Dont...own...newsies. Sadness...
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It was a pitch black night with only the dim glow of street lamps to light the cobblestone streets. Two dark figures walked down the street side by side. Neither looked up nor were any words passed between them. One of them stopped outside of an imposing building and stared up at the huge wrought iron gates. "So here it is," Jack said darkly. "The Refuge." He gave a sarcastic laugh. "My home, sweet home."
David stared up at it, feeling shivers run down his back. He wondered how Jack knew Crutchy had been brought here and wasn't aware that he had said anything until Jack replied back, "It's just how things work, you know?"
A voice came out of the darkness, causing both of them to jump. "Y'see, David, the more kids in the Refuge, the more money the city sends to take care of them, the more Snyder sticks in his pocket." Ellen was facing them, eyes red, and still full of tears. "Didja come to get him out, Jack?" She turned to him, eyes full of hope. He put his hand on her shoulder.
"We'll get him out, Ellen. Don't worry."
She nodded and sniffed, "Can I help?" He shook his head.
"Nah." He gave her a reassuring smile and motioned towards David. "Me and Davey's enough. You take care of yourself and we'll have Crutchy outta there before youse can count to ten."
She smiled thinly. "Thanks Jack," she mumbled and receded into the shadows. The clopping of horse hooves caught the boys' ears. Jack grabbed David's arm and shoved him against the wall. "Don't say anythin'," he hissed. They did their best to look inconspicuous even though Jack had a huge coil of rope thrown over his shoulder and was wearing mostly black. A horse drawn cart rolled half-way out the gates before its driver stopped to talk to the guard. Jack tapped David's shoulder before bending down and sneaking through the gates. David looked around cautiously, wondered briefly how he had gotten wrapped up in all this, and followed him. Jack led him around the building, up a rusty fire escape, and onto the roof. David watched in skeptical silence as Jack took the rope off his shoulder and uncoiled it.
"What're you doing?" David whispered. Jack looked up from where he was tying the end to the chimney and snickered.
"What does it look like, Davey?" he asked in a patronizing tone. David frowned.
"No, I know what you're doing, I just want to know why," he replied. Jack smirked.
"Well, you see…"
Jack edged down the side of the building while David slowly lowered him. David bit his lip; the rope was biting into his hands.
"Hold it, Davey!" Jack said as he swung back and forth in front of a window, using his feet to catch the little bit of ledge. He wiped at the dusty window with his coat sleeve.
"Hold it, he tells me," David snarled under his breath, straining to keep the rope where it was. "I am holding it!"
"Keep it tight, Dave," Jack called. David started ranting softly again. Jack rapped gently on the window and a little, blonde-haired boy appeared.
"Hey, Ten Pin," he greeted the kid casually. "You got a new guy in here. Crutchy."
The boy shrugged. "You mean the gimp?" he asked.
Jack rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Yeah, the gimp."
Ten Pin smiled and walked off, "I'll get 'im for you."
A few moments labor Crutchy, aided by a small Asian boy and Ten Pin, hobbled to the window.
"I don't believe it! I just don't believe it." He exclaimed in amazement, his mouth hanging wide open. Jack smiled; Crutchy was one of those happy-all-the-time-no-matter-what people. When Crutchy realized David was there, he called out to him.
"Heya, Davey!"
"Shhh!" David admonished, looking around in panic to see if anyone had heard them.
Jack smiled, then got down to business. "Listen, Crutchy, go get your stuff. We're gonna get you outta here."
Crutchy shifted from foot to foot uneasily.
"I ain't been walkin' so good lately," he confessed. "Oscar and Morris, they worked me ova a little." Jack was furious.
"They hurt you?" he fumed. Crutchy nodded. Jack looked up at David and thought for a second. "Look, me and Dave'll carry you out out o' here"
"I don't want nobody carrying me, you hear?" Crutchy replied angrily. He sighed. All his life he had gotten pity and sympathetic looks from people. All he wanted was to try to make it on his own, that's why he had become a newsie. That's also why he liked Ellen so much. She respected him and expected him to do just as much as anybody else. She never once remarked on his lameness, yet managed to be considerate with him, often taking it into account when they were doing things.
Jack interrupted his thoughts, saying softy, "Your girl's been waiting, Crutchy. Right now. You should've seen her face. She misses you."
Crutchy's eyes filled with tears, but he shook his head firmly. "No, Jack. I can't; Ellen'll understand."
Jack nodded, "Alright Crutchy."
Crutchy heard a sound at the end of the dingy room. He turned and saw the other kids scrambling to their bunks. He knew what this meant, even though he hadn't been here very long. "Cheese it, Jack!" he whispered, than quickly hobbled towards Snyder, the malevolent warden of the Refuge, striking up a conversation to buy time for Jack to escape.
Ellen came out of the shadows again, peering up hopefully as the two newsies came towards her.
"Crutchy?" she asked, but when she saw only the two of them, she knew any questions would be pointless. He hadn't come. She should have guessed. If he couldn't come out on his own, he wouldn't come at all. But her shoulders still slumped with disappointment.
"I'm sorry." Jack put his arm around her. "He didn't want to come if he couldn't do it on his own," he stated, confirming her guess.
"It's okay. I know you tried." She looked up at that distant window, staring at the shadowy figure within. "I was just being silly. I need more sense in this head of mine." She smiled weakly, trying to show Jack that he hadn't failed her.
Jack smiled gently and tugged one of her blonde curls. "Nah. You got plenty of sense; grief makes idiots out o' all o' us." He looked up also, thinking about Crutchy and how unfair the world often seemed. He hefted the rope back onto his shoulder. "You guys ready to go?" David and Ellen both nodded and the three walked back down the street in companionable silence.