A/N: Whoa! Its been FOREVER since I updated. I am a horrible, horrible
person. Oh well. School's out Thursday so I decided to get back to writing.
Here ya go!
- - - - - - - - - - -
"G'night kiddos," I said as the last the children were ushered out the door and into Snipeshooter and Boots' custody for the night. They were our babysitters whenever we had these get-togethers, since they weren't exactly in our circle while we were younger. I glanced around the table at the people that had joined us tonight. Spot, of course, was there; his attendance was practically required to have these meetings. The other regulars Mush, Kid Blink, Skittery, and Smyth had shown up. The girls were Slider, Fingers, Sprite and Frenchy - she came just two years back. She worked with Spot down at the office and he invited her to a Christmas dinner back then.
We settled down on various chairs brought into the room, though most people ended up on the floor. I glanced around the room grinning as I watched Sprite sitting in Mush's lap, her growing belly somewhat obvious. Smyth and Fingers were sitting together as well, though they weren't expecting to have any children for a long time- Fingers was still only seventeen. Sli and Spot were, obviously, sitting near each other and Spot was gazing at her in a caring way that was reserved just for Slider, Spark, and Dev- the only women that were important in his life, according to him.
Spot cleared his throat and began to talk, "So, how's it going?" was all he really had to say.
A murmur of answers filled the room, most people answering completely nonchalantly. I decided to help the conversation along, "I know its been a while, but sitting with the kids made me think, and I feel like we should just tell stories tonight."
The former newsboys around me nodded their heads in agreement. "I know most of us have been listening to your story tonight, how about you finish it up?" Skittery offered.
"You all lived dat story, why do ya wanna heah it again?" I asked, confused. The story was mostly about these people, it wasn't really a story to them, just memoirs.
Mush spoke up. "Whether we've hoid it befoah or not yer story is da best love story evah told, an' a great tale of intrigue an' adventure as well," he explained. "It'd make a great novel, Race, ya need ta write it out. You'se a journalist already, how 'bout jus' becomin' a novelist too."
If I were a girl, I would have blushed. As it was, I simply denied the greatness of our story until I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Spark, of course. She leaned forward and whispered into my ear, "Quit denying it and just tell them our story already."
"Wheah should I start?" I said in response. She planted a quick kiss on my cheek before I proceeded to tell the story.
~*~*~*~
I thought about my friend's lying in the other room injured. We'd lost Mouth. The doctor says she had a deep wound she didn't tell anyone about that became infected. But I know the truth. She didn't want to go on living anymore, with Bumlets gone she didn't have any reason to live. That's how I felt about Spark.. that was for sure. Everyone else made it through and was in recovery now. Spot fortunately would make it through. In fact, Conlon would probably be better two days after that night.
"What're you thinking about?" Spark asked me, lying underneath the blanket I was on top of, running her fingers through my curly hair.
"I won' be a good faddah to 'em will I?" I blurted out.
She looked me in the eyes with a slight look of disbelief. "You're the best father they could ever ask for."
"Why are ya lyin' ta me? I'se jus' an eighteen yeah old newsboy, what kinda faddah does dat make?"
"You love them, Anthony. What more can they ask for?"
"Money?" I said, coming out more as a question than a statement. It was true though. What kid would want to be born into a family with parents who could barely afford to feed themselves. "A roof ovah deir heads?"
"People only like money if they're raised to like money. They only want money if they've gone through a period of time with money. Our children won't have either. And we'll always be able to put a roof over their heads. We have people who'll help us out, even if we have to live in the lodging house forever," she answered calmly.
I reflected on what she said and realized it all made sense. That was when I knew it would work out. I wasn't really sure about it before, but I knew that if I had Spark I could make it all the way through anything. My children were lucky as hell to have her as a mother.
~*~*~*~
As I paused to take a breath before telling more of my story I felt soft lips descending upon my own. The breath I had taken a moment before was stolen away as the passionate kiss continued on. Applause surrounded us and filled my ears as I heard catcalls and other noises coming from my friends in the room watching. Finally, Spark pulled away.
"What was that for?" I asked. I didn't want to question my luck, but I wanted to know what I'd done so I could do it again. Often.
She grinned. "I love you."
She kissed me once more before announcing, "And on with the story!"
~*~*~*~
"I'm gonna go get meself some milk, ya want anythin' from downstairs?" I offered, pushing myself off the bed.
"Milk would be good," she answered before rolling over on her side with her back to the door.
Trying not to make much noise I walked down the stairs and into what we all called the kitchen. It housed the few loaves of bread and occasional slice of cheese as well as the milk that Kloppman tried to keep in some form of stock for us. I grabbed two beaten metal mugs and poured milk into them. Quickly I climbed my way back up the stairs and slid into the room without another sound.
I tapped Spark on the shoulder to give her the cup, but she moaned and didn't move. I realized she was asleep and sat there, sipping milk and singing a song I'd once heard somewhere.
"I don't need no one, to tell me about heaven. I look at my daughter, and I understand," I sang, watching my children sleep peacefully, breathing evenly.
I sighed. I'd never been more content in my life.
A/N: I know its short, but I want to watch the end of Law & Order. He's a pedophiliac!!! He molested the little boy! Eww. Sorry, I'm talking about L&O not WB. Haha. Well, bye bye for now.
SOs:
Sweets: Writer's block somewhat gone. New chapter. Enjoy with your choco- dipped Kid Blink. XD
Soaker: Well, Race is sweet and happy in this chapter. I know I killed off another character, but then I was writing sweet stuff. So I sorta did it right.
Sureshot: Finals are that early for college? Didn't know that. Better than highschool. They start next week. You can have choco-dipped Racetrack until my next update when I'll trade you for chocolate dipped Bumlets. Gives me an incentive to write.
Drama-Queen: heh. Gabe Damon's birthday. My friends and I sang him the birthday song at lunch. Good times, good times.
Poe: Jews are cool! I'm a Jew. It's special. Haha. Nope, just one version of newsies. I just meant that it was Disney's. Not that there was another newsies. I wish! Haha. Well, glad you like it!
Plaid Pajamas: BEING HYPER IS FUN!! You can have choc. Davy, I sure don't want him (no offense). Heh. Heh. Heh. LOL.
- - - - - - - - - - -
"G'night kiddos," I said as the last the children were ushered out the door and into Snipeshooter and Boots' custody for the night. They were our babysitters whenever we had these get-togethers, since they weren't exactly in our circle while we were younger. I glanced around the table at the people that had joined us tonight. Spot, of course, was there; his attendance was practically required to have these meetings. The other regulars Mush, Kid Blink, Skittery, and Smyth had shown up. The girls were Slider, Fingers, Sprite and Frenchy - she came just two years back. She worked with Spot down at the office and he invited her to a Christmas dinner back then.
We settled down on various chairs brought into the room, though most people ended up on the floor. I glanced around the room grinning as I watched Sprite sitting in Mush's lap, her growing belly somewhat obvious. Smyth and Fingers were sitting together as well, though they weren't expecting to have any children for a long time- Fingers was still only seventeen. Sli and Spot were, obviously, sitting near each other and Spot was gazing at her in a caring way that was reserved just for Slider, Spark, and Dev- the only women that were important in his life, according to him.
Spot cleared his throat and began to talk, "So, how's it going?" was all he really had to say.
A murmur of answers filled the room, most people answering completely nonchalantly. I decided to help the conversation along, "I know its been a while, but sitting with the kids made me think, and I feel like we should just tell stories tonight."
The former newsboys around me nodded their heads in agreement. "I know most of us have been listening to your story tonight, how about you finish it up?" Skittery offered.
"You all lived dat story, why do ya wanna heah it again?" I asked, confused. The story was mostly about these people, it wasn't really a story to them, just memoirs.
Mush spoke up. "Whether we've hoid it befoah or not yer story is da best love story evah told, an' a great tale of intrigue an' adventure as well," he explained. "It'd make a great novel, Race, ya need ta write it out. You'se a journalist already, how 'bout jus' becomin' a novelist too."
If I were a girl, I would have blushed. As it was, I simply denied the greatness of our story until I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Spark, of course. She leaned forward and whispered into my ear, "Quit denying it and just tell them our story already."
"Wheah should I start?" I said in response. She planted a quick kiss on my cheek before I proceeded to tell the story.
~*~*~*~
I thought about my friend's lying in the other room injured. We'd lost Mouth. The doctor says she had a deep wound she didn't tell anyone about that became infected. But I know the truth. She didn't want to go on living anymore, with Bumlets gone she didn't have any reason to live. That's how I felt about Spark.. that was for sure. Everyone else made it through and was in recovery now. Spot fortunately would make it through. In fact, Conlon would probably be better two days after that night.
"What're you thinking about?" Spark asked me, lying underneath the blanket I was on top of, running her fingers through my curly hair.
"I won' be a good faddah to 'em will I?" I blurted out.
She looked me in the eyes with a slight look of disbelief. "You're the best father they could ever ask for."
"Why are ya lyin' ta me? I'se jus' an eighteen yeah old newsboy, what kinda faddah does dat make?"
"You love them, Anthony. What more can they ask for?"
"Money?" I said, coming out more as a question than a statement. It was true though. What kid would want to be born into a family with parents who could barely afford to feed themselves. "A roof ovah deir heads?"
"People only like money if they're raised to like money. They only want money if they've gone through a period of time with money. Our children won't have either. And we'll always be able to put a roof over their heads. We have people who'll help us out, even if we have to live in the lodging house forever," she answered calmly.
I reflected on what she said and realized it all made sense. That was when I knew it would work out. I wasn't really sure about it before, but I knew that if I had Spark I could make it all the way through anything. My children were lucky as hell to have her as a mother.
~*~*~*~
As I paused to take a breath before telling more of my story I felt soft lips descending upon my own. The breath I had taken a moment before was stolen away as the passionate kiss continued on. Applause surrounded us and filled my ears as I heard catcalls and other noises coming from my friends in the room watching. Finally, Spark pulled away.
"What was that for?" I asked. I didn't want to question my luck, but I wanted to know what I'd done so I could do it again. Often.
She grinned. "I love you."
She kissed me once more before announcing, "And on with the story!"
~*~*~*~
"I'm gonna go get meself some milk, ya want anythin' from downstairs?" I offered, pushing myself off the bed.
"Milk would be good," she answered before rolling over on her side with her back to the door.
Trying not to make much noise I walked down the stairs and into what we all called the kitchen. It housed the few loaves of bread and occasional slice of cheese as well as the milk that Kloppman tried to keep in some form of stock for us. I grabbed two beaten metal mugs and poured milk into them. Quickly I climbed my way back up the stairs and slid into the room without another sound.
I tapped Spark on the shoulder to give her the cup, but she moaned and didn't move. I realized she was asleep and sat there, sipping milk and singing a song I'd once heard somewhere.
"I don't need no one, to tell me about heaven. I look at my daughter, and I understand," I sang, watching my children sleep peacefully, breathing evenly.
I sighed. I'd never been more content in my life.
A/N: I know its short, but I want to watch the end of Law & Order. He's a pedophiliac!!! He molested the little boy! Eww. Sorry, I'm talking about L&O not WB. Haha. Well, bye bye for now.
SOs:
Sweets: Writer's block somewhat gone. New chapter. Enjoy with your choco- dipped Kid Blink. XD
Soaker: Well, Race is sweet and happy in this chapter. I know I killed off another character, but then I was writing sweet stuff. So I sorta did it right.
Sureshot: Finals are that early for college? Didn't know that. Better than highschool. They start next week. You can have choco-dipped Racetrack until my next update when I'll trade you for chocolate dipped Bumlets. Gives me an incentive to write.
Drama-Queen: heh. Gabe Damon's birthday. My friends and I sang him the birthday song at lunch. Good times, good times.
Poe: Jews are cool! I'm a Jew. It's special. Haha. Nope, just one version of newsies. I just meant that it was Disney's. Not that there was another newsies. I wish! Haha. Well, glad you like it!
Plaid Pajamas: BEING HYPER IS FUN!! You can have choc. Davy, I sure don't want him (no offense). Heh. Heh. Heh. LOL.
