�What are ya guys doin� here? I thought you were all stayin� at da lodgin� house!� Sarah sat down next to him and kissed his cheek.

�They changed their minds,� she said simply, and glanced at me with a smile.

�It was ShoeGoil. She helped us to see how it is,� Mush said, coming up next to me and put his arm around my shoulders, and I put my arm around his back. I looked up at him and smiled, and he smiled back.

�Once again, Shoe saved da day,� Race said, and put his arm around my back, and I put my arm around his shoulders. A few of the guys looked confused, so Race explained. �Hey, she brought Jacky-Boy back ta New Yawk. And got da newsies ta sell papes again. Dis goil is amazing!�

I grinned as the guys clapped and hollered for a speech.

�A speech? You guys is crazy!� We all laughed, but then I sobered. �Uh, guys. I hate to end a party like this, but I think I gotta get going.�

�Get going? Where?� Mush asked, his arm still around my shoulders.

�Home.�

�An� why wouldja wanna do something like that, huh? We�d miss ya, Cassie,� Race said, his arm still around my waist. �Don�t we mean anythin� ta ya?�

�Oh, you guys. You mean so much to me! Already I feel like I have nineteen brothers looking out for me, and a sister,� I said, looking over at Sarah. �But, it just reminds me how much I miss my REAL family. My mom, my dad, my little brother, my grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and my friends. I�ve been away from them for a month, you know.�

�Hey, we live without all that stuff. Can�t you, too?� Jack said, sadly.

�No, she should go back,� Mush said.

�Are you crazy?� Racetrack asked loudly. I turned to look at Mush and he smiled.

�No, I ain�t crazy. I just remember what it were like ta lose my family. It was one of the woist feelings in the woild.� There were nodding heads around the room as several newsies recalled losing their own family. �If Shoe has a chance ta go back ta her family, she should take it.� He looked at me and smiled. �We�ll miss you.�

�Oh, I�ll miss all of you guys so much! This has to be the greatest adventure of my life. But I�m not even sure if I will be able to get back.�

�OH, sure ya can!� Jack motioned for the waiter. �Bring her the hottest, spiciest mixture you can make.� He ran off to make it, and Jack looked at me with a smirk.

�Do you think it will work?� He shrugged. The rest of the newsies were confused out of their minds, but I just looked at them and smiled. �I better begin my goodbyes.� I walked from one newsie to the next, hugging each on of them and wishing them good luck.
�Keep on dancing, Swifty.� I hugged him and smiled.
�See you on Mad Libs, Pie Eater.� He looked at me strange, but we hugged.
�Jake, you should spike your hair.� I smiled at the look on his face and hugged him.
�Keep yelling those headlines, Snitch.� I straightened his vest with a smile and hugged him.
�Snipeshooter, lay off the cigars, okay?� He nodded his head and we hugged.
�Keep your chin up, Skittery. No more mad moods?� He agreed and I hugged him.
�Snoddy, promise me you�ll find your mother.� I hugged him and he smiled sadly with a nod of his head.
�Keep up the great spelling, Dutchy.� He grinned at the tone of my voice and we hugged.
�Specs, I never did believe that there was a three-headed baby.� We laughed and hugged.
�Crutchy, keep that happy disposition of yours.� He gave me a big grin and we hugged.
�Boots, you�ll get that corduroy suit some day.� He smiled his thanks and I hugged him.
�Les, stay out of trouble.� He nodded his head. �But have fun!� He grinned and we hugged.
�Davey, good luck becoming a reporter.� We hugged and he whispered thank you.
�Sarah, good luck with Jack. You belong together.� She smiled sweetly and we hugged.
�Kid Blink, less girls, more work, okay?� He looked at me like I was crazy. �Just kidding!� We laughed and hugged.
�Bumlets, promise me you�ll dance forever.� I touched his black hair and we hugged.
�Don�t forget to show those dimples, Itey.� He grinned shyly as I patted his cheek and we hugged.
�Do you still want that pair of new shoes, Mush?� I grinned to show I was joking, but he quickly pulled me into a hug, and I giggled and hugged him back.
�Racetrack, good luck with your future gamboling.� He smiled sadly and we hugged.
�Jack, you�re like a big brother to me. Good luck with Sarah, treat her the way she deserves.� He smiled and sniffed and we hugged tightly.

�It won�t be da same without ya. Are you sure ya hafta go home?� I nodded my head.

�Look, Yoda�s dead.� I showed him my Giga Pet. �I don�t belong here, Jack. I�ll miss you all so much!� Just then, the waiter came up and handed me a glass of something.

�Drink it up!� he said, then walked away.

�Well, I guess this is goodbye. If it works.� I looked around Tibby�s and saw all of them looking sad and dejected. I waved and slowly brought the cup up to my lips, sipping it. Gaw, it was hot! I gulped it down, and soon the room was growing blacker and blacker until I was completely unconscious.

Read Part 15

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