Racetrack
As I headed back to the Newsboys' Lodging House, I felt rotten. Man, I had just nearly killed my own girlfriend, and as you would imagine, it didn't feel good. I crawled into bed and for the first time since about first grade, I felt cool tears running down my face. I pulled the covers over my head, and regretted the fact that tomorrow all the newsies would be on trial. I wondered if tomorrow would be a good day to apologize. I knew apologizing wouldn't be enough. But maybe it would be enough to make Shox decide to stay in New York, just long enough for us to sort things out, and then eventually she would decide to stay for good. I buried my face in my pillow and prayed to God that she would stay. She had to. If she didn't, then my life would be ruined forever. But, I also knew that if she stayed, it could ruin her life forever. I decided that her life was the better one to leave untouched. She could leave, ruin my life, brighten her life, and forget all about me. That's just the way things work in this dump that these stupid people call NYC. You leave and never come back, you forget all about the people you met. It sucks, I know.
Next day, at the trial, all the Manhattan newsies were there, except for the girls. Finally, about halfway through, they showed up. Shorty and Lasso held the door open while Spyder and Brooklyn dragged a limping Shox into the courthouse.
"Sorry we're late, your honor." said Spyder.
"We had to check Shox out." added Lasso. Judge Monahan grunted and motioned for them to take their seats. Shox told Spyder and Brooklyn to let go. They did, and Shox limped off to take her seat, which was supposed to be next to me. When she saw this, though, she and Bumlets traded seats.
"I fine each of you a hundred dollars or 3 weeks time in the house of refuge." growled Monahan. Murmurs rose up from all over the room, because none of us had a hundred dollars, with one possible exception…
"I-I'll pay for all of them." Shox stuttered. That being said she pulled something out of her pocket… holy crud!
It was a huge wad of money, enough to pay for all the newsies' charges, and to buy about ten mezzanine seats at Irving Hall. She held it out to Monahan. He ran his fingers through every one of the hundred dollar bills that Shox had handed to him and handed back the extra money. He cleared his throat and stared, stone-faced, at all of us.
"Well," he said in a hoarse voice at last, "That should just about do it. You are all dismissed." We all filed out of the courthouse in awe. When Shox finally came limping out, I cautiously walked over to her.
"Shox," I said when I finally caught up to her, "First of all, where'd you get all that money? Thanks so much for doing that!"
"You're not welcome," she snorted, "I only did that because it was fair. I was only going to pay for the girls, but then you guys would probably have to go to jail. And it's for me to know and for you to try and find out where all the money came from."
"Okay… and second of all… I'm sorry for what happened last night."
"That ain't gonna be enough. You just about killed me. I'm outta here. I have a day planned on my own. I'm on a shopping spree."
"I figured, since you're carrying all that money around in your pocket!"
"Mind your own business. Goodbye, for the last time!" She strolled off, and turned in to Abercrombie & Fitch when she first caught sight. I went in the opposite direction, exasperated that she wouldn't just accept my apology.