Jack told me about the newsies and their job. It sounded like a not-so-bad job. We stopped in front of a building. Over the door, a sign read NEWS BOYS LODGING HOUSE.
"This is it," Jack said. It didn't look like the best of places to live, but it was damn better than the street. "Home sweet home." He helped me through the door. The first thing I noticed was there were guys everywhere.
"Hey! Jackey-boy's back!" A short boy called. "And he's got company!"
"Heya Race," Jack laughed. "This' Lizzie."
"Where'd ya find 'er?" a darker skinner boy asked. Jack nodded to me, asking me to explain.
"I'm new ta the whole street thing. And I got in a fight. I've been stuck in an alley for a day er so," I explained.
"How 'em yer knee," Jack nudged me. I bent down and rolled up my pant leg. There were a lot of oohs and aahs. The questions started flying.
"Who did this ta ya?"
"Does it still hurt?"
How long've ya had that?" And so on. Jack picked me up.
"Questions later. That needs to be cleaned up," he started carrying me up the stairs. A bunch of people followed. "Hey Specs, mind gettin' her somethin' ta eat?"
"No problem, Jack," a boy with glasses went out the door. When we got into the bunk room, Jack set me down on a bunk.
"Everythin's gonna be fine," Jack whispered in my ear. "Now I need you to show me that knee of yers again." I nodded solemnly. I did, but I accidentally brush my hand against it. I cringed. "It's okay, Lizzie. Whaddya think, Race?"
"Go take a shower, Liz," Race decided after a long pause of thought. "There should be some warm water left."
"Go thought. But she needs new clothes," Jack pointed out. I had to be the weirdest looking thing they've ever seen. I had on boys pants and a girl shirt. They didn't exactly go well together. "Anyone gots some old clothes er somethin'?" Some people began rummaging through their stuff. Jack took my hand and rubbed it between his. "You'se freezin'."
"I've been stuck out there for a while," I explained. But I was really cold. Everyone wandered back over. Some empty handed, some with a stray article of clothing. I ended up with brown pants and a white shirt.
"C'mon. I'll help ya over ta the showers," Jack offered. I couldn't help but watch as he took off his vest. I starred at his shirt, his muscles just
barley visible. Instead of helping me, he just picked me back up and walked into the bathroom. "Everyone else'll go back down stairs. I have to go talk to Kloppman. He owns the place. I'll be back up after that." I nodded and hopped over to the showers. I waited till everyone had gone back downstairs, then I undressed and turned the shower on.
I let the warm water cover me. I washed my hair. Then I took the soap and slowly, bent down and cleaned my leg. It began bleeding again. That's when I realized how big it was.
It started on the outside of my left knee. But if I put the bottom of my hand where it started, it ended just past my fingertips. I thought I wan gonna be sick. I turned off the water.
I opened the shower curtain just enough so I could see out. At the base of the shower was socks, shoes, a towel, and anything else I could need that the newsies could give me. But I knew Jack had put them there. I smiled unknowingly. I grabbed the clothes and put them on, still in the shower.
When I finished, I stepped out of the shower and dried my hair with a towel. I picked up the shoes and walked back in the bunk room. Jack was in there, laying a pillow and blanket in the bunk where he had lay me down. I just stood there, watching him.
"Oh, hey Lizzie," he smiled, realized I had been watching him.
"Thanks, for the towel and everything," I smiled back.
"Kloppman says you'se can stay here for free tonight, and till ya can walk again. But then you'se have ta work."
"I'd be a newsie?"
"Yeah. But you don't have to worry 'bout that now."
"No, I think I'll try to work tomarrow."
"Ya sure? It's a lot of walking."
"I'm sure. But thanks for yer concern," I limped over to the bed.
"Would ya like ta tell me how ya got that cut on yer knee?" Jack asked.
"Okay. I was just walkin' through Central Park…"