Mush smiled, "Great. Besides, I think da guys made a new friend." He gestured behind him to where a group of young boys were huddled beside Dora and Poppy. They seemed to be enjoying the playful pooch.
Dora looked up, catching her cousins' gaze. Chloe gestured for Dora, and the little girl crossed the room obediently. Putting an arm around the much shorter girl, Chloe pulled her cousin to her side. She looked up at Mush with her wide brown eyes. "This is Dora."
The boy bowed jokingly, "Dora, nice to meet ya."
She curtsied politely in return and in her small voice she stumbled through, "Pleasure to make your 'cquaintance."
Chloe chuckled and continued her introductions, "The little monster over there is Poppy." Extending her free hand, she finished with, "And I'm Chloe."
Mush started to bring his hand to his mouth, but stopped suddenly. Sheepishly he met Chloe's handshake. "Dey call me Mush."
"Mush," she repeated, "Alright."
The trio turned at a sudden commotion, seeing the boy with the cowboy hat carrying Joey towards a set of stairs at the side of the room. "Cleah out, make way." He yelled, and the newsies moved aside.
Dora cowered closer to Chloe, who bent down and gathered the little girl in to her arms. "Who's that?" asked Chloe, looking towards the cowboy.
"Oh dat's Jack. Or Cowboy, whichevah." Mush answered. "I guess I should show ya around. But foist…" Mush made his way through the crowded room to an elderly man in a bowler. Chloe couldn't hear what they were saying, and she stood awkwardly as Mush and the man looked her way. Dora plopped her head on to Chloe's shoulder, yawning softly. The man came towards them.
"Hello, Mush heah tells me you two need a place to stay." The white-haired man smiled, eyes shining kindly.
"True," Chloe smiled back. "I'm Chloe, and this is Dora."
"My name's Kloppman." He began to walk away, and a gesture over his shoulder told Chloe to follow. "Come with me, let's get ya signed in."
He led them to a wooden desk, reached underneath it, and dropped a large book on its surface. "I just need ya to give me your john hancock right…..heah." he said, pointing to an empty space.
"Okay," Chloe stretched for the pen, but struggled with Dora drifting to sleep on her hip. Kloppman grinned, holding out his arms. "Thanks." Chloe sighed, handing off the dozing child. Now able to reach the pen, Chloe signed their names fairly legibly. 'Chloe Elaine, Dora LouEllen Sheehan.' Almost setting the pen down, she remembered to add, '(And Poppy.)'