Chapter 4 – Beginning to See the Light

David entered the bedroom with a breakfast tray for Kate. The room used to be his and Sarah's, but now he shared it with Les. Due to the circumstances, he and Les were now moved into the kitchen/dining/sitting room.

When David entered, he was glad to see Kate sitting upright in the bed and her dinner tray had been eaten. She was looking much better than when he first saw her. He thought she was more beautiful than any girl he'd seen before.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning," she replied.

"My mother sent me in to give you breakfast," he said.

"Give her my thanks. And my compliments on dinner too," she said.

David put the breakfast tray in front of her, then sat in the chair by the bedside.

She gave him a strange look.

"Aren't you hungry?" David asked.

"Yes, but, are you going to sit there and watch me eat?" Kate asked.

"Well, I thought you might like company, but if you prefer to eat alone-"

"Yes, I would like to eat alone," Kate interrupted him.

"Oh. Alright," David said trying not to sound hurt, though he was. He got up to leave.

"David?" Kate said.

"Yes?" he asked eagerly.

"Shouldn't you take the dinner tray with you?" Kate asked.

"Oh. Yes, I can do that," David said dejectedly.

"Thank you," Kate said.

"You're welcome," David said hoping for a sign that she liked him the way he liked her, but received no such sign. He sighed as he closed the partition, and took the tray to his mother.


"She hates me," David whined.

"And you love her," Esther Jacobs said it more as a statement.

"I never said that! And don't be so loud, she's liable to hear you. Or worse, Les might hear you!" David said.

"I saw the way you were looking at her. It was the same look your father gave me. And I saw it when you introduced Jack to Sarah," Mrs. Jacobs smiled at the memories.

"You're forgetting one thing. You give that same look to Papa, and Sarah had her eyes on Jack the entire time," David complained.

"Just because you 'get eyes' for someone doesn't mean they'll get them for you. Love can be scary because you don't know if you'll be loved back. But sometimes the risk is worth it," Mrs. Jacobs said.

"She treat me like a servant. 'Take away my try, leave me alone.' Why do I feel this way?" David asked frustrated.

"Darling, she's been through a lot. Not only is she a runaway, but she also had bruises on her body, plus scars, and burns- and these were caused by her family. The ones who should have loved her." Mrs. Jacobs reminded.

"Then what do I do?" David asked.

"Keep loving, and wait until it's returned," Mrs. Jacobs said.

"But what if it doesn't get returned?" David asked.

"You'll heal, and then you'll learn to love again," she said.

"But-"

"I think it's time for you and Les to go buy your papers. Racetrack should be here any minute," Mrs. Jacobs said smartly ending the argument.


"What a strange boy," Kate said to herself after David had left. While she was still bruised, she was feeling much better, just knowing she was in a safe place. She was starting to remember more of what happened at the racetrack. She remembered him staring at her, then coming up to her. She remembered his warm blue eyes looking into her own. She was afraid he'd be able to see her life by the intensity of his gaze. Why did he have to look at her so? It made her nervous.

Suddenly, a head peeked in through the curtains that were used as a partition. It was the young boy.

"Good morning," the boy said.

"Good morning… Les, isn't it?" Kate couldn't quite remember.

The boy nodded, "Are you feeling better?" he asked sitting in the chair by her bedside.

"Yes, much better," Kate smiled.

"This is my room, and David's, but we have to sleep in there because you're here," Les said pointing towards the kitchen area. "David and my sister used to share this room, but she married Jack. They've been married for about nine months, and they went to Santa Fe for a honeymoon, but decided to stay there instead. He's a real cowboy. Have you ever known a real cowboy before?" he asked.

"No, I haven't," Kate shook her head. She was amused by this boy's chattiness.

"Well, maybe if you met Jack, then you'd know a real one," Les said. "So, it must be pretty boring for you here. I could let you borrow some of my toys or books. But maybe you don't want them because Sarah said that girls don't play with toys when they're as old as she is. You look like her age. Well, younger. You don't play with toys, do you?" Les asked.

Kate shook her head "no." She could only assume that Sarah was his sister.

"I didn't think so. I guess you'll just have to be bored here, then. David doesn't play with toys anymore either," Les said. There was a silence, but Les began to talk again. "Did you know we're newsies? We sell newspapers, but Papa says that I'll have to start going to school when summer's over. If I go to school, I'll miss out on all the fun. Did you know that last year we went on strike?" Les asked.

"Yes, I read it in the newspapers and saw the crowded streets," Kate thought it best not to mention that her father was a police officer and had beaten up a few newsies of his own.

"Yeah! Well, Jack and David were in charge of it, we got newsies from all over…" Kate listened to Les as he told her the story of the Newsies Strike.


"Les! Les, where are you? Race is here, and we need to buy our papes!" David called out.

"Come on out, ya bum, or we'll be late!" Race called. David gave his friend a warning look. His mother wouldn't be pleased if her baby boy was being called a bum.

"I'm in here!" Les' voice was coming from their bedroom.

Race opened the curtains, entered the room and was surprised to see the girl inside. "Oh, pardon me. Good morning, miss," he said taking off his hat.

"That's Race," Les explained. "He's one of the newsies that I was telling you about. And he brought you over here with David."

"Uh, Racetrack, this is Kate. Kate, this is Racetrack," David introduced the two as he slowly entered the room. His eyes were on her the entire time.

"Race-track?" Kate asked unsurely.

"It's his nickname- he's always at the races. Most of the newsies have nicknames. They call David the walkin' mouth because he's always talking," Les said. Kate noticed David blush.
"Les-" he started to say, but was saved by Racetrack.

"How are you feelin', miss?" Race asked.

"Much better, thank you," Kate smiled at him, as she tried to avoid eye contact with David.

"I was just telling her about the strike last summer," Les began to say.

"Les, we need to go buy our papers," David said annoyed.

"Well, miss, it was a pleasure meeting you again," Race said heading towards the door. Kate nodded.

"Maybe when you're feeling better, you can come with us. That way, you won't be bored," Les said, as David herded them out.

"Goodbye, Kate," David said softly as he left.


"You like her, don't you? Do you like her a lot?" Race asked David while they were waiting in the line for their papers.

"Like who?" asked Mush.

"Aw, yesterday, while we were at the races, there was this crazy lookin' chick, real loony. Well, Dave here, decides to try to sell to her, she faints, and he forces me to help him get her to his house. But I gotta say, she cleans up nice," Race explained.

"She wasn't crazy," David said defensively. "Someone in her family beat her up, and she was running away."

"That story sounds a lot like mine," Mush said. "Is she real good lookin'?"

"Dave thinks so. You shoulda seen the way he was lookin at her this morning. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had got down on one knee and asked her to marry him!" Race laughed.

"David's gonna marry who?" Les asked. He had been play-fighting with Snipeshooter and only caught the end of the conversation.

"No one," David said giving Race a warning look.

"Kate," Race laughed.

"Kate? You wanna marry her?" Les asked.

"He sure does," Race said.

"No, I don't!" David shouted. He made a rush at Racetrack, "Race, I'm gonna punch your face in!"

"Whoa, back, calm down!" Mush blocked David from attacking Race.

"Geez, Dave, I was just kiddin'! Take a joke," Race said walking up to the circulation desk, "Can you spot me seventy-five papes? I got a hot tip on a horse, won't waste your money…"


Les was right, Kate found herself extremely bored. She wasn't used to lying in bed all day. It had been three days since she was last at work. Well, she wasn't planning on returning to work. In fact, she was trying to find a way out of New York City- somewhere that her father wouldn't find her. She only had a dollar on her; all of her money had been left at home. How far could one dollar get her?

When she finished her breakfast, she got out of bed. She found that she could walk well. She also realized she was in someone else's nightgown. Sarah's night gown, maybe? She took her breakfast tray and walked out the doorway.

"Mrs. Jacobs?" she called.

"In here, dear!"

Kate followed Mrs. Jacobs' voice into the sitting/dining room and kitchen. Mrs. Jacobs was sewing.

"Where should I put this?" Kate asked timidly.

"Leave it on that counter right there," Mrs. Jacobs said as Kate did so. "Come, sit," Mrs. Jacobs indicated to a chair.

"Thank you," Kate said taking a seat.

"I'm almost finished mending your dress. It really took a beating, it seems," Mrs. Jacobs said.

Kate didn't answer.

"Mr. Jacobs and I want you to feel right at home. The house has been lonely since Sarah- my daughter, and her husband Jack left for Santa Fe," Mrs. Jacobs said sounding a bit sad.

"Thank you for your hospitality, but I won't be staying much longer. I must leave soon," Kate said hoping she didn't hurt Mrs. Jacobs' feelings.

"Well, it's nice to have another woman here, even if it's just for a little while," Mrs. Jacobs said kindly.

Kate almost wished she could stay longer, but this family wasn't hers. Her father had spent days searching for her mother- not because he was hurt that she left him, but so that he could injure her. She remembered her father's words, "you're just like your mother," and she liked them. They inspired her: if she was just like her mother, then he wouldn't find her.


When David and Les returned, Kate was setting the table and Mrs. Jacobs was getting dinner ready while Mr. Jacobs was sitting in his chair reading the paper.

"We're home!" Les announced as they entered.

"How was work?" Mr. Jacobs asked.

"Fine," David answered.

"How much did you make?" Mr. Jacobs asked.

"A little over a dollar," Les bragged, "It's because a lady gave me a quarter and told me to keep the change."

Kate's ears perked up when she heard. She needed money, maybe she could go with them like Les suggested, just until she earned enough.

"Yeah, because you were acting like you had a gimp leg," David laughed.

"Les, is that true?" Mr. Jacobs asked sternly.

"David almost got into fight today with Racetrack!" Les said shifting the blame.

"David?" Mr. Jacobs asked, wanting an explanation.

"It was because Race said that David wanted to mar-" Les began to say.

"Les!" David gave Les a look that read, don't you dare.

"David wants to marry-"

"SHUT UP!" David yelled at his brother.

"DAVID!" Mrs. Jacobs scolded. "I don't know what kind of language you use with those newsies, but you do not use that kind of language in this house," she said sternly.

David, making an angry sound, stormed out of the kitchen and into his bedroom.

"He's mad because he doesn't want everyone to know that he wants to marry you," Les said to Kate.


"David?" Kate called timidly, opening the door, but she couldn't see him in the room.

"Go away, Mama," she heard from the window. He was sitting out on the fire escape.

"It's Kate. Your mother wanted me to bring you dinner," Kate said, heading towards the window. She was beginning to see David with new eyes. His looking at her didn't seem to bother her now that she knew. In fact, it almost comforted her. Maybe the way he looked at her meant that he loved her. Kate had never really been loved before, but it seemed like a nice thing.

David didn't want to be seen by anyone, especially not her. His parents treated him like a child! So what if he told Les to shut up? He was almost eighteen. "Leave it on the dresser, please," he said flatly.

Kate did as she was told, and started to leave, but decided not to. She wanted to talk to David. She realized that she wouldn't have even been there if not for him. She climbed out the window and sat on the stair where he was seated.

"Hi," Kate said shyly.

David looked up at her curiously. Was she smiling at him?

"I never thanked you for, well, pretty much saving me," Kate said looking into his eyes. "Thank you," she said moving closer to him.

"You're welcome," he said feeling a small smile creep onto his face. This was definitely a sign. He knew that at least she didn't hate him like he had thought.

"Les told us what Racetrack said, and-"

"Look, I don't want to marry you- I mean, not that it wouldn't be nice, but I mean…" David tried to explain.

"But we don't even know each other," Kate filled in.

"Right. And we're not in love," David added, though he wasn't so sure on his part.

"Of course we're not," Kate said. Not yet, at least, a voice in the back of her mind added. "And I have to leave soon anyway…"

David found himself closer to her until they were almost face-to-face, "Of course."

As their lips met, Kate thought she might just melt. It was her first real kiss… and it was good.

"David? Kate?" Mr. Jacobs called out coming into the room and spying the two. They broke apart quickly.

"Uh, Papa- um…" David stammered.

"I think it's time for you two to come inside. David? I think we need to have a talk," Mr. Jacobs said trying to sound like a disciplinarian, though there was a hint of merriness in his voice.

David climbed out the window and helped Kate out.

"Come on, David," Mr. Jacobs said putting a fatherly hand on his son's shoulder and led him out.

"Goodnight," David said blushing.

And it was the first good night Kate had in years.