A Bum Lends a Hand
The outdoors does not get warmer when you get used to it. I had no where to sleep at night. I found myself camping out in alleys, on benches, in basements, whatever I could find. But I was still thrilled to be out of Canta Marinia. I had control over my own life for the first time.
When ever a cop came near, I was always shaking. I knew Madame Tally would never let me actually leave and stay gone. I was worth too much. The entire thought sickened me and I wondered how long Madame Tally would keep my escape quiet. Those who knew of Canta Marinia thought it was a great place to go, even if you weren't an orphan. I was educated, had decent food, a roof over my head, and no control over my life. It was what was expected from us because we received fair treatment. Not just anyone went to the Canta Marinia Orphanage, it was only girls and not a one was left in the orphanage after they were 18. They would disappear in the night after their grand "coming out" party. There would be those who would be excited for their 18th birthday, but as for me, I did not want to find out. Because, I knew. Poor Cecilia.
"Rose. Which do you think is prettier? The lavender or the green velvet?" Cecilia giggled.
"Lia, I think the lavender would be just ravishing!" I giggled back.
"Oh, I knew you were going to pick that one"
"Well I can't go recommending my favorite color around. I want to wear my green dress tonight" I said and did an impression of Prissie,
flouncing across the room.
"You are so selfish!" she laughed.
"At least I know what I am, unlike a certain girl"
"Hey, not fair!"
"Life doesn't have to be fair now does it?"
"Cliché Queen"
I just shrugged my shoulders, "I'll take what I can get" then broke out into a huge grin.
Lia took up a pillow and starts hitting me in retaliation, breaking out into an all out pillow fight.
Tears fill my eyes as I remember Cecilia. So happy and joyful about her "coming of age," what a contrast I saw later. Her tear stained face and the painful look in her eyes will haunt me forever. "I promise. I won't let them get me" I vow to the air, "I can't let them hurt me, like they did to Lia."
"Are you okay, miss?" a voice asked. The boy was tall and dressed in his best rags, "What ya doing out here alone?"
"I'm not a girl" I stuttered trying despretely to lose this strangers interest.
"Well sure you are. Are you in trouble? Who's going to hurt ya? Who's Lia?" the boy insisted.
"None of your business" I rudely attempted again lose the attention. Attention brought cops and cops meant the end of my freedom.
"But it's my business to help those that need help. Don't ya have a place to go?"
"Sure I do. Why do you think I'm here? I just needed some air." I managed. I gotta learn how to lie!
"Miss, there ain't an apartment a good mile from here. You mean ya walked a whole mile to sit here"
"Ummm, yes" I tried again to bluff, but my voice was weak and unconvincing even to myself.
"Why wouldn't ya let me help?" This strange boy asked undetered.
"I don't know who you are." I said quietly.
"Oh, well then. The name's Bumlets. I'm a newsie for the New York Woild in Manhatten. And you are?" He said smoothly like it solved all problems.
"No one" I deadpaned with one last attempt at reflecting the help I knew I needed despertly.
"Well no one, I'se know a fella that could help ya out. If you ain't got money, then you can get some woik too"
"I am not going to sell my body!" I exclaimed horrified as the boys friendliness and helpfulness made sense in the only way I knew. You might say I didn't know many truly kind people before, or had a great impression of humanity.
"WHAT! NO I didn't meant THAT! I meant becoming a newsie. There's a newsie, Dave, he has a family. His older sister just moved out, so they's got space. You can just come met him, sell some afternoon papes. See how ya like it" Bumlets blushing furiously, just as shocked as me.
"Why are you doing this for me?" I asked baffled.
"Well, I'se hate to see a goil cry. And it seems to me Miss that an angel like you don't need to go through that kind of pain if I can help it" he answered in a more chiverlous manner than any rich and privelaged young man in the whole of New York.
"Thank you..." I said slowly pausing... who was this again?
"Bumlets"
"Thank you Bumlets" I said with a real smile convinced finally of his good-intentions.
"Well Snipes, I'd a wished you had seen more, but I guess that's all you can tell" Spot finally sighed.
"Sorry Spot" Snipes wisphered.
"I better be going back to Brooklyn" Spot said suddenly.
"Why don't ya stay for some lunch?" Jack asked.
"I don't…" Spot started, but suddenly interrupted by the door swinging in on him.
"Here's Tibbys" Bumlets annonnoced as we approached a diner. "Best diner in Hatten"
"Hmmm" was all I could manage to say.
As we walked into the diner, we almost ran into a boy with clear piercing blue eyes.
"I don't…" he was saying, but abruptly changed his tone and finished, "know you."
"Hey guys," yelled Bumlets.
"Hey Bum! Who's the goil?"
"Everyone this is… uh…, you never did tell me your name"
"I'm no one important" I said swiftly.
"No, you're more like an Angel" Bumlets said kind of dreamily.
My cheeks turned crimson, and I started to stutter.
"I…I…am no A..Angel"
"yeah, you are… What other being has got no name" Spot murmured. The guys added their agreements.
"I got a name" I said defensively.
"Yeah?" Spot challenged.
"It's uhm… uhhh" I suddenly realized that I had not thought of a different name or knew a name I could use safely.
"Angel" Spot said confidently.
"So Angel, where did ya run into Bumlets here?" Jack asked giving Bumlets a push.
"I was j..just sitting" I stammered. I definitely needed to figure out how to lie.
"And bawling her eyes out. I think she is in trouble" Bumlets said quickly shooting me a look.
"Bumlets!" I cried, how embarrassing!
"Hey, these guys won't hurt ya" he said.
"I just… I don't need charity!" I tried to explain and then fell back to a line.
"But you haven't had a decent meal in a while have ya" Spot shot back.
"I was…" I began.
"And you haven't had a place to lay your head either" Spot cut me off.
"I like…" I tried.
"Stop your excuses. You are going to eat right now" Spot demanded.
"Mr. Tibby, can you get this girl a coke and sandwich!" Jack called out.
"I can pay for myself" I said raising my dignity.
"Then why haven't you eaten?" Spot asked.
"Okay, just stop alright" Race cut in.
"Now, where are ya going to stay? They don't allow goils in the lodging house" Spot asked.
"Well… Klopmann might…" Jack began slowly.
"She can stay with me and my family. Sarah went to teach at that school. We have extra room now" David said quickly.
"Hey, Mouth, that ain't a bad idea" Spot brightened.
"Angel goil, this here is Davy Jacobs, the Walkin' Mouth" Bumlets introduced.
"David" he corrected while the guys all howled with laughter.
"And I'm Les!"
"My kid brother"
"I don't know. I don't like being in the way" I managed to sputter. Getting a word in edgewise with this crew was going to be tough, I had just meet these boys and they had already decided I should stay.
"I told you, we have room. And my mom would be so happy to have a girl around again."
"You don't have a better place to go" Spot confided.
"His family's real nice, Angel" Bumlets said quietly.
Under pressure from the boy I had decided to trust and a boy who oviously got his way, I caved in, "Maybe just one night. But I won't just eat your family's food and sleep in the bed for nothing."
"It's not a problem… Ya don't have to pay us" David asked sincerely.
"But I do… I can sell papers. That's what Bumlets said at least" I insisted.
"If that's what you want"
"Yeah"
"Well then lets go sell some papes" Race called.
"Do you want to sell with me?" David asked.
"Sure why not" I answered.
"Foist, a warning. Not many people sell well on there foist day" Spot said with a twinkling eye.
"Has anyone?" I asked concerned.
"Well there was this one guy, who is probably the most handsome newsie that ever lived" Spot began mischievously.
"Shut up Spot, now the other guy who sold well was better looking than that dog" Jack smirked.
"Geez, I bet ya can't guess who the idiots were" Race added.
"Uhhh, could it be Spot and Jack" I laughed.
"That would be me" Jack bowed.
"And me" Spot followed suit.
"Hey, I thought I was taking her around" Dave broke in.
"Okay, Dave lets see what ya learned." Jack said crossing his arms.
"First and foremost, Headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes" David spoke with pride.
"Oh Yeah" "Go Dave" "That's Right Davey Boy!"
"Okay…" This was a new one on me, why was it so important?
"It was the first thing taught to me. That and 'It's not lying. It's just improving the truth a little'" Dave laughed.
"Ya believe me now Dave?" Jack smirked.
"I still don't like it. Anyways, are you ready to go?" Dave asked me.
"Sure, thanks for the lunch Spot" I answered.
"Hey, no problem. I like doing a good deed once in a while." Spot said with a grin.