"Red." A whisper penetrated her slumber. "Red!" The whisper became more insistent. "Dang it Red git up!"
Red opened one eye sleepily. In the several weeks since she'd come back, none had yet ventured to wake her up. "Whaa?"
"It's called gettin' up an' gettin' yer butt outta bed 'fore I does it fo' ya, goil!"
Red turned onto her stomach and buried her face in the pillow, infuriating the blond standing next to her bed with his arms crossed. He let out an annoyed sigh and reached to pick her up.
Red's eyes popped open when he started moving. "Put me down Blink! I'm up! I'm up!"
"Ya know, I ain't so shoah o' dat." He walked into the boy's dorm, the bundle in his arms fighting the whole way. "Hey, who wants ta give Red some tickle torture!"
At this a fist came up from the bundle and bloodied his nose. Soon Blink was the one partially lying on the ground and Red was standing on the floor. Her hair was disheveled, her fists up and ready and a look in her eyes that said, 'touch me an' you don't even wanna think about what's gonna happen.' Her borrowed nightshirt from Skittery hung below her knees as she slowly backed out of the room and, grabbing her tattered blanket, dashed up the stairs madder than a hornet. Newsies around the room burst out in laughter and helped Blink up.
In a few minutes, she came back down, fully dressed, and took the rag Blink was holding to his nose. "It'll stop in a little bit. Pinch heah," and she pinched him at the bridge of his nose. He winced. "Hey, do ya wanna get betta 'r not?" He reluctantly pinched his nose.
"Good." She turned around and headed out the door, Blink following close behind.
- - - - - - - -
"Fifty papes, if ye would be so kind." Red slapped her money down. Blink glanced at her.
"Hey, ya usually take more dan dat."
She shrugged. "Hey, evry newsie has 'is off days. I jist decided ta 'ave mine taday."
Blink dubiously shot narrowed eyes to her. But she didn't acknowledge his glare and headed off to her selling spot. Blink unwillingly went the other direction, to Strawberry Fields.
- - - - - - - -
A small figure stumbled blindly toward the door of the Lodging House. Kloppman glanced up to the figure as it limped into the house. "Y'ok, Red?"
She lifted blood-shot eyes to him. "Yeah. I'm fine. Jist a little tired, dat's awl. Hard day."
"Need any help?"
"Nah, I got it. I don't t'ink I'll sell da afternoon editions."
Kloppman nodded to show he heard and went back to reading his newspaper.