When we got to the lodging house we were extremely surprised to find it empty.

"'Ey Kloppman! Where's everybody at?"

Kloppman came out of his room, book in hand. "Didn't anyone tell you? There's a party down at Irving Hall tonight."

Race and I grinned at each other, "You ready to win back our money, Race?"

"When am I not ready for a game of pokah?"

With that we went on our way to Irving Hall. Right outside, Race stopped and looked at me. "Hey, umm, Chrys. I really like ya, and I was hoping dat.. well.. dat you'd be me goil." He said the last part quickly, probably scared to chicken out if he said it slowly.

"I really like ya too Race, but I dunno if I can be your goil. Let's just take it slow and den maybe later I'll be your goil." He smiled, clearly disappointed that I had said no, but I said I liked him back, and he seemed content with that and didn't push matters farther.

"Dat's good enough for me!" And with that me kissed me on the check, grabbed my hand, and we headed into Irving Hall.

Let me tell you, I had never been to a party like that. Not only were newsies from all over but also their dates, and anyone else affiliated with them. I met people from Midtown, Harlem, Queens, and many other boroughs. Much to my relief a bunch of the guys from Brooklyn also stopped in, so I wasn't too overwhelmed with unfamiliar faces.

Much to my surprise and delight, Medda, the owner, decided to put the legal drinking age to shame, and gave us some of her best liquor. Free of charge, might I add. After a few hours Race and I we able to win most, if not all, of our money back. With our pockets considerably heavier, we made our way to the bar to celebrate.

After getting our drinks, Race and I made our way to a table where Spot and Jack were sitting. Jack stood up to greet us, "Heya guys, where ya been all day?"

After explaining our eventful day, I noticed there were quite a few people sitting at the table that I didn't know. "Since Jack and Spot ain't got no manners, I take it I'll have ta introduce myself. Me names Crystal, but everyone jist calls me Chrys."

The first to speak was a very pretty girl, wearing an elegant dress. I was surprised to see someone like her at a place like this. I could tell by her speech and posture she was well educated and in a much higher class. "Hello, my name is Sydney Palmer. I'm here with Jack." How Jack managed to hook this girl was far beyond me. From what I'd seen, I didn't understand how he was the leader of Manhattan, let alone obtained the reputation for being a nice guy. I shook Sydney's hand and moved on to the next foreign face.

The next girl I saw was dressed in a simple cream shirt and a plain gray skirt. I saw her look over at Sydney, envying her and her dress. She didn't need it, even in the plain clothes she was prettier then Sydney, by far. I smiled as she turned to me, realizing it was her turn for the introduction. "I'se Shadow, and I'se Spots date." Again I shook her hand and moved on.

Further down the table I met Jinx and Rose, Ciggs and Snap, and Cards and Booky. Finally I came to a girl sitting alone at the end of the table. I saw her staring at Race, and I knew immediately I didn't like her. She didn't seem to notice me watching her, or maybe she didn't care, "And you are?"

"Ohh sorry," she said, I knew she wasn't, "I'm Truth."

"Nice ta meet ya Truth." I said with a smile. We began to shake hands but I don't think we actually ever did. We just stood there, holding each other's hand, staring each other down.

Jack was the first to speak up, "Uhh.. Guys?"

We both quickly turned to Jack. I realized we must have looked incredibly stupid, and dropped Truth's hand. "Well I gotta go. Long day today, and I need some sleep. It was nice meeting all of you. I'll see the rest of ya latah tonight." With that I turned and headed for the closest exit.

"Hey Chrys!" I turned to see Race had followed me out. "Where you goin? Da party's jist beginning!"

"I'm tired Race," I lied. I knew that if I didn't leave, something bad would happen between Truth, and me and I didn't feel like dealing with anything. "Maybe I'll come back latah, kay?" Race nodded and headed back inside.

I headed back to the lodging house and met with Kloppman. "What's the matter Chrys?" I was pretty sure I could trust Kloppman, so I began to spill my heart out. I told him how I didn't know what to do about Race, how I felt I could trust anyone, and about my disliking for Truth and Jack.

Kloppman just took everything in. After I was done, I felt exhausted and really wanted to go to sleep. Kloppman however had different plans. "Well, I heard Race talking about you with Blink, and he really likes you. As for Jack, he doesn't mean any harm. He was having a bad day, and you were probably in the wrong place at the wrong time. If I were you I'd give him another chance, he's a good kid. And Truth.. Well I was never really fond of her. If your worried about her trying to steal Race from ya, I recommend you go back to the party and make you and Race official."

I nodded and smiled at Kloppman. He was a really nice guy and quite a wise old man. "Thanks. Oh, and Kloppman. Please don't tell no one 'bout this." He nodded and went back to his room. Back to that book, I suppose.

When I got back to the party I found mostly everyone had left, with the exception of the Manhattan boys and Spot. I was delighted that Truth was now gone. I found the majority of everyone drunk. "Heya Spot, where's Race?" Spot just looked at me, probably on the verge of passing out, finally pointing to another room, "Playing poker wid Jake, Snoddy, and Truth." Great, she still was there.

When I walked into the room, my jaw nearly hit the floor. Snoddy and Jake were passed out on the floor and Truth was on top of Race, kissing him passionately. When I notice that he wasn't fighting to get her off, but kissing her back, my face reddened with anger and I left the room without saying a word to them.

I stormed through Irving Hall and was just about out the door when Spot stopped me. "Where ya goin?"

"Arizona." Spot looked stunned for a slight moment and then hid it.

"Why? When?"

"Now. And if ya really wanna know, go find Race, he'll know why."

I began to leave when Spot stopped me and told me to stay there for a moment. Then he disappeared into the room occupied by Race and Truth. All of a sudden I heard a crash and Spots yells filled the theatre. "What the hell you'se doin? You gotta goil like Chrys and you go 'round wid dis slut? Tell me why I shouldn't soak ya?"

I didn't hear the rest. I didn't want to. I left the hall and made my way back to the lodging house. On the way there, Jack came up and asked to walk with me. Complying with Kloppman's wishes to give him another chance, I said yes.

"I hoid what happened. So where ya goin?" I was surprised Jack even cared, he didn't the first time I left, so I didn't understand why he would he now.

"Going ta Arizona, and den maybe working my way east, ta New Mexico."

Jack's eyes sparkled at the name. "Like Santa Fe?"

"Maybe." All of a sudden Jack stopped and looked me straight in the eyes.

"Chrys, I know you don't like me much, ok, so ya hate me, and I don't blame ya for da way I went off on ya dat one night. But if you'se going ta New Mexico could ya stop in Santa Fe for me?"

"I don't hate you Jack." Ok maybe just a little. "Why you want me ta go ta Santa Fe?"

"We'll its been my dream ta go since I was little. I nevah had a chance ta go, till da strike, but I stayed heah. For some goil named Sarah. You imagine dat? I stayed for some goil."

"Why don't you come with me? We can leave tonight." I thought for sure he would say yes, and kind of regretted asking him, not knowing how long I could stand Jack. But surprisingly he shook his head.

"I stayed for some goil back den, but I realized dis is where me family is. All da newsies, dey me family, and I couldn't leave 'em. Thought maybe you would become one of da family too, but you'se gotta do what you'se gotta do." With that he gave me a hug, "I'll miss ya Chrys."

"You too, Cowboy." And I meant it. I smiled at him and we began walking back to the lodging house.

When we got there, I grabbed my stuff and headed for the train station. When the train pulled into the station, I made my way to the boxcar. "You'se coming back?" His voice rang from the shadows.

"Probably not."

"Chrys."

"Definitely not."

He moved out of the shadows and looked me in the eyes. "I'll miss ya. And I meant everything I said. I really do care for ya."

"I know Spot."

"I'll wait for ya." I knew Spot was going to make this difficult. In the back of my mind I had been wishing Race would come and try and stop me from leaving. He was probably in bed with that slut by now. I sighed.

"I ain't coming back."

"I know you say dat. But I know you don't mean it. You'll be back. And your bunk will be waitin' for ya."

I didn't have time to argue with Spot about whether I would come back or not, so I simple shrugged. I hopped into the box car and began to shut the door, "G'bye Spot." And with that I shut the door and found a spot to hide. A few minutes later the train pulled out of the station and I was on my way to Arizona.