Chapter Three Continued
Bumlets removed his once-light tan cap, threaded his fingers through his unruly black hair, and wiped the sweat from his brow. He'd been selling for five hours and was finally free of the bundle he'd purchased. With the sun at full force now, Bumlets felt as if summer had already swept over the city, and it was aiming at any poor, unsuspecting soul it could find – Bumlets included.
His stomach rumbled fiercely like an earthquake vibrating beneath a city, reminding him that he hadn't had a bite to eat since this morning. As he exhaled - his chest rising and falling slowly - Bumlets wondered what he could afford to satisfy his stomach's plea. Tibby's was out of the question. Many of the boys liked to think they could eat there on a regular basis, but with the money they earned from selling papers, one could merely afford to purchase a small meal once in awhile.
Bumlets turned his attention to the vendor carts that lined the street. There was a plethora of items being sold right before his deep brown eyes. He recognized Cyanne, a flower peddler who lived in the boarding house on Chamber and Greenwich. Despite her small frame, she could hawk with the best of the vendors, and was often heard far down the street, singing a sweet ballad about her wares, or simply calling out that she had the best price in town.
Come look at my stars - my
asters,
Come buy my tulips and lilies,
Come smell my beautiful roses,
Come pick a handful of daisies!
Her light brown braids dancing in the mid-day sun, Bumlets watched as she continued down the street, and waved when he caught her attention. She nodded to him and smiled, then hurried on her way, a half-day of selling still on her mind.
Bumlets figured he could afford an apple or a small loaf of bread and that would tide him over until dinner. He decided to peruse the carts, his thoughts interrupted now and again by vendors calling out details of their goods. After much debate, he finally decided on a small loaf of Spanish pan just as he felt a hand snake around from behind, tapping his inner jacket pocket where his coins lay. Reacting instantly, Bumlets grabbed the intruder's wrist and whipped around, only to see Blaze's eyes feigning innocence. "Blaze! Just what in da world do ya think yer doin'?" he cried.
Smiling, Blaze raised her free hand to his face, revealing a freshly 'picked' loaf of bread. "I figured ya were goin' for bread today, so I 'found' dis down da street," she explained.
Letting his guard down, Bumlets released her wrist. "Do ya always have ta sneak up on people?" he growled, his heart pounding.
"I do it for da reaction," she confessed and smirked. "Ya did look awful handsome when ya turned around."
Bumlets rolled his eyes and turned to gaze down the street, effectively hiding his reddened cheeks. "Where's ya partner in crime?"
"Oh Autumn," Blaze grinned. "She's around. Probably found somethin' bettah to do den partake in me company. She said she'd catch up wid me later so we can go lookin' for a place ta sleep."
Chuckling, it was Bumlets turn to poke fun. "So basically ya mean you annoyed her to the point where she had ta get away, and the reason ya don't know where yer gonna sleep is 'cause ya got kicked out of Noble's place and there ain't another boardin' house 'round this part of town."
Blaze sharply poked him in the side. "Whatever gave ya the idea that ya were allowed ta comment?"
"The fact that I've put up wid ya for years now gives me plenty 'a rights and don't be forgettin' it!" he gloated.
"Fine den. So ya gonna invite me ta share in this bread or what?" Blaze changed the subject quickly, her stomach informing her that it was high time to eat.
Bumlets adjusted his cap and glanced at the bread. "I suppose…" he started and looked up at her. "If ya can catch me foist!" With that he took off down the street, wielding his way through merchants and shoppers. Blaze chased after him, occasionally shouting out that she shouldn't be chasing down what she had 'obtained' in the first place.
Their chase would continue through the streets, Bumlets encouraged to carry on by Blaze's pleas, and Blaze relentlessly following, her stomach ordering her to eat as soon as possible.
Yay end of chapter three, finally!
Bumlets removed his once-light tan cap, threaded his fingers through his unruly black hair, and wiped the sweat from his brow. He'd been selling for five hours and was finally free of the bundle he'd purchased. With the sun at full force now, Bumlets felt as if summer had already swept over the city, and it was aiming at any poor, unsuspecting soul it could find – Bumlets included.
His stomach rumbled fiercely like an earthquake vibrating beneath a city, reminding him that he hadn't had a bite to eat since this morning. As he exhaled - his chest rising and falling slowly - Bumlets wondered what he could afford to satisfy his stomach's plea. Tibby's was out of the question. Many of the boys liked to think they could eat there on a regular basis, but with the money they earned from selling papers, one could merely afford to purchase a small meal once in awhile.
Bumlets turned his attention to the vendor carts that lined the street. There was a plethora of items being sold right before his deep brown eyes. He recognized Cyanne, a flower peddler who lived in the boarding house on Chamber and Greenwich. Despite her small frame, she could hawk with the best of the vendors, and was often heard far down the street, singing a sweet ballad about her wares, or simply calling out that she had the best price in town.
Come buy my tulips and lilies,
Come smell my beautiful roses,
Come pick a handful of daisies!
Her light brown braids dancing in the mid-day sun, Bumlets watched as she continued down the street, and waved when he caught her attention. She nodded to him and smiled, then hurried on her way, a half-day of selling still on her mind.
Bumlets figured he could afford an apple or a small loaf of bread and that would tide him over until dinner. He decided to peruse the carts, his thoughts interrupted now and again by vendors calling out details of their goods. After much debate, he finally decided on a small loaf of Spanish pan just as he felt a hand snake around from behind, tapping his inner jacket pocket where his coins lay. Reacting instantly, Bumlets grabbed the intruder's wrist and whipped around, only to see Blaze's eyes feigning innocence. "Blaze! Just what in da world do ya think yer doin'?" he cried.
Smiling, Blaze raised her free hand to his face, revealing a freshly 'picked' loaf of bread. "I figured ya were goin' for bread today, so I 'found' dis down da street," she explained.
Letting his guard down, Bumlets released her wrist. "Do ya always have ta sneak up on people?" he growled, his heart pounding.
"I do it for da reaction," she confessed and smirked. "Ya did look awful handsome when ya turned around."
Bumlets rolled his eyes and turned to gaze down the street, effectively hiding his reddened cheeks. "Where's ya partner in crime?"
"Oh Autumn," Blaze grinned. "She's around. Probably found somethin' bettah to do den partake in me company. She said she'd catch up wid me later so we can go lookin' for a place ta sleep."
Chuckling, it was Bumlets turn to poke fun. "So basically ya mean you annoyed her to the point where she had ta get away, and the reason ya don't know where yer gonna sleep is 'cause ya got kicked out of Noble's place and there ain't another boardin' house 'round this part of town."
Blaze sharply poked him in the side. "Whatever gave ya the idea that ya were allowed ta comment?"
"The fact that I've put up wid ya for years now gives me plenty 'a rights and don't be forgettin' it!" he gloated.
"Fine den. So ya gonna invite me ta share in this bread or what?" Blaze changed the subject quickly, her stomach informing her that it was high time to eat.
Bumlets adjusted his cap and glanced at the bread. "I suppose…" he started and looked up at her. "If ya can catch me foist!" With that he took off down the street, wielding his way through merchants and shoppers. Blaze chased after him, occasionally shouting out that she shouldn't be chasing down what she had 'obtained' in the first place.
Their chase would continue through the streets, Bumlets encouraged to carry on by Blaze's pleas, and Blaze relentlessly following, her stomach ordering her to eat as soon as possible.
As morning
had since vanished, the boys and girls would soon return to the distribution
center to buy their afternoon papers, and once again set out in the city to earn
their keep. Today was Friday, and usually a great day for news. The newsies only
hoped that the newspaper's editors would live up to their expectations and
present them with a story that would sell like wildfire – and despite their
hopes being crushed far too many times, they never ceased to hope for a good
assassination or a war that would keep readers interested for weeks.
Yay end of chapter three, finally!
