Hail soon realized why the newsies enjoyed the vaudeville shows so much. She and Melody had found a table to sit at, along with Specs, Dutchy, Skittery, and Bumlets, and the group ordered a round of sarsaparillas. As the drinks came, the show began.
First, a ventriloquist came out to warm up the crowd, followed by a young lady who sang a few songs. A juggler came out after her, tossing everything from oranges to flaming torches to baseballs, which were stolen by a unicyclist who zoomed across the stage. A male and female duo danced a quick, bright number before the star of the show came onstage. The crowd cheered like mad for Medda, who obviously loved every bit of attention.
"Good evening everyone!" she addressed the audience in a fake Swedish accent and waved her purple feathers that Hail recognized from the billboard. "I hope you all vill like my first number; it goes out to anyone who has lost the one they love."
And with that, Medda began a sappy, though surprisingly enjoyable song about her lovey-dovey baby. Melody and Hail grinned at all the newsies around them, who were apparently enamored with the singer. Medda went through a couple more songs before announcing that she was going to take a quick break. "Get on your feet, and enjoy my vunderful band. I vill be back before you know it!"
As the songstress went backstage, the boys at the table set off to find more drinks. The band struck up a fun song and much of the audience got up to the floor to dance. Hail observed that some of the newsies had escorted girls, probably realizing that they would need a dance partner at some point in the night, and suddenly felt alone and out of place. She turned to Melody to say something about it, but her friend was distracted as Jack and the kid he had introduced them to, Spot, plopped themselves down at the table.
"You goils enjoying yourselves?" Jack asked, grinning at the pair.
"Yeah, it's alright I guess," Hail shrugged ambiguously. She liked the show, but still felt awkward with all of these new guys she had met. Oh well, at least she had Mel.
"Just alright! Hail, you won't find a bettah show in all of New York!" Jack exclaimed.
"Hey toots, come dance with me," Spot ordered, rising from his chair.
"Was that a request?" Melody asked, eyeing the boy as he smirked right back.
"It's whatever you want it to be," he rolled his eyes. "Now are you comin' or not?"
"Alright, alright," Melody laughed and got up to join him, leaving Hail at the table with nothing to do except stare across uncomfortably at Jack. Jack opened his mouth, as if to speak, but another voice cut in.
"Hey, Jack," Hail looked up to see the kid who had thrown the rag at her that morning. "Umm, I think I just saw Sarah in the upper balcony. Just thought you might like the warning."
"Oh jeez!" Jack practically leapt out of his chair to duck behind Kid Blink. "I'll be in the back if anyone needs me." With that he darted off through the crowd, yelling over his shoulder, "Thanks Blink!"
Hail laughed in spite of herself, but a scowl crossed her face again when she looked up to see the boy smiling over her.
"Knew that would get rid of him," he chuckled and sat down next to Hail. "Hey yer not still mad about this morning are ya?" Hail avoided his eyes, and instead watched the crowd dancing next to the stage.
"Look, it was just a joke. That ain't nothing to be mad about is it? And you threw that rag right back, so we're square," he decided. Hail turned back to face him in disbelief.
"Do you honestly think that's how it works?" she asked.
"Boy you really hold a grudge," Blink replied. "And here I am apologizin' for nothing."
"You call that an apology?" Hail was not enjoying this conversation whatsoever.
"At least I tried. Pie Eater didn't even come over here. Don't that count for something?"
"This joik bothering you?" Bumlets had returned and jokingly punched Blink in the arm.
"Nah, we's just talking" Blink said, swatting his friend's arm away.
"Yeah I can see she's enjoying that," Bumlets grinned. "Hayley, you wanna dance with me?"
Pleasantly surprised that he had used her real name, and happy for an excuse to depart from the awkward exchange with Kid Blink, she readily accepted. Bumlets grabbed Hail's hand and pulled her towards the dance floor, where a lively polka was ensuing. Hail had much experience dancing at the galas her father attended in the past, so she had no problem falling right into step. She allowed herself to grin at Bumlets as he whisked her around the floor and giggled as they nearly collided with another couple.
"Hey, watch it!" Spot yelled angrily and Hail looked up to see that he and Mel had been that couple. She glanced back at Bumlets and burst out laughing at the terrified look on his face.
"Spot Conlon ain't no laughing matter," Bumlets cautioned as he steered her to the opposite end of the floor, away from the Brooklyn leader. Despite this warning, Bumlets still smiled back at Hail.
"So what was Blink botherin' you about back there?" Bumlets inquired as the music wound down and a slower, less rowdy song began.
"It was nothing," she replied, looking down at her feet. "It's just that everything here is so different than home."
"Ahh don't worry, we ain't all idiots like Blink," he reassured her.
"No I didn't mean-"
"Hey Bums, you mind if I cut in?"
Well speak of the devil, Hail thought as the one-eyed newsy appeared. Bumlets glanced at Hail for an answer, and she gave a little nod of agreement. Blink received her hand from Bumlets and the latter scooted off the dance floor, no doubt to return to their table.
"Lissen, I think we got off on the wrong foot here," Kid Blink told her.
"I suppose so," Hail said.
"Look if it matters that much to ya, I'm sorry I threw the thing at you this morning. Hell, I wasn't even aiming for you!" he said, as if that justified it. "I had a clear shot at Swifty, but you got in the way. Not that I'm blaming you or anything, but come on, ya hafta admit it was funny."
Hail tried to fight back the urge to look happy, but Blink's wide smile was contagious. He was right, it was pretty ridiculous.
"See? You's grinning too," he noticed, and beamed. "Knew you couldn't stay mad at me forever."
Maybe this Kid isn't so bad after all, Hail thought to herself.