A/N: Okay before you go any further you should know that this chapter is severly out of order with the rest of the story so far. It just so happens that today, June 2, is my birthday and I wanted to upload this. So if you don't want to be confused or spoiled about how some things might turn out don't read this. I will say there is not really any plot points revealed here, but you never know. Anyway read review all that sort if you want.
Disclaimer: Well I don't have big mousy ears or a tail and I certainly don't answer to Mickey or Michael, so I guess I don't own Newsies or the related stuff. But if someone wanted to give the rights to me for my birthday I wouldn't object. ;)
It was the flickering light that had kept her awake. Anne had never been fond of thunderstorms as a child, but luckily Boston had only received one or two a year. Tonight's storm was the third one in as many days, and the first one to last as long as it had, ever since dinnertime. No one else seemed to have been bothered by the storm as it blew in with harsh winds and dark clouds that afternoon, and no was one was concerned, as the storm hadn't blown itself out at nightfall.
She didn't know what about this storm made her so nervous, maybe it was just its duration, or maybe it was that the storm just seemed closer here on the plains than it had in the city. The next flash of lightening had Anne bolting up in bed and before the accompanying thunder had died away she was out the bedroom door and down the stairs. The frequent lightening lit up the stairs as she made her way into the kitchen. Her mother had always said that a glass of warm milk would put even the most awake child to sleep with in minutes. While Anne wasn't fond of even cold milk at this point she was willing to try anything.
She carefully lit a candle and stirred up the banked fire in the stove before she looked around the kitchen. There on the side board was the last of the morning milk, and a mug was set next to it, as if someone had laid it all out just for her. Anne wasted no time pouring the milk into a pan and placing it over a burner. She carefully stirred the milk to ensure it wouldn't burn and just before it began to boil she poured it into the mug. She could almost taste the soothing liquid as she brought the mug to her mouth for a sip.
"I guess I should have been quicker getting back here." A quiet voice said from near the door leading outside. It surprised her causing her to almost drop her mug.
As she turned to face the intruder she saw it was one of the boys, who else would it have been she ask herself. She thought his name was Bumlets, but she wasn't sure. He was shaking his wet head and rubbing at his hair as he came into the light. Anne felt her heartbeat finally calm down as she answered, "I'm sorry did you want something?"
"Well miss that would be my mug and milk that you have in your hand, I had planned on drinking it after the storm had passed. But seeing as you got to it first," his voice dropped off.
"I'm sorry, it's just..." Anne started to apologize but stopped short .Why should she apologize to him; he was the reason she was here on a farm away from her family.
"It's just what?" the boy asked, before providing his own explanation, "Let me guess you don't do well in storms either?"
Anne shook her head, "No I really don't. I guess you can have the rest if you want." Anne poured the last of the milk into the mug and held it out to him.
"Not that's okay, I'll be fine once the storm is over. I didn't mean to scare you by the way," He apologized motioning her to finish the milk.
Anne took a sip before handing the mug to him, "So Bumlets, why aren't you asleep?" She was sure now that he was Bumlets his voice gave him away.
Bumlets took a sip and made a face, "I have never liked them, the storms I mean. When I was about eight the tenement building my family lived in was struck by lightening. My family never had a chance to escape the fire. I had been out at a friend's that night, trying to catch a breeze on his fire escape. I didn't even know what had happen until I came home the next morning. I was always sure that if I had been home that night I could have woke up my folks and they would have lived." Bumlets shrugged. "Out here though we take turns watching for prairie fires. The old timers in town are always talking about how we're due for a fire or a twister." He passed the still filled mug back to Anne.
"Well at least you have a reason to be awake. I just don't sleep well during storms, I guess I'm afraid of them," Anne grimaced that she had let so much slip out, before dropping her eyes to the mug of milk as if it held all the answers.
"Don't worry I won't tell." Anne could hear the grin in his voice. "Have you ever watched a lightening storm?" He asked suddenly.
"No I'm normally cowering under my covers." Anne admitted sheepishly.
Bumlets took the mug from her hands and put it on the table, "Follow me I have a perfect way to help you stop being afraid.
"We're going out there?" Anne stopped short of the front door, though which she could see and hear the storm was still going on.
"Sure the storm is plenty far away now, we won't get hit. Unless you're scared." Bumlets taunted a bit.
Anne straightened her shoulders and walked through the door, "I'm not scared."
Bumlets moved to the far end of the porch and sat down dangling his fee to the ground. "Come on sit and watch the lightening with me." He patted at the space between him and the house.
"I thought you didn't like storms." Anne asked as she sad town leaving about a foot between them.
"I worry about fires during them, but I think there is something beautiful about a lightening show, it's better than fireworks on the 4th of July. Just watch."
For the next twenty or so minutes Anne sat entranced by the nature show. Cloud to cloud lightening lit different layers of clouds in blues and yellows and oranges. Hot streak lightening split the sky in two as it hit the earth in a moment of brilliant light. Thunder rumbled like a train across the sky but she barely noted it. Finally the last of the clouds rolled away and a brilliant moon showed brightly in the clean, clear sky.
"That was amazing," Anne commented her voice conveying how entranced she had been.
"Yep that was nothing though. A good spring storm can be twice as active and last a lot longer. Of course then you might have hail or a tornado. I like summer storms more." Bumlets said as he stood up.
"Thanks for showing it to me Bumlets." Anne said softly as he helped her up.
"You're welcome, just one thing, please don't tell Pip or Calyx I was in the house. I sort of enjoy living."
"Not a word, it can be a secret." Anne said as she went to the door.
"Night Anne," Bumlets said as he held open the door for her to step through.
"Night Bumlets," She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before closing the door and heading up the stairs to bed.
Bumlets smiled to himself as he headed back to the barn with a bit of a spring in his step.
