I watched as Doug stepped backwards into Topper, then began staggering forward. Mush still had him by the arm and Topper grabbed onto the other. I rushed to stand in front of him.

"Doug, Doug, are you alright?" I looked up into his face, his eyes were half open and it was like he was seeing right through me. "Can you understand me, Doug?"

I saw his eyes roll towards the back of his head. He went still for a moment and then suddenly jerked forward, breaking Mush's grip on him. I reached out to catch him as he fell towards me. I quickly wrapped one arm around his waist and the other over his shoulder. His whole body was shaking, and I knew I wouldn't be able to hold his weight for much longer. Mush tried to recover his grip as I started lowering him to the floor. Topper still had a hand under the other arm and helped take some of Doug's weight. I was about halfway to the floor when he started thrashing around violently and I came down hard on my knee. I cried out in pain as I felt it crunch against the floor.

I tried to ignore the pain in my knee and pulled Doug tight against me. I was afraid to lay him on the floor with his head already injured and him shaking so bad. I got my leg out from under me and yelled to Mush to grab the pillow off the bed. Doug begin coughing and I pulled him closer as I leaned back. Something came out of his mouth, I could feel it dripping down my leg. Doug's body was jerking around, and his foot started hitting the leg of the bed. He was out of control, writhing around the floor. Jumper quickly came from his spot in the doorway and lay across Doug's legs.

Topper pinned his hips, while Mush crouched across from me dumbfounded. I could hear footsteps on the stairs. I glanced up to see Racetrack enter the room, and lurch to a stop in the doorway. "Holy Mary, mother . . ." He quickly crossed himself. Train and Kelly were right behind and I could see the shapes of a few other boys poking around to see what the commotion was about.

"Get dem outta here!" I hollered at Train. He nodded and the boys started leaving.

"Spot." I looked back up at Train, "I'm gettin' Sister Katherine." I nodded in agreement and he quickly left. I could hear him yelling and cursing at boys as he ran down stairs.

I held Doug tightly and fought to keep my face emotionless. The shaking continued, though it seemed to be coming to an end as it was less violent. Mush walked around us to talk to Jack and as soon as his back was too me I dared look up towards Topper. His expression was grim, and when I looked past him towards Jumper I could see tears in the smaller boys eyes.

When the tremors had subsided I loosened my grip on him and softly called his name, hoping he'd come too and open his eyes. After several minutes, Topper suggested we move him back to the bed. Mush, Jack, Topper and Jumper each took hold of a limb and hoisted him off my lap. I tried to stand to help them, but found I was unable to put weight on my left knee. I yelped in pain, slid myself across the floor and used the chair to pull myself up. Topper, taking charge like always, turned and told Kelly and Mush to make sure the boys were hiding all the spirits downstairs. We couldn't risk the nuns seeing that.

Jumper followed them from the room and closed the door. Topper stood guard and the end of the bed. I looked up at him before I quickly pushed myself off the chair, I tried putting a little weight on my leg, but it gave way immediately. So, I put my weight on the right leg and pivoted myself until I was sitting on the edge of the bed. I brushed the hair out of Doug's eye. The shaking had subsided, but there was some trembling in his hands. He didn't wake up but continued to move every few moments.

I hoped that Train would have the sisters here soon. I heard a knocking at the door and quickly let go of Doug's hand to hop back into the chair. Topper opened the door, Jumper entered and moved to stand next to him, handing him a piece of paper. The rest of the Manhattan Newsies filed into the room to check on Doug.

Jack spoke to Doug, trying to get a response from the sleeping boy. He turned to Topper when there was no response. "We gotta bring him to a hospital. I know it means they'll send him back to the Refuge, but we can't help him."

I sprang to my feet as fast as my knee would allow and shoved Kelly to the floor, ready to take a swing at him. Topper stepped between us, and Race grabbed me from behind and pushed me back into the chair.

"Let's wait for Sista Katherine. She will tell us what to do." Topper's voice was low and had a warning tone. What Sister Katherine said, went. You didn't question the sisters, especially her. The nuns were in charge of our lodging. They rarely came down here unless there was an emergency. We did what we had to do, but anything Sister Katherine said most of the boys did with a hint of love and adoration in their eyes.

I reached deep into my pocket and pulled out a small green satchel, I hadn't opened it in ages. I took out the delicate rosary with green beads and a picture of St. Patrick. I knew I couldn't kneel, and instead bowed my head to the edge of the bed, I held it so the end of it rested on his hand as I prayed. "Sé do bheatha, a Mhuire, atá lán de ghrásta . . . "

I felt someone come over and kneel beside me. I looked up to see Racetrack pulling his own rosary from underneath his shirt. He nodded at me and bowed his head. I continued on and soon heard him whispering in a language I did not understand.

I could hear a commotion downstairs and boys yelling, "They'se coming!"

Minutes later I heard the flustered voice of a young woman, "Clear the way, boys! Clear out the downstairs." I didn't bother looking up, I knew the voice of Sister Katherine. I could hear huffing and puffing coming in behind her. She had brought Sister Agnes, which meant we may end up getting our ears boxed for not having scrubbed the floors.

I was startled as the portly Agnes entered the room and bellowed "Out little mice, we needn't have you in the way."

I glanced up to see Sister Katherine clasp Sister Agnes's arm and with her usual cheerful disposition talk her out of her current warpath. "Surely these pious young lads can stay?" When the elder finally nodded in agreement, Katherine turned back to us, "May the Blessed Mother hear your earnest prayers for your poor friend."

Agnes then pushed past Topper as he was the last to exit the room. Race quickly moved to the side of the room while she stood before me glaring. I realized she wanted the chair I was sitting on. I turned to escape her wrath and ending up face first on the floor as my knee gave way under me. I didn't dare to look up at them, instead crawling over towards my bed in the corner.

I turned just in time to watch Sister Agnes sit down on our decrepit chair. If she hadn't been here to help my Doug, I would have wished to see it crumble under her. I shifted my gaze and caught Sister Katherine watching me sadly. She soon looked back towards the door as Train entered the room carrying a black bag, an elderly man in a black suit following them. Train came and sat on the floor between myself and Racetrack, whose head was still bowed in prayer.

I saw Sister Katherine watching us. I was terrified they would make me leave and so I quickly bowed my head.

I tried to listen to the doctor as he spoke with Sister Agnes, but the words made little sense. I couldn't see around her. But when the doctor tried moving Doug to look at the wound on his head he began jerking about and gasping in pain. I tried to get up, but Train put his arm around my shoulders and pinned me to the floor. The doctor reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle and a handkerchief while Agnes pinned Doug to the bed. As the doctor reached for Doug's head again, he quickly quieted.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes, and bit my hand trying to regain control. A few moments later when I opened my eyes I saw a black form in front of me, and looked up to Sister Katherine's face.

"Lay down, dear one, lower your trousers and let me examine your leg." I heard a gasp from Sister Agnes. "Good Sister he is a little boy, there is nothing to be to be appalled at."

I looked back at Train, ashamed. He shot me a look that said 'obey'. I looked at my dirty bed, and my rumpled clothes and then at her clean pressed frock and dainty hands. I turned red. I lay down and unbuttoned my trousers, wiggling them down until she reached over and pulled them the rest of the way off. I was horrified to have a lady see me in such a state. I shut my eyes and continued my rosary.

She moved my leg around a few times and I winced in pain. "Popped knee. Should be fine in a few days, but I will need to put it back in place." She got up and started digging through the doctor's bag and told Train to bring water. I sat up to try to see Doug again, but he was lying still now. Train brought water and some tin cups. She poured a powder into a cup and sloshed it around a bit before handing it to me to drink. Agnes turned around and scowled at me again as I quickly drank a few sips of the foul tasting water. In moments I started to feel as if I'd downed half a bottle of spirits.

She grabbed hold of my knee and I felt it crack and burn with pain. She pulled what looked to be an old sheet out of her bag and ripped a piece off, wrapping my knee tightly with it. The doctor retrieved several more bottles from his bag and Sister Katherine returned to assist him. The three of them rolled Doug on to his side and Agnes poured liquid from one of the bottles over his head wound. I heard him cry out in pain. I tried to stand up and Train came to help me. There was so much blood. Sister Agnes removed his patch from his eye and Sister Katherine began to thread a needle. When I realized what they were doing I turned around and began dry heaving. Sister Agnes shouted in aggravation, telling Sister Katherine to remove me from the room. Instead, she told me to sit. I, of course, obeyed. She handed me the tin cup to finish drinking. I quickly gagged down the rest, my head swimming. I dizzily plopped on the edge of my bed as she knelt down next to it. She beckoned Racetrack and Train over as well.

Race moved quickly over to join us, Train begrudgingly joined, removing his cap as he knelt. I heard Doug groan in pain again as Sister Katherine started. "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth . . ."