It's longer and it came faster than all the others. Be proud! Thanks for the reviews. I'd love more! ;o)
I closed my eyes and turned the knob as quietly as I could. Not quietly enough though; Mr Londer heard and stopped in mid-sentence. A sea of heads complete with over-the-top hair for an average Friday turned towards the door I had just came through. The girls all snickered and the boys nodded their head to each other oafishly. "Late again." Londer scoffed. I hung my head, like I was ashamed (which I wasn't). "Take. Your. Seat." He spat as his face turned deep burgundy. "I'll see you after class, before lunch Ms. O'Shay." He snarled causing me to cringe as I sunk into a seat in the back of the room.
"As I was saying," Londer sent me a harsh glare before turning back to the rest of the students. "We will be rearranging the schedule of lessons. The morning classes are as follows: History, geography and literature. You will have your study period followed by arithmetic, Latin, and French after your lunch break."
A look of shock had plastered itself on my face. Why had he suddenly changed the order of classes? What was truly strange was the fact that all the classes I had deemed useful were now in the morning. They had replaced the classes I usually slept through. Math was pointless, I already spoke French and who cares about Latin? I shook it off as a coincidence and went to start my note taking when I realized I'd forgotten all of my books.
"Tsk tsk. Mary, what are we going to do with you?" Victoria turned around in her seat that was in front of mine, speaking in a sarcastically sweet voice. "Forgot your books? I really ought to ask Mr. Londer to let you borrow his."
"Or maybe you could let me use yours. You'll be playing with you hair all day anyways. Besides it's not like you could read them." I said matching her sweet tone. I gagged and then added in a normal voice, "Erlack, could you calm down with the perfume, Victoria. It's making me sick."
"Not going to happen, Bloody Knuckles." She said sourly. I rolled my eyes at the nickname she'd given to me weeks ago. After lunch everyday that Londer decreed I was in need of punishment, he slapped my hands with a stick until my knuckles bled.
"For shame. I heard John say he couldn't stand it. Maybe that's why he hasn't spent as much time with you lately." I said knowing that would get to her. Her cheeks flashed even redder than the rouge she had already applied heavily. John was the strongest, tallest, and richest of the boys in the room, thereby making him the most popular. Victoria and him were the most dramatic on-and-off-again couple that ever was.
She quickly tried to cover up her flushing fumble and said, "John and I are over." She paused, probably thinking she was adding drama. I cocked my head to the side with a look of disinterest and boredom. "I'm seeing Spot Conlon, the King of Brooklyn." She said proudly with a flip of her blond hair.
"He isn't the King of Brooklyn, he's a cocky little boy selling newspapers." I said as if I knew him. I've only heard about him - that's worth something, right? Plus he was going out with Victoria. Besides John, who the hell would do that without at least 8 drinks?
With a final "Hmph." Victoria turned around in her seat. I leaned back and nodded off. Without notes or books the morning was a waste. I was more than half asleep but eventually I heard a church bell chime noon. As the other students hopped up, slamming their books and running out onto the city streets, I watched them resentfully. It wasn't fair that they all had friends and hated me just because I wasn't as wealthy. Then I had to deal with the teacher hating me for the same reason. It just wasn't fair! "Life isn't fair, doll." I remembered Leo, my fathers' first mate saying when I complained about not getting to spend any time off the ship in Venice.
"Come here!" Londer barked, pointing to a desk in the front with a rod. "If you are late one more time..." He let the jagged piece of wood finish his sentence for him. I winced at the sting. He only had to hit me several times before the skin that had only two days to heal split. Tears coursed down my face but I remained silent. "That will be enough. Do not come back after lunch."
"What?" I wiped my eyes, replacing the face previously scrunched up with pain for an intense glare.
"Your father told me you will only require the new morning classes." A smile broke onto my face at the pleasant surprise. "Where are your books?" He asked, but when I didn't answer, he hit my hands again and sighed. "Get out of my sight."
I did that exactly. I hurried outside, eager to leave and meet up with Skittery. As I left the building, the sunny weather greeted me.
"Hey." I called over to him. He looked confused because it seemed everyone had already come out, with no sign of me. He smiled and walked over to me, shifting the papers on his shoulder.
"Wheah were ya?"
"Oh," I paused, not wanting to show him my hands. "I ... er-"
"Hold up, what happened to your hands?" He said cutting me off and grabbing my wrist so he could them. Damn my Italian heritage; I can't talk without waving my hands subconsciously.
"I was late and well you know..." He let go off my wrists.
"Come on, forget lunch, we don't have time. We gotta clean that up." He said walking in the direction of the Lodging House.
"Oh yeah! Good news, I only have to go in the mornings now."
"Uh, okay." Skittery said, obviously confused.
"They really don't need cleaned up. It's just a little blood, right?"
"If you're sure..."
"I am." I said with a smile.
"Tibby's is this way." He leading me.
"So, are there going to be papers for me to sell left?"
"Yeah, of course. They release 12 editions some days with more war news. You'll be able to pick up the most recent." He told me as I nodded.
While we walked he talked to me about selling. "You see, yesterday those crazy stories worked with the smelly dock people because they've swallowed a little too much river water if you get my drift." He said as I laughed. "With smarter people you should be honest and you can't go screamin'. You walk up to them individually. Makes 'em feel special or somethin'."
"That makes sense, but why'd you come straight up to me and the Captain yesterday? We aren't rich."
"Eh, yesterday you looked the part. Not many poor people are dumb enough to wear all white around the city."
"But I had to! It was for a naval ship departure!" I said defensively. "So I'm not dumb either."
"Well I know that now, don't I?" He teased, nudging me. I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Ah, here we are! Tibby's!" He held the door open to a restaurant full of other newsies and other random people. I noted the happy, comfortable atmosphere of the diner and followed Skittery through it.
Pooey ending but I have to get ready for tomorrow and all that junk ...