Shout-Outs
Gracie Jane: I probably would have called 911, too. lol. That is weird about our characters' names. I'll have to check out your story. Thanks for your review.
Song Birdy: Jack does make a funny Peter Pan, doesn't he? Can't you just see him running around in green tights? haha. Thanks for your review.
Rachel: It's okay to sound like an English teacher every now and then…just don't make a habit out of it. lol. I'm glad you think my story is well written. I try. Thanks for your review.
Aimee: I'm updating! I'm glad my story is your favorite. That makes me happy. lol. Thanks for your review.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I appreciate your support, and I hope you enjoy these next few chapters.
Disclaimer: Disney owns Newsies. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Treasure Island. I'm not sure who owns the rights to it at the present time, but it isn't me. I also do not own Peter Pan. Please don't sue me. Thank you.
Chapter 4
"Mother, will you be coming home soon?" Tate was asking when Jack arrived at the window the following evening.
"Oh, yes, dear. Your father and I will only be gone for a few days," Mrs. Newman answered.
She was sitting in a chair near the window with Tate in her lap. Spencer was sitting on his bed and Maggie was leaning on the doorframe, book in hand.
"Really, Mother, I don't see why you have to go. Can't Father handle the bank's business in Virginia on his own?" Maggie said curtly.
"Young lady, your father needs all the support he can get. I am accompanying him to Virginia to show him and the bank that I support him. Besides, he'll need a date for all those lavish dinner parties he'll be attending in Richmond," she said, pushing Tate gently off her lap and standing. "Now," she continued, "I want all of you to be nothing but kind, tolerant, and helpful towards your aunt while we're gone. I won't have my children misbehaving. And Maggie, please don't read for too long tonight. I want all of you in bed early so that you can be up in time to see your father and me off in the morning," she said, then she told the children goodnight and kissed each of them on the forehead before leaving the room.
"Jack?" Maggie asked, opening the door to the balcony, "Jack, are you out there?"
"I'm here," Jack replied, appearing before her.
"Right. Well, would you like to come in?"
"Oh, no, I'm fine out here," Jack said.
"Really, I insist," Maggie replied.
"Only if you insist," Jack said, following Maggie into the room.
"Have a seat," she said, motioning to the chair her mother had been sitting in moments ago.
Jack glanced around the room apprehensively and took a seat.
"Where were we before Aunt Beatrice made us go to bed," Maggie said, flipping through the book, "Ah, yes, here we are…And he cast down upon the floor a paper that I instantly recognized—none other than the chart on yellow paper, with the three red crosses, that I had found in the oilcloth at the bottom of the captain's chest. Why would the doctor had given it to him was more that I could fancy…
"…yet my heart was sore for him, wicked as he was, to think on the dark perils that environed, and the shameful gibbet that awaited him. Well, that's the end of Chapter 29," Maggie said, closing the book, "Now Jack, I must ask you to leave as the boys and I must be getting to bed early this evening."
"Goodnight," Jack said, extending his hand to her, "Thanks for lettin' me listen."
"Anytime. Goodnight," Maggie replied, shaking his hand and showing him to the door.
She watched as he climbed over the edge of the balcony and descended to the street below, and she wondered why she felt so captivated by this strange boy who enjoyed hearing her read.