I only bought half my normal amount of the evening edition that day. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to get ready for the show. I sold them as quickly as possible and started heading back towards the lodging house when I had 5 papers left. I was able to sell the last one when I was about a block away from home.

Most of the other boys weren't back yet, so I decided this was my best chance to use the makeshift tub. I knew the cool water would also feel good after selling on a hot summer day. It was hard to operate the pump while seated in there, and I had to duck my head to get it under the faucet, but it was nice to get fully clean. I glanced around to make sure the room was empty and flipped up my patch, washing away the sweat that was always worse there. It felt good to be alone for a few minutes. It wasn't something that happened very often in a place like this.

I was excited to be going to one of Medda's shows. The gals were always so pretty and the costumes were much more revealing than what any lady wore on the streets. However, the other part of me was more excited about spending time with Kyndall. There was just something about the look in his eyes, I couldn't shake him from my mind. I'm not sure which thought did it, but as I began hearing sounds of other boys I quickly pumped more cold water over myself. I found myself hissing as cool hit warmth, but the discomfort ensured that nothing was noticeable as the others walked in where I was drying off.

I smiled at the younger boys and ran back to my bunk in just my pants. I pulled on my favorite red shirt and threw a vest on over it. When you have no money you sometimes learned to be creative and a bandana was the closest thing I owned to a tie, so I knotted it around my neck.

Several other boys began filing into the room for the evening. There were only a few of us older boys that could get away with getting into Medda's during an evening show. Tonight it would be Jack, Mush, and myself going. Racetrack was disappointed that he couldn't join us, but the last time they turned him away because he looked too young. This made me worry that Kyndall would have an issue getting in as well. The rest of us were taller and didn't get questioned about our age.

I decided to rest on my bunk while I waited for those two to finish getting ready. I half dozed off, dreaming of what Kyndall would think of the show. I felt sort of awkward going there with him. Something about the two thoughts didn't mix right in my head.

Mush showed up at my bunk a few minutes later and smacked the brim of my hat down over my face. "Heya Jack, get a look at Blink, he almost looks like a gentleman."

I shoved his face away from me and jumped out of my bed. As I headed for the door I yelled back, "I'm headin' over."

Mush and Jack were soon in step beside me as we made our way to Irving Hall. When we had rounded the corner I saw Kyndall leaning up against a wall outside of the building. He was twirling a cane and watching the people around him, he saw us and nodded a greeting when we approached. I smiled at him and Jack shook his hand.

A lot of older men were filing into the hall while we sat outside and talked. Mush and Jack both lit up cigarettes and Kyndall took the one that Jack offered him. They knew that I didn't smoke (one of those things ingrained in me as a kid). I watched as Spot lit his and took a long drag off of it. There was something about the way that he smoked that made it seem calming, and when he looked up at me he offered it. I shook my head no.

"Don't worry about Blink, I've been tryin to get him to smoke for over a year. Crazy no smokin', no drinkin', no coffee Morons." Jack muttered.

Mush broke out in laughter and slapped me in the arm with the back of his hand. "Ya hear that, Kid? He called ya a moron instead of a Mormon."

I smiled at my friend's mirth, despite it being at my expense. Spot just cocked an eyebrow at me and put out his half smoked cigarette. He pushed off from the building and placed his left hand on a cane he had in his belt loop. "We goin' in?"

Jack nodded and took one more puff of his cigarette before tossing it on the ground. The man at the door gave us trouble. He recognized the three of us Newsies from Manhattan, we came once or twice a month; but he glared down at Kyndall who was shorter than me by five inches and who he probably assumed wasn't 14 and old enough to be at the show. When he realized that he was the problem, Spot stood taller and his features hardened.

With an annoyed look the man finally let us pass, and we all laughed our way into the hall and climbed the stairs to the top level of the building. We were not allowed to sit at the tables downstairs where the men drank, so we got comfortable sitting in chairs and leaning on the edge of the balcony. Jack was determined to get a drink and climbed down a side rail before dashing behind the stage curtain. He returned a few minutes later and jumped from the rail, almost slipping on the climb back up. I broke into laughter as he fell over the side, but when he stood back up he took a swig from a glass bottle he was carrying.

Mush, Jack, and Spot passed the bottle around between them. I saw Spot glance at me as he drank. He took a few short swigs and handed it back to Jack. I looked back over the balcony as the music started playing. Three beautiful girls came out in yellow dresses and sang as they danced around the stage. Mush began cheering, but as Medda came out in her purple dress and began singing, Jack and Mush sat forward staring. I smiled; I enjoyed Medda, but always thought the dancing girls were much more attractive.

When she finished we all began to cheer, and as Jack began whistling loudly, she turned to look at our small group. She smiled and blew a kiss, waving up our way. Besides me I heard Spot mumble, "Old enough to be me grandmodda."

I held in a snicker, but when the next group of dancers came out in revealing clothing, place went silent. It was a view us boys didn't get to see outside a vaudeville show. Mush's mouth was hanging wide open, and I was surprised there wasn't drool running out the sides. Jack had a big smirk across his face. But when I looked over at Kyndall I saw him frowning and twirling his cane on its end. He glanced up at me then looked hurriedly at the stage. He furrowed his brow and looked away again, I knew I shouldn't be staring at him, but when he looked my way again he abruptly stood up and walked towards the stairs.

I followed him down and saw him step into the bathroom. When he stepped back out I was waiting for him. His look softened a bit when he reached me. "You gonna come finish watchin' the show?" I asked. He shook his head and looked away from me. "Don't like the dancin'?"

He looked up at me with a crooked half grin and said, "Nah, I prefer blondes." I started laughing and threw my arm around his shoulder. He tensed up at the touch, but I just started pulling him along with me.

"We'll why don't I wait out here with ya until the show is over and then we all go to Tibby's and get somethin' to eat?"

He shook his head no again and replied, "I gotta be getting back to Brooklyn. Topper and Train will think I got jumped and come knockin' on your guys place if I don't get back before too late."

"Let me go get Jack and Mush, we'll walk to the bridge with ya."

"It'd be better if I just get goin' now. I walk the streets alone every night, ain't no one given me trouble." He put his hat on and placed a hand on his cane. I removed my arm from his shoulders and offered my hand to shake. He responded in kind and turned to walk out of the building.

I watched him until he turned down the street. I wished he had stayed. I even wished he would decide to leave Brooklyn and come stay in Manhattan; but I knew I would see him again soon.