Sitting in big overly stuffed chair eating chocolate newsies hey there my friends! I know that I said I would wait to update this chappy till I got your reviews on the others, but I finished it today and didn't want to make you wait for anything. So without further ado, here is chappy twelve! throws confetti in the air in celebration

Chapter Twelve

The whole affair should have been somber and depressing, but these girls couldn't seem to keep a straight face. Tripper took what seemed to be her last bath and washed her hair for nearly ten minutes. When she came out of the washroom in her mismatched wardrobe, her bedroom exploded into a fit of giggles. She looked really frumpy in her overly baggy clothes.

Tripper laughed along with her friends at her appearance, but she knew that the baggy shirt hid her feminine figure. It also made her look more like a boy who cared nothing about his appearance. After several minutes of laughing over the different clothes and trying to figure out how to strap the suspenders correctly, Tripper's mood suddenly changed.

The smiles on her face and the faces of the other girls turned down into frowns as Tripper sorrowfully retrieved her scissors from the sewing basket near her bed. Sweeps gave her an encouraging smile before taking the scissors and motioning for her friend to sit down.

The process was like torture for the girl sitting in the chair. She loved her long hair. It had been one of the things her mother had said was her best quality. And now, it was being completely destroyed. Sweeps started to cut away at the long curls of golden-red color on Tripper's head while Accent and Perch held Tripper's hands in consolation and support.

An outside observer would have thought that Tripper's whole family had just died a horrible death as large crocodile tears slid down her pale cheeks. It would have been funny it the girls hadn't made it such a solemn occasion. With every snip of the sharp scissors, clumps of curls fell around Sweeps feet.

When Sweeps was done, the girls could hardly believe their eyes. With the newsie clothes and short hair, Tripper looked like a very pretty boy. But, she looked like a boy, which was the idea. Maybe this plan would really work. Tripper stood from her seat brushing loose hair off her neck and walked over to the wall mirror. She too was shocked at the change in her appearance.

Her face and eyes were the same, but her golden-red hair that once hung almost to her waist now was a short, curly mop. The shock melted from her eyes as a jaunty grin spread across her face. With a little flourish, she pulled Skittery's hat from her pocket and placed it backward over her unruly mop.

"Well, I now seem ta be a laddie. Tis gonna be fun!" Mischief sparkled in her eyes. "Now, I must quickly pack and git down ta be boyos."

Everyone set in motion as Shooter and Kitten ran to get several carpetbags from the attic. Hawk and Accent stripped Tripper's bed and tied the bedding into a tight bundle. Sweeps went to get Tripper's toiletries from the washroom while Perch carefully packed Tripper's books, music, and other treasures in one of the carpetbags. Tripper busied herself with sweeping up the pieces of hair on the floor and cleaning her violin and getting it ready for the cold, wet walk to the Lodging House.

Everything was packed and ready to go. There was nothing left for the girls to do but go down to show off their newly turned boy. Shooter and Hawk grabbed the two carpetbags while Perch grabbed the bundle of bedding. Sweeps and Kitten linked arms with Tripper as Accent led the troop down the hall toward the stairs.

"Dis is gonna be fun. Now we's got a spy in da boys' house. We can plan our pranks much bettah now dat youse a boy too." Sweeps squeaked giddily in Tripper's ear before stumbling over her own feet and nearly falling on her face. Their laughter herald their coming to the boys who had become rather bored.

Accent stepped from the stairway with a fancy flourish.

"May I present to y'all the lovely, 'cuse me, handsome Tripper O'Moore. No longer a pretty girl, but a very good lookin' boy." Accent gave a bow as her Southern twang introduced her friend.

A scuffle was heard on the landing before there was a sharp shriek. Sweeps came tumbling down the last few stairs and landed in a heap on the floor. There were three other shrieks followed Sweeps as Tripper, Kitten, and Perch came tumbling right after her and landed hard on Sweeps' prostrate form. Hawk and Shooter stood in the doorway with shaking shoulders as they suppressed their laughter.

Groans came from the pile of human bodies on the floor.

"Trippah! You is da clumsiest goil I'se evah known!"

"Tis wasn't me fault this time! Perch pushed me when I tried to catch Sweeps. Tis wasn't me fault ye two had ta follow in me footsteps and come tumblin' down with me."

"Who cares 'bout who's fault it was? Jest git youse dead weight bodies off a me!" Sweeps' pained voice squeaked out from underneath the pile.

The girls on top quickly scrambled off the poor girl and pulled her to her feet. Tripper straightened her new clothes and pressed her hat firmly on her head. With head held high, she strode right up to Jack. She smirked at his amazed face before spitting into her palm and holding it out.

"Hiya! Me name's Trippah. Youse gotta problem wit dat, youse ken take it up wit me fist."

Tripper dissolved into giggles at her "'hattan" accent. Jack spat into his hand and shook with the giggling girl. Then, he stepped back and looked her over.

Other then the fact that she was too clean, she passed as a true boy. When he looked back at her face, he noticed the locks of golden-red curls around her face were missing.

"Did ya cut yer hair den?"

Tripper nodded and sighed sadly as she pulled the dark green cap from her head. A shocked gasp went up from the fellows. The long locks were now a tight mop of golden-red curls that sat close to her head. And now that no hair hid Tripper's ears, the boys noticed that her tips were a bit pointed like a fairy's.

Snipes walked up to his sad sister; "Youse makes a poity boy, Ro." He gave her a peck on the cheek.

Tripper smiled at her small brother and then at the other boys.

"Tanks, boyos, Well, I suppose we should git goin'. We's still hafta sell papes tomorrow."

She gave each of her girl friends a hug and smile.

"Put ye's pretty smiles on ye's faces, lassies. I be not dead. Coome visit once in a while, 'kay? An' I only plan ta be in hidin' till Christmas. I'll be back to help ye decorate in a few weeks. See ye all tomorrow."

The now reduced group of Misfits watched their friend disappear into the shadows with the boys from their doorway. Chills of fear and foreboding crept up their spines. It seemed to sit in the back of their minds that Tripper wouldn't be back by Christmas. And it scared the heck out of all of them.

SKITTERY: Jockey had ta go. She does woik aftah all. Anyhoo, she wanted me ta end dis for her. clears throat PLEASE! PLEASE, review soon! gets up from begging Ok, my woik is finished heah. smiles, waves, and walks off stage Hey Race, give me some of dat Vanilla Coke!