I awoke with a pounding headache and my wrist felt like it had been slid against concrete. Reluctant to open my eyes, I just laid in my bed for a few minutes attempting to go back to sleep. When it became obvious that the position I was lying in wasn't helping me get to sleep I decided to turn over, but when I did, something wasn't right. My usual down feathered mattress felt like the cots in the nurse's office. I quickly sat up and looked around. I was lying on a very small bed and right next to me was Katie. She was still sleeping, and there was a small trickle of salvia dripping down the side of her mouth. I laughed a little, or I at least tried to, but nothing came out. My throat was so soar, just breathing made it hurt. Talking at this point was out of the question. I wanted to make sure Katie was okay so I started to shake her to wake her up. For a minute, she didn't budge but as I began to shake harder she started to stir. Unfortunately, that was it. Katie had always been a very heavy sleeper.

I grunted in my thoughts and pushed myself out of the bed. I looked around to find myself in a room with about fifteen bunk beds. The floors and beds were covered with dirty sheets and clothing that looked like it had been soaked in dirt and sweat. To the side of the room were two open doors that led into a bathroom that was even more disgusting that the bedroom. Shaving cream and dirty rags covered the floor, the counters, and the mirrors. At the end of the long counter in the middle of the room was a giant bucket filled with dirt water, I cringed at the thought of what had been in there. The oddest thing was the smell, one would assume that the smell would be foul but it was actually really nice. The scent was like cologne, I soaked it in and the memories from the previous night shot through my mind.

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After the lengthy walk back from the dock the boys finally turned around and said something to us. Spot was the one to speak us, "Sorry about the long walk girls, I would take you to the Brooklyn House but I don't know if I trust my newsies around you ladies." Katie turned to me and smiled. She really like this guy, or she wanted to hook up with him, I wasn't sure at this point. "No problem." She responded with one her smiles, the one that says that she's gonna break his heart. Of course he doesn't know that, nobody knows Katie like I do and vice versa. Katie and my dad were the only people I've ever known who can tell when I'm lying or when I'm nervous.

Katie whispered something into my ear, something a bit inappropriate and I started to laugh. Just then, Jack turned around and gave me the strangest look.

I don't know what it was about him but I didn't like him and he didn't like me, it was becoming quite clear of that. We finally arrived at the Lodging House and Jack showed us where we were sleeping. "Here are some dry clothes," the ones they had given us earlier were soaking wet, "Spot's gonna stay here tonight and he'll bunk with Race. Mush is gonna sleep with me so you two can take his bunk, its right there." He pointed to a bunk on the bottom. Several bunks were being shared so I didn't feel too bad about taking the curly haired boy's bed. "Is that all right?" Jack asked, but he seemed to only be looking at Katie.

"That's great, thanks." She smiled. After that, all I remember is falling asleep.

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I' so confused. My throat didn't hurt last night. Well, it did right after I spent five minutes coughiung up my lungs, but the pain quickly vanished. I don't know where I am and my throat was killing me. Out of anger, I kicked the gross bucket and water sloshed out. Once I did, something in the bucket floated to the top. I reluctantly picked up the object soaking up the filthy water and looked into my hands to see a sopping wet red bandana. I jumped as I heard a voice behind me.

"That's mine," Jack stood in the doorway. "The water wasn't exactly clean when I pulled you out last night and it was smellin' off, so I was washing it and forgot to get it this morning." I just nodded, there was nothing else I could do, but if I could talk I would ask why he washed the bandana in that gross water if he wanted it clean. He walked over to me and yanked the bandana out of my hand. I gave him a look that could kill and he quickly shot back, "You have no right to look at me like that, I saved your life, I gave you a place to stay, I gave you clothes, and you slept in my friend's bed." After a moment of silence, he spoke up again. "What, you got notin' to say?" I was so angry at this point that I just pushed him out of the way and stomped out of the bedroom. Not sure of what I could do or where I could go, I walked out of the bedroom and into the hall. On the right was another room which I quickly walked into and closed the door. I was actually surprised I didn't slam it shut, Jack was such a jerk.

I looked around the room I was in; it was a smaller bedroom with only one bed. It was also much cleaner that the other room and much cozier. Pictures covered the walls and the night-stand. A lot of them were of newsboys and a lot of them looked familiar. Most I had seen in the movie, I also saw a few pictures with Jack in it. There were about 10 newspaper clippings, a lot of them were about the strike and he also had the picture of the boys that was in the movie. Although, two pictures in particular caught my eye. The one was of a young girl and she was in a dress and she was standing with her hands together just smiling. The other one was of a young couple, a young man, quite handsome holding a newspaper in one hand and had his arm wrapped around a beautiful young women.

I looked at all the pictures and just sat there in the bedroom or a little bit, thinking. I had no idea what was going on and my voice was gone. I don't know why my voice is gone; the only thing I could think of would be the water in my throat last night. After about ten minutes, I slowly crept out of the door and into the hall, making sure no one was there. I checked in the room and Katie was still sleeping. Not sure what to do, I saw the stairs and decided to follow them. Downstairs, on my right was a desk and a few chairs, it looked like a waiting room. On my left was a kitchen with a table in the center of the room. An older man sat at the table drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. I couldn't say anything, so I just walked into the room hoping he heard my feet against the floor. Luckily, he quickly turned around and smiled at me.

"Hi." The older man smiled at me and I smiled back. "Are you Riley?" I nodded and he chuckled at my silence. "Not much of a talker, are yah?" The smile stayed on his face. Not sure what to do I just pointed at my throat. He looked at me for a second before he spoke up, "Something wrong with your throat? Can you talk; is there something wrong with your throat?" He asked me and I just shrugged, I wasn't really sure what was wrong.

"I think I can help you out with that." He stood up and walked over to the cabinet. He pulled out a few things like honey and lemon. I just watched him, mesmerized. Once he had combined everything into a glass of warm water he handed it to me. "Go on, drink up." He smiled and I took a big sip. I was strong, too strong. I began coughing.

"Eh, oh my God, that's a bit strong." My voice was raspy and harsh, but it was there.

"Thank you so much, what is that stuff?" I asked.

"It's just an old family recipe." He responded. I smiled; I could taste quite a bit of alcohol in the drink. I wasn't complaining, I think beer right now wasn't such a bad idea.

"I'm Riley, my friend upstairs is Katie. Did Jack or Spot tell you about us?" I asked. "Yes, he told me this morning, he was actually here just a minute ago; did you see him?"

"Ugh, yah I saw him." I shot out.

"I saw him storming out of here as well, what went on up there?" He responded in a kind voice. I barely know this guy, I don't really know if I should be talking bad about someone he knows so well. I think he could tell that I was reluctant to tell him my side of the story. "Come on, you can tell me, I'm not on anyone's side." I just smiled at him, he was so kind, he reminded me a lot of my father.

"I don't know," I began. "There's just something about Jack, like he doesn't understand. He seems like he expected me to fawn over him or something." He just laughed. Although, I wasn't exactly sure why he was laughing, I didn't find this very funny. I must've shown my feelings on my face. "That's just Jack, he's used to girls falling all over him. He's been through a lot in his life, I guess girls are the only thing he can control, and he likes that." "Oh" I responded. "Jack's a nice guy; you just got to get to know him." I smiled at the man. "Uh, thanks for everything, I'm gonna go wake up my friend."

"How 'bout I make you guys some toast, are yah hungry?" He asked. Just as he asked my stomach growled. He smiled at me.

"You wouldn't mind?" I asked.

"Of course not, if you'd like to wash up, there are wash clothes under the sink."

"Thanks." I walked upstairs to see Katie was still sleeping. God she is so lazy. I went over to her and gently woke her up. Well, I jumped on her, okay, so maybe not gently.

She groaned, "God Riley, I hate you so much, I was having such an amazing dream."

"Oh, let me guess, you were making out with that hot guy from the movie."

"We were doing a lot more than making out." She smiled and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Get up girl! Kloppman is making us toast." Finally she opened her eyes.

"Who's Kloppman?"

"Damn, we got a lot of catching up to do."