A.N. Hey! I'm on a roll! This is the fourth time in two days in which I
have sat down at my laptop and started typing letting my creative juices
flow...if they really are that creative. Yay! Well, this is where I think it
starts getting interesting enough. ( enjoy!
Disclaimer: same 'ol same 'ol!
A Whole New World
Chapter Three
"I am ready!" an excited Vecienna stood outside the covered wagon waiting for Blink to return. He had disappeared from sight. Two minutes passed. He did not come. She waited.
Blink heard Vecienna's cry. She was ready to go. With a sigh he looked one last time at the mysterious tall man. His eyes were closed and he looked like he had died in pain. 'I tip my cap to ya, sir,' blink thought as he made true his word. He walked around the corner back to the wagon, but not before he put the letter into his inside vest pocket. When he reached the wagon, Vecienna was nowhere in sight. "Vecienna! Are you there?" he called. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of what was about to come out of that covered wagon. A fresh, cleaned up Vecienna stepped across the threshold. Her long, freshly combed hair blew softly in the city breeze. There was a flower in her hair on the right side. Her attire was different, yet exotically beautiful. But what stood out to him the most was her dazzling white smile. Perfect white teeth lined her pretty pink gums. It all contrasted so much with her dark skin and dark eyes that Blink had to work on keeping his mouth closed. "May I escort ya to da Lodgin' House?" Blink asked, all gentleman like. "Yes, thank you," she replied quietly. It was a question and answer time for both of them as they made the half a mile walk to the Brooklyn Lodging House where Blink hoped to find Spot Conlon, the leader of the Brooklyn newsies. Blink fired the first question: "So where are ya from?" Vecienna had to work hard to keep in control. Walking so close to a man was not something that they did in Pohnpei. The closest that males and females walked was about ten feet. She struggled to even find an answer to Blink's simple question. "I—I am from Pohnpei, Micronesia." "Pohnpei? Where is that?" he asked quizzically. "It is a group of islands that are located between Australia and China. It is the only home I have ever known. What about you? Are you from this New York?" she countered. "Guilty. Yeah, I'se lived heah ever since I was a tyke. I grew up bein' a newsie," he told her. "What's a newsie?" she asked. "Oh! A newsie is a person who sells da newspapers for Pulitzer and Hearst mainly. We get it all 'round da city for all da people. Does that make sense?" he asked her warmly. "Yes, yes. I understand. So do I get to meet your, uh...what do you call them?...chums?" she eagerly inquired. "Oh, of course! If ya want ta, dat is. They'd all be glad ta meetcha," he told her heartily. By this time, they had made it to the Brooklyn Lodging House. Blink didn't even knock as he entered. He just took Vecienna by the hand and led her through the threshold of the building. "Spot! Ya heah?" he hollered. Vecienna grabbed Blink's wrist with her free one and shrank behind him as she heard thunderous noises coming down the staircase...were there elephants in this land? she thought. Within a few seconds, three boys emerged. They were led by a tall, blondish colored boy with a beautiful face. Behind him were two boys dressed the same way but with a bit rougher appearance. "Hey, Blink! What brings you heah?" the tall blond one asked. He looked at Vecienna and saw how tight she was holding on to his friend and smiled. "Aah! I see! Well, Blinkie boy! How long has dis been goin on?" "Huh? What? Ah, no! Spot, I brought her heah to ask ya a favor. I had some stuff ta do by da wagon station today and I looked in one of the wagons and I saw dis goil sleepin den I kinda accidentally scared her, and she said dat she needed a place to stay, cuz she's not from around heah," Blink rattled off the information like he had just rehearsed it. "Well I can see dat. She don't look like us. But dat's okay, cuz I'm gonna tell ya what we'se'll do," Spot stepped forward as he talked. "What's you're name goily?" "Ve-Vecienna..." she stammered, sounding as scared as she felt. "Vecienna," Spot continued. "Nice name. Now Vecienna, I'll tell ya what. I'll letcha stay heah in dis heah lodgin' house for as long as ya need. How's dat sound?" Spot laughed as he saw the look on her face change from scared to horrified. Living in a house that she was totally unfamiliar with? And Live with MEN?? Oh my! It was petrifying. "Nah! Don't worry, Vece. Can I call ya Vece? My sistah Lindi will be heah and you'se will share da goil's bunk room with her and her friend Anne. They should be back heah anytime now. Dey are de only two goil newsies 'round heah. Does dat sound bettah?" he asked in a mock-concerned voice. Only then did Vecienna realize that she had a death grip on Blink's hand and wrist and that it was probably cutting off his circulation. She allowed herself to ease up her grasp, remove her hand from his wrist, and stand beside Blink instead of behind him. However, she kept her hand in his. It was somehow comforting to have his presence there. "I would be most thankful if I could stay here. I hope I would not be putting anyone out?" she left that last statement as somewhat of a question in order to see if there were any hidden costs or motives. She knew the way things in her village worked and hoped that it was not the same way here in America. In her village, if men invited women to stay anywhere, even at an inn, they wanted something other than the business or company. Spot responded, "No, my sistah can never have too many friends and neither can Anne. They'd be glad ta put ya up. But before you agree, I wants ta tell ya some of de rules. Most of dese are for the safety of da goils. Numbah one. If any of de boys, newsie or not, tries ta make ya do something you don't wanna do, or if dey hoit ya, you tell me or Jack, an' we'll take care of 'em. Oh, you'll meet Jack probably in de morning. Numbah two. If you are to live heah, ya gotta woik. My sistah and Anne are great newsies and dey can show ya how to be a great newsie too. Numbah Three. Me and Jack are da bosses. What we say goes, unless it has ta do with you goils. We won't use our power to get someting dat goils don't wanna give. Is dat all clear?" Vecienna nodded a relieved nod. "Den do you agree?" Vecienna's nod was again very relieved...relieved that she had a place to stay, a place to come to, and a place that in time she would be able to call home. "Well den, dat's great. Oh I am so sorry! I forgot to innerduce myself. I'm Spot Conlon, leader of de Brooklyn Newsies. Dese heah thugs behind me are actually from Manhattan, where Blink is from. Bumletts! Jake! Say hello!" the two boys nodded and murmured faint hello's. Vecienna's eyes grew huge. She turned to Blink and said, "What? You're not staying here?" Blinks heart melted at the fear and vulnerability he saw in her eyes. "Ah, Vecienna," he said softly, "I would take ya in a heartbeat to Manhattan if dere was a goil's room dere, but the only goil newsie has a family and doesn't live in a lodgin' house. Besides, Spot will take good care of ya. I will see ya in the morning though. Will you be okay?" There were tears standing in Vecienna's eyes as she nodded her consent. "Whatsa mattah?" There was a real concern in Blink's voice that made the tears spill over. "Thank you. Just thank you very much. I don't know what I would have done without you," she said quietly, forgetting that Spot, Bumletts and Jake were even there. Blink squeezed her hand as he whispered to her, "Any time." At that moment Lindi and Anne burst into the room, laughing like a couple of little schoolgirls. "Oh, Anne! Didja see da look on Soccah's face when you told him to go eat a lollipop?" the light brown-haired girl exclaimed. The other one replied with, "Yeah, but dat was nothin compared to the look on Mush's face when you told him to go munch an eggshell!" Both girls dissolved into infectious giggles that quickly died when they saw the solemn Blink and tear-streaked dark skinned girl with the three other boys in the background. The light haired girl cleared her throat and caused all five pairs of eyes to look at her and Anne. "Hi," she said. "I'm Lindi and dis heah is Anne. What might your name be?" Lindi directed the question towards Vecienna but Spot was the one who answered. "Hey, Lind, Anne, dis is Vecienna. She'll be stayin' wit you two for a while an' you hafta teach her ta sell da papes, all right?" The two girls looked at each other and then at the girl whose gaze had turned to the floor. They observed the clasped hands of Blink and Vecienna. They looked at each other again. They were thinking the same thing...MATCHMAKER! Anne spoke first. "Hey Vecienna! We are gonna get along so good! Me an' Lindi know all da best spots to sell da papes. We'll show ya Manhattan! Brooklyn! The Queens! Harlem! Bronx! Everyting!" The reply was a quiet, "Thank you. I would appreciate that very much." Lindi and Anne were both awed and amazed at the girl's accent. She spoke English well, but with a distinct accent. Lindi spoke next. "Well, let's get you all settled in. Say good night! Blink will be heah in da mornin', wontcha Blink?" Blink replied with "Of course..." then lindi took off again. "Good night everyone! C'mon Vecienna! C'mon Anne! Let's get her settled in our room!"
One hour later
Blink was glad to know that Vecienna was safe. He had never known such great strength as having her use him for shelter and comfort. And they had only met hours earlier! However, this peaceful feeling faded as he remembered the letter, close to his heart in his vest pocket. He took it out and read it again slowly.
Matheson,
How you got this letter, I do not know but I trust you received it
well. Just watch your back. Matheson, we are in the middle of another
war. Our archrival gang has made their residency somewhere in
Brooklyn. They have located our new area, yet have not located our
hideout. They are out to destroy everything we have worked for. They
will be out to get us all. Do everyone else in the gang a favor and do
not say anything. Destroy this letter. There will be a meeting on
Friday at midnight in the alley by the Pulitzer circulation office
next to the post office. Be there. We are all in danger. One more
thing...I have heard talk of a traitor in our midst. If it is you, I
know who you are. I have spies everywhere. I am watching you.
Blink knew what he had to do. The man, Matheson, had been brutally killed and Blink was the only witness. He had to go to that meeting and explain what had transpired. He hoped for his sake and for Vecienna's that there was no danger in that meeting. He didn't know, so all he could do was hold his breath.
Disclaimer: same 'ol same 'ol!
A Whole New World
Chapter Three
"I am ready!" an excited Vecienna stood outside the covered wagon waiting for Blink to return. He had disappeared from sight. Two minutes passed. He did not come. She waited.
Blink heard Vecienna's cry. She was ready to go. With a sigh he looked one last time at the mysterious tall man. His eyes were closed and he looked like he had died in pain. 'I tip my cap to ya, sir,' blink thought as he made true his word. He walked around the corner back to the wagon, but not before he put the letter into his inside vest pocket. When he reached the wagon, Vecienna was nowhere in sight. "Vecienna! Are you there?" he called. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of what was about to come out of that covered wagon. A fresh, cleaned up Vecienna stepped across the threshold. Her long, freshly combed hair blew softly in the city breeze. There was a flower in her hair on the right side. Her attire was different, yet exotically beautiful. But what stood out to him the most was her dazzling white smile. Perfect white teeth lined her pretty pink gums. It all contrasted so much with her dark skin and dark eyes that Blink had to work on keeping his mouth closed. "May I escort ya to da Lodgin' House?" Blink asked, all gentleman like. "Yes, thank you," she replied quietly. It was a question and answer time for both of them as they made the half a mile walk to the Brooklyn Lodging House where Blink hoped to find Spot Conlon, the leader of the Brooklyn newsies. Blink fired the first question: "So where are ya from?" Vecienna had to work hard to keep in control. Walking so close to a man was not something that they did in Pohnpei. The closest that males and females walked was about ten feet. She struggled to even find an answer to Blink's simple question. "I—I am from Pohnpei, Micronesia." "Pohnpei? Where is that?" he asked quizzically. "It is a group of islands that are located between Australia and China. It is the only home I have ever known. What about you? Are you from this New York?" she countered. "Guilty. Yeah, I'se lived heah ever since I was a tyke. I grew up bein' a newsie," he told her. "What's a newsie?" she asked. "Oh! A newsie is a person who sells da newspapers for Pulitzer and Hearst mainly. We get it all 'round da city for all da people. Does that make sense?" he asked her warmly. "Yes, yes. I understand. So do I get to meet your, uh...what do you call them?...chums?" she eagerly inquired. "Oh, of course! If ya want ta, dat is. They'd all be glad ta meetcha," he told her heartily. By this time, they had made it to the Brooklyn Lodging House. Blink didn't even knock as he entered. He just took Vecienna by the hand and led her through the threshold of the building. "Spot! Ya heah?" he hollered. Vecienna grabbed Blink's wrist with her free one and shrank behind him as she heard thunderous noises coming down the staircase...were there elephants in this land? she thought. Within a few seconds, three boys emerged. They were led by a tall, blondish colored boy with a beautiful face. Behind him were two boys dressed the same way but with a bit rougher appearance. "Hey, Blink! What brings you heah?" the tall blond one asked. He looked at Vecienna and saw how tight she was holding on to his friend and smiled. "Aah! I see! Well, Blinkie boy! How long has dis been goin on?" "Huh? What? Ah, no! Spot, I brought her heah to ask ya a favor. I had some stuff ta do by da wagon station today and I looked in one of the wagons and I saw dis goil sleepin den I kinda accidentally scared her, and she said dat she needed a place to stay, cuz she's not from around heah," Blink rattled off the information like he had just rehearsed it. "Well I can see dat. She don't look like us. But dat's okay, cuz I'm gonna tell ya what we'se'll do," Spot stepped forward as he talked. "What's you're name goily?" "Ve-Vecienna..." she stammered, sounding as scared as she felt. "Vecienna," Spot continued. "Nice name. Now Vecienna, I'll tell ya what. I'll letcha stay heah in dis heah lodgin' house for as long as ya need. How's dat sound?" Spot laughed as he saw the look on her face change from scared to horrified. Living in a house that she was totally unfamiliar with? And Live with MEN?? Oh my! It was petrifying. "Nah! Don't worry, Vece. Can I call ya Vece? My sistah Lindi will be heah and you'se will share da goil's bunk room with her and her friend Anne. They should be back heah anytime now. Dey are de only two goil newsies 'round heah. Does dat sound bettah?" he asked in a mock-concerned voice. Only then did Vecienna realize that she had a death grip on Blink's hand and wrist and that it was probably cutting off his circulation. She allowed herself to ease up her grasp, remove her hand from his wrist, and stand beside Blink instead of behind him. However, she kept her hand in his. It was somehow comforting to have his presence there. "I would be most thankful if I could stay here. I hope I would not be putting anyone out?" she left that last statement as somewhat of a question in order to see if there were any hidden costs or motives. She knew the way things in her village worked and hoped that it was not the same way here in America. In her village, if men invited women to stay anywhere, even at an inn, they wanted something other than the business or company. Spot responded, "No, my sistah can never have too many friends and neither can Anne. They'd be glad ta put ya up. But before you agree, I wants ta tell ya some of de rules. Most of dese are for the safety of da goils. Numbah one. If any of de boys, newsie or not, tries ta make ya do something you don't wanna do, or if dey hoit ya, you tell me or Jack, an' we'll take care of 'em. Oh, you'll meet Jack probably in de morning. Numbah two. If you are to live heah, ya gotta woik. My sistah and Anne are great newsies and dey can show ya how to be a great newsie too. Numbah Three. Me and Jack are da bosses. What we say goes, unless it has ta do with you goils. We won't use our power to get someting dat goils don't wanna give. Is dat all clear?" Vecienna nodded a relieved nod. "Den do you agree?" Vecienna's nod was again very relieved...relieved that she had a place to stay, a place to come to, and a place that in time she would be able to call home. "Well den, dat's great. Oh I am so sorry! I forgot to innerduce myself. I'm Spot Conlon, leader of de Brooklyn Newsies. Dese heah thugs behind me are actually from Manhattan, where Blink is from. Bumletts! Jake! Say hello!" the two boys nodded and murmured faint hello's. Vecienna's eyes grew huge. She turned to Blink and said, "What? You're not staying here?" Blinks heart melted at the fear and vulnerability he saw in her eyes. "Ah, Vecienna," he said softly, "I would take ya in a heartbeat to Manhattan if dere was a goil's room dere, but the only goil newsie has a family and doesn't live in a lodgin' house. Besides, Spot will take good care of ya. I will see ya in the morning though. Will you be okay?" There were tears standing in Vecienna's eyes as she nodded her consent. "Whatsa mattah?" There was a real concern in Blink's voice that made the tears spill over. "Thank you. Just thank you very much. I don't know what I would have done without you," she said quietly, forgetting that Spot, Bumletts and Jake were even there. Blink squeezed her hand as he whispered to her, "Any time." At that moment Lindi and Anne burst into the room, laughing like a couple of little schoolgirls. "Oh, Anne! Didja see da look on Soccah's face when you told him to go eat a lollipop?" the light brown-haired girl exclaimed. The other one replied with, "Yeah, but dat was nothin compared to the look on Mush's face when you told him to go munch an eggshell!" Both girls dissolved into infectious giggles that quickly died when they saw the solemn Blink and tear-streaked dark skinned girl with the three other boys in the background. The light haired girl cleared her throat and caused all five pairs of eyes to look at her and Anne. "Hi," she said. "I'm Lindi and dis heah is Anne. What might your name be?" Lindi directed the question towards Vecienna but Spot was the one who answered. "Hey, Lind, Anne, dis is Vecienna. She'll be stayin' wit you two for a while an' you hafta teach her ta sell da papes, all right?" The two girls looked at each other and then at the girl whose gaze had turned to the floor. They observed the clasped hands of Blink and Vecienna. They looked at each other again. They were thinking the same thing...MATCHMAKER! Anne spoke first. "Hey Vecienna! We are gonna get along so good! Me an' Lindi know all da best spots to sell da papes. We'll show ya Manhattan! Brooklyn! The Queens! Harlem! Bronx! Everyting!" The reply was a quiet, "Thank you. I would appreciate that very much." Lindi and Anne were both awed and amazed at the girl's accent. She spoke English well, but with a distinct accent. Lindi spoke next. "Well, let's get you all settled in. Say good night! Blink will be heah in da mornin', wontcha Blink?" Blink replied with "Of course..." then lindi took off again. "Good night everyone! C'mon Vecienna! C'mon Anne! Let's get her settled in our room!"
One hour later
Blink was glad to know that Vecienna was safe. He had never known such great strength as having her use him for shelter and comfort. And they had only met hours earlier! However, this peaceful feeling faded as he remembered the letter, close to his heart in his vest pocket. He took it out and read it again slowly.
Matheson,
How you got this letter, I do not know but I trust you received it
well. Just watch your back. Matheson, we are in the middle of another
war. Our archrival gang has made their residency somewhere in
Brooklyn. They have located our new area, yet have not located our
hideout. They are out to destroy everything we have worked for. They
will be out to get us all. Do everyone else in the gang a favor and do
not say anything. Destroy this letter. There will be a meeting on
Friday at midnight in the alley by the Pulitzer circulation office
next to the post office. Be there. We are all in danger. One more
thing...I have heard talk of a traitor in our midst. If it is you, I
know who you are. I have spies everywhere. I am watching you.
Blink knew what he had to do. The man, Matheson, had been brutally killed and Blink was the only witness. He had to go to that meeting and explain what had transpired. He hoped for his sake and for Vecienna's that there was no danger in that meeting. He didn't know, so all he could do was hold his breath.