I walked down the few blocks to the apartment, not really paying attention, when I heard Jack calling my name. I stopped and waited for him to catch up, "hey Joy, haven't seen you in awhile how you doing?" We kept walking and I told Jack the recent events.
I could see the apartment down the street and Jack turned me to face him, "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you found out about your parents, I wish I would of known sooner," he gave me a hug, and gently wiped a tear that had escaped. "Don't worry about Spot, Spot's just being Spot."
"I don't know why I got so angry with Spot, when he was being so helpful, I think the main thing was I was afraid, as stupid as that sounds." I sighed heavily, "well I guess I better go on to the Jacobs, standing out here won't get it over with it."
"Are you sure you don't want me to walk in with you?"
I smiled at how protective he was being, "no, I'll be ok," I said.
He looked doubtful, "and you're sure that you don't want me to talk with Spot?"
I rolled my eyes playfully, "Jack, I'll be fine, but if you don't leave in a few minutes...."
"Ok, ok, I get the hint," he laughed and gave me one more hug, "just remember to get me at the lodging house incase you need anything at all."
As I entered the apartment, I found it unusually quiet, "Aunt Esther, Uncle Mayor, hello," I called walking into the living room still not seeing anybody. "Where on earth have you been?" David asked.
"Do you realize that we have been worried sick about you, in fact there out looking for you right now," David waved his hands wildly as he spoke.
Just then the rest of the family came home and found me and David. "Oh sweetie," my aunt embraced me. "Are you alright, you're not hurt are you, where did you run off to?" I explained to them that I had stayed with Jack at the lodging house, and I just needed some time to myself. I wasn't about to tell them that I had spent the night with Spot, especially someone I didn't even know.
"We have a train ticket ready for you to go, so you can go to their funeral," my uncle told me. I looked at him, "I'm uh, not going to their funeral," I said quietly, looking down at the floor. "Why don't you want to go to your mom and dads funeral?" David asked letting his mouth do the thinking. I turned sharply at him, "because I don't want to have to see them like that and go home, just to leave it all behind again," my eyes started to water.
"David," Sarah shot her a brother a nasty look, and told me to come with her. We went to her room, "I saw Spot and he told me what happened," she explained. "Oh Sarah, my life is just one big mess," I cried and she patted me on the back. "I really think you should give him another chance. He was hurt that you pushed him away, but he understands why you did, and he realized he made a mistake," she looked out the window and nodded, while I wasn't facing her.
"I do forgive him Sarah, I was never really mad at him in the first place, I was angry that my parents had died and I guess I just had to take it out on someone, and also since I had never had a relationship, I was scared," I confided in her, waiting to see what'd she say.
Suddenly I felt someone from behind me take hold of my right hand and kissed it, "Spot what are you doing here," I turned around quickly, wondering when he had snuck in.
He stared in my eyes, as if he could read my thoughts and got down on one knee, "oh Joy please say you forgive me. When I kissed you, I never meant for it to hurt you," he stroked my cheek. "You're the best thing that's come into my life, and I would do anything if you'd just give me another chance."
I looked at his face, he seemed so sincere right now, "I forgive you. But about this relationship, can we just take it very slow, I don't want to rush into anything," I told him nervously.
He kissed my other hand gently, "I'll give you all the time you need."
A few days later Spot and I were on a train back to my home town. He had convinced me that I needed to have closure of my parents death, and that this would be the best way. I'd have a better state of mind. Aunt Esther had packed us enough sandwiches for a month. The whole family was there to see us off, including Jack, Crutchy and Boots and a few other newsies. I stared out the window, watching the scenery go by. "Are you doing ok?" Spot asked sitting next to me.
"Yeah, I'm doing good so far, hopefully it won't be that bad," I was actually dreading going back home, and I think Spot could sense that although he didn't question it.
"Next stop Abilene," the conductor informed us of our arrival.
"Remember Joy, I'm going to be right by your side the entire time, your not gonna be alone, we'll get through this."