Chapter 7: Somewhat Of A Scheme
Jack arose that morning waiting on Mush to ask him how he slept. This was a routine the two of them did every morning.
"Have you seen Layana, Jack?" Racetrack asked as approached him in the wash room.
"No, I'se ain't seen Mush eider." They started shaving.
"I wonder if they noticed us?" Layana asked as she and Mush tried sneaking back into the bunk room. Mush was guiding her with his hand on her lower back.
"Hey Mush! So wheres you'se been?" Kid Blink spotted him as Mush entered the room. He patted him on the back, and laughed. Mush ignored this and looked up to see everyone staring at them. He went straight to his bunk, grabbed a pair of his other clothes, and tossed them to her.
"I'll try an explain some of dis to da boys. Don't worry, I'se wont tell 'em everything." She went to the wash room and changed from her white shirt and black skirt into Mush's clothes.
"Whadd are you talkin' bout?" Jack asked wiping his face, as the other gathered around Mush.
"We need to disguise her from 'Weasel'. I'se can't explain now." They looked at each other confused. "Also Blink, can she barrow yer oder hat?"
'Yeah, course she can. But if we need to say her name shouldn't we call her sumthin' else?" The newsies mused for a moment for a suitable newsy nick name. Bumlets looked around for a moment when he heard a voice singing.
"Who is dat?" He asked.
"Layana." Mush replied simply.
"Dats it. Da very foist ding I heard her do was sing. Sos how bout 'Songboid'?" She appeared behind him after he said this. She felt funny; wearing over sized pants that only fit in height, because they were cut off at the end and the blue shirt was missing a few buttons at the top.
"Hows dat?" Jack asked patting her on the head.
"Fine. I didn't think anyone could hear me though." Kid Blink came up to her with his hat.
"Allow me." He put the hat on her head and over her eyes. Everyone went back to getting ready. Layana went to her bunk to stay out of their way and put a rubber band in her hair pulling it back, so it wasn't as noticeable.
Racetrack came up to her and sat on her bunk.
"Let me hear ya talk." He said taking a cigar out of his mouth.
"Huh?" She smiled confused.
"Ya know, so you'se sound more believable."
"Oh. Um well..."
"It's okay. Try anythin'.
"I'se dink I can do it for a while, but not for too long dough." She cautiously said.
"Very good." He clapped.
"So wanna sale papes wid me?"
"I can't. I'm already going with Mush. I'm sorry." Just then, Mush walked by, while getting his shirt on completely.
"Almost ready?"
"Uh...yeah." She could barley speak, she was so flustered. She turned her head down, as he walked away.
"You alright?" Racetrack asked noticing her.
"Yeah." She said trying to play it off, looking at him in a 'why' way. Mush came back.
"Crutchy said something that may be a problem."
"What?" Layana and Race asked simultaneously.
"Yer, yer... limp." He tried to say tactfully.
"Oh, yeah. I huh, I don't know." A slight frown covered her face.
"Oh don't worry bout it. We can dink of sumthin'." Mush said, not wanting to see her discouraged. They thought for a moment and Racetrack spoke.
"I'se got it. Your sellin' wit Mush right? Well how bout when you'se walk, have yer arm around him and his around you, and dat might help."
"Good idea Race, danks." With that, everyone walked to the distribution center.