Thanks to these wonderful, wonderful people for reviewing:
Moneybags: Yes I am going to try to write more of this one. Now I've got three stories going and I'm beginning to wonder what's wrong with me.
Snipah Higgins: Thank you for the review. Makes me feel special :)
Miracle: Thank you to you too! Hopefully (with a little luck) I'll be able to keep this one going.
And here's more for you lovely people!
~*~*Bumlets*~*~
"Bums, we're ovah heah." Pie Eater was waving a hand in my face when I snapped out of my daydream.
I looked over at my friends and grinned. "Sawry."
"What were ya starin' at?" Pie Eater asked glancing over his shoulder to see if he could see anything.
I looked over his shoulder too. There was an empty table behind him as well as the door to the kitchen of the restaurant. But nothing interesting to look at.
"There's nothing there but a table an' da back door." Skittery told him for me.
"I wasn' looking at anything. Just thinking."
"Sure…." They replied at the same time.
I didn't like the look that came into their eyes after they said that. It usually meant that they were going to annoy me into telling them whatever they wanted to know; which in this case would be what had happened on my way to Tibby's. I hate when they do that.
"Don' start. I'll tell ya." I sighed. They both grinned knowingly and I had to resist the urge to knock their heads together. "On my way heah, I ran into dis goil."
"A goil huh?" Pie Eater smirked.
"Yes a goil. I ran into her in da middle of da street an' we both ended up on da ground."
Skittery laughed. "Bumlets, when they tell ya you're supposed to sweep a goil off her feet with your charm, they don't mean it like that."
"Very funny."
"So what'd she look like?"
"I dunno." I replied with a shrug.
I didn't really know how to describe her to them. I didn't want to say she was pretty. I mean, she was pretty in her own way; her eyes were a nice enough blue and her body was kind of nice from what I could see. And her smile. Her smile was beautiful.
But do you think I wanted to tell Skitts and Pie that? No. They wouldn't agree with me if they saw her anyway.
"She was kinda plain. Not very pretty." I said with a shrug. Not like they'll ever see her.
"Not pretty huh? Den how come you're daydreamin' about her?" Pie Eater asked, finishing off the sandwich he had been eating.
"I wasn't daydreamin'." I argued, shoving my hat back on my head. "I was thinking. Da goil was just different." I said pulling some change out of my pocket to pay for my meal.
"Whatevah you say Bumlets." Skittery said following my example and putting some money on the table.
"Come on lets go before you two drive me crazy with dese questions." I stood up and moved away from our table.
They both laughed and we left the restaurant.
I was relieved that the subject was soon forgotten and our conversation moved on to a more interesting topic. Skittery's socks.
~*~*Danielle*~*~
"Can I help you?" An old man asked me a few minutes after I stepped into the building.
I looked over at him and smiled, "Yes, I think ya can. I need a place ta stay an' I was hopin' I'd be able to stay heah."
The old man looked at me carefully before nodding and opening up a ledger. He muttered a few things to himself before looking back at me.
"There are a few empty bunks and you'll need to pay…"
And that's all I heard. Sure I should have listened, but I was more curious in the looks of this place that was to be my new home than I was about rules. Come now, do I really seem like the type to follow the rules?
I scanned the lobby-like
room that I was in and decided right there, that this was nicer than most
places I had stayed in. It was rather
clean and there had been a few attempts to make the place look more
homely. I smiled at the sampler hanging
by the stairs.
Speak The Truth.
Well it certainly isn't a rule I live by, but it was a nice thought.
"….every night so I know who came in." I looked over at the old man as his words came floating back to my ears. I had no idea what he had just said so I nodded and waited for him to continue. "I'm Kloppman, by the way."
"Heya Kloppman. I'm Danny." The name flowed easily off my tongue and I liked the sound of it.
"Okay Danny, like I said five cents is the pay. Here's where you sign."
I took the pen he handed to me and stared at it. Now, I hate weakness, and not being able to write is a weakness that I wished I didn't have. I looked back up at Kloppman and dropped the pen on the counter. I can't lie about not being able to write.
"Alright, just find me or one of the other newsies when you need to sign in." He said not skipping a beat. I guess this had happened a few times before.
"Thanks. I'll just go find the bunkroom." I half-smiled, walking towards the stairs.
Just then a male voice echoed throughout the lodging house, "PUNKY!!"
I looked up the stairs to see a brown-haired girl sprinting towards me full speed, with a boy following close behind. I noticed that the girl was grinning like crazy and the boy looked furious.
Side stepping them, I blinked and turned back to the stairs.
"At least I won't be bored." I mumbled to myself.
When I reached the top of the stairs, I looked down the hall. There were a few doors and I, of course, had no idea where I was going.
"Lost?"
I turned around and found myself face to, well, neck with another girl. She was tall! At least to me; I'm really short so I suppose that would make sense right? I took a step back and looked up at the girl.
"Yeah, I'm tryin' to find da bunkroom." I said.
"Da boys' bunkroom right?" She asked leading me towards a door.
I gave her a funny look and nodded. It's a BOYS lodging house, isn't it? I figured this girl must have a guy that lives here.
"It's right heah." She opened a door and stepped inside. "I'm Moneybags by da way."
"Um…Danny." I said, distracted. There weren't that many guys in right now considering it was still kind of early, but the ones that were in were mostly gathered in a corner of the room playing a card game. "What're dey playin'?"
Moneybags looked over at the corner then back at me, "Looks like pokah."
"Hey Moneybags! Come join us." A boy with black hair and a cigar called.
"Gimme a minute, Race." She replied pointing me towards an empty bunk. "You can sleep heah. Bumlets will be above ya.
I made a face, "Sorry to be rude, but Bumlets, Moneybags, and Race? What kind a names are those?"
She laughed, "Nicknames. You'll hafta get one too if you're gonna be a newsie."
"Woo." I said unenthusiastically.
She smiled and started to walk away. "If you wanna join da game, come over."
"Hey, thanks." I called.
"No problem kid." She replied over her shoulder.
I wrinkled my nose at being called a kid and after throwing my satchel on the bed, ran after her to join the game.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
How was it? Reviewers get a kiss from your favorite newsie! I'll have more out in a day or so.
Alohas,
~*Holiday*~
