Race trudged back to the lodging house, face pale and hands shaking slightly with fear. The encounter with his father had shooken him up to the point where every noise that echoed through the close!to empty streets of New York at midnight scarred him. He had put on a face for Maria to try and stomp out any fear that she may have had. But in truth, during their goodbyes Race was petrified.
What had my father meant he wasn't there to do anything? What was he going to do? Oh god, oh god, oh god! Calm down, Antonio!
The mantra of questions and chastising himself for worrying about what was to come stopped when Race realized he was in front of the lodging house. Relief flooded through him at the sight of the old, beaten up, wooden door. He didn't know how long he had stoood there, staring at the door before he let himself inside to see almost of the boys had gone to bed, leaving only Jack and Crutchie.
They sat at the table. Jack drawing something that none of the boys but Crutchie would ever see. Crutchie sat reading one of the books the nuns had given them. Race just stood in the doorway, all of the emotions that he had suppressed hitting him at once. The door closed behind him, making just enough noise to be heard. Jack spun around.
"Where da hell were ya Race? Jesus Christ, ya scared da livin' shit outta us kid! Do ya even know wha time it is?!" Jack reprimanded, turning around in his seat to get a better look at Race. He gasped at what he saw.
Crutchie had also gotten a good look at Race at this point. "Oh my god Race! What happened? Your as pale as a ghost!"
"And ya hands is shakin'!"
Race's eyes were glued to a part of the floor that had been stained from one of the many Newsboy prank wars. When he did look up, he saw the concerned faces of Crutchie and Jack staring back at him.
"Why are youse cryin Racer?" He hadn't known he was crying until now. A hand went up to feel his cheek, which was indeed wet. Race broke down, not being able to keep him emotions down any longer. Sobs fell from his lips and more tears traced down his cheeks.
Crutchie was quick to react and grabbed his crutch and hobbled as fast as he could over to Race, Jack grabbed another chair and pulled it out for Race to sit in, then went to assist Crutchie by help Race walk to the table and sit in the chair. They sat down beside him, Crutchie on his right and Jack on his left.
In a hushed tone Jack broke the silence that had only held Race's sobs. "Tell us what happened, kid."
Race quieted down his crying enough so he could speak, though he was still interrupted by his own tears. Crutchie placed a comforting hand on his back, urging him to go on. "Ise had ta's walk Maria back to Medda's after we was done sellin'. W-we thought someone was followin' us so's we walked fasta ta get to Medda's. He followed us into an alley and told us to keep an eye out. He's gonna do sometin' Jack, I know 'e is!"
"Who's gonna do somethin', Race?"
"Me fadda. He found us. I don't know what he's plannin' on doin' but he's gonna do sometin', Jack. I ran away from him for a reason. And now knowin' dat he knows where I am... I'm scared"
Race let out a gut-wrenching sob. Jack enveloped him is his arms and Race cryed into his shirt. He placed a hand on the back of his head and rocked him back and forth. Crutchie still had his hand on Race's back and started rubbing slow circles and whispering comforting words.
Soon Race's sobs turned into sniffles, and then into silence. Race had fallen asleep.
"Poor kid." Crutchie murmured, softly stroking Race's hair, making the sleeping boy unknowingly lean towards the touch from Jacks embrace. "He's had a long day, ain't he, Jack?"
Jack hummed. "He's exhausted, the little bugger. Ima take 'im upstairs so's he c'n sleep. Den I'm headin' up ya da penthouse. Ya comin'?"
"Yea, in a minute. I'm gonna finish dis chapta and den I'll come up." Crutchie settled down and picked up his book where he left off and continued to read.
Jack shifted Race in his grasp so he was holding him bridal style. Race adapted to the new position by fisting his hand is Jacks shirt and nuzzling his face into Jacks shoulder. Jack walked up the stairs to the bunk room and deposited Race on his bed quietly, trying not to wake the mass of sleeping boys. Thankfully, Race's bunk was on the bottom so Jack didn't have to try and climb up the ladder with Race in his arms.
After Race was settled on his bed with his threadbare blanket and makeshift pillow (it was a mass of shirts and other articles of clothing that had too many holes in them to wear.) Jack kissed him on his forehead. "Goodnight, Racetrack" he whispered.
When Jack got up to "The Penthouse," Crutchie was already lying down, looking up at the stars. Jack settled down on his bed and closed his eyes.
"Hey Jack?"
"Yea, Crutch?"
"What're we gonna do 'bout Race's dad?" His voice was slurred with sleep, but by the time of his voice it was obvious that he had been thinking about this and it was preventing him from sleep.
"I don't know, kid. But, we'll figure sometin' out."
"A'right. Goodnight, Jack."
"Goodnight, Crutchie."
In my mind Jack calls everyone "kid." I'm back... -ish. But here's a cute little chapter for y'all. Also guess who this girl saw over February Break? He's a Newsie. Leave your guesses in the comments and I'll tell you when I next update. And if no one leaves a comment I won't tell you. (Never mind I probably will.) Well, goodbye and have a nice day!