Memories Forgotten Will Always Be Remembered
Chapter 2
"Rumors"
"Heya, Icy! Spot!"
The familiar roar of the Newsboys subsided gradually upon the shouting of Spot's name, then swelled back up.
The boy who had shouted out approached. He was medium height with black hair and an olive complexion and carried himself with ease.
"Heya, Racetrack," Icy responded, giving him a quick hug. "Is Davey heah yet?"
"Nah," Racetrack Higgins said. "He should be heah soon, I think 'e went home foist. Who knows? So, uh, who's your friends?" he asked.
"OH!" Icy exclaimed. "Sorry, guys, uh. dis heah is Keaton, I t'ink ya know 'im."
Racetrack nodded. "Yeah, you'se is da one who beats me at pokah sometimes down in Brooklyn." Keaton nodded, a smile plastered across his face.
"Good ta see ya again, Keaton."
Icy went on. "An' dis is his goil, da lovely Thundah."
An amused and curious expression passed across Race's face. "Uh, pardon me for askin', miss, but where'd ya get da name Thundah?"
Thunder laughed good-naturedly. "Oh, it's just cause when I get really and truly angry, which hardly evah happens, I'm as loud as the thundah durin' a summah storm."
"Good reason," Race agreed. "Well, uh, it's nice ta meet ya, Miss Thundah, an' good ta see ya again, Keaton. Oh, uh, care ta join us for a quick round of pokah?"
Spot shrugged and said, "Ya had ta ask me, Race? Prepare ta lose."
"Sure!" Keaton was quick to say. "Do you care if I play?" he asked Thunder.
She shrugged. "Go ahead, it's ok," she said. Her expression was one of total sincerity, and the thankful smile and hug she got in return was enough to keep her in a good mood for awhile. The two girls walked around the room a little bit and finally sat down at a table of 6 boys.
"Hey, Icy!" All the boys recognized her and welcomed her. Icy smiled and started making introductions.
"Hey, boys. Ok, this heah is my friend Thundah. Thundah, dese boys are some of da Manhattan boys. Dat's Jack Kelley, affectionately know as Cowboy to most," she said, indicating the tall boy with the cowboy hat. "He's da leadah of Manhattan. Dat's Mush," she said in reference to the cute built one, "Dat dere wit' da patch is Kid Blink, an' dat patch is sometimes used as a trick on prospective buyahs, sometimes not." Blink smiled and winked at Thunder with his 'good' eye. "Dat boy dere is Crutchy, an' next ta him is Boots, an' next ta him is Snipeshootah."
"Please ta meetcha," Crutchy said sweetly. The rest of the boys mumbled their hellos and also gave her a few meaningful winks. Thunder looked at Icy in desperation.
"C'mon, boys," Icy warned, "don'tcha be thinkin' bout dat. Thundah heah is taken, and by a Brooklyn guy, so I wouldn't mess wit' dat."
"Oh yeah?" Jack said. "An' who would dat be, Miss Icy?"
"Oh, I dunno," she retorted sarcastically. "Maybe, oh, KEATON?"
Jack's face fell in mock despair. "Oh, well, in dat case."
David appeared at their table suddenly. "Hey guys! Oh, hi, Thunder, glad that you could make it," he said, grabbing a chair from a nearby table. "Heya, Icy," he said, placing an arm around her shoulders and kissing her cheek.
Icy sighed with happiness as she leaned back into his arms. "Well, well, well, where've ya been?" she asked.
"Oh, I had to drop something off at home," he apologized.
Blink smirked. "Sure, ya did, Dave. I know what you're up to."
"And what would that be, Blink?"
"Oh, I dunno, maybe warning Sarah to stay away from here for a while cause she can't stand seeing Jack around the guys!" All the boys started laughing except for Jack.
"What is dat supposed ta mean?" he demanded.
"Oh, nothin'," Mush said, "Just dat maybe Sarah's a little too sensitive for her own good. I mean, look at Icy. She doesn't care if Dave gets all . . . I dunno, if he starts actin' like one of the guys. Sarah just tends ta whine a little bit around here."
David started to defend his sister when a commotion came from the front door. The group looked over to see a tall boy with curly hair try to enter. He wasn't able to access the entry easily because of the small teenage girl on his shoulders. Finally, she ducked down enough to let them pass through the door.
"Hey, Skittery!" the boys all yelled across the room. Icy jumped up out of her chair, dislodging David's arms in the process, and rushed towards the pair.
"Ashley!" she screamed. The girl atop Skittery's shoulders screamed also.
"Icy!"
Skittery quickly got the screaming girl off his shoulders and walked over to the boys' table. The two girls gave each other a huge hug.
"Oh, my gosh, Icy! It's so good to see you here, I mean, wow! I haven't seen you in such a long time!"
Icy's reaction was much the same. "I know, an' well, I've missed talkin' ta ya, an' missed hangin' out wit' ya. How long has it been, a month at least, right? Seein' each othah once a month is such a long time ta wait. So, uh, been sellin' taday?"
Ashley Jenkins glanced down at her pants. "Yeah, well, it's Sunday, ya know, an' I haven't seen da boys in da longest time, it seems," she said, slipping comfortably into her selling talk. "So I asked my parents if I could sell taday, an' dey said it'd be all right. I have till midight ta be home tanight."
"So your parents are givin' ya a little bit of freedom, huh?" Icy asked.
"Yeah, well, ya know, aftah a few weeks went by, dey stopped bein' so protective. I mean, I was able ta handle livin' wit' dese boys heah, an' I guess I was able ta convince my parents dat if I could handle dat, I could handle some away time once in a while."
Icy responded to the news by linking her arm through Ashley's and walking her over to the table. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Hey, Ashley, dis is Thundah," she introduced.
Thunder was sitting there with a slightly scared expression at being left so suddenly with a table full of boys.
"Thundah, dis is Ashley Jenkins, nickname Lucky." The two girls smiled at each other.
"Pleased ta meetcha," Ashley greeted Thundah, offering a handshake.
Thunder accepted and said, "So you'se is Ashley, huh? I've hoid lots aboutcha already from Icy an' Spot."
Ashley glanced at Icy with a puzzled expression. "Oh, really, huh? Well."
"Oh, we just met Thundah a few weeks ago now," Icy explained. "She's Keaton's goil, became a Newsie, and is stayin' at da Brooklyn Goils' LH."
Ashley made a face. "Oh, geeze, I'm sorry, Thundah. Couldn't get inta da boy's lodgin' house? Dat's horrible."
"You've hoid about it too, den?" Thunder asked. "Best place on earth," she added sardonically.
Ashley laughed. "Yeah. I bet."
Skittery suddenly reached over and shook Thunder's hand, causing her to jolt a little with surprise. "I'm Skittery, Ashley's boyfriend."
"Oh, that's nice," Thunder said. "I'm Keaton's girlfriend."
Skittery's eyes danced with mischievousness. "Oh, really, huh?"
Thunder nodded.
"Well, dat's good ta heah. It means dat he can have fun back into 'is life… an' do stuff like dis!"
Ashley and Icy had time only to exchange a look before Skittery grabbed Ashley around the waist and twirled her around. She giggled happily, and when he put her down, she kissed him. All the boys groaned, but it didn't matter to the couple. Ashley sighed happily and leaned back into Skittery's arms as they folded about her.
Icy sat down next to David and whispered to Thunder, "Those two are the most hyper people heah. An' dey act like nothin' goes wrong for dem. De're truly happy goofin' off."
Thunder giggled as she watched Ashley and Skittery make faces at each other, his head bent low over hers. "It looks like it," she had to agree. Just then Keaton, Spot, and Racetrack walked over.
"Hey, boys!" Crutchy said. "How'd da game go?"
"Is there any need ta ask, Crutchy?" Race questioned. "I mean, just look at Spot's face, at dat snooty mug dere."
They glanced over, and sure enough, Spot's face displayed a huge smirk. "Yeah, well, I guess da King of Brooklyn has defeated da enemy again," Spot gloated, sitting down backwards on a chair.
The rest of the table exchanged looks. When Spot was in this mood, it could mean two things -- easy irritability, or lots of naivety. When the latter was true, teasing him was fun. Jack decided to take the chance.
"The, uh, King of Brooklyn, huh?" Jack leaned forward and smirked. "Well, uh, seems ta me dat da othath day dis 'king of Brooklyn' was just whinin' about losin' da last pokah game. Sound like a king? I dunno, Spot."
Spot blinked a couple times. "Whaaa? What are ya talkin' bout, Jackey- boy?"
When the rest of the table burst out laughing, Spot's eyes narrowed. "Hey, Jack, watch it next time, I might not be so amiable."
"I'm scared, Spot," Jack teased. "But seriously, sorry about dat, just some good fun, ya know?"
Spot smirked again. "Yeah, good fun. But watch it next time youse is in Brooklyn."
Icy and Ashley exchanged a look and stood up. "Hey, boys, we'se is gonna go outside for a few minutes, we've gotta talk bout some stuff, ok?" Ashley said.
"Yeah, so, we'll see ya in a few minutes, don't ya leave wit' out us, ok?" Icy said. "Oh, hey, Thundah, ya wanna come, too?"
Thunder sent Icy a grateful look. "Yeah," she said, rising and following them out.
Once outside, Icy leaned against a lamppost. Ashley and Thunder stood opposite her as she started talking.
"Well, den, so what's been goin' on, Ashley?"
Ashley laughed and twirled around, arms outstretched. "Everyt'ing. I mean, Mama an' Papa have been lettin' me have more freedom lately, which is good. Skittery an' I have been great, too. Ya know, I've really noticed a total change in 'im since Benny was taken care of," she mused. "I like 'im dis way, it's great fun."
"Dis way? What's dat supposed ta mean?" Thunder asked.
Icy began to explain. "Well, when Ashley foist came heah, as a newsie dat is, it was cause Benny theatened her, ya know da story." Thunder nodded. "So, anyway, Skitt really had a t'ing for her, an' that made him REALLY uptight. He was always serious, an' scared, an' just not da same guy. People dat didn't really know 'im well enough ta know what he felt about Ashley assumed dat he was just undah stress from Benny, but it was cause he was worried about Ashley. Now dat da influence of Benny is gone, he's back ta bein' his normal, goof-off self."
"But he knows when ta be serious," Ashley added. "He's really great."
Thunder's eyes misted briefly. "So's Keaton," she whispered.
Icy and Ashley looked at her, amazed.
"What's wrong, Thundah?" Ashley asked.
"Oh, nothin'," Thunder said, wiping a hand across her eyes. "I'm just really happy, dat's all.
I cry really easily, so don't mind me."
"Ok… So, Icy, how's it goin' in Brooklyn?" Ashley asked.
"Uh, well, it's ok, I guess. It's kinda strange, I mean, more an' more goils are becomin' Newsies. Maybe dey t'ink it's more glamorous dan wahteveah else dey do heah."
Thunder nodded in agreement. "I dunno what's goin' on, eithah, but it's kinda getting' out of control. I heah
dat da city is plannin' on makin' all street kids newsies sometime in da next few months, an' havin' TOTALLY separate Lodgin' houses, meanin' dat all da goils in boys' LHs will have ta move."
"What?!" Ashley and Icy cried. Thunder shrugged. "Yeah, it's bad. I mean, I don't wanna be roommates wit' some person forced dere. Bad news."
"But why?" Ashley asked, confusion clearly on her face.
"It's some new t'ing, da city wants ta reduce crime, so dey t'ink, 'Get da kids off da street, no more crime, dey'll have ta woik ta pay da lodgin' house rent, an' if dey don't.' it's da Refuge." Thunder looked at the other girls. Ashley was standing there openmouthed and Icy's cheeks were becoming very pink.
"WHAT?!?!?!" Icy exploded, making Thunder and Ashley jump. "Da city t'inks dat? Dat makes me so angry, da city knows NOTHIN' about our lives!" she said, arms flying. "I mean, dey ignore us, patronize us, get us in trouble! To dem we'se nothin' but a bunch of street trash, an' dey t'ink dat all of a sudden dey know us well enough to force kids into joinin' us? Dat shows how well dey know us. We ain't gonna get us a bunch of hard-woikin' Newsies, we'se is gonna get a bunch of fallen goils dat wanna stay fallen, we'se is gonna get criminals, an' bums, an' most likely a few people dat wanna woik hard, but it ain't gonna stop crime. Ya know what? I wish dat da city would stop pretendin' like it knows what's best for us when it doesn't even care!"
"Wow," Thunder breathed. "She really talks when she's upset, huh?"
"Yeah," Ashley said. "Happened ta me a few times. I mean, I had her mad at me. Not da nicest feelin' in da woild."
She walked over to Icy.
"Hey, it's all right, it really upsets me, too, ya know? An' believe me, dat is totally unfair. Da city really needs ta pay attention to us before dey pass some law on our lives. Right, Thundah?"
Thunder shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, but don't worry, it's just one idea. I t'ink de're lookin' for othah ideas, too. Not just dat one. I mean, it's not such a big deal until it happens, IF it happens, which it probably won't."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Icy said. "Hey, let's go back inside, ok? I need ta tell Spot dat I'm goin' back to Brooklyn; I'm not feelin' so well."
"Ok," Thunder said. The three girls went back inside and approached the boys' table. David stood and placed his hands in his pockets.
"Hey, girls."
"Hey, Davey," Icy said. "Listen, Spot, I'm goin' back ta Brooklyn, I need ta take a nap or somethin'."
"Are you ok?" David asked immediately.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Spot gave her a look. "Ok, so I'm feelin' a little bit tired, dat's all, but I'll be fine. I'll see you boys latah."
"I'll walk you back," David said.
"That would be nice," Icy said.
"I'll be by later tonight, around 7 or so ta see ya, ok?" Ashley said.
"Ok!" Icy and David started to leave. As they left, the boys shouted out their goodbyes.
"Are you ok, Icy?" David's voice was laced with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I told you that."
He stood in front of her, forcing her to stop walking. "Listen, I know that something is wrong. Are you sick, I mean, this came on really suddenly."
Icy sighed. "Let me go, Davey, ok? I just found out some information that could totally affect my life."
"Like what?"
Icy folded her arms across her chest and glared stonily at her boyfriend.
"You're not gonna find out until ya let me start walkin' again."
David sighed and gave up. "So, what's going on? I could see you and Ashley out there talking to Thunder and you two looked pretty upset."
"Yeah, well, Thundah told us about some plan ta reduce crime."
David snorted. "Yeah, and how is the city going to do that."
"By placing all da homeless kids inta new lodgin' houses!" Icy replied in exasperation. "Dey t'ink dat if all da kids are woikin' it's gonna cut down on crime. Dey don't know us! Dey don't care about us, all dey want is a nicer city."
"Isn't that what we all want, Icy?" David replied softly.
"Yeah, but makin' kids inta newsies against dere will ain't gonna woik. I mean, if da city knew us at all, deyd realized dat it's a stupid plan."
The couple walked in silence for a few moments. "It's just one plan of a few, I guess," Icy finally said. "But if it does happen, I'll have ta leave da boys an' go to some drama queen lodgin' house. Dat's all we really have in Brooklyn, ya know? Da boys are tough, an' da goils are tough an' dramatic," she said, striking a quick pose.
"Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad," David offered. He was quickly sorry for saying that, wincing and waiting for Icy to speak up, which she did.
"Not so bad?! Listen, David, I have lived my entirah LIFE wit' my cousin an' dese guys heah. I'se nevah really been around goils except in passin'. My foist real friend dat wasn't a guy was Ashley, an' dat was only a few months ago. I would have no idea how ta act, what ta say, what to do around all goils, wit no chance of seein' my cousin an' my friends, besides Thundah, unless I was ta sneak out! I mean, if there's one t'ing dat I can't do very well, it's ta adapt!"
"And to play poker," David teased. "Icy, listen," he continued with seriousness, "there's probably only a slight chance that this will happen, and if it does… well, let's hope that it doesn't. That would be bad, but it's probably just a rumor, and rumors are hardly ever true."
Icy smiled at him. They were approaching the Brooklyn LH. "Thanks for helpin' me out heah."
"No problem," he said. "Now get some rest, ok? I'll see you later tonight."
"Ok," she said. She smiled as he folded his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "Bye."
"Bye." With a smile on her face, she watched him leave then turned and walked into her home.