The next morning was cold and dreary, with a light drizzle pattering on the sidewalk as the newsies stood in line at the distribution center for their papers. A smaller body hung around the end of the line. It meekly bought its papers, then faster than you could say jackrabbit it had stolen Jack's hat and made off around the corner.
A gaggle of newsies streamed after it at Jack's angry call, he leading the chase. As they burst into the square, it was empty of the strange body. Jack stood scratching his head, until he noticed his black cowboy hat decoratively placed on Greely's head. He shook his head, curiously heading there to grab his hat. He walked around the base to Greely's back, and there stood Red, pleased as peach cobbler. A smile grew on her face as she retrieved the rain-saturated hat and jumped off the pedestal to hand it to Jack.
He glared at her and jerked the hat on his head. "Why you—"
"What?" she asked coyly. "Ya ain't gonna welcome me 'ome?"
"I'm gonna—" and he grabbed for her. She quickly moved out of his grasp and ran around the pedestal, gripping her hat to her head.
What she met a small group a newsies, all looking very angry. She pulled the hat down over her eyes and backed up to the base of the statue as the boys circled around her. Boots reached her first.
"You mess wit Jack, you mess wit us."
She let a small smirk onto her face. "I t'ink I shoul' git some credit fer dat phrase, Boots," she whispered loud enough for him to hear.
Surprise flew from his face like sparks. He slowly backed up, eventually swallowed in the advancing circle.
Skittery reached her next. "What didja t'ink you was doin', kid?" he snarled.
"I dunno, Skitts. Tryin' ta oin a dime an' survive," she quipped.
Skittery heart leaped into his throat. He had never let anyone else read the poem Red had given him.
Boots found him behind the circle of newsies. "Was that—?"
Skittery nodded. "Uh huh."
"Why's she bein' so secretive?"
Skittery shrugged. "She's always liked playin' practical jokes."
"I ain't seen 'er since da night b'fore she disappeared!"
A stunned stance had come over the newsies. All froze in their places, staring at the girl backed up against the statue. Boots and Skittery pushed through the small ring to see Red's hat lying on the ground, a small bruise on her cheekbone and an insane grin on her face. Jack had just come around the statue.
"What, are ya crazy! Don' kill somebody o'er a hat!"
His angered voice broke through the shocked silence of the newsies. Blink walked up with his papers he'd gotten quicker than usual. He pushed his way to Red and picked up her hat.
"Thanks fo' da divoision. Let's go."
Red obediently trotted after him, a small smile flashed back to the newsies remaining as she raced to catch up with Blink.
Blink turned on her as soon as they reached Strawberry Fields. "What was ya tryin' ta do, git yerself kilt?" Rain dripped onto the brim of his cap as he leaned in toward her.
She shrugged, still with that crazy grin on her face. "Maybe someday I'll git dis t'ing roight."
He stopped. Clenching his fists, facing away from her, he asked, "Did…didja really mean what ya wrote dere?"
She turned him around. Her crazy smile was gone. An innocent look was on her face. "I don' write anyt'in' I don' mean."
"Den why—"
"Why refuse? Cuz I had ta leave, Blink! D'ya t'ink I was tryin' ta cut me heart out?" She paced, gesturing with her hands.
"Didja know you stole mine?"
Red turned to him, hurt in her eyes as he exacted each word from the depth of his anger.
"Ya took it wit ya to whereva-in-hell-if-I-cares an' ya cut it inta pieces. I been livin' wit emptiness fer so long; I was jist gittin' used ta it…den ya had ta go 'n ruin it by comin' back." Anger burned in his eyes as he leaned toward her.
"Go back ta hell, Red." He started away, leaving a small stack of papers by Red's feet. Her voice stopped him.
"Funny." She let out a small, harsh laugh. "They called it Paradise."
After a long moment, he turned around. She was gone.
A lone paper sat sodden on the ground.