Jack entered the gated off area with a flourish, reaching out for a rope from atop the gate and sliding down with ease. I rolled my eyes – showoff.
He went up to the barred window where we get our papes. The dark green shutter was down. Looks like Weasel is late again! Poor sap, he always gets a hellish wake-up call from Jack.
"We'll get you next time Cowboy!" Oscar said, knocking his shoulder into Jack.
"You're as good as dead!" Morris said, passing by him into the office.
"You're late boys!" Leave it to Racetrack to crack a joke in the face of a threat.
Jack just smiled at Race's joke then turned his attention to the window. He knocked on the pane.
"Oh Mistah Weasel." Then he reached up and rang a bell that was to the right of the window.
A grumpy voice finally responded to the noise.
"Alright alright! Hold your horses, I'm comin', I'm comin'!" The shutter lifted up to reveal the unpleasant face of Mr. Weasel. His real name is Mr. Wiesel, but, he's always tryin' to weasel people out of their papes. Like if someone asks for twenty, he'll only give them nineteen. If you tell him he was wrong, he yells in your face and Morris threatens you.
Weasel was a portly man with gray hair and gray stubble. His voice was unpleasant and he always looks half-drunk. He always glares at us; he would even glare at Crutchy, who was nicer to the guy than any of us! Even Mush is rude to him!
Jack always had fun with the guy though.
"So didja miss me Weasel? Didja? Didja miss me?" I was three behind Jack, and I saw Race turn behind him to Blink and hide a laugh. Jack picked up a pape and started reading the headlines.
"I told you a million times! The name is Wiesel; Mr. Wiesel to you!"Jack just ignored him and kept reading the pape. Seeing Jack was ignoring him he decided to continue the exchange.
"How many?" he asked glaring at Jack.
"Don't rush me; I'm purusin' the merchandise Mistah Weasel." That got a laugh outta everyone who could hear.
Finally, Jack threw down fifty cents and said, "Da usual." Weasel turned to Morris.
"Hundred papes to da wise guy." Morris threw down a hundred papes. Jacked picked them up and walked to the edge of the platform and sat down to read through the headlines. Race stepped u to the window.
"Mornin' your honor. Listen, do me a favah and spot me fifty papes will ya? I got a hot tip on the fourth, won't waste ya money." He put his cigar in his mouth and struck a match on the bars.
"Is it a sure thing?" Weasel is always spotting Race papes. Sometimes Race pays him back, sometimes he doesn't. Weasel can't really do anything because he'd get in more trouble than Race if his higher ups knew he was lending out papes.
"Oh yeah," Race took a puff of his cigar. "Not like last time." Weasel looked like this was a safe bet and nodded.
"Fifty papes. Next?" Blink stepped up.
"Jus' give me fifty papes." Weasel nodded and Morris put down fifty papes. Kid did a double check and went on his way.
I let Crutchy get ahead of me. He was always doing nice things like spotting me a penny for food. Plus, he can't sell as much because of his bum leg, he can't cover as much ground. It's the least I can do to let him go ahead of me.
That put me in front of Curly and the little kid. I didn't like having my back to someone I don't know. I tensed a little.
"Heya Mistah Wiesel!" See! Crutchy calls him by his real name and Weasel still hates him! I saw a movement in the corner of my eye. I looked to see the little kid walk halfway out of line to stare at Jack. I cracked a smile; Jack was the favorite of almost all little kids who met him.
"Twenty papes for Crutchy, next." My turn.
I walked to the window.
"Hiya boys!" I took one of the papes and started going through it. Wow, these headlines are terrible! The most exciting thing is that a baby was born with two heads. Maybe I could mold that it happened because of some illness, that'll satisfy gossipmongers and pregnant women.
"I'll take seventy-five please." I put down thirty-eight cents. Morris counted them out and put them on the counter top. I counted. Seventy-three papes. Rat bastards! I looked up at Morris. He was smirking. I look at Oscar who has that smile when he thinks he won.
"Boys, either you owe me two papes or two cents." I used my firm voice, the one I use before I do something I usually regret. Morris just smiled wider.
"I don't know what you're talkin' 'bout Pitbull." Oscar just smiled and nodded in agreement with his brother. Intimidation didn't work. Maybe seduction, oh! Race is gonna wanna see this.
"Excuse me fellas." I looked back at the little kid. He was now sitting with Jack lookin' through the headlines.
"Hey, kid!" His head jerked up. He looked at me with a questioning stare. "Yeah you, come here real quick." He got up and walked over. Jack watched him and furrowed his eyebrows at me. I leaned down to whisper in his ear
"Can you do me a favor kid?" he nodded. "I need you to go to the kid you were sitting with and the boy next to him and tell them to watch me, ok?" He looked puzzled, but nodded.
He went back to Jack and Race. They turned to look at me subtly.
While I was whispering to the kid, I unbuttoned one of the top buttons. My selling partners were in their glory. This was going to be hilarious!
I leaned back up. Morris definitely noticed the change. He kept staring at it.
"Boys," My tone was simpering and Oscar moved closer o hear it. "I think you guys made a mistake, you only gave me seventy-three papes. Do you think you could give me my other two?" I looked from under my lashes and pouted my lips like I saw Medda do once. I heard snickers from behind me.
Morris looked like he'd kill his mother if I asked him. Oscar jerked out of it.
"No! You bit me you crazy bitch!" Morris snapped out of it too.
Time to use the big guns. I crossed my arms on the counter and placed my chest on top of them, giving them a good look. I also stuck my butt out so they could see that too. Race and Jack were shaking from their effort not to laugh.
"I'll do somethin' special for ya." I batted my eyes. Morris slammed his head against the bars and rested it there. His eyes were as wide as saucers. Oscar slipped two papes under the bars to me. I crooked my finger, signaling them to come closer. They did. I put my mouth as close as I could through the bars.
"Do you really think I would waste the energy on you losers?" Before they could respond, I reached my hands in and clonked their heads together. I jumped back with my papes as they lashed out with their fists.
All the newsies who were close enough to witness the spectacle were laughing. I proudly buttoned the button and sat next to Race on the steps. They looked like they wanted to kill me. I stuck my tongue out at them.
Race patted me on the back.
"Top notch Pittie, top notch!"
"Why thank you, Race!" I started looking at the rest of the headlines. I got to the story of the baby born with two heads. I held up the pape next to Race's face.
"Pittie, what are ya doin'?" Race looked at me like I finally lost my marbles. Can't lose what you never had I always say.
"I'm lookin' at the family resemblance," Race ripped the pape from my hand to see that I was looking at the two headed baby. "You didn't tell me you had a brother!"
Race narrowed his eyes at me and opened his mouth, but Weasel's voice cut him off.
"Are you accusin' me of lyin' kid?" he bellowed.
I craned my neck to see Curly getting a hard time from the friendly staff at the World Distribution Center. Poor guy, he doesn't look very assertive. He just looked confused.
"No, I just want my paper." Rat bastards need to go to school to learn how to count!
Morris put his face against the bars. "He said beat it." Quiet threat. Classy.
Jack walked over to the counter and counted the stacks of papes.
"No, it's nineteen. Its nineteen, but don' worry about it. Y'see, Morris over there can't count to twenty with his shoes on." Morris lunged. But he was behind a set of bars and therefore, was ineffective.
Everyone laughed, but Curly looked a little confused. I felt a tug on my shirt. I looked down to see Ink and Tumbler. They both had their papes and were ready to sell. I crouched down so I was looking them in the eye.
"What's up guys?" My accent was gone. I was raised in a middle class home, so the accent was acquired and very often fizzled out before I even started selling.
"Thank you for giving me your bread. Here," He took a pape from his stack. "This is for you!" I looked at him, about to tell him no, but his green eyes shone with hopefulness, I couldn't.
"I'll tell you what, I'll keep this pape and I'll use it to help you both learn how to read. How's that sound?" They nodded excitedly.
"We're gonna go sell, bye Pitbull!" I smiled as they tore down the sidewalk. I love kids.
"Heya Race, can you spot me two bits?" Race threw the money and Jack caught it with one hand. Race had two bits and he asked Weasel to spot him papes? Not the weirdest thing he's done I suppose.
"I'll take another fifty papes for my pal Davey here." Jack put his arm around Curly. Curly pushed off his hand.
"That's ok, I don't want any papes." No accent. He's from the middle class. Everyone around him grumbled. I would love for someone to just hand me free papes.
"Sure ya do, every Newsie wants more papes." Jack insisted.
"I don't!" Okay, he was obviously new at this. The more papes you had, the more you can sell the more money you bring home. That's how it works.
Racetrack voiced this. "What, are ya stupid or somethin'?" Jack confidently strode down the ramp with his papes. I moved down off the steps to wait for Skittery in the dirt area. We always sold together. Curly was following Jack.
"I don't know who you are, I don't care to, so here are your papes." Curly grabbed the papes Jack had bought him and held them out to him. His little brother came up behind him and tugged on his sleeve.
"Cowboy, they call him Cowboy!" He sounded so excited. Looks like Jack has a new fan.
Jack had a soft spot for kids. He smiled down at the kid and said "Yeah, and a lot of other things including Jack Kelly, which is what me mother called me. So what's your name kid?" I looked at Curly. He did not look happy to still be in the lot talking to this guy.
"Les. This is my brother David, he's older." That was pretty obvious.
"Oh no kiddin'. How old are you Les?" Jack was gonna use the kid to sell papes. I could see the gears in his head turning.
"Uh, near ten." I would've said he was eight.
"Oh, well, that's no good. If anyone asks, say your seven. Y'see, younger sells more papes Les, and if we're gonna be partners-" Curly, I mean David, cut him off.
"Whoa, who said anything about partners?" I had to feel for the kid, he clearly had no idea what was going on.
"Well, uh, let's see. Well, you owe me two bits, right? So, I'll consider that an investment. We'll sell together; split the profit seventy-thirty. Plus, you get the benefit of learnin' from me!" Skittery had gotten his papes and came to stand beside me. This was BS in the highest class!
And people were egging him on to take the deal! Even Crutchy!
"Hey, you're gettin' da chance of a lifetime here Davey; ya learn from Jack, ya learn from the best." Crutchy was trying to scam this kid! Everyone voiced their agreement with Crutchy. I took a step forward but Skittery put his hand on my shoulder. I looked at him and he shook his head. I sighed and continued to watch this mess.
"If he's so great then why does he need me?" OH! That struck a nerve; I can see it on Jack's face! I smiled and looked at Skittery. He gave me the "I-Told-You-So" look. Jack turned back around.
"Listen, I don' need you pal," He pulled Les into his side. "But I ain't got a cute little kid like Les here to spot for me." He took a closer look at Les. "Y'know, with this kid's puss, and my God-given talent, we could move a thousand papes a week. Not even break a sweat!" He looked at Les like a hero might look at his sidekick.
"So, whaddya say Les, ya wanna sell papes with me?" Jack gave him a half-grin.
"Yeah!" He sounded so excited! It was so cute!
"Hold it," David took a good long look at Les. "If we sell together, it has to be at least fifty-fifty." Recovering his ground, good man.
"Sixty-forty or I forget da whole ting." David sighed and stuck out his hand. Jack spit in his palm and went to grab David's hand. David jerked away quickly.
Jack furrowed his brow. "Whatsa mattah?"
"That's disgusting!" The rest of the newsies heard him and laughed.
I started walking and cut in front of Jack.
"Let me take the kid Jack!" I looked at him with puppy eyes.
"I tink we all saw how ya really sell papes Pittie." He said jokingly.
"Just for that, I'm stealing the kid."
"Oh? And how are ya gonna do dat?" I just heard a challenge! I knew the one thing that got every kid every time.
I looked at David and stopped breathing. He was so handsome.
He had a square jaw and well defined features. He had thick lashes and sparkling blue eyes. His lips were full and a light pink color that only guys seemed to have. His hair was a brown that only came from an Irish heritage. I blinked and remembered what I was going to ask.
"Could you hold my papes real quick?" If he found the request odd, he didn't show it.
I bent down to Les's level and stared for a minute. Then I tapped his shoulder and said "Tag! You're it!" Then I took off.
I heard the sound of feet chasing me. Bingo! I win! I slowed down a little so Les could catch me. He did, he tagged my back and said "You're it!"
"Whew! You're fast man! Here," I turned my back to him and squatted down. "Get on my back!" Les crawled on my back and we started walking to the rest of the newsies. I walked back up to Jack triumphantly. All the newsies were lined at the gate ready to start hawkin' the headlines. I heard Jack say, "Headlines don' sell papes, newsies sell papes." Which is true, I would've starved had I not made up headlines.
A girl in a hat and curls and a dress walked past the guys. They all took off their hats and murmured how beautiful she was. I rolled my eyes and took my papes from David with Les still on my back. Since the guys seemed to be glued to the spot, I took a deep breath and shouted, "BABY BORN WITH TWO HEADS!"
This seemed to snap everyone out of their revere and soon everyone was shouting different versions of the same headline. David told Les to get off my back. I put him down and stuck out my hand to David.
"Pitbull, or Pittie, whichever you like." He looked at my hand warily. "Don't worry, only the guys spit-shake." He then took my hand and shook it.
"I'm David." Idiedandwenttoheaven. He was so cute!
"Thank for holdin' my papes, be hard to run with them." It'shardenoughwithmysellin' partners…
"Yeah, no problem." He opened his mouth to say something else, but Jack interrupted him.
"Ya ready ta go Dave?" damn you Jack!
"Bye, Dave. Good luck on your first day!" I walked over to Skittery.
"I give him a day." Skittery said just oh so cheerfully.
"Why only a day?" I asked. Granted, the kid didn't look like he could hold his own as a street newsie. But, he also looked like he didn't have to, like he had a family that took care of him.
"He's sellin' with Jack. Hell, I'd quit if dat had happened ta me!" I laughed and we headed down to the Irish and Polish part of town.
Don't let America being a big melting pot fool you, Irish still only bought from the Irish and Polish only bought stuff from Poland. Helps me and Skittery out a lot. He takes the Polish side and I take the Irish side. We usually knock out half our pile here.
We split at the start of Central Park and headed our respectful ways. We would meet back up here once we were done.
I went down to an old Irish deli. My brother Jackson used to work there and the same guy owns the joint. He's like the grandpa I never had. We always joke he is my grandpa because both our last names are Murphy. That's not a very uncommon Irish last name, so it's not that big of a coincidence. It means a lot to him since he had to leave behind his family in Ireland and he never got married. He called me Mochailínnahéireann which means "My Irish Girl" in Gaelic.
It was true when I first met him, my hair was curly and red and I had pretty green eyes. I also went by Megan, my real name. He just thought I was the cutest thing and he always gave me some candy when I saw him. He is always my first customer of the day.
I walked into TheShepherd'sDeli.
"Mr. Murphy," I called into the store. "Mr. Murphy, I have your pape."
A snow white head popped out from behind the display of meats.
Mr. Murphy had pale skin, snow white hair and beard. His accent was thick and he was proud of it. He was broad shouldered and muscular from lifting meat all day. He had intense green eyes that always saw what was really going on and he had a kind soul. He always looked on the bright side and always tried to make others laugh.
"Ah Mo chailín na héireann," He said smiling warmly. "What are the headlines?" He always asked and yet he always bought one, regardless of the headlines.
"Well sir, it seems that a baby has been born with two heads." I told him like it was a big secret, even lowering my voice a little.
"Ya don't say," He stroked his beard. He put his hand in his pocket and fished around for a minute. He pulled out a nickel. I stared at him. I know he has a penny, and he knows I can't give him change.
"I'll just come by later with change," I told him, pocketing the nickel. He smiled knowingly.
"You do that lassie. In the mean time you should go out and sell those papes before people buy from someone else!"
I thanked him for buying a pape and went outside. I saw a woman with her children walking leisurely. Time to make a penny.
"Baby born with two heads, what it could mean for your kids!" The lady looked at me worried. She looked at her own kids and immediately pulled a penny from her apron pocket and held it put to me. I took it and handed her a pape.
I walked away quickly before she got to the part where it meant nothing for her kids. As I walked through the community, I got some extra tips. Sack of apples, here I come!
I walked back to Mr. Murphy's place to give him his change only to find that the deli had been closed for the rest of the day because the owner was sick. That sly Mick! I smiled and shook my head. The old fox outsmarted me.
I had one paper left to sell. As I walked back up towards Central Park, a guy waved me down. I walked over to him.
"Whadda da headlines taday?" I told him that the trolley strike dragged on and that a baby was born with two heads. He looked me up and down in a way that made me feel uncomfortable.
He took out a dime and took my last pape. I started to get out his change. He put his hand on my wrist to stop me.
"No money. But maybe someting else, yeah?" Oh hell no! I yanked my wrist out of his grasp and glared defiantly. He looked mad, he lunged for me. I was already half way down the street.
As I was running, my chest kept bouncing in a way that was really improper. I tried to hold it down with my arms but that just slowed me down. I could hear the guy gaining on me.
Glancing over my shoulder, I saw him getting closer and closer, at a frightening pace. With an agitated growl I messily tucked in my shirt – I seriously needed to get a wrap or padding or something – and quickened my steps.
I ran into a street near the fighting ring, and saw a red bandana flash past. Jack? I sped up, and sure enough he was running too.
David and Les weren't far behind. I followed them into a building. Jack yelled behind him, "Sleepah!" and he jumped over a limp form on the stairs. I jumped over him and just kept following Jack up to the roof. He jumped off the side. My heart stopped. David and Les came out behind me. Jack popped up behind the ledge and waved us over.
I ran and crouched behind the ledge. David and Les had just crouched down when the door opened and a voice boomed, "Sullivan! Wait 'til I get you back to the Refuge!" Sullivan? Who was Sullivan? Refuge, that had to have been Warden Snider. Yech, ugly little creature! He made Weasel look gorgeous!
We sneaked down the fire escape into an alley; only to come face to face with the guy chasing me. I pulled David and Jack in front of me to hide me. The guy looked around. He gave an angry huff and walked away.
"He gone?" I asked poking my head out from behind them.
"Yeah. Ya mind tellin' me why he was chasin' ya in da first place?" I shrugged.
"He thought juts because he gave me a big tip, he could get a little handsy." Jack exhaled sharply.
"Where'd da scabbah go?" He looked to the left and Right but the guy already left.
"Sullivan!" We turned to see the warden standing behind us.
Warden Snider was a creepy man of old age. He had snow white hair and rat face. And right now, it looked mad.
We all took off. We ran and weaved past carts and people. We ran for ten minutes straight. Then Jack finally pulled us into a backdoor entry way.
"I'm not running any further!" David said angrily. Jack shushed him and looked to the left and right looking for Snider. Then he opened the door and ushered us inside.
Inside was badly lit. I could see stairs that looked like they led somewhere. My eyes adjusted. We were backstage at the Vaudeville Theater. Oh, I get to say hi to Medda!
"I want some answers! Who was chasing us, and what is this "Refuge"?" David looked pissed. This just added to his looks in the best way possible.
"Da guy chasin', his names Warden Snider. The Refuge is a jail for kids. He was chasin' us 'cause I escaped." Les looked like someone shot a puppy in front of him.
"You were in jail?" He sounded like he was gonna cry. Jack nodded. "Why?"
"Well, I was starving, so I stole some food." I knew Jack had been in the Refuge, half the newsies have been in the refuge. The more kids there are in the Refuge, the more money the state gives. That money goes right into Snider's back pocket.
David didn't look convinced, "Oh right, food."
"Yeah food."
"David," he looked at me. Don't get lost in eyes damnit! "Every newsie has stolen food. We all need to survive." He looked confused.
"Don't you get food at the Lodging House?" I shook my head.
"Kloppman offers cheaper meals, but, we still have to pay." David looked down at his shoes. Then he turned accusing eyes on Jack.
"He called you Sullivan." That's true. Even I didn't know what that was about and I've known Jack for years.
"My name's Kelly, Jack Kelly." He looked David in the eye. "You think I'm lyin'. " It was a statement.
"Well, you do have a way of improving the truth a little." David shot back. That's what Jack always says when he lies. I think it made him feel better when he was selling papes.
"What is going on back here? Out, out, out!" A distinctive female voice. Jack and I turned around to see Medda just coming off the stage.
Medda was gorgeous; she had thick red hair that was always in tiny corkscrew curls piled on top of her head. Her eyes were a beautiful hazel color. Her lips were nice and full and she had a full figure. Thank god we were the same size! She understood my pain! Sadly, she always dresses me up like I'm a doll or something.
She was currently dressed in a purple gown that hinted at cleavage and had a cinched waist; she had a big purple fan made of feathers.
Jack walked up to her. "You wouldn't let me leave without a kiss good-bye, wouldja Medda?" Jack and Medda had a great friendship. It was nice to watch.
"Oh Kelly!" She laughed and pulled in Jack for a hug. "Where ya been kid? I miss seeing you on the balcony." Jack took Medda's hand and kissed it.
"Hangin' on ya every word."
I stepped out of the shadows where Dave and Les were still lurking.
"Hey Medda!" I smiled at her. She pulled me into a tight hug.
"Pittie!" She took a step back and looked at me. "When ya gonna let me dress you like a proper lady?"
"When I need someone to dress me for my burial, I'll have a letter sent." She laughed and patted my shoulder.
"So Medda," Jack started to steer her towards David and Les."This is David, David; this is Medda Larkson the Swedish Meadow Lark." Medda laughed at her stage name. "Medda also owns the joint."
"Velcome Gentlemen." She did that accent flawlessly. It amazed me every time. She turned and saw Les. She bent down to get a better look at Les.
"What have we here?" I smiled at Jack. I turned to David and found him staring at Medda. I ducked my head – well, that's disappointing.
Medda was tickling Les's face with the fan. "Aren't you the cutest fella that ever was?" Les started coughing like he was sick. "Are you ok?" Medda looked like she would carry him to the hospital herself.
Pausing from coughing he asked Medda in a raspy voice, "Buy me last pape lady?" Then he started coughing again.
"Oh, you are good! Aw, this kid is really- speaking as one professional to another, I'd say you've got a great future!" She brushed his head with the fan.
David looked awestruck. I nudged him with my elbow.
"You might wanna wipe the drool lover boy." I joked. He looked startled and quickly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His lovely kissable mouth. Gah! This has to stop!
"Medda, can we stay here, just until a little problem out back clears up?" Jack asked.
"Sure! Stay as long as you like." A candy vendor was passing back stage. "Toby," the vendor stopped. "Give my guests whatever they want."
Les immediately went for the candy. Medda headed on stage as she was being introduced. Jack turned to me.
"Ya gonna stay and watch?" I loved seeing Medda perform, but, I have to go meet Skittery, he was probably at Central Park by now.
"Not tonight. Next time." I said.
"Alright, I'se catch ya at da house." I nodded.
I gave a hug to Les, who was still at the candy vendor, and held out my hand to David.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He took my hand and shook it. His hand wasn't all that calloused like most of the guys. I wonder what the heck he did all day if he didn't work.
"Yeah, bye Pitbull." I wanted him to call me by my real name. I wanted to hear the way it rolled off his tongue. But, he didn't know it and I wasn't sharing that information any time soon.
I headed out the back door and into the afternoon sunlight. I started down Main Street to get to Central Park. I walked with my hands in my pockets, jingling the change. I finally reached Central Park and found Skittery sitting under a tree just watching people. Skittery loved to People Watch, I don't know why.
He turned his face up when I got to him.
"What took ya so long, ya usually here a long time 'fore me." He lit a cigarette. He took a puff then exhaled away from me. I appreciated that. I don't like when the guys smoked. I sighed, readying myself for the story.
"Some guy got handsy 'cause he gave me a big tip and thought he should get more out of the deal." Skittery sat up sharply. "Then I bit him and ran," He settled back down against the tree. "Then I ran into Jack and David, who were running from Snider. Then we ducked into Medda's and waited till everything cleared out. They stayed; I left to meet you here."
Skittery smiled around the cigarette. We have been best friends since I moved into the house two years ago. I remember. I'm pretty sure I busted his lip.
~Flashback~
"Out, you ingrate!" Yet another landlady had me by my suspenders about to toss me out. I don't see why I should have to put up with girls bullying me!
So I punched a girl who called me a whore, why doesn't she get in trouble? I stood up and brushed myself off. I turned to see every girl in the Girls Main Street Lodging House peeking out of some crevice to stare at the scene unfolding.
"Well, I'm glad to finally be out, because now, I can do this!" With that I stuck up my middle finger. All the girls were stupefied! Hmm, let that teach them a lesson! I walked for a long time then sat down on a set of stairs.
It was getting late, where was I supposed to sleep tonight? I've been kicked out of every girl lodging house from here to Midtown! Usually because the queen bee was the landlady's daughter or favorite and I never saw eye to eye with any of them.
I took off my hat and ran a hand through my shoulder length hair. I didn't want to move. I leaned against the wall and covered my eyes with my hat. It was getting cold. I fell into a half-sleep mode.
I was being shaken by a hand. I looked up to see a round face wrinkled by time and experience. He didn't look particularly scary.
"Go home girly, it's getting cold."
"I don't have one." I heaved myself up from the stairs. I dusted myself off and started towards the stairs. The old man grabbed my wrist before I even made it past the first step.
"There's a lodging house-"
"Down the road. I know, I got kicked out today. I've been kicked out of every lodging house, sir."
He looked me up and down, as if judging me of something.
"You want a bed tonight?"
"Yes."
"You okay with rooming with boys?" I'm okay rooming with hungry lions at this point.
"That's fine." He nodded and led me into a lodging house. It had a little living room to the side with a couch and rug. There were stairs that led up to the second story. The old man stopped me here.
"Let me go make sure they're decent." He went into a room that was loud and full of energy.
I heard the old man talking and some younger voices answering. It took a couple of minutes, but he finally came back out and motioned me inside.
The first thing that hit me was the smell. It smelled like boys. Not necessarily bad, just different than the girl houses.
All the guys were staring at me. The old man pointed to a bed in the corner of the room. It had a tall lanky kid lounging on top with pink underwear and pants on. I went onto the bottom bunk and turned my back to the room. I just wanted to go to sleep.
"Alright boys, lights out." All the guys shed their pants and climbed back into their bunks
I fell asleep instantly after the lights went out. There was a hand shaking me. I swatted it away and went back to sleep. I was rolled onto my back. My face was being lightly slapped.
I opened my eyes and decked whoever was slapping me in the face. The boy that slept above me last night stumbled back from my bed, holding his mouth in pain.
Skittery and I have been inseparable ever since.
We sat till it was dark out just talking. I forgot to get the apples. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
"C'mon, let's get back to the lodging house." Skittery stood up, and helped me up too. Then we headed to the lodging house.