Willow's fingers moved quickly, twisting Smudge's hair into a tight braid.
"So what's bothering you?" asked Smudge.
"Nothing" said Willow too quickly, "are you an orphan?" she asked, qickly changing the subject.
Smudge turned to look at Willow, "yes, she said quietly, "why?"
Willow shrugged, "just asking, seems almost everyone here is."
"Not really" said Smudge, "Specs ran away, Skittery's dad kicked him out, Jack has a dad in prison, Snotty killed his alcoholic dad and ran away with his mom but she died from the rough street life, boots was abandoned by his stepmother after his father died, and me and-" smudge stopped and quickly corrected herself, "I mean, just me, my mother was killed by someone, I don't know who, I know someone who does though, but he won't tell."
Willow sighed, "at least you have a past and a memory."
"The only thing I remember about my mom is that she had beautiful hair, everybody noticed it like they notice yours, it was fiery red, like the sunset, and it was wavy and perfect no matter how she wore it." Smudge faded off.
"I'm sorry" said Willow quietly.
"So what are you so upset about?" asked Smudge, changing the subject again.
Willow sighed wih frustration, "I fell guilty, like I used Bumlets to get Mickey out of my way."
"He agree'd and you were helping all of us finish unsettled business too, but if you feel guilty then visit her more often, Bumlets still wants her to have company, even though he won't visit her"
"But I still feel like I used him." said Willow.
"Don't" said smudge simply.
***
"Can I get some lunch nere?!" yelled Willow.
"Willow!" hissed Jewels, "shud up!"
"Hey!" growled Willow, "We're paying good money to eat lunch at Tibby's and we only get to do this once a week! I don't care how busy this place is, I want lunch!"
"Jist be patient-" Jewels started to say, but I vy interrupted.
"I'm with you Willow" she said, "Hey you! Come take our order!" she yelled at a bus boy.
The boy scurried over, "I'm jist a bus boy" he said, "I can't-"
"Do ya know how ta take an order?" asked Jewels, starting to get annoyed with the service too.
"Well, of course" said the bus boy, "everybody does."
"Well then, take our order" said Jewels impatiently, then the three girls told him what they wanted. About fifteen minutes later Willow stood up.
"still no food!" she yelled, "I'm just going to go and get our food!" "You'll get kicked out!" warned Ivy.
"I don't care!" growled Willow, "if they're really as busy as they claim to be they won't even notice me." With that, she marched into the kitchen. ***
"Ya well I didn't want to eat here anyway!" Yelled Willow at the managers retreating back, "scabber!" Willow turned and looked at Ivy and Jewels, "uh, sorry guys."
"Dat's okay" said Jewels.
"Whateva'" growled Ivy, "I can always wear a bag ova' my head next time I go there, if they don't recognize me dey won't kick me out again."
"I'm sorry!" said Willow, "I'll make it up to you! I promise!"
"How?" asked Ivy.
"Well." said Willow, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do." ***
"This is stupid!" growled Willow, "I don't deserve this humiliation!"
"Hey" said Ivy, "you got us kicked outta Tibby's."
"Fine!" mummbled Willow, she turned and picked up the heavy skirt and began to walk up the stairs. "Where'd you get this ridiculous thing anyway?" asked Willow,
"Oh you won't believe what rich men and their wives throw away after they've gone to a costume party" laughed Ivy. Willow straitened her queen elizebeth crown on her head and slowly opened the bunk room door.
"Hey Willow" said Race absent mindedly greeting her. Then he gave her a double take, "WHAT THE HECK IS YOU'SE WEARIN'?!" he gasped. Willows huge skirt practically filled the room. Willow hung her bright red face and Ivy stood to the side laughing.
Race looked at Ivy, "I get the feeling I shouldn't be boastin' dat yer my goil right now" he said suspiciously.
"I'm not the one wearin' da dress" said Ivy. Just then Bumlets, Mush, Jwewls, Blink, Skittery, Smudge, and tricks walked in. They all stopped short when they saw Willow and stared at her with their jaws hanging open.
Then Mush took off his hat and bowed low, "we're honored wid yer prescence, yer highness" he snickered. The whole room roared with laughter.
"I think you should all know that Ivy is making me do this as revenge!" Willow yelled to all the Newsies. Immediently the room erupted with praise for Ivy's brilliant humiliation of Willow.
"Stupid, Willow! Stupid!" Willow said to herself.
"Hey!" yelled Bumlets, quieting everyone down, "listen, you'se should all stop laughin' at me goil now."
Willow smiled at him, "thanks Bumlets" she said.
"Yer welcome Elizibeth" he laughed, getting everyone else laughing all over again too.
"Thanks a lot!" said Willow sarcastically. Then, the worst thing that could ever happen happened. Spot walked in the room. The whole room grew quiet as spot slowly circled Willow stareing at her dress.
"Well" said Spot, "I must say, yer lookin' wuite well for a zombie" he snickered, "welcome back to life, I hope you were considerate and filled in yer grave so no one fall into it." The room filled with laughter again and Willow ran into the girls bunk room, followed by all the other girls.
"This is SO stupid!" she growled, "I'm gettin' outta this thing!"
"Wait!" yelled Ivy, "I think we both agreed that you would sell the rest of yer papes dressed in that!"
Willow glared at her, "but no one sells their papes in da evening!"
"You do know" snickered Willow, "get out there. Willow stormed out of the room and grabbed her papers.
***
Willow slowly walked into the bunk room and poured the money she had made on Bumlets bed. Everyone stared at her. She was back in her regular overalls and the dress was in the dumpster, and she had sold all her papes.
"How did ya make all dat money?" asked Tricks.
"Well" grinned Willow, "It's amazing what people will pay to see queen Elizabeth do a can-can dance! Thanks Ivy" she said Smugly, scooping up the money and leaving half behind for Bumlets.
"Whateva'" laughed Ivy, "It was worth it." Bumlets went to his bed and counted the money she had left him.
"Three dollars!" he gasped, when he was done, He looked up at Willow, "Where'd ya put dat dress and wig?"
Willow laughed, "You are not going to dance the can-can in a dress!"
"That's what you think!" grinned Bumlets.
"Whatever!" laughed Willow, "hey Race, Wanna play some poker?" "Yeah!" said Race, "I'd love ta make three dollars easy!"
"What makes you think you'll get all three dollars?" asked Willow.
"Uh, judging by da way ya played last time I played you, I'm pretty confident!" snickered Race.
"On the other hand" said Willow, safely tucking her money in her pocket, "I think I'll treat the other girls to Tibby's tomorrow."
"Will we be able to get in?" asked Jewels sarcastically.
"Of course!" said Willow, pulling out three paper bags.
"I can't wear one a' those!" gasped Ivy.
"yes you can" said Willow, "I cut eye holes and mouth holes in them!"
Ivy snorted, "I'll pass."
"How about you Jewels?" asked Willow, putting a bag over her and Jewels head, "you in?"
"Sure" said Jewels, adjusting the bag, "I love this style on me!" Tricks laughed, "Well I don't need a bag" she said, "So I'll come."
"Me too!" said Smudge.
"Fine!" said Ivy, "I'll go!"
"I will too" said Myth.
"This reminds me of that tv show called Girlsfriends" thought Willow, "They were always hanging out at restaurants and. wait! What the heck is a tv show?"
"So what's bothering you?" asked Smudge.
"Nothing" said Willow too quickly, "are you an orphan?" she asked, qickly changing the subject.
Smudge turned to look at Willow, "yes, she said quietly, "why?"
Willow shrugged, "just asking, seems almost everyone here is."
"Not really" said Smudge, "Specs ran away, Skittery's dad kicked him out, Jack has a dad in prison, Snotty killed his alcoholic dad and ran away with his mom but she died from the rough street life, boots was abandoned by his stepmother after his father died, and me and-" smudge stopped and quickly corrected herself, "I mean, just me, my mother was killed by someone, I don't know who, I know someone who does though, but he won't tell."
Willow sighed, "at least you have a past and a memory."
"The only thing I remember about my mom is that she had beautiful hair, everybody noticed it like they notice yours, it was fiery red, like the sunset, and it was wavy and perfect no matter how she wore it." Smudge faded off.
"I'm sorry" said Willow quietly.
"So what are you so upset about?" asked Smudge, changing the subject again.
Willow sighed wih frustration, "I fell guilty, like I used Bumlets to get Mickey out of my way."
"He agree'd and you were helping all of us finish unsettled business too, but if you feel guilty then visit her more often, Bumlets still wants her to have company, even though he won't visit her"
"But I still feel like I used him." said Willow.
"Don't" said smudge simply.
***
"Can I get some lunch nere?!" yelled Willow.
"Willow!" hissed Jewels, "shud up!"
"Hey!" growled Willow, "We're paying good money to eat lunch at Tibby's and we only get to do this once a week! I don't care how busy this place is, I want lunch!"
"Jist be patient-" Jewels started to say, but I vy interrupted.
"I'm with you Willow" she said, "Hey you! Come take our order!" she yelled at a bus boy.
The boy scurried over, "I'm jist a bus boy" he said, "I can't-"
"Do ya know how ta take an order?" asked Jewels, starting to get annoyed with the service too.
"Well, of course" said the bus boy, "everybody does."
"Well then, take our order" said Jewels impatiently, then the three girls told him what they wanted. About fifteen minutes later Willow stood up.
"still no food!" she yelled, "I'm just going to go and get our food!" "You'll get kicked out!" warned Ivy.
"I don't care!" growled Willow, "if they're really as busy as they claim to be they won't even notice me." With that, she marched into the kitchen. ***
"Ya well I didn't want to eat here anyway!" Yelled Willow at the managers retreating back, "scabber!" Willow turned and looked at Ivy and Jewels, "uh, sorry guys."
"Dat's okay" said Jewels.
"Whateva'" growled Ivy, "I can always wear a bag ova' my head next time I go there, if they don't recognize me dey won't kick me out again."
"I'm sorry!" said Willow, "I'll make it up to you! I promise!"
"How?" asked Ivy.
"Well." said Willow, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do." ***
"This is stupid!" growled Willow, "I don't deserve this humiliation!"
"Hey" said Ivy, "you got us kicked outta Tibby's."
"Fine!" mummbled Willow, she turned and picked up the heavy skirt and began to walk up the stairs. "Where'd you get this ridiculous thing anyway?" asked Willow,
"Oh you won't believe what rich men and their wives throw away after they've gone to a costume party" laughed Ivy. Willow straitened her queen elizebeth crown on her head and slowly opened the bunk room door.
"Hey Willow" said Race absent mindedly greeting her. Then he gave her a double take, "WHAT THE HECK IS YOU'SE WEARIN'?!" he gasped. Willows huge skirt practically filled the room. Willow hung her bright red face and Ivy stood to the side laughing.
Race looked at Ivy, "I get the feeling I shouldn't be boastin' dat yer my goil right now" he said suspiciously.
"I'm not the one wearin' da dress" said Ivy. Just then Bumlets, Mush, Jwewls, Blink, Skittery, Smudge, and tricks walked in. They all stopped short when they saw Willow and stared at her with their jaws hanging open.
Then Mush took off his hat and bowed low, "we're honored wid yer prescence, yer highness" he snickered. The whole room roared with laughter.
"I think you should all know that Ivy is making me do this as revenge!" Willow yelled to all the Newsies. Immediently the room erupted with praise for Ivy's brilliant humiliation of Willow.
"Stupid, Willow! Stupid!" Willow said to herself.
"Hey!" yelled Bumlets, quieting everyone down, "listen, you'se should all stop laughin' at me goil now."
Willow smiled at him, "thanks Bumlets" she said.
"Yer welcome Elizibeth" he laughed, getting everyone else laughing all over again too.
"Thanks a lot!" said Willow sarcastically. Then, the worst thing that could ever happen happened. Spot walked in the room. The whole room grew quiet as spot slowly circled Willow stareing at her dress.
"Well" said Spot, "I must say, yer lookin' wuite well for a zombie" he snickered, "welcome back to life, I hope you were considerate and filled in yer grave so no one fall into it." The room filled with laughter again and Willow ran into the girls bunk room, followed by all the other girls.
"This is SO stupid!" she growled, "I'm gettin' outta this thing!"
"Wait!" yelled Ivy, "I think we both agreed that you would sell the rest of yer papes dressed in that!"
Willow glared at her, "but no one sells their papes in da evening!"
"You do know" snickered Willow, "get out there. Willow stormed out of the room and grabbed her papers.
***
Willow slowly walked into the bunk room and poured the money she had made on Bumlets bed. Everyone stared at her. She was back in her regular overalls and the dress was in the dumpster, and she had sold all her papes.
"How did ya make all dat money?" asked Tricks.
"Well" grinned Willow, "It's amazing what people will pay to see queen Elizabeth do a can-can dance! Thanks Ivy" she said Smugly, scooping up the money and leaving half behind for Bumlets.
"Whateva'" laughed Ivy, "It was worth it." Bumlets went to his bed and counted the money she had left him.
"Three dollars!" he gasped, when he was done, He looked up at Willow, "Where'd ya put dat dress and wig?"
Willow laughed, "You are not going to dance the can-can in a dress!"
"That's what you think!" grinned Bumlets.
"Whatever!" laughed Willow, "hey Race, Wanna play some poker?" "Yeah!" said Race, "I'd love ta make three dollars easy!"
"What makes you think you'll get all three dollars?" asked Willow.
"Uh, judging by da way ya played last time I played you, I'm pretty confident!" snickered Race.
"On the other hand" said Willow, safely tucking her money in her pocket, "I think I'll treat the other girls to Tibby's tomorrow."
"Will we be able to get in?" asked Jewels sarcastically.
"Of course!" said Willow, pulling out three paper bags.
"I can't wear one a' those!" gasped Ivy.
"yes you can" said Willow, "I cut eye holes and mouth holes in them!"
Ivy snorted, "I'll pass."
"How about you Jewels?" asked Willow, putting a bag over her and Jewels head, "you in?"
"Sure" said Jewels, adjusting the bag, "I love this style on me!" Tricks laughed, "Well I don't need a bag" she said, "So I'll come."
"Me too!" said Smudge.
"Fine!" said Ivy, "I'll go!"
"I will too" said Myth.
"This reminds me of that tv show called Girlsfriends" thought Willow, "They were always hanging out at restaurants and. wait! What the heck is a tv show?"