"Ya tell no-one 'bout what ya heard last night, got it, Sullivan?" Grip demanded.
Jack snickered, but stopped when Grip glared at him fiercely. He didn't get it: something like last night's incident would stack upon the many layers of Grip's reputation, but yet Grip was making Jack pledge to be quiet.
"I mean it, don't tell anyone. Don't tell Shay, or Chalk, or Stealth, or the rest of 'em"
"Sure thing…But why not?" Jack inquired. "Don't ya want people knowing 'bout…that?"
"'Bout what I do under the sheets, Sullivan? No, actually, I don't. 'Spite all the rumors our boys say 'bout me, I don't like people goin' 'round and sayin' stuff," Grip explained.
Jack shrugged. "Ya just seem like the type who'd-"
Grip shook his head. "Nuh-uh, Sully. The other times, maybe, but this girl…she's special…And don't ya roll your eyes at me. It ain't like those other times…Hect, you've never even heard about those last times, you've been here a week!"
"I guess I understand…But are ya gonna 'least mention 'er?"
"Nuh-uh. I have a strong reason not to…"
Jack was jolted awake from his sleep when he heard the door open. He raised himself groggily as his dad stumbled into his room. Jack was astonished that his father didn't smell of beer, but, rather, of cologne and perfume.
"Francis, ya can't tell no-one about tonight"
"What? What'd ya do?"
"I just…I made a mistake, ya can't tell anyone, got it, Francis!"
"Why are ya tellin' me this then?"
"'Cause I gotta know that when the bulls show up, ya ain't gonna let them find out!"
"But what did ya do!"
Mr. Sullivan slurred his words, purposely. Jack could only comprehend a bit of his sentence, the keyword though, the crime itself.
"Ya raped somebody!" Jack yelled in disbelief.
"Shut up, don't tell anyone, ever!"
It was this night when Jack finally knew that he'd have to leave his father soon. The man was obviously confused, lost, and bitter. Jack knew he wouldn't be able to help him; and getting involved with the law was something Jack didn't want to be a part of. Jack began packing that night as his dad slept uneasily; destined to leave by tomorrow morning. But of course, there are always potholes and bumps on the road of life. Sometimes you pull over, for temporarily relief. Then again, you could always swerve on the tar. But, there was a third option, the one Jack chose. Ignore the hardships and just keep driving.
"What's that reason?" Jack asked after hesitating.
"Can't tell ya…" Grip said as the downstairs door opened. Grip leaned back in his bed as most of the newsies walked inside, with the exception of Stealth.
"'Morning everyone!" Grip greeted. Jack found it amazing how Grip could abruptly change his tone of voice and act as if nothing had occurred.
"Heya glove-boy!" Dare chirped when he walked in. Dare was only a year older than Jack, but behaved like he was seventeen. "Stealth is pissed at ya, Grip."
Grip's faced drained of color, but he tried to hide it. "Heh…'Wonder why…"
"Yeah," exclaimed Chalk. "He's out of it. Ya might wanna talk to 'im. He's outside…"
Grip looked at Shay and the others, hoping to seek pity from them. They didn't know what was going on, so they simply encouraged him with smiles. The others trudged upstairs, ignoring the situation. Apparently, they believed the issue was over something that wasn't a bit complex. Jack, on the other hand, watched from the window.
Stealth's eyes seemed merciless, which was rare for him. Grip sauntered over to him, trying to pretend that he didn't understand why Stealth was mad.
"So what's with ya, Grippy? Outta all the girls in Manhattan…Honestly, Grip!" he shouted.
Grip averted his gaze and began improvising a lie. "What are ya talking 'bout, Stealth?
"My girl. Of all the girls, glove-boy, you slept with my girl. What the hell is wrong with ya?"
Jack swallowed nervously as Stealth threatened him. His mouth felt dry; this sort of conflict seemed so recent.
"It's not like she didn't wanna, Stealth…"
Stealth flung himself at Grip and pinned him to the wall of the lodging house.
"Just shut the hell up! I don't get ya, Grip. You're always goin' on 'bout loyalty, 'bout never betrayin' your brother! So what would ya call this? Treason, Grip!"
"Look, Stealth, I-"
"Shut up! I don't wanna here it! I'm outta here! I ain't coming back, ya got it? Thanks for bein' such a great leader. Such a great leader. Ya asshole…"
And with that, with no money in his pockets, Stealth left. Jack witnessed a lesson he'd remember for the rest of his life, one that effected how he acted from then on. Jack learned that, no matter what, you never do something that would hurt your brother. He discovered that once you hurt your brother, not even the best medicine would make him better. And Jack figured out that all leaders, despite their efforts to make things okay, have flaws.
The other newsies were furious.
"Whatdaya mean, Stealth just left? He wouldn't do that!" Chalk roared. Grip looked down at his gloved hand, closing and opening it, over and over.
"Aw, Grip…What did ya do?" Shay asked accusingly, but with some sympathy.
"Now ya blaming me!" Grip snapped.
"Grippy, you ain't the best when it comes to…"
"Comes to what, Shay? Huh! Just spit it out!"
"Let's just say you're challenged when it comes to sleep smarts…" Shay said calmly. Grip ignored the comment and turned to face Jack.
"Didn't ya learn anything just then, Sullivan! Ya don't betray your brothers! And don't ya dare call me a hypocrite!"
Jack raised an eyebrow and Grip, studying him for a moment. This performance was recognizable to Jack. It occurred to him that in many ways, Grip was like a less-violent version of his father.
"I didn't tell 'em, Grip. I think ya just screwed up too much when ya screwed…" Jack sighed.
"I can't believe ya guys!" Grip growled. He walked downstairs, making sure to stomp each step, and slammed the door shut as he vanished.
Jack's jaw dropped.
"It ain't your fault, Sullivan. Grip's always been like this. He tries to stay cool, but underneath he's on the verge of snappin'. He'll be back though…" Chalk said.
"How do ya know that?" Jack questioned.
"Because he don't got a family, he don't got anywhere to go…He don't even got dreams. His life is devoted to leadin' us and sellin' papes…That's why Grip makes so many mistakes, Sullivan. He don't actually know how to act 'round people, he never grew up with 'em…"
And perhaps that is why Jack held on to Santa Fe, his only dream. Perhaps that's why he grasped onto memories of his mother and father, even the bad ones. He didn't want to be like Grip if he ever became a leader. No, Jack would be different. Jack would be Jack.