What a Fine Life! (Part 5)

That night, I woke up while it was still very dark out and I knew it was very late at night. I couldn't get back to sleep, even though I knew that I would be tired all the next day if I didn't. It was very quiet, with only the sounds of a bunch of guys breathing in the room. All right, I know that would probably be loud, but ignoring that fact it was very quiet.

I looked around the room. Everyone looked like they were very much asleep, and I knew I was the only one up. I sat up in bed quietly, and tried to think about what to do. I could go for a walk, but decided it could be too cold and in the dark I might get lost. I thought about getting ready for the day, and decided not to do that because I couldn't see a thing and would probably do something really stupid like totally screw up my hair and I'd have to do everything over again.

After thinking about my options, because I didn't want to go back to sleep, I decided to fix my hair and then go for a walk. You all think me crazy now, I'm sure, because those were the only two things I decided against, but they were also the only two things I could think of so I guess I had no choice. I crept across the floor quietly so that the others wouldn't wake up, and into the washroom area. I unbraided my hair, ran my hands through it as best I could, and re-braided it. I thought about washing my face, but decided the pump squeaked too much and the water that was in the basin was colder than the water would have been that came out (which was really cold, just to share).

I went over to the door and stepped out into the night. It was chilly, and I wished I'd worn my hat, but I didn't want to go back in to get it so I just started to walk. The sky was dark black, and you could see some of the stars in the sky. I decided nothing was more fun than walking alone at night. The silence was incredible. New York had always seemed like a loud place, with lots of activity, for all I could think of. People were always walking everywhere you went, and the newsies were always shouting, "extra, extra!" as loud as they could. The horses would clop down the cobblestoned streets and add their noise to the din. It wasn't deafening or unbearably loud, but it was very different from the dark, cool quiet that enveloped me now.

I wished I could more often go for walks at night, but knew that would be impossible, because I would be incessantly tired and no one buys papes from someone who isn't perky, unless they look to be truly sick, beat up... or like a girl, in my case. Still, I thought I should probably go back to the Lodging House as soon as it started to get even a little bit light out. I didn't want the boys to worry about me or anything.

Well, I mean, I did want them to worry about me, because I would feel special and loved, but I didn't want to make them worried. Never mind, I was confusing even myself. I walked down to Central Park, which was kind of a long way from the Lodging House but still, it was a nice place to go. The night had covered the grass with dew and there was no one else there, as I had suspected.

Walking across the grass, I looked up to see the sky. The moon was almost round, and shone yellow above the horizon. The stars were scattered across the sky in beautiful patterns, and everything was dark with shadows. I decided that I should go back to the Lodging House, because I had a long walk ahead of me. As I walked past the buildings, the dark alleyways and the shadowy corners almost looked menacing, and I walked a little bit faster, hoping in my hurry I wouldn't get lost.

Suddenly a tell boy appeared in my path that I'd never seen. "Hey dere, what's a pretty litta' goyl like you doin' here in da midda' of da night?" He asked in a low voice.

"I's tryin' ta get back..." I said, quietly.

"What? I can't hea' ya." He said.

"I's goin' back ta where I lives." I said, louder, knowing that I just had to get past him because I could run very fast. I tried to inconspicuously edge around him, but he noticed and turned so he was still in my way. I could tail it and run a different way back, but was afraid I'd get lost. The moon had gone down behind the horizon, and the streetlights only dimly lit the area. If I got lost I may never find my way back, although one of Jack's newsies would probably eventually find me somewhere, when they were out selling papes.

"Ain't dat nice.. why dontcha follow me a ways, I'll get ya back ta yer place." He said, growling. I flinched as he put his hand on my arm. Then I hit his hand.

"I knows a lot 'a guys. Dey could beatcha up in a second!" I said, not too loudly, but none too quietly either. And I knew that the guys would beat this guy up if I could tell them who he was. They were strong and tough, and they knew how to fight too. I contemplated yelling, but knew that anyone who heard would just think I was another one of those street rats in a fight again... even if I was a girl. I knew I had a good few more blocks between me and the Lodging House, and that no one there would be awake enough to hear me anyways.

"What's yer name, litta' goyl?" He asked, sounding sugary. I tried to turn and run around him, but he pinned my arms behind my back. "What's yer name?" I struggled to free myself but wasn't nearly as strong as him, so he held onto my arms. "Talk to me!" He yelled. I didn't say anything, knowing if he let go of me with one hand to hit me or something I'd have a better chance of getting away. "What's yer name?" He screeched, and he kicked my ankle. I nearly buckled and sat on the ground but managed not to, because he'd just pin me to the ground and that would be it.

I was no match for this guy. He was 'street-smart', tough, and a lot stronger than me. "What's yer name, dat's what I wanna know." I muttered under my breath.

"An' I wanna know yers, so's I guess we's even." He twisted my arms into an awkward position and pinned them with one hand. Then he slapped my face.

"I's got a betta' idea. Why dontcha tell me where ya lives?" I struggled and wiggled to free myself, but he only laughed and tightened his grip on my arms. I figured that I should try to kick him or something, but he had my arms pinned so tightly that he'd probably just fall down and break my arms or something in the process. That wouldn't be too great, considering what the other newsies knew about doctoring, which amounted to nothing. "So, where dya spend all yer time, litta' goyl." I refused to say a word, knowing that it wouldn't help me at all. He kicked me a couple of times, and even though I struggled I knew I could never get free from him, and then he just let go of my hands. When I tried to put them back into a normal position, pain just surged through my shoulders and arms.

My shins smarted and my face was red and puffy. I decided then never to go for a walk at night alone again. Maybe I'd stick to always being within sight of another newsie or something. He grabbed my shirt collar and pulled me up. "I'm lettin' ya go 'cause yer jus' too young an' no fun. But watch out for me." He kicked me once more for good measure and roughly shoved me off the curb. Caught off guard, I fell into the dust in the road, but it really didn't hurt me any more than I was already. Bruised and beaten, I struggled to my feet and slowly walked back to the Lodging House. I crept inside where hardly anyone was even awake. Still, a few people opened their eyes when I opened the door. I quietly went to sit down stiffly on my bed. It even hurt to move. I was really going to have to learn to fight.

"Lynn, 's dat you?" Said a voice.

"Yeah." I said, slowly.

"What's da matta?"

"Oh, some 'a da people 'round hea' jus' ain't as nice as you guys are." I moaned, practically choking on not crying.

"You don't sound too good." Said the voice.

"I's umm.. a litta' bit hoyt, nuttin' really. Maybe.. no.. yeah.."

"Jack, you 'wake?" The same person said.

"Whaaat?" Asked a sleepy voice that must have been Jack.

"Lynn's got a problem or somethin'. She got kinda beat up, but I don't know how. Maybe you wanna talk ta 'er." The boy yawned and fell back onto his bed, still alert to what was going on.

"What happened, Lynn?" Jack asked, very tiredly.

"I jus' went outside for a litta' bit, an' dis guy was hidin' somewhea' an' 'e jumped out an' kinda beat me up a litta'. But I'll be all right." I said, unconvincingly quietly and barely without crying.

"Where'd 'e hoyt ya?" He asked, still sounding half-asleep.

"Oh, kinda everywhere, on me face, me legs, me arms. I really need ta loyn ta fight, Jack. Can ya teach me sometime?" He laughed sleepily.

"Sure Lynn, whateva' you say. How badly did 'e hoytcha?"

"Umm.. I dunno, it kinda hoyts ta do anythin' at all. Maybe I'll jus' stay here taday, an' sell tamorrow again or somethin'. From now on I ain't doin' nothin' if I ain't in da sight 'a one a you guys." I said, softly as I tried to lay down on my bed.

I must have whimpered or something, despite my better intentions, because Jack said, "it hoyts for ya ta lay down?"

I whimpered, "uh huh," sounding like such a wimp. I was extremely upset with myself, mad at that kid, and really in pain. I managed to get into some sort of laying down position, but nothing was comfortable. My face couldn't touch the pillow, but my back couldn't have so much pressure on my shoulders. My knees were bruised, I was already totally stiff and the worst had yet to come, because it would be about a few hours before real stiffness set in. I whined within but kept my voice quiet. I didn't want to keep moving, but couldn't stay in one position very long before I had to move because all of me was so sore. I closed my eyes and waited for morning to come.

The next morning, I didn't know I had even fallen asleep, but even my face was so sore I didn't want to move one bit, so before I opened my eyes or moved any part of me, I just listened to the noises around me. The boys were talking about me, that I could tell.

"Why'd she go out dere in da midda' of da night?" Said a voice, and

"I dunno, but if she's as beat up as 'er face is..."

"But how could anyone do dat to such a litta' goyl, I mean, it weren't no fair fight."

"She's gotta be so sore..."

"I wanna beat dat creep's face in."

"Glad she hasn't woken up yet, 'cause ya can't feel nothin' if you ain't awake." I attempted to open my eyes, but found that I couldn't. That was interesting. Maybe I was just too tired to open them still. I said in a really low voice.

"Hi guys." They stopped talking and walked over to me.

"So you're up," said a boy.

"Yeah." I tried to say, but found that I couldn't. I nodded, and then winced from the pain in my neck and shoulders.

"Youse a real mess, goyl," said someone.

"I can't see nothin'," I murmured.

"Youse prob'ly got real beat up 'round yer eyes, dat's why ya can't open yer eyes, prob'ly." I attempted to smile, and attempted to sit up too. Without whining one bit, I managed to get into a sitting position on my bed. Boy, did I feel like a helpless wimp.

"Someone's gotta beat dat guy..." I mumbled half to myself. "Ugh... you guys're prob'ly sick 'a me bein' such a wimp. Someone's gotta teach me how ta fight. I wanna be able ta defend meself, ya know." I said, starting to be able to see a little out of my mostly-closed eyes, but really only shapes and stuff. I was so mad at myself for being such a major wimp, I would have hit myself but it would have hurt too much. A boy came over to me.

"Lynn, how's ya doin'?" He asked.

"Who're you? Sorry, but I can't see too good." I said, kind of halfheartedly laughing.

"It's Jack. Ya feelin' any betta'?" he asked me. I tilted my head up a little bit.

"Yeah, jus' a litta'. Ain't you guys runnin' a litta' late though?" I asked, thinking that I didn't want them to lose money or something because I was stupid enough to run around the city at odd-hours of the night and get beat up by some idiot.

"Nah, we ain't late, we got up a litta' oyly." Said a voice I could recognize as Race's. "Dat's good." I said with a half-smile.

"Really guys, I's gonna be all right." I said, trying to reassure them. I could picture the tense looks on their faces and didn't want them to worry about me. Even if I did look like a mess, I could live with it. I was the one who'd been stupid enough to get beat up, so I could be smart enough to live with my pain and problems without bringing the guys into it. They were really too nice, and I couldn't think of making them worry about me. "Really," I added.

I heard a few guys leave saying "Bye." and stuff, but there were still people in the Lodging House with me. I tried to figure out what I'd do all day, if I had to stay stuck alone in the Lodging House. I was not looking forward to boredom, and I knew if I could see where I was going I could maybe get to the point where maybe I could walk around with, say, Jack and he'd probably sell more papes with a beat up little girl standing there with him, who would be selling papes but was too beat up and couldn't. I figured I must have major black-eyes, and probably was not so much fun to look at. Augh. Angry and sore, I carefully attempted to grab my braids so I could re-do them. The pain in my shoulders was incredible. I decided to leave my hair alone, at least for now.

"What happened ta ya, 'eh Lynn? I mean, obviously you got pretty beat up, but d'ya wanna tell me what happened?" Someone, I think it was Jack, asked me. I thought about it.

"Umm.. yeah, sure I'll tell ya. Let me think 'a where ta start..." I said, an' turned to face where they were sitting on the back of my bed. "I got up in da midda' of da night, an' wan'ed ta go fer a walk. Yeah, I know it was stupid... but I did. So's I was walkin' along, an' den when I was goin' back ta da Lodgin' House dis guy came outta nowhea' an' asked 'what's a pretty litta' goyl like youse doin' out hea'?' Or somethin' like dat, an' I was kinda scared, obviously, so I tried ta go 'round 'im, but 'e jus' kept on laughin' at me an' gettin' in my way. Now I coulda' run de udda way, but I was 'fraid 'a gettin' lost an' dat no one would eva' find me. Dat woulda been a litta' too much fer me ta bear, I thinks." I paused a moment in thought.

"Go on..." Jack said, almost sounding bitter.

I continued, "he tried to grab me, an' told me I should go wit' 'im. But I didn't even wanna think 'bout what 'e'd do ta me if I weren't out in da midda 'a da street, so's I tried ta free meself, but I neva' did loyn how ta really fight, so he jus' held onta me like I was some kinda little thing. I's nowhea' nea' as strong as dis guy. Anyhow, 'e kept tryin' ta ask me 'bout me name an' stuff, or whea' I lived, but I wouldn't tell 'im. 'E prob'ly followed me back 'ere anyhow, but dere's nuttin' I can do 'bout dat anyhow.. anyways... I was tryin' ta fight back, but 'e could pin my arms back wit' jus' one 'a his, an' den 'e jus' kept beatin' me up! Ahh.. I didn't even feel hardly pain 'cause I was so scared you wouldn't believe. In de end, 'e toyned me 'round, let go a me arms an' said, 'I'm lettin' ya go 'cause yer young an' no fun. But watch out for me.' Those were 'is exact woyds, I won't forget 'bout it eva'. Wow. Dat was so scary."

Jack let out a low whistle. "You were lucky, Lynn." I just sat there and didn't even attempt to think of the possibilities someone like that could have done to me. Yeah, I was lucky.

"I know." I said, looking at Jack. I was sure it was him because I could very slowly ease my eyes open and look around a little bit. All I wanted to do was get over this awful mess so I could sell papes again with the boys, and live my normal newsie life again. That was a lot to ask, but it's what I wanted most of all. I also wanted the guys to be happy. Especially Jack, because he was my friend most of all.

So, that day the guys left and sold their papes. Occasionally one of them would stop into the Lodging House for a few minutes just to see how I was doing. They really were so thoughtful and nice. I spent a fairly boring day, mostly sitting on my bed, I did walk around a little bit, but mostly I sat in bed all day. I hummed songs to myself and waited for the guys to come in. When they would come I'd talk to them as long as they could stay, mostly about what they'd been doing the whole time they were out there.

I was really rather jealous, and I knew that as soon as I was close enough to better that I could walk around the city I would learn to fight. Yeah, so I was kind of skinny and a little short. Yeah, I was a girl and yeah, I wasn't very strong, but hey, I couldn't be so terrible. I still had no idea how I was going to learn to fight, but I figured if I was a lost cause on fighting, I'd learn good ways of running away, and escaping. In fact, even though that's sort of a wimpy thing to do, I could probably do that better than fighting, since I really could run very fast.

I thought about the guys, what they were probably doing and I thought about all of them in general. I thought about myself and stuff, and I thought about, well, a lot. I had a whole day to waste, and I wasn't the least bit tired, just really sore and bored. I figured that maybe the next day I would even be able to go out and sell papes with one of the guys, probably Jack. Yeah, I probably looked really rather beat up and not too pretty, but it would probably just earn me sympathy, which definitely was not a bad thing at all.

I waited around all day and by the time the guys came back I could see just fine since all day I'd had my eyes open and stuff. I still hurt if I put any pressure on most of my body, namely my shoulders, but I decided that I would try to sell papes the next day. I also wondered if there was any chance the guys knew how to braid, which I assumed they didn't, because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to braid my own hair since my shoulders were really sore.

The first guys to come back were Race and Jack. I talked to them a little bit about what they'd done during the day, and asked them if they thought I would be able to go with someone to sell papes tomarrow, even if I didn't sell any myself because I didn't know if I could, but could I go with one of them. Race said that would probably work out just fine, and Jack said I could sell with him, and he would sell my papes for me.

This led to an argument between Jack and I about how I thought he should just sell his own, because it wasn't fair for him to do all the work and me to get money. He said that I deserved it, I said why, he said because I'd been all beat up, I said that was because I was stupid and couldn't fight, he said that's because he'd never taught me, I said it was dumb of me to go outside in the first place, he said I didn't know... the argument went on for a little while, but eventually he won, because even though I'd always considered myself to be a really good arguer, Jack's many more years as a newsie had made him into an even better one, and really I had no chance to win it.

Still, anything was better than sitting around in the Lodging House for another whole day. There really isn't much at all to do in there, all alone without anyone to talk to, or anything to do.

So the next day I got up and laid in bed for a while. I was still really stiff, and my eyes were not too happy to be opened either. I sat up and looked around the room. Some other guys were up and getting ready for the day, and I shakily stood up and leaned against the post of the bed. I looked around me at the guys.

"I don't s'pose any 'a youse eva' loyned ta braid hair, did ya?" They all kind of looked at me funny. "Anyone wanna try it?" I asked. A few guys laughed, and Race looked up from his bed.

"I'll try it." I told him to try unbraiding it first, and maybe he'd kind of get the idea of what he was supposed to do. Since he couldn't unbraid it right, even, I told him to give it up and I braided that part back up and decided I didn't care if I had messy hair.

After all the guys were ready and we were going to leave Jack asked me if I wanted my hat, and I said, "Yeah!" so he picked it up and put it on my head. I walked behind Jack while we all walked to the newsstand. Jack bought a bunch of papes and we walked out to the street.

Jack was hawking headlines and selling papes faster than most newsies could, because he really was the "best" newsie. Spot was probably that way too, although it seemed like he was a little bit lazy just lying around on the dock. But whatever. I loved being a newsie and wouldn't have given it up for anything in "da woyld".

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You are nifty cool awesome person number to finish this story since 3/25/99 at 11:21 AM! Good for you!