He sat on the dock, watching the sun set. His shoes next to him, his bare feet in the water. She walked up behind him and slipped her shoes and socks off. She rolled her pants up to her knees. She sat down next to him swishing her feet in the water.
"What're ya doin' here?" he asked, not shifting his gaze. He knew it was her.
"Come ta see hoe you'se was doin'. That's all," she replied.
"Stop worryin' so much 'bout me. You'se got youseself ta worry 'bout."
"I guess I just missed ya," she shrugged.
"Thought youse said me leavin' was fine wit ya," he reminded her.
"It is. I just missed ya," she said. There was a long pause.
"How laong ya been here?" he asked.
"Just got here."
"How long ya stayin'?"
"Dunno," she answered.
"I don't want youse walkin' back at night," he told her.
"So I'se not the only one worried?" she smiled.
"Just don't want nuttin' bad to happen ta youse. Youse like my sister," he replied.
"Is there any way I'se can convince ya ta come back, Sean?" she finally asked.
"Don't call me that name!" he snapped.
"Damn it, Sean! It's da name yer mudder gave youse and it's all ya got left of
her!" she shouted.
"I have plenty to remember her by!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"Like what?"
"Like this!" he pulled the skeleton key from under his shirt. She looked at it, dangling on the string. She reached her hand up and touched the one pressed against her chest, under her shirt.
"Youse don't even give a damn 'bout her no more, do ya?"
"I give a damn 'bout a lot of things!"
"Like how many beers youse can drink 'fore youse passes out?"
"Well youse don't give a damn either! All ya ever talk 'bout is that stupid boyfriend of yers!"
"At least he's nice ta me, ya stupid pig!"
"Oh, I'se the stupid one?" but he realized it was a useless fight. It was like fighting with himself. She turned her gaze in the opposite direction, breathing heavily. There was a long silence. "I'se sorry."
"It's-it's okay," she replied. "It's just-I guess youse leavin' made me realize how much I'se needed ya. How important youse was ta me. Ya is my cousin, after alls."
"Yeah," he agreed.
"Maybe youse better here," she sighed. "Youse really get what it takes ta survive here."
"Youse could stay, if youse wants ta," he suggested.
"Naw. I'se get my own way. Youse got yers," she smiled weakly. " I just wish you wasn't so independent sometimes."
"I'se knows. But I can't help it," he replied. She whipped her eyes. He looked at her, and realized she was crying. "Hey! Don't be like that!"
"I knows better. It's just hard sometimes. It's hard without anyone."
"Youse got the guys. And youse got me."
"But it's still not the same."
"Never will be."
"I know. I just hoped it would be. Maybe I just shouldn't be a newsie no more. It's cause I'se a girl. Look at youse. Youse fine!"
"Youse braver than most girls. But guys, they only feel emotion inside. They don't knows how ta show it."
"I should be gettin' home," she decided.
"Do youse wanna stay here tanight?"
"Naw. Brooklyn ain't my kinda place. I'll be fine." She stood up and began top walk away.
"Wait," he said. She turned back around. He stood up and walked over to her. "I'se-I'se gonna his ya."
"Me ta."
"I'se just can't make myself leave Brooklyn though. It's hard for ya ta understand since ya ain't never been here long. But it's like bein' home."
"I understand."
"Really?"
"It's like Manhattan for me."
"Oh…So will I'se still see youse 'round?"
"Maybe," she smiled. "Carry the banner." And she left.
"Yeah. Carry the banner," he said to himself. He sat back down on the dock, but the sun had already set.