The days were getting colder, as winter approached.
The selling was not going very well. People were either staying inside, or hurrying to get inside, out of the cold. It was hard for them to sell, but most of the newsies got by, Kloppman wouldn't have the heart to throw them in the street. Firefly shook herself off as she made her way up to the bunk room. "It's startin ta snow guys."
"Yeah, we know." Blink waved her off, and focused on the poker game he was playing.
She smiled and shook her head. Grabbing a blanket she went to the window and said, "I'm goin up," she looked at Jack, "call me for lights out, or whatevah." He nodded and stared after her concerned as she went out the window. Blink glanced towards Jack, "It's your go." Shaking his head Jack looked at the cards in his hand.
"You could probably get'er back ya know." Poker raised an eyebrow, and looked at Jack as he frowned. "Yeah we've all seen you watch her, mope about what ya did."
"Shut it Poker." He cut her off.
Poker's eyes seemed to twinkle with some amusement.
"You ain't even looked at another goil since you two broke it off. At least take da chance, tell her how ya feel." She shrugged and looked over her hand, then at Jack's fierce returning gaze. "Poker…" Jack rolled his eyes frustrated, after a moment of working his jaw and clenching his teeth, he tossed his cards onto the table. "I fold." Saying that he walked over to his bunk and sat on the one below, with his back to his friends and the door. I do not mope. He thought.
ZzZzZzZz
Slowly and carefully Firefly climbed up the cold iron fire escape, and went up to the roof. They weren't supposed to be up there, but they always broke that rule, and Kloppman never got mad about it. She looked out at the buildings as she watched the falling snow, the moon was shining and stars were peeking through clouds. Race loved the snow. She thought with a smile. Letting out her breath, she kept back a tear. She sat down on the ledge and just stayed there, watching the city.
ZzZzZzZ
A pair of brown eyes peered up at the dark sky, snow
still falling lightly. He took a deep breath, and let it out; he squinted as something moved up on a roof. Shrugging he walked into the establishment marked Newsboys Lodging House.
"I'd like a bed for de night." Ten cents was gently slammed down on the table.
Koloppman turned from the papers he was shuffling and smiled at his new guest.
"That'll be seven cents young-" Peering through his spectacles at the boy he grinned wide. "Race, my boy, is that you!" Kloppman was out of his chair and around the desk in a jiffy, patting the newsboy on the back.
Race smiled "You bet I'm back."
Kloppman shook his old boney finger at Race. "No, no.
Rules are the same boy no gambling of the kind inside these walls." Race smirked, reaching down he grabbed his bag and headed up the stairs. "Yeah, I missed de gang." I have ta fix dis… I need my frien's, I need her. And up he went. Race slowly climbed the stairs,and made his way to the bunk room door, it wasslightly ajar. He took a deep breath let it out slowlyand made his way through the door.
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Turn your head up to the sky,
Nothing down below but me.
To face the truth,
To Realize,
All that we could be…..
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