Chapter VI
Written by Stretch
Bolt began muttering under her breath a series of phrases that began to run together about no one understanding and missing home. On top of everything else, all the others already seen their favorite newsies, and those that hadn't surely wouldn't have to wait very long. Bolt, however, just HAD to like the "bad guy" and knew that if she ever got to speak to him, the others would forsake her for even socializing with a DeLancey.
She sat down on the steps of a tenement building once she became too tired from walking, and the hunger biting at her stomach wasn't helping matters. Maybe she had overreacted back there. Her home-sick mind kept thinking back to her family, wondering if they were going to be all right and if she would ever see them again. Her nerves were worn and all the emotions she had been hiding for the last several days were screaming to get out. As she sat there, her green eyes welled up with tears, and she wept, letting out all her frustration for all of Manhattan to see.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Strider ran back up the stairs and bolted into the girls' bunkroom, her ears met what seemed to be a dozen conversations happening at once. However, they all involved on thing: Reverie.
Lute sat on the bunk beside Illusion, her legs hanging off the edge as she looked intently into the other newsgirl's eyes.
"Was she lookin' alright? I's mean, any bettah from when you's last saw 'er?"
" Not dat I's could tell, but things get woise befoah dey's get bettah, right?" The uncertainty in Illusion's voice caused Strider's anxiety to raise a notch or two, and she sat on her own bunk, just listening to the discussion happening around her.
" Did ya talk ta Kloppman? What did he say?" Atlantic asked, her curly hair lay tangled and wild from her long day on the streets.
" Not much, jist dat we's can come back tomorrah. Preacher's da only one dat really talked ta us." Illusion was audibly exhausted and thoroughly worried about Reverie in her weakened condition. Her bringing up the unfamiliar newsboy brought their attention to Strider. Grateful for the shift in attention, Illusion lay down in her bunk and closed her gray eyes in an effort to block out all that had happened earlier that day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Disappointed with the first meeting with Spot, Luna continued following the boy, fuming silently as she walked a few paces behind him, his shadow spread far behind him as the early evening sun began to set. She doubted she was going to get back to the lodging house that night, let alone before curfew. She offered to help, so damn it she was going to help. The young man in front of her suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned towards Luna.
" Foah such a loud mouth, ya ain't talkin' much."
"How 'bout I's bust ya lip, so I's don't hafta hear you's talk neithah." Luna said sharply. The entire day had been a disappointment and the last thing she watned was some boy to give her any problems.
"Ouch. Dat hoits. Listen if we's goin' ta Queens ta-gether, we can at least get ta know each uddah." He spit in his hand and extended is arm to shake hands. "Me name's Ease-drop, what's yours?" Luna returned the gesture and properly introduced herself as well.
" Me name's Luna."
" Look, Luna, Spot ain't dat easy ta get ta trust ya. Ya hafta prove ya- self, ya know? Hell, it took me a year befoah he even let me go alone ta spy anywhere. He's got 'is reasons." Luna simply nodded her head, rolling her eyes and the two continued to walk quietly. At least she now had Spot's attention. If only she could gain his trust.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The long walk to Irving Hall took it's toll on Bubblegum, Floaty, and Windy. Their feet were killing them, their legs were aching and every few steps, one of them would stop to fall asleep.
" Hey, glad ya made it," came a familiar voice from the front door. Itey greeted them, smiling and waving them in. Before they knew it, hew as introducing the other newsies to them, including ones they had never seen, such as Buckshot and Newspaper Annie.
"And a'course ya know Jack, an' dis is Spot, da leadh of Brooklyn." Itey finished.
" Heya goils. Nice ta see ya gain," Jack replied smiling up at the new arrivals.
" It's ncie ta meet ya," Spot said.
" You's goils eveh been ta Irvin' Hall befoah?" upon seeing them shake their heads, Jack continued. "Aw, well you'se gonna love it! Medda's great! Why don't ya take a load off, sit down foah a bit." The girls almost simultaneously took some empty seats as the show began, however they couldn't help but wonder how the others were doing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I's think Preacher is getting' suspicious about us showin' up her all of a sudden," Strider said, staring at her hands as she said it. She had been thinking of what she overheard Gibby and Preacher talking about since she came upstairs. They never thought of what they would say to people about the sudden upsurge of newsgirls.
"I's don't really care what he thinks, I's jist want ta make shoah Reverie is gonna be alright," Atlantic said. It was becoming obvious that the girls where irritated from the long day, and anxious about their friend's condition. This didn't allow much patience between the girls.
" Look, we'll see 'er tomorrah, but there's nothing we can do until den. Let's just get some sleep an' see 'bout it tomorrah," Strider finished, laying back down and trying desperately to clear her mind and get a few hours rest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Alright, you'se all shuddup," Luna turned to see the boys of Queens arriving on the warehouse roof top.
"Dat's Bandit, da leadah of Queens."
" Dat sounds like a dog's name," Luna said, laughing at the boy who appeared to intimidating to those he was talking to. Ease-drop chuckled slightly and leaned closer to the broken window to hear what was being said.
"I's gots people from all ovah ta cover us in a fight between us, an' Brooklyn an' Manhattan. Now we's gots ta show dem ovah in Manhattan who's boss. We go foah Manhattan foist, they's easier an' we'll be bettah prepared ta fight Brooklyn if we's knows what's we's up against."
" When do we gots ta do dis?" a small boy in the crowd asked. Though he was small, he looked savage, like a rabid animal.
" Tamorrah," Bandit said, holding his chin up. "They's won't see it comin'."
" We's gots ta get outta here. We's hoid all we's came ta hear, lets scram," Ease-drop said, slowly weaving his way through the fallen foliage lying dead on the ground. Luna followed, and all she could think of was she had gotten out of one war, and another one was about to begin.
They made their way down the fire escape, but it wasn't until they got across the street that they ran into trouble.
" Where's you's going?" a large newsboy asked, carrying a club, lightly tapping it in his free hand threateningly.
"Yeah, you's two seem ta be outta place, seein' as I don't recognize neithah of ya," said another, wrapping the chain he was holding around his fist.
" We's new here," Ease-drop said. "Haven't ya hoid of all the new newsies comin' in all of a sudden."
"Dat's true, but there's one problem."
" An' what's dat?" Luna asked, her fear leaving her body, anger quickly taking its place.
" Well, two ta be honest. One is, I don't like ya. Don't ask me why, I jist don't. An' da othah is, I jist don't trust ya," he said, hitting Ease-drop on the shoulder with his club. All logic went out the window as Luna punched the boy, and grabbed Ease-drop.
" Get up!" Ease-Drop obeyed her command and quickly began running, the two Queens boys hot on their tracks.
" We's gots ta split up," Ease-drop said, motioning for Luna ta make a quick get away through an alley.
" But I's don't--." She didn't finish, watching him climb over a fence, both boys following him. " How am I gonna get ta damn lodging house, o' back ta tell Spot?" Lost and confused, Luna stood there, and for once since her stay in New York, he was helpless.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Did ya miss us Cowboy?" Blink yelled at the top of his lungs.
" If I missed ya, do ya think I would have started without ya?" Jack retorted sighting a cigarette.
" Aw, Jack, dat hoits me right in me pride."
" Dat's where it s'posed ta hoit, ya ego's getting too big."
" Heya Cowboy," Dutchy greeted Jack, shaking hands with Spot in a 'welcome back to Manhattan' fashion. "I hope ya don't mind, I's brought some friends wit me, dis is Punky an' Hades. Goils, dis is Jack Kelly an' Spot Conlon," Punky blushed at the two mention of being called Dutchy's 'friend' and shook hands with the two boys.
" Punky? Hades?" the two girls spun around to see Bubblegum, Floaty and Windy right in front of them.
" Heya, how ya been?" Hades asked, happy to see some familiar faces from the lodging house.
" Good, I's wondah if any more of us will show up." Windy said, looking around to see if she recognized anyone in the crowd.
" Sneaks is s'posed ta be here, but where is she?" the girls all started searching, not paying attention or even caring about the performance Medda was giving.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hi-ya Dave," Graft greeted 'The Walking Mouth' as he stepped off the fire esacpe and through the window leading into David's room.
" Hello, Graft. Hey, Sneaks." David smiled politely, ready for the night at Irving Hall. It wasn't long before the three of them were heading back down the fire escape and through the Manhattan streets.
" Ease-drop?" Graft said suddenly, catching the sight of someone running either from the bulls or scabbers by the look of it.
" Hey Graft!" That confirmed it, it was Ease-drop. "Where's Spot?" he asked, slowing down in front of him.
" At Irvin' Hall, where else?"
" I's gots ta talk ta him, now," Ease-Drop replied, trying to catch his breath.
" Alright, come with us," David cam in, looking at the Brooklyn newsie with deep concern.
" Planned on it, Mouth," he said, laughing slightly as his breathing returned to normal.
" What were ya runnin' from?" Sneaks asked.
" Queens boys. I's think I's lost dem. Queens kids were nevah good at keepin' up wit someone from Brooklyn. Look, we's gots ta talk ta Spot an' Jack now. Dis concions Manhattan too." Without another word, the four of them made their way to Medda's curious as to what Ease-Drop had to say, and anxious about the situations in Queens. Whatever it was, it wasn't going to end well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Strider woke up to the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs. She covered her head, slightly anxious about who could be running up to the girls' bunkroom in such a hurry, but she soon heard Preacher's voice and her fear quickly dissipated. That didn't last long, however, as she heard the distress in his voice, waking the other girls from their sleep.
" Hey, what's da big idea?" Legs said, trying to drown out thee noise with her pillow and blanket.
" It's ya friend, Reverie." With that, all the girls who had been trying to sleep were wide awake, asking a million questions at once.
" Goils! Shut up!" Illusion screamed, as she turned to hear what Preacher had to say.
" Look, she ain't doin' so well. I's think you's all betta see 'er now, we's don't know if she's gonna get bettah." The girls threw off their covers and were ready in seconds, desperately hoping that Preacher was only exaggerating on Reverie's condition.
" The uddahs are at Medda's, so you'll get ta spend some time with her without da distraction of da utter boys." Though the girls were grateful for this, for the first time they were happy that their newsies weren't going to be there, their hopes of Reverie getting better were slowly but surely falling apart.
Written by Stretch
Bolt began muttering under her breath a series of phrases that began to run together about no one understanding and missing home. On top of everything else, all the others already seen their favorite newsies, and those that hadn't surely wouldn't have to wait very long. Bolt, however, just HAD to like the "bad guy" and knew that if she ever got to speak to him, the others would forsake her for even socializing with a DeLancey.
She sat down on the steps of a tenement building once she became too tired from walking, and the hunger biting at her stomach wasn't helping matters. Maybe she had overreacted back there. Her home-sick mind kept thinking back to her family, wondering if they were going to be all right and if she would ever see them again. Her nerves were worn and all the emotions she had been hiding for the last several days were screaming to get out. As she sat there, her green eyes welled up with tears, and she wept, letting out all her frustration for all of Manhattan to see.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Strider ran back up the stairs and bolted into the girls' bunkroom, her ears met what seemed to be a dozen conversations happening at once. However, they all involved on thing: Reverie.
Lute sat on the bunk beside Illusion, her legs hanging off the edge as she looked intently into the other newsgirl's eyes.
"Was she lookin' alright? I's mean, any bettah from when you's last saw 'er?"
" Not dat I's could tell, but things get woise befoah dey's get bettah, right?" The uncertainty in Illusion's voice caused Strider's anxiety to raise a notch or two, and she sat on her own bunk, just listening to the discussion happening around her.
" Did ya talk ta Kloppman? What did he say?" Atlantic asked, her curly hair lay tangled and wild from her long day on the streets.
" Not much, jist dat we's can come back tomorrah. Preacher's da only one dat really talked ta us." Illusion was audibly exhausted and thoroughly worried about Reverie in her weakened condition. Her bringing up the unfamiliar newsboy brought their attention to Strider. Grateful for the shift in attention, Illusion lay down in her bunk and closed her gray eyes in an effort to block out all that had happened earlier that day.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Disappointed with the first meeting with Spot, Luna continued following the boy, fuming silently as she walked a few paces behind him, his shadow spread far behind him as the early evening sun began to set. She doubted she was going to get back to the lodging house that night, let alone before curfew. She offered to help, so damn it she was going to help. The young man in front of her suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned towards Luna.
" Foah such a loud mouth, ya ain't talkin' much."
"How 'bout I's bust ya lip, so I's don't hafta hear you's talk neithah." Luna said sharply. The entire day had been a disappointment and the last thing she watned was some boy to give her any problems.
"Ouch. Dat hoits. Listen if we's goin' ta Queens ta-gether, we can at least get ta know each uddah." He spit in his hand and extended is arm to shake hands. "Me name's Ease-drop, what's yours?" Luna returned the gesture and properly introduced herself as well.
" Me name's Luna."
" Look, Luna, Spot ain't dat easy ta get ta trust ya. Ya hafta prove ya- self, ya know? Hell, it took me a year befoah he even let me go alone ta spy anywhere. He's got 'is reasons." Luna simply nodded her head, rolling her eyes and the two continued to walk quietly. At least she now had Spot's attention. If only she could gain his trust.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The long walk to Irving Hall took it's toll on Bubblegum, Floaty, and Windy. Their feet were killing them, their legs were aching and every few steps, one of them would stop to fall asleep.
" Hey, glad ya made it," came a familiar voice from the front door. Itey greeted them, smiling and waving them in. Before they knew it, hew as introducing the other newsies to them, including ones they had never seen, such as Buckshot and Newspaper Annie.
"And a'course ya know Jack, an' dis is Spot, da leadh of Brooklyn." Itey finished.
" Heya goils. Nice ta see ya gain," Jack replied smiling up at the new arrivals.
" It's ncie ta meet ya," Spot said.
" You's goils eveh been ta Irvin' Hall befoah?" upon seeing them shake their heads, Jack continued. "Aw, well you'se gonna love it! Medda's great! Why don't ya take a load off, sit down foah a bit." The girls almost simultaneously took some empty seats as the show began, however they couldn't help but wonder how the others were doing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I's think Preacher is getting' suspicious about us showin' up her all of a sudden," Strider said, staring at her hands as she said it. She had been thinking of what she overheard Gibby and Preacher talking about since she came upstairs. They never thought of what they would say to people about the sudden upsurge of newsgirls.
"I's don't really care what he thinks, I's jist want ta make shoah Reverie is gonna be alright," Atlantic said. It was becoming obvious that the girls where irritated from the long day, and anxious about their friend's condition. This didn't allow much patience between the girls.
" Look, we'll see 'er tomorrah, but there's nothing we can do until den. Let's just get some sleep an' see 'bout it tomorrah," Strider finished, laying back down and trying desperately to clear her mind and get a few hours rest.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Alright, you'se all shuddup," Luna turned to see the boys of Queens arriving on the warehouse roof top.
"Dat's Bandit, da leadah of Queens."
" Dat sounds like a dog's name," Luna said, laughing at the boy who appeared to intimidating to those he was talking to. Ease-drop chuckled slightly and leaned closer to the broken window to hear what was being said.
"I's gots people from all ovah ta cover us in a fight between us, an' Brooklyn an' Manhattan. Now we's gots ta show dem ovah in Manhattan who's boss. We go foah Manhattan foist, they's easier an' we'll be bettah prepared ta fight Brooklyn if we's knows what's we's up against."
" When do we gots ta do dis?" a small boy in the crowd asked. Though he was small, he looked savage, like a rabid animal.
" Tamorrah," Bandit said, holding his chin up. "They's won't see it comin'."
" We's gots ta get outta here. We's hoid all we's came ta hear, lets scram," Ease-drop said, slowly weaving his way through the fallen foliage lying dead on the ground. Luna followed, and all she could think of was she had gotten out of one war, and another one was about to begin.
They made their way down the fire escape, but it wasn't until they got across the street that they ran into trouble.
" Where's you's going?" a large newsboy asked, carrying a club, lightly tapping it in his free hand threateningly.
"Yeah, you's two seem ta be outta place, seein' as I don't recognize neithah of ya," said another, wrapping the chain he was holding around his fist.
" We's new here," Ease-drop said. "Haven't ya hoid of all the new newsies comin' in all of a sudden."
"Dat's true, but there's one problem."
" An' what's dat?" Luna asked, her fear leaving her body, anger quickly taking its place.
" Well, two ta be honest. One is, I don't like ya. Don't ask me why, I jist don't. An' da othah is, I jist don't trust ya," he said, hitting Ease-drop on the shoulder with his club. All logic went out the window as Luna punched the boy, and grabbed Ease-drop.
" Get up!" Ease-Drop obeyed her command and quickly began running, the two Queens boys hot on their tracks.
" We's gots ta split up," Ease-drop said, motioning for Luna ta make a quick get away through an alley.
" But I's don't--." She didn't finish, watching him climb over a fence, both boys following him. " How am I gonna get ta damn lodging house, o' back ta tell Spot?" Lost and confused, Luna stood there, and for once since her stay in New York, he was helpless.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Did ya miss us Cowboy?" Blink yelled at the top of his lungs.
" If I missed ya, do ya think I would have started without ya?" Jack retorted sighting a cigarette.
" Aw, Jack, dat hoits me right in me pride."
" Dat's where it s'posed ta hoit, ya ego's getting too big."
" Heya Cowboy," Dutchy greeted Jack, shaking hands with Spot in a 'welcome back to Manhattan' fashion. "I hope ya don't mind, I's brought some friends wit me, dis is Punky an' Hades. Goils, dis is Jack Kelly an' Spot Conlon," Punky blushed at the two mention of being called Dutchy's 'friend' and shook hands with the two boys.
" Punky? Hades?" the two girls spun around to see Bubblegum, Floaty and Windy right in front of them.
" Heya, how ya been?" Hades asked, happy to see some familiar faces from the lodging house.
" Good, I's wondah if any more of us will show up." Windy said, looking around to see if she recognized anyone in the crowd.
" Sneaks is s'posed ta be here, but where is she?" the girls all started searching, not paying attention or even caring about the performance Medda was giving.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hi-ya Dave," Graft greeted 'The Walking Mouth' as he stepped off the fire esacpe and through the window leading into David's room.
" Hello, Graft. Hey, Sneaks." David smiled politely, ready for the night at Irving Hall. It wasn't long before the three of them were heading back down the fire escape and through the Manhattan streets.
" Ease-drop?" Graft said suddenly, catching the sight of someone running either from the bulls or scabbers by the look of it.
" Hey Graft!" That confirmed it, it was Ease-drop. "Where's Spot?" he asked, slowing down in front of him.
" At Irvin' Hall, where else?"
" I's gots ta talk ta him, now," Ease-Drop replied, trying to catch his breath.
" Alright, come with us," David cam in, looking at the Brooklyn newsie with deep concern.
" Planned on it, Mouth," he said, laughing slightly as his breathing returned to normal.
" What were ya runnin' from?" Sneaks asked.
" Queens boys. I's think I's lost dem. Queens kids were nevah good at keepin' up wit someone from Brooklyn. Look, we's gots ta talk ta Spot an' Jack now. Dis concions Manhattan too." Without another word, the four of them made their way to Medda's curious as to what Ease-Drop had to say, and anxious about the situations in Queens. Whatever it was, it wasn't going to end well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Strider woke up to the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs. She covered her head, slightly anxious about who could be running up to the girls' bunkroom in such a hurry, but she soon heard Preacher's voice and her fear quickly dissipated. That didn't last long, however, as she heard the distress in his voice, waking the other girls from their sleep.
" Hey, what's da big idea?" Legs said, trying to drown out thee noise with her pillow and blanket.
" It's ya friend, Reverie." With that, all the girls who had been trying to sleep were wide awake, asking a million questions at once.
" Goils! Shut up!" Illusion screamed, as she turned to hear what Preacher had to say.
" Look, she ain't doin' so well. I's think you's all betta see 'er now, we's don't know if she's gonna get bettah." The girls threw off their covers and were ready in seconds, desperately hoping that Preacher was only exaggerating on Reverie's condition.
" The uddahs are at Medda's, so you'll get ta spend some time with her without da distraction of da utter boys." Though the girls were grateful for this, for the first time they were happy that their newsies weren't going to be there, their hopes of Reverie getting better were slowly but surely falling apart.