Any One of Us
Chapter Five
Disclaimer: Yes, you caught me. I'm keeping all the Newsies hostage under my bed and I don't plan to ever release them to the public. Mine, all mine. Really now.. I own nothing, the newsies aren't mine, I'm not making any money and I can assure you this is just for fun. Anyone you don't recognize belongs to me however, but I'm easygoing and will share! As always, please send me feedback, any feedback! But please, no flames.
I forgot to mention in my last chapter, I do not own "Lady in Red" and I'm sorry if there was any confusion. Ok, on with the story!
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Jack led the way chattering on about all the adventures we'd have as newsies and then quietly brought up Santa Fe once again.
Jack led me downstairs so I could sign the ledger for the night as I searched my dress for the non-existent pockets for the money needed. Jack explained that the first night was always free and then five cents per night after that. (Note, I don't know how much they were really charged. If anyone can correct me, please do so.) Five cents. Five whole cents. It was probably half a day's work in the days of these boys and suddenly I felt very guilty over the 6 dollars I had in my jewelry box at home.
"Kloppy, dis 'ere is Harriet. She's gonna be stayin wit us for awhile. Harriet, dis is Kloppman, he keeps us all in line."
"Not that you need it Cowboy. You're a perfect saint. How do you do Miss? Please, Please sign in and we'll get you settled." he said pushing a book over to me. I looked over the names and reached for the pen.
"You know how to write?" he asked
"Of course I do." and showed it by signing my name neatly in the book.
"Well dat's all settled, I'm gonna take her upstairs and show's her around."
"6 o'clock Cowboy." Then to me, "Goodnight sweetie. Don't let him keep you up too late."
"I won't Mr. Kloppman, good night."
"He's not bad once ya get to know 'im," Jack explained walking behind me with his hands on my shoulders guiding me up the stairs. "He's like a fadder. Tough, but fair. What was your fadder like?"
The crossroads. The point of no return. Do I tell him that my father, my real father was a wonderful man but who eventually passed away leaving my family and I alone and with nothing? It was to save us all my mother remarried, and the man is terrible. Stern to us, believes in physical punishment, and was such a contrast from my father that my mother has secretly dreamed of divorcing him for years, but has never found the willpower to go through with it. How do I tell that to Jack?
"Oh, I'll tell you later." Yes, I know it's cowardly but it wasn't the right time. Walking up the stairs in a lodging house? No.
Jack accepted this and opened a door across from what I was guessing was the boys' rooms judging from the snoring. "It's the same as ours, only you'se got the bigger bathroom. I'se guess goils take up more space."
"Now if you hadn't been nice to me, I would have smacked you for that."
He smiled. "Ooh, so we have a goil who wants to be equal huhh?"
Damn Right.
"You're darn tooting."
"I'se can do dat."
Good.
"So's um anyway, pick any bed and den I'll be back in a few minutes."
I picked a top bunk across from the window so I could look out and see the moon. As a child, whenever I couldn't sleep, I'd sit by the window and just stare at the moon for hours and try to imagine what my life would be like as I got older. I don't know what made me pick that bed, perhaps the familiarity of childhood and how much I miss. The room was emptier then I thought it would be. There was the girl I'd met earlier at the party, a 3 others. Where was everyone? They couldn't be out on the town, wouldn't Kloppman have set a curfew?
"Are you'se decent?"
No, I couldn't be. I had literally the clothes on my back. "I guess so."
"Good, 'cause I'm coming in."
"You may." and he did. "Here," he said throwing clothes at me, "I'se thought you would need these."
"That's very observant of you."
Jack pretended to look hurt and I poked him in the leg. "I was only kidding, it was a joke."'
"I know."
"Did you really know that Jack, or are you just saying you do."
"Sayin" Jack said trying not to laugh, "But I'se thought I could cover."
During all of this, and mind you without my consent, Jack had climbed up to my bunk and was now sitting against the headboard while I was off to the side with one leg curled under and one hanging off the side.
"I'se know what you're thinking."
"And what's that?"
"Why am I up here."
Yes, I was thinking it, but I wasn't going to make an issue out of it. He was doing nothing wrong.
"Well, now that you brought it up; yes I was thinking that."
"Simple answer," he paused. I want to be with you, I don't want to leave you. "You'se get tired of all dat standing."
"Makes sense."
"So's can I stay?"
"For now."
Good Lord, if my family knew I was starting to like this cocky, but yet extremely handsome, but yet again newsboy, they would throw me to the lions. I'm sure this wasn't what they had planned out for my future.
I looked at Jack who had moved down on the bed to lay down. He opened his arms and I wriggled my way into them.
Screw what my family thinks.
I still had my own mind to answer to, but I figured I'd deal with it in the morning. Right now, I was happy.
Daddy, if you could help me out here I promise I'll be good forever. If you and God could make him want me, I'd be forever grateful
Please God, make her look past the newsie image and really love me, I promise to never give anyone a hard time anymore.
Amen.
Amen.
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