CHAPTER FOUR
"…and dis heah is da Refuge. You'se don't want ta go der. It's a bad place for you'se ta go," Jack guided Bobbie. He had been showing her the city all day long, and she still had not opened up to him. "Anyways, I'se should know. I'se been der before. Not very nice, believe me." Jack could see that though she was taking it all in, there was something she was holding back. "And dis is my favorite spot ta be when der's sumthin botherin' me," he said, as he led her to a beautiful spot down by the harbor sheltered by a gigantic tree, making them invisible to the world. "What's eatin ya sis?" Jack quietly inquired.
Jack watched as Bobbie's eyes filled with tears. "I just miss him so much." With that, she began to sob. "I don't know what I'd do if I hadn't found you. Thanks for helping me Jack."
Jack, for once in his life, was speechless. No one had ever thanked him for merely existing. When the shock wore off, he said with a comforting smile, "No problem, lil sis. I'se rathuh glad dat you're heah too." That was all it took for Bobbie to compose herself.
"Well, I guess that since I'm going to be on my own soon, I have to finish going over the city so I can find a job to support myself. I don't want to be a burden to you or to Kloppman or to any of my other 'bruddas'," she said with a smile as she dried her eyes. "You have been so kind in helping me get on my feet for the past couple of weeks, and I'll find some way to repay you. Thanks again."
Her speech left Jack stunned. Whaaaaaaaaaah?!?!? I've nevuh thought of makin her leave. I wasn't plannin it and I won't let it happen, and I'll definitely not accept payment. Jack thought as he walked her back toward the city, flabbergasted all the way.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The opportunity for Race to talk with Mush concerning Bobbie soon presented itself. Race decided that he wouldn't bring it totally up, just touch on the subject. As they walked down the city streets, Race could tell that Mush's thoughts were centered on Bobbie. "Soooo…… Mush. Are's ya doin' anyting dis Saturday?" Race asked, as he broke the silence.
"Nah, I tink Ise'll jus stay at da lodging house. Why?" Mush responded. Oh no! does he got me figurred out? Mush thought with panic.
Seeing the panic on Mush's face, he said, "well, I'se was jus gonna take Bobbie to da races, an' I knows dat you likes da races too, and I'se was gonna invite Skittery and Jack and maybe Blink and Davey. It'll be fun. Ya know, Bobbie really likes da races. She loves horses. So…" Race left the question hanging. When he didn't answer, he asked again. "do ya want ta go?" If Race could have read his mind, he would have died laughing. Oh my goodness!! This is bad! Really bad! It's just---BAD!!!!! Okay, okay. I can do this. Breathe, Mush, Breathe!! Race is just trying to be friendly and have it be like old times when we'd just go ta da races. Okay. I'll go. But I'll hafta sit on da opposite end of everyting we go to, or I'se afraid dat Ise'll give myself away.
Trying to sound laid-back, Mush nonchalantly replied, "Oh, all right. I'll go. For old time's sake." And with that, the two started talking on other things. However, throughout the chatter, in the back of Mush's mind, he could not stop thinking about Bobbie.
"…and dis heah is da Refuge. You'se don't want ta go der. It's a bad place for you'se ta go," Jack guided Bobbie. He had been showing her the city all day long, and she still had not opened up to him. "Anyways, I'se should know. I'se been der before. Not very nice, believe me." Jack could see that though she was taking it all in, there was something she was holding back. "And dis is my favorite spot ta be when der's sumthin botherin' me," he said, as he led her to a beautiful spot down by the harbor sheltered by a gigantic tree, making them invisible to the world. "What's eatin ya sis?" Jack quietly inquired.
Jack watched as Bobbie's eyes filled with tears. "I just miss him so much." With that, she began to sob. "I don't know what I'd do if I hadn't found you. Thanks for helping me Jack."
Jack, for once in his life, was speechless. No one had ever thanked him for merely existing. When the shock wore off, he said with a comforting smile, "No problem, lil sis. I'se rathuh glad dat you're heah too." That was all it took for Bobbie to compose herself.
"Well, I guess that since I'm going to be on my own soon, I have to finish going over the city so I can find a job to support myself. I don't want to be a burden to you or to Kloppman or to any of my other 'bruddas'," she said with a smile as she dried her eyes. "You have been so kind in helping me get on my feet for the past couple of weeks, and I'll find some way to repay you. Thanks again."
Her speech left Jack stunned. Whaaaaaaaaaah?!?!? I've nevuh thought of makin her leave. I wasn't plannin it and I won't let it happen, and I'll definitely not accept payment. Jack thought as he walked her back toward the city, flabbergasted all the way.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The opportunity for Race to talk with Mush concerning Bobbie soon presented itself. Race decided that he wouldn't bring it totally up, just touch on the subject. As they walked down the city streets, Race could tell that Mush's thoughts were centered on Bobbie. "Soooo…… Mush. Are's ya doin' anyting dis Saturday?" Race asked, as he broke the silence.
"Nah, I tink Ise'll jus stay at da lodging house. Why?" Mush responded. Oh no! does he got me figurred out? Mush thought with panic.
Seeing the panic on Mush's face, he said, "well, I'se was jus gonna take Bobbie to da races, an' I knows dat you likes da races too, and I'se was gonna invite Skittery and Jack and maybe Blink and Davey. It'll be fun. Ya know, Bobbie really likes da races. She loves horses. So…" Race left the question hanging. When he didn't answer, he asked again. "do ya want ta go?" If Race could have read his mind, he would have died laughing. Oh my goodness!! This is bad! Really bad! It's just---BAD!!!!! Okay, okay. I can do this. Breathe, Mush, Breathe!! Race is just trying to be friendly and have it be like old times when we'd just go ta da races. Okay. I'll go. But I'll hafta sit on da opposite end of everyting we go to, or I'se afraid dat Ise'll give myself away.
Trying to sound laid-back, Mush nonchalantly replied, "Oh, all right. I'll go. For old time's sake." And with that, the two started talking on other things. However, throughout the chatter, in the back of Mush's mind, he could not stop thinking about Bobbie.