It was late and I wanted to go to sleep. So I layed down on the roof and pulled the blanket over me and I thought about all the attention I was receiving, and I didn't like it. I'm not used to being cared about. Then I fell asleep.
The next morning I woke up and walked down into the washroom. I was the first one up. I washed my face and then sat on my bed waiting for the Kloppmann to come up and yell for the boys to wake up. A couple of minutes later I saw the Kloppmann come in and start
waking the boys up. He went over to Jack and started to talk to him.
"Jack, come on, time ta wake up, Carry da banner, come on." He kept nudging Jack until he opened his eyes.
"I'm up, I'm up." He sat up and rubbed his face. I couldn't help but laugh at him.
"What's youse laughing about Sweetz?" I looked at him and shrugged. "I'm surprised that
your up dis early." I looked at him, he knew he wasn't suppose to say anything. He got
my message and went over to the washroom. The next moment Race came out and came and sat on my bed.
"How youse doing Sweetz?" Race looked at me and gave me his 'Ise gonna bet on a winning horse' smile.
"I'm doing fine. Look what I bought a couple of nights ago." I took out two cigars from underneath my bed. I handed him one and he smiled and then his face turned serious once again.
"Do youse want ta talk bout do'se dreams ya been having?" He whispered to me. I shook my
head. I didn't want to tell anybody on why I was having those dreams or why I was so
disappointed in myself. "Come ons, sometins gots ta be buggin you if you've been having nightmares."
"Look Race, Ise don't want to talk about it." I looked down at the comb I was holding in my hands.
"Ok, so you going to Tibby's for lunch today?" I looked at him and smiled.
"Yeah, I'll meet ya there." I got up and headed out the door. As soon as I was walking down the steps I felt an arm around my shoulder. I looked over and it was Jack.
"Heya Jack, what's up?" I asked him while we walked out of the door.
"Nuttin much except I didn't get much sleep last night cause I was worried bout some goil newsie whose been having nightmares."
"Oh really, I told yas not to say it outs loud Jack."
"Everyone knows, youse been having nightmares every night. Its always different newsies waking youse up. Its like we take shifts." I looked at him and smiled.
"Your right, I don't know why I'm having nightmares though, it seems weird that I started to have these dreams right after I gots together with Spot." Jack looked at me surprised. Then we heard a voice behind us that we knew to well.
"Someone say me name?" I looked behind me and saw that it was Spot. I let go of jack and went over to Spot.
"Heya Spot, what are youse doing here so early?" I hugged him and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. Why did I fall for him? He doesn't deserve me. He deserves more then me. He put his arm around me and looked over at Jack.
"Hey Cowboy," He spit in his hand that was free and jack did the same. "Youse trying to steal me goil, are you?" Jack smiled. I put my head onto Spot's shoulders. He looked at me, "Youse ok Sweetz? Youse don't look like youse got a lot of sleep? Youse sick?" I looked at him and shook my head. I looked over at jack and Jack turned away and started to walk to the distribution center. I took Spots hand and took him over to a bench. We both sat down.
"Spot Ise haven't been sleeping to well, and Ise don't think I want to sell today."
"Whats goin on?" He looked at me and I put my head down.
"Ise been having nightmares and dats what I was telling Jack."
"Youse been having nightmares bout me?"
"No its not dat. Ise been having dreams bout my family, and dey all started when we gots together. And me dreams now are all bout me weight, and so I automatically tink of a reason on why youse wit me. I know dat youse had lots of girlfriends and dey were all skinny, so den whys you wit me?" I kept looking down through the silence that I created. I felt his hand beneath my chin and he lifted my face so that I was looking up into his eyes. I looked into his eyes and I could see that I hurt him from what I said. I felt so guilty.
"Sweetz, Ise not wit you because of how youse look, Ise wit you because of youse personality." I felt tears come to my eyes. "Now would youse do me da honor of sellin wit me?" I couldn't I resist his charm.
"Of coise, but do Ise have to sell my usual?"
"If youse have enough money for food and da Lodging House den youse don't hafta get your usual." I looked at him and then he took my hand and pulled me off of the bench. We went to the distribution center and I got into line before Spot. When it was my turn I went up to Mr. Wiesel.
"50 papers please." I asked him. He turned to Morris.
"50 papes for da goil." Morris handed me my papes and as soon as I was about to leave, I felt hands on my arm that I grabbed my papers with.
"Where's you going so fast Sweetz?" I turned around and of course it was Morris Delancy.
"none of your business, now would you let me go before I soak you!" Morris looked at me and laughed.
"Youse couldn't soak me even if I had my arms tied behind my back." That was it. I dropped my papers onto the ground then went up to Morris. I grabbed his collar and said,
"Youse want to make a bet?" Finally I heard someone behind me.
"Let her go, Morris, let her go or you deal wit me!" Morris looked over at Spot when Spot was talking.
"Spot, don't defend me." I looked over to Morris. "Come on out of your window and come out and fights." Without any hesitation, Morris came out and Oscar took his place at the window. I walked down the ramp and over to an open space. I could hear Spot yelling at me not to fight but I wanted to. Morris came over to me and we started to circle each other.
"You going to loose goil, and once you do den youse hafta go on a dat wit me." I looked at him and smirked.
"Youse gots to be kidding me. But if Ise win den youse hafta get me two things."
"Okays what are dey?" I looked at him and stopped circling him.
"Youse hafta get me three Havana cigars, and some good marbles." He nodded in agreement and we both shook on it. Then we started to circle each other. He charged at me and I moved out of the way. He came charging again except I moved aside and tripped him. He got up and I started to punch him. I must have punched him real hard in the face when I heard a crack and his lip bleeding. Then I kicked him in the groin and he fell. Then I punched him one more time and said,
"I want those things by tonight, six o'clock, in front of Tibby's." I walked back over to the ramp and picked up my papers. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and there was Spot. He smiled at me and said,
"I guess youse in da best mood to fight." I looked at him and smiled. He pulled me into a hug and we kissed on the lips. Then he put his arm around my shoulders and we headed out towards my selling spot. Spot and I sold all out papers before lunch so we decided to go for a walk. We were walking with his arm around my shoulder.
"Why youse here in Manhattan? You weres neva dis early."
"Ise heard from one of ya newsies dat youse been having nightmares all week."
"So youse come just cause Ise having nightmares?"
"That and cause I missed you." He smiled and kissed my forehead. Boy, did I miss his lips. I haven't seen him all week cause he has been doing 'secret business' in Brooklyn.
"Dats sweet." I kissed him on the lips. We started to walk to Tibby's for lunch. As soon as we got there we saw other Newsies piling in. Spot and I walked in and found an empty booth. Then race, Mush, and Blink sat on the opposite side.
"Hows did youse two do tada?" asked Mush.
"Wese finished early, den we went for a walk." I said. I looked over to Race and he looked like he needed to ask me a question. "Whats on yer mind Race?"
"Ise wonderin why youse told Morris to get three Havana cigars and marbles?"
"Oh, well, da marbles go to Spot and da cigars go to you." He looked at me in surprise. "And don't worries Mush and Blink, Ise still gots to soak Oscar." Blink and Mush looked at me with a sigh of relief. I couldn't help but smile. I put my head onto Spots shoulders when a waitress came over.
"Whats do youse want?" She looked at us with a notebook in her hand.
"Ise have a ham sandwich wit a glass of water." Spot said. And then the waitress looked over to Mush and Blink, and they both said at the same time,
"The same." Then she turned to me.
"What would you like?"
"A glass of water please." She turned around.
"Youse should eat." Spot said to me while I lifted my head off his shoulder.
"I'm not that hungry." He smiled and kissed my forehead, he turned and started to talk to Blink. I put my head back onto his shoulder. I decided to close my eyes and to dream. When I closed my eyes all I could see was my mom screaming at me. I quickly sat up in my seat and put my head in my hands. I could feel Spots hand on my back.
"Youse okay?" I could hear him whisper in my ear. I nodded my head. Spot kept his hand on my back while he talked to Race, Mush, and Blink. Then all of a sudden I heard the Newsies pushing chairs in and I also heard the door open. I got up and out and I waited for Spot. He cam out waving to some other Newsies and came up to me. He put his arms around my waist and started to kiss my neck.
"Hey youse want to get more papes?" He stopped kissing my neck.
"I thought youse didn't want to sell today and nowse you want to sell more? What changed your mind?"
"It keeps me mind off of things." I looked over at Spot and he quickly took out his pocket watch.
"Well its abouts two thirty, Ise guess we could." We started to walk over to the distribution center. As soon as we got our papers we went back to our selling point. Spot finished before me and I told him that I would be okay by myself. By the time I was done it was five o'clock. I decided to go to Tibby's. I sat in a booth by myself. I looked out the window and stared at the skinny rich people walking by. Another waitress came over and interrupted my thoughts.
"Do you needs anything?" I looked at her and shook my head. She looked me over and left. I went back to looking out the window. Then I heard a familiar voice entering Tibby's. I looked over at Morris. He was holding a bag.
"Heya Sweetz, heres youse stuff," He handed a bag to me. I looked in it to make sure he got everything. "I know youse said six o'clock but I didn't want to give it to ya in fronts of everybody."
"Its okay, sorry Ise soaked ya. You hungry?" He nodded his head and looked at me. "Youse can sit wit me."
"Whyse?"
"Cause, Ise don't want at look like a fat, ugly, loser who sits by demself." Morris sat down on the opposite side of me.
"Just to tells ya, you aint ugly." He motioned a waitress over and he ordered. Morris and I got into a deep conversation. Then we both noticed Newsies entering Tibby's. Morris was about to get up and leave but I couldn't let him just leave. So I stood up and got out of my booth. I grabbed Morris' arm. He turned around.
"Thanks for talking to me, youse actually could be a real nice poisen if youse wanted." I hugged him and I saw a smile on his face and he left. I sat back down and noticed Jack, Spot, and Race staring at me. Spot came over to me first, then followed the others. Spot sat next to me. He didn't touch me.
"Whats were ya talkin at Morris bout?" I pulled the bag up and gave the cigars to Race and the bag to Spot. Spot looked in it and I could see his eyes light up. "He really gave you dis stuff?" I nodded. Then I felt his arm on my shoulders. I pushed his arm off of me. "What?" He looked at me in confusion
"Youse tink I like Morris!"
"No Ise don't."
"Den why didn't you touch me when you first came over here?"
"Ise don't know." I looked at him, and he could tell that I was hurt.
"Morris is actually a decent poisen!" I got up and headed toward the door. I looked back and saw the guys smiling and laughing. I knew they really didn't care. I walked back to the Lodging House. I climbed the stairs slowly. I could hear my stomach growling. I grabbed my stomach and sat on my stairs.
"Youse okay?" I looked up and it was this girl that I haven't seen before. "Me name is Rocket. Ise looking for Spot, you know him?"
"Ya, I'm fine, ya youse can say dat I know him. Do youse mind if I ask youse how youse know him?" I looked at her. She was the same height as me but skinnier and she had reddish hair with green eyes. I didn't know what she was going to say.
"Ise don't cares if youse know, he's suppose to watch ova me. And he left cause he heard his poor little sweet goilfriend was having bad dreams." She said with a sneer.
"Hes at Tibby's, Ise take you dere if ya don't mind."
"Ise don't." I got up and we walked over to Tibby's without saying a word. We entered Tibby's and walked over to Spot, Jack, and Race.
"Hey Spot, dis goil was looking for youse." He looked up. He looked speechless.
"Hi Spot, did youse get your goilfriend under control so youse can come back tonight?" jack and Race looked at me to see if I was hurt. I sat down next to Spot while she stood.
"Race, youse like da cigars?" He nodded.
"Heya Rocket, dis is Jack and Race." Then he looked at me. "And dis is me goilfriend Sweetz." She looked at me, she was so embarrassed.
"Sorries, Ise didn't know." I stood back up.
"Well, if youse had any manners, den youse would've asked who youse were talkin to before youse talk bout someone." She gave me a weak smile. I walked over to Blink. I looked back and I could see that Rocket had taken my place. Then I felt a hand on my back. I turned around and there was Morris.
"Heya Sweetz, can Ise talk to youse?" I nodded and we both left Tibby's . "Sweetz, I can see howse you got da name. Youse really sweet." I smiled at him in appreciation.
"Thanks."
"But Ise wondering if ya could do'se me a favor?"
"Sure what is it?"
"Ise need someone to look after me cousin. She's only seven and Ise don't want her to see me acting like…..me."
"For how long?"
"Just for tomorrow, I'll pay you." I nodded my head. "Meet me outside of da center tomorrow before the newsies leave."
"Okay." He turned away and I walked back into Tibby's and back over to Blink.
"What was dat bout?"
"I'm doing him a favor."
"Whyse? If youse didn't notice, but dat was Morris Delancy."
"Was it really?" I said to Blink sarcastically." Sorry, If anyone comes looking for me tell dem dat I went back to the lodging house." He nodded. I headed out there and then I heard Jack yelling for me. I stopped and let him catch up to me.
"Heya Sweetz, youse aint mad at Spot, are you?"
"No, is dat all?"
"Umm….are you going back to da lodge?"
"Yeah, you want to go wit me?" He nodded.
"I don't like dat goil. She's nice and everytin but she shouldn't have said what she said to you. She was so sorry when you left. She is cute but Ise don't tink Ise can like er more if youse hate er." I saw a bench and I went over to it. I had to sit down. I hadn't eaten a thing all day and my body wasn't used to it. "Youse okay?" Jack put his hand on my back while I put my head into my hands. Tears were starting to fall. I looked up to Jacks face.
"Do you think I'm fat?" Tears kept falling and I made not attempt to wipe them away.
The next morning I woke up and walked down into the washroom. I was the first one up. I washed my face and then sat on my bed waiting for the Kloppmann to come up and yell for the boys to wake up. A couple of minutes later I saw the Kloppmann come in and start
waking the boys up. He went over to Jack and started to talk to him.
"Jack, come on, time ta wake up, Carry da banner, come on." He kept nudging Jack until he opened his eyes.
"I'm up, I'm up." He sat up and rubbed his face. I couldn't help but laugh at him.
"What's youse laughing about Sweetz?" I looked at him and shrugged. "I'm surprised that
your up dis early." I looked at him, he knew he wasn't suppose to say anything. He got
my message and went over to the washroom. The next moment Race came out and came and sat on my bed.
"How youse doing Sweetz?" Race looked at me and gave me his 'Ise gonna bet on a winning horse' smile.
"I'm doing fine. Look what I bought a couple of nights ago." I took out two cigars from underneath my bed. I handed him one and he smiled and then his face turned serious once again.
"Do youse want ta talk bout do'se dreams ya been having?" He whispered to me. I shook my
head. I didn't want to tell anybody on why I was having those dreams or why I was so
disappointed in myself. "Come ons, sometins gots ta be buggin you if you've been having nightmares."
"Look Race, Ise don't want to talk about it." I looked down at the comb I was holding in my hands.
"Ok, so you going to Tibby's for lunch today?" I looked at him and smiled.
"Yeah, I'll meet ya there." I got up and headed out the door. As soon as I was walking down the steps I felt an arm around my shoulder. I looked over and it was Jack.
"Heya Jack, what's up?" I asked him while we walked out of the door.
"Nuttin much except I didn't get much sleep last night cause I was worried bout some goil newsie whose been having nightmares."
"Oh really, I told yas not to say it outs loud Jack."
"Everyone knows, youse been having nightmares every night. Its always different newsies waking youse up. Its like we take shifts." I looked at him and smiled.
"Your right, I don't know why I'm having nightmares though, it seems weird that I started to have these dreams right after I gots together with Spot." Jack looked at me surprised. Then we heard a voice behind us that we knew to well.
"Someone say me name?" I looked behind me and saw that it was Spot. I let go of jack and went over to Spot.
"Heya Spot, what are youse doing here so early?" I hugged him and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. Why did I fall for him? He doesn't deserve me. He deserves more then me. He put his arm around me and looked over at Jack.
"Hey Cowboy," He spit in his hand that was free and jack did the same. "Youse trying to steal me goil, are you?" Jack smiled. I put my head onto Spot's shoulders. He looked at me, "Youse ok Sweetz? Youse don't look like youse got a lot of sleep? Youse sick?" I looked at him and shook my head. I looked over at jack and Jack turned away and started to walk to the distribution center. I took Spots hand and took him over to a bench. We both sat down.
"Spot Ise haven't been sleeping to well, and Ise don't think I want to sell today."
"Whats goin on?" He looked at me and I put my head down.
"Ise been having nightmares and dats what I was telling Jack."
"Youse been having nightmares bout me?"
"No its not dat. Ise been having dreams bout my family, and dey all started when we gots together. And me dreams now are all bout me weight, and so I automatically tink of a reason on why youse wit me. I know dat youse had lots of girlfriends and dey were all skinny, so den whys you wit me?" I kept looking down through the silence that I created. I felt his hand beneath my chin and he lifted my face so that I was looking up into his eyes. I looked into his eyes and I could see that I hurt him from what I said. I felt so guilty.
"Sweetz, Ise not wit you because of how youse look, Ise wit you because of youse personality." I felt tears come to my eyes. "Now would youse do me da honor of sellin wit me?" I couldn't I resist his charm.
"Of coise, but do Ise have to sell my usual?"
"If youse have enough money for food and da Lodging House den youse don't hafta get your usual." I looked at him and then he took my hand and pulled me off of the bench. We went to the distribution center and I got into line before Spot. When it was my turn I went up to Mr. Wiesel.
"50 papers please." I asked him. He turned to Morris.
"50 papes for da goil." Morris handed me my papes and as soon as I was about to leave, I felt hands on my arm that I grabbed my papers with.
"Where's you going so fast Sweetz?" I turned around and of course it was Morris Delancy.
"none of your business, now would you let me go before I soak you!" Morris looked at me and laughed.
"Youse couldn't soak me even if I had my arms tied behind my back." That was it. I dropped my papers onto the ground then went up to Morris. I grabbed his collar and said,
"Youse want to make a bet?" Finally I heard someone behind me.
"Let her go, Morris, let her go or you deal wit me!" Morris looked over at Spot when Spot was talking.
"Spot, don't defend me." I looked over to Morris. "Come on out of your window and come out and fights." Without any hesitation, Morris came out and Oscar took his place at the window. I walked down the ramp and over to an open space. I could hear Spot yelling at me not to fight but I wanted to. Morris came over to me and we started to circle each other.
"You going to loose goil, and once you do den youse hafta go on a dat wit me." I looked at him and smirked.
"Youse gots to be kidding me. But if Ise win den youse hafta get me two things."
"Okays what are dey?" I looked at him and stopped circling him.
"Youse hafta get me three Havana cigars, and some good marbles." He nodded in agreement and we both shook on it. Then we started to circle each other. He charged at me and I moved out of the way. He came charging again except I moved aside and tripped him. He got up and I started to punch him. I must have punched him real hard in the face when I heard a crack and his lip bleeding. Then I kicked him in the groin and he fell. Then I punched him one more time and said,
"I want those things by tonight, six o'clock, in front of Tibby's." I walked back over to the ramp and picked up my papers. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and there was Spot. He smiled at me and said,
"I guess youse in da best mood to fight." I looked at him and smiled. He pulled me into a hug and we kissed on the lips. Then he put his arm around my shoulders and we headed out towards my selling spot. Spot and I sold all out papers before lunch so we decided to go for a walk. We were walking with his arm around my shoulder.
"Why youse here in Manhattan? You weres neva dis early."
"Ise heard from one of ya newsies dat youse been having nightmares all week."
"So youse come just cause Ise having nightmares?"
"That and cause I missed you." He smiled and kissed my forehead. Boy, did I miss his lips. I haven't seen him all week cause he has been doing 'secret business' in Brooklyn.
"Dats sweet." I kissed him on the lips. We started to walk to Tibby's for lunch. As soon as we got there we saw other Newsies piling in. Spot and I walked in and found an empty booth. Then race, Mush, and Blink sat on the opposite side.
"Hows did youse two do tada?" asked Mush.
"Wese finished early, den we went for a walk." I said. I looked over to Race and he looked like he needed to ask me a question. "Whats on yer mind Race?"
"Ise wonderin why youse told Morris to get three Havana cigars and marbles?"
"Oh, well, da marbles go to Spot and da cigars go to you." He looked at me in surprise. "And don't worries Mush and Blink, Ise still gots to soak Oscar." Blink and Mush looked at me with a sigh of relief. I couldn't help but smile. I put my head onto Spots shoulders when a waitress came over.
"Whats do youse want?" She looked at us with a notebook in her hand.
"Ise have a ham sandwich wit a glass of water." Spot said. And then the waitress looked over to Mush and Blink, and they both said at the same time,
"The same." Then she turned to me.
"What would you like?"
"A glass of water please." She turned around.
"Youse should eat." Spot said to me while I lifted my head off his shoulder.
"I'm not that hungry." He smiled and kissed my forehead, he turned and started to talk to Blink. I put my head back onto his shoulder. I decided to close my eyes and to dream. When I closed my eyes all I could see was my mom screaming at me. I quickly sat up in my seat and put my head in my hands. I could feel Spots hand on my back.
"Youse okay?" I could hear him whisper in my ear. I nodded my head. Spot kept his hand on my back while he talked to Race, Mush, and Blink. Then all of a sudden I heard the Newsies pushing chairs in and I also heard the door open. I got up and out and I waited for Spot. He cam out waving to some other Newsies and came up to me. He put his arms around my waist and started to kiss my neck.
"Hey youse want to get more papes?" He stopped kissing my neck.
"I thought youse didn't want to sell today and nowse you want to sell more? What changed your mind?"
"It keeps me mind off of things." I looked over at Spot and he quickly took out his pocket watch.
"Well its abouts two thirty, Ise guess we could." We started to walk over to the distribution center. As soon as we got our papers we went back to our selling point. Spot finished before me and I told him that I would be okay by myself. By the time I was done it was five o'clock. I decided to go to Tibby's. I sat in a booth by myself. I looked out the window and stared at the skinny rich people walking by. Another waitress came over and interrupted my thoughts.
"Do you needs anything?" I looked at her and shook my head. She looked me over and left. I went back to looking out the window. Then I heard a familiar voice entering Tibby's. I looked over at Morris. He was holding a bag.
"Heya Sweetz, heres youse stuff," He handed a bag to me. I looked in it to make sure he got everything. "I know youse said six o'clock but I didn't want to give it to ya in fronts of everybody."
"Its okay, sorry Ise soaked ya. You hungry?" He nodded his head and looked at me. "Youse can sit wit me."
"Whyse?"
"Cause, Ise don't want at look like a fat, ugly, loser who sits by demself." Morris sat down on the opposite side of me.
"Just to tells ya, you aint ugly." He motioned a waitress over and he ordered. Morris and I got into a deep conversation. Then we both noticed Newsies entering Tibby's. Morris was about to get up and leave but I couldn't let him just leave. So I stood up and got out of my booth. I grabbed Morris' arm. He turned around.
"Thanks for talking to me, youse actually could be a real nice poisen if youse wanted." I hugged him and I saw a smile on his face and he left. I sat back down and noticed Jack, Spot, and Race staring at me. Spot came over to me first, then followed the others. Spot sat next to me. He didn't touch me.
"Whats were ya talkin at Morris bout?" I pulled the bag up and gave the cigars to Race and the bag to Spot. Spot looked in it and I could see his eyes light up. "He really gave you dis stuff?" I nodded. Then I felt his arm on my shoulders. I pushed his arm off of me. "What?" He looked at me in confusion
"Youse tink I like Morris!"
"No Ise don't."
"Den why didn't you touch me when you first came over here?"
"Ise don't know." I looked at him, and he could tell that I was hurt.
"Morris is actually a decent poisen!" I got up and headed toward the door. I looked back and saw the guys smiling and laughing. I knew they really didn't care. I walked back to the Lodging House. I climbed the stairs slowly. I could hear my stomach growling. I grabbed my stomach and sat on my stairs.
"Youse okay?" I looked up and it was this girl that I haven't seen before. "Me name is Rocket. Ise looking for Spot, you know him?"
"Ya, I'm fine, ya youse can say dat I know him. Do youse mind if I ask youse how youse know him?" I looked at her. She was the same height as me but skinnier and she had reddish hair with green eyes. I didn't know what she was going to say.
"Ise don't cares if youse know, he's suppose to watch ova me. And he left cause he heard his poor little sweet goilfriend was having bad dreams." She said with a sneer.
"Hes at Tibby's, Ise take you dere if ya don't mind."
"Ise don't." I got up and we walked over to Tibby's without saying a word. We entered Tibby's and walked over to Spot, Jack, and Race.
"Hey Spot, dis goil was looking for youse." He looked up. He looked speechless.
"Hi Spot, did youse get your goilfriend under control so youse can come back tonight?" jack and Race looked at me to see if I was hurt. I sat down next to Spot while she stood.
"Race, youse like da cigars?" He nodded.
"Heya Rocket, dis is Jack and Race." Then he looked at me. "And dis is me goilfriend Sweetz." She looked at me, she was so embarrassed.
"Sorries, Ise didn't know." I stood back up.
"Well, if youse had any manners, den youse would've asked who youse were talkin to before youse talk bout someone." She gave me a weak smile. I walked over to Blink. I looked back and I could see that Rocket had taken my place. Then I felt a hand on my back. I turned around and there was Morris.
"Heya Sweetz, can Ise talk to youse?" I nodded and we both left Tibby's . "Sweetz, I can see howse you got da name. Youse really sweet." I smiled at him in appreciation.
"Thanks."
"But Ise wondering if ya could do'se me a favor?"
"Sure what is it?"
"Ise need someone to look after me cousin. She's only seven and Ise don't want her to see me acting like…..me."
"For how long?"
"Just for tomorrow, I'll pay you." I nodded my head. "Meet me outside of da center tomorrow before the newsies leave."
"Okay." He turned away and I walked back into Tibby's and back over to Blink.
"What was dat bout?"
"I'm doing him a favor."
"Whyse? If youse didn't notice, but dat was Morris Delancy."
"Was it really?" I said to Blink sarcastically." Sorry, If anyone comes looking for me tell dem dat I went back to the lodging house." He nodded. I headed out there and then I heard Jack yelling for me. I stopped and let him catch up to me.
"Heya Sweetz, youse aint mad at Spot, are you?"
"No, is dat all?"
"Umm….are you going back to da lodge?"
"Yeah, you want to go wit me?" He nodded.
"I don't like dat goil. She's nice and everytin but she shouldn't have said what she said to you. She was so sorry when you left. She is cute but Ise don't tink Ise can like er more if youse hate er." I saw a bench and I went over to it. I had to sit down. I hadn't eaten a thing all day and my body wasn't used to it. "Youse okay?" Jack put his hand on my back while I put my head into my hands. Tears were starting to fall. I looked up to Jacks face.
"Do you think I'm fat?" Tears kept falling and I made not attempt to wipe them away.