Building Bridges: Chapter Nine

Rayanne ran up the stairs and into her bedroom where she quickly fixed her make up and hair. She sped across the hallway and started banging on William's door.

"Will! I have to go! Let's go! Hurry!" She heard him grumble inside and smiled when the door opened and an extremely disoriented William appeared before her eyes.

"What is possibly so important that you had to wake me up from my nap?" Rayanne stood up on her toes and ruffled William's hair.

"I found out some information that we need to take care of this instant. Let's go we don't have much time. I want to catch the guys in the restaurant!" William looked confused but mumbled something barely audible before turning to go and freshen up a little to go out on this emergency trip.

He finally walked into the hallway and shut his door then turned around to stand face to face with Rayanne. "Ready?" She nodded enthusiastically, grabbed his hand and led them down the stairs, out the door, and onto the street of Manhattan.

They reached Tibby's and Rayanne was immediately relieved to see that the boys where still in the restaurant. She opened the door and smiled when all the faces turned to look at who had entered the restaurant. She waved in response to the chorus of greetings she received and smiled even wider when she saw Dutchy and Jack move towards her with grins on their faces.

"Hey guys!" Jack placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled William up beside him. "If it ain't Rooftop and Will. Wha' are you doin' 'ere so soon? Miss me dat much?"

Rayanne gently punched him. "You wish, Cowboy. I need to talk to you, Dutchy and Sparks. Is there any place we can go and talk without any of the others hearing?"

Jack thought about it and nodded as he started looking around for Sparks. When he found her he called her over. "Go to da lodgin' 'ouse. Nobody is goin' in dere fo' a few mo' 'ours."

"Thank you, Jack. William," She looked him and grabbed his arm, "You're coming too."

Jack let go of Rayanne and moved so he stood at the center of the restaurant. "Ey fellas! Me an' some o' the othas are goin' to da lodgin' 'ouse! Stay out!"

Satisfied with the mumbled responses from the others Jack walked toward the group and led the way to the lodging house.

When they walked in Rayanne was surprised to find it much cleaner and organized than she thought it would be. Jack introduced her to Kloppman before heading up the stairs to the bunk room.

William and Rayanne sat on one bunk across from Dutchy and Sparks. Jack pulled up a chair to sit in the middle. The room was silent as everyone waited for someone to say something. Anything to end the nervous silence.

Rayanne cleared her throat and received a glare from Sparks. Remembering the earlier slap Dutchy had received she raised her hands and apologized.

"Well. There is really no slow and easy way to say this so I am just going to lay it on the table." She could clearly tell that the others were confused, including William. She raised her gaze to be able to look at the three newsies across from her. She felt William reach for her hand and squeeze it reassuringly and she smiled warmly at the gesture.

"I think that the two of you," she raised her hand and motioned to Dutchy and Sparks, "are my brother and sister." She stood up and began to pace in front of the bunk.

"I spoke with my mother and she told me that I had two brothers and a twin sister. My brother and sister ran away from home when they were very little and they ended up on the streets of Manhattan." She stopped and looked at Jack.

"And you never told me you knew I had siblings. My mother told me that Charles, my oldest brother, left the other two in Manhattan to go to Santa Fe because of you. She also told me that she moved out here to try and find them. I'm here because she sent me a letter asking me to join her here. That is why I left so urgently after meeting you in the restaurant but now that I know this information I really want to get to know all of you better. And the rest of the boys too."

She sighed deeply and sat back down on the bed as if she had just run a mile. "And I want to introduce you to the person who I think is your mother."

She looked down at her lap where she was wringing her hands and waited to hear their response afraid of looking at their faces.