"Deir names are Jazz 'n Shina," Jack announced to all the Lodging House boys.
"Where are dey gonna sleep, Cowboy?" Dutchy asked.
"Well, dere's only one empty bed, so who can bunk wid Shina?" Jack as the group.
"Why can't he bunk wit Jazz, I mean dey are friends and Itey 'n Snitch do it all da time, so why not?" Kid Blink asked.
"'Cuz Jazz is a goil, ya muttonhead!" Jack exclaimed and hit Blink up-side the head.
The whole Lodging House "Ooohh"ed and some even cheered.
"Hey, come on, Jack. Ya know ya can't bring a goil in heah! You made dat mistake wit Manhattan," said Mush with a bit of a cocky smile and attitude.
"Nah, it's fine. Kloppman agreed to it," Jack said cracking smiles on to his own face and the faces of many of the others. Mush just blushed a little.
"When are dey gettin' heah?" Race asked.
"I dunno. Prolly soon dough," Jack said, and just as he finished his sentence, the door opened and Kloppman entered leading two bright-eyed people into the room.
"Jazz!" Jack yelled. All the boys immediatly took off their hats.
"Cowboy!" Jazz ran into Jack's friendly and warm embrace. Jack noticed everyone looking at them funny so he let her go. Kloppman knew it was time to leave, so he turned on his heel and shut the door behind him.
"This is Shina, fellas," Jazz introduced the tall, green-eyed boy with dark curly hair behind her.
"Hey," Shiner said in a really deep voice.
"Youse not from around heah are ya?" Specs asked.
"Massachusetts," Jazz and Shiner said in unison.
Jack looked at them, "Where in Massachusetts?"
"Weston," Shiner said. "You eva heard of it?"
Jack's mouth dropped to the floor and he gaped at the two guests. The room was silent. Some of the newsies started to whisper to each other.
"What's da matta, Jack?" Skittery asked.
Jack was lost in his own world,a nd memories of his childhood came flooding back to him, for Weston was his howmetown. He saw faces floating through the grey, cloudy mist of his mind. His mother, his father, his sister, all of them he had lost and had never seen again. Suddenly, he heard Skittery's voice and he was jolted back to reality.
"Huh?" Jack said looking a little sweaty.
"Isaid, 'What's da matta?'" Skittery asked again.
"Oh! Aww, nuttin', fellas. My uh, Uncle George lives dere. Dat's all," Jack lied and looked at Jazz. Her eyebrow was cocked up, but she didn't say anything.
Kloppman returned from downstairs, "Lights out, boys! Got a lot of papers to sell tomorrow!"
"Yeh, yeh, yeh," the newsies said.
"Here, lemme show youse where you're gonna sleep," said Race beckoning Jazz toward him. Jazz and Shiner followed Race to the back of the room.
"Jazz dis is your bed, and Shina you'll bes bunkin' wit Tumbler cuz he's da smallest."
"Thanks,..." Jazz trailed off and motioned him to tell her his name.
"Me name's Racetrack, but, uh, you can call me Race," he grinned. Snipeshooter walked past and poked his ribs, "Ahem...Camaderie...Camaderie."
"Speakin' of her, I need ta meet her tomorrow night!" Race yelled and started to un-button his vest. Once he realized what he was doing he quickly buttoned it back up and blushed slighty.
"Meh, don't worry 'bout nothin'. I mean I have been living with Shina for quite a number of years," Jazz pointed out. She sat on her bed and started to take off her dusty shoes and old brown socks. Some of the boys jsut shrugged and started to strip, but others still felt embarassed and went to the showers to change.
Once Jazz was only in her underdress, she lied down and pulled the lone cover over her shoulders, and closed her eyes.
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She felt a warm breath on her face. She opened her eyes and saw only darkness.
"Jazz?" Jazz whispered. "Sorry ta wake ya, but I just needed to tell ya somthin."
"What'da you hear, what'da you say, Jack."
Tomorrow I'm gonna skip sellin' papes, so I can help ya find a job, and getcha on ya feet."
"Really? Thanks," Jazz pulled herself up to hug Jack.
"No problem, dame. Ya got somthin' in ya, kid. I don't know what it is, yet, but i know there's somethin' in ya," Jack replied. "Now go back to sleep, but don't get up with the newsies, 'cuz wes gonna sleep a lil' longa."
"Ok," Jazz smiled and went back to sleep, only to dream of her hopeful future.
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