if there are alleys in New York, my teacher said there wasn't but she doesn't know anything really, so if there aren't, sorry, but there are in my story)He brought ya back heah." Mush answered again. He knew this next part would make her happy, she asked a few times if she could tell Race about them, but they said no. "We told 'im, Abby."
She looked shocked. She wasn't sure if they just said what she thought they did. "What did you say?"
Mush laughed. "We told Race, Abby, he knows about us."
Abby smiled at them, and they all smiled back. "But how'd ya get heah, Spot? Did a boid happen ta tell ya?"
"Nah, Mush got me. Do'ya wants anythin? Water, maybe?" Spot said.
"Or maybe more pillows?" Mush asked.
"How about another blanket?" David asked.
Abby just laughed. She found it really funny, all of them fussing over her, especially Spot. "Dere's no need ta fuss ovah me, I ain't dyin!" she exclaimed.
Spot grimaced and Mush rolled his eye. "We liked ya betta when youse was sleepin." Mush joked.
Abby laughed even harder, but then started coughing.
"I'll get water." David said, getting up.
"It's ok." Spot said, lifting her up and patting her back. He had seen his mother do the same thing. Abby's cough slowed. David gave her the cup.
"Thanks." she said. She laid back down. "See ya in da mornin."
After awhile, they all fell asleep, Spot and Mush on the ground and David in the chair. They slept til morning.
*~*~*
Abby woke up to all the noise the newsies were making. She opened her eyes and sat up.
"She's awake!" Race called when he saw her. All the newsies fell silent and looked at her. "How ya feelin?"
"I've been betta." she said. Her head did hurt a little.
"Do ya remember what happened?" Kid Blink asked.
She remembered. She didn't know what she was going to do. If she told someone what she heard, the Delancey's would find out. Even if it was after the party. She just nodded.
"Ya hoitin much?" Mush asked.
"Not too bad." She smiled and looked around. She didn't see Spot anywhere, so he must have gone back to Brooklyn. But David was still there.
"Do you want me to stay with you today?" he asked.
"That's ok, I'll be fine." The newsies finished getting ready, some doing little dances to make her laugh. When they left, Kloppman came up and changed the bandages. "You'll have to stay in bed for a few days. I have some books if you know how to read." He offered. Abby nodded and he brought some up.
"These are gonna be some long days." she grumbled to herself.
*~*~*
A week later, Abby was finally able to sell papes again.
"Who ya gonna sell with?" Mush asked.
She looked at Race. He noticed and said, "You can sell wit me if ya want."
"Sure." Abby answered, getting ready.
After they bought their papes, Abby and Race headed for the racetrack. They were silent for awhile. Finally, he broke the silence. "Abby. I know dis sounds weird, but was dere a reason dat ya wanted ta sell wit me taday. I don't got a problem wit it, but..." he trailed off.
Abby stopped walking and looked at him. "Foist of all, I want ta say thanks."
"Why?" Race asked.
"For helpin me. Ya know, when I was hoit." Abby replied.
"Well ya welcome. But dere's somethin else, isn't dere. Cause ya could'a said dat in front of da newsies." he said.
She hesitated, but said, "Ya know about me faddah. And what happened."
"Yeah. I won't tell no one. Don't worry." Racetrack said.
Abby looked taken aback. "I know youse won't. I trust ya. I wanted ta tell ya before, but dey wouldn't let me. I just didn't want ya ta treat me different, or be mad or anythin. Cause I wouldn't like ya not talkin ta me. And I didn't like what me faddah did. I really didn't."
"I figured dat. But why're ya so worried dat I'll hate ya cause your faddah?"
Abby closed her eyes and took a breath. "Cause I like ya, Race." She blushed scarlet and turned away.
Race was stunned. Abby liked him?
"Let's go, we need ta sell dese." she pointed to the newspapers that they were holding. She still didn't turn around.
"Abby." Race said. "I like ya too." She finally looked at him. They both smiled because they were happy and relieved. They finally said how they felt. "Abby?"
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Would ya mind if I kissed ya?" She smiled even more. He drew her toward him and they kissed.
When they pulled away, Racetrack whispered, "So, does dis mean your me goil?" Abby nodded happily.
*~*~*
By the end of the day, everybody had heard about Abby and Racetrack. Everyone, that is, except Spot. He was at Tibby's that night, and was surprised that when Abby and Racetrack walked in, all the newsies whistled and shouted. He watched as they laughed. Spot turned toward Kid Blink, who was sitting next to him.
"Kid, wat's dat about?"
Kid looked at him. "Ya haven't hoid? Abby's Race's goil." Spot looked back over at them. "Don't tell me ya were fallin for her, too. Ya have been heah a lot since she came." he added jokingly.
"Nah. Ise gonna go outside for a minute." He got up and walked toward David. "Tell da two loveboids dat Ise need ta see dem in da alley. "he whispered. David nodded. and went over to their booth. Satisfied, Spot walked outside to wait and after a minute, Abby and Race joined him. Before they could say anything, Spot said, "Ise knew dat was gonna happen. But why'd I find out last?"
Abby laughed and punched him. "Maybe cause ya were in Brooklyn?"
"Anyway, Ra-" But Spot was cut off. Mush had joined them and said, "Whataya doin Spot?"
"Ise just tellin Race dat if he's gonna be me sistahs boy, he's gotta watch out for her. Ise sure dat dey'll be sellin tagether alot...ya know? He's gotta watch out to." Spot had been saying this to Mush, but at this he turned toward Race and said, "You're in danga, now too. Cause if dey find us, dey'll go afta ya. I know ya can take care of yourself, but still, dis'll be hard. Who knows what dey'll do if dey find out. We already know dat dey can...Ise just don't want it ta happen ta da newsies, and not ta ya eider. Cause me sistah seems ta like ya alot, and me brudder seems ta like being your friend. I just want ya ta know what ya doin." Spot said.
"Dey won't find out who we are dough, Spot. We've done a good job so far. But if dey do, Ise won't let anythin happen ta ya. Any of ya. Ise already lost some of me family, I won't let it happen again." Abby said.
"We know, Abby." Mush said. "And we won't let anythin happen ta ya either." The other two nodded.
"Let's go back in, dey might wonda where we went." Race said. "We shouldn't go in tageder, dough."
"Yeah, I'll go in foist." Spot said. He walked in. A few minutes later, Mush followed.
"We can go in tageder." Abby said.
Race nodded. "Hey, Abby. What's Mush's real name?"
Abby looked at him strangely, but told him. "It's Sean."
"And ya odder brudder? Ya don't have ta tell me, but..."
"No, dat's alight. It's Patrick. He was only 8. He'd be 13 now." Abby said. "It's been five years, and I was livin in Queens evah since den, cept now." Abby smiled. "Come on, let's go in." They walked back over to the booth they had been in before. "Is dere still room fer us?"
"We'll make room." Boots said, pushing againist Kid, who bumped into Crutchy, who was sitting next to him.
"Wat was dat for?" Kid exclaimed.
"Move ovah." Boots grunted, still trying to push him. They slid over as far as they could, and Abby sat down next to Boots. Race sat across from her where Pie Eater, Skittery, and Itey had slid over.
"Ok, so when's Denton comin back?" Itey asked, continuing the conversation.
"Dis weekend, stupid. Listen." Skittery said, slapping him on the face. Itey made a face.
"Well, I can't wait ta see him again." Crutchy said.
"Da party's dis Wednesday, we'se gotta help Medda decorate." Race reminded them.
Abby stared at him. This Wednesday! 'What should I do?' she thought desperately.
"Hey, Abby, yer goin ta da party, right? Denton'll want ta meet ya." Skittery said.
"And I want ta meet him. Coise I'll be dere." Abby said.
*~*~*
The next few days flew by. On Monday, Abby figured out what she was going to do. After dinner that night, she asked David if she could talk to him. He nodded and they went up to the roof.
"What is it?" David asked.
"Look David." She took a deep breath. "Da night da Delanceys hoit me, I hoid dem talkin. Dey said dey were gonna go ta da party, ya know, da one fer Denton. Dey said dat dey'd make it like da rally ya had, except dat dis time, dey'll hoit everyone. Dem and da rest of da Crib. But da bulls nevah told dem ta do it, so maybe we could tell dem what will happen...Oh, I don't know, David, but we'se gotta think of somethin!"
David was looking at her strangely. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Dey said dat dey'll kill ya. You and your family. Dey knew I was your cousin. I couldn't let dat happen. Yer da only family I have, except fer Mush and Spot. But den I realized, you'd all be hoit anyway. You're all goin to da party! I know I should have said somethin before, but dere's still time. Dere part of me family now, too. I can't let anythin happen ta dem, I can't know about dis but not do anythin! Please, you'll help me, right? Cause I know dat dere yer friends..." Abby said. "What can we do!"
"I'm with ya. We'll think of something, Abby. We have to." David said. "And soon."
*~*~*
The next morning, David and Abby got up earlier than usual. They went to the Lodging House and waited while Kloppman woke everyone up.
"So we're goin ta tell dem?" Abby asked, just to say something.
David nodded. He knew Abby was nervous. She didn't want the Delanceys to find out. But then again, neither did he.
Kloppman came back down. "They're comin. It'll be a minute, though."
After awhile, the newsies came running down the stairs. David and Abby were blocking the door, so they all stopped.
Jack, who was at the front, said, "Ya gonna let us threw? We'll be late ta buy papes."
David explained what Abby had told him last night. "We've got to come up with something, and today."
Jack, being the leader, said, "Alight. Race, Mush, Crutchy, Kid, and Skittery, stay heah and we'll think of somethin. Da rest of ya go sell papes. But hurry. Boots, Snipeshooter, stay a second." All the newsies left, and Boots and Snipeshooter went up to Jack. "Snipes, you go get Spot." Snipeshooter nodded and ran off. "Boots, follow da Delanceys. If dey say anythin ya think is important, come back and tell us." Boots ran off too. Jack turned to the people he had told to stay. "We'll wait til Spot gets heah, den we'll start thinkin."
Abby and Mush looked at each other. They knew they could trust them. And besides, they should know. And this would be a good time.
"J-Jack, I got somethin ta say." David and Race looked at her. Was she going to say what they thought she was? "Jack, everybody. Me faddah was part of the Crib in Harlem. But he quit a few years ago and started woikin againist em. But dey got mad and burned our house ta da ground. Me and me two olda brudders got away. But someone saw us and so dey know dat we'll still a live. Dey'll keep looking fer us. So we decided ta split up. I went ta a boarding school in Queens, and one of me brudders went ta Brooklyn and became a newsie, and one came heah and is a newsie." Abby said.
They all stared at her. Finally, Crutchy asked, "Who are yer brudders?" There names are Sean and Mike. But you'd know dem as Spot and Mush."
Now they all looked shocked. A couple of them looked at Mush.
"So, dat means dat Spot and David, dey're cousins?" Kid asked. David nodded.
"Well, ain't you smart!" Race said, hitting him in the face.
"Youse can't tell nobody, we don't want dem ta find us." Mush said.
"Don't worry, we won't. We wouldn't do dat ta you guys." Jack said. Racetrack went and stood next to Abby. He took her hand. "We'll think of somethin, Abby." he said. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around her.
They stood like that until Spot and Snipeshooter came. It took almost all day, but they came up with a plan that would hopefully work. Jack went to tell Medda. David and Les (who came later) went home to tell their parents. Their father had an important part. Abby stayed at the Lodging House, and got ready with the rest of the newsies.
*~*~*
The next morning, they all went to sell papes as usual, acting excited about tonight. But they were nervous. What if something went wrong?
Racetrack didn't go to the tracks. He sold with Abby and Mush in Central Park.
"Are Sarah and Les coming tonight?" Race asked.
Abby shook her head. "No. Les is sick and Sarah and Aunt Ester stayed home ta take care of 'im." She winked and smiled in spite of herself. "And, of coise ya know where Uncle Mayer went."
"What if he don't come?" Race asked.
"Race. He will come. He helped before, didn't he?" Abby said, trying to convince herself as much as Race.
"Dat's it. I sold me last pape. How's bout youse two?" Mush asked.
"We're finished. Let's go back." Abby said. They headed back to the Lodging House. They met up with Crutchy and Kid Blink. They didn't say anything the whole way. When they walked in, Crutchy walked right up to Jack. The rest went over by Spot and David.
"Hey, Race, Abby, Mush, Kid." Spot said.
"Hi." they replied.
"Alight, let's go." Jack said, standing up. They all followed him/ Except, Abby noticed, for Crutchy. He stayed behind.
"Why's Crutchy stayin?" she asked Jack.
"He's sick. Maybe Les gave it ta him." Jack said. Abby nodded.
Once they got there, they got everything ready. They had to decorate: it would be better if the Delanceys and crew thought they had surprised them. And, besides, Boots said they would be sending a spy. (He had followed them that day, too) Everything was ready by 6:30. Abby finished hanging a streamer and walked over to where Spot, Mush, David, and Race were standing. When she came closer, Mush, who was facing her, elbowed Spot. They all turned and looked at her.
"What were you talking about?" Abby asked innocently. She knew that they had been talking about her.
"Oh, nothin." Spot said.
"Nice try, Conlon." (Conlon was his mom's last name; Abby always called him that when she was mad or knew something they didn't.)
Spot didn't say anything. He knew Abby could have a bad temper.
David finally spoke. "Now, Abby, we know that you'll be mad, but w-we think th-that, well, that you should leave with Medda. They'll realize you told and probably look for you..."
Abby stared at them. She knew they were doing that for her sake, but honestly! They were in as much danger as her! She knew how to fight. Spot and Mush had taught her. She knew how to use a slingshot almost as good as Spot. But then again, what if that guy... Abby shuddered. That was not something she wanted to think about. "Alight, I'll go. I ain't happy, but I'll go."
Racetrack told her what to do. "Ya understand?"
Abby nodded. He pulled her toward him and kissed her on the nose. "Be careful, ok?" He said.
"You too." Abby said. She gave him a kiss on the lips. "For good luck."
He smiled at her. "Youse betta go now. Meddah's ovah dere." He pointed her out. They all watched her walk away. Race sighed and got ready.
*~*~*
Abby and Medda were standing backstage, waiting for Denton to come. Everything was quiet until Boots went running past. They knew what that meant. He had been standing at the window, watching for them. Denton came over to them.
"Just got here." Denton said. He would leave with them.
Abby looked around the curtain. They had all started to cheer noisily, wanting them to come on. They were all by the wall, because of the weapons they hid behind the decorations. Of course, they all had knifes. Abby fingered her slingshot, hidden in her belt. She always had it with her. She didn't want to leave-not that she wanted a fight, but when there was one, she was usually the one in front. But she couldn't leave the newsies. She wanted to make sure they were ok.
Suddenly, Abby saw the door open. She closed the curtains and ran over to Medda and Denton. "Their here, we have to go." They walked over to the doors.
Abby and Denton grabbed a handle of the door. They knew that there were two people guarding the doors (thanks to Boots) so they were going to pull the doors toward them and push them back at the people who were guarding it. Hopefully they would get hit in the head or something. "On three." Abby whispered. She held up her fingers. 1, 2, 3. They pulled the doors open. The two people came up and as they were about to hit them, Abby and Denton pushed it in their faces, knocking them to the ground. Neither one moved. They all breathed a sigh of relief. Abby turned back and motioned to Skittery, who had been waiting for the signal. He, Itey, Boots, Snipeshooter, Pie Eater, Snoddy, and Swifty were going to meet the newsies from Brooklyn and Queens. They were going to surround the Crib, who were surrounding the theater. They walked in front of them, but as Skittery passed her he grabbed her hand and smiled at her. The seven newsies turned down the alley to the left and Abby, Denton, and Medda were about to start down the alley to the right. But Abby stopped. She couldn't leave. She wouldn't leave. "I'm not leavin, youse two go on." she said.
"I don't know, Jack wanted you to come with us." Medda said.
"Yeah, well he ain't me muddah. Go ahead, I'll be fine." She stood where she was. Medda and Denton looked at each other. They weren't going to get her to leave, and they knew it.
"Alright." Denton said. Abby ran back the way she came. She quietly opened the door and went backstage. She was the only one back there. She lifted up the curtain and looked to see what was happening. She crept off the stage and toward a guy who had David pinned against the wall. She picked up a board that was laying in front of her and hit the guy's head. He fell to the ground. David slid to the ground next to him. Abby pulled him up.
"You ok?" she asked.
"Fine. I see you didn't leave." David said.
"I couldn't leave, ya know dat."
David smiled at her. "Thanks for helping me."
"Dat was nothin. See ya, Dave." Abby started looking on the ground to find something to shoot in her slingshot. She saw a rock and headed towards it. But she saw someone coming towards her. She ducked just in time. As she looked up she saw it was Oscar.
"Ya told." he growled as he swung his arm at her again. But this time she was ready. She ducked and kicked him in the 'family jewels'. She straightened up and punched him in the stomach, sending him to the ground. She leaned over him and said, "Dat's what ya get for' hoitin me." She kicked him in the stomach. But as she was walking away, he stuck his leg out and she tripped over it. She rolled to a stop and sat up. He smirked at her, still lying on the ground. She jumped up, pulled him to his feet, and pinned him on the wall, as David had been earlier. She punched him on the nose. Then she kept punching him in the stomach. She finally stopped and shook him. "Don't evah do dat ta me again, or I'll kill ya." She pushed him to the ground and walked away again. She looked around to see how everyone else was doing. She saw Spot knock someone to the ground and smiled. Most of the Crib was down! But then she saw something that made her heart stop. The man that had haunted her since the night her parents died was standing right there, two feet in front of her. And he was looking at Spot! He knew who he was! Mush came up to Spot then, and she could tell that the guy knew who he was too. Slowly, he started walking up to Spot and Mush, as if they would disappear if he went too fast. They hadn't seen him. Not having time to do anything else, she darted past him, grabbed Spot and Mush by their shirts and dragged them after her. Spot was about to ask her something. Abby just screamed "RUN!"
She looked back. He was coming after them. Abby started running and a few seconds later, she heard Mush and Spot's footsteps. They must have seen him. They went backstage to the door that Medda and Denton had left through. Thankfully, the guards were still down and nobody else was there. They ran down alley after alley, darting in and out of cans and boxes. But they could hear the guy catching up with them. Mush moaned. "What're we gonna do?"
"Back ta da theater!" Spot whispered.
They headed back that way. They were almost there when Abby tripped. Mush and Spot helped her up. She tried running but her ankle was killing her so she stopped.
"Abby, come on!" Mush grabbed her.
"Ise hoit my ankle I can't run. Youse two go."
"Are ya kiddin, Abs? We ain't leavin ya." Spot said.
By then, the guy had caught up. He grabbed Abby.
"Leave 'er alone!" Mush cried, running at him. But the guy just pushed him against the wall, and he hit his head hard. He sunk to the ground, unconscious. He turned back toward Abby, getting ready to punch her. Suddenly, he grabbed his head.
At first, Abby was confused. She looked over at Spot to see if he knew what was happening, and saw he had his slingshot out. Spot grabbed her and pulled her behind him.
The guy moved towards them, very slowly. Abby tried to think of something to do. They were close to the theater, she could hear people shouting.
'Oh, what are we gonna do?' Abby thought. 'Wait, if I can hear dem, they can heah me!!' She tried shouting, but couldn't find her voice. So she was left helpless, watching as the guy came toward them. He had picked up a board, too, off of the ground.
Spot mumbled, "Aw, shoot."
Suddenly, he ran towards them so they didn't have time to move and hit Spot, who fell unconscious.
That made Abby fell worse. She tried to run and get help, but her ankle hurt too much. She looked at the guy, coming towards her, carrying the board. She gulped.
He grabbed Abby's shirt and pulled her towards him. She could feel him breathing on her and it smelled like beer. He punched her in the stomach. The blows just kept coming until she felt like she had to lie down, but couldn't: he was holding Abby up. Finally, he stopped and let her fall to the ground, clutching her stomach. He punched her on the nose, and after a second, could taste blood in her mouth.
He lifted the board. Abby closed her eyes, expecting the worst. But nothing happened. She opened her eyes.
"Race?" she said, completely confused. He had appeared out of nowhere, grabbed the guy's arm, and stopped him from hitting her.
The guy swirled around. Racetrack ducked, then stood back up. He was about to punch the guy, but Race was too late. He feel back with the blow, leaving the evil person enough time to pick up the board and hit Abby in the head.
Suddenly, Abby felt weak. Everything was going dark. She could hear someone laughing, and then she fell into a deep, dark sleep.
Racetrack saw what happened. He was filled with a hatred he didn't know he could posses and jumped to his feet. He slammed the guy to the ground, grabbed a crate and threw it at him, hitting his head and knocking him out. Once he saw that, he ran to get help.
~*~
When Abby woke up, she was in a hospital. Racetrack was sitting next to her. He was looking out the open window at the sun.
"Hey Race." Abby said.
He looked at her and smiled. His eyes were red-either from crying or not getting enough sleep-maybe even both.
"Abby. How ya feelin?"
"Me head hoits, but other den that, good. Is everyone else alright? Mush and Spot? Nothin's wrong with them, is dere? And everyone else..."
"Abby." Race said, laughing. "Everyone's fine. Mush, Spot, and a few others needed ta come in heah for about a day, other den that, they're worried bout ya."
Abby smiled, but then thought about that for a second. "So, I've been in heah longer den a day?"
Race nodded. "Almost four days."
Abby turned away. "Well, did everything woik?"
Race nodded again. "Yeah, Teddy Roosevelt came, he actually came, and so did all da bulls. They put everyone in jail."
"So dat surrounding thing woiked?"
"Yeah."
"And everyone's alright?"
"Yeah."
"And dere all in jail?"
"Yes. God, Abby, listen for once." Race exclaimed.
"I was just makin' sure."
Race smiled. "Everyone came ta see ya."
"Did dey really?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks for savin me, Race." Abby whispered.
"It was me pleasure."
~*~
Abby got out a week later, and everything went back to normal. Well, as normal as it can be in the life of a newsie.
"Spot, I-" he started, but Spot cut in.
"Don't worry, I ain't mad." he said. He sat down at the end of the bed and looked at her. "Who found 'er?"
"Race did." David paused and looked at Mush. "We told 'im, Spot."
At first Spot looked mad, but then he nodded. Abby groaned and they stopped talking. She opened her eyes and looked at them. "What happened?" she asked, dazed.
"Da Delanceys hoit ya. But youse'll be ok." Mush assured her.
"How'd Ise get heah?"
"Race found ya in da alley. (Author's note-I don't know if there are alleys in New York, my teacher said there wasn't but she doesn't know anything really, so if there aren't, sorry, but there are in my story)He brought ya back heah." Mush answered again. He knew this next part would make her happy, she asked a few times if she could tell Race about them, but they said no. "We told 'im, Abby."
She looked shocked. She wasn't sure if they just said what she thought they did. "What did you say?"
Mush laughed. "We told Race, Abby, he knows about us."
Abby smiled at them, and they all smiled back. "But how'd ya get heah, Spot? Did a boid happen ta tell ya?"
"Nah, Mush got me. Do'ya wants anythin? Water, maybe?" Spot said.
"Or maybe more pillows?" Mush asked.
"How about another blanket?" David asked.
Abby just laughed. She found it really funny, all of them fussing over her, especially Spot. "Dere's no need ta fuss ovah me, I ain't dyin!" she exclaimed.
Spot grimaced and Mush rolled his eye. "We liked ya betta when youse was sleepin." Mush joked.
Abby laughed even harder, but then started coughing.
"I'll get water." David said, getting up.
"It's ok." Spot said, lifting her up and patting her back. He had seen his mother do the same thing. Abby's cough slowed. David gave her the cup.
"Thanks." she said. She laid back down. "See ya in da mornin."
After awhile, they all fell asleep, Spot and Mush on the ground and David in the chair. They slept til morning.
*~*~*
Abby woke up to all the noise the newsies were making. She opened her eyes and sat up.
"She's awake!" Race called when he saw her. All the newsies fell silent and looked at her. "How ya feelin?"
"I've been betta." she said. Her head did hurt a little.
"Do ya remember what happened?" Kid Blink asked.
She remembered. She didn't know what she was going to do. If she told someone what she heard, the Delancey's would find out. Even if it was after the party. She just nodded.
"Ya hoitin much?" Mush asked.
"Not too bad." She smiled and looked around. She didn't see Spot anywhere, so he must have gone back to Brooklyn. But David was still there.
"Do you want me to stay with you today?" he asked.
"That's ok, I'll be fine." The newsies finished getting ready, some doing little dances to make her laugh. When they left, Kloppman came up and changed the bandages. "You'll have to stay in bed for a few days. I have some books if you know how to read." He offered. Abby nodded and he brought some up.
"These are gonna be some long days." she grumbled to herself.
*~*~*
A week later, Abby was finally able to sell papes again.
"Who ya gonna sell with?" Mush asked.
She looked at Race. He noticed and said, "You can sell wit me if ya want."
"Sure." Abby answered, getting ready.
After they bought their papes, Abby and Race headed for the racetrack. They were silent for awhile. Finally, he broke the silence. "Abby. I know dis sounds weird, but was dere a reason dat ya wanted ta sell wit me taday. I don't got a problem wit it, but..." he trailed off.
Abby stopped walking and looked at him. "Foist of all, I want ta say thanks."
"Why?" Race asked.
"For helpin me. Ya know, when I was hoit." Abby replied.
"Well ya welcome. But dere's somethin else, isn't dere. Cause ya could'a said dat in front of da newsies." he said.
She hesitated, but said, "Ya know about me faddah. And what happened."
"Yeah. I won't tell no one. Don't worry." Racetrack said.
Abby looked taken aback. "I know youse won't. I trust ya. I wanted ta tell ya before, but dey wouldn't let me. I just didn't want ya ta treat me different, or be mad or anythin. Cause I wouldn't like ya not talkin ta me. And I didn't like what me faddah did. I really didn't."
"I figured dat. But why're ya so worried dat I'll hate ya cause your faddah?"
Abby closed her eyes and took a breath. "Cause I like ya, Race." She blushed scarlet and turned away.
Race was stunned. Abby liked him?
"Let's go, we need ta sell dese." she pointed to the newspapers that they were holding. She still didn't turn around.
"Abby." Race said. "I like ya too." She finally looked at him. They both smiled because they were happy and relieved. They finally said how they felt. "Abby?"
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Would ya mind if I kissed ya?" She smiled even more. He drew her toward him and they kissed.
When they pulled away, Racetrack whispered, "So, does dis mean your me goil?" Abby nodded happily.
*~*~*
By the end of the day, everybody had heard about Abby and Racetrack. Everyone, that is, except Spot. He was at Tibby's that night, and was surprised that when Abby and Racetrack walked in, all the newsies whistled and shouted. He watched as they laughed. Spot turned toward Kid Blink, who was sitting next to him.
"Kid, wat's dat about?"
Kid looked at him. "Ya haven't hoid? Abby's Race's goil." Spot looked back over at them. "Don't tell me ya were fallin for her, too. Ya have been heah a lot since she came." he added jokingly.
"Nah. Ise gonna go outside for a minute." He got up and walked toward David. "Tell da two loveboids dat Ise need ta see dem in da alley. "he whispered. David nodded. and went over to their booth. Satisfied, Spot walked outside to wait and after a minute, Abby and Race joined him. Before they could say anything, Spot said, "Ise knew dat was gonna happen. But why'd I find out last?"
Abby laughed and punched him. "Maybe cause ya were in Brooklyn?"
"Anyway, Ra-" But Spot was cut off. Mush had joined them and said, "Whataya doin Spot?"
"Ise just tellin Race dat if he's gonna be me sistahs boy, he's gotta watch out for her. Ise sure dat dey'll be sellin tagether alot...ya know? He's gotta watch out to." Spot had been saying this to Mush, but at this he turned toward Race and said, "You're in danga, now too. Cause if dey find us, dey'll go afta ya. I know ya can take care of yourself, but still, dis'll be hard. Who knows what dey'll do if dey find out. We already know dat dey can...Ise just don't want it ta happen ta da newsies, and not ta ya eider. Cause me sistah seems ta like ya alot, and me brudder seems ta like being your friend. I just want ya ta know what ya doin." Spot said.
"Dey won't find out who we are dough, Spot. We've done a good job so far. But if dey do, Ise won't let anythin happen ta ya. Any of ya. Ise already lost some of me family, I won't let it happen again." Abby said.
"We know, Abby." Mush said. "And we won't let anythin happen ta ya either." The other two nodded.
"Let's go back in, dey might wonda where we went." Race said. "We shouldn't go in tageder, dough."
"Yeah, I'll go in foist." Spot said. He walked in. A few minutes later, Mush followed.
"We can go in tageder." Abby said.
Race nodded. "Hey, Abby. What's Mush's real name?"
Abby looked at him strangely, but told him. "It's Sean."
"And ya odder brudder? Ya don't have ta tell me, but..."
"No, dat's alight. It's Patrick. He was only 8. He'd be 13 now." Abby said. "It's been five years, and I was livin in Queens evah since den, cept now." Abby smiled. "Come on, let's go in." They walked back over to the booth they had been in before. "Is dere still room fer us?"
"We'll make room." Boots said, pushing againist Kid, who bumped into Crutchy, who was sitting next to him.
"Wat was dat for?" Kid exclaimed.
"Move ovah." Boots grunted, still trying to push him. They slid over as far as they could, and Abby sat down next to Boots. Race sat across from her where Pie Eater, Skittery, and Itey had slid over.
"Ok, so when's Denton comin back?" Itey asked, continuing the conversation.
"Dis weekend, stupid. Listen." Skittery said, slapping him on the face. Itey made a face.
"Well, I can't wait ta see him again." Crutchy said.
"Da party's dis Wednesday, we'se gotta help Medda decorate." Race reminded them.
Abby stared at him. This Wednesday! 'What should I do?' she thought desperately.
"Hey, Abby, yer goin ta da party, right? Denton'll want ta meet ya." Skittery said.
"And I want ta meet him. Coise I'll be dere." Abby said.
*~*~*
The next few days flew by. On Monday, Abby figured out what she was going to do. After dinner that night, she asked David if she could talk to him. He nodded and they went up to the roof.
"What is it?" David asked.
"Look David." She took a deep breath. "Da night da Delanceys hoit me, I hoid dem talkin. Dey said dey were gonna go ta da party, ya know, da one fer Denton. Dey said dat dey'd make it like da rally ya had, except dat dis time, dey'll hoit everyone. Dem and da rest of da Crib. But da bulls nevah told dem ta do it, so maybe we could tell dem what will happen...Oh, I don't know, David, but we'se gotta think of somethin!"
David was looking at her strangely. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Dey said dat dey'll kill ya. You and your family. Dey knew I was your cousin. I couldn't let dat happen. Yer da only family I have, except fer Mush and Spot. But den I realized, you'd all be hoit anyway. You're all goin to da party! I know I should have said somethin before, but dere's still time. Dere part of me family now, too. I can't let anythin happen ta dem, I can't know about dis but not do anythin! Please, you'll help me, right? Cause I know dat dere yer friends..." Abby said. "What can we do!"
"I'm with ya. We'll think of something, Abby. We have to." David said. "And soon."
*~*~*
The next morning, David and Abby got up earlier than usual. They went to the Lodging House and waited while Kloppman woke everyone up.
"So we're goin ta tell dem?" Abby asked, just to say something.
David nodded. He knew Abby was nervous. She didn't want the Delanceys to find out. But then again, neither did he.
Kloppman came back down. "They're comin. It'll be a minute, though."
After awhile, the newsies came running down the stairs. David and Abby were blocking the door, so they all stopped.
Jack, who was at the front, said, "Ya gonna let us threw? We'll be late ta buy papes."
David explained what Abby had told him last night. "We've got to come up with something, and today."
Jack, being the leader, said, "Alight. Race, Mush, Crutchy, Kid, and Skittery, stay heah and we'll think of somethin. Da rest of ya go sell papes. But hurry. Boots, Snipeshooter, stay a second." All the newsies left, and Boots and Snipeshooter went up to Jack. "Snipes, you go get Spot." Snipeshooter nodded and ran off. "Boots, follow da Delanceys. If dey say anythin ya think is important, come back and tell us." Boots ran off too. Jack turned to the people he had told to stay. "We'll wait til Spot gets heah, den we'll start thinkin."
Abby and Mush looked at each other. They knew they could trust them. And besides, they should know. And this would be a good time.
"J-Jack, I got somethin ta say." David and Race looked at her. Was she going to say what they thought she was? "Jack, everybody. Me faddah was part of the Crib in Harlem. But he quit a few years ago and started woikin againist em. But dey got mad and burned our house ta da ground. Me and me two olda brudders got away. But someone saw us and so dey know dat we'll still a live. Dey'll keep looking fer us. So we decided ta split up. I went ta a boarding school in Queens, and one of me brudders went ta Brooklyn and became a newsie, and one came heah and is a newsie." Abby said.
They all stared at her. Finally, Crutchy asked, "Who are yer brudders?" There names are Sean and Mike. But you'd know dem as Spot and Mush."
Now they all looked shocked. A couple of them looked at Mush.
"So, dat means dat Spot and David, dey're cousins?" Kid asked. David nodded.
"Well, ain't you smart!" Race said, hitting him in the face.
"Youse can't tell nobody, we don't want dem ta find us." Mush said.
"Don't worry, we won't. We wouldn't do dat ta you guys." Jack said. Racetrack went and stood next to Abby. He took her hand. "We'll think of somethin, Abby." he said. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around her.
They stood like that until Spot and Snipeshooter came. It took almost all day, but they came up with a plan that would hopefully work. Jack went to tell Medda. David and Les (who came later) went home to tell their parents. Their father had an important part. Abby stayed at the Lodging House, and got ready with the rest of the newsies.
*~*~*
The next morning, they all went to sell papes as usual, acting excited about tonight. But they were nervous. What if something went wrong?
Racetrack didn't go to the tracks. He sold with Abby and Mush in Central Park.
"Are Sarah and Les coming tonight?" Race asked.
Abby shook her head. "No. Les is sick and Sarah and Aunt Ester stayed home ta take care of 'im." She winked and smiled in spite of herself. "And, of coise ya know where Uncle Mayer went."
"What if he don't come?" Race asked.
"Race. He will come. He helped before, didn't he?" Abby said, trying to convince herself as much as Race.
"Dat's it. I sold me last pape. How's bout youse two?" Mush asked.
"We're finished. Let's go back." Abby said. They headed back to the Lodging House. They met up with Crutchy and Kid Blink. They didn't say anything the whole way. When they walked in, Crutchy walked right up to Jack. The rest went over by Spot and David.
"Hey, Race, Abby, Mush, Kid." Spot said.
"Hi." they replied.
"Alight, let's go." Jack said, standing up. They all followed him/ Except, Abby noticed, for Crutchy. He stayed behind.
"Why's Crutchy stayin?" she asked Jack.
"He's sick. Maybe Les gave it ta him." Jack said. Abby nodded.
Once they got there, they got everything ready. They had to decorate: it would be better if the Delanceys and crew thought they had surprised them. And, besides, Boots said they would be sending a spy. (He had followed them that day, too) Everything was ready by 6:30. Abby finished hanging a streamer and walked over to where Spot, Mush, David, and Race were standing. When she came closer, Mush, who was facing her, elbowed Spot. They all turned and looked at her.
"What were you talking about?" Abby asked innocently. She knew that they had been talking about her.
"Oh, nothin." Spot said.
"Nice try, Conlon." (Conlon was his mom's last name; Abby always called him that when she was mad or knew something they didn't.)
Spot didn't say anything. He knew Abby could have a bad temper.
David finally spoke. "Now, Abby, we know that you'll be mad, but w-we think th-that, well, that you should leave with Medda. They'll realize you told and probably look for you..."
Abby stared at them. She knew they were doing that for her sake, but honestly! They were in as much danger as her! She knew how to fight. Spot and Mush had taught her. She knew how to use a slingshot almost as good as Spot. But then again, what if that guy... Abby shuddered. That was not something she wanted to think about. "Alight, I'll go. I ain't happy, but I'll go."
Racetrack told her what to do. "Ya understand?"
Abby nodded. He pulled her toward him and kissed her on the nose. "Be careful, ok?" He said.
"You too." Abby said. She gave him a kiss on the lips. "For good luck."
He smiled at her. "Youse betta go now. Meddah's ovah dere." He pointed her out. They all watched her walk away. Race sighed and got ready.
*~*~*
Abby and Medda were standing backstage, waiting for Denton to come. Everything was quiet until Boots went running past. They knew what that meant. He had been standing at the window, watching for them. Denton came over to them.
"Just got here." Denton said. He would leave with them.
Abby looked around the curtain. They had all started to cheer noisily, wanting them to come on. They were all by the wall, because of the weapons they hid behind the decorations. Of course, they all had knifes. Abby fingered her slingshot, hidden in her belt. She always had it with her. She didn't want to leave-not that she wanted a fight, but when there was one, she was usually the one in front. But she couldn't leave the newsies. She wanted to make sure they were ok.
Suddenly, Abby saw the door open. She closed the curtains and ran over to Medda and Denton. "Their here, we have to go." They walked over to the doors.
Abby and Denton grabbed a handle of the door. They knew that there were two people guarding the doors (thanks to Boots) so they were going to pull the doors toward them and push them back at the people who were guarding it. Hopefully they would get hit in the head or something. "On three." Abby whispered. She held up her fingers. 1, 2, 3. They pulled the doors open. The two people came up and as they were about to hit them, Abby and Denton pushed it in their faces, knocking them to the ground. Neither one moved. They all breathed a sigh of relief. Abby turned back and motioned to Skittery, who had been waiting for the signal. He, Itey, Boots, Snipeshooter, Pie Eater, Snoddy, and Swifty were going to meet the newsies from Brooklyn and Queens. They were going to surround the Crib, who were surrounding the theater. They walked in front of them, but as Skittery passed her he grabbed her hand and smiled at her. The seven newsies turned down the alley to the left and Abby, Denton, and Medda were about to start down the alley to the right. But Abby stopped. She couldn't leave. She wouldn't leave. "I'm not leavin, youse two go on." she said.
"I don't know, Jack wanted you to come with us." Medda said.
"Yeah, well he ain't me muddah. Go ahead, I'll be fine." She stood where she was. Medda and Denton looked at each other. They weren't going to get her to leave, and they knew it.
"Alright." Denton said. Abby ran back the way she came. She quietly opened the door and went backstage. She was the only one back there. She lifted up the curtain and looked to see what was happening. She crept off the stage and toward a guy who had David pinned against the wall. She picked up a board that was laying in front of her and hit the guy's head. He fell to the ground. David slid to the ground next to him. Abby pulled him up.
"You ok?" she asked.
"Fine. I see you didn't leave." David said.
"I couldn't leave, ya know dat."
David smiled at her. "Thanks for helping me."
"Dat was nothin. See ya, Dave." Abby started looking on the ground to find something to shoot in her slingshot. She saw a rock and headed towards it. But she saw someone coming towards her. She ducked just in time. As she looked up she saw it was Oscar.
"Ya told." he growled as he swung his arm at her again. But this time she was ready. She ducked and kicked him in the 'family jewels'. She straightened up and punched him in the stomach, sending him to the ground. She leaned over him and said, "Dat's what ya get for' hoitin me." She kicked him in the stomach. But as she was walking away, he stuck his leg out and she tripped over it. She rolled to a stop and sat up. He smirked at her, still lying on the ground. She jumped up, pulled him to his feet, and pinned him on the wall, as David had been earlier. She punched him on the nose. Then she kept punching him in the stomach. She finally stopped and shook him. "Don't evah do dat ta me again, or I'll kill ya." She pushed him to the ground and walked away again. She looked around to see how everyone else was doing. She saw Spot knock someone to the ground and smiled. Most of the Crib was down! But then she saw something that made her heart stop. The man that had haunted her since the night her parents died was standing right there, two feet in front of her. And he was looking at Spot! He knew who he was! Mush came up to Spot then, and she could tell that the guy knew who he was too. Slowly, he started walking up to Spot and Mush, as if they would disappear if he went too fast. They hadn't seen him. Not having time to do anything else, she darted past him, grabbed Spot and Mush by their shirts and dragged them after her. Spot was about to ask her something. Abby just screamed "RUN!"
She looked back. He was coming after them. Abby started running and a few seconds later, she heard Mush and Spot's footsteps. They must have seen him. They went backstage to the door that Medda and Denton had left through. Thankfully, the guards were still down and nobody else was there. They ran down alley after alley, darting in and out of cans and boxes. But they could hear the guy catching up with them. Mush moaned. "What're we gonna do?"
"Back ta da theater!" Spot whispered.
They headed back that way. They were almost there when Abby tripped. Mush and Spot helped her up. She tried running but her ankle was killing her so she stopped.
"Abby, come on!" Mush grabbed her.
"Ise hoit my ankle I can't run. Youse two go."
"Are ya kiddin, Abs? We ain't leavin ya." Spot said.
By then, the guy had caught up. He grabbed Abby.
"Leave 'er alone!" Mush cried, running at him. But the guy just pushed him against the wall, and he hit his head hard. He sunk to the ground, unconscious. He turned back toward Abby, getting ready to punch her. Suddenly, he grabbed his head.
At first, Abby was confused. She looked over at Spot to see if he knew what was happening, and saw he had his slingshot out. Spot grabbed her and pulled her behind him.
The guy moved towards them, very slowly. Abby tried to think of something to do. They were close to the theater, she could hear people shouting.
'Oh, what are we gonna do?' Abby thought. 'Wait, if I can hear dem, they can heah me!!' She tried shouting, but couldn't find her voice. So she was left helpless, watching as the guy came toward them. He had picked up a board, too, off of the ground.
Spot mumbled, "Aw, shoot."
Suddenly, he ran towards them so they didn't have time to move and hit Spot, who fell unconscious.
That made Abby fell worse. She tried to run and get help, but her ankle hurt too much. She looked at the guy, coming towards her, carrying the board. She gulped.
He grabbed Abby's shirt and pulled her towards him. She could feel him breathing on her and it smelled like beer. He punched her in the stomach. The blows just kept coming until she felt like she had to lie down, but couldn't: he was holding Abby up. Finally, he stopped and let her fall to the ground, clutching her stomach. He punched her on the nose, and after a second, could taste blood in her mouth.
He lifted the board. Abby closed her eyes, expecting the worst. But nothing happened. She opened her eyes.
"Race?" she said, completely confused. He had appeared out of nowhere, grabbed the guy's arm, and stopped him from hitting her.
The guy swirled around. Racetrack ducked, then stood back up. He was about to punch the guy, but Race was too late. He feel back with the blow, leaving the evil person enough time to pick up the board and hit Abby in the head.
Suddenly, Abby felt weak. Everything was going dark. She could hear someone laughing, and then she fell into a deep, dark sleep.
Racetrack saw what happened. He was filled with a hatred he didn't know he could posses and jumped to his feet. He slammed the guy to the ground, grabbed a crate and threw it at him, hitting his head and knocking him out. Once he saw that, he ran to get help.
~*~
When Abby woke up, she was in a hospital. Racetrack was sitting next to her. He was looking out the open window at the sun.
"Hey Race." Abby said.
He looked at her and smiled. His eyes were red-either from crying or not getting enough sleep-maybe even both.
"Abby. How ya feelin?"
"Me head hoits, but other den that, good. Is everyone else alright? Mush and Spot? Nothin's wrong with them, is dere? And everyone else..."
"Abby." Race said, laughing. "Everyone's fine. Mush, Spot, and a few others needed ta come in heah for about a day, other den that, they're worried bout ya."
Abby smiled, but then thought about that for a second. "So, I've been in heah longer den a day?"
Race nodded. "Almost four days."
Abby turned away. "Well, did everything woik?"
Race nodded again. "Yeah, Teddy Roosevelt came, he actually came, and so did all da bulls. They put everyone in jail."
"So dat surrounding thing woiked?"
"Yeah."
"And everyone's alright?"
"Yeah."
"And dere all in jail?"
"Yes. God, Abby, listen for once." Race exclaimed.
"I was just makin' sure."
Race smiled. "Everyone came ta see ya."
"Did dey really?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks for savin me, Race." Abby whispered.
"It was me pleasure."
~*~
Abby got out a week later, and everything went back to normal. Well, as normal as it can be in the life of a newsie.