Chapter 11: Call me... Mamo
"Someone should probably walk you so you'se don't get any trouble. Not sayn'' you'se would get in any trouble but ya with Morris an everything." Jack stated. She nodded understanding.
"I'se done. I can take her." Racetrack suggested.
"Okay, sos is dat okay wit you'se Layana?" She looked at Mush; who looked kind of hurt. But she was a little fearful, and Mush did have to finish selling the rest of his papers.
"Yeah, that's fine." She smiled and went walked out with Racetrack.
"Are you always done this early?" Layana asked during an awkward silence down a lane. She looked over at him and he took his cigar out of his mouth. He seemed relived that something anything was said.
"Yeah most a da time. Sos whad kinda dress you'se lookin' for?"
"I..I uh I don't know. I don't even know of any shops here."
"I'se got ya covered." He grabbed Layana's hand and quickened their pace. She was stif from the sitting minutes before and her legs hadn't had time to loosen up yet so she had started walking fairly slowly. Then he remembered.
"Oh, sorry." He halted.
"No, I'm fine, really it's okay. I can go faster sometimes. It just takes a little time sometimes." He let go of her arm, and she looked down sheepishly.
"We'se here." He held open the glass door for her. Painted on the glass in pretty, red cursive is Adelina's.
"Wait here." Racetrack walked over to a round, elderly woman with wrinkles at her eyes, red hair, and an Irish accent. They acted friendly and she hugged him as if she hasn't seen him in a while. He said a few words to her then both came to her.
"Hello dear, my name is Evelyn." Her thin, red lips curled into a smile. My Desmond tells me your looking for a dress. Well let's see, I think I have some that will look ravishing on you. They will have to have a little hemming done but, you know," She dropped off. She turned to Racetrack watching them.
"Now you sit here and read this. We will be out in a moment." She handed Racetrack a magazine and directed him to a green chair off to the side of the counter. Evelyn took Layana's hand and she began walking to the back of the store. As they headed behind a dark blue curtain Layana looked back at Racetrack then entered. Once inside she saw more dresses than she could have ever imagined. There were all different colors, some were a little racier than others, and some were just the most gorgeous dresses her eyes have ever beheld. Evelyn searched for a few moments and pulled out a few, and handed them to her.
"Here ya go deary, try these on." She pushed Layana behind another curtain. She tried the first one on. It was white; it came to about her ankles and had like a flower print in vertical lines going down. She didn't like this one too much, and she quickly changed into another one. The top was dark blue, it had some kind of ruffle that came down the front form the neck, where a tie would be, and the skirt was black that had a layer that gathered up from the bottom and stopped mid way up. It fitted her perfectly. She had never really worn anything so mature before. Then she tried on a fancy dress. It was dusty pink and had a layer of pink lace over the skirt. It had a snug bodice, a modest, low cut, scoop neck, and long sleeves. Layana was in awe at this point of the dress and what she was doing, until an Irish voice brought her back.
"Are you trying on the pink one yet dear?" She was holding some thread and needle for the hemming.
"Yes ma'am. "
"Oh don't call me ma'am, call me either Evelyn or what all the kids call me, Mamo'. Come on now lets see ya." Layana emerged holding the skirt up a few inches, not to step on it. She still had Kid Blink's brown newsy hat.
"What does 'Mamo'' mean?"
"It's Irish, for nana." She helped her up on to a stool and started pinning the bottom of the dress up a few inches. Layana saw the curtain move slightly.
"Mamo'?
"Yes dear? Come in." Racetrack pushed the curtain back and looked at Layana standing there. She looked so different she was stunning. Layana uncomfortably began fiddling with her fingernails.
"What do you tink hun?" Evelyn removed Layana's hat and took out the rubber band. Her red hair fell on her face, over her eyes and past her shoulders. She moved it behind her ears. She looked more angelic than before.
"Nice." Racetrack replied after a few moments of silence.
"Whad ya need me for dear?"
"Oh some lady is here to see you'se."
"Okay I'll be back dear." When she left, there were a few moments of awkward silence.
"Dat looks real nice on you'se. Kinda like an angel or somedin' Why do ya look so worried?" Layana blushed.
"I don't know if I have enough money for this." She felt embarrassed.
"Oh is dat all? You'se don't have to worry 'bout dat. Nothin' back here has a price. It's her privet collection.'
"Oh. Well there must be some way I can repay her." Just then Evelyn walked back into the room, hearing the last statement.
"Well deary if you insist, I could always use some extra help round here. Do you know how to count?" She started pinning the bottom of the dress.
"Yeah, I graduated last year. I know read and write too."
"Wow, good for you dear. It'll come in handy. You won't end up sellin' newspapers for the rest of yer life." At that comment Racetrack looked down. His selling was obviously a sore spot with his family.
"I don't know when I'll ever be able to wear this." Layana said breaking the tension.
"I'se do. Medda is havin' a show for all newsies at Irving Hall tomarra night."
"Okay." She smiled. Evelyn continued working until that dress and the skirt from the outfit before were hemmed. Racetrack, and Layana started on their way to Denton's apartment. Racetrack carried one of the white boxes while Layana carried the other.
"How come you don't live with her or at least work there?" Layana asked.
"Well when mi muddah, and fuddah died I stayed with mi mamo' on mi fuddah's side. Mi muddah's family still lives in Italy. Dat store was mi muddah's; it's her name. Mi fuddah's parents came wid him from Ireland. Any ways in da beginin' I'se stayed wid dem, till I'se got a job an I didn't wanna impose no more. Besides now da newsies are mi family." Layana felt a little bad for bringing it up.
"I'm sorry about your parents."
"Dats okay."
"Well, it's good that you talk to mamo still. She obviously loves you. I didn't realize you are half Irish and Italian. I see it now." She stopped walking and studied his dark hair and eyes for a moment then continued. They reached the apartment, Racetrack handed her the other box and watched her go in.
"Heya Race." Jack greeted him as he came in the lodging house about an hour later. A group of guys were playing poker, and he took his place.
"Hey."
"What took you'se so long, we'se been waitin' for ya?" Kid Blink asked, while picking up the cards from the last hand and shuffling them.
"We had to get her dress, dat's all. It's a'right if she comes to the show at Medda's right?"
"Course." Jack answered, "She'll get to meet some other goils, Topaz, and Sarah. Oh Mush I'se dink Topaz is god a ding for ya." He was remembering the last show at Medda's. Topaz had gotten' into some liquor and hit on Mush the entire time. She wouldn't stop hanging on his arms. Topaz was tall blonde, and blue eyed newsy who was once a wealthy girl until she ran away. Her newsy name came from the color of her eyes. She was always fiery and flirty and had always shown favoritism to Mush.
"She was drunk, dat's all."
"Yeah, but dat didn't stop you'se." Kid Blink retorted, implying Mush's reputation with girls.
"We'se didn't do anythin'." He pushed him in the shoulder. Everyone could tell this wasn't the real Mush. He had been in a bad mood after Tibby's, which is a rarity with him. So they didn't push the subject any further. After a few hands of the game, and having Racetrack clean most of them they went to bed anticipating tomorrow night.