Disclaimer: I don't own any of the
original Newsies characters, but if I did....... You get the point.
Ok, sorry, it took me a couple of weeks to update. I hope this format works
better than last time. Also, this might be my last update for a little while.
I'm leaving in a few days for a seven week camp in Maine (I feel a "Newsies Go
to Camp" fic coming on!!!). I'm trying to work it out with my good friend,
Racesgurl, to have her post my chapters when I'm gone. This might take a while,
though, because camp mail is insanely slow and I have a lot of training this
summer 'cause I'm a CIT. Anyway, thank you all for being so patient with me. I
love you all. Have a great summer!!! Enjoy!!!
~ *
~ * ~
"Ya mean she's talkin' to ya now?" and amazed Race asked later
that night as the newsies were getting ready for bed. Blink had told all the
boys about Patch's sudden break from her shyness. Needless to say, they were
all shocked.
Blink nodded as he unbuttoned his shirt, still a little
dumbstruck himself, "Yep, I'se really couldn't believe it. An' ya know what,
Jack? You was right: she ain't too bad at fightin'."
"Well, it's about damn time she opened up ta us," Skittery sat up
on his bed, half scowling, "I mean we'se did take 'er in an' all."
"Skits, why you'se gotta be so negative all da time?" Jack said
from across the room, "We'se should be happy she's talkin', not angry."
Jack turned away smirking. "So, Blink, ya said she was a pretty good fightah?"
"Well, for her foist day she was. I honestly don't think she was
punchin' as hard as she could, but we'se got time."
Jack's face became serious all of a sudden, "I'se wouldn't be too
sure about dat, Blink.........."
~ *
~ * ~
"Morning, Kloppman!!!"
"Well, good mornin', Miss Chris. An' how are you'se taday?"
Patch smiled at Kloppman's cheerfulness. Probably the only
morning person in the entire Lodging House, she laughed. "I'm doing great.
It's a gorgeous day, isn't it?"
"Just be-a-utiful! As cold as ever, but the fresh snow makes up
for that," Kloppman's smile faded ever so slightly at the sounds of pounding
feet on the stairs, "Miss Chris, da boiys--"
"It's alright, Kloppman," Patch said as she continued checking
through the books. Just then the newsies came bounding down the stairs laughing
and joking around. They all stopped, however, at the unusual sight before them:
Patch was standing behind the counter smiling at them. The boys were at
a loss for words (for once). Patch just laughed, "Morning, boys, you better
hurry to the Distribution Office or you'll be late!" The newsies just stood
staring at Patch for a moment. Patch cleared her throat, "Uh, boys? You going
or not?" she questioned wryly.
With that the boys looked at each other and ran out to the street
each calling a "good morning" to Patch as they went by. Blink stopped before
going out the door, "Remember: five o'clock on da roof an' don' be afraid ta
punch a lil' harder taday."
"Well, I wouldn't want to hurt you now, would I?" Patch smiled
and pushed him out the door. I can see things are going to be quite
different now. Hopefully for the better, she thought.
~ *
~ * ~
Patch plunked herself down in front of the old piano. Ok,
she thought, Let's try this yet again. She began to play. She started
with a few scales to warm up (never want to go for the high notes without
warming up) and then a few easy songs in the alto range. Not so bad so far.
Maybe.......Slowly she began to play "I Dreamed a Dream". Again, everything
was fine until she reached the higher notes. Patch had heard professional
singers belt out the high notes in the song without switching to head voice,
but something kept her from just letting loose and trying it. Oh well, maybe
next time. She finished the song and was about to leave when another
thought struck her. There are certain songs that are guaranteed to lighten
my mood.
Patch sat back down played one of her old camp favorites (A/N:
Gee, can you tell where my mind is now?), "Patterns":
The wood fires in the Wiggie,
The loon upon the lake,
The view of Sunset Mountain,
A summer pattern make,
Still moments is the fire circle,
The things that we believe,
The friends that we have made here,
A summer pattern weave...........
Here Patch had to stop because tears were running down her face. Will
I ever get home? I might never see camp again or my family and friends.......She
glanced out the window. The sun was lower than before. "Dang it!!! It's
probably almost five!! Blink'll be here soon." Patch wiped her eyes on her
sleeve and dashed out of the room.
~ *
~ * ~
"Ouch! Dat actually hoit!"
"Well, you did say to punch harder, am I right?"
Blink laughed, "Yeah, I guess I'se did. Dat was pretty good, how
'bout we'se call it a day?"
"Sure, we should be getting to Brooklyn soon anyway," Patch
started down the ladder, but paused when she saw Blink wasn't moving, "You
coming?" she called back to him.
"Oh..uh, yeah. I'll be down in a sec," Blink plopped down of the
roof ledge and looked out over the city. It was a cold night, but the sky was
clear and all the stars were visible. He sighed. It had been several months,
but still.........Maybe Jack was right. Maybe it is time ta move on.
"Blink?!"
"Yeah, I'se coming, Patch," Blink laughed to himself. Boy, dat
goil really has changed.
The walk to Brooklyn started off quiet as usual. Not out of
shyness, however, it was just that both Blink and Patch were immersed in their
own thoughts. At the Brooklyn Bridge the two met up with Race, Mush, and
Skittery.
"Hey, look who it is, fellahs: Blink and 'is Patch!" Race
hollered.
"Very funny, Race," Patch smiled. Hey, this is kinda nice. The
boys aren't too scary.
"Oh my gosh! She speaks! Why da change of heart, Patch?" Skittery
questioned.
"I guess I just got tired of being quiet all the time. Now are we
going to this meeting or not?"
Mush smiled, glad that Patch had finally opened up, "Let's go!
Jack said der was some new in-forma-tion dat we'd find interestin'."
And with that the group resumed their trek to the Brooklyn
Lodging House.
~ *
~ * ~
"Everyone shut yer traps an' listen!!!!" an agitated Spot yelled
from the wooden crate which he was using as a makeshift podium.
"Wadda we'se supposed ta do, Spot? How did Miller manage ta git
so many new newsies?"
"Lemme think!" Spot snapped back. He had receive a report from
one of his little boidies earlier that day that Miller had just accumulated a
large amount of new newsies out of nowhere. Enough newsies to out-number both
Brooklyn and Manhattan.
"Do ya think they'se from Boston, Spot?" Jack asked.
"Nah, we'se on good toims wit dem last time I'se checked. Chicago
maybe?"
"It just don' make no sense! I mean--"
"Hey guys, what's all da yellin' about?" Blink asked from the
doorway.
All eyes turned to the newcomers. Jack was the first to speak,
"It appears dat Miller's got some new recruits on his side."
"An' how many would be some?" Race asked hesitantly.
Jack sighed, "Enough so dat we'se gonna need a few moah boroughs
on our side."
"Well, don' we'se have Queens an' Harlem an'----"
"Der's been some rearrangin' in the loyalties of da boroughs,
Race," Spot interrupted, "We'se got Harlem foah suah, but Queens is sitting wit
Staten now. Da othah boroughs are undecided."
Patch glanced around at the newsies assembled before her. Each
face she passed held a look of anxiety and worry. "Has Miller made any move
yet?" she asked Jack
"Only intruden' on our territory."
Patch could feel her own anxieties begin to grow, "What are we
going to do?"
Slowly Jack turned to face her, "We'se just gonna have ta wait
an' see........"
~ *
~ * ~
A/N: Ooh, suspense! Well, kinda. Also, I did change some of the words for the
song "Patterns". I'm not sure who wrote it. All I know is that my camp has sung
that song for a very long time. And if you recognize that song we might go to
the same camp (Hey, it could happen!). Anyway, everyone have a great summer!!!
Patch:)
