"Excuse me, are you the owner of this establishment?"
Kloppman peered up at two uniformed policemen and instinctively pulled his ledger closer to himself. "Why yes, yes I am. What can I do for you gentlemen?"
"We were informed that ya might know the whereabouts of girl that's been missing for several days," one of the men answered.
"Oh?" Kloppman asked, fearing that this girl they were inquiring about was the one Bumlets had brought in.
"Yes, goes by the name Gabrielle. Her parents are very worried and we received word that you might be able to tell us where she is." While the one policeman spoke, the other scanned the room, receiving unwanted looks from all the newsies that were present.
"Hmm, Gabrielle you say?" Kloppman pretended to think long and hard, knowing it was time to do a little acting. "I can't say that I remember that name, gentlemen. These last few days we haven't had any lodgers come in by that name. What does she look like?"
As the one policeman gave a physical description of Gabi, Specs took it upon himself to casually walk upstairs and warn Bumlets to get Gabi out of the lodging house now. He knew the police wouldn't just leave so quickly. They would search the place as well.
Once he was upstairs, Specs darted into the boys' bunkroom and started waving his arms wildly at the love-struck couple. "Bumlets! The bulls are downstairs! They're lookin' for Gabi. Ya gotta get 'er outta here, and fast!"
"Oh no," Gabi frowned. "What are we going to do?" she asked Bumlets panicked expression matched her own.
"Specs, we'll go down to Medda's for awhile. Will ya come get us later after they leave?" Bumlets asked.
"Shoah, I'll go down there later, now split!" Specs gestured towards the window. They would have to go down the fire escape and hope they weren't caught. Once he saw the pair safely on their way down the stairs, Specs returned to the first floor, eager to see if the police had left yet.
Later that evening Specs had walked to Medda's and gathered the distressed couple. The trip back was rather silent, as they all knew something would have to change, for they couldn't risk Kloppman's job or the well-being of the others at the lodging house.
Most of the newsies found a poker game the ticket to relaxing. Bumlets and Gabi, however, found themselves on the roof, the day proving more stressful than the two had imagined.
"Ya ain't not safe here. And no matter how much I want ya to stay, the bulls are gonna find ya, and Klopp's gonna get in trouble for harborin' ya here," Bumlets sighed.
"I don't want to go back," Gabrielle frowned. "I like it here, with you."
Bumlets kissed her forehead. "And I like it here with you too, but your parents must be worried sick. Go back to them. Let 'em know you're all right. Den we can work out the rest."
"But they won't let me associate with newsies!" she exclaimed. "I'll never see you again."
Bumlets shook his head. "Yes ya will see me."
"And what about Christopher? They'll marry me off as soon as I return," she frowned.
"Den we'll just have to work sumptin' out before that," Bumlets replied. "But we can't risk getting the lodgin' house in trouble.
"I don't want to leave you."
Bumlets sighed. "But it's trouble for the lodgin' house and for
Kloppman. Go back to your parents. Let them know that you are well. If she was
our daughter, we'd look for her too, wouldn't we?"
Gabi didn't answer him, but nodded her head, her eyes shut tightly.
"I'll find a way to make a decent living. One to support us both -
one that will earn your parents' respect. Then we can be together again. Ya know
of the Brooklyn Bridge?" he asked softly.
"I've heard of it, why?" Gabi opened her eyes, once again fixating
them on Bumlets.
"There's an old legend in these parts about it. Whenever
the mist is
so thick that ya can't see the water when standin' on the bridge, you can make a
wish. One time, a boy's parents were deathly ill. They didn't have the money to
pay the hospital bills, and the boy knew they weren't gonna survive. He waited
until one morning the fog was so thick that he couldn't see the water. Den he
jumped. He didn't die. He wasn't even hurt. He floated away, nevah to be seen or
heard of again, but he knew his wish had come true. If ya believe, it will
happen. 'A faithful heart makes wishes come true.'"[1] Bumlets stroked her cheek
with his fingers and smiled.
"Things will work out, you'll
see." Bumlets stroked through Gabi's hair, gradually pulling her closer to
himself. He knew this was the last time he was going to be this close to her for
quite some time, and he wanted this night to be memorable for them both.
"I bet by the time I make my
mark on this world, you'll have found a handsome young man to whisk ya away," he
half-teased.
"And that man will be you,"
Gabi replied, sliding her arms around his neck.
Smiling, Bumlets leaned in and kissed her deeply. Before long he
lifted her up, and carried her to a more secluded place on the roof. As their
kiss deepened, neither paid any attention to the night around them and
temporarily forgot that soon they would have to leave each other's arms.
"Here," he whispered, placing it in her hand.
Gabi shook her head and pushed it back into Bumlets' palm. "Keep it. Bring it back to me when you return, once we can be together again."
Bumlets smiled sadly and nodded his head.
"If you don't bring it back. I'll come after you," Gabi whispered through tears. She curled up in Bumlets' arms, the reality striking her hard. In the morning she would have to leave the man she loved.
Kissing Gabi's forehead, Bumlets pulled her as near as he could. "Love you," he whispered.
Gabi kissed his ear, smiling. "Love you, my thief," she whispered back.
"Now, you go to sleep, and in the mornin' I'll make sure ya get home alright," Bumlets explained, tears burning in his throat.
Nodding her head slightly, Gabi closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep, Bumlets' strong arms around her and his body next to hers keeping her comfort until the sun came to awake them.
Bumlets squeezed Gabi's hand. "Dis is it. Remember the place?" he asked, teasing slightly.
"Yeah, that's it," Gabi answered softly. She buried her head in his chest. "I don't want to leave you."
"Shh, it's only for a little while. I'll see you again soon. Go and tell your family you're okay." Bumlets lifted her chin with his fingers and brushed them over her lips. "We'll meet again real soon," he whispered. Bumlets leaned down and kissed her deeply.
Gabi tried to hold onto him longer, but she knew the more time she spent in his arms, the harder it would be to pull away. Breaking the kiss, she smiled at him, and snatched his hat once more. "I miss you already."
"And I miss me hat!" Bumlets replied, smiling. He took it from her hands and plopped it on his head. "Go on, before I pick you up and run like hell back to the lodgin' house." He kissed her cheek one last time. "Love you."
"And I love you more," she smirked and hugged him close before letting go. Reluctantly Gabi made her way towards her house, and although she tried not to look back, she glanced at Bumlets once more before walking up the steps.
Bumlets stood there, doing his best to smile. As he watched her knock on the door, he started to back up, and as the door flung open and Gabi was pulled inside towards her amazed mother, Bumlets walked home while dreaming of the possibility to be with Gabi soon.
"Gabrielle! Oh my God, where have you been?" Kayla cried. She hugged her daughter until Gabi had to pull away for lack of breathing room.
"Dietrich! Viktor! She's home!" Kayla called throughout the house.
Her brother pounded down the stairs from the second floor and threw himself at his sister. "Gabi!"
"Viktor!" Gabi returned once she was flat on the floor, her brother hugging her close.
"Sweetie, let the poor girl breathe," Kayla smiled and gently lifted her son up. "Dietrich! Honey, where are you?" Kayla found it hard to believe her husband was still not answering, though soon he was in the doorway, baffled by his wife's ecstatic voice.
"What? What is it dear?" His eyes lit up at the vision in front of him. "Gabrielle!"
Standing up, Gabi ran to her father's embrace. He held her tightly and smiled. "How we've missed you! We've looked for days, and so have the police. We thought we lost you! What happened? Where have you been?"
Kayla shook her head. "Come, lunch is ready, and we can find out all about it over a good meal."
Lunch went quite well, and Gabi had decided to do some improving of the truth while she told the story of her whereabouts. She explained how her necklace had broken and that Bumlets had been a kind gentleman to retrieve it for her, but she added in that another man had taken it, and Bumlets had chased down the man to get it back. She knew her parents would need the best impression of the newsie that she could give them. Then she went on to explain that she had been rendered unconscious in a fall, and that Bumlets had taken care of her at a nearby lodging house. She explained his profession of selling newspapers, but she could see how her parents were worried. Gabi couldn't help but talk about him nonstop, and after lunch, her father took her into the study.
"Gabrielle, I sent a note to Christopher, telling him of your safe return. He wants to meet with you tonight," Dietrich started.
Gabi's face fell. "But, father, I don't want to see that boy anymore. He's rude and he doesn't hear one word I say, and he's…he's not someone I want to date," she explained.
Dietrich frowned. "Christopher is a great boy and his father happens to be my boss. The plans are all set."
"Plans?" Gabi asked, fearing the worst.
"While you were gone, Christopher promised he would find you and he asked that once you return, he be able to have your hand in marriage. Naturally I accepted. He's a fine boy and you are safely here. He held up his end of the bargain and I am going to hold up mine. You'll be well off with him. He loves you."
Gabi felt her knees grow weak. "I…I can't marry him. I just can't! I love someone else, father!"
"You can't possibly be talking about that boy that helped you out, can you? He doesn't even have a good home. A girl of your stature cannot make a living in a lodging house," Dietrich frowned, appalled at the thought.
"I am talking about him, father! And he might not have a steady income now, but he will have one soon! He's looking for something better, just to earn your respect. How can I marry someone else?" Gabi had a hard time holding back tears. How could her father have done such a thing?
"No daughter of mine is going to date, let alone marry a street rat!" Dietrich bellowed, outraged at the very notion.
"But father, I don't love Christopher!" Gabi cried. "You don't know what he does at night! I saw him! He's vicious to those newsies! Please father! Listen to me!" she pleaded. "Bumlets and I love each other! If you'd only meet him, you'd see how…"
"Enough!" he interrupted. "You will marry Christopher, Gabrielle. That's an order! He'll be coming over tonight and you will act cordially to the boy!" Dietrich stormed out of the room, ignoring the pleading look in Gabi's eyes and the hurt expression on her face.
Her mother was listening in the hall, but there was nothing she could do to stop this. She knew how Christopher was. He was the kind that always got what he wanted, and when he didn't, his father made sure that he did. Being the prominent owner of a bank had its perks, and apparently marriage to whomever his son Christopher wanted, was included.
Gabi fled to her room. She had to be out of there by the time Christopher came that evening. She would just have to remember the way back to the lodging house. Quietly Gabi rummaged through her belongings, but decided a suitcase full of clothes would only hinder her escape and would do no good if she wanted to hide out from the police again.
She heard a knock at the door downstairs and panicked. Surely it had to be Christopher. Well then, perhaps I can give him a peace of my mind before I go. Without giving it a second thought, Gabi walked down the stairs, her head held high. Sure enough, there in the front hall stood Christopher, a fake smile on his face once he saw her.
"Gabrielle," he grinned. "How great for you to be home at last." Christopher walked towards her, his arms ready to embrace Gabi, but she moved back.
"Fox," she said coldly.
"Gabrielle, Christopher came a long way to see you tonight. I expect you'll be glad to talk to him about some things," Dietrich explained, and gave his daughter a very serious look.
"Why, of course father," Gabi smiled accordingly, though inside she was glaring at the scene before her. Dietrich left the two along, silently praying that she would act proper towards her future husband.
Christopher's feigned smile turned into a frown. "What's wrong?" he asked, the concern in his voice sickening to Gabi's ears.
"You, that's what's wrong," she replied, her eyes burning the anger she had just hidden from her father.
"Why me?" Fox asked.
Gabi took a defiant step towards him. "You hide a filthy business from your father. You take advantage of poor street kids each and every day, and you kill them for no reason at all," she glared.
Frowning, Christopher stood taller before he addressed her. "What I do is none of your concern, Gabrielle. My business is just as respectable as the bank."
"You're also a good liar," Gabi continued. "Why is it you feel the need to dominate over street kids? Do they have it better than you? I bet I know what it is. They have the respect you will never have. They earned their place, whether it be the leader of a lodging house, or a street corner that belongs to their territory. While you…you just got everything handed down from your father. You didn't earn respect. You get it from terrifying others with your goons," she sneered.
Christopher raised his hand and abruptly slapped Gabi hard across the cheek. What Gabi didn't know is that she had just told Christopher what he already knew deep down inside. Christopher could never have the respect that Spot or Pan had rightfully earned, and the only way to get it was to take it from them forcefully - by death.
Not wanting Christopher to see the pain in her eyes, Gabi kept he glare, but raised her hand to her cheek. "Bastard," she muttered and pushed past him to the door, slamming it once she was outside.
Gabi ran through the dark streets, ignoring the throbbing coming from her face. She had to find Bumlets and tell him what had happened. She missed him terribly, if only for that one day, and surely Luna and Spot would want to know what went on with Fox.
~~~
[1] Actual dialogue from the brilliant movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.