I emerged from the bathroom and was met with the entropy that was the bunk room before bed. There were boys running around, chasing each other, some were on top bunks throwing pillows at the rest. I opened my mouth in a smile, the enthusiasm was contagious. Jack yelled above the commotion, "Okay! First round go!" and about a quarter of the boys scampered out and came running towards the bathrooms. I side-stepped quickly out of their way, still smiling at the chaos. I guess the boys went to the bathroom in "rounds" so it wasn't too crowded.
"Hey Lil' B!" I heard Specs call for me but it was hard to tell where he was through the storm of fun. I darted towards where our bunk was and found him sitting on the bed with Buttons next to him. "You know Buttons right?" I turned to meet the younger boy's eyes. They were bright and friendly but, I wasn't sure if they were blue or green. "I just realized that he was your age! He's the only other 14 year old so I thought I should properly introduce him to you!"
"Pleased to officially meet ya!" he said and I held out my hand to shake his but, he brought his hand up to this mouth and spit into it before trying to grab mine. I pulled my hand back quickly and shot a confused look at Specs who just started laughing. Buttons chuckled to himself and a couple of the other boys around us laughed with each other.
"What? That's gross! I don't wanna shake his hand if it's covered in spit!" I announced. I looked around surprised at the boys' reactions. Did they really expect me to shake his wet hand? 'Cause that is not gonna happen.
"Look B," Specs said sitting back up. "When the Newsies shake hands, each one spits on there hand and then they shake. It's a tradition!" I gave Specs my best are-you-kidding-me look and kept my hand away from Buttons'. "C'mon Penny."
"You're gonna have ta do it sooner or later." Buttons said still holding out his hand. The rest of the Newsies in the room began chanting and the "first round" came back out of the bathroom and joined them. I sighed, closed my eyes and reluctantly spat on my hand. Buttons' smirk grew and he kept his hand extended patiently. Slowly, I reached down towards his hand.
"Ewwww... I can't!" I said keeping my hand out of his.
"Oh for God's sake!" Race got up from his spot in the crowd and grabbed my wrist with one hand and Buttons' wrist in the other.
"Race!" I exclaimed, fighting his strong hold. I cringed as he thrust our hand together and Buttons laughed. Race shook our wrists in a hand-shaking motion before letting go. My hand was really wet when he finally let us go.
"Ugh, gross!" I said wiping my spit covered hand on Race's vest.
"Here ya go," I said with a giggle and bolted across the room seeing Race's face turn pink. He threw his hands up in the air and ran after me. The other Newsies started laughing and clapped their hands. A smile was plastered on my face as I swerved through the mess of newsboys. I looked back over my shoulder and saw the boys automatically hiding my path, making it harder for Race to catch up with me. I made it back around the room to my bunk and scampered up the creaky ladder to my bed. I could see Race in the crowd slowly fighting his way back to my bunk. He got to the ladder, stuck his cigar back in his mouth, smirked and began to creep up the ladder.
I was laughing and backing up towards the head of my bed. "No, no, no, stop! Stop! I'm sorry!" I said still laughing as Race made his way up slowly. By now the boys switched sides and were encouraging Race to get me back. I stopped laughing and sat up on my knees, "Wait, wait, wati! Race seriously, wait!" He had just made it to the top of the bunk and was on his hands and knees, the cigar still in his mouth.
"Truce?" I said giving him my best, innocent smile. He sat up on his knees as well and squinted his eyes at me. I smirked and put my hand up to my mouth. The boys on the floor started clapping and shouting. I looked around the room and gathered up the saliva in my mouth then spat all that I could into my hand. Race smiled and did the same before putting his hand in mine. The boys cheered again and Race took his hand and wiped down the shoulder of my night gown. I cringed but laughed too.
"Okay, okay, okay! We'er even! Ewww! Stop!" He kept wiping his hand on me and I pushed him back. He laughed and climbed back down.
"Alright, alright! C'mon guys," Jack said getting the group back. "Round Two!" He yelled and another quarter of the boys ran out towards the bathrooms. I smiled to my self and hung over the top of my bunk, my hair reaching farther towards the ground. Buttons still sat on Specs' bed.
"Nice to meet you, by the way!" I said looking at the boy upside down.
"Same here," he said and smiled. I swung myself back up-right and sat on my bunk gazing across the room.
The rest of the boys got ready for bed and Jack had everyone in their bunks just as we heard the creak of the stairs from the other side of the bedroom door. Jack looked straight with an urgency in his eyes. I automatically pulled my covers over my head and tried to sink into the mattress as much as possible. I heard the door open and the floor moaned under the weight of the visitor. An old raspy voice began talking and saying goodnight to the boys. I knew it was Mr. Kloppman but, I still couldn't help but think I was breathing too loud. He exited shortly after and I heard Crutchie's voice from under my blankets, "Ka kid, it's safe." I threw my covers off and felt the static electricity messing up my hair. "Tomorrow afta sellin' we're gonna haf ta inroduce 'Ryan' to Mr. Klopp." I nodded and settled back down in my bed, suddenly very, very exhausted.
There were multiple "goodnight"s heard around the room before a couple groggy voices saying "shuuut uppp" and "goo to beeeddd" before the room finally quieted down. I smiled one more time that day at the thought that I was already used to my new bed and quickly fell asleep.