Carrying the Banner (Part 5)

It was still very early when they got to the train station, but there was a train about ready to depart. Some sort of very early westbound train, and Pokey knew he had to get on it as soon as he could. Of course, no one wanted to do anything there. All three of them really wouldn't admit that what was happening was real. They walked around the train slowly, and finally Pokey decided that he'd jump on in this car. He put the small amount of things he'd been carrying in the train, and looked at Flash and Lynn, who were just watching him sadly. Pokey wanted to kick himself. How could he just leave these people? How could he leave his best friend forever, Flash, or his new friend Lynn? Just... up and leave them here? It was stupid, just plain stupid of him. But he knew he had no choice in the matter, and finally he walked over to Flash and gave him a hug.

"I's really gonna miss ya, buddy." Pokey said, "you'se been my best friend foreva', an' I don't know how I's gonna leave ya like dis... but I'll come back, I promise." He turned to Lynn and looked at her. She stepped forward and gave him a hug.

"I's gonna miss ya Pokey, an' we's all gonna miss ya. Every last guy at da Lodgin' House, an' me. An' when Clara gets back, she's gonna miss makin' fun 'a ya name..." Lynn smiled slightly, "but seriously, we realize ya can't do nothin' else. So I's jus' gonna say good luck to ya, an' I hope ya have betta' luck wit' ya life whea'eva' you'se goin'... an' ya betta' come back. An' ya betta' write to us, or we's gonna think ya dead or sick or hoyt or somethin'... an' den we'll cry again." She stopped and wiped her eyes, "I can't believe I's cryin' now..." Pokey smiled.

"Now I gotta get on dis train, or it jus' might leave wit'out me... I's real sorry I gotta leave like dis..." Pokey said, looking at them, "but I's comin' back. You can bet on it. An' I's gonna come straight to da Lodgin' House an' find da two 'a youse, so dat no one's gotta worry 'bout me." He climbed up into the train and looked at his friends. They were upset, Flash more than Lynn, who he supposed understood his position a little more. Maybe she'd done the same when she was twelve... no, that was crazy. Pokey stood in the doorway for a second. "Flash... don't spend a lot 'a time missin' me, 'cause I's gonna be back. I promised, rememba'? An' I'd neva' break a promise to ya." He ducked into the corner of the car and hid himself in the shadows. Once the train was moving, he'd never be found. And if he were he would never be returned to New York, because they wouldn't guess that was where he was from.

Flash just stared at the train. "Can we leave now?" He asked softly, tears in his eyes again.

"I s'pose, if ya want," Lynn said, looking at him questioningly.

"I don't know if I wanna. I don't know what I want at all..." Flash murmured, "I know 'e had ta leave, but... why'd 'e do it dis way? An' why couldn't 'e take me?"

"'E wan'ed us, if no one else, ta know whea' 'e'd gone, an' dat 'e was all right." Lynn explained, "Pokey didn't wanna put ya through any more 'a dis stuff by takin' ya wit' 'im."

"Let's get outta hea', now," Flash said, and started to walk away from the train station. Lynn followed him. He started crying again when he turned around and looked at her. "I jus' don't see how he can leave me like dis, wit'out anyone..." Lynn did not like the way he kept talking about being left alone, and without any friends.

"Flash, ya gotta realize dat 'e wouldn't leave ya alone, wit'out anyone. Pokey wouldn't do dat to ya. You'se got us, da newsies... we ain't nothin'. We ain't Pokey, ya best friend, but we still think you'se a great kid, an' we don't want 'cha all upset like dis. C'mon, stop cryin' now. Believe me, everythin's gonna be jus' fine." Lynn said, ruffling his hair with her hand. It was still raining, but Flash, who was apparently afraid of storms, hardly noticed at all. They didn't go into the Lodging House, but instead went straight to Newspaper Row, where they each bought a couple of newspapers. Even though there was no article about it in the newspaper, their headline of choice to shout was, "Fugitive teenager skips the country!" Hey, who ever said you couldn't improve the truth a little?

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You are person number to actually finish reading this piece of literature since I got around to putting a counter on it...that being 3/25/99 at 11:02 AM.