* * *
Part 4
“I can’t believe I’m getting married!” Twilight exclaimed the eighteenth time that day.
“It’s wonderful.” Seven muttered. “You two are gonna be so happy.”
“Thank you. I actually thought he was gonna break up with me! I’m such a fool.”
“Aw, quit rubbing it in!” Goosey said, her lower lip protruding. “You got the proposal and I didn’t. I wanna get married too!”
“Silly Goose! You’re too young.”
“I don’t care, I still wanna marry Itey!”
Seven chuckled to herself and flopped onto her back. She had to agree with Goosey, she wanted to marry too. But ever since she had told Bumlets that she loved him, he’d been acting peculiar. And why couldn’t he come out and say that he loved her too? He always said, “you too.” This answer wasn’t convincing enough.
“Have you and Specs set a date yet?” Aki wondered.
“We’re thinking about April. We wanna get married in the springtime.”
“I’d love a spring wedding.” Snicker said dreamily. “I’d like one outdoors, with a clear blue sky and no clouds at all.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Psyche agreed. “If Mush and me get married, I’d want an outdoor wedding too.”
“Aw, if Itey asked me to marry him, I’d make us run off and do it as soon as possible!” Goosey stated as a matter-of-a-fact.
“I’m not sure if I’d do that with Snoddy,” Books said, “but I think it’s romantic.”
“Oh, definitely!” Cyanne agreed. “Running off and getting married is always romantic.” She sighed. “Maybe Dutchy an me will do that.”
All this talk about marriage made Seven want to leave the room. Yes, she wanted to marry, but did Bumlets feel the same way? What if he wanted to end their relationship? Some time after their relationship began, she was almost convinced he was the right man for her.
If Twilight hadn’t been bombarded by all of the newsgirls, Seven would have pulled her aside for advice. Perhaps if things settled down a bit, they could talk. And sure enough, five minutes later, most of the girls left to join their boys. Twilight was still here.
“Hey, Twi.” She called.
“Yeah?”
“Can I talk to you in private?”
“Of course!”
She walked over to Seven’s bunk and crossed her arms on the side. Seven sat up, then climbed down and sat on the bunk below hers. Twilight seated herself next to her.
“I don’t think I told you this,” she said, “but about three weeks ago, I told Bumlets that I loved him.”
“Ah.” Twilight nodded. “What did he say?”
“He said, ‘you too.’”
“He didn’t say that he loved you back?”
“No.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She hugged her quickly. “Are you okay with that?”
“I think so. I probably just told him at the wrong time. But…ever since I did tell him…he’s been acting weird. I don’t know why, he just is. He doesn’t kiss me as much as he used to, and we don’t spend as much time with each other as we did.”
“Specs did the same to me before this morning.” She offered. “Maybe he’s trying to prepare you for a proposal.”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Something’s bothering him. I don’t know what. But I want to know. I want to help him out with whatever it is.”
“Don’t try too hard. Why don’t you just go downstairs and ask how he’s doing?”
“I probably should. Thanks, Twilight.”
“Anytime.”
* * *
Bumlets was exhausted and burned out. He had been out all afternoon, walking all over Manhattan, trying to sort out his warring thoughts. He wanted to marry Seven, but Mary always made him think twice about that. Could he marry a girl knowing that she would not receive the best from him?
Soaked in sweat, he removed his shirt and the undershirt beneath. He went to the washroom and splashed his face with cold water, then grabbed a cloth, dampened it and cleaned the sweat from his body. He hadn’t bathed in days, and his quick wash hadn’t removed the salty stench from his skin. He decided to wait till tomorrow.
He returned to his bunk and began to untie his shoes. Once removed, the door opened, but he did not acknowledge who was there. As he was ready to hop into bed, a voice floated from behind him.
“Bumlets.”
Instantly, he froze. It was Seven’s voice that he had heard. He turned around and blushed furiously, embarrassed by the way he appeared before her. Stripped to the waist and eyes dull, he hadn’t been this way before a girl since Mary. He wrapped his arms around himself, hoping to look decent before her.
“Seven.” He said, pushing all surprise from his voice. “What’re you doing here?”
“I came to see you.” She sized him up quickly. “Why are you holding yourself like that?”
“I’m cold.”
“Then why are you sweating?”
He shrugged. “Alright. I don’t wanna seem indecent, that’s all.”
“You’re not indecent. It’s not like I’ve never seen a guy without his shirt before.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize, it’s okay. But I came here because I need to talk to you. Alone, if you don’t mind.”
His blood raced energetically, sending mixed messages to his brain. He forced himself to nod to her.
“Okay.”
She turned and he followed her. She led him outside of the bunkroom to the hallway, which was empty for now. They would need to speak lowly so not to be heard.
“Bumlets,” she began, “is everything okay with you?”
“Everythin’s fine.” he forced. “Why?”
“You’ve been acting strange. We haven’t spent a lot of time together like we used to, and your attitude’s changed. And what was that hugging yourself because you thought you were indecent? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Now was definitely not the time for him to tell her about Mary. Though his heart was pounding at him to tell, he could not give in. Not yet.
He sighed before he began. “Seven, I-”
“Does this have anything to do with my telling you that I love you?”
“No! Lemme explain.”
“Why can’t you say that you love me back?”
“Seven, give me a chance to talk.”
She retreated slightly. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Now, I’ll admit, your tellin’ me that ya love me is part of th’ reason. I wanted t’ say th’ same thing back. But…something happened to me that keeps me from sayin’ it.”
“Are you gonna tell me?”
“I want to, Seven. I really do.” He stated from the bottom of his heart. “But I still got to make amends with myself b’fore I can tell you.”
“With yourself?”
“I can’t tell you. Not now. But…I don’t want ya t’ take this the hard way, but I’d like some time to myself.”
“To…yourself?”
“Please don’t just t’ th’ wrong conclusion. I’m not tryin’ t’ end our relationship. I’d just like some time apart from you. Just so I can get myself together.”
Disappointment filled her eyes. “How much time to you need?”
“Not long.” He set his hands on her shoulders. “Remember, I want us t’ stay together. I’d never, ever do anythin’ t’ hurt you. I just need t’ stop hurting myself.”
“And what’ll happen after that?”
“I don’t know.” He swept his knuckles softly across her face and lowered his voice. “Let’s take this one day at a time, okay? We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Her head lowered, and his fingers moved to below her chin. He tipped her head upward, then kissed her tenderly. She wrapped her arms around him and sank deeper into their kiss, clinging to the moment and savoring it. If he needed time to himself, she may as well treasure this moment, for they would not be like this again for a while.
Once the kiss ended, she tightened her arms around him squeezing softly. He held her close, stroking her hair and swaying a bit. He had never wanted her more in his life than he did now. Still, he knew he had to wait until he had dealt with his role in his and Mary’s mistake.
It was when Seven’s hands began to move across his bare back that the enchantment vanished. The memories and sensations of Mary in almost the same position filled his head. Shutting his eyes, he drew away from Seven. She gazed at him as he withdrew, her face filled with confusion and gloom.
“I love you.” She whispered.
Her words warmed his heart to the core. “You too.”
* * *
Little David had been crying all night, keeping Pie Eater and Kay up with him. He had been nursed, diaper changed and even sung to and nothing could be done to silence him. It wasn’t till dawn that it was noticed that his nose was running, and he was coughing as well.
Kay feared the worst, knowing that illness while a baby was still this young was dangerous. She told Pie Eater to go for a doctor, and to make sure he came quickly for the sake of their child. He did as she told him to and brought a doctor to their home. He analyzed the baby carefully and gave his assessment.
“He’s a little ill.” He reported. “But I don’t think it’s very serious.”
“How can you be sure?” Pie Eater demanded.
“For now, just tend to him and don’t handle him too much. Just hold him for feedings and diaper changing. But make sure someone’s with him at all times.”
“And after that?”
“I’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll tell you then.”
He left shortly afterward, and Joseph showed him to the door. Once alone, Kay sank to her knees and began to sob. Pie Eater embraced and comforted her, telling her everything was gonna be okay.
“I’m just so scared.” She whispered. “Our baby’s sick. I don’t want him to die!”
“He’s not gonna die.” He stated. “Everything’s gonna be okay. Th’ doctor said it wasn’t serious.”
“It’s still enough to send his mother into a heart attack!”
Joseph entered the room. “Is there anything I can do to help or anything you need?”
“Th’ doctor says someone’s gotta be with th’ baby till tomorrow. Can ya handle work by yerself t’day?”
“Sure. It’s fine with me.”
Every now and then, Pie Eater and Kay would switch places by Little David’s cradle. Though his cries had diminished to tiny sobs, his little nose was still running, and he often coughed. With every cough, Pie Eater found that his heart skipped a beat.
Though the doctor had somewhat positive news for them, he was still fearful of what this illness could do to his son. Could it cause damage to his brain? Could his coughing do terrible things to his throat? Pie Eater reached his hand into the cradle and felt the baby’s hand clasp his finger.
He reached it with his other hand and gently stroked the baby’s head. He coughed again, and the stroking came to an abrupt end. He checked on the baby to find him still clinging to his daddy’s finger.
“Don’t you scare me like that!” he exclaimed. “It’s bad ‘nough I’m scared ‘bout what your sickness can do t’ yourself!”
Little David’s eyelids began to droop. With a few more tiny sobs and sniffles, he fell asleep. Pie Eater grinned, more hopeful now than he had been two minutes prior. Kay entered the bedroom and spoke softly so not to awaken the baby.
“Is he sleeping?” she wondered.
“Yeah. I think ‘e’ll be sleepin’ awhile. But you’d better take over f’ now t’ make sure ‘e’ll be okay.”
“Alright. You go downstairs and take a break.”
He rose and left, trudging downstairs to the shop. Joseph was shaping the edges of a table by sanding them, and looked up when he heard Pie Eater.
“Is the baby okay?”
“He’s asleep.” He sighed. “I was so scared las’ night. I was thinkin’ that he was just barely livin’ an’ now he could die. But after th’ doctor came, I knew it was gonna be okay.”
“It’s a parent’s first reaction to fear the worst when their child gets sick for the first time.” Joseph explained. “Your mother and I were the same way.”
Once he finished speaking, he set his tools down and rubbed his temples. His head had been aching lately, as had his chest. Pie Eater noticed and inquired of it.
“It’s nothing.” He replied. “My head’s been hurting lately.”
“You’ve been workin’ pretty hard lately. Is that why?”
“Probably. Here, get the varnish and start brushing that side.”
He reached over for the can of polish and his thoughts drifted to Bumlets. It had been two weeks since he had come by. He had mentioned that in two weeks Mary would be marrying her fiancé around this time. He wondered what Bumlets’ reaction to this would be.
As he began to sweep the polish over the table, he remembered that his father and mother had done the same thing before they were married. Bumlets and Mary were not now nor ever going to marry each other. Not only that, but the fact that they weren’t was going to put tension between their loved ones.
Could Joseph offer any advice? Pie Eater had been wanting to help his friend any way he could, and if he mentioned this to his father and not say who it was, Bumlets would not mind at all. He decided to give it a shot.
“Pa,” he spoke up, “can I ask ya a question ‘bout a friend ‘f mine?”
“Ask away.”
“Well, this friend ‘f mine, he…he made th’ same mistake you ‘n’ ma did.”
He raised his head and sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that. Is he going to be a father?”
“No. This was over a year ago. But th’ girl, she’s gettin’ married.”
“And your friend?”
“He’s got a goil ‘e loves a ton. But ‘e can’t bring ‘imself t’ tell ‘er about what happened cuz ‘e doesn’t wanna take th’ risk of losin’ ‘er.”
“And what was it that you wanted to ask me?”
“He came t’ me for advice, an’ I couldn’t give it to ‘im. Can ya offer any?”
“I’d say that he should tell his girl about what happened. But find out how he’s doing first. Find out how he’s dealing with himself. And ask if he’d like to speak to me personally.”
“I will.”
* * *
His newspapers were sold, and his hundred pennies had been changed into dimes. Bumlets jingled them in his pockets as he strode down the street. He kicked a stone out of his path and sighed. Why was he doing this?
All day long, he had known what today was. A day he would have been happy for had it been under different circumstances. It was Mary’s wedding day.
The ceremony had begun already, and Bumlets ducked down into the very back row so Mary would not see him. He had caused her enough pain already, he did not want to inflict more at her own wedding.
Though she could not see him, he could see it in her face that she sensed he was there. He shouldn’t have come. Hopefully, her soon-to-be husband would not notice her tension, and would not ask of it either.
As the ceremony progressed, Bumlets took in the sight of Mary. Her wedding dress was simple: a white taffeta with a low neckline and long sleeves. Her auburn hair was twisted into a bun and covered with the lacy veil. Bumlets had never thought of her as very attractive until now. She was very beautiful.
However, her low neckline caused the memories to return again. If Mary had done as he had done and not made love with the one they loved, she would be a mystery to her husband until their honeymoon. But her mystery had already been uncovered by Bumlets. And he knew he wasn’t supposed to be the one.
When the vows were said, rings exchanged and the pronouncement final, he felt a stabbing blow as Mary and her new husband kissed. The guests rose to their feet and applauded. He joined them only so not to look out of place. Some guests began throwing rice at the bride and groom, prompting them to cover their faces. Bumlets was undetected by Mary as she rushed toward the doors.
The guests began leaving for the reception set at the grange down the street. Bumlets did not join them and went the opposite direction. Mary had looked so happy, but he knew better. Part of her was still grieved that she had shared herself with him when they weren’t supposed to.
‘Will I be the same if Seven and I ever get hitched?’ He could imagine Seven’s face when he gave her the news. But one thing he knew about her was that she was unpredictable. She could have a various array of reactions. He prayed fervently that leaving him would not be one of them.
After walking for nearly an hour, he plopped onto the sidewalk to rest. And surprisingly, tears came to his eyes. Now that Mary was married, they could never justify themselves the proper way. It would only be between the two of them, though his heart argued fiercely, knowing that Seven needed to know.
‘Oh Seven,’ he mused, ‘I love you so much that I don’t want to tell you about Mary and me because I know it’ll put something between us. But I know that if I don’t tell you, you won’t get the best of me. God, help me, please! I need you!’
He suddenly felt a deep urging to visit Pie Eater. Knowing it would be best since he knew the truth, he went along with it. He trudged to the woodwork shop and entered. He found Joseph and Pie Eater fashioning the back to a rocking chair, and they glanced up to see him.
“Hey, Bumlets.”
“Hey.” He murmured. “If you’re real busy now, I cin leave.”
“No, it’s okay.” He grabbed a nearby towel and wiped the varnish from his hands. “I’ll be with ya in a minute.”
“David, I’m going to rest awhile.” Joseph said. “My head’s hurting again.”
Joseph went upstairs, and Pie Eater went into the back room and returned with Little David. He shouldered the baby and went to Bumlets.
“Kay takin’ ‘nuther day off?” Bumlets wondered.
“Kinda. She’s lookin’ at apartments with Fantasia. I got th’ kid today. So, how’ve ya been doing?”
“I jus’ got back from Mary’s wedding.”
Pie Eater sighed. He now knew why his friend was here.
“Wanna come back into th’ kitchen?”
“Fine with me. I’m burned out.”
They left the shop and entered the kitchen. Bumlets found a chair pulled out and sat down heavily with a large sigh. Then he set his elbow on the tabletop and rested his forehead in his hand.
“I didn’t know what I was gonna feel there.” He muttered. “I didn’t love Mary then, an’ I don’t love ‘er now. I never will. But watchin’ ‘er gettin’ married…it was too much. I knew that it shoulda been me there.”
“I’ll admit it, you’re right. But ya need t’ go on with your life. It’s time ya put it behind ya.”
“I can’t. That’s th’ point.”
“Why can’tcha?”
“Cuz of Seven. Every time I wanna get close to ‘er, I think of Mary. An’ it ruins everything. Especially cuz Mary ‘n’ me weren’t in love. We was just usin’ each other. If I did love ‘er, it would’ve been twice as bad now.”
Pie Eater could hear his conscience speaking to him. He had never told anyone but Kay about this, and had decided not to tell anyone else. Now, he knew that Bumlets needed to know.
“Maybe I should tell ya somethin’. But I don’t know if it’ll help.”
“Tell me anythin’. I’m desperate.”
“I’m illegitimate.”
Bumlets’ eyes widened. “Ya are?”
“Yup. Ma ‘n’ pa, they weren’t married when I came ‘round.”
“But they got married, din’t they?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s the thing. Mary ‘n’ me ain’t never gonna get married.”
“If ya wanna talk t’ my pa about this, he’ll listen.”
“Ya didn’t tell ‘im, didja?”
“I mentioned that I had a friend who was in a similar crisis. I didn’t say you.”
“Seriously, I don’t mind. Jus’ as long as ya don’t tell th’ newsies.”
“I’d never do that.”
“So, when can I see your pa? Thought ‘e said ‘e had a headache.”
“Give ‘im some time t’ rest, then I’ll letcha see ‘im. I hope it’ll help ya out with this.”
“I hope so too.”
* * *
