PART II

Glancing at Snoddy's pocket watch dangling from the bunk to his right, Race slipped out the window, shivering at the chill.

Quietly, Race sat down beside Jack, who made no indication of noticing his friend. The two sat side by side, each lost in their own thoughts yet remembering the same things.

Flashback

Race picked Boidy up and swung her around, yelling and screaming, "WE BEAT EM WE BEAT EM WE KICKED THEIR REARS JUST LIKE CRUTCHY SAID!" Putting Boidy down and staring into her deep green eyes. Jack pushed his way through the crowd to place one arm around Race, and one around Boidy, The three of them marching down the streets, singing every song they knew. Jack and Race's voices offset wonderfully with Boidy's high soprano. Then Teddy Roosevelt's carriage came charging through the crowd. Jack set off for Santa Fe, but came back after thinking it through. For Racetrack this was the happiest moment of his life. Dancing through the streets with his arm around Boidy, life couldn't be any better. It stayed that way for a week or two, perhaps even a month before the joy left Boidy's eyes again. Instead of laughter and sparkle, her eyes became sad, lonely and she couldn't stop thinking about-

(End Flashback)

No Race thought to himself, NO Remember the good times, keep those ones in your mind.

There is no use in recalling the pain.

It will only make you miserable.

Remember the good times.

Race sat on the roof with his best friend in the world and dreamed up an ending to the story of him and Boidy.

The story ended with Race and Boidy getting married and having 3 children. 2 Boys with their father's mischievous spirit and love of gambling, and a tiny girl with her mother's eyes.

Race sighed and leaned back against the window ledge, If only dreams really did come true….

Jack was so lost in his thoughts that he barely noticed Race's arrival. Unfortunately, Jack's melancholy train of thought was not so easily derailed.

Flashback

Taking Les down from his shoulders, Jack made his way through the crowd to Race and Boidy. Arm in arm the three of them marched through the streets of New York like they owned the place. And for that one day, They did. The excited cheers, yelling and shouting and singing had just began to die down, when suddenly it began again! The crowd of Newsies and other workers gave a great roar, as Teddy Roosevelt's carriage made its way through the crowd. When asked where he wanted to go, Jack jumped at the chance, and headed off to Santa Fe. He would have hopped on a train and left too, if it hadn't been for Boidy. The girl knew him better than he knew himself and she understood his reasons. She whispered something in his ear and pushed him into the carriage. All the way to the train yard, Her words rang in Jack's ears. When at last they arrived, Jack took a deep breath and asked the driver to turn around.

Upon returning, he was quickly sucked into the cheerful spirit again. His good friends, David and Sarah greeted him. Caught in the moment he laughed and kissed Sarah. She laughed, knowing he only liked her as a friend. Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw a girl, Boidy's best friend run away in tears; her left hand wound tightly in her hair.

End Flashback

He had seen her, but not in time. She avoided him and he did not have the courage to seek her out.

He convinced himself that it had nothing to do with him. She had probably been teased by one of the Delancey Brothers. It was a well known fact that Morris had it in for her.

Surely had nothing to do with him. Of course it wasn't his fault! It was ridiculous to think that him kissing Sarah had made her that upset. Wasn't it?

Jack had almost managed to convince himself that Twirlah's tears had nothing to do with him. But the thought stuck in his mind, If It wasn't his fault, then why did Twirlah constantly avoid him?

There they sat, two boys remembering the same event through two different eyes. Two different perspectives, two different endings.

They stayed outside, oblivious to the cold night, until Race got up and tapped Jack on the shoulder.

"Come on Man, Kloppman's gonna be getting the boys up soon. We should at least pretend that we got some sleep last night.

"Yeah you'se right, Hey Race you gonna be too tired to sell today? Think it will affect your poker game any? Remember we've got Brooklyn tonight!"

"In your dreams Jackie-boy, In your dreams", Race chuckled and then quietly whispered, "Besides Jackie-Boy, you ain't the only one not sleepin so good lately. I just try not to remember so much."

As the two boys slipped back into their bunks, Race whispered into the darkness,

"Thanks Jack, you'se a lot bettah company than me deck o' cards."

In the ten minutes before Kloppman woke the boys up, Racetrack drifted into a fitful sleep. Jack didn't.

Jack never slept anymore