Chapter 4

I was thankful; when I heard some of the boys starting to stir. I had laid awake most of the night because I couldn't get comfortable. It amazes me: I'm most awake when I don't need to be and my energy is drained when I need it most. I grabbed my clothes for the day and ran into the washroom to take a shower. The water was warm and felt good against my aching body. Voices could be heard and I knew everyone was waking up. I walked out of the shower to meet Race at the sink. He did a double take when he looked up at me.

Race backhanded Mush in the chest, "Tell me I'm still sleeping. Cowboy's actually standing in front of me at six in the morning. And he's conscious."

"Very Funny," I grinned as I began to shave.

"There something wrong with your bed, Jack?" Mush asked looking over at my empty bunk. I shook my head 'no' and went back to my shaving.

"Yeah, I heard you moving around a lot last night, what was the matter?" Blink joined in on the conversation as he dried his hair.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Why not? I know you was tired," Crutchy asked coming up next to me at the sink.

"My ribs were bothering me and I just got some things on my mind. That's all," I explained washing my face off.

"Oh, yeah? You were probably thinking about, uh, what's her name?" Blink smiled knowing perfectly well what 'her' name was.

"You mean Jacky-Boy's ball and chain?" Some one said from in the shower. I started wondering just how many people could hear our conversation. Some of the fellas started laughing, and others were making similar comments..

"Her name's Sarah, she ain't my ball and chain, and that's not exactly what I was thinking about," I stated straightening them out.

"Oh, were ya thinking about how ya ain't going to be a free-willed bachelor as soon as you tie the knot?" Mush asked surpressing a smile and glancing over at Blink who was doing the same.

"I think I liked your enthusiasm better yesterday," I said walking back into the bunkroom.

"I'm sorry, Jack!" Blink yelled after me, "Does this affect my position as best man!" The washroom erupted in a mass of snickers. I grabbed my bandanna and flung it around my neck. I decided that today I wasn't going to wear every single piece of clothing I had. It was harder to move. Outside it was snowing lightly, but it didn't look too cold.

David. I couldn't believe he was just sitting back while his pop forced him to go to school. He's a Newsie, and I thought he'd at least put more of an effort to get out of school. Like conspiring some plan to get kicked out or to ditch. Something. Well, if he wasn't going to make an effort I was. I didn't want him to be stuck around guys like Richard all day. I was going to bust him out.

"Cowboy, we still selling together?" Race asked coming over to my bunk with Blink close behind him.

"I think I'm going to risk selling alone," I said passing them by.

"That ain't too smart. The Crib are specifically after you," Blink commented. I ignored him and went down the stairs.

"Cowboy," Kloppman looked up from his book and I turned to him, "Don't cause anymore trouble today. I don't want the police waltzing back in here looking for you."

I smiled, "Don't worry Kloppman. I'm not prone to causing trouble." He looked at me with out cracking a smile and raised his eyebrow. "I won't," I assured him leaving the building as the other Newsies came down the steps. Outside wasn't nearly as cold as it was yesterday or the day before, but the wind was twice as bitter. I should have taken that as an omen. I couldn't help but glance around for any Crib members. I wasn't necessarily afraid of them, I just wasn't to keen on the idea of losing my neck. As far as I could see, there wasn't a Crib in Manhattan. On the way to the DC I could tell everyone was a little nervous. The Crib had shown up unexpected yesterday and the could sure do the same thing today, only now the Crib know how to deal with us and may come with more to back them up. I suppose another reason none of us were too active today was the fact that most of us had cuts and bruises that were not yet healed. Me included. My ribs were screaming every time I made a sudden move, or any move for that matter. I had to live with it, I had to go on with my job. My money was getting scarcely low and I could not end up sleeping on the streets, not in this weather.

By the time we got to the DC the gates were already open. I guess we took our time walking today because that never happens. Everyone lined up on the ramp as usual ready to get their papes. When Weasel came to the window even he looked tired like us.

I tossed my coins on the counter, "Hundred," I stated automatically.

"Hundred papes," Weasel called to Morris, who slapped my papes on the counter.

He smirked, "Why so glum, Cowboy?" I just looked at him waiting for him to give me my papes. He let out a little laugh as he shoved my stack of papes into my torso. I grunted, trying to keep from yelling out in pain.

"Thanks," I hissed through gritted teeth. I lifted my papes onto my shoulder and walked back through the gates. I sighed heavily as I looked around the square for a potential customer. I had wished Dave was still selling with me. Now that he wasn't it just seemed.....different. As I sold some of my papes I kept thinking about how depressed Dave must be. Nobody would willingly be locked up in a classroom and be commanded to read dull books and figure numbers. It's all too boring, and I admit Davey use to seem like the type that would do that sort a thing. Not now though. Now he's a Newsie. He belongs out on the streets peddling the papes. I had to help him out. I hung what papes I had left on my rope sling. In order to get my buddy out of school I'd need a plan. Since I'd never been in school it would be quite a challenge.

After a few minutes of sitting on the curb in front of Tibby's I had a plan. I figured only his parents could get him out of school, but they'd never let him out for the heck of it. So, I'd have to impersonate his father. Though I could probably sound like his father, there was a very slim chance of the faculty thinking I looked like his father. That being the case, I decided to use the newly invented telephone. That way I could just disguise my voice and they would be none-the-wiser. The only telephone that was available to me with out having to pay was at Medda's.

I ran to my old friend's theater and walked in the back door. Looking around it didn't seem like anybody was around. I could see a few people cleaning up the auditorium through the side of the stage, but other than that it was deserted. Down the hall there was a office. No doubt it was Medda's. Sat down on the couch next to the phone. Panic momentarily swept through me when I realized I didn't know the school's number. I dialed "O" and talked to the operator. I got them to connect me to Dave's school. I cleared my throat as I waited for some one to answer the phone.

"Park East High School. Mr. Nicholas Mazzarella speaking," I rather gruff voice answered.

I momentarily froze, not knowing exactly what to say, "Hello, this is Mayer Jacobs. I am the father of David Jacobs, a student in your school," I said in a lower voice. I did my best to cover up my accent, though it was almost near impossible. It was silent for a moment and I thought I was caught. I didn't really know what to say, I was just making it up as I went along.

"How may I help you Mr. Jacobs?" He asked breaking the awkward silence.

"Well, my wife has fallen seriously ill and is in the hospital. I would like for David to be withdrawn from school for the rest of the day. I would have come to the myself, but I need to stay here, at the hospital, with my wife," I explained trying my best to sound confident about the whole situation.

"Yes, of course. I'll have David sign out right away and head to which Hospital?" He inquired sounding sincerely concerned. The poor sucker.

"The Bellevue Hospital. Yes, she's in room 235," I replied trying to stop myself from smiling like an idiot. I knew I won.

"I'll see he gets that information, Mr. Jacobs. Please send my regards to Mrs. Jacobs."

"Oh, I will," I said smiling evilly as that confirmed my victory.

"Have a nice day," He closed.

"You too," I hung up the phone and darted out of Medda's to Dave's school. I had to reach him before he actually went to the hospital. I had to hold onto my papes or else they would've flown off the sling. Just as I turned the corner onto the school's street, I saw David sprint out of the building.

"Dave!" I yelled running at him. As he ran at me he looked completely panicked. He rushed past me. I ran to catch up to him and grabbed his arm.

"Not now, Jack! My mother's in the hospital!" He yelled jerking out of my grip and starting to run again.

"No she's not I made that up!" I called after him. He stopped dead in his tracks and I jogged closer to him.

"What?" He asked bitterly in disbelief.

I smiled, "Yeah, I missed selling with ya and made all that up to get you out of school."

"You," He started then a cold expression washed over him, "Don't do that!" He yelled. I ducked to avoid a blow to the face. I laughed as I tried to calm David down.

"Dave, I'm sorry, calm down," I laughed hardly ever seeing him in this state.

"It's not funny, Jack!" He yelled stepping back from me.

I stopped laughing, "I told ya I'm sorry."

"You had me scared to death! I mean you may not know what it feels like to find out a loved-one's life may be on the line, but if your parents hadn't been deadbeats maybe you'd realize how important family is!" David yelled out of rage. I took a breath in sharply as anger washed over me.

"Don't assume I don't know what it's like to have a loved-ones life on the line!" I screamed trying to hold back tears as memories flooded my mind, "I had a family, too! In fact, I was the one who had to stand by and watch my father beat my mother to death! I'm the one who had to watch my brother's life end right before my eyes. So, don't tell me I don't know what it feels like!" I stood before him afraid to speak. If I did I most likely wouldn't be able to keep my composure.

"Jack, I had no idea," David said sympathetically.

"Well, now you do," I spat as I felt my face starting to get hot, "Look, you can just go back to school. This was a bad idea. I should have known your Newsie days were over." I briskly brushed past him as I felt a single hot tear run down my face. I swore to myself I would never bring up my past it was all to devastating. Especially since I can still remember everything that happened perfectly. I sat down on a nearby curb and let the memories attack my mind.

The front door to the little apartment slammed shut and the sound of my father's stumbling could be heard. I snuck down the hall with my little brother, Thomas, right behind me. Peering around the corner it was evident that he was drunk again. We both stayed out of sight for the fear of him getting upset and beating us like last time. I turned around to see mother breathing deeply and holding a finger to her lips. We obeyed her non-vocal command.

"Abigail!" My father's booming voice made us all jump. My mother almost began crying at his calling for her. She gently grabbed both of our arms and started guiding us towards a room. My father's footsteps could be heard once more, getting louder and louder. The three of us ran into the bedroom. Mother raced over to the window and opened it up. She lifted each of us out onto the fire escape.

"You two stay out of sight, all right?" She asked in that all too familiar sweet voice of hers. She wiped the tears from my face and kissed my forehead, "Take care of your brother."

"Mama?" I reached out to touch her cheek which also had tears running down them. She whipped around when my father bellowed her name and stumbled into the room. I pulled Thomas to the side of the window so he couldn't be seen. I peeked around the corner of the window just in time to see my mother get slapped to the floor. Father began shouting curses as he roughly grabbed Mother up off the floor and threw out the bedroom down and down the hall with a crash. The bedroom was now vacant.

I turned to Thomas, "Stay right here," I ordered. I climbed back through the window. The red bandanna that had once held my Mother's chestnut hair away from her face was now laying on the floor where Father had thrown her. I kept my eyes glued to the door where the curses flowed into the room as I reached down and picked up the bandanna. I stuffed it in my pocket and crept my way over to the doorway. I heard glass being shattered and the heart-wrenching sound of my Mother's screams. I jumped away from the door when I heard the front door slam shut, shaking the house. Everything was silent. I poked my head out into the hall. My stomach lurched at the sight I saw. Mother was lying motionless on the floor. I ran over to her tears freely falling down my cheeks. I knelt beside her. Blood was spilt all around her, a bone in her leg was sticking out most unnaturally, and her hair was clinging to the gash in her forehead. I pushed the hair out of the way and kissed her forehead.

"Mama?" I cried stroking her cheek stained with tears and blood. Nothing. She didn't deserve this, but she was with God now, and she did deserve that. All her life she had lived in hell and was married to Satan himself, but now she was in the most perfect place and no one could hurt her. I got up and grabbed a rose from the vase that was shattered not far away. I laid it in her hand, "Save a place for me Mama. Right next to you." With that I ran back to Thomas.

"What happened?" He asked oblivious to the whole situation. I couldn't speak anymore. I just took his hand and we headed down the fire escape.........

I sat on the curb fingering my Mother's bandanna that was carefully tied around my neck. My face was drenched with mournful tears. I buried my face into my hands, trying to forget all that I had just recalled. When I thought I had finally composed myself. I lifted my head up. My heart sank and I jumped at the sight of a wagon passing by. The last thing I needed at the moment was to be reminded of Thomas' death. However, I could not stop the memories from flooding my mind........

After our grand escape from the refuge we were out, once again, on our own. One day after visiting Medda's we ran into our old friend Snyder. Thomas and I took off down the road away from Snyder. For an old guy he kept up with us fairly well. We took every turn we could in a desperate attempt to lose him, but we weren't having much luck.

"The geezer ain't giving up!" I heard Thomas call from behind me.

"He will soon!" I assured him. We picked up our speed and climbed up a fire escape to the roof of a building. Snyder wasn't too far behind us. We jumped across the small alley way between buildings, across the roof and jumped across to another building. We made our way down the block like that. Snyder was now long gone. Descending down the fire escape we both realized how exhausted we were.

"How are we suppose to make it all the way back to Harlem?" Thomas asked gasping for air.

I watched as a wagon rolled past us, "We could hitch a ride."

"Sounds good," Thomas said raising his eyebrows. We both started running after the wagon. I hopped up with ease and looked back for Thomas. He was struggling. He was no doubt more exhausted than I was.

"Come on!" I yelled holding out my hand to him. He took it and I pulled him up. I watched as he lost his footing and slipped. I tried to help him, but it was too late. Thomas got caught by the spokes of the wagon wheel. I looked away just as he was crushed by the heavy wheel. I jumped off the wagon and ran to where he was lying on the street. I could barely look at him, he was so mangled that I couldn't believe it was even my brother. It wasn't fair. Just a second ago he was next to me laughing and smiling, and now he was gone. No doubt with Mother. I heard footsteps and looked up. Snyder was standing not far from me.

He shook his head, "How could you do this?"

"Me!?" I cried letting tears roll down my face.

"Yes, I saw everything. You killed your own flesh and blood. Suppose you got that from your Father," He smirked looking ruthlessly at the scene before him. I looked down at my hands that were covered in blood from holding my brother. I had become my Father. I was a killer, and now would never see my Mother or Thomas again......

I shook the image from my head and stood up. I wiped my face dry of tears and looked around. The street was busy and I had just broken down in front of who knows how many people. I had to forget what just happened. I had to start thinking about the matters at hand. I jumped when I felt some one's hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see David.

He smiled weakly at me, "Forgive me?"

I pretended like I was sizing him up then smiled, "Yeah, why not."

"So you going to let me help you sell papes or what?"

"Welcome back, Davey," I shoved some papes in his hand and we began hawking the headlines just like old times. By late afternoon we sold all of our papes.

"I forgot how rewarding selling papes is," David said as we walked down the street.

"It sure is better than reading books in a stuffy class room," I sneered.

David laughed, "It's not that bad, you know?"

"Yeah, well, you'll never see Jack Kelly stuck in a classroom reading," I stated confidently.

"School does have at least one thing over sellin papes," Dave commented.

I looked at him, "Doubtful."

"Well, it's warmer in the school than out here," David explained letting a huge wave of shivers rack his body.

"It ain't so bad once you've been out here a while," I said trying not to let my teeth chatter out loud.

"I have been out here a while and I'm still freezing. I can't feel my feet," He complained stopping to try and wiggle his toes.

"So? Mine numbed hours ago. What's the big deal? If anything the numbness helps cause then you ain't cold. You just don't feel anything, period."

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry it's been taking so long to get the next chapter of my story up, I've been really busy. This chapter isn't done, but it's pretty close. If you want more info on Jack's brother read the original Newsies script. Thanks and please review.