"Whyse would you say dat? Whose said dat to ya? I'll soak dem!"
"Ise said dat." I looked up at him. "Youse gonna soak me?" I couldn't help but smile and start to laugh. Then he started to laugh. "Youse never answered me question." We stopped laughing and he looked am me straight in the eyes.
"Sweetz, your beautiful in youse own way." He knew I was disappointed.
"Everyone say dat. But Ise want to loose weight. Ise working on it right now."
"Is dat why we sat down? Did youse eat today?" What the hell! Can he read my mind. Okay, just stay calm, just don't give anything away.
"Of coise I ate." I looked down.
"Youse lying to me. Ise know when you lying. Why aint youse eating? Spots not going to be happy bout dis."
"Youse not going to tell him, Ise sleepy." I had to change the subject. "Lets go back to the lodging house. Lets go." I grabbed Jacks arm and started to run. Easy way to loose weight. We entered the Lodging House and we both went upstairs and as I was walking to my bed I saw Spot sitting on it.
"Where were youse? Ise been looking for you for the past hour." He looked at me and I couldn't figure out why he was so upset with me. Did I do something wrong?
"I was wit Jack, we weres talking."
"it seems like youse talk to everybody cept me." He got off of my bed and stood right in front of me. I looked out the side of my eyes and I could see Jack standing there about to get Spot off of my back.
"Don't boss me around, if youse have a problem wit me talking to other people then Ise sorry, I can't help myself. And if youse wanted to talk all youse had to do was ask." I walked over to the window and up the fire escape. I sat down in a corner. I couldn't believe him. I heard a noise on the fire escape and I knew somebody was coming up. I hoped it wasn't Spot. I didn't want to talk to him and the moment. I put my head into my hands and brought my knees to my chest. I could feel tears come to my face. But I wouldn't let the tears fall.
"Sweetz, I'm sorry. Ise was pissed off cause your talking to Jack and even Morris for gods sake instead of me. I guess Ise just jealous." I knew that it would be Spot. I felt him sit in front of me and he put his hands on my knees. "Don't be mad at me. Ise don't want anything to come between us." He looked at me. I could feel his eyes on me. I looked up at him. Amy eyes were all teary and I hardly could see him, so I had to blink. I felt a tear on my cheek. Spot wiped it away with his hand. "Are youse mad at me?" I looked at him and I put my hands on his hands that were rubbing my knees.
"I'm not upset bout you yellin at me. Ise probably desoived it. I probably had it coming to me." I looked down at our hands.
"Youse didn't desoived it, and what was I tinkin when I get mad at me goil when she soaked someone so Ise could get new marbles." I smiled.
"What happened to Rocket?"
"After youse left wit Jackey boy, I'd yelled at her, she shouldn't have said what she said. She don't desoived me protection. I told her dat if she eva speaks shit bout you at anyone dat she wouldn't get any protection." I wanted to know what Rocket was running from but I knew that I shouldn't ask.
"Spot, Ise don't know if we should be together."
"What youse talkin bout?" He came closer to me and took his hand and caressed my face. "Youse really want to end us?" I looked up in his eyes and saw that he was hurt.
"Answer me den, do you cares bout how Ise look?" I looked at him and he knew I wanted the truth.
"ise care to a coition extent." He looked down.
"What do youse mean?"
"I mean I care what you'd dress like, cause I don't want anyone to hit on youse and den I don't want youse to look like your starving." I thought it was kind of funny that he used the word 'starving'.
"Youse don't care if I'm fat?"
"Youse not fat Sweetz. Look at me," I looked in his eyes, "youse not fat, and no ones round here tinks dat." My eyes filled with tears again. I was so happy he said that.
"I'm so sick of looking in da mirror and looking back at….me. Sometimes I just wish dat I was do'se goils who didn't have a background like me….Ise just want to be normal." I couldn't stop crying. Spot moved closer and put me in his embrace. "Ise don't desoived your love, Ise don't desoived to live." I stopped crying and I felt his arms around me getting tighter.
"Youse desoive to live and to live wit me. Ise couldn't live another day if youse died."
"Do youse want at go inside? Ise had enough of dis, Ise don't want to cry anymore." I laughed. Spot helped me up and we went downstairs. Everyone looked at us as we walked into the room holding each others hand. We went over to my bed.
"Good night Sweetz."
"Don't go, youse can sleep in my bed. Please. Ise just don't want to have a nightmare and since I feel safe in youse arms, then maybe I'll dream of sometin good."
"What bout da other guys? They might tink wese up to sometin."
"Ise don't care and plus we wouldn't if they were in here."
"Fine," Spot took off his shirt and pants and came into my bed with boxers on. "Happy?" I nodded. I put my head on his chest and fell asleep. I felt his arms around me tighten and I quickly fell asleep.
During the night I started to twist and turn. I was dreaming about Spot teasing me and telling me he was leaving. I could feel hands on me and people trying to wake me up, but I wanted to finish the dream. I dreamed about all the Newsies abandoning me. I started to scream for them to come back. "Don't leave me, don't," I could feel myself twisting more then ever. "Spot, come back, Ise promise I become pretty, please." I could feel myself being restrained at that point and I couldn't move anymore. Then the worst thing happened. In my dream there was Race with a gun that was pointed to me. "Race don't shoot me, please, I'll do anything, and I promise I'll become skinny. NO!!!" In my dream Race had shot me and Newsies from all over New York laughed. "Stop laughing, someone please help me, help me, help me…" That's when I felt someone smack me in the face. I opened my eyes and there was about ten Newsies holding me down. I looked up at them and they stared back. All the Newsies were surrounding me. I looked and saw that the lights were on and that it was about midnight. People who were holding me down started to let me go. I layed back on the bed wiping off my sweat with my shirt.
"What happened?" I looked up to Jacks face for the answer.
"We were playing poker and we noticed Spot having trouble waking youse up, den we heard youse screaming."
"I screamed?"
"Yeah, and youse were twisting and turning. Spot and I tried to restrain you but your too strong so others helped. Youse okay?" I looked up at all the Newsies faces, and I remembered how I felt before.
"I'm fine, youse can go back to your poker game." Everyone left and the only people that remained on my bed were Race and Spot.
"What were youse dreaming dat I did?" Race asked me.
"Dat youse shot me and all da Newsies just laughed and no one came to help me."
"You knows dat I would never hoit youse, right?"
"Ya Ise know dat." He hugged me and stood up.
"Good, now try and get some sleep." He walked back over to the poker game.
"Youse okay?" Spot lifted my chin so that I was staring into his eyes.
"Ya, Ise okay. Sorry bout dat, Ise didn't know dat was going to happen." He smirked.
"Don't worries bout it. Youse know dat I'll neva leave yas cause your not 'pretty' enough, right? Cause youse are pretty."
"Thanks." Spot gave me a hug and gave me a kiss. When I tried pulling apart he pulled me in closer and when he tried pulling away I pulled him in closer. Soon, we let go of each other. "I'm going at try and gets some sleep, k?"
"Yeah, you need it, but dis time I'm gonna wait for youse to fall asleep and den sleep in me own bed."
"Sounds good." I laid back down and closed my eyes. I felt Spot smooth back my hair and a kiss on my forehead. Then I heard him whisper,
"Sweet dreams Sweetz." I smiled and fell asleep.
The next day I woke up to a bright room. I looked everywhere for someone but no one was there. Then I looked over at the clock and it said that it was 1:30. I quickly went over to the washroom and got ready. I headed downstairs and went right up to the Kloppmann's desk.
"Heya, wheres everyone?" He looked up from the register book and looked at me.
"Dey out sellin papes, whyse you askin?"
"Cause youse didn't wake me ups!"
"Da boys told me not to. Youse go talk to dem and not me." He looked back to his book and I walked out the door. I went up to the nearest newsie which was Snipeshooter.
"Hey Snipes, why didn't anyone wake mes up dis morning?"
"Cause all da guys tought dat youse should get some sleep, wow youse just woke up now?" He looked at his watch. "Dats a long time to sleep. Youse can see if any of da newsies are over at Tibby's" Right then and there I remembered about Morris and his little cousin. I quickly ran over to the distribution center. I knocked on the window and Mr. Wisel came to the door.
"Sorries hunny, it's a little to late to be getting papes." He turned around to close the door.
"I aint here to get papes, I'm here cause I needs to talk to Morris, he here?"
"No he aint, hes hanging out wit his gang."
"I tought dat today he had to watch his little cousin?"
"No, but I overheard him and Oscar yesterdays, and dey were going to jump da goil who was suppose to watch the kid, but she neva showed up."
"So youse telling me dat if I woke up to pick up a kid, dat I would've been jumped."
"Youse Sweetz?"
"Yeah."
"Sorries, Ise didn't know."
"Its okay, but I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to find youse little nephew and give him a few of my words." I turned around and headed towards Tibby's. I was thirsty. When I walked in I found Jack and Spot talking. Spot looked up and motioned me to his seat.
"Youse sleep well," He looked at the clock. "Youse better have, its late." I smiled and nodded and sat down. "Whats up wit youse?"
"Oh you know, da usual, finding out I was suppose to get jumped dis morning, finding out dat da boys in me lodging house are deciding if Ise should work or not."
"Whose was suppose to jump you?"
"Morris and his gang, but luckily I didn't wake up in time." I smiled and he put his arm around my shoulders. I laid my head on his shoulder. "So what are youse two talking about?"
"Wese talking about dis one pretty goil newsie." Jack said to me.
"Oh, is she real pretty?" I wanted to know who this girl was.
"Yeah she is, but da problem is, is dat she don't tink she pretty, and den she not eating."
"Do I know her?" I had to say that because if Spot knew I wasn't eating then he would go off at me. I lifted my head off of Spots shoulder and motioned a waitress over.
"May I get youse something miss?"
"Yes, I would like a glass of water."
"Very well." I looked over at Spot and Jack.
"That's all you order, every times I'm around you, youse just order water, when do youse eat?" I avoided the question from Spot.
"So Spot, how do you like your marbles?" He nodded and was staring at me with intense eyes. "So…..umm……what's going on in your life Jack?" He shrugged and finally the silence was broken when the waitress came over and put my glass of water on the table. She turned and left.
"Sweetz, are youse eating?" I looked into Spots eyes.
"Yes, of coise, I'm not stupid."
"Youse lying to me. Sweetz, Jack here tells me dat you aint eating. Whyse?"
"You want to know da truth?" Both Jack and Spot nodded their heads. "Ise can do whatever I want wit me body, if Ise want to, I will starve meself until I'm skinny. " I rised from my seat and got out of the booth. "And its not like anyone cares if Ise starve, now do dey?" I walked out of the door. I just stood out there for a couple of minutes. What's happening to me? Why am I running out? Go back in there and apologize. I turned around and went back into the diner. I sat back down next to Spot. They just looked at me. I started to laugh. I was laughing so hard I started to cry, then I started to calm down. "Hey you guys, sorry bout dat."
"Youse ok?" Jack looked at me. What was I thinking of coming back in here? Oh well, what's done is done.
"Ise fine, just needed a good laugh…..so I looked in my reflection in the window." I looked at both Spot and Jack and they didn't get my sense of humor. "It's a joke, come on you guys, laugh." I lightly punched Spot in the arm. He took my arm and he pulled me in for a hug.
"Would you please eat?"
"No. Don't worry about me. I'm fine." He pulled me out of the hug and he put his arm on my shoulder. I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. "I gots a question Jackey."
"What?"
"Where did my water go?" I heard him smirk, and I started to laugh again. "Anybody want to get out of heres and take a walk?" I lifted my head up and all three of us headed out the door.
As the week went by I could feel myself getting weaker. I still haven't had anything solid and every time I try to eat it never could stay down. At that time I was sitting in my bed with the covers over me. I was staring at the bunk above me.
"What youse doing?" I looked over at the door and it was Rocket.
"Spot left for Brooklyn yesterday, so what are youse doing here?" She came over and sat on the bottom bunk that was nect to me.
"I know, how youse feelin?" Youse don't look so good. Have you eaten anytin?" I shook my head. All the newsies from Manhattan to Brooklyn and then Brooklyn to Harlem, Queens, and the Bronx, knew I wasn't eating. So everyday more newsies would come and try to convince me to eat. "You8se got to eat, or youse could die of starvation."
"When did youse start caring for me?"
"Since I found out dat you weres going out wit Spot. He's real worried." I looked up at her and I started to get real dizzy.
"Would you stop moving around, youse making me dizzy."
"Ise not moving." I held on to the sides of the bed to make sure I wouldn't fall. Then all of a sudden I heard voices coming up the stairs. Rocket looked at me with concern in her eyes. "Youse don't looks to well." My grip slightly loosened and I could feel myself hitting my head on the chair next to my bed. I fell into a peaceful sleep. I dreamt of me selling newspapers again. I could see a smile on my face. Was I happy before? Do people really care about me? They must've cared for me. I mean they were all worried for me. I knew I needed to wake up and start eating again. Right when I was going to open my eyes and I heard a manly voice.
"Is she going to be okays doc?"
"Yes, just make sure she gets rest and food. She's lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time which isn't healthy for her or anybody else. But she'll be fine."
"Tanks." I felt a hand on mine and I opened my eyes. I saw Spot there holding my hand while sitting in a chair that was next to my bed, then the doctor in front of my bed standing there holding charts, Jack pacing around the front of the room, and then Rocket staring in from the hallway. I let Spots hand go and lifted myself up to a sitting position. I looked around and could tell I was in the hospital. Spot was the first one to jump out of his seat and into my arms.
"Youse awake!" He smiled and gave me a kiss on my forehead. I saw Jack stop pacing and he came to my other side.
"Youse had us worried." He took his hand and messed up my hair.
"Don't mess wit me hair." I smiled at the doctor and he nodded. He knew I wanted to be with my friends.
"So, howse you two been doing?" I looked at them both and they both looked like they haven't had any sleep.
"Tired." Jack finally said. "Wese been up since yesterday morning. Wese didn't want youse to wake up with no ont to talk to."
"That's sweet," I looked up at Jack. "Can I leave?"
"No, not really, they want to do more tests." Spot took my hand again. I looked over at the window and Rocket was still standing there. I motioned her to come in. She came in and stood where the doctor stood.
"Can youse boys leave us be for a second?" Jack and Spot nodded and left the room. "Thanks."
"For what?" Rocket asked.
"Fer being dere. Can youse help me wit sometin?"
"Sure."
"Help me gets out of here, grab do'se clothes ova on dat chair ova dere." I pointed to a chair and Rocket quickly grabbed it and handed it to me. Then I noticed that I was hooked up to an IV. I pulled the IV out and I quickly got dressed and when we were done we went to the door. We looked out the window of the door and made sure no doctors were around. We opened the door and went out. Jack and Spot looked at us curiously. We grabbed their arms and we ran out of the hospital. We ran until we were about four blocks away from the hospital. We started to slow down to a fast walk. I was still holding onto Spots hand and Rocket was still holding Jack's hand.
"What are wese doing?" Jack stopped and I looked back and walked up to him with Spot still holding my hand.
"Don't youse tink it's a little late to be asking?" Spot gave my hand a squeeze to tell me to ease up. "Sorries, Ise just hate hospitals, and Ise didn't want to stay any longer." I started to turn around but I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked at who it was and it was Rocket. I let go of Spot. "Wese are going to walk alone, and youse two can follow." While Spot and Jack walked together and talked, I was walking with Rocket. "Heyse Rocket, I neva did tell youse how much I appreciated youse helping me out back dere. Ise know dat you don't like me much but I appreciate what youse did cause you didn't hafta."
"Don't worries bout it. Ise know wese started off badly, and Ise tought dat dis could make up fer my stupidity."
"It was me fault, Ise should've told you dat Ise was Spots goilfriend."
"No, Ise shouldn't have talked bout youse like dat." We both smiled and hugged it each other.
"Are youse two a couple now?" I looked over to find Spots face. I slightly hit him in the shoulder. Just to rub it in Spots face, Rocket and I decided to hold hands on the way back. We both looked back to find Jack and Spot mocking us. They started to hold hands and skip towards us. Rocket and I let go and we charged at them. We knocked them to the ground. I couldn't see what Jack and Rocket were doing because I was too busy wrestling Spot in the middle of the street. Spot rolled over so he was on top of me. We got closer and closer and started to kiss. We got up a couple of minutes later to find Rocket and Jack. We couldn't find them anywhere. We walked down the streets until we heard laughter coming from an alley. Spot and I snuck up to the corner and peeked in.
"Jack youse stop tickling me!" Jack tickled her for a couple more minutes and when he stopped he had his hands on her waist and he leaned down and they had their first kiss. Spot and I looked at each other and couldn't help but scream at them.
"Yeah, whataya go Jackey boy!" I just started to clap. Jack and Rocket pulled away from each other and blushed. They both ran up to us. Spot patted Jack on the back and I grabbed Rockets arm and we went to the other side of the street and talked.
"So tell me whyse youse needs protection?" I asked.
"Well, my ex boyfriend tolds me dat he would hoit me if Ise broke up wit him. And when Ise did he came afta me and hes beat me up." I knew she was holding back tears cause her voice cracked at the end. "And den when Ise told me parents, dey yelled at me, and my father threw me against da wall. So Ise told Bambie, and she tolds me dat I should see if da newsies could do anything about me. And dats whyse Ise here."
"Ise sorry, Ise didn't know."
"Its okay." I could feel eyes on me so I looked around and found myself looking at Oscar and Morris. Jack and Spot saw them and came running over and stood behind us. Oscar and Morris just smirked and left us. I felt arms wrap around my waist and Spots lips on my neck. Rocket and Jack just laughed. We let go of each other and we all started to head back to the Lodging House. We walked into the Lodging house (in Manhattan, duh!) and the house was filled with noise. Spot took my hand and took me upstairs into the bunkroom. When I entered, everyone stopped talking and whatever they were doing to look at me. I saw Race sitting at a poker table in the back and he slowly stood to his feet. Then I saw Mush and Blink exit the washroom laughing, then they looked up at me and they stopped right in their tracks. Spot could feel me squeeze his hand to tell him that I was uncomfortable. He brought me up to the front of him and he walked me over to the poker table.
"Can wese play?" Spot asked Race while Race sat back down and he nodded.
"How youse doing Sweetz? We just hoid dat youse were in da hospital cause you passed out on da bed. What happened?"
"Just leave her be fer da moment." Spot said in a protective voice. I put my hand on his hand and I smiled. Then I turned to Race and we smiled and each other and then he lit one of the Havana cigars that I gave him. We played for about an hour until Spot saw me struggling to stay up. "Lets go ter bed." He helped me out of my seat and took me to my bed. I climbed in and laid down. "Do you tink youse can sleep witout a nightmare?" He laughed and hovered over me.
"Yeah I tink I can manage." I put my arm around his neck and gave him a kiss. "So youse going to sleep wit me?" He looked at me and I could tell that he was thinking and then finally he have me an answer.
"As long as you try to have good dreams." I nodded. He got up and took his shirt off and got down to his skivies (I've always wanted to say that).
"Ise said dat." I looked up at him. "Youse gonna soak me?" I couldn't help but smile and start to laugh. Then he started to laugh. "Youse never answered me question." We stopped laughing and he looked am me straight in the eyes.
"Sweetz, your beautiful in youse own way." He knew I was disappointed.
"Everyone say dat. But Ise want to loose weight. Ise working on it right now."
"Is dat why we sat down? Did youse eat today?" What the hell! Can he read my mind. Okay, just stay calm, just don't give anything away.
"Of coise I ate." I looked down.
"Youse lying to me. Ise know when you lying. Why aint youse eating? Spots not going to be happy bout dis."
"Youse not going to tell him, Ise sleepy." I had to change the subject. "Lets go back to the lodging house. Lets go." I grabbed Jacks arm and started to run. Easy way to loose weight. We entered the Lodging House and we both went upstairs and as I was walking to my bed I saw Spot sitting on it.
"Where were youse? Ise been looking for you for the past hour." He looked at me and I couldn't figure out why he was so upset with me. Did I do something wrong?
"I was wit Jack, we weres talking."
"it seems like youse talk to everybody cept me." He got off of my bed and stood right in front of me. I looked out the side of my eyes and I could see Jack standing there about to get Spot off of my back.
"Don't boss me around, if youse have a problem wit me talking to other people then Ise sorry, I can't help myself. And if youse wanted to talk all youse had to do was ask." I walked over to the window and up the fire escape. I sat down in a corner. I couldn't believe him. I heard a noise on the fire escape and I knew somebody was coming up. I hoped it wasn't Spot. I didn't want to talk to him and the moment. I put my head into my hands and brought my knees to my chest. I could feel tears come to my face. But I wouldn't let the tears fall.
"Sweetz, I'm sorry. Ise was pissed off cause your talking to Jack and even Morris for gods sake instead of me. I guess Ise just jealous." I knew that it would be Spot. I felt him sit in front of me and he put his hands on my knees. "Don't be mad at me. Ise don't want anything to come between us." He looked at me. I could feel his eyes on me. I looked up at him. Amy eyes were all teary and I hardly could see him, so I had to blink. I felt a tear on my cheek. Spot wiped it away with his hand. "Are youse mad at me?" I looked at him and I put my hands on his hands that were rubbing my knees.
"I'm not upset bout you yellin at me. Ise probably desoived it. I probably had it coming to me." I looked down at our hands.
"Youse didn't desoived it, and what was I tinkin when I get mad at me goil when she soaked someone so Ise could get new marbles." I smiled.
"What happened to Rocket?"
"After youse left wit Jackey boy, I'd yelled at her, she shouldn't have said what she said. She don't desoived me protection. I told her dat if she eva speaks shit bout you at anyone dat she wouldn't get any protection." I wanted to know what Rocket was running from but I knew that I shouldn't ask.
"Spot, Ise don't know if we should be together."
"What youse talkin bout?" He came closer to me and took his hand and caressed my face. "Youse really want to end us?" I looked up in his eyes and saw that he was hurt.
"Answer me den, do you cares bout how Ise look?" I looked at him and he knew I wanted the truth.
"ise care to a coition extent." He looked down.
"What do youse mean?"
"I mean I care what you'd dress like, cause I don't want anyone to hit on youse and den I don't want youse to look like your starving." I thought it was kind of funny that he used the word 'starving'.
"Youse don't care if I'm fat?"
"Youse not fat Sweetz. Look at me," I looked in his eyes, "youse not fat, and no ones round here tinks dat." My eyes filled with tears again. I was so happy he said that.
"I'm so sick of looking in da mirror and looking back at….me. Sometimes I just wish dat I was do'se goils who didn't have a background like me….Ise just want to be normal." I couldn't stop crying. Spot moved closer and put me in his embrace. "Ise don't desoived your love, Ise don't desoived to live." I stopped crying and I felt his arms around me getting tighter.
"Youse desoive to live and to live wit me. Ise couldn't live another day if youse died."
"Do youse want at go inside? Ise had enough of dis, Ise don't want to cry anymore." I laughed. Spot helped me up and we went downstairs. Everyone looked at us as we walked into the room holding each others hand. We went over to my bed.
"Good night Sweetz."
"Don't go, youse can sleep in my bed. Please. Ise just don't want to have a nightmare and since I feel safe in youse arms, then maybe I'll dream of sometin good."
"What bout da other guys? They might tink wese up to sometin."
"Ise don't care and plus we wouldn't if they were in here."
"Fine," Spot took off his shirt and pants and came into my bed with boxers on. "Happy?" I nodded. I put my head on his chest and fell asleep. I felt his arms around me tighten and I quickly fell asleep.
During the night I started to twist and turn. I was dreaming about Spot teasing me and telling me he was leaving. I could feel hands on me and people trying to wake me up, but I wanted to finish the dream. I dreamed about all the Newsies abandoning me. I started to scream for them to come back. "Don't leave me, don't," I could feel myself twisting more then ever. "Spot, come back, Ise promise I become pretty, please." I could feel myself being restrained at that point and I couldn't move anymore. Then the worst thing happened. In my dream there was Race with a gun that was pointed to me. "Race don't shoot me, please, I'll do anything, and I promise I'll become skinny. NO!!!" In my dream Race had shot me and Newsies from all over New York laughed. "Stop laughing, someone please help me, help me, help me…" That's when I felt someone smack me in the face. I opened my eyes and there was about ten Newsies holding me down. I looked up at them and they stared back. All the Newsies were surrounding me. I looked and saw that the lights were on and that it was about midnight. People who were holding me down started to let me go. I layed back on the bed wiping off my sweat with my shirt.
"What happened?" I looked up to Jacks face for the answer.
"We were playing poker and we noticed Spot having trouble waking youse up, den we heard youse screaming."
"I screamed?"
"Yeah, and youse were twisting and turning. Spot and I tried to restrain you but your too strong so others helped. Youse okay?" I looked up at all the Newsies faces, and I remembered how I felt before.
"I'm fine, youse can go back to your poker game." Everyone left and the only people that remained on my bed were Race and Spot.
"What were youse dreaming dat I did?" Race asked me.
"Dat youse shot me and all da Newsies just laughed and no one came to help me."
"You knows dat I would never hoit youse, right?"
"Ya Ise know dat." He hugged me and stood up.
"Good, now try and get some sleep." He walked back over to the poker game.
"Youse okay?" Spot lifted my chin so that I was staring into his eyes.
"Ya, Ise okay. Sorry bout dat, Ise didn't know dat was going to happen." He smirked.
"Don't worries bout it. Youse know dat I'll neva leave yas cause your not 'pretty' enough, right? Cause youse are pretty."
"Thanks." Spot gave me a hug and gave me a kiss. When I tried pulling apart he pulled me in closer and when he tried pulling away I pulled him in closer. Soon, we let go of each other. "I'm going at try and gets some sleep, k?"
"Yeah, you need it, but dis time I'm gonna wait for youse to fall asleep and den sleep in me own bed."
"Sounds good." I laid back down and closed my eyes. I felt Spot smooth back my hair and a kiss on my forehead. Then I heard him whisper,
"Sweet dreams Sweetz." I smiled and fell asleep.
The next day I woke up to a bright room. I looked everywhere for someone but no one was there. Then I looked over at the clock and it said that it was 1:30. I quickly went over to the washroom and got ready. I headed downstairs and went right up to the Kloppmann's desk.
"Heya, wheres everyone?" He looked up from the register book and looked at me.
"Dey out sellin papes, whyse you askin?"
"Cause youse didn't wake me ups!"
"Da boys told me not to. Youse go talk to dem and not me." He looked back to his book and I walked out the door. I went up to the nearest newsie which was Snipeshooter.
"Hey Snipes, why didn't anyone wake mes up dis morning?"
"Cause all da guys tought dat youse should get some sleep, wow youse just woke up now?" He looked at his watch. "Dats a long time to sleep. Youse can see if any of da newsies are over at Tibby's" Right then and there I remembered about Morris and his little cousin. I quickly ran over to the distribution center. I knocked on the window and Mr. Wisel came to the door.
"Sorries hunny, it's a little to late to be getting papes." He turned around to close the door.
"I aint here to get papes, I'm here cause I needs to talk to Morris, he here?"
"No he aint, hes hanging out wit his gang."
"I tought dat today he had to watch his little cousin?"
"No, but I overheard him and Oscar yesterdays, and dey were going to jump da goil who was suppose to watch the kid, but she neva showed up."
"So youse telling me dat if I woke up to pick up a kid, dat I would've been jumped."
"Youse Sweetz?"
"Yeah."
"Sorries, Ise didn't know."
"Its okay, but I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to find youse little nephew and give him a few of my words." I turned around and headed towards Tibby's. I was thirsty. When I walked in I found Jack and Spot talking. Spot looked up and motioned me to his seat.
"Youse sleep well," He looked at the clock. "Youse better have, its late." I smiled and nodded and sat down. "Whats up wit youse?"
"Oh you know, da usual, finding out I was suppose to get jumped dis morning, finding out dat da boys in me lodging house are deciding if Ise should work or not."
"Whose was suppose to jump you?"
"Morris and his gang, but luckily I didn't wake up in time." I smiled and he put his arm around my shoulders. I laid my head on his shoulder. "So what are youse two talking about?"
"Wese talking about dis one pretty goil newsie." Jack said to me.
"Oh, is she real pretty?" I wanted to know who this girl was.
"Yeah she is, but da problem is, is dat she don't tink she pretty, and den she not eating."
"Do I know her?" I had to say that because if Spot knew I wasn't eating then he would go off at me. I lifted my head off of Spots shoulder and motioned a waitress over.
"May I get youse something miss?"
"Yes, I would like a glass of water."
"Very well." I looked over at Spot and Jack.
"That's all you order, every times I'm around you, youse just order water, when do youse eat?" I avoided the question from Spot.
"So Spot, how do you like your marbles?" He nodded and was staring at me with intense eyes. "So…..umm……what's going on in your life Jack?" He shrugged and finally the silence was broken when the waitress came over and put my glass of water on the table. She turned and left.
"Sweetz, are youse eating?" I looked into Spots eyes.
"Yes, of coise, I'm not stupid."
"Youse lying to me. Sweetz, Jack here tells me dat you aint eating. Whyse?"
"You want to know da truth?" Both Jack and Spot nodded their heads. "Ise can do whatever I want wit me body, if Ise want to, I will starve meself until I'm skinny. " I rised from my seat and got out of the booth. "And its not like anyone cares if Ise starve, now do dey?" I walked out of the door. I just stood out there for a couple of minutes. What's happening to me? Why am I running out? Go back in there and apologize. I turned around and went back into the diner. I sat back down next to Spot. They just looked at me. I started to laugh. I was laughing so hard I started to cry, then I started to calm down. "Hey you guys, sorry bout dat."
"Youse ok?" Jack looked at me. What was I thinking of coming back in here? Oh well, what's done is done.
"Ise fine, just needed a good laugh…..so I looked in my reflection in the window." I looked at both Spot and Jack and they didn't get my sense of humor. "It's a joke, come on you guys, laugh." I lightly punched Spot in the arm. He took my arm and he pulled me in for a hug.
"Would you please eat?"
"No. Don't worry about me. I'm fine." He pulled me out of the hug and he put his arm on my shoulder. I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. "I gots a question Jackey."
"What?"
"Where did my water go?" I heard him smirk, and I started to laugh again. "Anybody want to get out of heres and take a walk?" I lifted my head up and all three of us headed out the door.
As the week went by I could feel myself getting weaker. I still haven't had anything solid and every time I try to eat it never could stay down. At that time I was sitting in my bed with the covers over me. I was staring at the bunk above me.
"What youse doing?" I looked over at the door and it was Rocket.
"Spot left for Brooklyn yesterday, so what are youse doing here?" She came over and sat on the bottom bunk that was nect to me.
"I know, how youse feelin?" Youse don't look so good. Have you eaten anytin?" I shook my head. All the newsies from Manhattan to Brooklyn and then Brooklyn to Harlem, Queens, and the Bronx, knew I wasn't eating. So everyday more newsies would come and try to convince me to eat. "You8se got to eat, or youse could die of starvation."
"When did youse start caring for me?"
"Since I found out dat you weres going out wit Spot. He's real worried." I looked up at her and I started to get real dizzy.
"Would you stop moving around, youse making me dizzy."
"Ise not moving." I held on to the sides of the bed to make sure I wouldn't fall. Then all of a sudden I heard voices coming up the stairs. Rocket looked at me with concern in her eyes. "Youse don't looks to well." My grip slightly loosened and I could feel myself hitting my head on the chair next to my bed. I fell into a peaceful sleep. I dreamt of me selling newspapers again. I could see a smile on my face. Was I happy before? Do people really care about me? They must've cared for me. I mean they were all worried for me. I knew I needed to wake up and start eating again. Right when I was going to open my eyes and I heard a manly voice.
"Is she going to be okays doc?"
"Yes, just make sure she gets rest and food. She's lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time which isn't healthy for her or anybody else. But she'll be fine."
"Tanks." I felt a hand on mine and I opened my eyes. I saw Spot there holding my hand while sitting in a chair that was next to my bed, then the doctor in front of my bed standing there holding charts, Jack pacing around the front of the room, and then Rocket staring in from the hallway. I let Spots hand go and lifted myself up to a sitting position. I looked around and could tell I was in the hospital. Spot was the first one to jump out of his seat and into my arms.
"Youse awake!" He smiled and gave me a kiss on my forehead. I saw Jack stop pacing and he came to my other side.
"Youse had us worried." He took his hand and messed up my hair.
"Don't mess wit me hair." I smiled at the doctor and he nodded. He knew I wanted to be with my friends.
"So, howse you two been doing?" I looked at them both and they both looked like they haven't had any sleep.
"Tired." Jack finally said. "Wese been up since yesterday morning. Wese didn't want youse to wake up with no ont to talk to."
"That's sweet," I looked up at Jack. "Can I leave?"
"No, not really, they want to do more tests." Spot took my hand again. I looked over at the window and Rocket was still standing there. I motioned her to come in. She came in and stood where the doctor stood.
"Can youse boys leave us be for a second?" Jack and Spot nodded and left the room. "Thanks."
"For what?" Rocket asked.
"Fer being dere. Can youse help me wit sometin?"
"Sure."
"Help me gets out of here, grab do'se clothes ova on dat chair ova dere." I pointed to a chair and Rocket quickly grabbed it and handed it to me. Then I noticed that I was hooked up to an IV. I pulled the IV out and I quickly got dressed and when we were done we went to the door. We looked out the window of the door and made sure no doctors were around. We opened the door and went out. Jack and Spot looked at us curiously. We grabbed their arms and we ran out of the hospital. We ran until we were about four blocks away from the hospital. We started to slow down to a fast walk. I was still holding onto Spots hand and Rocket was still holding Jack's hand.
"What are wese doing?" Jack stopped and I looked back and walked up to him with Spot still holding my hand.
"Don't youse tink it's a little late to be asking?" Spot gave my hand a squeeze to tell me to ease up. "Sorries, Ise just hate hospitals, and Ise didn't want to stay any longer." I started to turn around but I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked at who it was and it was Rocket. I let go of Spot. "Wese are going to walk alone, and youse two can follow." While Spot and Jack walked together and talked, I was walking with Rocket. "Heyse Rocket, I neva did tell youse how much I appreciated youse helping me out back dere. Ise know dat you don't like me much but I appreciate what youse did cause you didn't hafta."
"Don't worries bout it. Ise know wese started off badly, and Ise tought dat dis could make up fer my stupidity."
"It was me fault, Ise should've told you dat Ise was Spots goilfriend."
"No, Ise shouldn't have talked bout youse like dat." We both smiled and hugged it each other.
"Are youse two a couple now?" I looked over to find Spots face. I slightly hit him in the shoulder. Just to rub it in Spots face, Rocket and I decided to hold hands on the way back. We both looked back to find Jack and Spot mocking us. They started to hold hands and skip towards us. Rocket and I let go and we charged at them. We knocked them to the ground. I couldn't see what Jack and Rocket were doing because I was too busy wrestling Spot in the middle of the street. Spot rolled over so he was on top of me. We got closer and closer and started to kiss. We got up a couple of minutes later to find Rocket and Jack. We couldn't find them anywhere. We walked down the streets until we heard laughter coming from an alley. Spot and I snuck up to the corner and peeked in.
"Jack youse stop tickling me!" Jack tickled her for a couple more minutes and when he stopped he had his hands on her waist and he leaned down and they had their first kiss. Spot and I looked at each other and couldn't help but scream at them.
"Yeah, whataya go Jackey boy!" I just started to clap. Jack and Rocket pulled away from each other and blushed. They both ran up to us. Spot patted Jack on the back and I grabbed Rockets arm and we went to the other side of the street and talked.
"So tell me whyse youse needs protection?" I asked.
"Well, my ex boyfriend tolds me dat he would hoit me if Ise broke up wit him. And when Ise did he came afta me and hes beat me up." I knew she was holding back tears cause her voice cracked at the end. "And den when Ise told me parents, dey yelled at me, and my father threw me against da wall. So Ise told Bambie, and she tolds me dat I should see if da newsies could do anything about me. And dats whyse Ise here."
"Ise sorry, Ise didn't know."
"Its okay." I could feel eyes on me so I looked around and found myself looking at Oscar and Morris. Jack and Spot saw them and came running over and stood behind us. Oscar and Morris just smirked and left us. I felt arms wrap around my waist and Spots lips on my neck. Rocket and Jack just laughed. We let go of each other and we all started to head back to the Lodging House. We walked into the Lodging house (in Manhattan, duh!) and the house was filled with noise. Spot took my hand and took me upstairs into the bunkroom. When I entered, everyone stopped talking and whatever they were doing to look at me. I saw Race sitting at a poker table in the back and he slowly stood to his feet. Then I saw Mush and Blink exit the washroom laughing, then they looked up at me and they stopped right in their tracks. Spot could feel me squeeze his hand to tell him that I was uncomfortable. He brought me up to the front of him and he walked me over to the poker table.
"Can wese play?" Spot asked Race while Race sat back down and he nodded.
"How youse doing Sweetz? We just hoid dat youse were in da hospital cause you passed out on da bed. What happened?"
"Just leave her be fer da moment." Spot said in a protective voice. I put my hand on his hand and I smiled. Then I turned to Race and we smiled and each other and then he lit one of the Havana cigars that I gave him. We played for about an hour until Spot saw me struggling to stay up. "Lets go ter bed." He helped me out of my seat and took me to my bed. I climbed in and laid down. "Do you tink youse can sleep witout a nightmare?" He laughed and hovered over me.
"Yeah I tink I can manage." I put my arm around his neck and gave him a kiss. "So youse going to sleep wit me?" He looked at me and I could tell that he was thinking and then finally he have me an answer.
"As long as you try to have good dreams." I nodded. He got up and took his shirt off and got down to his skivies (I've always wanted to say that).