"What are you talking about girls?" he asked.

"This is Patrick, he's our younger brother. He became a newsie after the death of our other brothers and sister. We hadn't talked of him in a while."

"Girls why don't you go inside, I want to talk to this Patrick for a minute." he said. Reluctantly the girls headed up the walk to the house. "Patrick…you know I do a lot to protect my family from street rats such as the children I'm sure you probably hang out with. Now I'm not saying that you're a street rat, I'm just saying that I don't want my daughters to go around town talking to the lower class; it lowers their eligibility for later in life. I'm sure you understand right?"

"Not really sir."

"Leave us alone and don't bother my girls again. They've had enough to deal with in their life. They don't need some pretend brother coming into their lives only to be ripped out by the police or something. Just go away."

"But sir, I'se just wanna find me family."

"Then go look downtown. I'm sure someone there can help you. Kim and Megan are on their way to becoming fine young ladies and I will not have you ruining it for them."

"Yes sir." Tumbler said turning and running down the street. Tears were on the verge of dropping but he held them in. There was one more address he had to find. He needed to know the truth of his family. He needed to find his father.

"Skittery come on Tumbler'll be fine. He's got da street smarts you'se filled 'im wit. No way is he gonna get hurt."

"Dat's not wat I'se worried about Dutchy. I'se worried he'll go find his fadder and he won't make it outta da house." Skittery said. He sat on the steps of the lodging house with Dutchy smoking. His mind was flooded with thoughts. Where Tumbler was, how he was doing and if he'd come home.

"Skitt, Tumbler wouldn't want'cha ta be dis sad or worried bout him. He'd want'cha ta be happy dat he's doin somethin for his self. You'se know dats true. Now come in befoah Kloppman locks da door." Dutchy said. Skittery nodded put out his cigarette and went inside with the blonde newsie. He hadn't slept much since Tumbler had left and had only just gone back to work.

Skittery had never felt this way before and he didn't like feeling this way now. Dutchy led him upstairs and into the bunkroom. Everyone was quite as if trying to keep Skittery in a good mood. Racetrack and Blink were starting a poker game with Mush and Jack. Boots and Snipeshooter were playing marbles in the corner. Bumlets and Specs were talking of their days as they washed their faces and took off their work clothes. Skittery sat on his bed and hung his head with a sigh.

Specs and Bumlets walked over and sat by him. Trying to get him to smile they asked him how his day went. He didn't answer. He didn't talk to many people anymore. Dutchy and Race seemed to be the only ones he could talk to.

After twenty minutes of sitting down in silence Skittery slipped to his side and closed his eyes. Exhaustion took over his body and he fell into a restless sleep. After what seemed like ten minutes Skittery shot up in a dead sweat. Newsies were circled all around him, he'd obviously been screaming. Racetrack started moving newsies away from him and back to their bunks.

"Wat happened Skitt?" Dutchy asked.

"Dat was a horrid dream. I went back ta da day Tommy died. He said I'se was Tumbler's only hope of survival an dat he fate was in me hands. Den I was here and he was sayin dat I'se was a failure. I'se don think I'se can go back ta sleep. I'se gotta find Tumbler, befoah he finds trouble."

"We'll help ya Skitt." Race said Dutchy nodded in agreement.

"Thanks guys."

"Come on we'se can get an early start." Dutchy said putting his vest on. Skittery and Racetrack followed suit and all three newsies headed out the door. They started yelling out Tumbler's name when they reached the park, his favorite place to go. Searching high and low they tore the park apart looking for their young friend.

After an hour in the park they reached the conclusion that Tumbler wasn't there. Skittery was getting more anxious the longer it was taking. He just knew that Tumbler was going after his father. Thinking back he remembered the day Tumbler's father got out of jail.

"I'se know where he's goin." Skittery said sprinting off towards the lower class area of Manhattan. Dutchy and Race exchanged looks before taking off after their friend. The three newsies ran until finally Skittery came to a stop in front of a rundown apartment building. Breathing hard Race and Dutchy looked at Skittery confused. "Dis is where dey lived befoah I'se took Tumbler. Dis is where Tommy died."

"Skitt…maybe Tumbler didn't come here. Maybe he got da wrong address…" Dutchy thought out loud.

"Maybe but we'se can't think dat until we'se look inside. Come on!" said Skittery leading the other boys up the fire escape. They stopped at a familiar window and looked in.

There was a moth eaten couch in the middle of the living room. In the dining room a young girl could be seen making breakfast. An older woman came in and told her to hurry the young girl nodded. After ten minutes an older male waltzed in and sat at the table. He pounded his fist and the young girl brought him a plate of eggs and bacon.

"Here you are father." she said. He shot her a 'shut up and get away from me' look and she backed away into a corner. Quickly he scarfed his food down and headed out to work. The two women looked relieved to have him gone and started to get ready for their day. Skittery breathed a sigh of relief to see that Tumbler hadn't come back to his father's house.

"He's not here but dat was his fadder. He must 'a got married again after he got outta jail." Skittery said. The three newsies headed down the fire escape and back up the block. They reached the distribution center before the other newsies and waited patiently for it to open.

Soon the rest of the newsies showed up and got in line. After the gates opened and they'd all gotten their papers Skittery, Race and Dutchy made a deal that if they saw Tumbler they'd try and follow him. Skittery headed up the street to his normal selling place hoping with all his heart that Tumbler would be there.

Please RR. I hope you like this installment of Storm's Brewing.