"Okay den. Ise love you too."
"You're not yourself."
"What do'se youse mean?"
"Youse not acting like da tough, rough, cute Brooklyn newsie dat Ise know and love." He smirked.
"I am cute."
"Yeah." I giggled. "And youse also egoistical."
"Tanks. So…when do youse want ta head back ta Brooklyn?"
"Tonight." I stood up. "Can't leave me goil Rocket alone. By the way, whyse Tiger here?"
"Bambies and him gots together on da way here. And he's wanted to come and Ise didn't have da heart to say no."
"Awww…..youse not have da heart to say no." We walked downstairs and out of the Lodging House. We stopped on the Brooklyn Bridge because I felt that I was being followed. We stopped in the middle, and looked down in the water. I could see the moon's reflection and it looked so peaceful. "Youse want to hear a joke?" Spot looked at me.
"Sure, whyse not."
"What's the easiest way to put a giraffe in a fridge?"
"What?"
"You open the door and let it in." Spot chuckled.
"Dat was lame."
"No it wasn't. It was brilliant. I win."
"No youse don't."
"Yeah. Fine heres another one. How do youse get a broken-armed goil out of da tree?"
"How?"
"Youse wave to er."
"Now dat was funny." We looked at each other and smiled. We grabbed a hold of each others hands and started to walk back to the Lodging House. We went inside and walked upstairs. I let go of Spot's hand and looked for Rocket. I couldn't find her anywhere so I went up to the roof. I saw someone cry in a corner with a blanket over them.
"Are youse okay?" The person stopped crying and took the blanket off. "Rocket? Youse okay?" I ran to her side and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah. Ise don't know what's wrong wit me."
"Nuttin wrong wit youse. Youse are just fine."
"Den whyse did Jack leaves me?"
"It had nuttin to do wit youse. It was my decision and he wants to keeps youse safe."
"Youse da one dat sent Jack aways? How could youse?"
"Easy, everyone knows Jack. Jack would have taken youse places when wese are supposed to be protecting yas." She stood up.
"Youse had no right!"
"Do youse want ta die?" I stood up. "Ise did dis to protect youse."
"So its okay fer youse to be by yer man but Ise can't be my man."
"No, Ise didn't want ta come back. Bambie and Jack had to go cause if youse pops show up over dere den dey'll tink dat Bambie don't know nuttin. Cause dey will be tinking dat youse wit Bambie. And Ise already explained bout Jackey boy."
"Youse jealous?"
"Jealous? Of what?"
"Dat Ise wit Jack. Youse want him don't youse?"
"No, he's like me brudda."
"Do youse see dis?" She grabbed the red bandana around her neck. "Dis means I'm Jacks. So back off."
"Ise told yas, Ise don't want him."
"Yas roight." I grabbed her shoulders so that she was looking at me.
"Ise don't like him dat way. Ise love Spot. Youse know dat." She got out of my grasp and she smacked me in the face. I hung my head. "Ise aint gonna fight youse."
"Really?" She kneed me in the stomach. I stood up and ran down the fire escape into the bunkroom and Rocket was on my trail. Rocket tackled me and we were rolling over the bunkroom until Spot and Crabs broke us up.
"What da hell is dis Rocket? Sweetz?" Spot yelled.
"She tinks dat Ise want Jack. She's gone nuts!" I said.
"She does to want Jack or she wouldn't have sent him away from me."
"If Ise wanted him wouldn't Ise have sent him somewhere where Ise was staying? And plus everyone knows dat Jacks like me brudda."
"You whore!" Rocket yelled. Spot went up to her face.
"Don't youse eva call er dat again or youse out." She nodded. Spot turned around and she murmured,
"Fine, stick up fer dat backstabbing whore." Crabs grabbed me before I could lunge at her. Rocket was being pulled back by the other newsies.
"Ise not a whore! Ise gonna beat yer ass fer dat!" Two more newsies had to come and restrain me. They took me into Spots room and closed the door and guarded it from the inside until Spot gave them more instructions. I could hear Rocket and Spot yelling at each other in the other room.
"What da hell youse trying ta pull here Rocket?"
"Ise want Jack back."
"So youse trying ta get rid of Sweetz?"
"Yeah, she's a worthless whore."
"Youse walking on thin ice here, youse know dat she's me goil."
"She's also Morris'."
"How do youse know?"
"Oscar told me. Dey went on a date right when youse got ta da Lodging House,"
"No dey was hanging out as friends."
"Hanging out? Youse believe dat shit. Youse can't trust er. She's trying ta get all da guys fer herself." Who was this? This couldn't be Rocket. She was so nice to me and I even considered her as a best friend. That was it. I'm getting Jack back. But how? The door was guarded from the inside. Well two against one won't be so bad. I stood up and went for the door.
"Can Ise go talk ta da Kloppmann please?"
"Wese walk yas past da door."
"Okay." It didn't really matter to me. They walked me to the stairs making sure that I wasn't going to tackle Rocket. I walked towards the door and opened it. I sprinted out and I could hear voices yelling for me. I ran for about ten minutes and started to walk. I looked back to see if anyone was following me when I bumped into someone. I turned around to see Morris' face and Oscar standing next to him. "Hey guys. Wese need ta talk."
"After Ise beat youse up." Oscar said but Morris pushed him away. "Youse protecting er now?"
"Yeah, she's a friend." I smiled at him in appreciation.
"Fine, but youse won't be safe when he's gone." Oscar turned and walked off.
"So youse needed sometin?"
"Yeah, one of youse told Rocket dat Ise going out wit youse and dat wese went on a date."
"Ise sorry, dat was me brudda. He doesn't know when to shut his mouth."
"Can youse do me anudda favor?" He nodded. "Can youse take me to da Manhattan Lodge?"
"Sure, den Ise gots ta be going, cause Ise gots ta go back to da Brooklyn Lodge." We started to walk.
"Whyse?"
"Ise gots ta fix dis ting bout youse and me so dat Spot aint mad at youse."
"Why youse being so nice?"
"Cause youse had it hard wit me already and Ise giving youse a break." We talked forever until we arrived at the Lodge. I softly knocked on the door and turned to Morris.
"Tanks, Ise owe you."
"No, dis is on da house." He smiled and left. I turned around and knocked on the door again but this time a little harder. The door opened and there stood Tiger with his shirt off. "Hey."
"What da hell you ding here?" He said rubbing his eyes.
"Rocket and I got into a fight and Ise here ta talk to Jack." I went inside and he closed the door. I looked at the clock and it said six thirty (obviously in the morning). "Did Ise wake you up?"
"No da Kloppmann did. Ise just hoird da door foirst."
"Well youse can go upstairs and get ready."
"Should Ise get Jack?"
"No Ise catch him when he's coming down."
"You aint coming up." I shook my head. He shrugged and ran upstairs. I went over and sat on the bench that was over by the door. My eye lids were getting heavy and I didn't think I could stay up any longer. I haven't eaten or slept for awhile. I wanted to cry because I was in so much pain but I held it back. I soon fell asleep on the bench and was awaken by Jack. I looked at him and all he could yell was,
"FIRE!" I sat up and rubbed my eyes. "Tiger here says dat youse want ta talk to me." I nodded.
"Yeah, youse goilfriend tinks dat Ise trying to steal youse so wese got into a fist fight last night and den Ise had to be guarded cause Ise was bout to hoit er when she called me a whore and Ise came here to tell ya dat youse should stay wit Rocket and ta keep er away from me."
"I fell back asleep and my head hit the bench pretty hard. I felt like I had slept for days but it turns out that my 'days' were hours. I woke up to Bambies face.
"Hey, youse awake." I sat up.
"Ise guess so."
"Youse hungry, tired, thirsty, what? Whatever it is I'll get it."
"Ise hungry, but dats me fault fer not eating fer da past couple of days, Ise tired cause Ise haven't had good nights. Ise thirsty cause Ise hasn't had anytin to drink on my ways over here." She smiled.
"Well den lets go to Tibby's." I stood up right away and I was practically skipping to Tibby's. We went inside Tibby's and all the newsies were already there.
"Heya Sweetz." A few newsies yelled towards me. I just waved and smiled. Bambie and I walked over to a table where Tiger, Race, Mush, and Blink were sitting. We sat down and everyone greeted us. I sat in between Race and Blink.
"Heya Blink. Where da hell has youse been?"
"Da Queens." I put my head on Races shoulders and closed my eyes and yawned.
"Whyse?"
"Ise playing poker wit me buddy."
"Fun, fun." A waitress came over and took everyone's order. She looked at me and I said, "A turkey sandwich wit some ice water." She nodded and walked away. "Blink."
"Yeah."
"Youse said Queen's roight?"
"Yeah whyse?"
"Do youse know a David? He's short, has dark brown to blackish hair with brown eyes." I lifted my head off of Races shoulder and looked at Blink.
"Yeah, dey calls him Soccer."
"Dats me brudda."
"Youse kidding me."
"Nope, see afta me pops beat me up den my brudda would come in and practice kicking. So I was da soccer ball. And he stopped afta awhile and he ran away."
"Dat sonuva bitch."
"Yeah he is. Get it. Son of a bitch. Okay I'm done. But me brudda's really nice though."
"So Ise don't hafta beat da shit out of him when he comes?"
"What do youse mean when he comes?"
"Hes staying here fer two nights, He needed a place to stay cause his, Ise mean yours parents are looking fer him."
"Cool." I smiled. We talked for about ten more minutes until all our food came. We ate our lunch. "Hey you guys, wheres Jack?"
"He went ta Brooklyn ta talk to his goil." Race said.
"Oh." Later that night we went back to the lodging house (Manhattan) and played poker. "I win!" I was playing poker with Race and Mush. I grabbed my winnings and started to pile the change into piles. I sorted them out by pennies, dimes, and nickels. I felt so rich.
"Youse want ta play again?" Race asked.
"Sure, deal me in." Race shuffled the cards and handed them out. I looked at my cards and I knew there wasn't any way of me winning, even if I did bluff. "Ise fold." I picked up my winnings and put it into my hat that was laying on my old bed. I sat on the edge of my bed holding my hat. I looked at my hat and I remembered when I had gotten the hat. I went shopping with Rocket and she was the one that picked it out. Everything was so different now. Rocket was different, which scared me. It didn't seem like Rocket. She was never mad at me before. I should be the one that should be mad at her; I'm the only one that can hold a grudge. (Just kidding, LOL) Tears were forming in my eyes. I placed my hat on my bed and went into my back pocket where I grabbed the necklace that Spot gave me. I took it off when I went with Morris to Medda's. I held it in my hands feeling the keys ridges. I then put the necklace on. I sat there staring into space. My thoughts were coming much quickly now. My eyes were watering and I tried to keep my tears back but it was to late. I had blinked and tears had fallen on to my lap. Newsies were entering the bunkroom and the noise level grew intensely loud. I grabbed my hat and put it on my lap. I then went underneath my pillow and grabbed my matchbox. Then I kneeled down and went under my mattress and grabbed my last cigar. I stood up and a few newsies looked at me. I put my cigar in my mouth and smoked it for a second, and then I grabbed my hat and blanket and went on the fire escape. I closed the window after me and sat down on the cold metal stairs. I was smoking my cigar when the window had opened. A head popped out and they looked at me.
"Heya Sweetz."
"Heya Jackey boy." He climbed out. "Close da window." He turned around and closed the window.
"Youse smoke?"
"Yeah. Ise had been smoking fer months."
"Ise neva noticed."
"So how's Rocket? Done tinking dat Ise want youse." Jack smirked. "What? Youse tink dat?"
"No, Ise know dat youse don't like me in dat way."
"Den whyse you smiling?"
"Cause, Rocket was…how can Ise say dis. Drunk and emotional."
"Wow…still doesn't give er da right ta call me a whore."
"Yeah, dat was out of line. Guess who turned up dere though?"
"Who?"
"Morris Delancy. He had a talk wit Spot."
"Ise know, he told me."
"Yeah, well dey were talking fer bout an hour bout youse."
"Well dats always a good ting." I said sarcastically.
"Actually dis time it was. And youse were right before." I looked at him and took the cigar out of my mouth.
"What?"
"Youse were right. Morris can be a good guy if he tries." I smiled at him and put the cigar back into my mouth. "Ise going back inside, oh yeah. Someone's here fer youse. I'll send dem out." I nodded while Jack went back inside. I sat there for a couple more minutes shivering. The blanket that was over me wasn't keeping me warm. I kept smoking my cigar until another head popped out.
"Hey sis."
"Hey."
"Youse smoke?"
"Ever since Ise ran away."
"Oh. Ise did say sorry fer da way Ise treated youse before."
"Yeah, and Ise said it was okay. Youse going ta come out here?"
"No, but Ise know someone who will." He put his head back into the bunkroom. Another head popped out and it was Spot.
"Youse always there when Ise need ya." He smirked and put his head back into the bunkroom. I waited a couple of minutes and out popped Spots head with no hat on and he brought out a blanket. He threw me the blanket and sat on the railing.
"Give me dat cigar." I handed it to him. He looked at it like he was inspecting it. He threw the cigar over the railing and the cigar fell to the ground.
"Whyse did youse do dat?"
"Youse shouldn't smoke."
"And whyse not?"
"Cause Ise don't kiss goils who smoke. Youse changed."
"Yeah and dats so bad?"
"Well, Ise feel like wese aint together."
"Huh?"
"Well youse hanging out wit Morris, youse leave wit out telling mes, getting into trouble. And why da hell did youse have Morris come talk ta me?"
"Ise didn't, he was on da way when Ise saw him."
"Ise just worried bout yas."
"Ise know. Its dat everything is going weird. Ise still can't believe youse threw my cigar." I giggled.
"Get over it." He smiled at me.
"Youse cold?" I threw him back the blanket. He caught the blanket and walked over to me and we shared his blanket. I leaned up on him and he wrapped his arms around me.
"Youse really should go inside, your lips are blue and your shivering." I looked over and him and I kissed him. We kissed until we heard three voices open the window.
"Damn its cold out here."
"Yeah, sure is Blink. Heya Sweetz and Spot." We just waved while we kissing.
"Boy, dey aint gonna stop. Come on Race, Blink, lets go in."
"Okay Jackey boy." They went back in and closed the window. Spot and I were still kissing when we heard people yelling from the inside. We stopped kissing and went inside. There stood Rockets father cornering Jack.
"Where da hell is she?"
"Ise don't know what youse talking about."
"Yes you do."
"Hey leave him alone." I shouted. I walked over and Spot grabbed my hand and came with me.
"What youse say goil?" He left Jack and walked up to me.
"Ise said leave him alone. If youse want sometin den youse ask me."
"Where's Heather?"
"Ise told yas. No one here knows er."
"Your lying to me. Now I came here to find a goil who goes by the name Sweetz."
"Ise Sweetz."
"Well den, where's Heather?"
"Ise don't know er."
"Your lying to me. My friend Andrew told me that he saw you two and a girl named Elyse at a restaurant. He followed you three into the restaurant and waited for Heather to be alone."
"Well, what are youse going to do if Ise told ya dat Ise know where she is?"
"You are going ta tell me or…"
"Or what?" He raised his hands and clenched his hand into a fist. He swung at me and hit me in the face which caused me to double over with pain.
"Now you listen to me girl. I either get you or Heather."
"Then take me." I stood up. "Cause Ise don't rat on anybody."
"Youse going to regret this." He grabbed my arm.
"Ise neva regrets anytin." I stepped on his foot. "Youse leave now or I'll get da police."
"The police won't do anything." He grabbed my arm again.
"Youse let go of er." Spot yelled and all the newsies surrounded Heathers father. He gripped my arm tighter and pulled me through the crowd. He took me into the alley and pushed me against the wall.
"Now you listen here. You tell me where she is or your going to get it."
"Then let me have it. At least I'll know my wish came true." He growled at me and he held me up against the wall. Rockets father clenched his hands and started to punch me. I blacked out after ten minutes. The next time I had awaken I was being kicked in the stomach repeatedly. I blacked out once more. I felt no pain. And I felt like I was floating on air. I heard a voice that sounded far away.
"Sweetz, wake up please. Ise can't lose you. It been a week and youse still won't wake up. Rockets pops was arrested and so was Andrew. Rocket was beaten up by Andrew and dats how dey found him. Well Rockets okay now. She's worried bout youse. She actually blames it on herself. Ise should have been dere. Its just dat Rockets pops had friends who wouldn't let us pass. Well Jackey boy wants ta see youse. So Ise talk ta yas tomorrow." Come back Spot. Come back. I'll wake up. How do I wake up? Is there a button?
"Heya Sweetz. Ise wish you get up get up and yell at me. Some days Ise just wish dat Ise could mess up yer hair and youse would yell at me. Or how bout wese go down to Tibby's and Ise steal yer water. Just please come back." I wish I could wake up but its harder then it looks. "Well Rocket wants a few words wit youse. Bye." No, no come back please. I didn't know I was going to be missed. Would someone please tell me something that I don't want to hear. I don't want to hear that I'm missed. That breaks my heart. I wish I could wake up, I really do wish. Please, someone tell me something cherry. I can't stand you guys talking to me and I'm not talking back.
"Hey, Ise feel dat all dis is my fault. Whyse can't youse come back so Ise can talk to me best friend. Ise feel guilty fer da way Ise yelled at youse and Ise want ta apologize. Well anyways, today is Monday and its October. Every day at da distribution centa Morris asks bout youse. Den all da people over at Chierre Pier is asking bout youse. Newsies all 'round New Yawk are worried. You see people care and dats a pretty good reason fer youse to come back. Bambie and Tiger went to Bambies house. Yeah I know. Dey went together. Ise can tell ya dis dat you and ise have no worries. Yer parents decided to stop looking fer youse and yer brudda. Well Ise gots ta go. Love yas Sweetz." Thank goodness she wasn't mad at me. Why can't I wake up? Someone please pinch me. Kick me. Punch me. Someone do something. Well then I'll have to find a way to hurt myself then. I promise myself that when I wake up I will kick myself. And I will find a way! All of a sudden I felt very tired and my eyes were starting to open. My eyes opened to another hospital room. The pain set it and I was moaning and a nurse walked in with a pill bottle.
"You okay darling?"
"Da pain."
"Well take two of these. And don't try running off. We have police guarding your doors."
"How'd you know bout dat?" I took the pills.
"Yer friends told us. They want to make sure you get well. Get some sleep."
"What if Ise don't wake up?"
"Trust me you will." She left the room and I fell asleep. I woke up to voices in my room so I made sure that it was safe to open my eyes.
"She woke up last night"
"She woke up. Yer kidding me."
"Nope. Well she can be released in two days. We need her to do some tests. And this time we're making sure she does them."
"She's not going ta like dat." That was the voice of my sweet Spot. My eyes filled with tears. I felt so overwhelmed. So I gave a quiet giggle. I sat up and opened my eyes and my tears fell down my cheek. Spot came over to me and grabbed my hand and kissed my cheek.
"I'm so loved." I laughed and more tears came to my eyes. "Its too bright in here." I wiped away my tears. Okay about now I'm like having a meltdown. I would still be laughing if someone threatened to kill me.
"I'll leave you two alone." The doctor I said and I nodded at the doctor and he left. Spot jumped on the bed so that he was closer.
"Did youse notice dat Ise spend more time injured den anytin else?" He smirked. "Well its true."
"Youse weird."
"Youse finally noticed. Hey Ise have a joke fer youse."
"Okay."
"Why dat chicken cross da road?"
"Whyse?"
"Ise don't know go ask him." He shook his head.
"Ise tink youse lost it."
"I do too." I went to grab the key around my neck but it was missing. "Wheres my necklace? Ise didn't lose it, did Ise? How could Ise be so stupid?"
"Hey don't worry bout it."
"Don't worry bout it! Youse told me dat it was da foirst ting youse bought."
"Don't worries bout it."
"You're not yourself."
"What do'se youse mean?"
"Youse not acting like da tough, rough, cute Brooklyn newsie dat Ise know and love." He smirked.
"I am cute."
"Yeah." I giggled. "And youse also egoistical."
"Tanks. So…when do youse want ta head back ta Brooklyn?"
"Tonight." I stood up. "Can't leave me goil Rocket alone. By the way, whyse Tiger here?"
"Bambies and him gots together on da way here. And he's wanted to come and Ise didn't have da heart to say no."
"Awww…..youse not have da heart to say no." We walked downstairs and out of the Lodging House. We stopped on the Brooklyn Bridge because I felt that I was being followed. We stopped in the middle, and looked down in the water. I could see the moon's reflection and it looked so peaceful. "Youse want to hear a joke?" Spot looked at me.
"Sure, whyse not."
"What's the easiest way to put a giraffe in a fridge?"
"What?"
"You open the door and let it in." Spot chuckled.
"Dat was lame."
"No it wasn't. It was brilliant. I win."
"No youse don't."
"Yeah. Fine heres another one. How do youse get a broken-armed goil out of da tree?"
"How?"
"Youse wave to er."
"Now dat was funny." We looked at each other and smiled. We grabbed a hold of each others hands and started to walk back to the Lodging House. We went inside and walked upstairs. I let go of Spot's hand and looked for Rocket. I couldn't find her anywhere so I went up to the roof. I saw someone cry in a corner with a blanket over them.
"Are youse okay?" The person stopped crying and took the blanket off. "Rocket? Youse okay?" I ran to her side and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah. Ise don't know what's wrong wit me."
"Nuttin wrong wit youse. Youse are just fine."
"Den whyse did Jack leaves me?"
"It had nuttin to do wit youse. It was my decision and he wants to keeps youse safe."
"Youse da one dat sent Jack aways? How could youse?"
"Easy, everyone knows Jack. Jack would have taken youse places when wese are supposed to be protecting yas." She stood up.
"Youse had no right!"
"Do youse want ta die?" I stood up. "Ise did dis to protect youse."
"So its okay fer youse to be by yer man but Ise can't be my man."
"No, Ise didn't want ta come back. Bambie and Jack had to go cause if youse pops show up over dere den dey'll tink dat Bambie don't know nuttin. Cause dey will be tinking dat youse wit Bambie. And Ise already explained bout Jackey boy."
"Youse jealous?"
"Jealous? Of what?"
"Dat Ise wit Jack. Youse want him don't youse?"
"No, he's like me brudda."
"Do youse see dis?" She grabbed the red bandana around her neck. "Dis means I'm Jacks. So back off."
"Ise told yas, Ise don't want him."
"Yas roight." I grabbed her shoulders so that she was looking at me.
"Ise don't like him dat way. Ise love Spot. Youse know dat." She got out of my grasp and she smacked me in the face. I hung my head. "Ise aint gonna fight youse."
"Really?" She kneed me in the stomach. I stood up and ran down the fire escape into the bunkroom and Rocket was on my trail. Rocket tackled me and we were rolling over the bunkroom until Spot and Crabs broke us up.
"What da hell is dis Rocket? Sweetz?" Spot yelled.
"She tinks dat Ise want Jack. She's gone nuts!" I said.
"She does to want Jack or she wouldn't have sent him away from me."
"If Ise wanted him wouldn't Ise have sent him somewhere where Ise was staying? And plus everyone knows dat Jacks like me brudda."
"You whore!" Rocket yelled. Spot went up to her face.
"Don't youse eva call er dat again or youse out." She nodded. Spot turned around and she murmured,
"Fine, stick up fer dat backstabbing whore." Crabs grabbed me before I could lunge at her. Rocket was being pulled back by the other newsies.
"Ise not a whore! Ise gonna beat yer ass fer dat!" Two more newsies had to come and restrain me. They took me into Spots room and closed the door and guarded it from the inside until Spot gave them more instructions. I could hear Rocket and Spot yelling at each other in the other room.
"What da hell youse trying ta pull here Rocket?"
"Ise want Jack back."
"So youse trying ta get rid of Sweetz?"
"Yeah, she's a worthless whore."
"Youse walking on thin ice here, youse know dat she's me goil."
"She's also Morris'."
"How do youse know?"
"Oscar told me. Dey went on a date right when youse got ta da Lodging House,"
"No dey was hanging out as friends."
"Hanging out? Youse believe dat shit. Youse can't trust er. She's trying ta get all da guys fer herself." Who was this? This couldn't be Rocket. She was so nice to me and I even considered her as a best friend. That was it. I'm getting Jack back. But how? The door was guarded from the inside. Well two against one won't be so bad. I stood up and went for the door.
"Can Ise go talk ta da Kloppmann please?"
"Wese walk yas past da door."
"Okay." It didn't really matter to me. They walked me to the stairs making sure that I wasn't going to tackle Rocket. I walked towards the door and opened it. I sprinted out and I could hear voices yelling for me. I ran for about ten minutes and started to walk. I looked back to see if anyone was following me when I bumped into someone. I turned around to see Morris' face and Oscar standing next to him. "Hey guys. Wese need ta talk."
"After Ise beat youse up." Oscar said but Morris pushed him away. "Youse protecting er now?"
"Yeah, she's a friend." I smiled at him in appreciation.
"Fine, but youse won't be safe when he's gone." Oscar turned and walked off.
"So youse needed sometin?"
"Yeah, one of youse told Rocket dat Ise going out wit youse and dat wese went on a date."
"Ise sorry, dat was me brudda. He doesn't know when to shut his mouth."
"Can youse do me anudda favor?" He nodded. "Can youse take me to da Manhattan Lodge?"
"Sure, den Ise gots ta be going, cause Ise gots ta go back to da Brooklyn Lodge." We started to walk.
"Whyse?"
"Ise gots ta fix dis ting bout youse and me so dat Spot aint mad at youse."
"Why youse being so nice?"
"Cause youse had it hard wit me already and Ise giving youse a break." We talked forever until we arrived at the Lodge. I softly knocked on the door and turned to Morris.
"Tanks, Ise owe you."
"No, dis is on da house." He smiled and left. I turned around and knocked on the door again but this time a little harder. The door opened and there stood Tiger with his shirt off. "Hey."
"What da hell you ding here?" He said rubbing his eyes.
"Rocket and I got into a fight and Ise here ta talk to Jack." I went inside and he closed the door. I looked at the clock and it said six thirty (obviously in the morning). "Did Ise wake you up?"
"No da Kloppmann did. Ise just hoird da door foirst."
"Well youse can go upstairs and get ready."
"Should Ise get Jack?"
"No Ise catch him when he's coming down."
"You aint coming up." I shook my head. He shrugged and ran upstairs. I went over and sat on the bench that was over by the door. My eye lids were getting heavy and I didn't think I could stay up any longer. I haven't eaten or slept for awhile. I wanted to cry because I was in so much pain but I held it back. I soon fell asleep on the bench and was awaken by Jack. I looked at him and all he could yell was,
"FIRE!" I sat up and rubbed my eyes. "Tiger here says dat youse want ta talk to me." I nodded.
"Yeah, youse goilfriend tinks dat Ise trying to steal youse so wese got into a fist fight last night and den Ise had to be guarded cause Ise was bout to hoit er when she called me a whore and Ise came here to tell ya dat youse should stay wit Rocket and ta keep er away from me."
"I fell back asleep and my head hit the bench pretty hard. I felt like I had slept for days but it turns out that my 'days' were hours. I woke up to Bambies face.
"Hey, youse awake." I sat up.
"Ise guess so."
"Youse hungry, tired, thirsty, what? Whatever it is I'll get it."
"Ise hungry, but dats me fault fer not eating fer da past couple of days, Ise tired cause Ise haven't had good nights. Ise thirsty cause Ise hasn't had anytin to drink on my ways over here." She smiled.
"Well den lets go to Tibby's." I stood up right away and I was practically skipping to Tibby's. We went inside Tibby's and all the newsies were already there.
"Heya Sweetz." A few newsies yelled towards me. I just waved and smiled. Bambie and I walked over to a table where Tiger, Race, Mush, and Blink were sitting. We sat down and everyone greeted us. I sat in between Race and Blink.
"Heya Blink. Where da hell has youse been?"
"Da Queens." I put my head on Races shoulders and closed my eyes and yawned.
"Whyse?"
"Ise playing poker wit me buddy."
"Fun, fun." A waitress came over and took everyone's order. She looked at me and I said, "A turkey sandwich wit some ice water." She nodded and walked away. "Blink."
"Yeah."
"Youse said Queen's roight?"
"Yeah whyse?"
"Do youse know a David? He's short, has dark brown to blackish hair with brown eyes." I lifted my head off of Races shoulder and looked at Blink.
"Yeah, dey calls him Soccer."
"Dats me brudda."
"Youse kidding me."
"Nope, see afta me pops beat me up den my brudda would come in and practice kicking. So I was da soccer ball. And he stopped afta awhile and he ran away."
"Dat sonuva bitch."
"Yeah he is. Get it. Son of a bitch. Okay I'm done. But me brudda's really nice though."
"So Ise don't hafta beat da shit out of him when he comes?"
"What do youse mean when he comes?"
"Hes staying here fer two nights, He needed a place to stay cause his, Ise mean yours parents are looking fer him."
"Cool." I smiled. We talked for about ten more minutes until all our food came. We ate our lunch. "Hey you guys, wheres Jack?"
"He went ta Brooklyn ta talk to his goil." Race said.
"Oh." Later that night we went back to the lodging house (Manhattan) and played poker. "I win!" I was playing poker with Race and Mush. I grabbed my winnings and started to pile the change into piles. I sorted them out by pennies, dimes, and nickels. I felt so rich.
"Youse want ta play again?" Race asked.
"Sure, deal me in." Race shuffled the cards and handed them out. I looked at my cards and I knew there wasn't any way of me winning, even if I did bluff. "Ise fold." I picked up my winnings and put it into my hat that was laying on my old bed. I sat on the edge of my bed holding my hat. I looked at my hat and I remembered when I had gotten the hat. I went shopping with Rocket and she was the one that picked it out. Everything was so different now. Rocket was different, which scared me. It didn't seem like Rocket. She was never mad at me before. I should be the one that should be mad at her; I'm the only one that can hold a grudge. (Just kidding, LOL) Tears were forming in my eyes. I placed my hat on my bed and went into my back pocket where I grabbed the necklace that Spot gave me. I took it off when I went with Morris to Medda's. I held it in my hands feeling the keys ridges. I then put the necklace on. I sat there staring into space. My thoughts were coming much quickly now. My eyes were watering and I tried to keep my tears back but it was to late. I had blinked and tears had fallen on to my lap. Newsies were entering the bunkroom and the noise level grew intensely loud. I grabbed my hat and put it on my lap. I then went underneath my pillow and grabbed my matchbox. Then I kneeled down and went under my mattress and grabbed my last cigar. I stood up and a few newsies looked at me. I put my cigar in my mouth and smoked it for a second, and then I grabbed my hat and blanket and went on the fire escape. I closed the window after me and sat down on the cold metal stairs. I was smoking my cigar when the window had opened. A head popped out and they looked at me.
"Heya Sweetz."
"Heya Jackey boy." He climbed out. "Close da window." He turned around and closed the window.
"Youse smoke?"
"Yeah. Ise had been smoking fer months."
"Ise neva noticed."
"So how's Rocket? Done tinking dat Ise want youse." Jack smirked. "What? Youse tink dat?"
"No, Ise know dat youse don't like me in dat way."
"Den whyse you smiling?"
"Cause, Rocket was…how can Ise say dis. Drunk and emotional."
"Wow…still doesn't give er da right ta call me a whore."
"Yeah, dat was out of line. Guess who turned up dere though?"
"Who?"
"Morris Delancy. He had a talk wit Spot."
"Ise know, he told me."
"Yeah, well dey were talking fer bout an hour bout youse."
"Well dats always a good ting." I said sarcastically.
"Actually dis time it was. And youse were right before." I looked at him and took the cigar out of my mouth.
"What?"
"Youse were right. Morris can be a good guy if he tries." I smiled at him and put the cigar back into my mouth. "Ise going back inside, oh yeah. Someone's here fer youse. I'll send dem out." I nodded while Jack went back inside. I sat there for a couple more minutes shivering. The blanket that was over me wasn't keeping me warm. I kept smoking my cigar until another head popped out.
"Hey sis."
"Hey."
"Youse smoke?"
"Ever since Ise ran away."
"Oh. Ise did say sorry fer da way Ise treated youse before."
"Yeah, and Ise said it was okay. Youse going ta come out here?"
"No, but Ise know someone who will." He put his head back into the bunkroom. Another head popped out and it was Spot.
"Youse always there when Ise need ya." He smirked and put his head back into the bunkroom. I waited a couple of minutes and out popped Spots head with no hat on and he brought out a blanket. He threw me the blanket and sat on the railing.
"Give me dat cigar." I handed it to him. He looked at it like he was inspecting it. He threw the cigar over the railing and the cigar fell to the ground.
"Whyse did youse do dat?"
"Youse shouldn't smoke."
"And whyse not?"
"Cause Ise don't kiss goils who smoke. Youse changed."
"Yeah and dats so bad?"
"Well, Ise feel like wese aint together."
"Huh?"
"Well youse hanging out wit Morris, youse leave wit out telling mes, getting into trouble. And why da hell did youse have Morris come talk ta me?"
"Ise didn't, he was on da way when Ise saw him."
"Ise just worried bout yas."
"Ise know. Its dat everything is going weird. Ise still can't believe youse threw my cigar." I giggled.
"Get over it." He smiled at me.
"Youse cold?" I threw him back the blanket. He caught the blanket and walked over to me and we shared his blanket. I leaned up on him and he wrapped his arms around me.
"Youse really should go inside, your lips are blue and your shivering." I looked over and him and I kissed him. We kissed until we heard three voices open the window.
"Damn its cold out here."
"Yeah, sure is Blink. Heya Sweetz and Spot." We just waved while we kissing.
"Boy, dey aint gonna stop. Come on Race, Blink, lets go in."
"Okay Jackey boy." They went back in and closed the window. Spot and I were still kissing when we heard people yelling from the inside. We stopped kissing and went inside. There stood Rockets father cornering Jack.
"Where da hell is she?"
"Ise don't know what youse talking about."
"Yes you do."
"Hey leave him alone." I shouted. I walked over and Spot grabbed my hand and came with me.
"What youse say goil?" He left Jack and walked up to me.
"Ise said leave him alone. If youse want sometin den youse ask me."
"Where's Heather?"
"Ise told yas. No one here knows er."
"Your lying to me. Now I came here to find a goil who goes by the name Sweetz."
"Ise Sweetz."
"Well den, where's Heather?"
"Ise don't know er."
"Your lying to me. My friend Andrew told me that he saw you two and a girl named Elyse at a restaurant. He followed you three into the restaurant and waited for Heather to be alone."
"Well, what are youse going to do if Ise told ya dat Ise know where she is?"
"You are going ta tell me or…"
"Or what?" He raised his hands and clenched his hand into a fist. He swung at me and hit me in the face which caused me to double over with pain.
"Now you listen to me girl. I either get you or Heather."
"Then take me." I stood up. "Cause Ise don't rat on anybody."
"Youse going to regret this." He grabbed my arm.
"Ise neva regrets anytin." I stepped on his foot. "Youse leave now or I'll get da police."
"The police won't do anything." He grabbed my arm again.
"Youse let go of er." Spot yelled and all the newsies surrounded Heathers father. He gripped my arm tighter and pulled me through the crowd. He took me into the alley and pushed me against the wall.
"Now you listen here. You tell me where she is or your going to get it."
"Then let me have it. At least I'll know my wish came true." He growled at me and he held me up against the wall. Rockets father clenched his hands and started to punch me. I blacked out after ten minutes. The next time I had awaken I was being kicked in the stomach repeatedly. I blacked out once more. I felt no pain. And I felt like I was floating on air. I heard a voice that sounded far away.
"Sweetz, wake up please. Ise can't lose you. It been a week and youse still won't wake up. Rockets pops was arrested and so was Andrew. Rocket was beaten up by Andrew and dats how dey found him. Well Rockets okay now. She's worried bout youse. She actually blames it on herself. Ise should have been dere. Its just dat Rockets pops had friends who wouldn't let us pass. Well Jackey boy wants ta see youse. So Ise talk ta yas tomorrow." Come back Spot. Come back. I'll wake up. How do I wake up? Is there a button?
"Heya Sweetz. Ise wish you get up get up and yell at me. Some days Ise just wish dat Ise could mess up yer hair and youse would yell at me. Or how bout wese go down to Tibby's and Ise steal yer water. Just please come back." I wish I could wake up but its harder then it looks. "Well Rocket wants a few words wit youse. Bye." No, no come back please. I didn't know I was going to be missed. Would someone please tell me something that I don't want to hear. I don't want to hear that I'm missed. That breaks my heart. I wish I could wake up, I really do wish. Please, someone tell me something cherry. I can't stand you guys talking to me and I'm not talking back.
"Hey, Ise feel dat all dis is my fault. Whyse can't youse come back so Ise can talk to me best friend. Ise feel guilty fer da way Ise yelled at youse and Ise want ta apologize. Well anyways, today is Monday and its October. Every day at da distribution centa Morris asks bout youse. Den all da people over at Chierre Pier is asking bout youse. Newsies all 'round New Yawk are worried. You see people care and dats a pretty good reason fer youse to come back. Bambie and Tiger went to Bambies house. Yeah I know. Dey went together. Ise can tell ya dis dat you and ise have no worries. Yer parents decided to stop looking fer youse and yer brudda. Well Ise gots ta go. Love yas Sweetz." Thank goodness she wasn't mad at me. Why can't I wake up? Someone please pinch me. Kick me. Punch me. Someone do something. Well then I'll have to find a way to hurt myself then. I promise myself that when I wake up I will kick myself. And I will find a way! All of a sudden I felt very tired and my eyes were starting to open. My eyes opened to another hospital room. The pain set it and I was moaning and a nurse walked in with a pill bottle.
"You okay darling?"
"Da pain."
"Well take two of these. And don't try running off. We have police guarding your doors."
"How'd you know bout dat?" I took the pills.
"Yer friends told us. They want to make sure you get well. Get some sleep."
"What if Ise don't wake up?"
"Trust me you will." She left the room and I fell asleep. I woke up to voices in my room so I made sure that it was safe to open my eyes.
"She woke up last night"
"She woke up. Yer kidding me."
"Nope. Well she can be released in two days. We need her to do some tests. And this time we're making sure she does them."
"She's not going ta like dat." That was the voice of my sweet Spot. My eyes filled with tears. I felt so overwhelmed. So I gave a quiet giggle. I sat up and opened my eyes and my tears fell down my cheek. Spot came over to me and grabbed my hand and kissed my cheek.
"I'm so loved." I laughed and more tears came to my eyes. "Its too bright in here." I wiped away my tears. Okay about now I'm like having a meltdown. I would still be laughing if someone threatened to kill me.
"I'll leave you two alone." The doctor I said and I nodded at the doctor and he left. Spot jumped on the bed so that he was closer.
"Did youse notice dat Ise spend more time injured den anytin else?" He smirked. "Well its true."
"Youse weird."
"Youse finally noticed. Hey Ise have a joke fer youse."
"Okay."
"Why dat chicken cross da road?"
"Whyse?"
"Ise don't know go ask him." He shook his head.
"Ise tink youse lost it."
"I do too." I went to grab the key around my neck but it was missing. "Wheres my necklace? Ise didn't lose it, did Ise? How could Ise be so stupid?"
"Hey don't worry bout it."
"Don't worry bout it! Youse told me dat it was da foirst ting youse bought."
"Don't worries bout it."