Well, what can I say? West Side Story, 'tis not mine. If it was,a I would severely punish Action and the boys for their behavior in Doc's (tsk, tsk, tsk).I would also steal Krupke's police car, just for the heck of it. (Boy, I've caught a bad case of stealing-cars from Twitch Holes, for those of you who don't know)


"Now, remember Rebecca, I don't expect any trouble from you when we get to your auntie's apartment," Leah Hemlock told her thirteen year old daughter as she shuffled obediently behind her, "And I don't want you following your cousin either."

"Why not Mum?" Rebecca demanded impatiently as they reached the cab point, "I've never even met him."

"Because that boy's heading for trouble, that's what he's doing," Leah argued, "Joining a gang and getting into fights…no, it's the straight and narrow path for us, Rebecca. Remember, we aren't in Chicago anymore."

Rebecca shrugged and kicked the side of the pavement, avoiding the disapproving glare her mother shot her. Her mother had joined the Women's Institute in Chicago when she was nine, and ever since then, her life had become nothing more than Bible verses and polished shoes, "I'm…..bored." She grumbled.

"Well, what can you expect when there isn't any cab's anywhere?" Her mother sighed, "We should never have come here, but with your auntie's problems with Samuel…." She sighed.

Rebecca scrutinised her mother carefully, "Why are you on Auntie Rosa's side of this anyway?" she demanded, "Uncle Samuel's your brother."

"Flesh and blood are closer, but sometimes duty has to call to us…." Rebecca yawned loudly and leaned against the lamppost. Her mother would be going on for sometime now.

"……Ah! Here it is!" Becca's eyes lit up as a cab drove up. Her mother stuck her head in through the window and asked for her auntie's address. The cab diver raised his eyes.

"My, a fine lady like yourself is chancing it a bit going in there, ain't ya?"

"Why'd you say that?" Becca asked as she slid into the cab.

"Well, that part of the area's the rough side, isn't it? All them gangs and sorts hanging around together."

"Like I said," Her mother whispered, "Stay away from your cousin and those……Jets, or whatever they're called."

"Oh, the Jets, are they?" The driver laughed, "They're the top gang in the state, no other gang can beat 'em!"

"Whoa," Becca whispered quietly. This 'gang' sounded cool.

They arrived in an hour. Leah strode up the stairs to the apartment, ignoring the rubbish piled up on every step, "Now, remember Becca," She hissed, "Be good." She knocked loudly three times on the door.

"Leah! Oh I am so happy to see you!" From her position on the third step Becca could see a brown lady with thick black hair hugging her mother. The tall lady let go and strode towards Becca, "And this is your baby daughter….oh, she has grown so much!"

"Hello Aunty Rosa."

"Hello dear – oh, don't carry all those bags, I'll help – it is so good to see you. And to move from Boston to hear just for us, I appreciate it very much."

"Oh, all for family dear," Leah said, just as Becca broke out with, "And Manhattan's cool!" Rosa laughed.

"Come in, come in! I'll just introduce you to your cousin Becca; the last time you saw him you were three, and then you can both have a nice cup of tea." Leah shot her daughter a warning glance at the mention of her cousin before walking inside.

"Daniel! Come out and greet your aunt and cousin!"

A head stuck itself round the corner of the living room door. It brown-ish skin. It had dark hair. It had a scowl on its face.

"BAH!" Becca yelled and jumped away.

Leah gave her daughter a pinch, "Becca, don't show me up. Say hello to your cousin."

"Uh…hello?"

The scowl did not lift, "Hi."

Rosa cuffed the person over the head, "Daniel, this is your Aunt Leah and your cousin Rebecca. I want you to take care of Becca while she lives here."

"Rosa, that won't be necessary," Leah said hurriedly.

"Of course it will!" Rosa said cheerfully, "Becca has never been to Manhattan before, she needs someone to look after her."

The boy gave a grimace and stepped out into the kitchen. He was stocky, and only a little taller than Becca, "I'm going out now Ma," He said, "And the little girl better not come with me."

"Oh, darling," Rosa whined, "You aren't going around with those boys again, are you?" Leah pursed her lips.

Daniel shrugged, "Yeah, I guess I am. I'll see you later then." He walked towards the door and looked out, "Oh hell!"

Rosa looked up, "It isn't your father is it?" Daniel nodded, "Oh…oh….How bad is it?"

Daniel looked back, "Pretty bad. He's got about seven pints in him at least."

Rosa shook her head, "Leah, go in to the last room on the right and go to bed. Daniel, hide Becca in her bed."

"Right," Daniel gestured to Becca, "Come on."

"Whoa, back up!" Becca yelped at her cousin as they ran into a small dingy room – her room, she realised. Oh, how pleasant – "Why can't we just hang around and say hello…..?"

Her cousin turned round to stare at her. Becca squeaked and jumped back away, "Listen, one thing you need to know when you're living here is never, never, under any circumstances, hang around to speak to my old man."

"Why?"

"Because…" Daniel's voice trailed off as the front door slammed, "Never mind. Just hide behind the door with me and keep your mouth shut." Becca scrambled behind the door and let her cousin put his hands over her mouth, "Keep quiet." He hissed.

"Rosa! Where the hell are you? Where's that son of mine?" Becca could feel Daniel's body tense.

"Here….now Samuel, why don't you let me just get your dinner for you…."

"Wait," The man's rough voice stopped, "Let me have a look around," There was a sharp gasp from Rosa, "What's this? You've been having one of your friends round again Rosa?"

"No Samuel, no…."

Friends? Becca mouthed at Daniel. He didn't move, just stayed as still as he could.

"Just tell me I've got it all wrong and I'll let it go, right Rosa. Cos I'm a reasonable guy, aren't I Rosa?" He started to yell, "AREN'T I?"

Rosa began to babble, "Of course you are Samuel….You are the only one I want to be with….." Her gibberish was replaced with a scream.

Becca blinked up at Daniel's emotionless face. "What was that?"

Daniel stared back at her and shook his head slightly. Becca had tensed up, squashing herself as close to the wall as possible. She hoped her mother was okay.

There was a smack from the next room, "Where the hell is that bastard child of ours? Come on, stop protecting him Rosa!"

"I don't know where he is Samuel, I don't!"

"Of course you don't. Well, don't worry Rosa, I'll find him. And then that boy will wish he'd never been born."

Becca blinked again. Something hadn't quite registered with her yet, "Daniel?" She whispered as quietly as she could, "Who is this man?"

Daniel whispered back, "This is my father."

Becca looked back at him, "And he's hitting her?"

Daniel studied her for a second, "You really know nothing about life in New York, do you?"

Becca paused. Up until now, she'd been living with her mother and father (and then her mother, after the Korean War), in a cosy flat in Chicago. She'd regularly climbed around by the dumpster trucks, and seen a good many dog fights, but never seen any more domestic violence than a simple telling off. She shook her head.

Daniel rolled his eyes, "Get used to it," He pressed his ear to the door, "I think he's gone. Go to bed."

Becca looked at him.

Daniel shook his head, "Look, little girl, the only explanation is that my father is an insensitive bastard who goes out to drink and then comes back and beats up my mother, and hates me 'cos I once tried to stop him from hitting my mother, okay?"

Becca's throat contracted, "I think I came to the wrong house," She looked at her cousin, "Can I go home Daniel?" She asked, in what she hoped was a clever way.

Daniel shook his head, letting a crooked grin creep onto his face, "Nope. And my names not Daniel."

Becca glared at him, "It so is. That's what your mum calls you."

"Yeah, well, my real name's Action."

"That's not a name."

"Yes it is. Now go to bed."

"Why are you called Action?"

Daniel – or Action – sighed, "Because sometimes I get mad and try to hurt people, and usually it takes at least two or three people to stop me, I get so mad."

"Oh. Why d'you try and hurt people?"

"Didn't the scene in there give you a hint?"

"Why does your Dad drink so much?"

"I dunno. That's just the way it's done around here."

"Why?"

Action lost his temper, "Because that's how it's done! Alright?" Becca squeaked and ducked behind the door, "Now go to bed." Becca nodded silently, "Good girl. See ya in the morning."

Becca sniffed and lay down on her bed, not bothering to get into her pyjamas. Manhattan, she decided, was a scary place to live.

She'd better find out more in the morning.

She put her head on the pillow and fell straight asleep.


This is the point where yuou review. No, honestly, it is. Also, the part where Action's dad talks about Action's mom and her friends is from the movie, where Krupke says 'How's the action on your mother's side of the street, Action?'. Boy, I loved the way Action almost killed him then.