I own it not.

Crutchie opened the door to Tibby's. It was the newsie hangout, as long as they bought something. He saw ten boys sitting at a table and went over to them, a smile crossing his face.

"Happy birthday Race!" he exclaimed, taking a seat between Racetrack and Blink. Racetrack smiled at him. It was his fourteenth birthday. Now he was the same age as most of the newsies at the table.

"Yeah, it's been a good day." Racetrack said. "No rain! Who'd think it'd end today!" It had been raining for almost two weeks. It ruined their papers and made selling them living Hell.

Mush shoved Racetrack. "Yeah, it ended just for you, you lousy―" he went on happily, calling Race every name under the sun (most he'd just made up)

"Wish Cowboy could be here," Boots said, still smiling. "But I hear he got three more months for going against Snyder."

"He would." Skittery said darkly, "Jack's always fighting about something. I'd think he'd die if he didn't have someone to fight for."

Crutchie rolled his eyes, though it pained him to think of Jack in the Refuge. Jack had been his partner and best friend for seven years.

Racetrack banged loudly on the table to get everyone's attention. "So I ain't got no presents?" he said, smiling. Food and napkins were thrown at him and he put his hands over his head, laughing.

"We're buying you dinner, ain't that enough?" Blink shouted, hitting Racetrack playfully on the back of the head. Racetrack shoved him, making him tip over a plate. Crutchie caught it, putting it back on the table.

"Oy, Crutchie, you got good hands!" Mush said admiringly. "Why don't you come by the Park tomorrow? We got a stickball game going there. You won't be able to run or nuttin', but you'll make a heck of a pitcher!"

"Crutchie, a pitcher?" Racetrack wrapped Crutchie in an arm hold and messes up his already unruly hair. "Well, who'd a guessed that?"

Crutchie smiled. He liked the thought of being pitcher. He'd always liked stickball, but was reserved to watching because of his leg. Now he'd actually get to play!

Itey stretched, then looked at the clock. "Hey Blink, we'd better get going. We need to get the evening edition out."

Blink rolled his good eye, then glanced around the table. "C'mon guys, pay up, I ain't got enough coins for all this."

Grumbling good-naturedly the boys managed to get together the bill, then they wandered out in ones or twos, everyone wishing Racetrack a happy birthday again.

Crutchie and Racetrack left together. "How was the track today?" Crutchie asked as they walked down the streets towards the lodging house.

"Okay. I won fifty cents on one race, but then lost thirty on the next. I beat it after that."

They walked in companionable silence. Since Jack had been sent to the Refuge, Racetrack and Crutchie had gotten closer. Race watched out for Crutchie and Crutchie was always there when Race needed a hand.

When they got back to the Refuge, they saw a carriage go by and a lone figure hop out of the back of it.

Crutchie rubbed his eyes. "I don't believe it. Race, you see what I'm seeing?"

Race patted him on the back. "I see it Crutchie. What'cha doing back here, Cowboy, I thought you had another three months."

Jack shrugged, and Crutchie noticed that he'd grown thin, his clothes ragged. He still had his hat though. "I had better things to do." Jack explained as they walked into the lodging house. "So how's things goin' 'round here?"

Crutchie smiled appreciatively. "Pretty good. Just got back from Tibby's. It's Race's birthday."

Jack frowned. "I thought you just had a birthday before I was put in the Refuge."

Racetrack shrugged, then grinned slyly. "Hey, I got a free dinner."

Crutchie whacked him with his stick, and Racetrack danced out of the way, laughing. He ran up the stairs, shouting, "He's back, boys. Cowboy's back!"

Jack put a hand on Crutchie's shoulder. "I wouldn't suggest going up the stairs for a few minutes." He muttered, grinning, as twenty or so boys stormed down the steps. "You're liable to break another leg."

Crutchie grinned and ducked out of Jack's arm. "Nice to have you back, Cowboy."

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