Chapter 5: Skittery and Botch
John was exhausted after selling the evening edition of the papers after lunch. He had never known quite how heavy the papers were, or how long a newsie's day could be.
He walked into the washroom, barely awake, and began to get ready for bed. From the other room, he could hear another fight starting, but he was really too tired to care.
By the time he was washed and dressed, the fight had already reached its climax, and some screaming could be heard. Jack was shouting through the fray. "Skitts! Calm down, shut up, and go to sleep!"
John winced. That was either a table being turned over or a chair being thrown at somebody-probably Jack. The fight died down shortly, and John decided that it was safe to go into the bunkroom. The had his hand on the door and-
John woke a few minutes later with a worried looking brunette boy kneeling over him. Seeing that he was awake, the boy ran his fingers through his hair and started talking nervously.
"Sorry about that. You all right? Listen, I'se really, really sorry, and if you'se needs anything just ask, okay?"
John gave him a weak smile. His head was pounding like crazy and speaking was especially painful. "Who are you and what hit me?"
The boy winced. "Sorry 'bout that. I'se Skittery. Umm. I opened the door and I really didn't know you were standing there. I was a little mad at the time, and it opened a little harder than it should've. Are you okay?"
John nodded and instantly regretted it, as the movement made his head pound even harder. "I'm fine. I just have a really big headache right now."
Another boy, one that John had never seen before, slapped Skittery on the back. The boy was very tall, and had dark wavy hair and very large front teeth. "Aww, too bad, Skitts. You'se didn't manage to kill the new boy. Better luck next time?"
Skitts slapped the boy away. "Beat it, Snitch." He snapped grumpily.
Snitch danced out of reach. "My, someone is being Glum and Dumb today, ain't he?"
Skittery ignored Snitch. "Never try to hit a thief; they are too fast to hit. It's not a good idea. They just steal all your stuff and hide it during the night."
John couldn't decide if Skittery was talking to himself or not, so he just smiled politely and attempted to stand. Sitting up caused him to grab his head and close his eyes for a moment. Skittery looked worried again and ran his fingers through his hair again. This seemed to be a nervous habit.
"Listen, I'se really sorry. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, just ask, okay?"
John nodded again, gritting his teeth. He could feel a lump growing on his forehead.
Skittery seemed to think of something. "The bunk below me is free. Do you want to use it tonight?"
This cheered John up considerably. He had actually been kind of worried about where he would sleep. He didn't really want to share one of those small bunks with another boy, but he didn't want someone to move for him like Blink had done last night. He nodded and thanked Skittery, who seemed delighted that John didn't hate him for knocking him out.
Skittery helped him to his bunk. Before climbing to the top, Skittery paused. "I'se glad I didn't Botch things up with you before we got a chance to be friends."
John nodded sleepily. Botch. Wouldn't that make a nice name?
THE MUSES SPEAK:
Blink!muse: Aguachica has something to say to you all.
Aguachica: I am not allowed on Fanfiction.Net for a month. If I haven't reviewed your stories, this is why. I hope you all understand and I will see you again in a month! I hope you all decide to keep reading despite the infrequent updates. I promise I will do double shout-outs in the next chapter!
John!muse: Oh sure. . . Abandon me in the middle of my story.
John was exhausted after selling the evening edition of the papers after lunch. He had never known quite how heavy the papers were, or how long a newsie's day could be.
He walked into the washroom, barely awake, and began to get ready for bed. From the other room, he could hear another fight starting, but he was really too tired to care.
By the time he was washed and dressed, the fight had already reached its climax, and some screaming could be heard. Jack was shouting through the fray. "Skitts! Calm down, shut up, and go to sleep!"
John winced. That was either a table being turned over or a chair being thrown at somebody-probably Jack. The fight died down shortly, and John decided that it was safe to go into the bunkroom. The had his hand on the door and-
John woke a few minutes later with a worried looking brunette boy kneeling over him. Seeing that he was awake, the boy ran his fingers through his hair and started talking nervously.
"Sorry about that. You all right? Listen, I'se really, really sorry, and if you'se needs anything just ask, okay?"
John gave him a weak smile. His head was pounding like crazy and speaking was especially painful. "Who are you and what hit me?"
The boy winced. "Sorry 'bout that. I'se Skittery. Umm. I opened the door and I really didn't know you were standing there. I was a little mad at the time, and it opened a little harder than it should've. Are you okay?"
John nodded and instantly regretted it, as the movement made his head pound even harder. "I'm fine. I just have a really big headache right now."
Another boy, one that John had never seen before, slapped Skittery on the back. The boy was very tall, and had dark wavy hair and very large front teeth. "Aww, too bad, Skitts. You'se didn't manage to kill the new boy. Better luck next time?"
Skitts slapped the boy away. "Beat it, Snitch." He snapped grumpily.
Snitch danced out of reach. "My, someone is being Glum and Dumb today, ain't he?"
Skittery ignored Snitch. "Never try to hit a thief; they are too fast to hit. It's not a good idea. They just steal all your stuff and hide it during the night."
John couldn't decide if Skittery was talking to himself or not, so he just smiled politely and attempted to stand. Sitting up caused him to grab his head and close his eyes for a moment. Skittery looked worried again and ran his fingers through his hair again. This seemed to be a nervous habit.
"Listen, I'se really sorry. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, just ask, okay?"
John nodded again, gritting his teeth. He could feel a lump growing on his forehead.
Skittery seemed to think of something. "The bunk below me is free. Do you want to use it tonight?"
This cheered John up considerably. He had actually been kind of worried about where he would sleep. He didn't really want to share one of those small bunks with another boy, but he didn't want someone to move for him like Blink had done last night. He nodded and thanked Skittery, who seemed delighted that John didn't hate him for knocking him out.
Skittery helped him to his bunk. Before climbing to the top, Skittery paused. "I'se glad I didn't Botch things up with you before we got a chance to be friends."
John nodded sleepily. Botch. Wouldn't that make a nice name?
THE MUSES SPEAK:
Blink!muse: Aguachica has something to say to you all.
Aguachica: I am not allowed on Fanfiction.Net for a month. If I haven't reviewed your stories, this is why. I hope you all understand and I will see you again in a month! I hope you all decide to keep reading despite the infrequent updates. I promise I will do double shout-outs in the next chapter!
John!muse: Oh sure. . . Abandon me in the middle of my story.