Crutchie and Jack gave Lizzie a tour of the home at once. She felt awkward at first, being with two boys who seemed like adults compared to her, but she slowly warmed up to them.

The lodging home seemed to have one room full of beds, another with cracked sinks, tubs, and two toilets, and the "lobby" if that's what you would call it.

"So, you guys are just okay with me barging in here?" Lizzie asked, sitting on a bed across from Crutchie and Jack.

"What? We're the ones who let ya in!" Crutchie exclaimed, and Jack nodded, taking off his hat.

"Yeah, the other guys'll be excited. And if their not, you don't need ta worry. There's always at least one kid who's decidin' to hold a grudge, but hey, they're guys, what can ya do?" He said, leaning back on his hands.

Crutchie sighed and scratched his blonde hair.

"Man, is it just me or has this day been short?"

"Enough of the light talk, Crutch," Jack said, playfully hitting him in the stomach, stopping when what sounded like a stampede came up the stairs. "Hey, stick with her, Crutchie, I'll get the guys' attention."

He jumped off the bed and to the opening door. A group of dirty boys came in, all shouting and laughing at once. Lizzie stared, feeling as if she were in shock.

"HEY! GUYS! Listen up!" They still talked quietly until Jack shouted once more. "HEY, SHUT IT, GUYS! I got some excitin' news!"

"Extra, Extra, Jack Kelly pregnant with twins!" Someone said in the back and they all cackled and hit the boy, bringing more chatter up.

"Listen up, guys! Quiet it down! HEY!" They quieted down again. "God, thank you! We got a new kid! Her name's Lizzie, and you gotta be real nice to her-"

Another group of boys walked through as this was said and Lizzie felt smaller than she had before.

"Wait, hold up, HER name is LIZZIE?" A kid said, pushing past Jack to look. "Oh god, he's not lying you guys! Look, she's a girl!"

A wave of shouting began again as they all got closer to get a look at her.

"What?! We can't have a girl here!"

"Yeah we can! It don't matter!" Jack shouted.

"How old is she?"

"Ten!"

"Is she cute?"

"She's TEN! For god's sake, you guys are pathetic!" Jack exclaimed.

Lizzie's face was reddening by the second. She had tears of embarrassment in her eyes as she shrunk.

"BACK UP, GUYS! YA FREAKIN' HER OUT!" Crutchie yelled, standing up. They were quiet, and Lizzie put her face in her hands.

"I didn't think anyone could get that embarrassed," Someone said.

"I didn't think anyone's face could go that red," Another boy added.

Jack pushed his way out of the crowd and sat by Lizzie.

"Whoa, you okay?" He asked her.

She put her head up, pink still tinted in her cheeks. "Y-yeah. J-just didn't realize how m-many boys th-there was. I mean were," She chuckled nervously. "Too much attention, I guess..."

"Oh. Sorry bout that. She's shy guys, back up, back up." They backed up and Jack pulled Lizzie to her feet. She blushed again, hating making such a huge fuss over nothing. She got embarrassed easily and hated the fact dearly.

"So, this is Lizzie. Like I said, you gotta be nice to her. She's a girl but you gotta include 'er. She's a newsie now, so make her feel at home. Got it?"

They all made their sassy remarks and salutes and what not- but they did mostly agree, so that was good enough for Jack.

The boys all shifted around so that Lizzie could have the bunk below Jack and across from Crutchie. They wanted her to be with who she knew so that she could be comfortable, and she was forever grateful. She felt awkward around the boys, but not as much with Jack and Crutchie. Probably because of the fact that she met them first and she got to talk with them alone.

She lay there, listening to the snores of the boys. She herself snored loudly from what she knew, but was glad to see she wasn't the only one. Lizzie buried her head under the blanket, feeling at peace with her new family. She just hoped that they wouldn't get sick of her as soon as she grew attached to them. That had happened too many times.

But, for now, she was happy and the boys had been kind. And that's all she needed to know to sleep soundly.