this is a turningish point chapter (even though turningish isnt a word...I think you get what I'm talking about)

hope you like it!

Chap. 10

We all walked together around New York for awhile, but then we decided to split up. Mush and I walked around over by the square. We stopped, and he grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the statue.

"I was thinking, and I really like ya, Sweets." He said.

"You know I really likes ya too, Mush." I said, with a smile. He barely smiled back, which worried me. I lightly touched his shoulder, and asked him what was wrong.

He thought for a second, and then said, "Remember how I said dat we'se should just worry about you leaving sometime later?" I nodded, "I don't want you ta leave me." He said sounding incredibly sad.

Now I had to think for a second about what I was going to say. Finally I said, "I don't ever want ta have ta leave you, but I have the feeling dat sometime one of us is gonna have to choose between the year we'se used ta, or being with each other."

I could see how much this was bothering both of us. I didn't know what to do about it, but I had a feeling that what I said to him was true.

"Do ya wanna take a break or somethin'?" I asked him on the verge of tears.

"No, no nothin' like dat." He assured me, "I really don't wanna do dat." He said pulling me into a hug.

I started to sob thinking about how I wished I could go home, but I didn't want to leave any of my new friends, especially Mush. I must've looked awful sitting there crying. Mush didn't seem to mind, and he just took me in his arms and sat there with me. I'm not sure how long we just sat there, listening to the sounds of New York.

It was dark by the time we decided to go back. I still didn't know what I was going to do. I needed to talk to Dolly, Three, and Copper about it. When we got back to the Lodging House, Mush stopped me right outside of the door.

He said, "Ya do know how much I care 'bout ya right?" I nodded. "I'll do whatever I can ta stay with you." He said.

"I'm sorry, I wish we could've had a better time tonight." I said.

"Don't worry 'bout it, it was good dat we talked 'bout this," he said with a smile, "I didn't mind what we did."

I'm so lucky- I thought as we walked into the the Lodging House. I asked Kloppman if Dolly, Copper, or Three were back from being with Jack. He told me that Dolly was back because David had to go to school the next day as part of an agreement that he made with his dad. Copper was still out with Spot, which didn't surprise me because they usually were out late. Three was still out with Jack, and I hoped everything was going ok with her.

I walked up stairs to the bunk room. I saw Dolly sitting on her bunk, looking through a pape that she hadn't sold. I went over to her, barely able to let my tears wait to fall until I got there.

"Oh, Sweets, what happened?" She asked me, "Did Mush break up wit you?"

"No, things are goin' great wit him." I said as I started to cry.

"I don't understand. Why are you cryin' den?" She asked me.

"What are we doin' this for? We has to go back sometime, I mean, we has a family and a whole other life!"

"Dat's what dis is all about?" I nodded. "Think of it dis way, when we goes back, we'll have lots of good memories, and we're creating dem now."

I had never really thought of it that way, and what she had said was very true. Besides, I bet Kloppman could bring us back somehow… he did get us into this mess. I thanked her, and went over to the washroom to get ready for bed.

I know, I know,a lame answer by Dolly at the end here... but o well it works, right?

As always, REVIEW please!

-Sweets