As Jack entered the house for the second time that day, he noticed the card on the counter. After reading it, a smile split his craggy features. There was going to be a surprise today.
- - - - - -
Red came downstairs a few hours later. After her small nap, a cup of coffee, and some alone time, she felt as good as new. Well, almost. She entered the commons room again.
The firelight eerily flickered against the cedar walls, small candles lighting up shadows where they could. It was empty. This was unusual. Then again, a lot of things were unusual today.
The commons room was never empty at this time of day. There was usually at least one game of poker or go fish going on, several young lads playing marbles, and Jack usually surveying his kingdom from the chair near the fireplace. Specs would be reading, one of Dickens' masterpieces, and any number of boys sitting in circles spinning tall tales about the day's happenings.
She looked at the clock. It read eight o' nine. Strange. She took the chair next the fireplace, threw her legs over one arm and leaned against the other, and picked up Specs' copy of A Tale of Two Cities.
She had read past the first page, the famous 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,' paragraph, when she noticed there were several pairs of eyes on her. She quickly sat up and looked around, but there was no one. And yet she still had the feeling of being watched. She settled back down, glancing fervently around the room, but to no avail. She had just sank back into the book, when,
"SURPRISE!"
Red actually fell off the chair, the book flying in the air, caught by Specs before it dropped into the flames. A round of laughter came from around the room. Red stood up, rubbing her eyes, trying to believe the sight before her. Every single newsie from the Manhattan Lodging House, David, Les, Sarah, and even Spot Conlon were there. Jack came and wrapped her in a hug, swinging her off her feet in a circle. She just stared at him.
"Jack? What's da meanin' of all dis?"
He grinned and pulled a slightly wrinkled card from his back pocket. She gasped. It was the one she had left on Kloppman's counter.
"You…you…" All she could do was gape.
Jack just laughed. "Hey evryone! Red here's speechless fo' once in her life!" Another round of laughter swept over the room as she smacked him alongside the head. Jack laughed with them and led her to the chair she had recently been scared out of. As she sat, dumbfounded by all the attention, Sarah came up to her. The room semi-quieted.
Red shared a grin with Sarah. "'Parently, I 'ave dis powa ova people taday."
Sarah smiled back. "Well, since we assumed today's your birthday…"
Red interrupted. "It's not." She sat back and crossed her arms, a scowl forming on her face. The crowd held its breath. She broke into a smile again. "It was yesterday."
Now it was Jack who scowled. "Since when do dese kinds o' things 'appen to ya, an' we don' know 'bout it?"
Blink answered before she could even open her mouth. "Since before we met 'er, dat's fo' sure." The room echoed again with laughter and ominous 'ooooo!'s.
Sarah rolled her eyes and the room quieted again. From behind her back she produced a package, wrapped in newspaper and twine-what else? Red worked to control her shock.
"Fo'…fo' me? Dis is fo' me?"
The boys around the room chuckled a bit. Blink spoke again. "What? 'Aven't ya eva held a birt'day present b'fore?" But his joke fell flat. From the way Red handled the package, it looked as if she'd never received a present before, much less a surprise party for her birthday.
Red blinked back tears, ashamed of the emotion she was showing in front of her friends. She finally ripped open the parcel and gasped she lifted out a beautiful burgundy dress. Her eyes shining, she clasped it to her breast and looked to her one girl friend. "Thanks Sarah. I prolly won't wear it much, but it sure is purty." Only Sarah knew that this was her first dress since…well, forever.
It was loudmouthed Blink who broke the silence again. "C'mon, Red, it's jist a dress." Red just shook her head at him and set it down beside the chair. She wasn't at all surprised when Blink came up next. He sheepishly presented her a small box. As she opened it, all pretense fell away as she lifted a small, slim volume of poetry from the wrappings. She gleefully jumped up and wrapped her arms around him, and if that wasn't enough, gave him a short peck on the cheek. Blink blushed to the roots of his hair, as the guys laughed at his beet-red face. Red laughed too. It wasn't too often she caught her best friend out, embarrassing him.
There weren't many that had money to spend, so many just got up and told a story about her, except Bumlets, who danced (he was never one very well with words), and Skittery and Blink, who sang. (I'm sorry, but they both have wonderful voices in the movie!) All in all, she received the dress and poetry book, a Dickens novel from Specs ("So you'll stop borrowing mine," he said) and a small box of candies from Jack. Quite a wealth for those days, but Red was happier that her friends cared that much about her to go to the lengths they did. And the evening went that the gifts were given first, and then those who had a story to share stood in the center of the room, encircled by the attentive faces of all there.
It came about that Spot was the one telling stories for a time, and Red was so enjoying the evening, but found she was restless. So she sat upright in her chair, and Mush being the one sitting on the floor in front of her, leaning against her chair, became her target.
Mush became quite startled when her two hands touched his shoulders, but relaxed almost immediately as she started rubbing the knots out of his back. He almost laughed to himself that it was her own birthday party, and here she was, being so like herself that she was giving out backrubs. He smiled and clapped with everyone else as Spot pulled him up to give the next speech. Spot took his place in front of Red, and she started rubbing again; Spot basically giving the same reaction as Mush had, as he hadn't even noticed what she had been doing.
Mush began looking toward Red with a slight twinkle in his eye, and began speaking. He shared about her generosity and servitude, even when it wasn't beneficial for her. She proceeded to slowly stop the movement of her hands, pulling them back into her lap, leaning back with such a embarrassed scowl that Mush blatantly ignored. He finished, everyone clapped, and on it went.
The evening was full of laughter and teasing, joyous until Kloppman forced them into bed. Complaints and meaningless threats were directed, but everyone headed up the stairs. The Jacobs' headed out the front door, going home.
Jack and Red were left alone in the now vacant area, as Kloppman locked up and headed to his own room. Jack crouched in front of her sleepy face, resting on the arm of the chair, her legs once again swung over the other arm.
"Did we surprise you?"
Red smiled. "Yes indeedy. I swear, I was 'bout ta have a heart attack."
Jack instantly had a teasing look about him. "Well ya betta not die anytime soon." He grinned. "I dunno what we'd do witout ya." Red looked about to speak, but he cut in before she could take a breath. "I mean, who would we tease at night?"
Red sat up indignantly. "Ya know, I was 'bout ta tell you dat you was one o' da sweetest people in New Yawk, but I guess I was wrong." She shared a small smile with him, though. They both teased each other so much it was like breathing. She had the same relationship with most of the guys in the House.
She'd been there about six months now, and had grown more fond of them everyday. She was also probably one of the most giving individuals Jack, or any of the boys for that matter, had ever seen. She knew how to listen without talking, and how to give advice without preaching. She always put others before herself. Like the backrubs today, and helping out Crutchy when his leg was acting up, mothering most of the guys when they were sick or hurt, buying lunch for one of the younger boys, and generally being altogether helpful and generous. (I do realize this is a bit Mary-Sueish, but I want a reason for the guys to help her, other than the usual "She's gorgeous! She's a fighter! She can deck me and get away with it cuz I think I want to lay her!" crap.)
As Jack looked back on it, she never complained, unless in jest. She was tough when she had to be, like protecting herself or protecting her friends, but she was mostly mild-mannered. He also realized that her personality plusses were also her downfalls. She never talked about herself. They never knew anything about her unless it slipped out or she volunteered the information herself. They had never seen her very emotional because she hid her feelings so well. The only time they'd seen her vulnerable was when she had been hurt, before they were friends. Giving so much of herself was sometimes physically straining on her. And most of the time, the guys forgot to thank her for it. Jack hoped that tonight made up for most of it.
Red was almost trying to read his mind. "Thanks fo' settin' that up fo' me tanight. That was such fun, and I really think evryone enjoyed it." Jack grinned again. She reminded him of a verse from the Bible he heard once from a sidewalk preacher. Something along the lines of "…shouldn't look only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (If you don't know, that's Philippians 2:4)
"I'm glad ya liked it, since it was fo' ya." There was a pause. Jack sighed, then yawned. "Well, we betta get ta bed. I'll walk ya partway up."
Red nodded. "Thanks." But halfway across the room, she stopped and started coughing again. Jack looked to her, concern etched into his face, but she just held up a hand and turned away. Huge, wrenching explosions from her lungs wracked her body into short, painful convulsions. After what seemed like forever, but was actually only a few minutes, the hacking stopped. She sank down with a shuddering, careful breath, being careful not to trigger it again. She continued to rock back and forth until she brought herself under control again, then slowly straightened, a determined look coming into her face as she stood.
Jack was stunned. He'd never seen her like this. She'd always been so competent, never succumbing to anything, so indomitable.And she hadn't said a word about this. Even in the group settings she hid it fairly well. He slowly walked over to her, angrily grabbing her forearms.
"How long has this been goin' on?"
She shrugged. "I dunno. Few weeks er so."
He tightened his grip. "Why haven't ya tole anyone?"
She threw his hands off. "Cuz it ain't important! It's jist a stupid cough!"
He stepped back. Maybe he should just humor her on this one. "Ok. Sorry. I must be a bit too tired right now ta think." And in truth, his mind was a bit fuzzy, and he had an overborne sense of protectiveness at night. Red just nodded.
"I'm tired too. Let's just get to bed."
They walked up the stairs slowly. At the door to the boy's ward, they parted, and Red continued on up the other flight of stairs and entered the attic. She crawled underneath the covers, grateful Sarah hadn't stayed over tonight.
Her eyes closed shut long before her mind stopped spinning over her problems.
- - - - - -
Jack had debated whether or not to tell her of his decision. In the end he was glad he didn't tell her she was staying in the house tomorrow, cough or no. Otherwise they might have been fighting until morning's break.
Comforted by his decision, he turned over and pulled his sheets over his body. He'd need a good nights sleep for the fury he'd face tomorrow. As it turned out, he faced it much sooner than expected.
- - - - - -
I understand there is some confusion about that last line on the summary. Mas e bhur toil e means please. In another language. Which you will encounter in the proceeding chappys. Thanks to mdm and ougirl for reviews. Go rimh maith agat!
Saol fada chugat.