Chapter Three
Mush and Skittery made their way to Tibby's that fateful summer day. Sweat was dripping down Mush's back making small lines in his shirt. He was almost tempted to remove it, but he knew people would prefer to purchase a pape from a sweaty newsie than a shirtless one. He tipped his hat and wiped his brow before entering the restaurant.
The pair were glad to make their way inside. The shelter from the summer sun was more than welcome and the fans going overhead were two added pleasantries. Mush decided all he'd need to make today perfect was a cold glass of lemonade.
He sat down next to his pal Race who was busy acting disgustingly cute with his girlfriend Half-Pint. Those two never seperated...not since they were eleven had one seen one without the other. Now that they'd figured out they had feelings for each other, it never stopped. Mush was slightly envious of them for he hoped that they would one day marry and make a life together.
"Aww cut it out! I'm tryin' ta eat heah!" Mush laughed as he delved into the hot dog he just ordered.
"Jealousy, my friend, is not flattering." Race said with a snicker as he took a bite of his turkey sandwich. It was one of those rare days when everyone seemed to have just enough money to buy a full lunch.
Skittery sauntered over to them and turned the chair backwards and straddled it.
"Mush ain't got nuttin' ta be jealous of. He met himself a right fine lady taday..." Skittery teased mussing his hair. Mush shook his head and took a bit of his hot dog
"It ain't nothin'. Just some hoity toity rich goil wantin' me to bring a pape ta her house twice a day."
Skittery cleared his throat and tried not to laugh.
"Some hoity toity rich goil, eh? You wasn't sayin' dat when you said you'd like ta-"
"Shut up!" Mush interjected, getting slightly irritated by his tone. So what if this Miss Adele was attractive. He'd never have her anyway.
Race grinned his grin. He seemed to be enjoying this thoroughly. He put his tongue through his teeth as he took a swig of his cold sasparilla.
"Fi...you t'ink mush is attractive ain't ya?" Skittery asked.
Mush's faced contorted. That was a sore subject. Before Fiona "Half-Pint" and Race became and item, Mush had had a desperate crush on the girl. Resigning herself to never having Race, she had kissed him a few times when he had taken her out for some drinks. It was all innocent really, but it made Race uneasy.
"I think you know what I think on da subject. It don't mattah anyway...even if she's da prettiest goil in da woild...people like dem dey don't go for people like us." Fiona said with a shrug as she pushed around the food on her plate. Race looked at her and kissed her cheek gently as he tried to prod her in her ear to eat a little more.
Mush nodded. He knew deep down she was right.
The next morning, Mush made his way to Adele's aunt's house and was surprised to see the young girl already outside at such an early hour. She sat by herself, reading a book in a language Mush didn't recognize for he barely recognized words in his own language. She looked to him like the girls he saw in the ads that hung in Macy's. There was no doubt she was more beautiful than he had remembered.
"Heya Miss." Mush grinned at her handing her her paper.
She smiled at him and put the book down.
"Hello sir. All we have today is a five." she told him, reaching into her pocket and handing him a five dollar bill.
Mush searched for his words. "I ain't got change for a five...I'se real sorry...you can pay me latah taday if you want..."
She shook her head stoically.
"No." she answered. "Keep it."
With that he grinned the biggest grin she'd ever seen before.
'Poor fellow.' she thought. 'My shoes must cost more than he'll ever have in his life.'
She smiled at him and opened her parosol to shield herself from the sun and said no more to him. She found that most men liked some mystery and she suspected that even though he was a street rat, he'd be no different.
Adele appeared every morning on the front steps for two weeks. On the second week, she stood outside in her school uniform and failed to greet him in the afternoons on weekdays due to her schedule at school.
As he handed her the paper on that Friday morning he scratched his neck ever so slightly and asked, "Miss, I gotta ask. Why are you always out heah? Ain't you gotta maid or somethin'?"
She grinned and tightened her clutch on her school books.
"Of course we do. But I like to see the world pass by. My aunt doesn't like it. She says I'm letting myself get dark. But I like to watch everything out here. And I like to see you most of all."
He grinned as wide as he could. He tried to contain himself though for he did not want to look like he'd had his hopes set up too high.
"May I walk you to school?" he asked offering his hand for her books.
She blushed and nodded. "Thank you, I would like that."
She handed him her school books, all the while noticing him and how attractive he was. They didn't make boys like him at home. Only in America, she reckoned.
As the school building came into view and more uniformed girls began to appear, she turned to Mush and smiled, tossing a beautiful curl over her shoulder.
"Mush?" she asked softly "Can I see you tonight?"
She was almost as taken aback by the question as he was.
'What am I getting myself into?' she thought. 'I can't carry on like this with a newspaper boy! But those eyes...that skin...and he's so sweet.. No, no harm will come on us.'
He nodded rather reluctantly.
"I'd like ta...but I dunno how its gonna work ya see."
She thought for a moment and then came up with an idea.
"Well, my aunt doesn't allow me out of the house after bedtime, clearly. But maybe you could climb in through my window? There are vines growing upside the house and the gardner tends to them. I'll see that the ladder is close by before I go to bed."
He nodded eagerly at the thought although neither of them knew quite what they were getting themselves into.