"It's okay."
"So youse not going to Manhattan no more?"
"No I'm still going."
"Whyse?"
"Cause Ise have friend's dere who I miss." I opened the door and out of the Lodging House catching up to Race and the other guys.
"Hey you made it." Race said.
"Barely. Spot didn't want me to come."
"Hes worried dat I'll steal ya." Mush said putting his arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah right, youse too much like me brudda." We laughed and headed to the Manhattan Lodge. We finally made it to the lodge and we noticed that the door was open. We cautiously entered the doorway and were stopped by a short, brown-haired man who had the look of a mad man. The Kloppmann came from behind us and closed the door.
"Have you seen a red head girl and goes by the name of Heather Elizabeth Ledger?" I decided to speak up first.
"Ise don't know anybody by dat name." I said honestly.
"Well she's my daughter and she's been missing for quite awhile, and I am worried that something terrible happened."
"Ise sure she's okay. Where else have youse looked?"
"Well, if Ise know her den she's probably with her friend, Elyse. And Ise think she is over at the Brooklyn Lodging House. So Ise going there next." I looked around at the newsies who looked back and wondering if I had a plan.
"Whyse don't we have one of our newsies go ova dere and look. Dat way youse can cover more ground."
"Okay, now remember, call the police once you find her and I'm warning you." I looked at him. "She can put up a fight." I nodded and I pointed to Specs, Dutchy, Boots, and Itey and shouted towards them.
"Youse four go to Brooklyn and makes sure day dey tells yas da truth." I winked at them and they nodded. They left and all the newsies went upstairs. Rockets father just stood there staring at me.
"Are you sure that you haven't seen her?"
"Yes, of coise, Ise not in da position to lies to yas." He nodded and left. I turned around to Race staring at me.
"Whets are wese going to do'se?"
"Don't worries about it. If somehow dey gets caught, den I'll make a deal dat no one can resist." I looked over at the Kloppmann and then headed upstairs to an empty bunk. I fell right to sleep when I hit the bed. The next morning I woke up to Dutchy's dace.
"Hey dere."
"What da hell, what do youse want?"
"Rocket, Jack, and Bambies wants ta know if dey should stay in Brooklyn or not."
"What does Jack tink?"
"He says what youse say he says." (Not owned by me)
"Damn it, well, let me tink." I sat up and let Dutchy sit on my bed. "Dey should stay dere. Cause Spot and dem can hide dem."
"Youse sure dats a good plan?"
"No, but what do wese hafta lose?"
"Rocket."
"Well what do yas tink?"
"Ise tink dat Bambie and Jack come here and youse can stay wit Rocket in Brooklyn. Dat ways she has someone to talk to.
"Whyse should Ise go to Brooklyn?"
"Cause Spots dere."
"So, what's dat suppose to mean? Do youse tink dat Ise go wherever Spot goes?" He shook his head. "Good. Now whyse would Jackey boy and Bambies come here?"
"Cause Rockets pops knows Bambies and wese don't want dem both to get caught. And if Jack stays wit Rocket den he might blur Rockets vision."
"Huh?"
"Basically Jackey will try ta impress her and take hers out when she needs protecting."
"Youse do have a brain."
"Tanks." He said sarcastically.
"Ise didn't mean it dat way."
"Den what do youse mean?"
"Well, wit day brain of youse, wese could've done something more…more…smarter den my plan when me pops came."
"Yeah." He got up while I went into the washroom to get ready. While I was brushing my teeth, I got into a deep thought. Am I happy? Of course. And for once, the attention isn't on me. But what am I going to do with Spot? I'll write him a note that Race can take to him. I finished washing up and went downstairs and grabbed a pencil and some stationary off the Kloppmann's desk. That's when I started to write.
Dear Spot,
Ise care fer youse a lot and what happened before Ise left made me feel uncomfortable. Dats da second time dat Ise didn't feel safe in youse presence. If youse want it dat bad den find another goil, cause Ise not ready. Make youse decision, I still love youse,
Sweetz
I looked up and saw Race standing there.
"Hey Race, can youse do me a favor?" He nodded. "Can youse give dis to Spot?"
"Sure. Ise was just going back ta get Jack and Bambies. Can Ise read it? Dats only if youse say so." I nodded. He took the note out of my hand and read it. He looked stunned and that's when I felt his hand on my head. "Youse okay?" I nodded and he left. A couple of minutes had passed and all the newsies started to go out. I was the last one out. I haven't sold in awhile in Manhattan so I was excited. I got up to Mr. Wiesel.
"50 papes please."
"50 papes for da girl." He yelled towards Morris.
"Heya Sweetz, how's youse been doing?"
"Not bad Morris. Youse?"
"Not bad me self. Youse want ta hang out tonight?"
"And do what?" Morris' eyes lit up in hope.
"Go ta Medda's."
"Sure whyse not." I heard some newsies gasp. I picked up my papers and waited for everyone else to leave. That's when Mush came up to me.
"What are youse doing?"
"What?"
"Youse going on a date wit Morris."
"Wese hanging out no big deal."
"It is a big deal." He's voice got louder. "Dat was Morris."
"Mush settles down. Ise knows how to handle myself."
"Yeah right."
"Ise can."
"No youse can't. Don't' youse get it? Every time youse run into Oscar and Morris dey go easy on youse." That was it. I couldn't handle it anymore. So I pushed Mush and to my surprise he pushed back. "Youse don't want ta do dis." Mush said to me with his hands ready to fight.
"Your rights, Ise don't." I turned around and walked to my old selling spot. All I could think about was Mush. He was ready to fight me. Maybe he doesn't trust me. Or maybe I put too much trust into him. I finished selling my papers around noon and headed to Tibby's. I walked in and I sat down in a booth. I stared out of the window with tears in my eyes. Everything was falling apart. There was Spot, Mush, Rocket, and Bambie to think about. And here I am pitying myself. I quickly wiped my tears away and looked around Tibby's. No one sat by me. I felt like such an outsider. That's when I saw my brother outside. I ran out and jumped in front of him. He jumped. (Of course) "Hi, what youse doing here?"
"Ise need ta know what Ise should tell Heathers father bout er whereabouts."
"Tell him dat we haven't seen er, hoird of er, nuttin, and when did youse get an accent?"
"Ever since Ise joined da Lodging House in Queens."
"Dats great." I hugged him. "Whyse didn't youse join da Manhattan or Brooklyn?"
"Cause Ise would have felt weird. Ise sorry dat Ise would hoit youse afta pops."
"It's okay. Don't worry bout it." We smiled at each other. "Youse hungry?"
"No, Ise gots ta be going anyways. See yas soon."
"K, byes." My brother walked away and yet again I was standing alone. I went back into Tibby's and went over to my empty booth. I was sitting there for awhile when Mush walked in. He sat on the opposite side of me. We both sat there in silence.
"Ise sorry." Mush said.
"Whyse? Youse don't trust me. So whyse you sorry if youse were defending yousself?"
"Ise do trust youse but…Ise don't know. Ise tink Ise went overboard. Ise just don't want yas ta get hoit. Youse like me sista."
"And youse like me brudda." We smiled at each other and we started to have a good conversation. When we were done I hung out with Mush at his selling spot until he was done. When we were all done we went to the Lodging House and we played poker. It was about eight o'clock when I saw Race returning with Jack, Bambie, Tiger, Dutchy, and Spot. Then I saw Boots at the door and he shouted,
"Sweetz, Morris is here." I stood up and walked to the door where I saw everyone with their mouths opened. Spot grabbed my wrist and we just looked at each other. I could tell he was hurt. I pulled my wrist away from him and walked downstairs to where Morris was waiting.
"Youse look poirty."
"Tanks."
"Youse ready?" I looked back up to Spot and then to Morris.
"Yep." Morris and I headed towards Medda's and we had a really good conversation. We arrived at Medda's and Morris was acting like a real gentleman. When we left we noticed that it was midnight. Morris walked me to the Lodging House and he whispered,
"Good night Sweetz." I turned around and the door was opened to Spots face.
"Heya Spots. Wese need ta talk."
"Youse tink?" He said angrily.
"Yeah, but Ise tired. Can wese do it tomorrow, Ise mean later today?"
"Fine." He said in a non-feeling way. I entered the Lodging House and went upstairs to my bed. I climbed in and fell asleep to Spot whistling. I woke up extra early and went over to Jacks bed. I kneeled down and screamed,
"FIRE!!!" Jack jumped up hitting the bed above him. He heard me giggling and he gave me the middle finger. "Well if dats how youse feel den Ise leave ya alone." I stood up and went to the showers. Once I was done showering and clothed all the newsies had awaken. I was combing out my hair when Jack came up to me.
"Ise sorry."
"I'm hearing dat way too often." he smirked.
"Well, Ise am."
"So is everyone else." He messed up my hair. I grabbed his collar.
"Don't mess wit me hairs today Jackey boy!" I let go of him and went up to the roof. I needed air, I needed a bubble, and I needed Spot. Huh?!? I didn't think that. I wonder how Rockets doing. If anything happened to her then I will…like…die. She's my best friend and I don't think I could live with myself if I knew she was dead. I started to cry and fell into a human ball. I pulled my legs tighter to my chest and I kept rocking myself. I must've stayed up there for hours because it was getting dark. I heard footsteps on the fire escape so I looked over and there stood Spot, Jack, Race, and Mush. Oh god, my heart sank and now I'm shaking of fear and nervousness. When more than two people come up at a time, then you know it's bad. Okay Samantha, just stay calm and sit there. Maybe they don't see you. Yeah right. I'm up there curled up in a ball with a tearstained face. Sure they don't see you. Oh god, Spot looks pissed, so does Jack, so does Mush, so does Race. Damn it! I'm going to get it. The four boys sat right in front of me and looked at me. I grabbed my knees and pulled them in tighter and put my head on my lap. Okay, this is my plan. On the count of three, run. Okay? Okay. One…….Two……Three. I quickly stood up and started to run for the fire escape when Mush and Jack lifted me up and pushed me to the ground. Aren't brothers nice? (Hehehehehe….I can't help but laugh at this) I started to crawl to the fire escape but I was cut off by Race who stood there. "Damn it!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I decided to give up and I went and sat against the ledge.
"What youse doing?" Spot said.
"Trying to get away from youse people."
"Whyse may I ask?" Jack said.
"Cause its neva good when all youse come up and talks to me." The tension was lifted when Mush laughed. I put my hands to my face and started to crack up. When I let my hands down I was still cracking up. I stopped when I saw a shooting star up in the sky. I closed my eyes. I wish that all my friends are going to be okay. I opened my eyes again and saw everyone staring at me. "So…..what's going on?"
"Well, youse need ta go to Brooklyn and youse been moody and Ise just wondering whether your okay or not?" Race said.
"Ise fine, now what da hell do da otha three of youse want?"
"Well, youse owe me a conversation." Spot said.
"Youse seemed mad at mes today, and Ise just wanted to know if wese okay?" Jack said.
"Yeah we're fine."
"And since everyone else was coming up, Ise decided dat Ise wanted to come up." Mush said.
"Okay den. So all youse can leave cept Spot because Ise promised him dat Ise was going ta talk to him today." Jack, Race, and Mush left and Spot and I were left. Boy, do I feel awkward. I got up and I walked back over to my corner. The corner where Spot and I first got together. Spot stayed standing until I motioned him over to the spot next to me. Spot sat down and he took off his hat. His brown hair swayed into his eyes. I looked at him and he could tell that I was hurting.
"So." Spot said.
"So…..um….yeah." We giggled. "I'm sorry fer the note."
"Yeah, Ise sorry too."
"Do youse know how many times people have said dat to me today? It's getting old. And youse don't hafta apologize as long as you know Ise love you."
"So youse not going to Manhattan no more?"
"No I'm still going."
"Whyse?"
"Cause Ise have friend's dere who I miss." I opened the door and out of the Lodging House catching up to Race and the other guys.
"Hey you made it." Race said.
"Barely. Spot didn't want me to come."
"Hes worried dat I'll steal ya." Mush said putting his arm around my shoulders.
"Yeah right, youse too much like me brudda." We laughed and headed to the Manhattan Lodge. We finally made it to the lodge and we noticed that the door was open. We cautiously entered the doorway and were stopped by a short, brown-haired man who had the look of a mad man. The Kloppmann came from behind us and closed the door.
"Have you seen a red head girl and goes by the name of Heather Elizabeth Ledger?" I decided to speak up first.
"Ise don't know anybody by dat name." I said honestly.
"Well she's my daughter and she's been missing for quite awhile, and I am worried that something terrible happened."
"Ise sure she's okay. Where else have youse looked?"
"Well, if Ise know her den she's probably with her friend, Elyse. And Ise think she is over at the Brooklyn Lodging House. So Ise going there next." I looked around at the newsies who looked back and wondering if I had a plan.
"Whyse don't we have one of our newsies go ova dere and look. Dat way youse can cover more ground."
"Okay, now remember, call the police once you find her and I'm warning you." I looked at him. "She can put up a fight." I nodded and I pointed to Specs, Dutchy, Boots, and Itey and shouted towards them.
"Youse four go to Brooklyn and makes sure day dey tells yas da truth." I winked at them and they nodded. They left and all the newsies went upstairs. Rockets father just stood there staring at me.
"Are you sure that you haven't seen her?"
"Yes, of coise, Ise not in da position to lies to yas." He nodded and left. I turned around to Race staring at me.
"Whets are wese going to do'se?"
"Don't worries about it. If somehow dey gets caught, den I'll make a deal dat no one can resist." I looked over at the Kloppmann and then headed upstairs to an empty bunk. I fell right to sleep when I hit the bed. The next morning I woke up to Dutchy's dace.
"Hey dere."
"What da hell, what do youse want?"
"Rocket, Jack, and Bambies wants ta know if dey should stay in Brooklyn or not."
"What does Jack tink?"
"He says what youse say he says." (Not owned by me)
"Damn it, well, let me tink." I sat up and let Dutchy sit on my bed. "Dey should stay dere. Cause Spot and dem can hide dem."
"Youse sure dats a good plan?"
"No, but what do wese hafta lose?"
"Rocket."
"Well what do yas tink?"
"Ise tink dat Bambie and Jack come here and youse can stay wit Rocket in Brooklyn. Dat ways she has someone to talk to.
"Whyse should Ise go to Brooklyn?"
"Cause Spots dere."
"So, what's dat suppose to mean? Do youse tink dat Ise go wherever Spot goes?" He shook his head. "Good. Now whyse would Jackey boy and Bambies come here?"
"Cause Rockets pops knows Bambies and wese don't want dem both to get caught. And if Jack stays wit Rocket den he might blur Rockets vision."
"Huh?"
"Basically Jackey will try ta impress her and take hers out when she needs protecting."
"Youse do have a brain."
"Tanks." He said sarcastically.
"Ise didn't mean it dat way."
"Den what do youse mean?"
"Well, wit day brain of youse, wese could've done something more…more…smarter den my plan when me pops came."
"Yeah." He got up while I went into the washroom to get ready. While I was brushing my teeth, I got into a deep thought. Am I happy? Of course. And for once, the attention isn't on me. But what am I going to do with Spot? I'll write him a note that Race can take to him. I finished washing up and went downstairs and grabbed a pencil and some stationary off the Kloppmann's desk. That's when I started to write.
Dear Spot,
Ise care fer youse a lot and what happened before Ise left made me feel uncomfortable. Dats da second time dat Ise didn't feel safe in youse presence. If youse want it dat bad den find another goil, cause Ise not ready. Make youse decision, I still love youse,
Sweetz
I looked up and saw Race standing there.
"Hey Race, can youse do me a favor?" He nodded. "Can youse give dis to Spot?"
"Sure. Ise was just going back ta get Jack and Bambies. Can Ise read it? Dats only if youse say so." I nodded. He took the note out of my hand and read it. He looked stunned and that's when I felt his hand on my head. "Youse okay?" I nodded and he left. A couple of minutes had passed and all the newsies started to go out. I was the last one out. I haven't sold in awhile in Manhattan so I was excited. I got up to Mr. Wiesel.
"50 papes please."
"50 papes for da girl." He yelled towards Morris.
"Heya Sweetz, how's youse been doing?"
"Not bad Morris. Youse?"
"Not bad me self. Youse want ta hang out tonight?"
"And do what?" Morris' eyes lit up in hope.
"Go ta Medda's."
"Sure whyse not." I heard some newsies gasp. I picked up my papers and waited for everyone else to leave. That's when Mush came up to me.
"What are youse doing?"
"What?"
"Youse going on a date wit Morris."
"Wese hanging out no big deal."
"It is a big deal." He's voice got louder. "Dat was Morris."
"Mush settles down. Ise knows how to handle myself."
"Yeah right."
"Ise can."
"No youse can't. Don't' youse get it? Every time youse run into Oscar and Morris dey go easy on youse." That was it. I couldn't handle it anymore. So I pushed Mush and to my surprise he pushed back. "Youse don't want ta do dis." Mush said to me with his hands ready to fight.
"Your rights, Ise don't." I turned around and walked to my old selling spot. All I could think about was Mush. He was ready to fight me. Maybe he doesn't trust me. Or maybe I put too much trust into him. I finished selling my papers around noon and headed to Tibby's. I walked in and I sat down in a booth. I stared out of the window with tears in my eyes. Everything was falling apart. There was Spot, Mush, Rocket, and Bambie to think about. And here I am pitying myself. I quickly wiped my tears away and looked around Tibby's. No one sat by me. I felt like such an outsider. That's when I saw my brother outside. I ran out and jumped in front of him. He jumped. (Of course) "Hi, what youse doing here?"
"Ise need ta know what Ise should tell Heathers father bout er whereabouts."
"Tell him dat we haven't seen er, hoird of er, nuttin, and when did youse get an accent?"
"Ever since Ise joined da Lodging House in Queens."
"Dats great." I hugged him. "Whyse didn't youse join da Manhattan or Brooklyn?"
"Cause Ise would have felt weird. Ise sorry dat Ise would hoit youse afta pops."
"It's okay. Don't worry bout it." We smiled at each other. "Youse hungry?"
"No, Ise gots ta be going anyways. See yas soon."
"K, byes." My brother walked away and yet again I was standing alone. I went back into Tibby's and went over to my empty booth. I was sitting there for awhile when Mush walked in. He sat on the opposite side of me. We both sat there in silence.
"Ise sorry." Mush said.
"Whyse? Youse don't trust me. So whyse you sorry if youse were defending yousself?"
"Ise do trust youse but…Ise don't know. Ise tink Ise went overboard. Ise just don't want yas ta get hoit. Youse like me sista."
"And youse like me brudda." We smiled at each other and we started to have a good conversation. When we were done I hung out with Mush at his selling spot until he was done. When we were all done we went to the Lodging House and we played poker. It was about eight o'clock when I saw Race returning with Jack, Bambie, Tiger, Dutchy, and Spot. Then I saw Boots at the door and he shouted,
"Sweetz, Morris is here." I stood up and walked to the door where I saw everyone with their mouths opened. Spot grabbed my wrist and we just looked at each other. I could tell he was hurt. I pulled my wrist away from him and walked downstairs to where Morris was waiting.
"Youse look poirty."
"Tanks."
"Youse ready?" I looked back up to Spot and then to Morris.
"Yep." Morris and I headed towards Medda's and we had a really good conversation. We arrived at Medda's and Morris was acting like a real gentleman. When we left we noticed that it was midnight. Morris walked me to the Lodging House and he whispered,
"Good night Sweetz." I turned around and the door was opened to Spots face.
"Heya Spots. Wese need ta talk."
"Youse tink?" He said angrily.
"Yeah, but Ise tired. Can wese do it tomorrow, Ise mean later today?"
"Fine." He said in a non-feeling way. I entered the Lodging House and went upstairs to my bed. I climbed in and fell asleep to Spot whistling. I woke up extra early and went over to Jacks bed. I kneeled down and screamed,
"FIRE!!!" Jack jumped up hitting the bed above him. He heard me giggling and he gave me the middle finger. "Well if dats how youse feel den Ise leave ya alone." I stood up and went to the showers. Once I was done showering and clothed all the newsies had awaken. I was combing out my hair when Jack came up to me.
"Ise sorry."
"I'm hearing dat way too often." he smirked.
"Well, Ise am."
"So is everyone else." He messed up my hair. I grabbed his collar.
"Don't mess wit me hairs today Jackey boy!" I let go of him and went up to the roof. I needed air, I needed a bubble, and I needed Spot. Huh?!? I didn't think that. I wonder how Rockets doing. If anything happened to her then I will…like…die. She's my best friend and I don't think I could live with myself if I knew she was dead. I started to cry and fell into a human ball. I pulled my legs tighter to my chest and I kept rocking myself. I must've stayed up there for hours because it was getting dark. I heard footsteps on the fire escape so I looked over and there stood Spot, Jack, Race, and Mush. Oh god, my heart sank and now I'm shaking of fear and nervousness. When more than two people come up at a time, then you know it's bad. Okay Samantha, just stay calm and sit there. Maybe they don't see you. Yeah right. I'm up there curled up in a ball with a tearstained face. Sure they don't see you. Oh god, Spot looks pissed, so does Jack, so does Mush, so does Race. Damn it! I'm going to get it. The four boys sat right in front of me and looked at me. I grabbed my knees and pulled them in tighter and put my head on my lap. Okay, this is my plan. On the count of three, run. Okay? Okay. One…….Two……Three. I quickly stood up and started to run for the fire escape when Mush and Jack lifted me up and pushed me to the ground. Aren't brothers nice? (Hehehehehe….I can't help but laugh at this) I started to crawl to the fire escape but I was cut off by Race who stood there. "Damn it!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I decided to give up and I went and sat against the ledge.
"What youse doing?" Spot said.
"Trying to get away from youse people."
"Whyse may I ask?" Jack said.
"Cause its neva good when all youse come up and talks to me." The tension was lifted when Mush laughed. I put my hands to my face and started to crack up. When I let my hands down I was still cracking up. I stopped when I saw a shooting star up in the sky. I closed my eyes. I wish that all my friends are going to be okay. I opened my eyes again and saw everyone staring at me. "So…..what's going on?"
"Well, youse need ta go to Brooklyn and youse been moody and Ise just wondering whether your okay or not?" Race said.
"Ise fine, now what da hell do da otha three of youse want?"
"Well, youse owe me a conversation." Spot said.
"Youse seemed mad at mes today, and Ise just wanted to know if wese okay?" Jack said.
"Yeah we're fine."
"And since everyone else was coming up, Ise decided dat Ise wanted to come up." Mush said.
"Okay den. So all youse can leave cept Spot because Ise promised him dat Ise was going ta talk to him today." Jack, Race, and Mush left and Spot and I were left. Boy, do I feel awkward. I got up and I walked back over to my corner. The corner where Spot and I first got together. Spot stayed standing until I motioned him over to the spot next to me. Spot sat down and he took off his hat. His brown hair swayed into his eyes. I looked at him and he could tell that I was hurting.
"So." Spot said.
"So…..um….yeah." We giggled. "I'm sorry fer the note."
"Yeah, Ise sorry too."
"Do youse know how many times people have said dat to me today? It's getting old. And youse don't hafta apologize as long as you know Ise love you."