Chapter 7
Previously:
Daze and I decided we would walk to Tibby's together since we were both headed that way.
"So, how about you'se tell me that 'long story' you mentioned earlier," he suggested.
"Not before you tell me why you dislike me so much," I negotiated.
"Fine," he agreed.
Present:
"Well," he began "when I was in the alley, it was a few of the other newsies on the street who soaked me. Word is going around that the old foreman from the textile factory has it out for ya. He is even offering five dollars for whoever finds ya- dead or alive. They were looking for information on where you were. Of course, I told them I had neva' seen you'se before. But, I realized it was you when told me your name in the lodging house. I got mad when I found out you were the reason why I got beat up. It doesn't help my reputation as a newsie to get beat up, ya know."
I just stood there while a wave of fear took over me, but I didn't let it show. I guess that is how the Delanceys knew my name, and the reason why they attacked me.
"Did he tell you the reason why?" I asked. He shook his head no.
"I guess that leads to that 'long story' of mine," I told him, sighing.
"It was just after my ma, pop, and me had moved off of Ellis Island and into one of the tenements on the Lower East Side. My Dad got sick with Typhoid Fever, and since my mom was around him taking care of him all the time, she got it too. Unfortunately, it was too severe to recover from and they both passed away,"
"I'm sorry. It must 'ave been real hard," he commented. I shrugged.
"Most of the newsies' parents are dead. At least mine didn't abuse me. I spent a while on the street before the orphanage took me in. I found a job at the textile factory, and started working from Mr. Dunnigan. I dealt with him and his cruel punishments until one day, I had had enough. After my back lashing on him, he was about to burn me with the fire poker, so I knocked him out and ran. I needed a job that payed, so the lodging house started giving me a salary for my teaching services. That's why I'm living there now," I finished.
"Listen, I appreaciate you guys saving me an' all, but it sounds like you've gotten yourself in quite a mess. I don't know that I want to be there when something goes wrong. Thanks for the hospitality, but I'll be on my way," and with that he left.
I had a couple more blocks till I reached the diner. If I told the boys what happened, they would get all worried. They probably wouldn't let me go outside a ten foot radius from them at all times. What would they do? Soak ? They would just get thrown in the Refuge. Besides, the only people that know are Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum Delancey, and a few of the other newsies.
"What took ya so long?" Jack questioned as I made my way through Tibby's and sat down next to him.
"Long line. I guess a lot of people are getting sick," I lied.
"We should give Kate a nickname. All the newsies have one," Boots said thoughtfully, "What about Spice. That has a nice ring to it," he told me.
"Spice- I like it." Jack said, approving of the name. I thought of the reasons for why Boots would choose that nickname.
"Yeah, she adds flavor to everything. Her hair is kind of that brown color too," Mush added. I just smirked and shook my head while laughing at their antics.
"On that note, I wonder how Crutchy is doing. We should prob'ly get that medicine to him," Jack said, wrinkles appearing on his forehead. I could tell he was concerned about Crutchy's condition. He was the closest friend Jack had, and practically a brother.
Back at the lodge, Crutchy's condition had appeared to be worse than this morning. That was expected though, since he had just started showing symptoms this morning. Crutchy hesitantly took the medicine, and tried to go back to sleep.
"Hey what happened to that kid- Daze?" Race wondered.
"I saw him on my back from the pharmacy. He said he was gonna go his own way," I informed them.
"His loss," I heard Race mutter under his breath.
"You heard it Race. I win. You owe me that nickel," Specs boasted. "He didn't even last 3 days," he added at the end. Race grudgingly handed Specs the money, and sulked at losing the bet that they had apparently made earlier about how long Daze would stay at the lodge.
The younger boys were all here so I thought I should get our teaching lesson over with. Some of them protested when they found out, but they figured there was no way out of it. I just had them working on arithmetic problems out of their books today, so I pulled out my journal. I hadn't written in it for at least a week, so I thought now is a good as time as any. My latest story is about a girl who finds out her dad has gone MIA during war, so she travels halfway around the world, sneaking onto boats and various other means of transportation, trying to find him.
I always had a passion for writing; it was my outlet for this hectic world. It was my dream to become a star reporter one day. But, that was a dream I couldn't afford. I was so into my writing that I didn't even notice the boys had finished their work, and were now having a see-who-can-jump-the-farthest-off-the-bed contest. I managed to stop them before someone fell and split their head open. I told them to go downstairs and bother the older boys. When they left, I made up my mind that I was going to go visit Medda before her evening show. I needed some girl bonding time. She was the closest thing I had to a mother.
Skittery escorted me to the theatre, and told me that one of the boys would come by and pick me up in two hours. I knocked on the door marked with Medda written on it, and was enthusiastically greeted by a petite, red-haired woman.
"Oh, Kate! You've grown so much since the last time I've seen you!" She exclaimed.
"You saw me two months ago," I said exasperated, but still smiling.
"I've heard you moved in with the boys. Why don't you tell me all about it," Medda proposed in a sing-song voice.
"Actually, if you don't mind, I kinda came here to get my mind off of all that stuff," I clarified.
"Oh, I completely understand." She said, a warm smile gracing her face. We walked around the theatre just catching up on gossip from the Broadway rumor mill. I stopped when I saw the beautiful grand piano in the orchestra pit. Medda saw me staring at it.
"Do you still play? We aren't using it right now and you are more than welcome to play a couple of songs. I always enjoyed listening to you play when you were little. You looked so graceful, too," she added.
I sat down and started to play a few keys. I started off rusty, but eventually the notes came flooding back to me.
When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I...
Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I...
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Coldplay's "Fix You" (A/N Please note that the lyrics are copyright to Coldplay and I do not take ANY credit for them)
I poured my heart and soul into the song. I wrote it when I was twelve years old. It was my favorite because I could relate to it so well. I heard not one, but three people clapping at the end of it. I guess I had been playing for longer than I thought because Jack and Race were watching from the mezzanine. They walked down and over to where Medda and I were.
"Ya ready to go, Spice?" Jack asked. Medda looked confused and I told her about my new newsie name. I felt better after talking to Medda. She always lifted my spirits. I told Medda goodbye and that I would visit her again soon, and followed the boys on the short journey home.
Thanks for all the great reviews and follows! Keep em' coming! The song used in this chapter is Coldplay's "Fix You". It is one of my favorite of theirs. Of course, I give all credit to Coldplay for the song. To see the cover I based Kate's performance off, go to YouTube and type in LizzyKingMusic, and you should be able to find her beautiful cover there! For some weird reason it wouldn't let me add a hyperlink. Anyways, thanks for reading!