Note: Hi ya'll! Sorry for not updating anything for sooo long. I've been terribly busy this summer.. which shouldn't be an excuse.. but anyway. I know some of this might not be completely realistic, like getting a job on the first day you look for one... but, I've already written it, and I have a short amount of time to work with, so, please bear with me. Thanks!

Through Ups And Downs Chapter 3 - A Job and A New Worry

Mush felt his face turn bright red with embarrassment and a little shame. The small man who managed Harburn's Grocery pushed his spectacles up on his nose, drumming his fingers on the smooth wood of his desk. He was nervous.

"Sorry, son. But Mr. Harburn is very strict about reading and writing, and knowing your figures." Mush nodded, slowly picking up his cap from where it sat on the desk.

"Thanks for ya time, Mr. Sherman." As he moved to leave the small managers office situated at the back of the store, the balding man stopped him.

"Look son, I'm the manager here. You seem like a right nice young man, and if you learn what you need, I'll hire you."

"Thank ya, sir! I'll try."

And as Mush left the store, he realized that he really would try. He could read decently, and figure a bit too. It was the writing that gave him such a time; he could barely write his own name. Something about forming the words. Unfortunately, to work at Harburn's, writing was a prerequisite.

Mush had been walking for several hours and still had no luck with his job hunt. The boy read the wanted signs as he wandered, searching for something he could do.

"Dis might work," he mumbled, stopping at a hardware shop.

WANTED

Young man for cleaning duties.

21 cents an hour

Mush figured that twenty-one cents an hour was pretty good. He seldom sold twenty-one papers in an hour. The boy pushed the door open. A bell tinkled, announcing his entrance, and the man at the counter looked up, his mustache twitching slightly as he took in Mush's appearance.

"How can I help you, sir?" he asked in a stiffly polite voice.

"Oh, I'm not a customer," Must interjected.

"Oh," the clerk said, then turned his head and began writing in some books he had been working on when Mush arrived.

The youth frowned. "Excuse me." The man looked back up and an irritated expression was on his face.

"What do you want, boy?" Mush felt his face grow red at the clerk's tone of voice. It was filled with rudeness.

"I'm here about da cleaning job," he said in the most polite voice he could muster. It was quite hard.

"Oh, well you'll have to see Mr. Jennings about that." Mush felt his temper rising, but quickly calmed himself.

"And where can I find him?"

"Back office," the man said quickly.

"Thanks," Mush replied sarcastically. He walked to the back of the store and knocked on a door that read: H.M. Jennings.

"Come in," a deep voice invited. The boy pushed the door open timidly. A man sat behind the desk, his cheeks rosy. He was well fed, and looked like a nice sort of fellow. "Sit down, young man. Sit down," he ordered with a smile and gesture of the hand. Mush obliged him, sitting in the vacant seat in front of the desk. Now he was reminded of his earlier interview, and he shivered with disdain.

"Are you cold, boy?" Mr. Jennings asked curiously. There was, after all, a fireplace in the office. Mush smacked himself mentally.

"Uh, no sir. Just thinkin' bout a bad experience." Mr. Jennings nodded as if he knew all about it.

"Yes, life is filled with bad experiences," he said, shaking his head a little sadly. Then his face brightened. "Now, what can I do for you, young man?" Mush sat up straighter in his chair.

"I'm here about da cleaning job." Mr. Jennings smiled.

"Ah, yes. I suppose you've read the notice?" Mush nodded confirmation. "Good, good. So, I may presume you would like more information on the matter?" Another nod. So, Mr. Jennings began. "The task will be simple. Washing windows, sweeping floors, that sort of thing. Sometimes, if my clerks are swamped with people, it would be convenient if you could help a customer."

"Uh."

"What's wrong, son?"

Mush gulped. "Would I have to do much...er...writing?" The man looked surprised for a bit.

"Well, naturally. For filling out orders and the like." Mush sighed, disappointed

"I can't write much," he sad sadly, for of course he was thinking of all the times he had clumsily fashioned his name.

Mr. Jennings smiled. "Oh, is that all? Well, it'll be no trouble. No trouble at all. And Carver will help you."

"Um, sir, who's Carver?" Jennings waved his hand.

"One of the clerks. You've met him I'm sure. He was on duty today."

"Oh." Mr. Jennings raised an eyebrow at Mush's unenthusiastic response.

"I may presume you two didn't get off to a very good start?" He liked to presume a lot. "Ah, well, I will have a talk with him. All shall be set straight." Mush started from his seat.

"Does dis mean I'm hired?" Mr. Jennings smiled.

"Well, you seem a nice young man to me. We'll try you for a month, then, depending on how well you do, hire or fire you." He winked. "I think it will be hire. Now, let me draw up the documents."

X0X0X0X0

When Mush reached his corner, he was feeling like nothing in the world could beat him down. Then he looked across the street, and it seemed all his happiness fled faster then a frightened horse. Adah stood, smiling at a young man who's back was turned to Mush. By the stature, posture, and gold cane that the man had, Mush was almost certain who it was. Spot Conlon.

Anger welled in the boy, for he was not perfect. He knew all about Conlon. He was powerful for one thing, which made it quite easy for him to get what he wanted. Many a Manhattan newsie had lost their girl due to Spot Conlon. Mush didn't want that to happen to Adah. Of course, technically, Adah wasn't Mush's girl exactly.. But he had a strong feeling she was the one.

Adah began to look a bit sad, but the boy was clearly saying something important. Then, he gave her a big hug, and with no more hesitation, he took off down the street, a red suspender hanging off his shoulder. And Mush knew for sure it was Spot Conlon. Besides all the obvious clues, Mush had caught sight of Spot's determined face. There was no doubt.

Then Adah saw Mush and waved, smiling again. She must think he hadn't seen her exchange with Spot. Well, Mush could play the game too. He wouldn't say what he knew about Spot. When Adah walked across the street to him, holding his jacket over her arm, Mush asked in a seemingly bored manner,

"Who was that you were just with?" Adah seemed startled for a moment.

"Oh, you saw that? It was just a boy I know." Mush almost grimaced, but turned his face into a pleasant smile.

"Oh, really?"

"Yep. Mush, I'm so sorry for not giving you this last night," Adah said, handing over the coat. "It completely slipped my mind until it was too late."

"Dat's okay," Mush assured. "I forgot too." Adah shrugged. "Hey," the boy said brightly. "Dere's gonna be a party tonight at Irving Hall. Wanna come?" Adah had a thoughtful expression on her face. "Please?" Mush asked. Finally Adah smiled.

"Okay. I'll go."