Katie tried to fight down her disappointment when she heard nothing from
Brian Denton about her story for the Sun. As time passed, other things
occupied her thoughts. Christmas Eve was fast approaching, and she knew
that after the newsies benefit at Irving Hall, her secret would be
revealed, and she would probably lose the only real friends she'd found.
Now that her story was finished, she had considered just telling them, it
would be so nice to finally be honest with Blink and Race, but she felt
caught in her lie. There was never a good time to say, "I've been lying to
you since the day we met." Also, she cringed when she thought of all the
newsies giving her the same leering looks she continued to receive from
Jack Kelly if they knew she was only a cheap vaudeville performer.
As December 24th neared, she became increasingly distracted. She sewed buttons on too tightly and spent long periods of time just staring out the lodging house window, her writing tablet open on her lap, all mending forgotten. She jumped when people spoke to her and was often short with Rat. She went through the motions every night at Medda's, and the crowds continued to respond to her favorably, but she couldn't stop seeing the faces of her friends in every audience, imagining the shock, disappointment, anger, and finally disdain she was sure she would see there. Every night after her performance, she collapsed in the dressing room, agitated and shaken. Even Medda noticed her protégé's growing distress. Finally, before Katie's performance on the 23rd, Medda approached her as she was dressing. As Katie laced her corset and arranged her curls, Medda paced awkwardly behind her. Katie could tell there was something Medda wanted to say, and she had never seen her normally overbearing employer so hesitant.
"If you don't stop, you're likely to wear those boards straight through to the foundation." She smiled wanly, all she seemed to be able to muster lately.
Medda stopped, her hands fluttered to her breast, and she cleared her throat, adopting a concerned expression.
"Katie, I've noticed some differences in your behavior lately, and I thought we should have a chat.I've employed girls your age before, so I'm no stranger to what goes on in your life. It wasn't so long ago I was living it!" She giggled girlishly and Katie privately thought that it had actually been a considerable amount of time since Medda had lived the life of a young woman.
"I've had girls who've had to leave here before, and I don't want that to be your lot. You and me work well together and the crowds seem to like you."
Katie turned from the mirror to face her employer. "Medda, what are you getting at? I'm not looking to leave here any time soon, unless you fire me of course."
"I'm not blind!" Medda fairly shrieked. She took a deep breath and began again, calmer. "I see you've got something on your mind. You were never exactly a chatterbox, but you've clammed up completely. And you've always got that worried expression on your face, like someone's gonna come up behind you with a knife!"
Katie shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to say. How could she explain what was bothering her to Medda? Then, Medda said the last thing Katie could've expected.
"Katie, if you're in some kind of trouble.I mean, I see how often Jack Kelly comes back here." For the first time that Katie had ever heard, there was distaste in Medda's voice as she uttered her favorite newsie's name. ".and, well, I know someone who could take care of it for you. He's a real professional and it practically doesn't hurt at all -"
Katie burst out laughing. It was all she could think to do. Medda stopped mid-sentence and looked at her, perplexed.
"Well I really don't see what there is to laugh about. It was just a suggestion and -"
"Medda, what on earth would have made you think I was pregnant?" For the first time in what felt like forever, she smiled a genuine, amused smile. "And certainly not with Jack Kelly's baby!" She chuckled. She checked herself one last time in the mirror and stood, taking Medda by the shoulders. "I promise you, you never have to worry about any of that with me. Now, I have to go on; I think the crowd's probably had enough of Toby by now. She left the dressing room still chuckling, Medda staring confusedly at her back.
The absurdity of Medda's assumption left a happy feeling of gaiety that lingered in Katie's performance that night. She smiled at the drunkards as they hooted and, in general, felt better than she had in days. She was still humming the bubbly phrases of "My Lovey Dovey Baby" and smiling to herself as she sat in the dressing room after her performance and began her nightly ritual of removing her stage make-up. She heard the door open and close behind her and turned to see Jack Kelly, and all the happiness she had been feeling flooded out to be replaced by all the old anxieties. Her chest tightened and her brow furrowed; a lead weight settled into her stomach.
He exhaled his cigarette smoke through his nose. "Good show tonight."
"Hmm." She turned back to the mirror, knowing that he probably wouldn't leave and that ignoring him was the best way to annoy him and drive him away. She pursed her lips and attacked her rouged cheeks with a handkerchief.
Apparently not in the mood for his usual attempts at witty seduction, he took a few steps into the room and said, "Look, I know what you're worried about." Her action with the handkerchief slowed to a stop, but she didn't turn to face him, too worried about what he'd say. "And I don't think you should be. The boys, they-well, they seem to like you, and not just because you look good in a skirt." His smirk was gone as soon as it had appeared. "I just don't think this'll change that."
Slowly, she turned to face him, surprisingly devoid of any desire to hit him. She wasn't sure if what he said could possibly be the truth, but his candor was arresting. "Thanks."
He took a long drag and avoided her eyes. "Yeah, well, anything to get me in your good graces." He smirked and she rolled her eyes. "I'll go. I'll see you tomorrow though."
"Right. Tomorrow."
As December 24th neared, she became increasingly distracted. She sewed buttons on too tightly and spent long periods of time just staring out the lodging house window, her writing tablet open on her lap, all mending forgotten. She jumped when people spoke to her and was often short with Rat. She went through the motions every night at Medda's, and the crowds continued to respond to her favorably, but she couldn't stop seeing the faces of her friends in every audience, imagining the shock, disappointment, anger, and finally disdain she was sure she would see there. Every night after her performance, she collapsed in the dressing room, agitated and shaken. Even Medda noticed her protégé's growing distress. Finally, before Katie's performance on the 23rd, Medda approached her as she was dressing. As Katie laced her corset and arranged her curls, Medda paced awkwardly behind her. Katie could tell there was something Medda wanted to say, and she had never seen her normally overbearing employer so hesitant.
"If you don't stop, you're likely to wear those boards straight through to the foundation." She smiled wanly, all she seemed to be able to muster lately.
Medda stopped, her hands fluttered to her breast, and she cleared her throat, adopting a concerned expression.
"Katie, I've noticed some differences in your behavior lately, and I thought we should have a chat.I've employed girls your age before, so I'm no stranger to what goes on in your life. It wasn't so long ago I was living it!" She giggled girlishly and Katie privately thought that it had actually been a considerable amount of time since Medda had lived the life of a young woman.
"I've had girls who've had to leave here before, and I don't want that to be your lot. You and me work well together and the crowds seem to like you."
Katie turned from the mirror to face her employer. "Medda, what are you getting at? I'm not looking to leave here any time soon, unless you fire me of course."
"I'm not blind!" Medda fairly shrieked. She took a deep breath and began again, calmer. "I see you've got something on your mind. You were never exactly a chatterbox, but you've clammed up completely. And you've always got that worried expression on your face, like someone's gonna come up behind you with a knife!"
Katie shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to say. How could she explain what was bothering her to Medda? Then, Medda said the last thing Katie could've expected.
"Katie, if you're in some kind of trouble.I mean, I see how often Jack Kelly comes back here." For the first time that Katie had ever heard, there was distaste in Medda's voice as she uttered her favorite newsie's name. ".and, well, I know someone who could take care of it for you. He's a real professional and it practically doesn't hurt at all -"
Katie burst out laughing. It was all she could think to do. Medda stopped mid-sentence and looked at her, perplexed.
"Well I really don't see what there is to laugh about. It was just a suggestion and -"
"Medda, what on earth would have made you think I was pregnant?" For the first time in what felt like forever, she smiled a genuine, amused smile. "And certainly not with Jack Kelly's baby!" She chuckled. She checked herself one last time in the mirror and stood, taking Medda by the shoulders. "I promise you, you never have to worry about any of that with me. Now, I have to go on; I think the crowd's probably had enough of Toby by now. She left the dressing room still chuckling, Medda staring confusedly at her back.
The absurdity of Medda's assumption left a happy feeling of gaiety that lingered in Katie's performance that night. She smiled at the drunkards as they hooted and, in general, felt better than she had in days. She was still humming the bubbly phrases of "My Lovey Dovey Baby" and smiling to herself as she sat in the dressing room after her performance and began her nightly ritual of removing her stage make-up. She heard the door open and close behind her and turned to see Jack Kelly, and all the happiness she had been feeling flooded out to be replaced by all the old anxieties. Her chest tightened and her brow furrowed; a lead weight settled into her stomach.
He exhaled his cigarette smoke through his nose. "Good show tonight."
"Hmm." She turned back to the mirror, knowing that he probably wouldn't leave and that ignoring him was the best way to annoy him and drive him away. She pursed her lips and attacked her rouged cheeks with a handkerchief.
Apparently not in the mood for his usual attempts at witty seduction, he took a few steps into the room and said, "Look, I know what you're worried about." Her action with the handkerchief slowed to a stop, but she didn't turn to face him, too worried about what he'd say. "And I don't think you should be. The boys, they-well, they seem to like you, and not just because you look good in a skirt." His smirk was gone as soon as it had appeared. "I just don't think this'll change that."
Slowly, she turned to face him, surprisingly devoid of any desire to hit him. She wasn't sure if what he said could possibly be the truth, but his candor was arresting. "Thanks."
He took a long drag and avoided her eyes. "Yeah, well, anything to get me in your good graces." He smirked and she rolled her eyes. "I'll go. I'll see you tomorrow though."
"Right. Tomorrow."