Thanks to all of those who reviewed yesterday. GN-you make me laugh. I dunno if thats good or bad. And i'm still arguing.
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Torch grinned, her old cockiness in place. "Well if it ain't Mista Snyda. How'd ya break outta jail, Scumbucket? If I know you, ya bribed da guard."
"Well, my Torii still has her spirit, doesn't she, boys?" Snyder looked over at Spot and Blink, almost forgotten, still sitting on the ground. Spot was the first to respond. He jumped up.
"Whadda ya want wit Torch, Snyda?" Spot snarled, placing a protective hand on Torch's shoulder.
"Why, I just wanted to say hi to my old friend," Snyder grabbed Torch by the collar while pushing Spot back to the ground, "and take her back where she belongs."
Blink was up by now. "If ya wanna take her, back to the hole ya call da Refuge, or ta ya house, ya gotta go thru me."
Spot stepped beside him. "An' me."
"And me." A voice from behind made the boys whirl around. Torii couldn't move. All she heard was the voices of the boys and the one familiar voice she couldn't place. She could only see Snyder's face. It turned pale, then nervous, then something almost like fear that grew and jumped around his face. One part of her mind was overjoyed to finally see fear on the face of the feared. The other part wondered if this was a good or bad thing.
"Well, if it ain't Offica Grady!" Spot's voice.
"Well, if it ain't my friends, da newsies!" There was a few low words, then, "I'm takin' ya in, Snyda. If you'se get out agin, I'll make sure da judge puts ya on Death Row." Officer Grady moved behind Snyder and handcuffed him, causing Torch to drop to the ground. "An' believe me, I have more friends in high places than you do." He smiled at Torch. "Hiya, Torch! I'll see ya lata, alright?" Torch could hardly speak.
Blink and Spot pulled her back up. "Tanks, Offica Grady. We'll see ya lata." The boys waved. Torch managed a small smile.
"'Bye, boys." Grady waved back as he hauled Snyder off to the police station around the corner.
Spot wiped his brow. "Whew. Dat was too close fo' comfort. Let's go, Torch."
Torch didn't respond. Spot shook her. "Torch?"
She was limp against their shoulders. Spot looked at Blink, who shrugged.
"Shock from seein' Snyda an' bein' threatened, an' de cold. We betta get 'er ta Brooklyn as soon as possible." Spot nodded.
"I'll carry 'er."
- - - - - - - - - -
Whoa. I'm floating. Or something. Gol! Why is it so stinkin' bright! Torch squinted. Opened her eyes. Then closed them as quickly as possible. Is it possible? Am I in da Refuge? If not, why's dere a bunch a boys 'round my bed…oh yeah. Brooklyn Newsboys Lodging House. I should really stop dis blackin' out ting. It's getin' inconvenient.
She opened her eyes again. Gol. I feel like Snow White and the dwarves…'cept these ain't dwarves. An' dere's way more dan seven. One of them lifted his head and shouted across the room, "Hey Spot! Da goil's awake!"
"Awlright den!" a voice answered back. "Evrybody, da show's ova, get to ya bunks!" Groans met the voice all around. "Cyamon, guys, we had a deal! An' ya gotta sell tomorra! It's just a goil!"
All the faces disappeared from around her bed. She heard shuffling, muttering about, "Yeh, just a goil.," then a door closing. Spot's face came into her line a vision. "So, ya decided ta grace us wit ya presence. Blink heah was afraid fo' a minute dere ya'd gone and lef' us fo' good."
"I did not!" Blink's face also appeared above her head. Silence ensued. Torch finally looked up. She had some questions, and it wasn't going to go over very well if they didn't speak to her.
"Guys, guys." Torch interrupted, sticking up a hand in between the boys giving each other death glares.
"What." The guys were still staring at each other.
"Foirst of all, where am I in da House? And second, how long do I gotta stay heah, Spot?"
Spot looked back at her first. "I win!" Blink yelled. Spot looked back and silenced him with one look that said, Ya do that again, and I'll pound ya inta da ground so hard, only ya hair will show. Blink slinked away. Spot spoke.
"Well, ya in my room in da House, where you'll stay 'til ya leave agin. Blink heah," he motioned to the figure now sitting on the chair by the bed, "says ya gotta stay in da House itself 'til ya fevah breaks. Den I decided you'll stay in Brooklyn 'til ya tough enough to whip da Delancys silly."
Torch mentally kicked herself. She'd known the plans. She fought off sleep to ask another question. "How long ya tink dat'll be?"
"Few weeks at da most. Delancys ain't hard ta break. Jist gotta hit 'em hard enough."
Blink nodded. "Dat's fo' shoah."
Spot leaned closer. A small smile slipped onto his face. "I'll get ya outta heah as soon as I kin, I promise."
Torch smiled weakly. "Tanks guys." Her eyes closed, and soon she was sleeping peacefully. The wave had finally won over her depreciated body.
Blink looked at Spot again. "We bettah let her sleep. Don' wake her up tomorra." He stopped, uncomfortable with leaving his patient, a girl nonetheless, in Brooklyn. He reluctantly headed for the door. "I should head back now."
Spot shook his head and cut him off. "Too late fo' dat. You kin stay heah. I'll take da top bunk. You can take da bottom. Torch heah already took ma bed." Spot looked once more at the sleeping girl. "No wonda she could pass fo' a boy. She's ugly enough. Hardly has a chest, eida." But, he thought, when she's sleepin' she looks more at peace dan in da day too…
Blink was sharing the same thoughts. "I agree, but don't say dat round her. She'd probly pound ya in a few weeks." Spot grinned.
"At least Jack don't have ta worry bout her stealin' his boy's hearts."
Blink chuckled. "Dat's fo' shoah."
- - - - - - - - - - -
In a few weeks, Torch was well enough to go back to Manhattan. Jack had visited several times, and they'd worked out a compromise. Torch could sell papes and could stay in the attic, where the boys wouldn't bug her. And Jack would get to scare his boys out of their wits when Torch came back with her longer hair. And seemingly back from the dead. Spot laughed so hard when they told them their prank that he almost fell off the top bunk.
"Ya boys are gonna have da scare of dere lives, dat's all I gotta say." Spot finally strung together a coherent sentence around the literal giggle attack and gasping for breath. Then he was off again. Jack and Torch stared at each other. The leader of Brooklyn, giggling! "Torch…Jack…boys…new…" That's all Jack and Torch could discern between the fits of laughter. Jack and Torch still couldn't figure out what was so funny.
Jack stood up and smacked Spot, who actually did fall off the bunk this time.
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Hey, hey, hey." Jack got everyone's attention and the noise in the bunkroom settled down again. "We got a newcoma, so I want evrybody ta be nice. Jist in off da train, and needed a place ta stay. Dey'll be stayin' in da attic."
"What's dere name?" someone from the back shouted.
"Dey call demselves…Red."
c
