April's Story

            As snow softly fell from the dark evening sky, Blink, Race and Mush were returning to the Lodging House. Race bragged about his “big wins” at the track that day.            

            “Yeah, sure Race! Ya couldn’t even win the dirt on da ground!” Blink challenged. Race took defense.

            “Hey! Not like ya could do any betta dan me!” he shouted.

            “Hey fellas, quit it! Race, ya know he’s right, so shut up about it!” Mush said, trying to help. Obviously this didn’t work. Race and Mush started to fight. Race pushed Mush into the snow Blink walked on, knowing that they would stop soon.

            Race and Mush eventually gave up; spit shook, and jogged to catch up to Blink who was looking at something in the alley.

            “Hey fellas! Come ‘ere!” Blink shouted, a bit of urgency in his voice.

            Race and Mush ran up to where Blink was kneeling. Before them they saw a girl, around sixteen, lightly covered in a layer of snow and a few papes lay just out of her reach.  She had long auburn hair that she let hang free. She appeared to be sleeping.

            “What do ya want us to do Blink? There’s a hundred people like her lying on the streets. It’s just the way it is in New York.” Race said as he started to move on.

            “But look, she’s a newsie, like us. We can’t just leave her ‘ere. Why don’t we wake her up and take her back to the lodging house so she can warm up?” Blink pleaded with his friends.

            “Yeah. I agree. No one should have to sleep out here. It’s freezing cold!” Mush added, as he too pleaded with Race.

            “Oh alright, wake her up!” Race reluctantly agreed. Mush lightly shook the sleeping girl, but she didn’t wake up.

            “She won’t wake up guys!” Mush shouted.

            “C’mon, Mush! Ain’t ya ever wake anybody up before?” Blink asked as he pushed Mush out of his way. “Oh my gosh! Look at this bump on her head! She must have hit it, dropped her extra papes and fell to this very spot! Well, we just gotta take her with us now!” Blink lifted her and carried her the remaining few blocks to the Lodging House. Race carried the small bag that seemed to be hers.

                                          *****

At the Lodging House, the boys sat near the fire to warm up. Suddenly Race and Mush entered, trying to clear a path for Blink to the bench. When Blink entered, carrying the girl, the newsies all gasped.

“What’re ya doin’?”

“Who’s she?”

“What ‘appened?”

“Blink found 'er, out like a light a few blocks from ‘ere. We didn’t have the heart to just let ‘er die in the snow, so we brought ‘er back ‘ere.” Mush explained.

“I see, I see,” Kloppman said, trying to think quickly. “Put her over on that cot there. The girls are already asleep for the night, and I can keep an eye on here there until she recovers.

“Great! She should be just fine there. “Blink smiled. He was still concerned though. He thought, “Will she really be OK? I hope she wakes up. I’d like to know where she came from.” And with that thought in mind, he headed up the stairs and prepared for bed.

                                                                                    *****

The next morning when Blink woke up, he got dressed extra quickly and went downstairs to check on the girl.

“How is she Kloppman?” he asked.

“Well, I don’t know. She didn’t stir all night.” Kloppman answered. He saw Blink’s face sadden. “But I’m sure she’ll be just fine.” Blink seemed to cheer up a bit as the rest of the newsies came downstairs. He joined them on the way to the distribution office.

“So, how is she?” Mush asked and Race nodded to show his concern too.

“She’s still knocked out, “Blink informed them with a sigh.

“Oh…” Mush and Race said, lowering their eyes to the ground. They silently agreed that they wouldn’t mention it again for the rest of the day.

                                                                                    *****

Back at the Lodging House, Kloppman was preparing his lunch when he heard the girl move. She lay there for a minute not completely awake. She opened her eyes slowly as she realized that she was warm, was not outside and did not know where in the world she was. She sat up sharply, looked around, spotted Kloppman and shouted in a weak voice, “Where am I?  Who are you? What am I doing here?”

“Whoa! Relax, lie down and rest. You’re at the Newsboys & Girls Lodging House. I’m Kloppman; I run this place. Three of the boys found you last night and brought you here. You were unconscious. Now, get some sleep. And here’s some bread in case you’re hungry.” Kloppman handed her the bread and she nibbled on it as she fell asleep, too weak to argue.

Kloppman returned to his place at the desk and reviewed his books as he ate his lunch.

                                                                                    *****

Just as it was getting dark outside, the newsies started to return to the Lodging House. The girl woke up in response to the noise but she did not move. She was in a strange world and did not know how to respond to it. She was glad to be alive though, grateful to the boys who found her.

She turned her head to see Kloppman at the desk talking to a boy. She could almost hear their conversation over the noise of feet upstairs. A boy with an eye patch burst through the door closely followed by two others. They rushed over to Kloppman’s desk and started talking to him. The other boy went upstairs.

Kloppman nodded to the boys’ questions and pointed to her cot. She closed her eyes tightly, hoping they wouldn’t come over to her. She heard footsteps though and the light shifted. She opened one of her eyes and saw three boys leaning over her. She was startled and closed her eye. One of the boys touched her arm and said “It’s OK. You’re safe here. My name’s Blink.” She opened her eyes. Blink continued, smiling. “This is Race and Mush. We found you last night. Are you feeling better now?”

She nodded. She was feeling much better, but still a bit weak. “Just let me sleep!” she thought. Her good side took over her mind, “Give them a chance. They saved your life.” Aloud she said, “Better, thanks.” To herself, “Get yer hand off me arm dere, ‘Blink’.”

“So, ya got a name?” Race asked.

“Yeah. It’s April.” She said with a hint of grumpiness. The boys didn’t catch it though. That was for the better.

“Nice to meet ya April,” Mush said.

“Yer a newsie, right?” Blink asked.

“How’d ya know dat?” To herself she said “Ya been stalking me or somethin’?”

“Well, when we found ya, dere was a few papes near ya. We assumed dey was yers.”

“Yeah, I had extra papes. I don’t know why I dropped them though.”

“Well, ya had I bump on yer head. So I figgered ya hit yer head, and as ya fell you dropped da papes.” Blink told her as she touched the side of her head. “It looks better than it did yesterday,” he offered seeing her pain.

“Why were ya out in dat ally anyway?” Race asked.

“I…I…don’t remember……..WAIT!” April said as she sharply sat up and tried to get out of the cot. Blink restrained her. “Let me go! I have to find him!” She fought to get free of his grip. She almost did; she was stronger than Blink thought. Race and Much helped him make her stay in bed.

“Find who?” Mush shouted over her screams.

“My brother, Pint. Let me go. I’ll stay ‘ere, I promise.” She pushed their arms away.

“We’ll go find him for ya April!” Blink said, happy to help. “What does he look like?”

“Thank you so much!” April sat up and hugged Blink. She was so grateful; she didn’t even notice that she let down her guard. She thought, “Well, dere goes dat. Ya gotta be nice now. Nice goin’, April!” Aloud she said, “He’s about five, hair redder den mine, freckled, blue eyes.“ She paused to think. “He’s wearing a blue shirt and I think grey pants. He’s gotta be within five blocks of where you found me. He knows that area best, and he knows not to leave it without me. Thank you so much!” She forced smile, thinking, “How could ya be so stupid. Now ya got no respect! Not tough, but ‘nice’. Yeah, dis ain’t good. Ain’t good at all.”

“Anytime, we’re glad to help!” Blink said as he, Race and Mush headed back outside.

April quickly fell asleep, annoyed, but safe.

                                                                                    *****

The boys went back to the spot where they found April. From there, the split up, each taking a few blocks. Up and down the streets they ran, looking at every child in their path. “Pint! Pint!” they shouted. Most of the children on the streets, however, were over ten.

An hour later, they met back up. No one had found Pint. Saddened, and with their eyes down, the boys walked back to the Lodging House in silence. Each silently hoped that April would not be awake when they returned.

Thankfully, when the boys returned, April was asleep, and they reluctantly went upstairs to their own beds.

                                                                                    *****

The next morning April was up before the boys. She wanted to sell that day, but she knew she was too weak. But she’d have to tomorrow. She wondered if the boys found Pint. She doubted if they did, for they would have woken her up if they had.

At this time, a few girls came pounding down the stairs tiredly. April was hidden to them as the walked outside, into the cold. April wondered about them and figured she’d meet them later.

Blink came downstairs early again in hopes of April being awake. To his delight, she was.

“Ya didn’t find ‘im?” She asked.

“No,” replied Blink sorry that he could not help her. “But I’ll look as I sell today,” he added hoping to cheer her up.

“Okay, thanks,” said April, forcing a smile. “I’m gonna sell tomorrow.”

“We’ll see,” Blink said. He didn’t think she was strong enough, but he doubted if her could stop her if she really wanted to sell.

The rest of the boys came downstairs and Blink joined them as they walked out the door. Race and Mush shouted their hellos to April before they left.

April went back to her cot and thought, “If I were Pint, where would I go?………….ARGH! This is pointless! I don’t know! I’ll have to find ‘im meself. But I can’t leave. I’m too weak still. Hmm…Wait! This is a Lodging House! I owe Kloppman money for the time I spent ‘ere. I hope I have enough…”

                                                                                    *****                                      

When Kloppman brought April  some bread for lunch she asked him about her dues.

“Aw, don’t worry about it. It’s ok,” he replied.

“No, no, I don’t want no charity. How much do I owe ya?” April insisted.

“Well, I usually charge the other kids a nickel a night, but forget about the two nights ya spent ‘ere already. If you’re that concerned, pay me for any future nights ya spend ‘ere.”

“Deal. Thanks, Kloppman.” April said nodding.

“You feel strong enough to move in with the girls today?” Kloppman asked. April nodded. “Ok then. Go on upstairs with your stuff. It’s the door marked ‘Girls Lodging’. Then come on back down and wait for the boys if ya want. Uh…finish your bread first, I guess.”

“Thanks Kloppman!” April ate the bread slowly and watched the people pass by outside the window. She was getting more and more strength back as the day progressed. She finished her bread then proceeded upstairs. She entered an dull looking room and put her stuff down on one of the empty bunks. She unpacked her clothes, changed into something fresh and went back downstairs to wait.

                                                                                    *****

A girl walked into the Lodging House and blindly went up the stairs. She took a second glace and noticed April. She smiled. “Hi! I’m Sticks! Ya staying ‘ere now?” Sticks walked down and sat near April.

“Yeah, I guess. I’m April.” She thought to herself “Ya might as well be nice to her too…no sense bein’ twofaced.”

“Know anyone?” Sticks asked. She knew  April had to know someone, as no one ever moved in that wasn’t brought in by another newsie.

“Blink, Race and Mush.” April answered automatically. “The found me in an alley a few days ago. I fell and hit my head.”

“Wait, wait! You’ve been ‘ere for a few days? Where were you sleepin’?” April pointed to the cot hidden by the shadows. “Oh. Ok. Been upstairs yet?”

“Yeah. Today I moved my stuff up dere.”

The boys walked in then, without Pint. April was determined to go look for him herself.

Blink, Race and Mush protested. Sticks left to go talk to someone else. “No, ya shouldn’t go out in da cold. Not yet,” Blink argued.

“But I gotta find Pint. I’m all he’s got. He’s all I got. I just gotta. He’s helpless out dere alone!! Now please, just let me find me brudder!” April tried to push past the three of them. They didn’t move. “Please!” she shouted.

Blink looked at Race. Race looked at Mush. Mush looked at Blink. They nodded. “We’re coming with ya,” they said together.

April hugged all three of them at the same time. “Thanks guys!” she exclaimed. When she realized that she was hugging them again, she let go. After all, there’s a fine line between nice, and just plain insane.

And so they headed out, back to the spot where they found April just two nights ago. Race and Mush went to look for Pint in separate directions, but Blink wouldn’t leave April. “What if ya fall again, whacha gonna do den? Huh?”

“Ok….fine.”

They walked together in silence, except for their random calls of “Pint! Pint!” 

As they ventured on, April slipped on an ice patch. Blink grabbed her arm before she could fall and pulled her back up. She thanked him with her eyes and they walked on.

They kept searching, but Pint was nowhere to be found. They found Race and Mush and returned to the Lodging House in silence. The four of them each handed Kloppman a nickel and went sadly to their beds.

                                                                                    *****

April woke up, terrified. She had a bad dream that Pint was left starving on the starving on the street and she couldn’t get to him because there was a crowd surrounding him and laughing. He didn’t see her, and she could not get his attention. She couldn’t help him, and had to watch him die.

                                                                                    *****

April didn’t get back to sleep that night. She just tossed and turned, replaying the dream in her head. Early in the morning she decided she could sell that day and she got ready. She went downstairs to meet Blink.

“I’m ready to sell today!” She smiled at him. He laughed while nodding his approval.

April was glad he approved. She felt so guilty just sitting in the Lodging House all day. She needed to look for Pint again. She had already decided that being nice was the best thing to do, she liked Blink, Race and Mush after all. And they saved her life. And Sticks seemed ok too. Why shouldn’t she be nice? The only person she was nice to before though was Pint. Then again, she never really talked to anyone else either. She tried to keep a tough vibe around hoping to avoid trouble.

The other newsies soon joined them and together they walked to the distribution office.

“Hey April! Glad yer selling today,” Mush said over the noise. Race nodded his agreement, yawning.

At the distribution office, April bought fifty papes. Blink urged her to sell with him for the day “Just in case, “he said. She reluctantly agreed and together they walked on selling to whomever they could.

                                                                                    *****

After lunch April was tired but she had more papes to sell so she had to continue on. She could not afford to lose money, not after missing two day’s work.

Up ahead, Blink saw a woman was shouting at a little boy who was sitting on the steps to her building. The boy had tears in his eyes. He couldn’t talk; he was too choked up.

Blink grabbed April’s arm as she completed a sale. He pointed to the scene. “Is dat Pint?” April’s jaw dropped. She shoved her papes into Blink and ran to the small boy. Blink followed close behind.

“Pint!” April shouted. She sat down next to her brother and tried to calm him down.

“’Ey you dere! Get off me steps!” The woman shouted in a British accent.

“Yes ma’am. I’m sorry,” April said, glaring at the woman. She picked up the ever wailing Pint and carried him down the stairs.

“Ya shouldn’t carry ‘im. Give ‘im to me,” Blink said. April glared at him. She felt strong now, but she was too tired to argue. She transferred Pint into Blink’s arms. Pint’s wails became louder.

“Let’s just put ‘im down, huh?” April suggested. Blink sat Pint down on some nearby steps. April sat next to him. “It’s ok, Pint. I’m ‘ere now. Yer ok.”

Pint slowly stopped crying and looked up at Blink. “Who…who are you?” He asked puzzled.

April responded, “Dis is Blink. He’s our friend. C’mon now, we’s got papes to sell, Pint.” Pint’s face brightened. He loved selling papes. She looked to Blink and he handed her back her papes. She gave Pint three of her remaining papes and he ran off to sell them. “’Ey, don’t go too far Pint!” She called after him. She was relieved to have found her brother. “Thanks, Blink. Thanks for findin’ ‘im.” She said softly. She felt that she owed him so much.

“I’d do anything for a friend,” Blink replied smiling. He put his arm around her and gave her a one-arm hug. She tried to hide her tears from him, and they both completed their sales for the day.

Pint ran up ahead as They walked back to the lodging house. She was thankful as she handed Kloppman a dime gesturing towards her brother and said goodnight to Pint and Blink.

April went upstairs where she finally met all the other newsgirls. Sticks introduced her and April knew that she and Pint had to stay at the Lodging House. She felt like she was finally at home.            

ã 2000 April