Over the next few days, Lorraine came to learn the
intricisies of being a newsie. She saw
Race at the tracks almost everyday, but he didn't bother her. The lodging house was another story
though. Every time Race saw Lorraine,
he seemed to go out of his way to make a snide comment or shoot her a dirty
look. The rest of the newsies were
friendlier, but not by much. Race had
warned them that she was a thief and a liar, so most of them stayed clear of
her for fear that they would lose their hard earned coins. Despite this, Lorraine was starting to feel
at home in the lodging house. Kloppman
treated her like a daughter and she had become friendly with her bunkmate,
Sway. She started debating whether or
not she wanted to leave at the end of the week like she said she would. Do I really want to give up a warm bed, she
thought. Lorraine also hated the
thought of leaving Sway, her first friend in a year.
"Hey dere
Lucky," Jack called to Lorraine as she walked up to the lodging house, on her
way home from the tracks.
"Hiya
Jack," her tone was dull. She sat down
next to him on the steps.
"How'd ya
do at da races?"
"Pretty
bad. I lost every bet," She sounded like she was about to cry. Jack hated having to do what he was about to
do.
"Ya know,
Lucky, everyone has noticed dis t'ing with you and Race," Jack started.
"Thing?" Lorraine interrupted.
"Yeah, how
da two of youse are always at each odda's t'roats. Da two of youse gotta cut it out or I'm gonna hafta ask ya ta
leave," Jack focused on the ground, not wanting to see her reaction.
"What? Why me?" Lorraine jumped up. "Race is a
part of da problem too, ya know!"
"I know,
but," Jack continued, "da oddas are scared dat you're gonna steal from
dem. I can't have me newsies livin' in
feah."
"You'd think
I was da only one 'round heah dat eva stole something…" Lorraine muttered.
"Look, all
ya hafta do is play nice wid Race. Den
he'll quit bitchin' aobut you stealin'."
"Play nice
wid Race?" Lorraine was outraged. "You tell Race ta play nice wid ME!" Lorraine stormed into the lodging
house. She saw Race talking to Sway out
of the corner of her eye. Not wanting
to have another encounter with him, she quickly ran down the stairs to the
girls' room. She hastily packed her
things and ran back upstairs, blowing past Race and Sway.
"Hey Mick!"
Race called to her as she started to push open the front door. "Where ya off to in such a hurry?" he asked
mockingly, making Lorraine's blood boil. She stopped dead in her tracks. "Mickie?" he asked again. "Maybe
you'll answer ta Bam? How 'bout
Lucky? Or did ya pick a new name for
t'day?" Race started laughing and Sway scowled at him.
"Ya know
what, Race?" Lorainne whipped
around. "How 'bout you don't call me
anything?" Race was taken aback by the
murderous look on her face. "Cuz of
you, I'm getting kicked out of dis place! Cuz of you, I'm losing dafoist bed I've had in a year! Cuz of you, Racetrack Higgins, I'm going to
be homeless, hungry and cold again. So
thank you. Thank you so much Race. So if you'll excuse me, I must be going
now. I hope you're happy."
"Wait! What are ya tawkin' about?" Race grabbed her arm as she turned
away. Lorraine ignored his question,
but spun around and punched him in the stomach, leaving him doubled over and
gasping for air. Lorraine stormed out
of the lodging house with Sway on her heels.
"Lucky! You can't just leave like dis! Where are ya gonna go?" Sway called after her.
I dunno,"
Lorraine answered curtly. "But I can't
stay heah. Jack kicked me out."
"He kicked
ya out?" Sway was shocked. "What for?"
"Cuz of
Race, what else!" Lorraine yelled. "God, I hate him! He's so… so…"
"Bam, don't
even t'ink about it. It ain't worth
your time," Sway paused to think. "Ya know what? I bet Spot'll let ya stay wid him in Brooklyn!" she said with a grin of accomplishment. "Come on, I'll take ya dere!"
Lorraine
reluctantly followed Sway on the long walk to Brooklyn. Sway tried to talk to her, but Lorraine's
thoughts were elsewhere. She was a
little nervous about meeting Spot. She
had heard rumors about him from the Manhattan newsies.
After what
seemed like forever, the two girls arrived at the Brooklyn lodging house. "Now ya can't keep goin' by t'ree names like
ya did in Manhattan. Ya might wanna
t'ink of a new name, just in case Spot's hoid rumors 'bout ya from Race." Sway offered thoughtfully.
"I don't
wanna think of anudda name. I aready
thought of three! I'll just go by one
of dem," Lorraine replied and tried to
pick which name she liked best. "Which
one should I tell dem?" she finally
asked Sway.
"I like Bam
da best. It makes ya sound tough!" Sway said after much consideration. Lorraine nodded and they walked into the
house.
"Wudda ya
want?" An older boy stopped them
rudely.
"Move it,
Knox. We're heah ta see Spot, not you,"
Sway pushed him out of the way. "I used
ta date dat goon," Sway whispered to Lorraine as she dragged her upstairs. She led Lorraine through a bunkroom,
stopping at the window. "Spot's usually
up on da fire escape." Sway pushed her
toward the window. Lorraine's stomach
was tied in knots as climbed onto the fire escape. She saw a figured crouched in the shadows.
"Hello?"
she called timidly.
"And you
might you be?" The figure seemed to grow out of the shadows.
"Bam. I'm lookin' for a place ta stay."
"Ah
yes. I heard you might be comin'" The figure emerged from the shadows, showing
a tall, wiry boy of about 17 years of age. Lorraine felt relief wash over her. This was the boy she was afraid of, she laughed to herself. "Spot Conlon's da name." His eyes studied her. He approved. "You can stay. Knox will
show ya a bed." He turned away, and she
knew he was done with her.
"Thank
you," she said as she slipped back in the window.
"Hey Bam,
one more t'ing," he called after her. "Don't cause no trouble." Lorraine felt her stomach tie up again. Did he know about her?