Bitter stood right where she was for a couple moments before feeling completely self-conscious. She walked over to her bed and pretended to be busy packing and repacking her things into her bag. What am I gunna do now? I wasn't even supposed ta stick 'round wid da newsies aftah I got bettah an' now I'm goin' out wid da leader? Nice job Bittah. God, I'm even calling myself Bittah now?! I'm Melody! I have ta remembah dat! I can't jest stick 'round an' I really can't get emotionally attached. Okay, I cant get MORE attached den…Only bad things come from it Melody!
Her silent reproving of herself was interrupted by Cards saying, "Ya knows you'se are gunna wear yer clothes out even moah if ya keep foldin' dem ovah an' ovah like that."
Bitter laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess yer right. I jest kinda got caught up in thinkin' an' didn't realize what I was doin'."
Cards laughed. "You'se looks all bored an' lonely ovah heah in da cornah all alone. How's 'bout you'se comes an' plays some cards with us? Wese'll go easy on ya since yer Spot's goil an' all." He joked.
"Well…I kinda sorta…don't know how ta play cards…" Bitter mumbled, not proud of her ignorance of such a popular pastime.
Cards held his chest pretending to be wounded. "You'se what?! Not any? Guys dis goil is killin' me!" He fell to the ground to emphasize his words.
Bitter laughed despite her embarrassment. "Cut it out! Get up!" she commanded.
"I'se is only getting' up if you'se promises ta let me teach ya how ta play cards." Cards bargained.
"All right, all right! I give up! I'll learn how ta play!" Bitter surrendered.
"Good!" said Cards jumping up. He dragged Bitter over to the game that was already in progress and proceeded to explain the rules in poker, the object of the game and easy ways to cheat without people ever knowing (he did have the name "Cards" for a reason after all!). After a couple of grueling hours Bitter had even managed to win a few hands.
"See yer a natural, Bitter!" Cards exclaimed. "Stick wid me kid it only gets bettah from heah. You'se keeps practicin' and Ise'll take ya to the infamous Newsies Poker Championship as my secret weapon."
"If I'm yer secret weapon ya bettah be prepared ta lose horribly," Bitter said smiling wryly.
The night went on in the same fashion. Bitter began to warm up to a couple of the other newsies and became pretty good friends with Cards. Although she was having fun she was very relieved when Kloppy came in to make everyone go to bed.
After Kloppy left the room all the boys headed for their bunks, pulling off various items of clothing as they went. Even though it shouldn't have shocked Bitter, since she had been living with all boys for awhile now, it did. Some of the boys seemed a little uncomfortable at stripping down in front of her too. Other boys waited and watched Bitter with anticipation as she headed for her bunk.. Bitter looked at them all oddly and sat on her bed to brush out her short blonde hair. What are dey all lookin' at me for? Bitter wondered. She brushed her hair slowly hoping they would all just get in their beds and leave her alone. Unfortunately they all just sat there watching her more. Are dey goin' ta watch me while I sleep to? Do dey do dis ta all da new newsies ta scare dem?
Finally Cards came out of the washroom and looked around. He rolled his eyes and yelled, "All right boys get in yer bed. Dere's nothin' ta see ovah dere. You'se boys are in serious need of lives a yer own. Da only time you'se all can see a goil is when Spot brings one in? Dat's pretty sad boys, now get away from her or Ise'll be more dan happy ta make ya."
The boys all moseyed towards their beds grumbling about 'Spots lackey'. It finally had dawned on Bitter exactly what the boys were trying to see and she wasn't very happy. She jumped into bed fully-clothed and pulled the covers up close around her neck.
Cards came over shortly. "Yeah shoah Cards! We'se all has ta get away from her but when da lights go out you'se sneaks ovah ta her. What's you'se tryin' ta see?" came a shout from somewhere in the room.
Bitter sighed and realized she would have to get used to a lot of things. Cards laughed and said "Jest ignore dem Bittah deys don't gets ta see goils a lot. Infact, I'se gots suspicions dat some a da boys ain't been in da same room as a goil since deys was born. I'se jest wanted ta ask you'se if ya needed anythin' befoah I'se went ta sleep and ta say 'night ta ya."
"Thanks Cards. No, I don't need anythin' but thanks fer askin'."
"Okay then Ise'll be goin' ta bed. Ise'll see you'se bright n' early tomorrow. Oh an Bittah I'se really glad you'se came heah. It's been really nice meetin' you'se an' its also good ta know dat Spot ain't always got bad taste."
"Really, thanks Cards. I'm really glad yer here. I don't know what I would do if ya weren't," Bitter told Cards.
"Ya'd prolly still be foldin' yer clothes!" Cards teased.
Bitter burst out laughing and Cards began soon after.
"Would you'se two shut up?!"
"Hey some of us is tryin' ta sleep ovah heah!"
"GO TA SLEEP!"
Bitter and Cards hushed their laughing and muttered goodnights to each other before Cards went back to his own bunk. Bitter fell asleep thinking that maybe it wasn't so bad that she had stayed with the newsies.