Chapter 7: Many Paths
As a hazy dawn rose, so did the Manhattan Newsies. The air hung heavy with anger and sadness. Mercy had already been walked home by Kloppman and Sarah was waiting for David on the second floor, unsure of how to face Alyssa.
Alyssa, on the other hand, was lying in Racetrack's bunk, begging for a few more moments of sleep. She had not slept well; nightmares of many a kind had flowed thought her head. When those few moments of sleep refused to come, she threw herself out of bed. In a flurry of a nightgown, she streamed past Race on the floor, shoved Mush on top of a still sleeping Blink, bashed Cowboy's head against a bunk frame and almost managed to throw Boots out of a window. Boots survived the ordeal only because Itey had been standing in front of the window.
Dabbing his bleeding forehead, Jack spoke. "I suggest dat yous all stay far away from Alyssa. She'd prob'ly soak ya good if ya got in 'er way."
Granted that Newsies generally felt that girls could not soak anyone, they were wary of Alyssa. She had almost thrown Boots out of a window for God's sake. Despite there was not much to Boots, he was not easy to uproot.
Race flopped on his bunk, wondering why the world was taking a drastic downward turn. The whole Lodging House was upset; not at Alyssa, but at who or what had wronged her. Many of them made oaths saying that they were going to go up to Boston and soak the whole city for causing Alyssa pain. Jack kindly pointed out that it was got a brilliant idea, so many forgot about it. Alyssa's depression was affecting the whole group.
From inside her room, Alyssa could hear the boys getting ready for another day of selling. She was aware of the fact that they were upset; they did not hide it too well. She was too lost in her own depression to care, though. She dressed in a black skirt, white blouse and the black bodice. She threw on her coat, and after a moment's thought, grabbed her little leather journal and stuffed it in a pocket.
Sarah was coming up the stairs as Alyssa was barreling down them. Sarah was slammed into the wall while Alyssa hurtled out the door.
"What the hell happened?" Kloppman appeared at the foot of the stairs.
Seeing Sarah slumped against the wall told him and the Newsies who had gathered at the top of the stairs everything that they needed to know.
"Try and stay away from her," David advised his sister. "Give her a chance to come to sorts."
"But. I." she sputtered. It was her fault that things were like this. Logically, she should be to one to fix it. The Newsies knew that Alyssa would need time to get things together on her own. It was the same thing they did for any Newsie who had a bad time. Leave them alone, and they will come around. David took his worried sister home, after saying that he would meet up with the guys at the Distribution Office.
As they walked, Jack came up alongside a sulking Racetrack. Race felt awful, but knew there was nothing that he could do. Out of all the Newsies, Race was taking this the hardest. After all, he was the one who loved her more than just like a sister. Jack showed deep brotherly concern which helped mask Race's feelings.
"Race, wait." Race had begun to walk away when he realized that Jack was beside him. Jack grabbed his arm and hung back. "Race, don' take dis so hard. I know dat yous and Alyssa is real close, but mopin' won' help."
"Do ya tink dat I don' know dat?" Race snapped. He contemplated telling Jack exactly how he felt about Alyssa, but decided against it. He grabbed his papes and headed off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alyssa was storming down the street towards Tibby's. She had managed to knock over two old ladies, and spook a horse. When she got to Tibby's, she slammed the door behind her, hard. Going into the back room, she slumped into a chair. Mr. Davis walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Alyssa, there is no way that I am going to allow you to serve if you don't get rid of this foul mood of yours. Either go home and sulk or sick it up and work."
As much as Alyssa hated to admit it, Mr. Davis was right. She shoved all feelings aside and threw herself into her work. She decide that everyday, she would go in early and leave late. She did this so that she would not have to talk to any of the Newsies.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
For three weeks, Alyssa spoke to no one. That's not entirely true; she spoke when she was serving. Only out of common courtesy, though. None of the Newsies ate at Tibby's for those three long weeks. Denton tried to get them to go, but Jack and Race kindly reminded him that Alyssa was still not talking to them and that she was still working there. They said that they would wait for Alyssa to come around before they ate at Tibby's again.
During her three weeks of solitude, Alyssa had plenty of time to think. She contemplated killing herself, but reminded herself that suicide was a weak person's way out. She thought about running again. That was what she had done the last time. But where would she run? Not Ireland; she was being searched for there. Not back to Boston; there were too many painful memories there. Certainly not out west; there was nothing there for her. Besides, running would mean leaving the Newsies which she had grown so fond of. They were the family that she never really had.
Lost in the throws of her mind, Alyssa Miramel Cambell had no idea of what had gone around her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah and Jack had a very dramatic fight in the bunkroom which led to their break up. The day had not been great and Sarah had made it worse.
"Jack Kelley, I need to talk with you!" She had stormed into Lodging House screaming.
"So, talk," was all Jack could say.
"I can't believe that you, of all people, are forbidding me to talk to Alyssa. What right do you have to do that?"
Jack sighed. This was the last thing that he wanted to happen today. The weather had kicked up, causing sales to plummet. It also resulted in a very sick Racetrack and everyone else was mildly ill. "Sarah, as her brudder, I'm allowed ta make decisions like dat."
The fight continued for a good half an hour, including Racetrack screaming from his bunk for them to shut up. It ended with Jack proclaiming, "Fine. If yous can't see dat dis is fer yer own good, den we's finished."
Sarah had fled, in tears of course. David just shook his head after his sister and followed her home. Jack was slightly remorseful about yelling at Sarah, but she needed to understand that Alyssa did not need anyone at the moment. Alyssa was his sister, he felt obligated to help her in any way that he could. If that meant keeping people away from her, then so be it. That was two weeks ago. They were on the mend, but were not a couple again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mercy seemed to be the only one who was unaffected by the whole thing. She had known that things would be disastrous. Without having to ask, Mercy had figured what kind of life Alyssa had led before she came to New York. It was shown in the way that she acted. Granted that Mercy did not know everything; she did not want to. Instead, Mercy provided a comforting ear for Racetrack, who was beside himself.
He could care less about Alyssa's past. Things like that did not matter. He was upset with why she had been forced to become what she was. Race walked around in a kind of stupor, going through the motions of daily life, but not really knowing what he was doing. He no longer set up poker games, and he was rarely at the tracks. He would walk past Tibby's sometimes, just to see Alyssa. He would find her going through the motions of work. Sometimes he thought that she had seen him because she would give a little smile; but he could be just dreaming.
Racetrack Higgins loved Alyssa Cambell. Simple as that. He told Mercy this one day, because he felt that if he did not tell someone he would explode, and she just smiled knowingly. Whether Alyssa actually knew or returned the feeling was a whole other story. All he wanted to do was make sure that she was happy and safe in this new home of hers. Preferably with his arms wrapped firmly around her. That was what he wanted. But with Alyssa silent for three straight weeks, Race could not do anything. She soaked anyone who tried to talk to her. Mush found that out the hard way one night.
All Racetrack could do was wait.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As Alyssa was washing down a table, she saw Leila pass by. She watched as Leila huddled against the cold and glance at Tibby's.
Rushing outside, Alyssa called, "Leila, c'mon in an' I'll spot ya lunch."
Leila was set next to the fire and Alyssa went and got her a meal. She came back with a side of beef, warm rolls and butter, a baked potato and an ear of corn. When she set this in front of Leila, she watched her friends eyes go wide.
"Alyssa, how can you.?"
"Davis'll take it outta me salary. Eat up."
Business was slow, so Alyssa could sit and talk with Leila. She filled Alyssa in as to what had happened during the past three weeks while she ate. "Well, ya might as well know that I dated Spot fer a while."
Alyssa looked at Leila, languid expression on her face. At least she herself had not fallen into is grasp yet.
"It only lasted four days though. I tol' him dat it was nothin' personal er nothin' but he's just not what I's lookin' for." Leila talked for a little while mentioning various Newsies and Alyssa got the impression that she was looking at one of them. She kept mentioning David, and Alyssa was getting the hint.
"Leila Diawen O'Shanlon, are yous tryin' ta tell me somethin'?"
Leila was slightly taken aback by the forwardness of Alyssa's question. "Well." she began to stutter, "I.I was wonderin'. Wha' do ya know 'bout David Jacobs?
"Well, I don' know 'im all dat well. From wha' I's picked up round da Lodging House, he's smart, kind, and." Alyssa broke out in a smile, "has absolutely no skills wid women."
"Den I's gonna hafta go easy on 'im." Leila laughed and then took a long sip of her tea, never taking her eyes off Alyssa. "So. how er t'ings goin' wid dat Italian a yers?"
All Alyssa was able to do was balk at Leila while trying to say something coherent. "How. how did ya know?" No one knew that she liked Racetrack. Not even Race. They were not a couple, far from to be exact, but they were closer than brother and sister.
"Easy." Leila was reveling in Alyssa's befuddled state. "I know dat yous ain't datin' but its obvious dat da two a you are close. Da boys won' figure it out; dere too dense fer dat type a tinkin'. Mercy knows."
"I know dat Mercy knows."
The two talked some, sharing their lives. Alyssa only told Leila what the Newsies knew. No point in telling more. It would only cause Alyssa to retreat into silence again.
Leila knew that Alyssa was not telling everything. She did not blame her nor did she press to know more. A time would come when Alyssa would tell everything.
Closing time came and Alyssa asked if Leila would like to come to the Lodging House. Leila agreed and waited a good half hour while Alyssa sat down at a table and furiously wrote in a little leather journal.
Finished, Alyssa bundled up and walked with Leila to the Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House. It would be the first time that Alyssa had spoken to the boys since Christmas.
As a hazy dawn rose, so did the Manhattan Newsies. The air hung heavy with anger and sadness. Mercy had already been walked home by Kloppman and Sarah was waiting for David on the second floor, unsure of how to face Alyssa.
Alyssa, on the other hand, was lying in Racetrack's bunk, begging for a few more moments of sleep. She had not slept well; nightmares of many a kind had flowed thought her head. When those few moments of sleep refused to come, she threw herself out of bed. In a flurry of a nightgown, she streamed past Race on the floor, shoved Mush on top of a still sleeping Blink, bashed Cowboy's head against a bunk frame and almost managed to throw Boots out of a window. Boots survived the ordeal only because Itey had been standing in front of the window.
Dabbing his bleeding forehead, Jack spoke. "I suggest dat yous all stay far away from Alyssa. She'd prob'ly soak ya good if ya got in 'er way."
Granted that Newsies generally felt that girls could not soak anyone, they were wary of Alyssa. She had almost thrown Boots out of a window for God's sake. Despite there was not much to Boots, he was not easy to uproot.
Race flopped on his bunk, wondering why the world was taking a drastic downward turn. The whole Lodging House was upset; not at Alyssa, but at who or what had wronged her. Many of them made oaths saying that they were going to go up to Boston and soak the whole city for causing Alyssa pain. Jack kindly pointed out that it was got a brilliant idea, so many forgot about it. Alyssa's depression was affecting the whole group.
From inside her room, Alyssa could hear the boys getting ready for another day of selling. She was aware of the fact that they were upset; they did not hide it too well. She was too lost in her own depression to care, though. She dressed in a black skirt, white blouse and the black bodice. She threw on her coat, and after a moment's thought, grabbed her little leather journal and stuffed it in a pocket.
Sarah was coming up the stairs as Alyssa was barreling down them. Sarah was slammed into the wall while Alyssa hurtled out the door.
"What the hell happened?" Kloppman appeared at the foot of the stairs.
Seeing Sarah slumped against the wall told him and the Newsies who had gathered at the top of the stairs everything that they needed to know.
"Try and stay away from her," David advised his sister. "Give her a chance to come to sorts."
"But. I." she sputtered. It was her fault that things were like this. Logically, she should be to one to fix it. The Newsies knew that Alyssa would need time to get things together on her own. It was the same thing they did for any Newsie who had a bad time. Leave them alone, and they will come around. David took his worried sister home, after saying that he would meet up with the guys at the Distribution Office.
As they walked, Jack came up alongside a sulking Racetrack. Race felt awful, but knew there was nothing that he could do. Out of all the Newsies, Race was taking this the hardest. After all, he was the one who loved her more than just like a sister. Jack showed deep brotherly concern which helped mask Race's feelings.
"Race, wait." Race had begun to walk away when he realized that Jack was beside him. Jack grabbed his arm and hung back. "Race, don' take dis so hard. I know dat yous and Alyssa is real close, but mopin' won' help."
"Do ya tink dat I don' know dat?" Race snapped. He contemplated telling Jack exactly how he felt about Alyssa, but decided against it. He grabbed his papes and headed off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alyssa was storming down the street towards Tibby's. She had managed to knock over two old ladies, and spook a horse. When she got to Tibby's, she slammed the door behind her, hard. Going into the back room, she slumped into a chair. Mr. Davis walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Alyssa, there is no way that I am going to allow you to serve if you don't get rid of this foul mood of yours. Either go home and sulk or sick it up and work."
As much as Alyssa hated to admit it, Mr. Davis was right. She shoved all feelings aside and threw herself into her work. She decide that everyday, she would go in early and leave late. She did this so that she would not have to talk to any of the Newsies.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
For three weeks, Alyssa spoke to no one. That's not entirely true; she spoke when she was serving. Only out of common courtesy, though. None of the Newsies ate at Tibby's for those three long weeks. Denton tried to get them to go, but Jack and Race kindly reminded him that Alyssa was still not talking to them and that she was still working there. They said that they would wait for Alyssa to come around before they ate at Tibby's again.
During her three weeks of solitude, Alyssa had plenty of time to think. She contemplated killing herself, but reminded herself that suicide was a weak person's way out. She thought about running again. That was what she had done the last time. But where would she run? Not Ireland; she was being searched for there. Not back to Boston; there were too many painful memories there. Certainly not out west; there was nothing there for her. Besides, running would mean leaving the Newsies which she had grown so fond of. They were the family that she never really had.
Lost in the throws of her mind, Alyssa Miramel Cambell had no idea of what had gone around her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah and Jack had a very dramatic fight in the bunkroom which led to their break up. The day had not been great and Sarah had made it worse.
"Jack Kelley, I need to talk with you!" She had stormed into Lodging House screaming.
"So, talk," was all Jack could say.
"I can't believe that you, of all people, are forbidding me to talk to Alyssa. What right do you have to do that?"
Jack sighed. This was the last thing that he wanted to happen today. The weather had kicked up, causing sales to plummet. It also resulted in a very sick Racetrack and everyone else was mildly ill. "Sarah, as her brudder, I'm allowed ta make decisions like dat."
The fight continued for a good half an hour, including Racetrack screaming from his bunk for them to shut up. It ended with Jack proclaiming, "Fine. If yous can't see dat dis is fer yer own good, den we's finished."
Sarah had fled, in tears of course. David just shook his head after his sister and followed her home. Jack was slightly remorseful about yelling at Sarah, but she needed to understand that Alyssa did not need anyone at the moment. Alyssa was his sister, he felt obligated to help her in any way that he could. If that meant keeping people away from her, then so be it. That was two weeks ago. They were on the mend, but were not a couple again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mercy seemed to be the only one who was unaffected by the whole thing. She had known that things would be disastrous. Without having to ask, Mercy had figured what kind of life Alyssa had led before she came to New York. It was shown in the way that she acted. Granted that Mercy did not know everything; she did not want to. Instead, Mercy provided a comforting ear for Racetrack, who was beside himself.
He could care less about Alyssa's past. Things like that did not matter. He was upset with why she had been forced to become what she was. Race walked around in a kind of stupor, going through the motions of daily life, but not really knowing what he was doing. He no longer set up poker games, and he was rarely at the tracks. He would walk past Tibby's sometimes, just to see Alyssa. He would find her going through the motions of work. Sometimes he thought that she had seen him because she would give a little smile; but he could be just dreaming.
Racetrack Higgins loved Alyssa Cambell. Simple as that. He told Mercy this one day, because he felt that if he did not tell someone he would explode, and she just smiled knowingly. Whether Alyssa actually knew or returned the feeling was a whole other story. All he wanted to do was make sure that she was happy and safe in this new home of hers. Preferably with his arms wrapped firmly around her. That was what he wanted. But with Alyssa silent for three straight weeks, Race could not do anything. She soaked anyone who tried to talk to her. Mush found that out the hard way one night.
All Racetrack could do was wait.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As Alyssa was washing down a table, she saw Leila pass by. She watched as Leila huddled against the cold and glance at Tibby's.
Rushing outside, Alyssa called, "Leila, c'mon in an' I'll spot ya lunch."
Leila was set next to the fire and Alyssa went and got her a meal. She came back with a side of beef, warm rolls and butter, a baked potato and an ear of corn. When she set this in front of Leila, she watched her friends eyes go wide.
"Alyssa, how can you.?"
"Davis'll take it outta me salary. Eat up."
Business was slow, so Alyssa could sit and talk with Leila. She filled Alyssa in as to what had happened during the past three weeks while she ate. "Well, ya might as well know that I dated Spot fer a while."
Alyssa looked at Leila, languid expression on her face. At least she herself had not fallen into is grasp yet.
"It only lasted four days though. I tol' him dat it was nothin' personal er nothin' but he's just not what I's lookin' for." Leila talked for a little while mentioning various Newsies and Alyssa got the impression that she was looking at one of them. She kept mentioning David, and Alyssa was getting the hint.
"Leila Diawen O'Shanlon, are yous tryin' ta tell me somethin'?"
Leila was slightly taken aback by the forwardness of Alyssa's question. "Well." she began to stutter, "I.I was wonderin'. Wha' do ya know 'bout David Jacobs?
"Well, I don' know 'im all dat well. From wha' I's picked up round da Lodging House, he's smart, kind, and." Alyssa broke out in a smile, "has absolutely no skills wid women."
"Den I's gonna hafta go easy on 'im." Leila laughed and then took a long sip of her tea, never taking her eyes off Alyssa. "So. how er t'ings goin' wid dat Italian a yers?"
All Alyssa was able to do was balk at Leila while trying to say something coherent. "How. how did ya know?" No one knew that she liked Racetrack. Not even Race. They were not a couple, far from to be exact, but they were closer than brother and sister.
"Easy." Leila was reveling in Alyssa's befuddled state. "I know dat yous ain't datin' but its obvious dat da two a you are close. Da boys won' figure it out; dere too dense fer dat type a tinkin'. Mercy knows."
"I know dat Mercy knows."
The two talked some, sharing their lives. Alyssa only told Leila what the Newsies knew. No point in telling more. It would only cause Alyssa to retreat into silence again.
Leila knew that Alyssa was not telling everything. She did not blame her nor did she press to know more. A time would come when Alyssa would tell everything.
Closing time came and Alyssa asked if Leila would like to come to the Lodging House. Leila agreed and waited a good half hour while Alyssa sat down at a table and furiously wrote in a little leather journal.
Finished, Alyssa bundled up and walked with Leila to the Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House. It would be the first time that Alyssa had spoken to the boys since Christmas.