I'm SO sorry that this has taken so long! I've been really busy with softball, and my family is hosting a Spanish student from Madrid. I obviously can't just sit at the computer and write while she is here, so I've been staying up late at night to try and get this done! I've even reduced to threatening myself to get a chap. done (which, uh, doesn't work!) :) Thanks for all the reviews for last chap., though, everyone! I've appreciated it a lot, and it's helped me keep going even when it's 2:00am!
Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies, or Rascal Flatts' song, My Wish (which I use in this chap.). If anyone wants to hand any of those over, though, that would really be okay!
Chap. 8
As I stepped into the Lodging House, Kloppman stopped me.
"I gotcha yer own room. It's not much, but it should be bettah den sleeping in the same room as all those grubby boys." He shrugged and turned to go back into his office area.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kloppman!" I ran up to him and gave him a big hug. He looked surprised, but then relaxed and hugged me back. Kloppman gave me a warm smile as he opened his office door before slipping in.
I was elated that I had my own room. I had nothing against the newsies, but they weren't the cleanest group of boys. I trusted most of them, and if anyone did try something, I had the rest of them to help me. The thing I was most excited about, though, was the space I would have. A whole room to myself!
I bounded up the stairs and into the bunk room. From there I went past the washing area to the other side where a single door stood. I turned the knob, and went in. The area was somewhat smaller than I would've liked, but I was grateful for the space anyway. In the room rested a single bed, with a small stand next to it. Across the room there was a petite dresser, and there was a tiny window with a fire escape outside of it.
When I tossed my small secondhand suitcase down on the bed, a cloud of dust came up at me. I sneezed, and then I went over to open the window. I guessed that the room hadn't been used in awhile because the air was stuffy. I cringed thinking about how dirty the sheets must be. Knowing that I had nothing else to do, I pulled the sheets off. There was a single sheet, an old wool quilt, and a bed cover. I decided that it would be better to not wash the quilt, and to just wash the other two covers. I went into the washroom and grabbed the basin that was probably used to wash clothes in, though I couldn't imagine how much the boys actually washed their clothes.
As I was washing the sheets, I started to sing a song that I somehow knew. It seemed to just pop into my head and came flowing out of my mouth.
I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left--,
"If you'se supposed ta never forget da ones who love ya, den why did you?" A voice asked scornfully, cutting me off from my singing.
I quickly turned around to see Kid Blink leaning against the door frame, looking hurt and angry.
I was confused at how he kept acting. "What do you mean? I didn't leave anyone out West who loved me."
"I nevah said it was anyone out West. I can't believe ya don't remembah anything about before."
"Before?" I was really confused now. "Is there something that you know about me before I was in my accident?" I bounced over to where he was standing and looked expectantly at him.
He sighed, and I thought I heard him softly say, "Screw what Jack says." He walked over to the door that led downstairs and locked it.
"Listen, I think I really should be the one ta tell ya dis…"
There you go! So... was it worth the wait? I really hope so! Leave me a review and tell me what you thought of it! (and the song I used is called "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts, do you think it fits?) Thanks in advance everyone!
-Sweets