It was close Christmas in New York, so of course all the newsies were rushing to get something for one another. All except for Jack. He had been saving up his money for months to buy something nice for Sarah. In the lodging house, since the newsies didn�t have that much money, they were going to be doing a Pollyanna.
Mush was walking back to the lodging house a two days before Christmas. He was walking down one of the streets, when he saw someone lying on the snow in the corner of his eye. He quickly rushed over to the person. The guy was about fifteen years old, and wearing a brown hat, Mush couldn�t tell anything else about him, it was too dark where they were. Mush, thinking that the person was unconscious started to pick him up. The guy opened his eyes being very much conscious, and fought to get out of Mush�s arms.
He dropped him, surprised that he was awake. His face was pale and his lips were a pale purple from being out in the snow. He wasn�t very thin, which suggested to Mush that he had hadn�t been sleeping on the streets all that long.
�What do ya think your doin�?� The guy asked.
�I�se thought dat you�se were hoit, or somethin�. I was only tryin� ta help.� Mush explained. �Why were ya sleepin� in out heah?�
�It aint none of your business.� The guy said.
�I�m sorry, yer right, it aint none of me business. So�what�s yer name?� Mush asked.
�Kris. What�s your name?� He asked.
�Mush,� he told him.
�Mush? So your a newsie.� Kris said.
�Guilty as charged.� Mush said. �So where do ya live?�
�Nowhere at the moment.� Kris told him.
�Why don�t ya come back to da lodgin� house wid me? Ya look kinda cold.� He said.
�You try sleepin� out here an� not bein� cold.� He said.
Kris took off his hat, and brown hair that had been tucked up under the hat fell down about halfway to Kris� shoulders. Then Mush realized that Kris wasn�t a guy at all, but a girl.
�Yer a goil!� Mush said surprised.
�Yeah? So?� Kris said.
�Well, I jist thought you�se were a guy? You said yer name was Kris.� Mush said.
�It is, Kristen, Kris ya know?� She explained.
�Why were ya hidin� yer hair?� He asked.
�Let�s just say I had da disguise myself.� Kris said. �Are ya still gonna take me to the lodging house now that you know I�m a girl?�
�Yeah,� he said.
Kris put her hair backup in her hat.
�Why are ya hidin� yer hair again?� Mush asked.
�Do ya really think that it�s all that safe for a girl to be alone with all the guys that live in the lodging house. I mean. I don�t know them or anything. It�d be safer if they think I�m a guy.� She said. �Okay, what evah ya say,� Mush said.
He took her to the lodging house. Some other newsies were just getting in at that time too. The room was noisy when they walked in. Mush saw his friends, Jack, Kid Blink, and Race playing poker at the other end of the room. There was a small tree in one corner of the room. Kris guessed that that was their Christmas tree.
�Hey Kid, Jack, Race, looky heah. If found dis gir-guy outside an� �e wants ta stay heah fer�� Mush looked at Kris. �Hey, how long do ya wanna stay heah?�
�Just tonight.� She said.
��E wants ta stay heah fer da night.� Mush yelled.
�Dat�s fine Mush.� Jack said.
Mush and Kris walked over to where Jack, Race, and Kid Blink were sitting. Jack jumped to his feet and spit in his hand to greet Mush and Kris. Mush spit in his hand and shook Jack�s hand. Kris spit in her hand and also shook Jack�s hand. Jack reached into his pocket and took out a necklace.
�I bought dis fer Sarah taday. You have no idea how long it took me ta save up money ta buy it.� Jack said.
Kris couldn�t take her eyes off the necklace. It looked like it had cost a fortune. She didn�t like wearing jewelry, but knew that if she could pawn an item that looked that expensive she would be able to get a lot of money.
�So what�s yer name kid?� Race asked.
�Kris,� she told him.
�I�se Race,� he said.
�Nice ta meet ya. So, where kin I sleep?� She asked.
�Well, we aint got an extra bed, so you�ll have ta share wid someone. Kid, what �bout you would you mind---�
Mush saw Kris� face. She looked very nervous and scared about sharing with one of the guys.
�No! Kris kin share wid me, I found �im an� all.� Mush said.
�Mush he aint a puppy. Why don�t ya ask him?� Jack said.
�Kris do ya wanna share wid me?� Mush asked sure that she was going to say yes.
�Yeah, I don�t care.� She lied.
She did care, if was going to have to share with another newsies they most certainly would find out she was a girl as soon as she took off her hat.
�It�s kina late. I guess we�se all bettah be gettin� ta bed.� Jack said.
The newsies all went to their bunks. Mush showed Kris where he slept. They sat down on the bed. The lights went out and Mush grabbed an extra cover and lied down on the floor.
�Mush, you shouldn�t have to sleep on the floor.� Kris whispered, so none of the newsies would hear her.
�It�s okay Kris, I know dat it would be really weird if we shared a bed, so I�ll jist sleep down heah.� Mush said.
They fell asleep after a few minutes. Mush woke up before all the other newsies. Kris was also still asleep. He started getting changed when he heard the Kloppman coming up the stairs. Mush ran over to Kris and woke her up. Kris grabbed her hat and tucked her hair up in it just as a few as the newsies started to wake up.
�So Kris, where do ya plan on goin� now?� Mush asked.
�I don�t know? I figured that I would just wonder around town. Maybe pick through some trash for some breakfast. It�s not like I have any money� She said.
�What? I�m not gonna let ya leave heah jist so you�se kin pick trash. I gotta bettah idea, how �bout you stay wid me while I sell me papes.� He suggested.
�Ya sure I aint gonna be bothering ya?�
�Coise not, I could use da company. It gits kinda lonely out dere by yerself.�
�Alright,� she said.
�Hey guys. Has anyone seen me money? I had two bits on da dressah, an� now I can�t find it.� Kid Blink said.
Everyone denied that they had taken it.
�Now how am I suppose ta buy me papes?� Kid Blink asked.
�Heah Kid, I�ll give ya some money fer taday.� Race said.
�Thanks Race.�
�Hey it�s Christmas time.� He said.
They all left the lodging house. Kris was the last one to leave. Before she did, she took Kid Blink�s money out of her pocket and flipped it up in the air. She caught it and smiled to herself. Than walked out to the street where Mush was.
�I can�t believe anyone would steal from Kid.� Mush said to Kris as he was selling his papers on the street. �You didn�t take da money did ya?�
�No, of course not.� She lied.
They were silent for a few moments.
�Ya know we�re doin� a Pollyanna fer Christmas. It�s somethin� me an� my family use ta do when I was little. Guess how I got dis year?� Mush asked.
�I don�t know. Who?� Kris asked.
�I got Blink. I got �im dis new hat. Da hat �e has now is fallin� apart. Jist think tomorrow�s Christmas.� Mush said. �What did you use ta do wid yer family on Christmas?�
�I don�t wanna talk about my family.� Kris said.
�Okay.� Mush said. �Ya know, I hope it snows tamorrow. I don�t remembah da last time it snowed on Christmas.�
�Is that your Christmas wish? That it snows?� Kris asked.
�Dat�s da only thing I evah wanted, dat it snows Christmas mornin�.� He said. �Well, it�s about time fer lunch. Come on let�s go ta Tibby�s.� Mush said.
They began to walk to Tibby�s. When they walked inside they sat down next to Race, and Jack. Everyone�s faces were red from the cold. A waiter came over and each one of the newsies ordered their food.
�Ya know how Kid last his money?� Jack asked
�Yeah, what about it?� Race said.
�Well, when I went to buy my papes, I didn�t have all my money either.� Jack explained.
�Ya probably jist forgot it at da lodgin� house.� Mush said.
�Dat�s what I thought at foist too, but I went back dere an� looked an� I still couldn�t find it. Did any of you guys take it?� Jack asked.
He was saying it to all of them but mostly he was addressing it to Kris. He was pretty sure that Kris had stolen his, and Kid Blink�s money. He wasn�t going to come out and say it, in fear that he might be wrong.
When Jack looked at Kris, she turned her face away. The last thing that she wanted to do was make eye contact with him. She was the one that stole the money, she assumed that she was going to need it more then they would.
When they finished eating they put their share of the bill on the table. Kris reached into her pocket and felt around for enough money. She took it out carefully so the rest of the money in her pocket wouldn�t fall out. She walked out of the diner, Mush quickly followed her. He grabbed her shoulder to stop her from walking.
�Kris, I thought you said da you�se didn�t have any money.� He said.
Kris didn�t respond. She took a step away from Mush. She knew that he knew that she stole the money.
�Kris give me da money dat ya took from dem.� He said.
She took another step back. Mush knew that she was going to start to run. He moved forward. Kris turned around and started to run. Mush ran after her. The snow on the ground made it hard to run, it wasn�t deep but it slowed her down a little. Mush reached out and grabbed her. Her hat fell off, she drew out a switch blade. Mush quickly grabbed her arm. He knocked the blade out of her hand. He held her up against his body, trying to get her to stop moving. She started kicking and trying to break free, after her efforts failed, she started to calm down.
Mush brought her back to the lodging house and sat her down on a bed. She tucked her hair behind her ear and folder her arms. Mush walked over her and opened the switch blade, pointing the blade part at her. He flicked his wrist and closed the blade, than handed it to her.
�Ya might need dis,� he said.
�Look I�m sorry alright,� she said. �You just don�t understand.�
�But I want to. Tell me, please.�
�I got in a fight with my parents two weeks ago, so I ran away. I was too stupid to bring anything with me, so I had to resort to stealing.� Kris explained.
�Yeah, but, why did ya steal from Kid, and Jack, I�m sure if ya asked us we all would have been able ta lend ya some money.� Mush said. He paused for a moment and then started talking again. �I think you should write to yer parents or somethin� ta let dem know yer okay.�
�Would ya mind if I stayed with you for a little while longer?� Kris asked ignoring Mush�s last statement.
�Only if ya promise not ta steal from us.� He said.
Kris agreed. They went back outside. Kris couldn�t find her hat, so her secrete would have to come out to the other guys that she was a girl. She sat down on a bench and watched Mush sell his papers. Mush didn�t finish selling his papers until after all the other newsies had already eaten dinner. They were both hungry so instead of skipping dinner, the two of them went to Tibby�s alone.
Christmas was celebrated very largely in Tibby�s. The owner would never put up all the decorations until Christmas Eve night. They stopped at the doorway and looked in at all the stuff that hadn�t been there when they had lunch. There was a Christmas tree in the center of the diner and on it was beautiful ornaments. The owner of the diner ran up to Kris and Mush with a large smile on his face.
�You two are under the mistletoe.� He said with a giggle.
They looked up and saw that they had been standing underneath a mistletoe. The owner�s smile grew.
�Now you�ve gotta kiss.� He said
They both smiled a little embarrassed. Mush looked at the floor. Kris moved forward and was about to kiss Mush on the cheek, but Mush turned his face, intending to kiss Kris on her cheek. Instead their lips meet. They both pulled away quickly. They gave a soft giggle to one another, but then walked in like nothing had happened.
They sat down at a table that had two candles lit on it. A waiter came up to them. Kris and Mush ordered their food. They took off their jackets as they waited for their food to arrive. They both felt out of place. Tibby�s originally was always a place cheap enough for the newsies to have a decent meal, but on Christmas Eve it would look like a fancy restaurant that a newsie could never even step foot in. Luckily for them the prices for food were never raised on holidays.
Once they were served they quickly began to eat. When they were finished, Mush paid for the bill. Since Kris gave the money she stole to Mush and he put it back in the places where she took it from. They started walking back to the lodging house.
�Hey I�se gots an� idea! How �bout ya tell da guys dat yer a goil tamarrow mornin�, an� surprise �em. Dat could be yer Christmas present ta dem.� Mush said. �Heah.�
Mush took off his hat and put it on Kris� head. She put her hair under it.
�I really think dat ya should contact yer parents some how an� tell dem yer okay. I�m sure dey miss ya. An� dat could be a good present fer dem. Ya know, if dey know yer safe, an� everything.� Mush said.
Kris didn�t respond. They stopped at the doorway to the lodging house.
�You go on up, I�s gotta git Blink�s present.� Mush said.
�Alright, see ya,� Kris said.
Mush left and Kris walked up the stairs to the bunkroom. She opened the door and saw all the newsies sitting around their small Christmas tree singing songs. They stopped when they saw Kris walk in. She smiled at them, and walked over to where they were sitting. They all smiled at each other and then Jack started to sing. After a moment some more newsies started to sing, and soon after that everyone in the lodging house except for Kris was singing again.
Later that night, right when the newsies were going to bed, Mush came in holding a large paper bag. No one questioned him about what was in it because they new that it was a Christmas present. They could wait until the morning to see what it was.
They all climbed into their bunks. When the lights went out, Kris convinced Mush to let her sleep on the floor that night. He protested at first but eventually gave in. Around midnight that night Kris got up off the floor. She couldn�t stay in the lodging house anymore. She felt that Mush was never going to stop asking her to contact her parents.
She didn�t want to steal from the newsies again but she didn�t have a choice. She went over to a nightstand that was shared by a few of the newsies. She looked around for some money, than she saw the necklace Jack was going to give to Sarah, she picked it up and put it in her pocket. She grabbed a few more valuable presents.
Kris went over to the paper bag Mush had brought home, hoping that maybe he had bought some other stuff. She dumped it out on the floor. She looked through what he had bough. There was a gift for Les and Davis, who weren�t included in the Pollyanna. She saw Kid Blink�s present, and then she saw a single red rose. She looked at it, there was a card on it addressed to her. It didn�t say a lot. It only said Merry Christmas, and that he was glad that she was his friend. She walked over to Mush and kissed his forehead. Than she walked out of the bunkroom, with all the presents still in her arms.
Mush woke up the next morning and saw that all the newsies looked very sad and disappointed. When Mush saw that Kris wasn�t on the floor. He realized what must have happened. When the newsies saw that Mush was awake they all went over to him.
�Yer friend Kris, stole all the presents we bought.� Jack said. �He stole the necklace dat I was gonna give Sarah taday. Do ya know how long it took me ta save up fer dat? Next time ya wanna be friends wid somebody, make sure dey aint a thief.�
�Look I know Kris, �e said dat �e wasn�t gonna steal from us again. I believe �im.� Mush said.
�Well, den who stole all are stuff.� Race asked.
�I don�t know. Look, I�m gonna go see if I kin find Kris.� Mush said.
He stood up and walked to the door, when he opened it all the Christmas presents were lying in front of him. The rest of the newsies saw them and ran over to the bunkroom door. They looked through the gifts to see if they were all there, and they were. That�s when Mush decided not to go look for Kris. He sat down on his bed and smiled as he remembered her.
In Harlem, Kris walked down the street holding the rose Mush had given her in her hand. She took off her hat, and then remembered that it was Mush�s hat. It started snowing. She looked up at the sky, and smiled.
�Mush got his wish,� Kris said to herself.
She put her hat back on her head, and smiled to herself as she walked down the road.