Chapter Nine

Blink walked into the backroom and put down the money and slip from his last delivery. Molly was in the front working the counter. His jacket was off in the heat and he rolled up his sleeves. He didn't much want to put on a heavy apron, but he knew Molly would chew him out if he didn't. He hadn't spilled any wax, but after seeing Molly's scar, he knew it wasn't worth the risk.

His thoughts were heavy from the events of a few days ago. His cheeks burned at the very thought of her in his arms once more. He had kept himself intentionally distant over the past few days, and he could tell her feelings were hurt. They continued to work together, but conversation was not as lively as it had been, and they had both been lost in thoughts that neither could give voice to. He knew she wanted to say something, but he didn't know what. And he didn't know how to fix the problem that he felt he had created.

"Nicholas, could you come in here?" Molly called from the front counter.

Her voice made him jump and he looked tentatively around the corner; his full name meant there were customers. There was a young woman and her mother at the counter, the mother looking stern. She gazed at him, disapproving.

"Could you get that box marked "Stein", from the top shelf, please?" Molly smiled at him and he decided he didn't care about the old lady frowning at him.

"Yes, Miss Molly." He grabbed the box and brought it out to the counter, setting it down carefully. It was surprisingly heavy.

"Thank you." Molly opened the box and showing the two women the sample she had made. Blink backed out of the room gratefully.

Molly always made a list of what to make in the day, so he finished what she had started working on. Blink had picked up the work fast and Molly started giving him wages weeks ago. He listened to Molly and the women talking, and then he strained to hear the older woman.

"How long has that man been in your employ?" she whispered.

"Just over three months now."

"I'm concerned with the wisdom of Mr. O'Malley to hire a man of such, character, with you alone here. Were his references complete? I would be happy to recommend to your father a more suitable worker."

Blink stopped what he was doing, and his arms fell to his sides.

"Thank you, Mrs. Stein, but that won't be necessary. My father has complete confidence in Nicholas's ability. Actually, his family has been friends of ours for a long time." Molly lied on the last part.

"Excuse me, although he presents a rather rough image," she intoned.

Blink tugged at the eye patch, and started examining his torn and dirty clothes. He held up his hands and examined his dirty nails, his bruised knuckles and the scars on his hands. His face grew hot with embarrassment. A similar feeling returned to him, one that he had felt for a moment a few days ago, and he began dwelling on it once more.

He was so preoccupied that he started when the bell on the front door rang as the women left. Molly came into the back room and Blink hurried to get back to work.

"Hey, stranger." He turned to nod at Molly, but couldn't look her in the eye. Her face fell, "You heard what she said, huh?" Molly put her hand on his arm and pulled him away from his work. "Are you okay?" She looked concerned.

He shrugged, wishing Molly would leave it alone. Her brown hair was up in a bun, with just a few wisps of hair on her forehead and cheeks. She had on a spotless light summer dress and looked the image of a respectable lady. Blink hadn't compared himself to her before, but he knew, they were from two different worlds. Even if he had a bath and new clothes, the eye patch would give him away, would always make people wary of him. This realization dawned on him with sudden clarity and filled him with sadness, but he hid it with anger.

"I'm fine, I mean, she's right, ain't she? It's nothing I don't know already."

"What? How can you say that?"

"Oh come on, look at me. I'm never gonna look like a gentlemen."

"That doesn't matter-"

"Of course it does, people are gonna think I'm bad news, just 'cause of this." He pointed to his eye. "And what do you think that's gonna mean for you?"

Molly's mouth dropped open. "What are you saying?"

Blink started taking off the apron. "Nothin'. I have to go."

"Wait, don't go, let's talk about this!" Molly looked like she was about to cry.

"I have to meet the boys for the Newsies rally tonight, okay, I just stopped by to give you the money from the delivery."

"Nick, come on…"

"See ya tomorrow, Molly." Blink walked out the back door. He hated that rich old woman, hated his eye patch, and hated himself for the way he treated Molly. The thought was so firmly in his mind now, he didn't deserve Molly. What could he hope to give her someday? To even think what he had almost done with her made him disgusted with himself. He almost ruined her. He, a newsboy, with no sure future in sight, had thought he could have a girl like Molly. He was so stupid. He clenched his fists, hoping he could pick a fight with someone tonight.

Molly sat down on the bench, her heart heavy. Blink had never been bothered by the patch much before, at least not that he ever told her about. "What do you think that's gonna mean for you?" he had said. What did he mean by that? He had been acting so strangely since... She blushed when she thought about it, but she had been acting strangely as well. What had he said? That they shouldn't have gotten carried away?

It was true, though, wasn't it? She brushed against the St. Agnes medal she wore, and she was overcome with guilt. They weren't married, and shouldn't you be? She thought deeply for a moment, wishing her mother were there to give her advice. It had seemed that lately there were a lot of things she was questioning lately, but she loved Blink. Of that she was sure, and she knew he had feelings for her, or he did, at the very least. Would he really walk away from her? Did he really think he was lower than her? How could she convince him otherwise?

At the rally, Blink was in a foul mood. He began to regret coming, but he knew confining himself to the boarding house would drive him crazy. He resisted the celebration for a while, but the happiness of his friends soon overcame him, and he started to forget his problems for the moment. Medda, the red-haired beauty, was singing her heart out for them, and he couldn't help but sing along with the rest of the guys.

They were having a great time, and suddenly chaos erupted around them.

The police stormed the theater, and immediately everyone ran. Jack Kelly had a reputation, and Blink looked to Mush and Skittery, and they knew who the cops were after. They scrambled down from the balcony, running into the fray. They dodged the cops, and sought out Jack. Blink scrambled out of the seats, bursting into the madness in the lobby. He spotted Jack, and shouted his name. They ran out the front doors together, only to be surrounded by police men on horseback.

"Run Jack!" Blink yelled, throwing himself at the nearest policeman. He didn't know if Jack got away, because as he dodged the first grab from the cop, the man hefted his club and brought it down on the back of his head. He dropped to the ground, pain exploding at the back of his head, and his vision blurred for a moment before he blacked out.

He was only out for a few moments. He came to as he was hefted up by two policemen and they threw him into the back of a police carriage. A couple guys helped him up and he heard the voice of Spot as he grabbed him up to the seat beside him. "Kid Blink, how nice of you's to pay a visit."

Blink tried nodding and was immediately overcome with a spell of dizziness. He head still hurt something awful. Spot saw him sway and grabbed his shoulder to keep him from falling over. Spot teased, "Don't faint or the boys'll never let you forget it."

"A cop bashed me on the head." Blink felt the back of his head, wincing as he felt the welt. His fingers felt something wet, but it was too dark in the cab to see if it was blood or sweat.

"Eh, bastards." Spot spat on the wooden floor of the cab.

The carriage lurched and they were moving away from the theater. Blink leaned against the wall, cursing his bad luck. They were all going to be locked away, and Molly would never know where he had gone. He pictured her pained face. How could he have left her like that? How could he have been so selfish? He could at least have told her why. Yet he could see it now, she wouldn't have listened. It was all too quickly that they were all taken to a cell to spend the night. It was damp and smelled. They sat in groups around the cell, some trying to get some sleep.

Blink stayed with Spot. The group soon learned that Jack hadn't been able to escape, and was being confined somewhere else. There was a general feeling of excitement for being arrested, but morale was low among them after hearing of Jack's failed escape. Blink's mind was far from the trouble of the newsies. His mind was on Molly.

"Well," Spot attempted to lighten the mood, "this a nice little situation we got, ain't it?" He nudged Blink with his elbow, "Just wait till we get out, Molly'll give you such a hard time you'll wish you's was back in jail!" He chuckled, but examined Blink afresh when met with stony silence. He kept his voice low, "Is all not well with your mot?"

"Mot?" Blink asked.

"Girlfriend." Spot explained. "How's Molly doin'?"

Blink sighed. "Spot, can I have your advice?"

"Go on." Spot settled into the wall, his arms crossed.

"I don't know if me and Molly are gonna work out. It's just, I don't think I'm good enough for her. We, uh, I mean..." Blink gulped, would Spot strangle him if he knew what Blink and Molly had almost done?

Spot's voice was dangerously low, "Ye haven't got her in trouble, have ye?"

"No! We haven't...done anything. I mean, we may be almost did...but I thought about it, about what if, what if I did get her in trouble. I don't have a way of supporting a wife or kids! What I mean is, what future do I got? I'm in jail for chris'sakes. She deserves better than me..."

"Are ye an eejit?" Spot shook his head. Blink didn't know what "eejit" meant, but it didn't sound good. "D'ye honestly think Molly would have ye for a fella if she didn't think ye were worth it. By God! Ye don't think ye deserve her?" He scoffed, "This is America, ye make your future yerself, hasn't anyone told ye that? Listen to your guff! Ye have all ye need if you want Molly." Spot poked him roughly in the chest. "Better yet, have ye asked Molly what she wants? There's a thought for ye. She's a bitta fluff who chose ye, and ye're doin' nothing but mopin'." Spot was forgetting himself in his agitation and the slang was pouring out unchecked, but Blink could understand what he was getting at.

"You're right, Spot." Blink clenched his fist, a new determination settling over him.

"Of course I am! Jaysus, I thought ye had a better head than that. Have ye even told her ye love her?" It dawned on Blink suddenly. Spot could see the surprise in his face. Spot leaned towards him, "D'ye not even know ye're own mind, man? May be I should be tellin' Tommy to call on her again, shall I?"

Blink turned towards Spot roughly, his mind whirling. "If Tommy wants Molly, he'll have to get through me first!"

"That's the spirit!" Spot punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Ye have to fight for a girl like Molly. Ye don't give up cause ye're feeling sorry for yerself. Jaysus."