2. Dutchy: Puppy Love

"Yeah, where's Dutchy?" Pie Eater insisted, as the group posed for their photo op. Specs opened his mouth to tell his story, blushing at the mention of Dutchy because, if truth be told, they were very new to the world of coupledom. If that's even what it could be called. It was twenty-three-and-a-half years of being best friends, many near-hits, but always in the right place at the wrong time. Or was it the wrong place at the right time? Specs still wasn't sure.

First there was Hull High, then Newsies, then Roundhouse. Three gigs in a row that got Specs and Dutchy into BFF realm. But then they sort of drifted a bit, with various TV episodes, Dutchy's directing gigs, Specs's band, not to mention Dutchy's marriage to a WOMAN.

Specs still remembered Dutchy's phone call that late evening a few years ago. When he told him that Miranda had moved out. Dutchy was beyond drunk, and though it had been over a year since they had gotten together, Specs dropped everything and headed to Dutchy's Hollywood apartment.

Soon as Specs had entered Dutchy's apartment (with the key that Specs kept on his keychain), Dutchy had leapt into his arms for a big hug. A little unusual for them, but sort of nice, if Specs was going to admit anything. Specs had led him to the couch, grabbed one of Dutchy's open bottles of beer, and they got involved in watching The Godfather. They must have watched it four times in a row. Specs worked hard to get caught up to Dutchy's drunkenness, and the two of them bonded over what they called "Race's family," with loud obnoxious laughter. Plastered as all get-out, Specs vaguely remembered a kiss or two or five before the two of them fell asleep on the couch together. Neither of which was mentioned after that night.

Then it was at least another year before they saw each other again. Not that they were avoiding each other. Dutchy was off doing his directing thing in remote parts of the world. Specs was doing his comedy stuff. In fact, if it wasn't for the invitation to the Newsies reunion, Specs realized that he probably still wouldn't have seen Dutchy. It was the invite that had prompted Dutchy's facetime, after all, just a couple weeks ago. And all that had happened since then.

"Hey," Specs answered his phone with a smile, the picture of the blond showing up on his phone screen.

"Did you get your letter?" Dutchy said, without any greeting.

"Letter…" The eyebrows of the black-goateed Newsie furrowed. "You'll have to be more specific than that, bro."

"From Kenny!" Dutchy looked like he was practically on fire, he was bouncing around so much. Kenny… Oh. Kenny Ortega.

"Let me check my mailbox," Specs was saying, walking through his house to the front door. There was a screech and a thud as he disappeared from the screen, then reappeared quickly. "Dumb dog got under foot."

Dutchy whimpered. "You be nice to Micki! She's a goddess!"

"Right. Well, one of these days you need to come back and get your dumb dog."

"When I get out of this lease," Dutchy whined, not explaining it, but Specs remembered that it was the lease he shared with his ex-wife.

"Dumb broad," Specs muttered.

"Yeah. You find your mail yet?"

"Yeah, hold on, I-" Specs set the phone down so that Dutchy was stuck staring at the kitchen ceiling for a few moments while Specs flipped through his letters. Finally, he leaned over the phone to see Dutchy, his black hair falling foward into his eyes as he held up an envelope proudly. "Here it is!"

"Oh, hot. By the way, I'm outside. Come let me in."

Specs shook his head. Leave it to Dutchy to just show up after a year of not seeing each other. He must have been sitting in the car in front of his house this whole time.

"It's unlocked. Just come-" Specs didn't even say 'in.' His phone went black and he heard the baby talk of his best friend.

"OOh, my sweet, adorable Micki! My beautiful girl. Mwah, mwah, mwah." Dutchy was nuzzling and cuddling his little dog when Specs found him in the entryway.

"Bro, you should've known it wouldn't have worked with Miranda when you found out she was allergic to chiuauas," Specs teased, hoping it wasn't too soon.

"You are so right," Dutchy said, leaning in for a hug, still holding Micki. Specs obliged, though it was uncharacteristic of them to be physically close.

"New tattoo?" Specs asked, running a finger down Dutchy's forearm.

Dutchy glanced down. Next to the matching "Carpe Diem" tattoo that they shared, was a sparrow exiting a cage. "Too symbolic?" he questioned, as if it wasn't too late to be asking that question.

"Looks perfect." Specs realized he was still hugging Dutchy and his now wriggling dog. Dutchy put his dog down, and before Specs knew it, Dutchy was returning the hug.

"Too long, bro," he said, letting his cheek brush Specs's cheek for the briefest of moments.

And though Specs was a 40-something year old man, he felt his stomach jolt like a teenage girl. "Dutch-" Specs started, but really wasn't sure what he wanted to say, if anything.

But Dutchy grinned at him, grasping Specs's shoulder tightly. "I know." And they were hugging each other close, Dutching nuzzling Specs this time. Much better than the dog.

"So where's Dutchy?" Blink prompted again, knocking Specs in the back of the head.

"Dutchy… Dutchy is with his dog," he explained with a wan shrug. "His dog is sick, so he's with her…. at my place."

Pie Eater grinned. "Why is his dog at your place?"

"Because I've been taking care of her for a few years while I- Well, while I waited for him to get his shit together, I guess," Specs said, as if daring them to call him whipped, because that's suddenly how he was feeling.

But Blink just grinned. "You're a sweet man. Dutchy's a lucky guy.'

And Specs smiled to himself, rubbing at his carpe diem tattoo. Yeah, they were both pretty lucky.

"Speaking of lucky guys," Crutchy interjected. "Where's Race?"

"...Probably with Spot," Morris said. Crutchy glared at the Delancey.

"Why are you even here at the Newsies reunion? You stink!" Crutchy taunted.

Morris rolled his eyes. "At least I showed up! Those bummers couldn't bother."