I wrote this last year and found it in the archives of the NML. Gee whiz I cried when I read it all over again. Lol.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
"Kloppman, you can't!" Dragonfly cried at the news. The newsies were shocked and appalled as snow cascaded against the common room window that December.
"I'm sorry, but it's my time to move on. I've lived here my whole life, and I can't help but think there's somethin' more for me out there ...somewhere." He frowned, his eyes tired and sad. "Billy will be a fine keeper, and I'll visit."
"We undahstand." Jack nodded, knowing how much the old man's heart was breaking to have to tell them that he could no longer house them after this Christmas, because he was moving away. Kloppman left the room to avoid crying in front of the kids he had practically raised.
"All da way on da othah side a Manhattan." Jake shook his head as Spin cried softly into his shoulder. "I can't believe it."
"We gotta be strong fah Kloppman. Ya know how hard dis is fah 'im." Chipper instructed, taking Jack's hand gently into her own.
"What a way ta start off Christmas." Honor sighed, "Deah's nothin' left ta be cheery 'bout." Jack sent some of the boys off to collect a Christmas tree while the girls dug through boxes in the attic for decorations.
"We oughta make dis da best yeah evah, fah Klopp." Bottle Cap said softly as she pulled out another box.
"Look! I found some a dose things dey hang on da branches!" Spin announced.
"I think their called ornaments." Chipper giggled.
* * *
"We'se got da best one we could." Dibs announced as the boys carried in the pine tree and began setting it up.
"I'll make some hot chocolate." Dragonfly offered. The newsies began to noisily decorate the little tree and room, all buzzing about how they would be moving out of their beloved lodging house soon.
"I don't wanna move." Snipeshooter finally let the news hit him as tears flooded his eyes. It triggered an emotional outburst, the older ones desperately trying to be strong for the younger. Kid Blink let Snipe hide his tears in his shoulder.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas." He sang softly, "Let your heart be light." Honor smiled and pulled a little girl into her arms who could no longer suppress her sobs.
"From now on your troubles will be out of sight." She sang, a single tear slipping down her cheek. Jack hung an ornament before continuing the song.
"Yeah, have yourself a merry litle Christmas. Make the Yule tide gay." Then, amazingly just like in the movies, Chipper joined him as they sang, "From now on your troubles will be miles away." By now, all the newsies were back to decorating as they sang, unaware of the old man who listened contently on the other side of his bedroom door. They filled the lodging house with song and warmth.
"Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore." Mush smiled.
"Ah," Race threw his arm around Dragonfly, "Faithful friends who are dear to us..."
"Gather near to us, once more." His girl finished for him, snuggling close to his side.
"Through the years we all will be together." Bottle Cap sang softly as she hung one of the last ornaments and stepped back to observe it.
"If the fates allow." Dibs added, kissing her cheek tenderly.
"Hang a shining star upon the highest bow." They sang together, motioning to Jack to do his job.
"And have yourself a merry little Christmas now." Spin sang in almost a whisper, wiping her eyes on her sleeve as Jake clasped her hand in his. Jack reached up and placed their small silver star on the very top of the lop-sided, strangely decorated tree.
"Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more." They sang in beautiful harmony, looking at one another.
"Through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow. But til then we'll have to muddle through somehow." Blink sang ever-so-quietly, gazing up at the tree, their tree.
"And have yourself a merry little Christmas now." Snipe ended, wiping his eyes and hugging Blink before gathering boxes to put out of the way.
"See, we'll be okay." Dibs assured, talking to himself more than anything.
Kloppman couldn't stand it any longer, his face was soaked with tears and they blurred his vision as he opened his door and hugged as many kids as he could fit in his embrace.
"I can't move away from you kids. What was I thinking?" He smiled brightly at them.
"You...you'se sayin'..." Chipper tried to spit it out but Kloppman beat her to it.
"I'm staying here until I die, and not a one of you can change it." The room erupted into joyous laughter and love. Now they could celebrate Christmas without worry. And, they would have a merry little Christmas after all.