Chapter VII
NIGHT'S FIGHTING SONG
Graft, David, Sneaks and Ease-Drop made their way down the darkened streets quickly and steadily, striding faster and faster to get to Medda's as quickly as possible. Sneaks hung back slightly, hoping that if they thought she was out of ear-reach they would start to talk about the message Ease-Drop had to deliver to Spot and Jack so quickly.
"This way, it's quicker," David pointed out, heading the two Brooklyn newsies down the unfamiliar alleyways of Manhattan. Each turn Sneaks hand to jog a few paces to keep up. "What's so important?" David finally asked when they were a few blocks away from Medda's.
"'Bout Queens, it ain't good," Ease-Drop breathed out, rubbing his shoulder as they hurried along their way. "Dey's planning something quicker dan we's thought."
"What?" Graft asked, his gray eyes growing.
"You's find out in as soon as we's get dare, big guy, don't worry. I's just don't feel like tellin' it more dan I's hafta." Graft nodded, knowing that it would be smarter to let him tell Spot first. Suddenly the big bright lights of Irving Hall could be seen from the end of the alley, and the four made their way towards them.
"Welcome ta Irvin' Hall," Graft smiled, pushing Ease-Drop in front him and grabbing a hold of Sneaks. "You's bettah stay out of da way, Sneaks," he warned hissing in her ear. "I's don't want ya ta get all excited in case Ease-Drop didn't get da story right." Sneaks nodded her head.
"You's gonna let me listen?" she asked with anticipation growing inside her. She just had to know what was going on.
"Sure kid," he smiled patting her on the back. "Why not? Now get in," he shoved her lightly as she followed David. Graft brushed past them, leading Ease-Drop straight towards Spot and Jack.
"Sneaks!" she spun to see a group of girls hurrying towards her.
"We's thought you's was nevah gonna get here!" Hades smiled, throwing her arm around Sneaks shoulders.
"What took ya so long?" Bubblegum asked, pushing her way between Punky and Floaty.
"Look, we's can't talk right now. Something's gonna happen wit Queens an' Brooklyn. I's gonna go find out what," Sneaks informed them, turning to follow David who was saying hi to Skittery.
"What?" Windy questioned, worried about what the news was.
"I's ain't sure. Ease-Drop, dat's him ovah dare," Sneaks pointed out, "He just got back from Queens wit some bad news. I's gonna go listen. Graft said I's could." She smiled proudly that her brother was finally going to allow her to listen into something important.
"We wanna come too," Floaty pouted.
"Come on, before we miss it," Sneaks said, pulling Hades and the girls with her as she made her way over to the table.
"Hey kid," Spot smiled at seeing Sneaks.
"Hi-ya Spot." Sneaks greeted, becoming more accustomed to the friendly greetings that were sure to come with the rest of the newsies since she accidentally wrote herself into their world.
"Come have a seat," Spot smiled, tapping his cane at a chair that was next to him. Sneaks smiled and looked at the girls. Windy frowned slightly out of jealously, but the girls smiled, nodding for her to go and sit down.
"So, what's all dis?" Jack smiled strolling over to the table. "A family reunion o' something? Dear me, I forgot the fruitcake," he laughed, Blink and Mush howling beside him and slapping each other's faces.
"I's wish it was all fun an' games," Ease-Drop spoke up, taking off his black hat and sticking it in the back pocket of his brown pants.
"What ya hear?" Spot questioned, pulling his good friend next to him and into the spotlight.
"Well, me an' dat goil, what's 'er name, da one dat was asking ta be a boid," Ease-Drop thought for a moment as Spot nodded. "Well anyways, we's went ovah ta Queens, have ourselves a look at what dey's planning when we's found Bandit an' his boys. Dey was having a meeting 'bout us, an' Manhattan an' da war basically," he paused to gather his thoughts as the girls looked at each other, horrified. They all mouthed the same thing, "war". They couldn't believe it. To escape one war and to enter another one was not what they had planed on.
"What dey say?" Jack asked, his joking face gone, replaced with the stern face of the old strike leader.
"Dey said dat dey's got backup round da city, dat dey's plan on striking Brooklyn an' Manhattan...tomorrah." Ease-Drop finished, the boys looking around at each other shocked.
"Who else dey got backin' 'em up?" Spot questioned wiping his mouth with his hand and thinking.
"Don't know. We's...Luna, dat's her name, had ta split out of dare fast."
"Luna?" Sneaks looked up. "Where is she?"
"I's don't know. Foah all I's know she's still in Queens. We's had ta split up, we's meet up wit a few scabbah's dat Bandit's got. Dey cracked me on da shoulder wit a club. Luna hit one o' 'em an' pulled me up an' we's beat it out of dare. We's split up so dat one o' us could make it back here. I's guess she didn't get out of dare."
"What? Wait, dat black haired goil?" Graft asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yeah, dat's 'er." Ease-Drop nodded. "Da loud mouth."
"What was she doing wit ya?" Graft asked.
"Easy dare, Grafter. I's sent 'er wit 'im." Spot tried to calm Graft down by putting his hand on his chest and forcing him to sit down. "She wanted ta be a boid foah me. I's told 'er she had ta prove 'er-self so I's sent 'er wit Ease-Drop."
"But, what 'bout Luna? We's gotta find 'er." Sneaks stated.
"Look, Sneaks, we can't find 'er. Not in Queens. Didn't ya hear a woid dat Ease-Drop was saying? Dey's gunning foah us kid, we's can't go no-where." Spot shook his head.
"But Spot, we's can't leave 'er dare if dey's gunning foah us, can we's?" Sneaks pleaded.
"Dey don't know she woiks foah me. Plus, wit all dese goils showing up 'round da city, she's more likely ta blend in. Don't worry 'bout 'er. We'll send woid out ta look foah her. But I's don't want no one, going anywhere wit out a weapon an' a partner, ya got me?" Spot ordered. He got a few nods and mutters letting him know that they understood.
"Dat goes foah my boys as well," Jack agreed. Blink sighed, and looked over at the girls.
"What 'bout dem?" he nodded his head towards them.
"Us?" Punky asked.
"He's right. You's shouldn't be out at night, nor durnin' da wit-out a boy 'round. Bumlets, Snoddy, you's walk 'em back ta dare lodging house ta night." Bumlets and Snoddy nodded smiling at each other.
"Hey, Medda said ta bring these drinks over," Toby smiled, hunching over to lower the plate of glasses onto the table. The girls each took a glass as Spot held the rest of the boys up so that they could get theirs first. They sat down, looking at each other all wondering what was going to happen next.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luna stumbled around Queens in the dark, trying to figure out where she was going. She had no idea which way they had come, and which way she had gone. She sat down on stoop, gazing around. She knew there was no way she could ask which way back to Brooklyn, for all she knew whoever she asked could work for Bandit and soak her a good one for being from Brooklyn.
"You's look lost," she heard a sigh from behind her as she turned to see a girl about her age staring at her.
"Nah," Luna lied, bushing her hair back with her hand; the girl just standing there watching her. "Buzz off, I's said I's ain't lost."
"Look, ya don't hafta get all snotty wit me, ya hear?" the girl shot back as much attitude as Luna had dished out. She brushed her golden blond hair back out of her face.
"What hell do you know?" Luna huffed, feeling overwhelmed at the fact that she was stuck in a place that wanted all of Brooklyn and Manhattan to suffer. Now she was stuck with a nagging brat in her face, and the last thing she needed was her to get Queen's friends on her.
"Sure a lot more dan you's do," the girl replied, leaning against the side of the building. She was wearing a faded and torn blue button down shirt that was semi-tucked into her black pants.
"Ya gonna go?" Luna snapped, gazing up at the girl with a hard look in her eyes.
"I's think ya lost, utter wise ya woulda called ya friends from Queens ta help ya out," the girl stated again, then raising her eyebrow, "unless you's ain't from Queens."
"What's it to ya?" Luna asked, whipping her black hair back and tying it with a piece of twine that was tied around her wrist.
"I's just saying, I's mean, I ain't from Queens. I's was actually hoping ya'd help me out so I's could find me way ta Manhattan," the girl looked around, playing with her hair.
"You's trying ta find Manhattan?" Luna asked, her eyes growing wide.
"Well...er...yea. See, I's new ta New Yawk, ain't sure how I's got here, an' I's figured...shit." She turned to head off down the street.
"Wait, NML?" Luna whispered loud enough for the girl to hear. She suddenly stopped and frozen in her tracks. "Are ya?" Luna asked, the girl spinning around to face her.
"How'dya-"The girl looked at her.
"I's from da NML. Names Luna," she smiled and sighed with relieve, sticking her hand out.
"So you's da famous Luna? Names Stretch," Stretch smiled and shook her hand. "What ya doing in Queens?"
"Trying ta spy foah Spot Conlon," Luna replied.
"Spying foah Spot Conlon?" a deep voice echoed behind her. She turned around to see a large boy standing behind her, a chain wrapped around his wrist. "Well, well, well, we's can't have ya going back ta Spot, now can we's?" he hissed, his eyes hardening as he came towards both Stretch and Luna, who stood there frozen in shock.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bolt woke up noticing a pair of brown eyes staring down at her. She sat up, scared to death as an older woman hunched over her. She was wearing a black skirt and a white blouse with a large hat that sat on top of her blond hair that was pulled back in a bun.
"Thought you were dead for a moment," the woman said standing back up, her back cracking as she placed her hand on it. "Damn thing," she cursed her back as she started to walk up the steps that Bolt had fallen asleep on. " Sarah dear," the woman called up the steps as she stepped into the building. "Don't worry dear," the woman comforted her as Bolt's eyes began to focus, realizing who the woman was.
"Yes mama," another familiar voice came, growing louder as Bolt heard footsteps. She quickly stood up to see Sarah and Mrs. Jacobs staring her in the face.
"Why don't you bring her inside while I go put some soup on," Mrs. Jacobs smiled as she walked up the flight of stairs.
"Hi," Sarah smiled at Bolt, taking her hand like a little kid and leading her inside the building. "The man who owns this building doesn't like to find kids sleeping on his stoop," she told Bolt as the started to walk up the stairs. "Mama and I, sometimes Les an' Papa too, like to keep kids from suffering a horrid beating with a broom stick," Sarah smiled warmly at her. Bolt had no idea what to think. As the cleared another landing, making it the fifth floor, she showed her to room 51, which was the Jacobs' apartment. She opened the door and allowed Bolt to walk in first. She looked around, noticing the same familiar sights as the movie had shown. Mr. Jacobs was seated at the table, reading his paper that David had brought home for him. A ton of coins sat in a jar on the table, with a pile next to it that Bolt figured David had brought home and hadn't counted yet. Les was sound asleep on the bed, covered up by the same large crazy quilt that was in the movie.
"Please, have a seat," Sarah smiled, pulling out a chair for Bolt to sit down in. "This is papa, over there in the bed is Les, the youngest. David isn't home right now. He went with a Graft—"
"Sneaks brudda?" Bolt asked, her eyes growing large.
"You know Sneaks?" Sarah question, blushing slightly.
"Well, yea. She stayed at Medda's Lodging House wit us." Bolt replied eagerly.
"Ah, so you stay with Gibby, how is she?" Mrs. Jacobs asked smiling as she brought over four bowls and placed them on the white moth-eaten tablecloth.
"She's good," Bolt nodded, still not believing that the Jacobs' knew Sneaks. She was also still trying to take in what had just happened, and how she had been brought into their home. Mrs. Jacobs came over with a pot of soup, slowing pouring some out into the bowels. Bolt stared blankly trying to understand what had just happened, and how she had gotten in there to eat with the Jacobs.
"Are you alright dear?" Mrs. Jacobs asked, taking notice to Bolt's dazed look.
"Uh—fine, thanks." Bolt smiled weakly at her. "I guess I's just tired, dat's all."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Strider hurried closely behind Preacher as the girls made their way down the steps towards the Lodging House door. Gibby came out in her white nightgown, her hair up in a night cap and her eyeglasses strung down at her chest. She pulled them up to her cataract eyes, looking to see what was causing such a racquet.
"Whose dare?" she asked, pulling her shaky hand up with her glasses.
"It's just me, Gibby. I's taking the goils ta the boys Lodging House. I's afraid their friend isn't doin' too well." Preacher answered as the old woman put her other hand up to heart, sympathetic to the girls. They hurried out of the Lodging House towards the boys at a steady pace.
"Ya think its dat bad?" Gin asked, looking over at Minty.
"I's really hope not," Minty sighed as she coughed into her hand quietly.
"All I's know, dis ain't good," Pretzel frowned as they walked faster.
"Would ya not talk 'bout it?" We's gonna find out soon enough," Bailey scolded them.
"Where's Floaty?" Don-Bon asked, looking around.
"Yeah, an' Punk an' Hades," Mix nodded.
"Just shh. Just think o' Reverie," Atlantic scolded this time. The rest of the way the girls walked quietly, some now and then whispering amongst themselves.
When they got to the boys Lodging House, some of them couldn't help but gloat on the fact that they were walking into their crushes home.
"Look," Jay-Bug pointed out, noticing the sign that hung on the way that read: "Speak The Truth" that was too in the movie.
"I gave Kloppman that a few Christmas' ago," Preacher said, taking notice to Jay-Bugs comment. She blushed realizing that she had spoken louder than she had thought. They advanced towards the room, all the girls' stomachs in a knot over what they were going to find. Preacher slowly opened the door as more light spilled out to greet them. Kloppman sat on a chair half asleep with his old bowler hat over his eyes. Reverie lay on the bed next to him, tossing and turning.
"She's been yelling out all sorts o' crazy things," Preacher told them as they got closer. "Something 'bout an 'e-mail'?" he looked at them with a shrug, not sure what the term meant. The girls gulped at realizing that in Reverie's high fever, she was talking out loud as if she was still in the future. The girls just blushed, shrugging with Preacher as Klutz and Strider ran to Reverie's side.
"Rev," Klutz gulped, taking Reverie's clammy hand in hers. Her hair was matted down from sweat from the fever and her arms and legs shivered with cold. Strider took another blanket off a bunk and placed it over her.
"You's might want ta be careful, don't want what she's got." Preacher advised. The girls nodded as Illusion walked closer over to the bed.
"Reverie," she cooed, trying to get Reverie to wake up. "Reverie," she repeated, slightly louder. Gin walked over and took a seat on Reverie's bed, putting her hand up to Illusion. She opened her mouth, letting out a sweet high note.
"All through the night I'll be standing over you, all though the night I'll be watching you, And through bad dreams I'll be right there, baby. Holding your hand, telling you everything is all right. And when you cry I'll be right there, telling you you were never anything less than beautiful. So don't you worry, I'm your Angel standing by...." Gin sung loudly, tears filling her eyes slightly.
"That wash beautiful," Kloppman woke up, pushing his hat up and looking at Gin.
"I didn't know ya could sing like that," Preacher smiled warmly at her, the girls just standing there listening and watching Reverie. Suddenly her eyes fluttered opened.
"Dat...was...pretty...." Reverie smiled gazing up into Gin's eyes. "Sing—again please," she forced out closing her eyes again. Gin closed her eyes as well, and sang again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luna looked over at Stretch who was pulling out a chain from her pocket that had once been part of a pocket watch.
"What do ya plan on using dat foah?" Luna asked, looking at the small thin silver chain.
"What-evah I need it foah," Stretch replied as the boy came closer.
"Come here," he hollered, as he grabbed a hold of Luna and wrapped the chain around her throat. Luckily she stuck her hands up before it was tightly around her neck, so she tugged on the chain, trying to break the boy's force.
"Let go o' 'er!" Stretch shouted jumping on the boys back and tossing her chain around his throat. The boy, unable to stop the chain before it ringed tightly around his neck, was helpless and started to gasp for breath, letting Luna fall from his grasp as he did so. Luna gasped for breathe and turned to see the boy reaching around after Stretch. Before he touched her Luna jumped up, smacking him in the face and cracking his nose. He let out a yell of pain as he grabbed his nose, wheeling back in pain. Stretch jumped off and the two ran down the street, dodging in and out of different alleyways.
"Ya think we's lost 'im?" Stretch asked, leaning up against a building and bending over to catch her breath.
"I's shoah hope so," Luna spit out, trying to catch her breath as well. She let her body slide down the brick wall behind her, falling to a sitting position. She draped her hands over her knees and buried her head in her arms. "I's just want ta get back ta Brooklyn", Luna thought, sighing lifting her head back up to see Stretch staring off into the distance. " What's da mattah?" Luna asked.
"Look," Stretch pointed as Luna turned her neck allowing her eyes to fall upon the same sight that Stretch was gawking at. There in the distance stood the Brooklyn Bridge.
"We must have ran back cross da Brooklyn border," Luna smiled as she stood up, the two heading towards the Bridge.
"Where ya think you's going?" the heard the same boy's voice behind them. They stood there, frozen stiff once again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The rest of the night at Medda's was nothing like the girls would have imagined going to Irving Hall would be like. They had once imagined a great time, full of good cheer, some drunken newsies, and lots of singing and dancing. But with the news of Queens moving in on Brooklyn and Manhattan the next day, the thoughts of a good time were blocked off by the musky gloom of the boys who were preparing for the worst.
"We's need ta really think dis through," Specs said, adjusting his eyeglasses.
"We's do," Skittery nodded in agreement, his left arm folded over his chest, with his right arm sitting on top of it, holding his face. Bumlets sat on a chair backwards, leaning on the top of it, tapping his hands gently on the table in front of him. Itey was behind him, leaning up against the stage, talking with Pie-Eater.
"Hey," the girls turned to see Mush sit down next to Hades who was now turning a bright red.
"Hi," Hades blushed, turning her head towards Punky and winking. Punky shook her head, and stared of trying to find Dutchy in the crowd.
"Crazy night, huh?" Mush asked Hades who started to shake her leg up and down in a nervous twitch.
"Yeah, crazy," Hades agreed.
"I's don't remembah ya name," he blushed, turning his head to face her more.
"Hades," she blushed.
"Who ya looking foah?" she spun around to see Dutchy staring into her eyes.
"Uh—no one, just looking 'round. Taking it all in, ya know?" Punky lied, blushing slightly. Bubblegum and Windy tried to keep their giggles low and turned speak to Sneaks, only to find that she was no longer sitting there.
"Where she go?" Windy questioned, gazing around trying to find her.
"Don't know," Bubblegum said, turning around to look too. "But dares Jake," she pointed to Jake, the newsie who sitting on the stage talking with Medda's maid.
"She evah meet 'im?" Windy asked, raising her eyebrow.
"I's don't think so. I's think she woulda said somethin' ta us if she did," Bubblegum observed, scanning the room again trying to find her friend.
"Well, Spot's gone too, so Graft an' Jack. Maybe dey went somewhere." Windy shrugged, turning back around to her glass of coke. Bubblegum shrugged as well, giving up on trying to locate Sneaks. She sighed heavily as her eyes drooped slightly from exhaustion. She picked up her glass and help to Windy, and then took a swig.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The noise from Medda's rang angrily in their ears as Jack and Graft tried to talk out the dilemma on their hands. As Ease-Drop made an attempt to cover his ears, Spot decided he had had enough.
"Ya'd t'ink we's pick somewheah else ta talk utter dan da door right beside da piano," he stated, lighting a cigarette. Sneaks could tell he was anxious. Through his ice blue eyes, the gears in his head where turning and he seemed lost in thought.
"Why don' we's head ovah ta da lodgin' house? It's only a few blocks away. It would give us some peace an' quiet, seein' as half o' Manhattan seems ta be in dare," Jack finished, motioning towards Irving Hall.
"You lead," Ease-Drop piped in, as the five headed down the Manhattan streets that where now claimed by darkness. For some reason, Sneaks had a funny feeling about going towards the lodging house she had seen so many times in the movie. There was something unnerving, biting at her every thought. As much as she could tell there was something wrong, she kept trying to convince herself that it was just feeling awkward getting ready to be where the newsies slept and dressed daily.
"Heya, Kloppman," Jack said, snapping Sneaks out of her thoughts. "We's was needin' a place wheah we's could talk in private."
"Dunno how much talkin' you'll get done. Dare's company upstairs," Kloppman replied. As the small group headed up towards the bunkroom. As soon as they walked inside, Sneaks's slight hope that everything would be alright dropped as she saw the weak form of a girl lying in a nearby bunk.
"You's should sing foah Medda," a voice called behind them as Gin turned suddenly to see Jack standing in the doorway. He stepped in, taking his cowboy hat off and shaking his slicked back hair, allowing Spot, Graft and Sneaks to follow him in the room.
"Sneaks!" Dream and Dodge both cried out quietly and ran to meet their friend.
"What?" Sneaks asked, looking at Reverie's shaking body.
"Dat's Reverie, she's real sick," Dream informed her, looking down at her shoe and playing with the untied shoelace with her other foot.
"From what?" Sneaks asked as Graft tugged on her blouse.
"Ovah here, come on," Graft ordered as Sneaks gave an apologetic look to the girls as she walked past and into another bunkroom. Jack showed Spot, Graft and Sneaks into the other room and then turned to the girls.
"I's hope she's doing alright. An' I's meant what I's said," He nodded at Gin, "Ya should really go sing foah Medda." He turned slowly and walked into the bunkroom as Gin sat there blushing at the compliment that Jack had just given her.
"I's think he's right," Illusion whispered in her ear as they looked over at Reverie.
"I's second dat," Reverie smiled, not opening her eyes. "Can I's have a glass o' watah?"
NIGHT'S FIGHTING SONG
Graft, David, Sneaks and Ease-Drop made their way down the darkened streets quickly and steadily, striding faster and faster to get to Medda's as quickly as possible. Sneaks hung back slightly, hoping that if they thought she was out of ear-reach they would start to talk about the message Ease-Drop had to deliver to Spot and Jack so quickly.
"This way, it's quicker," David pointed out, heading the two Brooklyn newsies down the unfamiliar alleyways of Manhattan. Each turn Sneaks hand to jog a few paces to keep up. "What's so important?" David finally asked when they were a few blocks away from Medda's.
"'Bout Queens, it ain't good," Ease-Drop breathed out, rubbing his shoulder as they hurried along their way. "Dey's planning something quicker dan we's thought."
"What?" Graft asked, his gray eyes growing.
"You's find out in as soon as we's get dare, big guy, don't worry. I's just don't feel like tellin' it more dan I's hafta." Graft nodded, knowing that it would be smarter to let him tell Spot first. Suddenly the big bright lights of Irving Hall could be seen from the end of the alley, and the four made their way towards them.
"Welcome ta Irvin' Hall," Graft smiled, pushing Ease-Drop in front him and grabbing a hold of Sneaks. "You's bettah stay out of da way, Sneaks," he warned hissing in her ear. "I's don't want ya ta get all excited in case Ease-Drop didn't get da story right." Sneaks nodded her head.
"You's gonna let me listen?" she asked with anticipation growing inside her. She just had to know what was going on.
"Sure kid," he smiled patting her on the back. "Why not? Now get in," he shoved her lightly as she followed David. Graft brushed past them, leading Ease-Drop straight towards Spot and Jack.
"Sneaks!" she spun to see a group of girls hurrying towards her.
"We's thought you's was nevah gonna get here!" Hades smiled, throwing her arm around Sneaks shoulders.
"What took ya so long?" Bubblegum asked, pushing her way between Punky and Floaty.
"Look, we's can't talk right now. Something's gonna happen wit Queens an' Brooklyn. I's gonna go find out what," Sneaks informed them, turning to follow David who was saying hi to Skittery.
"What?" Windy questioned, worried about what the news was.
"I's ain't sure. Ease-Drop, dat's him ovah dare," Sneaks pointed out, "He just got back from Queens wit some bad news. I's gonna go listen. Graft said I's could." She smiled proudly that her brother was finally going to allow her to listen into something important.
"We wanna come too," Floaty pouted.
"Come on, before we miss it," Sneaks said, pulling Hades and the girls with her as she made her way over to the table.
"Hey kid," Spot smiled at seeing Sneaks.
"Hi-ya Spot." Sneaks greeted, becoming more accustomed to the friendly greetings that were sure to come with the rest of the newsies since she accidentally wrote herself into their world.
"Come have a seat," Spot smiled, tapping his cane at a chair that was next to him. Sneaks smiled and looked at the girls. Windy frowned slightly out of jealously, but the girls smiled, nodding for her to go and sit down.
"So, what's all dis?" Jack smiled strolling over to the table. "A family reunion o' something? Dear me, I forgot the fruitcake," he laughed, Blink and Mush howling beside him and slapping each other's faces.
"I's wish it was all fun an' games," Ease-Drop spoke up, taking off his black hat and sticking it in the back pocket of his brown pants.
"What ya hear?" Spot questioned, pulling his good friend next to him and into the spotlight.
"Well, me an' dat goil, what's 'er name, da one dat was asking ta be a boid," Ease-Drop thought for a moment as Spot nodded. "Well anyways, we's went ovah ta Queens, have ourselves a look at what dey's planning when we's found Bandit an' his boys. Dey was having a meeting 'bout us, an' Manhattan an' da war basically," he paused to gather his thoughts as the girls looked at each other, horrified. They all mouthed the same thing, "war". They couldn't believe it. To escape one war and to enter another one was not what they had planed on.
"What dey say?" Jack asked, his joking face gone, replaced with the stern face of the old strike leader.
"Dey said dat dey's got backup round da city, dat dey's plan on striking Brooklyn an' Manhattan...tomorrah." Ease-Drop finished, the boys looking around at each other shocked.
"Who else dey got backin' 'em up?" Spot questioned wiping his mouth with his hand and thinking.
"Don't know. We's...Luna, dat's her name, had ta split out of dare fast."
"Luna?" Sneaks looked up. "Where is she?"
"I's don't know. Foah all I's know she's still in Queens. We's had ta split up, we's meet up wit a few scabbah's dat Bandit's got. Dey cracked me on da shoulder wit a club. Luna hit one o' 'em an' pulled me up an' we's beat it out of dare. We's split up so dat one o' us could make it back here. I's guess she didn't get out of dare."
"What? Wait, dat black haired goil?" Graft asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yeah, dat's 'er." Ease-Drop nodded. "Da loud mouth."
"What was she doing wit ya?" Graft asked.
"Easy dare, Grafter. I's sent 'er wit 'im." Spot tried to calm Graft down by putting his hand on his chest and forcing him to sit down. "She wanted ta be a boid foah me. I's told 'er she had ta prove 'er-self so I's sent 'er wit Ease-Drop."
"But, what 'bout Luna? We's gotta find 'er." Sneaks stated.
"Look, Sneaks, we can't find 'er. Not in Queens. Didn't ya hear a woid dat Ease-Drop was saying? Dey's gunning foah us kid, we's can't go no-where." Spot shook his head.
"But Spot, we's can't leave 'er dare if dey's gunning foah us, can we's?" Sneaks pleaded.
"Dey don't know she woiks foah me. Plus, wit all dese goils showing up 'round da city, she's more likely ta blend in. Don't worry 'bout 'er. We'll send woid out ta look foah her. But I's don't want no one, going anywhere wit out a weapon an' a partner, ya got me?" Spot ordered. He got a few nods and mutters letting him know that they understood.
"Dat goes foah my boys as well," Jack agreed. Blink sighed, and looked over at the girls.
"What 'bout dem?" he nodded his head towards them.
"Us?" Punky asked.
"He's right. You's shouldn't be out at night, nor durnin' da wit-out a boy 'round. Bumlets, Snoddy, you's walk 'em back ta dare lodging house ta night." Bumlets and Snoddy nodded smiling at each other.
"Hey, Medda said ta bring these drinks over," Toby smiled, hunching over to lower the plate of glasses onto the table. The girls each took a glass as Spot held the rest of the boys up so that they could get theirs first. They sat down, looking at each other all wondering what was going to happen next.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luna stumbled around Queens in the dark, trying to figure out where she was going. She had no idea which way they had come, and which way she had gone. She sat down on stoop, gazing around. She knew there was no way she could ask which way back to Brooklyn, for all she knew whoever she asked could work for Bandit and soak her a good one for being from Brooklyn.
"You's look lost," she heard a sigh from behind her as she turned to see a girl about her age staring at her.
"Nah," Luna lied, bushing her hair back with her hand; the girl just standing there watching her. "Buzz off, I's said I's ain't lost."
"Look, ya don't hafta get all snotty wit me, ya hear?" the girl shot back as much attitude as Luna had dished out. She brushed her golden blond hair back out of her face.
"What hell do you know?" Luna huffed, feeling overwhelmed at the fact that she was stuck in a place that wanted all of Brooklyn and Manhattan to suffer. Now she was stuck with a nagging brat in her face, and the last thing she needed was her to get Queen's friends on her.
"Sure a lot more dan you's do," the girl replied, leaning against the side of the building. She was wearing a faded and torn blue button down shirt that was semi-tucked into her black pants.
"Ya gonna go?" Luna snapped, gazing up at the girl with a hard look in her eyes.
"I's think ya lost, utter wise ya woulda called ya friends from Queens ta help ya out," the girl stated again, then raising her eyebrow, "unless you's ain't from Queens."
"What's it to ya?" Luna asked, whipping her black hair back and tying it with a piece of twine that was tied around her wrist.
"I's just saying, I's mean, I ain't from Queens. I's was actually hoping ya'd help me out so I's could find me way ta Manhattan," the girl looked around, playing with her hair.
"You's trying ta find Manhattan?" Luna asked, her eyes growing wide.
"Well...er...yea. See, I's new ta New Yawk, ain't sure how I's got here, an' I's figured...shit." She turned to head off down the street.
"Wait, NML?" Luna whispered loud enough for the girl to hear. She suddenly stopped and frozen in her tracks. "Are ya?" Luna asked, the girl spinning around to face her.
"How'dya-"The girl looked at her.
"I's from da NML. Names Luna," she smiled and sighed with relieve, sticking her hand out.
"So you's da famous Luna? Names Stretch," Stretch smiled and shook her hand. "What ya doing in Queens?"
"Trying ta spy foah Spot Conlon," Luna replied.
"Spying foah Spot Conlon?" a deep voice echoed behind her. She turned around to see a large boy standing behind her, a chain wrapped around his wrist. "Well, well, well, we's can't have ya going back ta Spot, now can we's?" he hissed, his eyes hardening as he came towards both Stretch and Luna, who stood there frozen in shock.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bolt woke up noticing a pair of brown eyes staring down at her. She sat up, scared to death as an older woman hunched over her. She was wearing a black skirt and a white blouse with a large hat that sat on top of her blond hair that was pulled back in a bun.
"Thought you were dead for a moment," the woman said standing back up, her back cracking as she placed her hand on it. "Damn thing," she cursed her back as she started to walk up the steps that Bolt had fallen asleep on. " Sarah dear," the woman called up the steps as she stepped into the building. "Don't worry dear," the woman comforted her as Bolt's eyes began to focus, realizing who the woman was.
"Yes mama," another familiar voice came, growing louder as Bolt heard footsteps. She quickly stood up to see Sarah and Mrs. Jacobs staring her in the face.
"Why don't you bring her inside while I go put some soup on," Mrs. Jacobs smiled as she walked up the flight of stairs.
"Hi," Sarah smiled at Bolt, taking her hand like a little kid and leading her inside the building. "The man who owns this building doesn't like to find kids sleeping on his stoop," she told Bolt as the started to walk up the stairs. "Mama and I, sometimes Les an' Papa too, like to keep kids from suffering a horrid beating with a broom stick," Sarah smiled warmly at her. Bolt had no idea what to think. As the cleared another landing, making it the fifth floor, she showed her to room 51, which was the Jacobs' apartment. She opened the door and allowed Bolt to walk in first. She looked around, noticing the same familiar sights as the movie had shown. Mr. Jacobs was seated at the table, reading his paper that David had brought home for him. A ton of coins sat in a jar on the table, with a pile next to it that Bolt figured David had brought home and hadn't counted yet. Les was sound asleep on the bed, covered up by the same large crazy quilt that was in the movie.
"Please, have a seat," Sarah smiled, pulling out a chair for Bolt to sit down in. "This is papa, over there in the bed is Les, the youngest. David isn't home right now. He went with a Graft—"
"Sneaks brudda?" Bolt asked, her eyes growing large.
"You know Sneaks?" Sarah question, blushing slightly.
"Well, yea. She stayed at Medda's Lodging House wit us." Bolt replied eagerly.
"Ah, so you stay with Gibby, how is she?" Mrs. Jacobs asked smiling as she brought over four bowls and placed them on the white moth-eaten tablecloth.
"She's good," Bolt nodded, still not believing that the Jacobs' knew Sneaks. She was also still trying to take in what had just happened, and how she had been brought into their home. Mrs. Jacobs came over with a pot of soup, slowing pouring some out into the bowels. Bolt stared blankly trying to understand what had just happened, and how she had gotten in there to eat with the Jacobs.
"Are you alright dear?" Mrs. Jacobs asked, taking notice to Bolt's dazed look.
"Uh—fine, thanks." Bolt smiled weakly at her. "I guess I's just tired, dat's all."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Strider hurried closely behind Preacher as the girls made their way down the steps towards the Lodging House door. Gibby came out in her white nightgown, her hair up in a night cap and her eyeglasses strung down at her chest. She pulled them up to her cataract eyes, looking to see what was causing such a racquet.
"Whose dare?" she asked, pulling her shaky hand up with her glasses.
"It's just me, Gibby. I's taking the goils ta the boys Lodging House. I's afraid their friend isn't doin' too well." Preacher answered as the old woman put her other hand up to heart, sympathetic to the girls. They hurried out of the Lodging House towards the boys at a steady pace.
"Ya think its dat bad?" Gin asked, looking over at Minty.
"I's really hope not," Minty sighed as she coughed into her hand quietly.
"All I's know, dis ain't good," Pretzel frowned as they walked faster.
"Would ya not talk 'bout it?" We's gonna find out soon enough," Bailey scolded them.
"Where's Floaty?" Don-Bon asked, looking around.
"Yeah, an' Punk an' Hades," Mix nodded.
"Just shh. Just think o' Reverie," Atlantic scolded this time. The rest of the way the girls walked quietly, some now and then whispering amongst themselves.
When they got to the boys Lodging House, some of them couldn't help but gloat on the fact that they were walking into their crushes home.
"Look," Jay-Bug pointed out, noticing the sign that hung on the way that read: "Speak The Truth" that was too in the movie.
"I gave Kloppman that a few Christmas' ago," Preacher said, taking notice to Jay-Bugs comment. She blushed realizing that she had spoken louder than she had thought. They advanced towards the room, all the girls' stomachs in a knot over what they were going to find. Preacher slowly opened the door as more light spilled out to greet them. Kloppman sat on a chair half asleep with his old bowler hat over his eyes. Reverie lay on the bed next to him, tossing and turning.
"She's been yelling out all sorts o' crazy things," Preacher told them as they got closer. "Something 'bout an 'e-mail'?" he looked at them with a shrug, not sure what the term meant. The girls gulped at realizing that in Reverie's high fever, she was talking out loud as if she was still in the future. The girls just blushed, shrugging with Preacher as Klutz and Strider ran to Reverie's side.
"Rev," Klutz gulped, taking Reverie's clammy hand in hers. Her hair was matted down from sweat from the fever and her arms and legs shivered with cold. Strider took another blanket off a bunk and placed it over her.
"You's might want ta be careful, don't want what she's got." Preacher advised. The girls nodded as Illusion walked closer over to the bed.
"Reverie," she cooed, trying to get Reverie to wake up. "Reverie," she repeated, slightly louder. Gin walked over and took a seat on Reverie's bed, putting her hand up to Illusion. She opened her mouth, letting out a sweet high note.
"All through the night I'll be standing over you, all though the night I'll be watching you, And through bad dreams I'll be right there, baby. Holding your hand, telling you everything is all right. And when you cry I'll be right there, telling you you were never anything less than beautiful. So don't you worry, I'm your Angel standing by...." Gin sung loudly, tears filling her eyes slightly.
"That wash beautiful," Kloppman woke up, pushing his hat up and looking at Gin.
"I didn't know ya could sing like that," Preacher smiled warmly at her, the girls just standing there listening and watching Reverie. Suddenly her eyes fluttered opened.
"Dat...was...pretty...." Reverie smiled gazing up into Gin's eyes. "Sing—again please," she forced out closing her eyes again. Gin closed her eyes as well, and sang again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luna looked over at Stretch who was pulling out a chain from her pocket that had once been part of a pocket watch.
"What do ya plan on using dat foah?" Luna asked, looking at the small thin silver chain.
"What-evah I need it foah," Stretch replied as the boy came closer.
"Come here," he hollered, as he grabbed a hold of Luna and wrapped the chain around her throat. Luckily she stuck her hands up before it was tightly around her neck, so she tugged on the chain, trying to break the boy's force.
"Let go o' 'er!" Stretch shouted jumping on the boys back and tossing her chain around his throat. The boy, unable to stop the chain before it ringed tightly around his neck, was helpless and started to gasp for breath, letting Luna fall from his grasp as he did so. Luna gasped for breathe and turned to see the boy reaching around after Stretch. Before he touched her Luna jumped up, smacking him in the face and cracking his nose. He let out a yell of pain as he grabbed his nose, wheeling back in pain. Stretch jumped off and the two ran down the street, dodging in and out of different alleyways.
"Ya think we's lost 'im?" Stretch asked, leaning up against a building and bending over to catch her breath.
"I's shoah hope so," Luna spit out, trying to catch her breath as well. She let her body slide down the brick wall behind her, falling to a sitting position. She draped her hands over her knees and buried her head in her arms. "I's just want ta get back ta Brooklyn", Luna thought, sighing lifting her head back up to see Stretch staring off into the distance. " What's da mattah?" Luna asked.
"Look," Stretch pointed as Luna turned her neck allowing her eyes to fall upon the same sight that Stretch was gawking at. There in the distance stood the Brooklyn Bridge.
"We must have ran back cross da Brooklyn border," Luna smiled as she stood up, the two heading towards the Bridge.
"Where ya think you's going?" the heard the same boy's voice behind them. They stood there, frozen stiff once again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The rest of the night at Medda's was nothing like the girls would have imagined going to Irving Hall would be like. They had once imagined a great time, full of good cheer, some drunken newsies, and lots of singing and dancing. But with the news of Queens moving in on Brooklyn and Manhattan the next day, the thoughts of a good time were blocked off by the musky gloom of the boys who were preparing for the worst.
"We's need ta really think dis through," Specs said, adjusting his eyeglasses.
"We's do," Skittery nodded in agreement, his left arm folded over his chest, with his right arm sitting on top of it, holding his face. Bumlets sat on a chair backwards, leaning on the top of it, tapping his hands gently on the table in front of him. Itey was behind him, leaning up against the stage, talking with Pie-Eater.
"Hey," the girls turned to see Mush sit down next to Hades who was now turning a bright red.
"Hi," Hades blushed, turning her head towards Punky and winking. Punky shook her head, and stared of trying to find Dutchy in the crowd.
"Crazy night, huh?" Mush asked Hades who started to shake her leg up and down in a nervous twitch.
"Yeah, crazy," Hades agreed.
"I's don't remembah ya name," he blushed, turning his head to face her more.
"Hades," she blushed.
"Who ya looking foah?" she spun around to see Dutchy staring into her eyes.
"Uh—no one, just looking 'round. Taking it all in, ya know?" Punky lied, blushing slightly. Bubblegum and Windy tried to keep their giggles low and turned speak to Sneaks, only to find that she was no longer sitting there.
"Where she go?" Windy questioned, gazing around trying to find her.
"Don't know," Bubblegum said, turning around to look too. "But dares Jake," she pointed to Jake, the newsie who sitting on the stage talking with Medda's maid.
"She evah meet 'im?" Windy asked, raising her eyebrow.
"I's don't think so. I's think she woulda said somethin' ta us if she did," Bubblegum observed, scanning the room again trying to find her friend.
"Well, Spot's gone too, so Graft an' Jack. Maybe dey went somewhere." Windy shrugged, turning back around to her glass of coke. Bubblegum shrugged as well, giving up on trying to locate Sneaks. She sighed heavily as her eyes drooped slightly from exhaustion. She picked up her glass and help to Windy, and then took a swig.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The noise from Medda's rang angrily in their ears as Jack and Graft tried to talk out the dilemma on their hands. As Ease-Drop made an attempt to cover his ears, Spot decided he had had enough.
"Ya'd t'ink we's pick somewheah else ta talk utter dan da door right beside da piano," he stated, lighting a cigarette. Sneaks could tell he was anxious. Through his ice blue eyes, the gears in his head where turning and he seemed lost in thought.
"Why don' we's head ovah ta da lodgin' house? It's only a few blocks away. It would give us some peace an' quiet, seein' as half o' Manhattan seems ta be in dare," Jack finished, motioning towards Irving Hall.
"You lead," Ease-Drop piped in, as the five headed down the Manhattan streets that where now claimed by darkness. For some reason, Sneaks had a funny feeling about going towards the lodging house she had seen so many times in the movie. There was something unnerving, biting at her every thought. As much as she could tell there was something wrong, she kept trying to convince herself that it was just feeling awkward getting ready to be where the newsies slept and dressed daily.
"Heya, Kloppman," Jack said, snapping Sneaks out of her thoughts. "We's was needin' a place wheah we's could talk in private."
"Dunno how much talkin' you'll get done. Dare's company upstairs," Kloppman replied. As the small group headed up towards the bunkroom. As soon as they walked inside, Sneaks's slight hope that everything would be alright dropped as she saw the weak form of a girl lying in a nearby bunk.
"You's should sing foah Medda," a voice called behind them as Gin turned suddenly to see Jack standing in the doorway. He stepped in, taking his cowboy hat off and shaking his slicked back hair, allowing Spot, Graft and Sneaks to follow him in the room.
"Sneaks!" Dream and Dodge both cried out quietly and ran to meet their friend.
"What?" Sneaks asked, looking at Reverie's shaking body.
"Dat's Reverie, she's real sick," Dream informed her, looking down at her shoe and playing with the untied shoelace with her other foot.
"From what?" Sneaks asked as Graft tugged on her blouse.
"Ovah here, come on," Graft ordered as Sneaks gave an apologetic look to the girls as she walked past and into another bunkroom. Jack showed Spot, Graft and Sneaks into the other room and then turned to the girls.
"I's hope she's doing alright. An' I's meant what I's said," He nodded at Gin, "Ya should really go sing foah Medda." He turned slowly and walked into the bunkroom as Gin sat there blushing at the compliment that Jack had just given her.
"I's think he's right," Illusion whispered in her ear as they looked over at Reverie.
"I's second dat," Reverie smiled, not opening her eyes. "Can I's have a glass o' watah?"