Saturday came like a tsunami that no one could have ever predicted. In the dark of the morning, before the sun had thought about touching the city, I flew back to my home in Little Italy. I quickly awoke with Sal and Francesca and told them my dilemma. Umberto's employment was not what he said it was, and now it put my entire plan and existence in danger. What would happen if the boys found out that Prize wasn't actually a boy?
We brainstormed and finally came to a conclusion. I tried to calm myself as Sal walked down to the shop to meet Umberto. I hid in my room, like at any moment he was going to burst in and call me a liar. Francesca saw my worries written upon my face like ink, so she suggested I bathe, which I did. I wasn't relaxed even in the tub. My hands were shaking and I practically flew from the bathroom when Sal returned.
"Well?" I said, my clothes thrown on hastily.
"It's okay," Sal said. "It's going to be okay."
"What did you tell him?" I demanded while wringing my hands.
"I walked down there, and he showed up on time. He greeted me and I greeted him, and then he looked at me like he wanted to know why you weren't outside. So I shook my head, and made my eyes sad. 'Umberto,' I said. 'The police, they came, and they took her away. She came her illegally and she was sent back to the old country. She got on a ship two days ago, but she's in good hands. She's staying with Francesca's great aunt.' Kid looked heartbroken I tell you, but I think he believed the whole thing. Now you just gotta stay clear of him until the strike business is over. If things get better, maybe after the baby, you could do something else."
I shook my head violently. "I can't just do something else, that's my life now. Those are my friends and I can't just go do something else. My whole life has changed so much, I can't leave them too."
"Darling," Francesca murmured. "Don't worry so much, it's bad for you. Umberto is taken care of, and now you just have to get through the next couple of weeks. It's going to be okay."
I hugged her as a few tears escaped. I was just so worried about everything- about Umberto, about Owl, about Crutchy, about the strike, about the boys, about my life in the future, about why the hell was I even here… But, I couldn't let myself get eaten up by the doubt. I was Prizefighter now, and I was brave and I was a warrior. It was time to go back to my rightful position.
After a few hours, I said my goodbyes and wrapped up a few cookies for Owl. I walked through the streets with a new kind of paranoia. I was too many different people.
I walked into the Lodging House and found Owl perched on Klopp's desk while some boys were painting strike signs. I picked him up and carried him upstairs. He was snuggled in my bed next to me, eating a cookie ravenously when Jack came up to me and grabbed my shirt.
"Where the fuck were ya?" Jack yelled. "Where the fuck were ya today?"
"Jack, what the fuck?" I spit back at him, trying to get away.
"Jack," Mush came running up. "Chill out okay? Prize isn't a scab."
"How do I know dat, Mush, huh? How do I know that this kid comes in, and den all the sudden the strike starts? Where were ya yesterday Prize? When they took Crutchy, huh?"
"Fuck you," I shouted, pushing Jack back with a force that surprised me. Mush grabbed Jack's shoulders to hold him back. People were starting to stare. "I was there with the rest of em, Cowboy, all powerful and mighty leader. I took the younger ones home because I didn't want a five year old to get his fucking face pushed in, okay? Some leader you are, looking after your troops, huh? I took care of them when you couldn't take care of your own."
"Yeah, Prize? Really? Because that's a fucking very likely story. Who can prove that, huh? And where were you today? Meeting wit Pulitzer personally?"
"Seriously, you're such an asshole! I left this morning because I made friends wit a baker, and I wanted to get food for the little ones, okay? They're starving and I'm not gonna let them die, Jack. No one is looking out for them."
"You need to look out for your fucking self," Jack yelled before punching me in the mouth. I saw red, and the next thing I knew I was throwing punches and landed one right in Jack's stomach. Bumlets flew in suddenly, threw me over his shoulder and pushed Jack back.
"Stop!" He bellowed. "Are you two fuckin' nuts? We've got a strike going on, and you two are gonna accuse each other of treason? What is this, a nut house?"
"Jack started it!" I screamed. Jack rolled his eyes at me, and I tasted blood.
"You were suspicious," Jack said, glaring. "You are suspicious."
I was surprised my hat had stayed on. Had it not, I would have really been suspicious. Bumlets let me down, and a frightened Owl wrapped his arms around my leg, whimpering.
"Are you gonna apologize or am I gonna have to fight Spot Conlon for a bed in Brooklyn?" I said, completely serious. Jack cracked a ghost of a smile.
"Sorry, kid." He said before sauntering off. Bumlets glared at me, disapprovingly.
"You. Outside. Now." He said, sounding like my fifth grade teacher. I bowed my head and followed. Owl stayed on my bed, convinced that I was okay, and continued to eat his cookies with a few of the younger boys.
I climbed onto the fire escape and stretched my arms into the sky.
"Are you insane?" Bumlets spat. I shook my head. "You can't go back to Little Italy right now. Not only is the strike going on, but now the Mafia might be getting involved with Pulitzer. You gotta keep your head down and out of the neighborhood unless you want Sal and Francesca's heads on sticks. Do you understand?"
I nodded, but I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. The fight between Jack and I and the pressure of being so many identities and now the threat of the mafia was too much.
Bumlets hugged me fiercely and I began to cry. I held on to him as I let the tears fall. After a few minutes he let go and put his hands on my shoulders.
"Listen, Enzo, I know there are plenty of things you aren't telling me. That's fine. But you need to stay safe during this. I don't know what I'd do if you got hurt- I don't know who would look after the little ones like you do, or put leaders in their places like you do. I need you to stay safe, okay? Even if your secrets and your past seem to get in the way, promise me you'll stay safe?"
I nodded, but I knew there was no guarantee in the motion. This was a dangerous world, but I would be more careful now.
"Wanna go inside?" Bumlets asked a few moments later. I shook my head and he climbed inside. I sat for a few quiet moments, looking into the skyline. Something had to give. Something had to.