That night I wouldn't sleep, I couldn't, how could I? I wasn't sure if I believed in this time machine of there's. This is a movie, not just a shift in time. I rested on the rigid, bottom bunk bed. My eyes wandered. I watched as the newsies slept, so peaceful. I wondered what they could be dreaming of. I knew I never worked half as hard, physically, as they have. They're worn out, and dirty faces showed their hard and honest work. I had never realized just how much from the movie, but they really have it hard. I mean Julia and me struggled so hard to get the money for our New York trip, we thought we wouldn't make it. These guys though worked hard everyday just so they could eat. I waited for what the next morning would bring. I wondered if it was possible for them to do what they did in the movie, the singing, and dancing. I dismissed that shortly after sunrise and no one jumped up with smiling faces. I would have thought that after so many years of the same bright and early routine they would be in a somewhat better mood when waking.
"How can you'se be so cheerful in da mornin'?" I looked over at Racetrack and watched him light a cigar.
" I don't know. I have just always liked mornings. I like the time to myself. People aren't as, well, people in the morning. Some are grumpy, but mostly they focus all energy on just trying to get going. It's very relaxing." I looked into my bag for something to wear. I pulled some of my belongings out and set them aside on my bunk.
Jack came up and looked at my other outfit. It was a white shirt that had a scenery of a palm tree, ocean, colorful sunset, with silhouettes of seagulls, the top went to my color bone, and dipped like a U. It had a trim of blue thread all around it and slits down the sleeves, opening them up to flap. The other half of the outfit was my simple light jean khapris; no pockets in back and it buttoned up instead of zipped.
He lifted my top up. "You'se gonna wear dis?"
"I was going to, yes, but I thought about it and I don't think it's going to seem appropriate."
"I'se dink whad you'se have on now is odd, but it's bedder dan dis." Jack replied. I grabbed my shirt from him, folded it, and put it back neatly. I looked over to see Bumlets and Racetrack with my disk man and a few CDs.
"Put that on your head over your ears," I leaned over adjusted the headphones on Racetrack, and took the player and opened to see what was in it. It was Newsies. I figured that it may be best not to let him listen to that one, so I opened a case and took out a Dashboard Confessional CD, 'A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar'. "Ready?"
He looked at me funny, "yeah." I pushed the skip button until I found the song that I liked, and then pushed play. He jumped back and his Italian eyes widened.
"Is he okay?" Jack asked.
"Yes. Its just music."
"How is music comin' out of dat?"
"Uh, it's hard to explain." After a few moments Mush took the headphones off Racetracks head and put them on his own. "So what chya think?"
"It was amazin' I'se couldn't understand da woids da whole time, but," He continued for a few minuets of how strange it was. Eventually it got around to everyone. Time was getting late so after I brushed by hair out we headed out to the distribution center. Bumlets loaned me enough money to get twenty papers. The headline was fair that day. Jack told me about his way of sellin' papes, which of course, every Newsies's fan knows, but I humored him, and listened. I sold with Bumlets on his street at the edge of Lower Manhattan. Jack offered to help, but I knew he already sold with David and Les so I declined. Bumlets came up to me after the newsies had dispersed; he was really nice, and sweet. He was just like most fan fiction writers depict him, shy, sweet and someone who has their head in the clouds most of the time, when he's not talking to someone. That is one thing I liked about him. I didn't feel like I had to make meaningless conversation, and think of things to say, when there wasn't anything to talk about, other than the weather. I took a few moments to read the front page. I read the date. It was October and one of the big things to talk about seemed to be weather, and how unseasonably warm it was for the time of year.
We walked into Tibby's which looked just it did in the movie. We had finished early compared to most days when he is selling by himself. When I finished selling mine, I helped him out with his. We sat in a booth across from each other. A waiter dressed in a black jacket and pants, with a nice white shirt underneath came over to our table. He was young, had short red hair, his face was covered in freckles, and he had a very prominent nose, not the most attractive man around.
Bumlets looked at me then at the waiter who was waiting with pencil in hand and notebook. "Da special." The man scribbled something on the paper. I looked around quickly at a chalkboard that had written on it food, and drink prices.
"Turkey on bread and water please." The waiter looked at me strangely then wrote my order down. He began to walk back to the counter when he turned quickly.
He looked straight at me. "Where are you from? If you don't mind me asking."
"Uh," I really just could have said Ohio, or some place, but the question took me completely off guard. No sooner did I start to stutter did Bumlets save me. I didn't realize he was so quick.
"Brooklyn. She's here on a vacation."
His head turned from Bumlets back to me. " Ah, and your name?"
"Ariel Scott." That was a little weird. "Why?" He stood and watched me for a moment before speaking again. I was expecting him just to leave.
"You have a friend, one Julia Verdana." She was there I couldn't believe it, but where?
"Julia!?! Where is she?" I asked eagerly.
"If you would give me a minute I will get your orders in." Before I could say anything more he was gone. I'll just get him when he comes back I thought. I turned to Bumlets who face was confused. I thought I should tell him what was going on before I got there, and who Julia was.
"Uh, Julia is my best friend. She was with me before I ended up here. We were on a plane, a thing that flies in the air, headed to New York, and when we were almost there, or here, we crashed I guess. I'm not sure though. One thing I really don't get is if I am dead. I mean in my time this is a movie. Well, the newsies were real, but most of you that I know are characters from a movie, or uh a flicker. I really don't know how I got here. I was wondering the time machine that you people talked of. Did it work?" My speech finally ended. My eyes were raised slightly and my forehead wrinkled with worry.
"I'se don't know. I'se was never dare to see when it happened." Our food arrived; our plates were sat in front of us. I looked up and found it to be an over weight woman with a chef's hat on and a white apron.
"Excuse me, where did that young, tall man with red hair go?" I lifted my hand up to illustrate his height.
" No, habla Inglas, no, habla Inglas!" She walked away arms waving about shouting this until she reached the back of the restaurant. I couldn't believe it, where did he go? Bumlets and I talked during the rest of our meal, about the reason Julia and me were coming to New York. He asked if I was someone's girl, and things like that. I was surprised at some of his openness once we really started talking. He told me some things about the strike that wasn't in the movie. I again was surprised at the lengths some of the people would go to, to hurt them, and break them up. I really loved hearing him talk. I was learning so much.
That night I decided to go for a walk. It was just dark out, about seven. I let the newsies listen to my CDs and I even took pictures of some of them, mostly the smaller ones. They were so excited to see their faces in color. I would take a few when they weren't looking, and the actions I got were just wonderful. They were so truthful, and honest. I let them keep most of the pictures, but keep some for myself. I was glad that I brought a few extra rolls of film with me. I took my camera with me when I left. Bumlets offered to escort me around and tell all about the buildings and places. I passed however. I wasn't ready to be alone like that with him. I noticed every time I was near him. I began to feel nervous and strange. The feelings intensified with time. I hated it when that happened to me. I always fall for someone who doesn't feel the same. They just like being friends, they like the advice I give them about girls and the inside info on them. I walked pass the Horace Greeley statue, and snapped a picture. I looked around to make sure no was looking. I was about to leave that and continue when I heard a noise behind me. I turned around to see a short guy, with his trademark cigar hanging out one side of his mouth.
He walked closer;" Whad da hell was dat?"
"A picture, it's from my camera. Smile." I hesitated for a moment before snapping a picture. I held it after a few moments after it came out and waved it about some. I know that it really doesn't work, but force of habit. He came even closer. He had been acting as if I was infected by some kind of flesh eating bacteria, or was contagious of some deadly disease. "Here." I handed him the picture.
"Wow. Dis is great." We stood there for a few moments in silence. "You'se want it back?"
"No, keep it. I can always get another. It's a good picture." I began to walk away.
"Sos where you'se headin'?" He turned to follow me.
"I don't know, just walking around. How about you? Comin' from the tracks?"
He looked at me mystified. "How'd you'se,"
I smiled. "How'd you do?"
"All right I'se guess. Had a great tip dat came trew." We walked a few moments in silence. I stopped in front of a huge building, and sat on a few steps. It was obvious that I was tired. I wasn't used to walking as much as I was. Racetrack sat a few steps lower than me.
"I'se wanted to tell ya, I'se sorry for actin' so sore wid ya. We'se jus never had good luck wid people dat say dere from da future."
I smiled at him. "It's okay. I'm sure it has to be weird." We talked for a few minutes and finally headed back to the lodging house. Everyone was down stairs in a mess hall. There was a bright fire roaring, giving a radiance and a warmth. There was a small lamp hanging from the ceiling that gave a slight glow around the room. To help light more there were candles and oil lamps on the long table and at the corners of the room. Shadows were dancing about when we came in. Everyone was drinking hot chocolate and eating sugar cookies. It was like a big family, everyone sharing on the day's events, and laughing. It was very welcoming. I found out soon that Esther Jacobs made the delicious cookies. Racetrack had wandered off and Bumlets sat next to me. In his hand, he had another book that was from the collection from in my bag. It was the first of the 'Timepiece' titled, 'The Christmas box'.
"Readin'?" I don't know why I asked that. I should have known he probably couldn't. I guess I just wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. His face fell some.
"Nah, I'se don't read too good. What's it about?"
"Well, this one is about a family who is having money troubles. They see an ad in a newspaper; it's for live in help,"
"Could you'se read it to us?" Boots asked, he scooted his chair closer and sat in it backward with his legs on either side. His chin rested in the back. I wanted to say no at first. I didn't think it would be something they'd like. I debated this in my head for a few moments, then took it from Bumlets who had it ready to hand to me.
"All right." I replied shifting to a more comfortable position. There was an empty chair in front of me, I took it pulled it closer and stretched my legs on it crossing the right over the left. "An if you don't like tell me. I think you may like the 'Timepiece' better.' It's actually in this time period. This one is more my time. Well before me, but after you. Ready?" Heads nodded and I started. My voice started out loud, so that all could hear, but eventually my voice softened to a smooth, calm, melodic sound. Contrary to what I predicted they were enjoying it. They sat quietly and listened. They would ask what a few words meant and sometimes what a whole part would mean, but I didn't mind. There were only a little over a hundred pages to begin with, but most of the smaller newsies began to nod off by page eighty.
"Maybe we should continue tomorrow." I closed the book with my finger in place.
Jack stood up and stretched. "Sounds good." He, Kid Blink, Bumlets, Mush, and some of the other older newsies helped the sleeping ones up to their bunks, which awaited their tired bodies. Before going straight to bed, I washed my hair and self. I was wondering when I'd be able to wash my clothes. That night I slept in the same sweats and long T-shirt that I did the night before.