Thankyouthankyouthankyou Pancakes! This one's dedicated to you! Enjoy!

"Whoo-hoo, Spot! She beatcha!"

"Not so high and mighty now, huh, Conlon?"

"Good luck tamarra, Brooklyn!"

Smiling slightly, I rose from my seat and made my way to the door. Newsies all around me were giving me congratulations and pats on the back. I wanted to get out of there before they got even more crazy, but halfway to the door Spot got over his shock and high-tailed it after me.

"Manhattan! Manhattan! Youse weren't serious 'bout dat sellin' thing, were ya?"

"Yeah, Conlon. Why?"

"Well…"

"Are ya backin' down?"

A hush fell over the newsies.

"Hell no."

"Den wat's da problem? Youse hoid me loud and cleah. Youse got ta sell me 'undred papes tamarra, as well as yer own, and youse give me da profits."

"Manhattan, dat ain' exactly fair –"

"Conlon, life ain't fair. Live wit it."

"Ya musta cheated."

I gave him a steely look. "I migh' not be fair, Brooklyn, but I don't cheat."

He sneered. "Righ'…"

I raised a fist threateningly. Knowing I would make a fool out of him again, he desisted. With a 'hmph' of exasperation, he accepted the fact that he would have to sell for me tomorrow and went back to the table. I turned on my heel and left the room.

"Sore loser."

Once outside I breathed a few deep breaths of the cool night air. Up until know I hadn't realized how stuffy it had been inside. I really didn't want to go back in and have to put up with Spot again, but I felt guilty about leaving my birthday celebration early. So I snuck around the back of the theatre and climbed the narrow fire escape, which led to my favorite place in the city: a relatively flat part of the roof, which over-looked the whole of Manhattan. There I sat, thinking about my friends and how lucky I was. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I hardly noticed when Mush sat down next to me. I gave a deep sigh.

"Was dat a happy sigh o' a sad one?" he said. I could sense his grin through the darkness, and I smiled too.

"A very happy one."

I let out a huge yawn and lay back with my arms behind my head, looking up at the stars.

"It's almost eleven."

I couldn't see his face, but I could tell by his tone that all he wanted to do was go home and hit the sack, but didn't want to offend me by leaving.

"Yeah, I was jus' thinking' 'bout headin' home." I yawned again. I hadn't realized I was so tired.

Mush nodded. He looked out over the rooftops.

"It shoah is nice up heah," he remarked. "It's like a whole diff'rent city."

I didn't want to put a damper on his spirits by saying that it still smelt the same. Instead, I lifted my head and took a good look. It was, in a way, like a whole different city. An endless mass of rooftops spread in every direction, lit here and there by a candle or light in a window. A cool breeze picked up, tinted with the smell of the river. It promised discovery and new beginnings, sailors and huge ships. But with a heavy jolt, I was brought back to reality when the sounds of breaking glass, thumps and curses came from down between the buildings. I shivered, suddenly freezing cold. Mush put his arm around me and gave me a brotherly hug.

"C'mon, Light, it's getting late, youse had a big day."

He helped me off the roof and down the fire escape, keeping his arm around me the whole time. We made our way back to the lodging house slowly, but taking no time to dawdle. Mush's arm was a warm, comforting weight around my neck. We didn't talk much. There was no need to.

Thanks to Noelani for reviewing, and I know, poor Spot.