Chapter 5: Someone to call a family

The newsies were hanging around the Horace Greeley square all afternoon. The younger ones playing with their swords while the older ones played cards betting their hard earned money from that day.

"No wonder they're always begging for money." Lynn said as she watched Race swearing for losing a hand at poker.

"You have a boyfriend?" Lynn heard someone say to her.

"Huh." She said quietly as she turned her head to her to another female newsie named Baby. When you saw her there was no guessing where she got her name, her face said it all. She said she was seventeen but look like she had the face and body of thirteen year old. It didn't help that she mostly keep her light brown hair covering most of her face. Her green eyes told of her innocence with the world and her 5'1" petite frame didn't help much either.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Baby asked again.

"O no." Lynn said. Forcing the tears not to well up in her eyes. She was glad Joshua was out of her life. Getting rid of him was the best thing she could do, that's what she had to keep telling herself. She thought she would have to believe it if she told herself that.

"Well that's ok. The best thing about living with the newsies is that you have all these great guys to look at. And maybe date, if you find the right one." Baby said with a smile. During the course of the afternoon, Lynn learned that Baby had been with the newsies for five years and recently started dating Dutchy, the blonde hair boy with glasses.

"Ya. Maybe." Lynn said but on the inside she wasn't interested in dating anyone at this time.

"Hey Lynn. I brought someone for you." Baby and Lynn and heard Jack yell. When Lynn turned around she saw it was Sarah.

"O thank god." Lynn said under breath as she got up to run over to friend. Sarah immediately gathered her in a hug, knowing she needed a friend more than ever. The newsies watched for a second with very little interest in what was happening between the two.

"Are you alright?" Sarah asked as the two pulled away from each other. Lynn looked at Jack who was only standing a couple feet away and didn't feel comfortable having Jack know more than he what he knew.

"Can we go somewhere else?" Lynn asked as she started walking towards a bench she saw next to a couple of stores. She moved swiftly through the crowd on the sidewalks with Sarah following behind her. Lynn always considered herself good at maneuvering around the crowds because of her 5'0" petite frame. She could easily find a small hole between the people that she could fit herself through. As she reached the bench she set herself down and waited for Sarah to catch up.

"What's happening Lynn?" Sarah asked as she sat down on the bench.

"I don't know Sarah." She said. It was true she didn't know how she came to be here.

"Why are living at the lodging house?" she couldn't help but feel sorry for her friend.

"My mom kicked me out." Lynn said. They both sat there for a couple of moments. Sarah knew if Lynn wanted to say something all she had to do was wait. "I was home cooking dinner when my mom came barging in from the bar complaining about something. I didn't really pay attention to her and the next thing I knew she pulled me by the hair and threw me to the ground. She was yelling that she knew what happened between Joshua and me and how dare I think about our family." Lynn took a deep breath, daring the tears to break the seal silently to herself. "She said since I can only think about myself that I had no business remaining in the family. So she kicked me out. That was just last night."

"I'm sorry Lynn." Sarah said as she put her arm around her. "But what Jack said is true. You can stay at the lodging house while you work at the shop."

"I know. And I'm glad for it." Lynn said as she looked at the people making their way down the street. "It just hurts to think, that even if my family only did consist of my mom and me, that I no longer have a family."

"Lynn. You'll always have family. You know my mom and dad think of you like their own." Sarah said.

"I know." She said thinking about the many times they welcomed her into their home.

"Hey who knows, maybe you'll run into your brother one of these days."

"Ya, who knows." Lynn said softly as she started thinking about Eric. He ran away three years ago after their father died. It was after his death her mom started changing for the worst.

"Hey Jack." Race said as he walked up to the leader. "I thought you would be out with Sarah till tonight." Putting away what money he left in his pocket.

"Ya. Well I thought someone might need a friend." Jack said as he gestured towards Sarah and Lynn. "O Race. Lynn asked us not mention anything about what happened."

"No problem Jacky-boy." Race said. "All wounds need time to heal." Race looked at Lynn knowing they both would have an unspoken bond. He couldn't help but notice the similarities between her and his sister. The way both acted strong but their eyes betraying them. Showing fear, uncertainty and weakness only a certain kind of girl could ever know.

It had been a couple of weeks since Lynn started living at the lodging house. She would get up, go to work, come back, do some more mending and go to sleep. It became a routine she knew quite well. As she sat on the roof of the lodging house she couldn't help but think what things would be like if she took a different path than the one she followed. But she couldn't come up with any answers. It was starting to get colder outside and winter was fast approaching. She knew she was going to be in trouble since she didn't have any other clothes. Lynn also knew she would have to risk breaking into her old home to get some appropriate clothes. She would just have to find a time when her mom wouldn't be at the apartment.

"Ugh, why me?" she said softly as she let her head drop into her hands.

"Is everything alright?" she heard a voice to her right. She looked over and saw Race in the little light the moon provided.

"Umm, ya." She said as she crossed her arms as he walked over and sat on the crate next to her own. It was silent for few minutes as they both thought of a way to start a conversation.

"Look-"

"Its star-" they both said at the same time looking at each other. Race was able to lock eyes with her for a moment before she turned away.

"You go." Lynn said. He waited another second before speaking.

"Look I don't know what has happened to you outside the alley and the bridge but if you ever need someone to just talk to or to listen, I'm always here." Race said. It was something he had been considering telling her for a while. He thought about what his sister would have liked during a time like this and he knew that just offering her an ear was just wanted she needed.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." Lynn said as thought about what he said.

"I mean, you don't have to tell me but I know that sometimes just having a person there you can trust is comforting." Race said. He wanted to make it clear he wasn't pushing her. But he was also curious as to what happened. He wanted to know if he was right.

"O and this coming from the guy who cheats at cards." She said turning her head to slightly to look at him.

"I don't cheat." Race stated.

"Uh huh." She said with a small chuckle.

"No but really. I'm always here." He said looking at her. Waiting for her to speak. She was silent.

"Oh, this is where you expect me to tell you huh?" she more stated than asked.

"No, you don't have to." Race said as the both laughed a little. He could see the smile fade from her face.

"Look." She started to say but looked away shaking her head. "The guy who I broke up with that night had been my boyfriend for almost two years. Joshua was my first kiss, first date, first boyfriend. We practically we fell in love within the first two months. Everyone expected us to get married. We both did too. We never spoke about it outright but we both always implied it when talking about the future. My mother was beyond overjoyed. He wasn't extremely rich but his family did well where they didn't have to worry. And that's why his parents didn't mind us dating and a possible future, considering his mom was from a lower class." She looked down at her hands as she paused.

"But after the first eight months he started to change from the sweet, caring guy I knew to self-involved upper class boy. He had new friends and I always tried to tell him that they were bad influences on him but he didn't listen. He would just spend more time with them." She stopped and turned her face even farther away from him to subtly wipe a tear from her face. And she turned back to him.

"That's as much as I'm willing to tell you up front. If anyone else asked I would have no problem telling them that. I don't want to reject your offer because you offered me friendship not many people get in this city. But I'll always weary of someone even if I've know them for awhile." Race looked at her and tried to read her eyes. He could tell she was trying to put up a wall that no one could get over so everything would seem fine. But she had gone through so much pain that it was waiting to come out into the open.

"Its fine Lynn." Race said. "Newsies aren't all that trusting of new people either. Even if they met them a while ago."

"Well it seems we are both in a non trusting place." Lynn said as the both laughed a little. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"I won't tell anyone what you said and will say later on." Race said immediately.

"O. Well besides that." Lynn said as she started twisting her hands in one other.

"Alright, shoot." He said.

"Well it's getting colder and I've been fine with what I'm wearing since I came here but soon it's not going to be enough. Can you help me or know someone who could help me break into my home and get the rest of my things?"

"Ya, of course. Jack and me can help you." He said.

"O thank you. It would mean a lot. The only problem is making sure my mom isn't there and the other neighbors don't see me." She said excited at the thought of having another shirt and skirt to wear. She was able to wash her current pair a couple of times at night but it still didn't feel clean enough to wear.

"Ya we can talk to Jack tomorrow about a plan and get your stuff." He said and he pulled a cigar out of his vest pocket.

"Thanks." Lynn said as she stood. "I think I'm going to head in. It's getting colder out here." She started walking to the fire escape. "Good night Race. O and thanks." She gave him a small smile and headed down the steps.

"Good night." He said pretty sure she didn't hear it. He rethought everything she had told him. He was trying to figure out what could have possibly influenced Joshua to harm a girl like her, especially if they were in love. Race sat up there for a few more moments, thinking of nothing in particular. "Sorry I was never there for you Annie." He said more to himself. And with that he headed back downstairs and called it a night.