Disclaimer: I don't own any of the newsies. Only the girl.
Why Can't You See Me?
A few days later, the air was beginning to get colder. I was still living on the streets, trying to find someplace warmer to sleep. I didn't have much luck though. It grew much darker during the day, making the nights that much more terrifying. I had just about given up hope of finding a 'safe' alley, when I spotted light coming from an above window. That was enough to give me a little hope.
I stepped into the alley. Slowly, I pulled a small object out of my pocket. I never wore it around in public, someone would probably try to steal it. It was the last thing I had left of my family. The small silver locket held only two pictures, one of my mother, the other of my father. I liked looking at it, it reminded me of what I could have one day. My father had been in a war. Let's say it this way…he never came back. I was fifteen then. I remembered everything about him. When he died, my mother could no longer take care of me. She sent me to live with some relatives, who I had never liked.
I didn't want to be with them, they weren't my family…my real family. Soon after, I had run away from them. They didn't like me too much either. They had tried to force my mother into an arranged marriage, but she was already in love with my father by then. They had pretty much disowned her, and she only turned to them because they were the only family that my mother had left. My leaving was for the best.
The little light the alley had to offer didn't allow me to see the two pictures. Glancing up at the inviting light inside, I took the risk of going up there, just to get the comfort of seeing those pictures again. Carefully and silently, I climbed up the fire escape and to the lit window. Opening the locket, I smiled upon seeing the loving faces of my mother and father looking up at me. My thoughts were disturbed by a yell inside the window. I turned quickly to see what the commotion was.
A boy had jumped up, yelling about his victory in some poker game. But he wasn't what had caught my attention. It was one of the boys sitting beside him. It was the one I had seen many weeks ago, the one that they called Mush. My gaze lingered on him for a few seconds as I imagined his voice, his laugh, everything about him. Then the boy who had shouted looked in my direction.
"Hey," he yelled, looking directly at me. He and several of the other boys ran for the window, "What are you doing here?"
"Shoot," I said, standing up and racing down the stairs. Yells sounded above me as the boys chased after me on the fire escape. I ran faster, reaching ground and rushing out of the alley. By the time the boys reached where I had been standing, no one was anywhere in sight.
"Where'd she go," Race asked. The others looked around for several minutes.
"Look what I found," Mush said minutes later. Several of the boys gathered around him. Mush held up a silver locket that had been left lying open in the dirt.
"Do you think it's her's," Blink asked.
"Maybe," Mush answered, "She must have dropped it." He studied the pictures inside, "That must be her family."
"Or maybe it was her family," Blink said.
I ran down the street, turning into another alley. It led out onto another street and I quickly headed for it, hoping that a hiding place was in sight. Seeing a restaurant nearby, I immediately hid behind it. I felt the money in my pocket, three cents, not enough for a meal or to pay for lodging for the night.
When I heard footsteps, I quickly ducked into the door leading into the building. Cooks and workers looked up as I closed the door behind me. They all gave me a confused look, but said nothing. Perhaps they were used to this happening. A few smiled, as if thinking that I was playing a game of some sort. The footsteps faded away and I cautiously peeked outside. There was nothing. I stepped out, satisfied that I had gotten away so quickly.
Note: If you might be interested in being in this story, either review or leave an e –mail at justus2003@charter.net Make sure to tell what part you would want. Hoped you enjoyed the chapter.
