Chapter 16
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The applause that followed Storm's song made her smile and laugh. For the first time in a long time she was truly happy doing what she loved to do. Smiling, Storm silently asked the crowd of newsies to be quiet.
"We'se all 'ere taday ta celebrate Spot Conlon's seventeenth boithday!" Storm called into crowd. "So on behalf o' da Brooklyn newsies and all the other New Yawk newsies, I'se like ta say: Happy Boithday, Spot!!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Spot stood and bowed to the newsies.
"Sing anudda Storm!!" Fisher called.
Storm smiled and nodded as a nice tune played.
"Every time I turn around
I run into your pride
Sometimes I'm not so sure if I wanna
Know that guy, know that guy
'Cause you got a rock hard head
Stubborn as a mule
Oh, yeah, and by the way, I still love you
Go on and be that way
Slam that door
Make a scene
Yell some more
Come on let's have it out
Have your say
'Cause with a love this strong
Baby it's okay
For you to be that way
Sometimes what you don't say
Can make the deepest cut
And I get my feelings hurt
And I just go nuts, well a little nuts
So try to ignore that girl She's just blowin' off steam
Oh and I don't know about her
But I hope you say to me
Go on and be that way
Slam that door
Make a scene
Yell some more
Come on let's have it out
Have your say
'Cause with a love this strong
Baby it's okay
For you to be that way
Baby let's get emotional
What do you say we let it all go
Let it go
Go on and be that way
Slam that door
Make a scene
Yell some more
Come on let's have it out
Have your say
'Cause with a love this strong
Baby it's okay
For you to be that way
Be that way, oh yeah?
Storm smiled as the song ended. She searched the audience, not quite knowing what she was looking for, until she noticed he wasn't there. The smile that had been on her face suddenly didn't make it to her eyes anymore. The music started again and Storm simply let it sweep her away. The tune was somewhat sobering for everyone in the room.
"Dear God, I Hope you got the letter and
I pray that you can make it better down here.
I don't need a big reduction in the price of beer.
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them starving on their feet
'Cause they don't get enough to eat
From God.
I can't believe in you.
Dear God,
Sorry to disturb you but,
I feel that I should be heard loud and clear.
We all need a big reduction in amounts of tears
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them fighting in the street
'Cause they can't make opinions meet
About God.
Can't believe in you.
Did you make disease?
And the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind?
After we made you?
And the Devil too...
Dear God, Don't know if you've noticed but
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this Book.
Us crazy humans wrote it; you should take a look.
And all the people that you made in your image
Still believin' that junk is true.
Well, I know it ain't and so do you,
Dear God.
I can't believe in...
I don't believe in...
I won't believe in Heaven and Hell,
No saints, no sinners, no Devil as well,
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You're always lettin' us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown,
Those lost at sea and never found.
And it's the same the whole world 'round,
The hurt I see helps to compound
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Is just somebody's unholy hoax.
And if you're up there, you perceive
That my heart's here upon my sleeve.
If there's one thing I don't believe in...
It's you,
Dear God."
Storm sighed softly as the song ended and walked from the stage. For some reason she suddenly felt like leaving and going home. She felt like thinking, and she had no idea why.
"Youse okay?" a soft voice asked Storm as she headed to the back door.
"Conlon? Don't ya know it ain't polite to leave youse party?" Storm asked smiling painfully.
"Youse look sick," Spot said ignoring her question. "I'se gonna take ya home."
"I'se a big goil, Conlon," Storm snapped suddenly irritated at his kindness. "I'se gonna take me self home."
"Storm!" Spot called as she started to walk away. She stopped and stood on shaky legs. "Tell me wha happened."
"Conlon, please," she begged. "Don't make me say anyt'ing."
"Tell me Storm," she whispered walking to her. He gently made her turn and face him. "Please. I'se need ta no why youse scream at night and why youse so cold towards everybody. What eva's wrong, I'se kin help ya, but youse gotta tell me foist."
Storm turned her eyes to Spot's and searched them, almost as though she was looking into his soul. She simply started at him, tears starting to fall from her eyes.
"Storm, don't cry," Spot said softly, cupping her face in his hands and wiped the tears from her face like he had the day she and Mush had fought.
"It hoits," she whispered. "I kin still feel my legs on fire as I'se ran."
"Storm, tell me," Spot softly commanded.
"Spot, please," Storm murmured.
Spot simply lowered his face to hers. His forehead touched hers and he held her, all the while staring into her eyes. She could feel his warm breath on her face and she sighed, for a moment forgetting the way she way reliving her worst memories. He brought his lips down to her, and Storm let her eyes slide close, waiting to feel his soft lips of hers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
The applause that followed Storm's song made her smile and laugh. For the first time in a long time she was truly happy doing what she loved to do. Smiling, Storm silently asked the crowd of newsies to be quiet.
"We'se all 'ere taday ta celebrate Spot Conlon's seventeenth boithday!" Storm called into crowd. "So on behalf o' da Brooklyn newsies and all the other New Yawk newsies, I'se like ta say: Happy Boithday, Spot!!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Spot stood and bowed to the newsies.
"Sing anudda Storm!!" Fisher called.
Storm smiled and nodded as a nice tune played.
"Every time I turn around
I run into your pride
Sometimes I'm not so sure if I wanna
Know that guy, know that guy
'Cause you got a rock hard head
Stubborn as a mule
Oh, yeah, and by the way, I still love you
Go on and be that way
Slam that door
Make a scene
Yell some more
Come on let's have it out
Have your say
'Cause with a love this strong
Baby it's okay
For you to be that way
Sometimes what you don't say
Can make the deepest cut
And I get my feelings hurt
And I just go nuts, well a little nuts
So try to ignore that girl She's just blowin' off steam
Oh and I don't know about her
But I hope you say to me
Go on and be that way
Slam that door
Make a scene
Yell some more
Come on let's have it out
Have your say
'Cause with a love this strong
Baby it's okay
For you to be that way
Baby let's get emotional
What do you say we let it all go
Let it go
Go on and be that way
Slam that door
Make a scene
Yell some more
Come on let's have it out
Have your say
'Cause with a love this strong
Baby it's okay
For you to be that way
Be that way, oh yeah?
Storm smiled as the song ended. She searched the audience, not quite knowing what she was looking for, until she noticed he wasn't there. The smile that had been on her face suddenly didn't make it to her eyes anymore. The music started again and Storm simply let it sweep her away. The tune was somewhat sobering for everyone in the room.
"Dear God, I Hope you got the letter and
I pray that you can make it better down here.
I don't need a big reduction in the price of beer.
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them starving on their feet
'Cause they don't get enough to eat
From God.
I can't believe in you.
Dear God,
Sorry to disturb you but,
I feel that I should be heard loud and clear.
We all need a big reduction in amounts of tears
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them fighting in the street
'Cause they can't make opinions meet
About God.
Can't believe in you.
Did you make disease?
And the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind?
After we made you?
And the Devil too...
Dear God, Don't know if you've noticed but
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this Book.
Us crazy humans wrote it; you should take a look.
And all the people that you made in your image
Still believin' that junk is true.
Well, I know it ain't and so do you,
Dear God.
I can't believe in...
I don't believe in...
I won't believe in Heaven and Hell,
No saints, no sinners, no Devil as well,
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You're always lettin' us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown,
Those lost at sea and never found.
And it's the same the whole world 'round,
The hurt I see helps to compound
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Is just somebody's unholy hoax.
And if you're up there, you perceive
That my heart's here upon my sleeve.
If there's one thing I don't believe in...
It's you,
Dear God."
Storm sighed softly as the song ended and walked from the stage. For some reason she suddenly felt like leaving and going home. She felt like thinking, and she had no idea why.
"Youse okay?" a soft voice asked Storm as she headed to the back door.
"Conlon? Don't ya know it ain't polite to leave youse party?" Storm asked smiling painfully.
"Youse look sick," Spot said ignoring her question. "I'se gonna take ya home."
"I'se a big goil, Conlon," Storm snapped suddenly irritated at his kindness. "I'se gonna take me self home."
"Storm!" Spot called as she started to walk away. She stopped and stood on shaky legs. "Tell me wha happened."
"Conlon, please," she begged. "Don't make me say anyt'ing."
"Tell me Storm," she whispered walking to her. He gently made her turn and face him. "Please. I'se need ta no why youse scream at night and why youse so cold towards everybody. What eva's wrong, I'se kin help ya, but youse gotta tell me foist."
Storm turned her eyes to Spot's and searched them, almost as though she was looking into his soul. She simply started at him, tears starting to fall from her eyes.
"Storm, don't cry," Spot said softly, cupping her face in his hands and wiped the tears from her face like he had the day she and Mush had fought.
"It hoits," she whispered. "I kin still feel my legs on fire as I'se ran."
"Storm, tell me," Spot softly commanded.
"Spot, please," Storm murmured.
Spot simply lowered his face to hers. His forehead touched hers and he held her, all the while staring into her eyes. She could feel his warm breath on her face and she sighed, for a moment forgetting the way she way reliving her worst memories. He brought his lips down to her, and Storm let her eyes slide close, waiting to feel his soft lips of hers.