Hey There, Lonely Girl
Chapter Three
Gypsy's Story
"Were you scared?"
"No, I don't believe so. I guess you can say... excited. Here I had lost everything, and right before my eyes I had the chance to start over. Start fresh. Of course, he could have taken me behind a building and strangled me to death, and I wouldn't have cared. Now with hindsight I see it would not be very easy, how can you just forget about your family and your past. But I was young, stubborn, and determined.
I thought it was a miracle from my father. Like he was helping me to start over."
"Was it?"
"I like to think so. He knew me. He knew I would mope myself into a stupor and end up God knows where. Would I swear my life on it? No, but it makes me smile to think he played a part."
XXX
"So does this mean Shannon is gone?" she asked, as she had no other choice but to walk along side of him. "Like for good?"
"I'se suppohse youse can tell yer history to anyone ya pick, but 'ost nevah want to bring it up again." he paused, "So.. do ya?"
"What? Want to tell everyone my life story? No thank you."
"Alright then, so Shannon is dead, long live Gypsy. Only I'll eva know yer real name, but I won't say a woird."
She stopped walking and looked at him, cocking an eyebrow. "Well, that doesn't seem fair."
"What'sa mattah?"
"Well if you know something that seems to be so big among you guys, in the form of my real name.. Well what can I hang over your head?" Take that she thought smugly.
"Absolutely nuthin'" he retorted, "I am the picture of newsie perfections."
"Right!"
"Ahh whaddya you know yet?"
"I know I'm waiting..." she instigated, tapping her foot on the sidewalk and leaning against a building. "Shock me."
"Hmm, maybe when I'se gets to know ya bettah. Come on, we shouldn't stay in a place that long."
"Well, why?"
"The Delancy Bruddas are on the hunt."
"The who?" she asked adjusting her shoe, which had somehow managed to loosen up.
"Delancy Bruddas. The hired workers, try to keep us doin our job and in line. Also the biggest pigs ya will evah see in yer life. No respect for goils." he added quickly turning to face her. "No one would eva miss dem."
"And what about you Jack? Do you have respect, for girls that is?"
"I'm hoirt. I though I'se was showing you." Jack laughed and poked her. "Youse gonna be a smart mouth to me all da time, huh?"
Gypsy nodded eagerly and smiled. This was the most she could be like herself in a long time. Minus the no talking of the past rule, she felt comfortable with him.
"Now when we get in," He started, "Don't worry if youse can't remember all the names, dere's a lot of us. Uh, don't take Race up on his offer to play cards, and if David's there, he might try and show off using all dese big woirds."
She didn't know who 'Race' and 'David' were, but it sounded easy enough. Turn down playing cards and not be impressed by big, scholarly words. Sounds easy enough.
Jack led her down the street to an old looking building with a small flower garden from one of the windowsills. "That's one of the goils'" he had explained. "Dey go on about tings of beauty bein' around."
"Are youse ready?"
Eh, not really. "Yes."
He took her hand and opened the door, leading her inside. She looked down at their hands, then looked back up and around in order to make it not seem terribly obvious. It was nothing like she expected, though to be perfectly honest, she didn't know what exactly she should have expected. It was a lodging house, not the Presidential Suite in the Catherine Palace.
"Kloppman, dis is Gypsy, she's new." Jack explained, introducing her to the older man behind the desk. He immediately put down his papers and smiled at them.
"Well ain't she a pretty thing, well done Cowboy, well done."
Gypsy opened her mouth to question, but Jack mouthed "later" to her. She made a mental note to remember to ask.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Kloppman."
"Kloppy 'ere runs da place and makes suiore we'se get up on time."
"And you give me trouble every time Cowboy, but that's a whole other story. Let's get your lady set up here, shall we?"
Jack nodded.
"Alright miss, room and board is three cents per night, if you'd like a hot meal plus a room it's five cents. Of course, first night is always free. If you need anything, let the boys know. Me? I am locking up and going to bed."
He winked at the kids standing in front of him and disappeared behind a door. Gypsy could hear him marching down some stairs talking to himself.
"He likes you" Jack announced.
"Do you think so?"
"He let you stay, didn't he?"
Gypsy shrugged. She wasn't anything special, she just knew how to act around older people. Blame, or praise her parents, but they thought manners were the most important trait of all.
"Are youse alright?" he asked soflty, "Do youse wanna meet everyone now, or just the goils?"
She froze. It had been a very draining day. Both physically and mentally. She was sure she looked like death and wasn't feeling her brightest and best. She decided to pass on meeting the boys, but obviously had to meet the girls as she would be staying with them from now on.
"Dey kinda govern demselves," he explained on the way upstairs. "Dere really isn't a leadah. Who knows, maybe it can be you."
"Is there supposed to be one?"
"No law, but it helps. I'm the leadah of the boys," Jack puffed out his chest and smiled at her.
"Oh of course you are."
"What's this! A lover's spat? Goils you gotta come see dis!"