The first thing I feel is my cheek pressed against the sidewalk. Then I
open my eyes and shut them just as quickly. When I try to move into a more
comfortable position I realize the world is spinning.
No more moving.
I ache all over. But that's not the worst part of it. Everything inside me seems to have gone to war with each other. My head and my stomach are winning. Or losing, depending how you look at it.
Oh, the pain.
Half my head is pounding and the other half is throbbing, with a good sharp twinge now and then to keep things interesting.
I shouldn't have drunk so much.
Oh no.
Gonna puke.
Gotta find a bathroom. Gotta find a bathr-
No bathrooms outside.
Gotta find a bucket. Gotta find a-.
Oops.
Well, gutters are like buckets.
I'm up now. Or at least as up as I'm going to get.
Ok, so I'm more hunched over on my hands and knees. But at least I'm moving. Slowly, yes, but moving.
There's one problem though.
I have no clue where I am or where I'm going.
But wherever I'm going, I'll get there. Eventually.
I'm actually on my feet now. With the help of the wall, which would help even more if it stopped moving. I don't know what'd gonna happen when I try to cross a street.
Oh no.
Not again.
Sidewalks are like gutters, which are like buckets.
Ugh.
I'm in pain.
After a while of stumbling and staggering through the streets I decided to stop. I mean, it's not like I'm getting anywhere. I'm probably going in circles. Right now I'm looking for a promising doorway.
I give up.
Doorways all start to look alike after a while.
I chose the closest and sat down, leaning against the wall.
Ow.
I don't think I'll be able to get up again. But I can worry about that later.
I was just about to drift off when I thought of something.
I really hope the door doesn't open out.
Oh well, too late for that now.
I fell asleep.
Only to be rudely awoken when I felt a foot in my side.
Ow.
Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.
I didn't want to open my eyes, so I just rolled over. I mean, it's not like whoever the foot belonged to could make me feel worse than I do now.
I'm not just in pain, broke, and kinda hungry. Now I'm depressed.
I had been trying to forget about the past. Sure, some people may think I'm a coward for not facing it, but that's just the way I deal with things. I faced it and buried it. It was supposed to stay buried. If only Joe and Mahoney hadn't come along.
Oh great, now I'm blaming other people for my problems.
At least my head is clearer.
Well, as clear as I think it's going to get for a while.
There's the foot again. What is it with people and getting me in the stomach?
I groan and turn over again, muttering something along the lines of "Go 'way or I'll soak ya."
Apparently whoever was there understood what I said. That takes talent.
"I don't think you should."
That voice sounds familiar.
"Yeah, 'cause then I'd have to get up." I resettle myself into a more comfortable position on the ground.
The foot makes its presence known. Again.
"Will you stop that!" Well, if they understood what I said before, they'll understand that too. With any luck.
"I'll stop if you get up."
I crack an eye open to see who it is.
This just keeps getting worse. It's Spot.
Oh well. There are worse fates than what you get for threatening the leader of Brooklyn. Getting up would be one of them.
"I'm not getting up." My words are muffled by my arm, which makes quite a nice pillow.
Hello foot.
"Come on Race. Get up." He nudges me with his foot.
"Lemme alone."
I wait, but he doesn't poke me with his foot again.
I was just starting to drift off again when it hit me. Ice cold water.
I'm on my feet now, swearing at Conlon. He didn't have to go that far.
I have an audience now. The Brooklyn newsies who are watching are looking at me funny.
I suppose I do look funny. Even though I haven't had a chance to see my face, if it looks like close to what it feels like, it must look pretty bad. That and I don't really get mad very often.
Heh, well these boys are getting quite a show.
AN: Well, chapter 6 is done now. I'll put the next part up as soon as I can. Enjoy.
Sapphy: Oooh. That's a good idea. I never thought of having him wake up in his uncle's house. But I already had something else planned ^_^;;. You'll find out what happens to Joe and Mahoney in the next chapter or two.*bwahhaha*
Legs: About his aunt.well, it gets explained a little later. Don't worry-I could never get mad at you! Thanks again for your review! I always look forward to them.
No more moving.
I ache all over. But that's not the worst part of it. Everything inside me seems to have gone to war with each other. My head and my stomach are winning. Or losing, depending how you look at it.
Oh, the pain.
Half my head is pounding and the other half is throbbing, with a good sharp twinge now and then to keep things interesting.
I shouldn't have drunk so much.
Oh no.
Gonna puke.
Gotta find a bathroom. Gotta find a bathr-
No bathrooms outside.
Gotta find a bucket. Gotta find a-.
Oops.
Well, gutters are like buckets.
I'm up now. Or at least as up as I'm going to get.
Ok, so I'm more hunched over on my hands and knees. But at least I'm moving. Slowly, yes, but moving.
There's one problem though.
I have no clue where I am or where I'm going.
But wherever I'm going, I'll get there. Eventually.
I'm actually on my feet now. With the help of the wall, which would help even more if it stopped moving. I don't know what'd gonna happen when I try to cross a street.
Oh no.
Not again.
Sidewalks are like gutters, which are like buckets.
Ugh.
I'm in pain.
After a while of stumbling and staggering through the streets I decided to stop. I mean, it's not like I'm getting anywhere. I'm probably going in circles. Right now I'm looking for a promising doorway.
I give up.
Doorways all start to look alike after a while.
I chose the closest and sat down, leaning against the wall.
Ow.
I don't think I'll be able to get up again. But I can worry about that later.
I was just about to drift off when I thought of something.
I really hope the door doesn't open out.
Oh well, too late for that now.
I fell asleep.
Only to be rudely awoken when I felt a foot in my side.
Ow.
Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.
I didn't want to open my eyes, so I just rolled over. I mean, it's not like whoever the foot belonged to could make me feel worse than I do now.
I'm not just in pain, broke, and kinda hungry. Now I'm depressed.
I had been trying to forget about the past. Sure, some people may think I'm a coward for not facing it, but that's just the way I deal with things. I faced it and buried it. It was supposed to stay buried. If only Joe and Mahoney hadn't come along.
Oh great, now I'm blaming other people for my problems.
At least my head is clearer.
Well, as clear as I think it's going to get for a while.
There's the foot again. What is it with people and getting me in the stomach?
I groan and turn over again, muttering something along the lines of "Go 'way or I'll soak ya."
Apparently whoever was there understood what I said. That takes talent.
"I don't think you should."
That voice sounds familiar.
"Yeah, 'cause then I'd have to get up." I resettle myself into a more comfortable position on the ground.
The foot makes its presence known. Again.
"Will you stop that!" Well, if they understood what I said before, they'll understand that too. With any luck.
"I'll stop if you get up."
I crack an eye open to see who it is.
This just keeps getting worse. It's Spot.
Oh well. There are worse fates than what you get for threatening the leader of Brooklyn. Getting up would be one of them.
"I'm not getting up." My words are muffled by my arm, which makes quite a nice pillow.
Hello foot.
"Come on Race. Get up." He nudges me with his foot.
"Lemme alone."
I wait, but he doesn't poke me with his foot again.
I was just starting to drift off again when it hit me. Ice cold water.
I'm on my feet now, swearing at Conlon. He didn't have to go that far.
I have an audience now. The Brooklyn newsies who are watching are looking at me funny.
I suppose I do look funny. Even though I haven't had a chance to see my face, if it looks like close to what it feels like, it must look pretty bad. That and I don't really get mad very often.
Heh, well these boys are getting quite a show.
AN: Well, chapter 6 is done now. I'll put the next part up as soon as I can. Enjoy.
Sapphy: Oooh. That's a good idea. I never thought of having him wake up in his uncle's house. But I already had something else planned ^_^;;. You'll find out what happens to Joe and Mahoney in the next chapter or two.*bwahhaha*
Legs: About his aunt.well, it gets explained a little later. Don't worry-I could never get mad at you! Thanks again for your review! I always look forward to them.