Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire – "A fool can always find a greater fool to admire him."
(L'Art poetique – [1674] Nicholas Boileau – Despreaux [1636-1711] )
Chapter 5 : Doom?
==========
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Newsies or related to the Newsies.
==========
"Boy? Boy!" came the insistent voice. I groaned and turned over…only to fall off the bed with a loud and ungraceful squawk followed by a loud 'thump!' I moaned as I got up into a sitting position. I whined, "What? What is it?"
"We'se gonna go," came Racetrack's voice. I managed to lift an eyelid to look at him. He was already dressed. I rubbed my eyes slowly, "Go on without me."
"Boy," said he in a stern tone, "you'se ran off yesterday. If Kloppman 'ears 'bout dis, e's gonna kick you out!"
Almost immediately, a smirk replaced my sleepy expression, "Then let him kick me out! I'm moving out as of today anyways."
"You'se what?"
"I got a job Racetrack."
"Wheah?"
"I believe you know the seductress, Medda?" I asked, smirk widening when I saw the impact it had on his face. It was simply priceless. A Kodack moment if I ever saw one. First, his eyes widened with surprise…then shock registered into his face…then disbelief. Then, his mouth opened but no sounds came out. He closed his mouth, stared at me with those large eyes, opened his mouth, and then closed it again.
He looked like a damned goldfish.
"You'se…got a job woikin' wid Medda?" he asked slowly. I grinned, "Yep." He grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me, "Don't be lyin' ta me, Boy. Tell me…do you'se god'da job woikin' wid Medda?"
"Stop shaking me like that and yes!" He let go of me and stared at me in disbelief.
"H-h-how?" he managed to sputter out.
"Oh c'mon…" I rolled my eyes, "I said I was going to get a job and I did." Racetrack just stood there, shaking his head in disbelief.
"But…wid Medda?!" exclaimed he…attracting the attention of everyone else that was around.
"What's dis 'bout Medda?" asked Kid Blink who suddenly seemed to have teleported to my side with his arm draped annoyingly over my shoulder, "C'mon Boy. You'se kin tell me."
"She's god'da job woikin' wid Medda," Racetrack told him to which Blink replied with a low whistle and chuckled. "You'se woikin' wid Medda? Could you'se try an' ged'da job fer me too?" I made a face in his direction before trying to push his arm off… Despite whatever you had seen in the movie, Blinkie ole boy wasn't as light as he seemed in the dance sequence. His arm was practically crushing me.
"I don't know about getting you a job there Blink. There's this one crazy guy who worships Jack who would annoy the hell out of you," said I with a grin on my face. Glad that he wasn't so sore from yesterday…whatever it was that I did.
"You'se gonna be leavin' da lodghin' 'ouse Boy?" asked Crutchy who had managed to hobble over when Racetrack and exclaimed Medda's name.
"Yeah…today. I'll be staying with Medda herself!" I laughed. Suddenly I found myself being pushed against Blink's chest with his arms around my neck. He had a smile on his face and as he brought his face down to my ear, I could hear my heartbeat thumping away.
Give me a break! I may view him as a brother…but I'm still a teenager. I still have my hormones to think about…
"So Boy," he whispered huskily into my ear, "you'se gonna be performin'?" I snapped out of my daze. I stared at him with a raised eyebrow and an amused expression on my face, "If you let me go, I'll see what I can do in getting you free admission."
He quickly released his crushing hold around my neck with a laugh, "Only kiddin' Boy! Only kiddin'!" There was a chorus of laughter before the rest of the Manhattan newsies headed out to work. I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. My trench coat, having long dried by one of the old fashioned Victorian stoves was folded up neatly and placed in my backpack.
After a few more minutes, Racetrack, Blink, Mush and I were walking down the street with my backpack thumping against my back while trying to avoid the puddles of water created by the melted snow. I waited for them as they got their papers at the distribution office before we walked off together, heading towards Irving Hall.
Again, cut me some slack. I have never been to New York and my sense of direction is…a little screwed up.
"'eah we are!" announced Blink, tilting his head to get a glimpse of the huge picture of Medda. He grinned before he returned his attention to us, "Well, I'll see you'se later. Me an' Mush got some papes to sell!"
Racetrack and I bid him a farewell before the creepy Jack worshipper from yesterday greeted us. He was looking at Racetrack with a funny look on his face and to my surprise; Race almost seems to be shying away from.
"Take the back door Boy," he told me. I nodded and quickly bustled off with Racetrack at my heels.
"You know him?" I asked in an attempt to strike up a conversation.
"You'se kin say dat," was his reply as he pulled out half a cigar and proceeded to light it. I shook my head, "You know, you really shouldn't smoke. It does damage to your lungs." He snorted in disbelief but I didn't push the matter any further when we reach the back door. I pushed it open almost cautiously. The both of us entered, looking around feeling unsure of what to do before Racetrack suggested we go up the stairs and try and find her. I readily agreed seeing that standing around was rather pointless.
Half way up the stairs however, Medda bustled out to greet us flanked by the guy at the front door.
"Racetrack!" she exclaimed in greeting before catching him in a hug. I had to stifle a snicker when I saw that the many ruffles of Medda's dress seemed to be almost choking him. He managed a squeaky greeting before Medda turned to me with a large smile.
"C'mon then Boy! I'll show you to your room. Racetrack? Don't you have work to do?" At once, Racetrack seemed to stand at attention, "Yes Medda! I…I'se best be goin' now." He did an awkward bow before he grabbed his newspapers and hustled out of there with a tinge of red on his face. I bit my lip again to stop myself from bursting into laughter. Medda on the other hand was giggling to herself in a delightful manner behind her fan.
"Boy, this is Bounce," she introduced me. I gave him a slight nod in greeting, as did he. Medda returned her attention to me again as she gestured for me to hurry up, "C'mon then! We have plenty to do!"
"Dat all you'se 'ave?" asked Bounce, eyeing my backpack. I threw him a cautious look, "Yes." To my relief, he shrugged in response and started after Medda. I followed.
After a few minutes of climbing up flights of stairs, I found myself standing in a narrow hallway. I glanced at the many doors with interest. Medda strolled down the hallway until she stopped at the end where a window looked out over the streets. I gripped the straps of my backpack tightly, unsure of what to expect. Slowly, she turned and slid a key into the door on the left. The door swung open with hardly a noise. It had obviously been oiled and judging by the room, it had been freshly cleaned.
"This is your room from now on," she said, handing me the key with a smile. I took it with a somewhat hesitant manner. The room was small. Very small but I suppose beggars can't be choosers. A small cot lay in the corner and a small wooden dresser stood beside it. I dropped my backpack on the cot and looked around, feeling curiously accomplished.
"If you have any questions, you can ask Bounce here. I'll leave you alone to unpack. Bounce will tell you about your job," she told me with a smile before she bustled off leaving Bounce and I alone in an uncomfortable silence.
I cleared my throat, "So…"
"Yes…"
"…. Er…"
"You'se really a goil?" came the question. I bristled, "What?" I turned to look at Bounce. "Asked if you'se really a goil. Don't look loik no goil to me…"
"As much as I would love to prove you wrong," said I sarcastically, "I think I would rather not." He smirked in my direction, "Guess we would see 'bout dat. You'se gotta be downstairs at two." With that, and an almost casual wave of his hand, he left and closed the door behind him.
I stood there, staring at the closed door and wondered of this Bounce's intentions. Shaking my head, I proceeded to "unpack" even though there was precious little to do so. All I did was take the clothes and trench coat that I was wearing when I first came here and tucked them away in the top drawer of the small dresser. My backpack with all the textbooks and binders were stuffed under the steel frame of the cot. I smiled to myself and glanced at the faded clock on the dresser. It was still early but since there really isn't anything else to do, I thought maybe I could just go find me some newsies. There's nothing to do until after lunch anyways.
So, I made my way downstairs and out. Soon, I was back on the streets looking around in a clueless manner.
Ah yes…I forgot about my somewhat unreliable sense of direction.
I glanced around before deciding to wander around the streets, taking good care of the path I took since I need to return to Irving Hall, to find some company. Or more specifically, Blink and Racetrack. I didn't feel too comfortable with anybody else. For example, Mush seems to hate me because of that one instance with what's her name…Elizabeth? So he constantly avoids me, or at least try to. Blink was his best friend after all. Every time he saw me with Blink, he would shoot the nastiest look in my direction when he thought I wasn't looking.
"Ex-try! Ex-try! Giant creature found in sewers! Read all about it!" came a familiar hawking voice. I glanced over my shoulder and found Jack and… was that Davey?
"Boy!" Jack had had spotted me and was waving ecstatically in my direction. I waved back and trotted over, "Hey Jack."
"Boy, I'se wants you'se to meet Davey," he introduced. Davey grinned in my direction before spitting in his hand and held it to shake mine. Before I could do anything, Jack immediately protested to Davey's behaviour.
"Dat's now 'ow you'se treat a goil!" Jack scolded his companion. Davey glanced at me with a confused look on his face. I rolled my eyes at Jack's behaviour, spat on my own hand and shook his firmly before withdrawing it and wiping the spit on my…well, Racetrack's pants.
"You're a girl?" he asked, still looking confused. I sighed, "Yes." He stared at me openly. Apparently, this was hilarious to Jacky Boy…
Which reminds me… what ever happened to Spot yesterday night? I bit back a smirk. He must have been confused. Standing on that bridge like that, staring after me, not knowing how I knew his nickname to Jack Kelly here.
"So where are you from Boy?" David asked with a friendly smile. By this time, I had fallen in step with the pair and we were making our way through the dirty snow piled streets.
"Up north."
"Really? How far up north?" was his question. I paused, uncertain of my answer. Canada has long been established as a country… Fine, maybe not long but they were established as a country by 1899… but what sort of impact does it have on New York?
I have no idea… It didn't seem like something to risk anyways so I simply shrugged my shoulders and came up with a simple reply…or lie. Either way, it gets the point across.
"I don't know. I travel a lot. Don't usually pay attention to the places I stop."
"I see…" was David's answer. He was now regarding me suspiciously and I had to sigh. What is with these people? Always looking at me like I'm going to strike out at them and attack them or something. Do I look like I can commit tentacle rape or something?
"Where did you learn English?" he asked. I blinked, "Huh?"
"You're a Chinaman…well," he laughed, "Chinaman's daughter right? Where did you learn English?" I bit my lip.
"I…had a private tutor?" I attempted. He took the bait with an air of satisfaction and I couldn't help but sigh in relief. He shot me another suspicious look but he attempted to make conversation once more as Jack continued to hawk the headlines beside us.
"Have you been to Brooklyn?" he asked. I bit my lip. Yesterday night all over again and the two words, Delancey rape kept echoing in my head.
"Once," I answered truthfully, "But it was a mistake if anything. I was being chased."
"Chased? Chased by who?" asked Jack. I bit the inside of my cheek, "Just…some random guys." I wasn't about to tell them that the Delancey's were trying to catch me to rape me! Do you know how embarrassing that is?
Jack frowned in my direction, "Did they hurt you?" I rolled my eyes, "No." He grinned, "Didja meet Spot Conlon?" I coloured and he crowed in triumph even though I really have no idea why he would… It was an embarrassing topic to discuss. Who could say that they met the Brooklyn newsies leader by bowling over them then dash off but not before taunting and confusing him?
Nobody, that's who.
Nobody except me…
Lucky ole me…
Whoop-dee-doo.
"Spot's a ladies man," Jack said with a grin when he noted the colouring of my cheeks. I made a face, "Not interested Jack. Not interested."
"Jacky boy!"
Speak of the devil…
I swallowed thickly. The short Brooklyn leader didn't seem much of an opponent…at first. I mean, really, if you were going to go up against an almost scrawny looking boy who's looks shorter than you and one whom you can put your elbows up against his shoulders as a stand…
Well you get what I mean…. He's short.
Of course, you have to be as realistic and as rational as possible. You have to count the facts. This little bastard has probably got an army ready to do his every bidding. Me against a thousand scrawny newsboys…well, you don't have to be good at math to count the odds.
"Is something wrong?" asked David with concern. I shook my head stiffly and let out a nervous laugh, "No…not at all. Why would there be anything wrong?"
"'Ey Spot!" Jack greeted, waving in Conlon's direction. No doubt, he's walking over here right now. I looked around frantically for some kind of escape from this fast becoming awkward situation.
Too late.
"'ey Jacky boy… who's dat?"
"Dat's Boy. Boy? Dis be Spot Conlon, leadah of da Brooklyn Newsies." I snapped out of my fear-induced daze. Especially when Spot spoke up.
"Boy? Ain't you'se de idiot who gots chased into my territory by de Delancey brudders?" he demanded. Something snapped and I whirled around to face him, ready to bark back insults. Nobody calls me an idiot!
Then I looked into his eyes…and stopped abruptly.
….
Yeah… I'm screwed.
==========
End of Chapter 5
Sapphy: ^^ I guess I should apologize for the boys trying to pass off as girls comment… Naaaaaaw! Wow…people really don't like the Delanceys huh? O_O…
Cerridewen: Thanks!
Ember: Yes…the bed sharing thing seems …tickle people's pleasure buds… Okay, ew, that sounded wrong.
Harley: XD I apologize for giving you the image of Delancey rape that early in the morning. Here, I'll try and make it up to you by giving you urm… urm… er… virtual cookies?
Erisnymph: Hee…I'm a mature writer. Thanks for your review! I'll try to be equally witty and amusing in future chapters. XD
AnGel27: Thanks for your review! *smooch*
Arianne/Pencil: Thanks for your review! Yes…hype- ness gooood.