The train whistle blew, and I woke with a start, and saw (or rather heard) Jack and Race snoring. I lazily glanced out the window, and guessed we were getting closer to the Big Apple, because, well, I could just sense it. I decided to sum up the last few days to pass the time.

�What a wierd vacation. Man, I go to Santa Fe with my family, and end up on my way to New York. A month ago, I never would have guessed that I would get to meet all the newsies! It is a dream come true. But,� I had a thought. �What if, like all good dreams, this too would have to end? I would be so sad.� Then I had an even sadder thought. �What if, unlike all good dreams, this remained my life? What if I NEVER WENT HOME? Sure, at first it would be great. No school, no chores to do, no listening to my parents telling me to do stuff I didn�t wanna do, no hearing my brother whistle in my ear (that is SO annoying). And I would be with the newsies!! But I would miss so many things. Not just all my friends, but my family.�

�I miss them right now!� I whispered to myself.

*********

Jack and Race slowly stirred, and grinned sheepishly at me. �Sorry, you musta been bored outta yer mind!� Jack said, and Race shook his head.

�Naw, she don�t got no mind,� he joked, trying to make me laugh. I cracked a smile.

�You guys are such clowns!� I swatted at them, then turned to gather my things as one of the attendents told us that we would be arriving soon.

�When we get to da� Lodgin� house, I�s gonna hug each one of dose guys,� Jack said all of a sudden.

�Of course, but that�s not gonna be the first place you go, right?� I asked and he shrugged with a grin on his face.

********

Jack and I walked up some stairs to reach the Jacobs�s apartment, after hiring a cab (well, a horse and buggy) for Racetrack and insisting that he take our luggage to the lodging house.

�You�ll like the Jacobs. I do.�

�Yeah, I bet,� I teased. �Do you like any certain Jacobs more than the others?� I taunted him, but the door opened and he couldn�t slap me like he wanted to.

�Jack?!� Sarah screamed and threw herself onto him. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly and �ahem�-ed really loud. She turned to look at me and blushed. �How do you do?� she asked, curiously.

�I�m fine, and you?� She shrugged, even more confused, and glared at Jack. He stuttered, trying to introduce me, but I guess he was just too wrapped up in Sarah�s beauty to speak, so I spoke up.

�Hi, I�m ShoeGoil. I�m from California, and if it weren�t fer da likes a me, your Jacky-boy wouldn�t be hea�.�

�Oh my! What do you mean?� I grinned.

�I helped raise the train money ta get hea. Your welcome.� Jack grinned, finally getting over his shyness and socked me good.

�Shoe came back wid me to meet da odders.� Sarah grinned. I could tell she was relieved to see her beloved Jack hadn�t forgotten her, the two of them were staring into eachother�s eyes, all lovey-dovey like. I �ahem�-ed again. This time, I couldn�t break their trance, but two more people came to the door, including Les, who jumped on Jack, and hugged him tightly.

�Jack, it�s great to see you,� David said, shaking his hand, and stepping in front of Sarah. Poor girl.

�Well, Dave, Les, and uh, Sarah, do ya wanna come with us to celebrate my return?� I rolled my eyes, and cut in.

�Since SOMEBODY just lost �is manna�s and won�t introduce me, I�ll have to introduce myself to you fine gentlemen. ShoeGoil.� I shook their hands.

�I�m David, and this is Les. He�s younger.�

�Ah, no kidding. So how�s Denton?�

We all left the aparment in a hurry to go to the lodging house. I was incredibly nervous. Imagine, me, meeting the rest of the newsies!!

Read Part 12

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