The next morning Knots started to walk towards the lodging house. She saw Jack and stopped. She took a deep breath to hopefully help fight back tears. Jack spied her and ran towards her. He playfully pulled off her cap and started to run ( one of their morning rituals). He stopped when he realized Knots wasn't chasing him. He looked back and saw her with her head hanging down. "Knots, wuts da matta?" She shook her head but kept it low so she wouldn't have to look at Jack. "Nothing, Ise fine." She sniffled. "No youse not fine." Jack walked over to Knots. He lifted her chin with his finger. She still refused to look at him so she looked down. "What happened? Did somebody hoit ya? Cause if dey did-" Jacks voice began to raise. Knots cut him off by shaking her head. Jacks hand still under her chin. "Well what is it? Is it youse mudda? Look at me wills ya?" Knots looked into Jacks eyes and she couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst into tears. She ran to a small park, a hangout of her and Jacks. She sat next to a big tree in which Jack had carved their initials as a sign that they were best friends. She leaned against the tree with her head in her knees as if she was trying to become a little ball. Jack came up behind her and sat down next to her. He gently rubbed her back. "C'mon Knots, tell me wuts botterin ya. Ya knows youse can tell me anything." She looked up at Jack and started to talk but all that came out was heavier sobs. She clung to Jack and continued to cry. After about ten minutes she suddenly pulled away and took a deep breath. Jack wiped a tear from her cheek. "Jack Ise gots something Ise needs ta tell ya" "What is it?" Jack said nervously. The only other time he had seen her like this was when she was thinking about her dad. "Me mum" "Is she alright?" "Me mum has met someone" "That's Great! Youse'll have a pop again." "No Jack! No. Its not great at all" "Whys not?" "This guy he's bad news Ise can tell. He's getting a new job at a boarding school as the principal. And Ise gotta go to dis school." "Well that's ok, so youse won't sells papes wit me but we'll see eachother in the evening." "Jack... the schools in Santa Fe." Jacks face dropped. "That means that youse and Ise....your going away Knots?" "Ise don't want to. Ise would give anything to stay here with you." "Runaway. Youse can live at the lodgin house with me." "Jack Ise already thought about that. But this guy is pretty powerful. He's gotta lot of money and he'd be able to find me easily."

Knots looked down at the grass she was picking at and then looked at Jack's face. Only to see a tear falling down his cheek. Jack noticed that she saw him and he quickly wiped it away. He needed to be strong for Knots, for himself. He wouldn't let her go. No way was some goon going to take away his best friend.