New York, sometime the next month

"Thare she is!" yelled Charly, pointing to a small, blonde girl in a pretty, sophisticated light brown blouse and a dark maroon, ankle length skirt.

"She 'asn't changed a bit!" breathed Giant, overcome with his former feelings of admiration for her. The other boys were also voicing their admiration; hardly believing this "actress" could, would, or want to sell a "pape." The Manhattan boys who came were amazed at the realism of the miniature, while the two Brooklyn boys that escorted Giant (Spot being one of them) were captivated by her elegance. Finally, the searching brown eyes came to rest on the newsie crowd. Immediately she brightened, her smile lighting up her face and eyes. Soon the plank was down and she was one of the first ones down it. She raced over to the clump of boys with speed the newsies hardly believed possible in skirts.

"Charly! 'ow I've missed yew!" she cried in her thick London accent. The brother and sister embraced, not wanting to let the other go. Finally, Charly pulled away and eyed her figure.

"Wot 'ave yew eaten since I left?" he quizzed, trying to look into the eyes that turned down at this question.

"I ate 'bout ev'ry two weeks wol yew were gone..." she said timidly, her voice trailing off.

"An' on th' ship?" he prodded.

"I triod to eat, really, I did...it's only it oll came back up again," she whined, pleading him with her voice and expressive eyes to not punish her.

"Charly, did ya not teach 'er ta eat, like I told ya to when I left?" rebuked Giant, trying to draw the "couple" apart.

"Yewr Majesty!" Cathy immediately recognized her former suitor and curtsied then ran into his outstretched arms. He hugged her tight, then lifted her briefly to test her weight.

"Put me DOWN! 'tis undignified!" she yelled as he underestimated both his strength and her weight. He gently set her down, red from embarrassment. He knelt before her to ask her forgiveness, just like he used to in their game of medieval knights and ladies.

"Pardon, Lady Queen."

"Given, King. 'f I were in me knickers, 't'wod be fine, but not in me fine dress." She replied with all the authority and dignity that gave her the nickname.

A cough brought her attention to the rest of the group. She smiled up at them (she was shorter than all of them by at least a head).

"Chary, wod yew be so kond as t' introduce me t' this loverly bunch of chaps?"

"Roity-ho Cathy. This is Jack, th' leadeh of th' Manhattan Newsboys"

"Jack! Jack Kelley? Pleased t' mok yewr acquaintance. Ar yew th' one 'o lead th' stroik? We 'eard 'bout it in London, an' th' Times offehed t' boi back our papehs, just loke yewrs. Oh, pardon me! I 'ave a problem wi' tokin' too much!" she laughed.

"Didja hear 'bout us?" demanded Kid Blink.

"Yew must be Blink? An' yaor 'is twin, Diamond. I coud not tell yew apart, save for yewr patch. Yew must be Spot! We've ol 'eard 'bout yew so much in London! Aow, I'm so proud t' foinally meet th' most well-known newsboy! Yew othah chaps, I'm sure I've heard of yew, but I do not recognize yew," yabbered Cathy

"Je mappele..." stammered Mush.

"Vous mappele? Oui?" responded Cathy, winning his heart immediately.

"Je nom est Matthieu; Je mappele Mush," he replied, brightening.

"Un plaisir pour recontre, Mattheiu. An' yew?"

"Name's Scrapper," he said blushing, awed by her attention and knowledge of a foreign language. Davey stepped forward to introduce himself.

"P-pardon, me, I did not see yew before. Yew most be David. David Jacobs." stammered Cathy, slightly blushing.

"I am! How'd you know?"

"We heard about yew, too...The others are goin' t' hate me for this...Yewr th' only one who looks educated enough t' b' th' brains behoind th' stroik. Oh, I mean th' rest of yew are certainly smart, but there is a difference between smart and educated," reassured Cathy, trying to be charming.

This is the forst toime I 'ave seen 'er trip ovah 'er words, thought Charly, laughing. She most loke David. She's nevah been so insecure. Out loud, he saved her from further awkwardness.

"Did yew bring a trunk, love?"

"Yes, or th'y off th' ship yet?" She jumped on the change of subject, relieved at her brother's insight.

"Why don we find out?" said Jack, impatient to get back to Manhattan so he could eat.

As they walked to the baggage house, Cathy further won the hearts of the boys by telling jokes and funny stories. While Cathy went inside, Charly talked to Robert, who told him all he knew about how Cathy behaved while Charly was gone. Charly had guessed his sister would go into a bit of a depression; she had behaved like this when their parents died. Soon she returned, carrying a small trunk. The boys thought it was light because she carried it with ease, but when Davey took it from her, he almost dropped it.

"If'n it is too 'eavy, I c'n carry it," she said sweetly, making his face turn crimson. He had really thought he had gotten stronger. To prove that he was stronger, he replied,

"No, no. I was just surprised. That's all."

"Neveh undehestimate da Queen Mum, Dave. She's full of surprises," recommended Giant.

"Queen Mum? How'd'ya get that name?" demanded Blink, curious and loud-mouthed as usual.

"It oll started wi' th' King 'ere tryin' t' court me. Th' chaps olways teased me an' colled me 'Queen.'"

"We called yew 'mum' 'cause yew was always tellin' us ta eat our veggies an' fixin' our cuts, an' all 'round motherin' us!" finished His Majesty. Spot was curious to know how his Giant got the name "King."

"It was sorta da tr'diton ta call da leader of da troupe 'King.' I was da King for tre yeahs 'fore I met Cathy an' den it was two years 'fore she became a newsgoil. Charly joined 'bout da time I met Cathy. Dey only know me as 'His Majesty' or da 'King,'" explained Giant.

Davey wanted to know what Cathy did before she became a newsgirl, but by that time they had reached Tibby's and she had to meet the rest of the boys. I guess I'll just hafta ask her when she comes to dinner tonight, he sighed.

The moment Cathy finished her large lunch, during which she became acquainted with the Manhattan newsies, the troupe whisked her off on a quick tour of the city. The first stop was the Lodging House, where David left the trunk, then they went to Brooklyn by way of the World Building, Central Park, Denton's apartment (she wanted to meet the author of all the strike articles), and Irving Hall. Cathy was enthralled by the actress, Medda. She made Charly promise to take her to the show soon. The got to Brooklyn around sunset, and Giant said goodbye to the siblings, quietly reminding Cathy of his love in Cocknish. She blushed and glanced at Davey, longing in her eyes.

"You used to love me, but now I see that you belong with him," he commented in their language.

"I have only known him half a day. How do I know what I feel is true?" she replied, also in Cocknish.

"I see it in you. Don't worry, I shall become like another brother to you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"No problem," he replied in English, stooping down to give her a brotherly hug. The Manhattan part of the troupe left Brooklyn and stopped to yell at the reflection of the stars over the side of the famous bridge. Cathy, however, thought that this was stupid, bringing her down a notch in the boy's esteem. One by one, the newsies split up until Charly, Cathy, Davey, and Jacky were left alone. This had been previously arranged with the newsie, because the Jacobs wanted to welcome the newcomers with a meal, but they couldn't fit all the newsies in their apartment. The "couple" readily agreed to David's invitation; Cathy especially wanted to meet his family.

"I'm called..."

"You are called? Yes?"

"My name is Matthieu; I am called 'Mush.'"

"A pleasure to meet you, Matthieu..."