"Hey dere toots!" Gee no hard feelings.
"Hey yaself, I see yer brains still woiking."
"Of coise it is how could I forget yer pretty face?"
"Jes give me my papes," I scoffed.
"Sure thing." He handed dem ta me and I walked down da steps thinkin of whea ta go.
"You'se can sell with me, Heidi." Jack said comin down afta me.
"Sounds great."
"Now da foist thin ya gotta learn is..."
"Headlines don't sell papers, Newsies sell papers. It wes in da movie and dey told of improvin da truth too."
"Geez dey gave away all me lines."
"Dat's Hollywood fer ya."
"What?"
"Oh, neva mind. So where's we headed?"
"Da harbor."
Surprisingly, I did a good job and sold out in whad wes probably record timing. I walked ova ta da corner whea Jack wes. "Hey I sold out befoa you!"
"Dats cuz those loadin boys liked da way ya looked." I ignored whad he said and offad ta help rid him of his load. Wid me help we finished by eleven.
"Is da harbor always a good spot ta sell?"
"Sometimes when deres a lot of ships in like taday."
"Oh, speakin of Spot whea is he? I didn't see him dis moining."
"He gets up and buys when he feels like it. Probably showed up when we wes leaving." We walked without payin attention to where we were goin but afta awhile we found ourselves right in front of Tibby's.
"It's early but let's go ahead and get a table." Jack said takin my hand and leadin me in. His hand felt so strong holding me but he held it so gently. At dat moment I felt so secure I never wanted him to let go. But he did and we found a boot near the front of da place ordered some food. Da oddas all started to come in along with Spot. In the group I also noticed David and Les. Jack instantly introduced me as Heidi from da 21st century Florida. Dave did his uh ha thin and Jack mocked him.
" I'm serious Davey." David looked at me and seeing da honesty in me face he finally said, "oh, wow..."
"Gee, looks like walkin mouth ain't got nothin ta say." I joked.
"Hey, how'd ya know me title? Boys have been talkin bout me ain't dey?"
"Uh, no in the 21st century dey have a movie bout da strike and you'se and all da odda guys were in it. By da way how long's it been since da strike."
"Bout month."
"So it's early September here right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Cuz where I'se from it wes only August. And whad's taday?" I should've known dat I wes handlin papes all mornin.
"Monday."
"Thanks."
"So..." Once more I we showered wid questions bout my life. I answered dem quickly. Da faster I got done the sooner dey'd stop askin and I'd get ta see what dey really talked bout.
Afta lunch, I sold da afternoon edition wid Blink. When we finished sellin eighty each we headed ta Central Park to relax. (Not dat way you sickos!) We walked round a bit and finally sat down on a bench. "It's so beautiful here, Blink!"
"Um, yeah it sure is," he said not able to take his gaze off me. As I admired da scenery I noticed him leaning closer to me out of da corna of my eye. Oh crap, he's gonna kiss me! (Don't get me wrong. I wanted him too but it wes jest... neva mind.) He wes bout ta lift his hand to my face when Race came walkin down da path.
"Hey guys!"
"Heya Race!" Oh, Race poifect timing!
"Hi," blink muttered.
"I'm headin back to da Lodgin House, you two wanna come?"
"Sure," I took Blink's hand and he willingly followed. Afta signin in, Race immediately started a game of poker wid Snoddy, Pie eater, and Blink. I jumped on me bunk and tore me journal out of me poise and began writin bout my time travel. I had jes finished when Jack walked in and came ova ta me.
"How was ya aftanoon wid Blink?"
"It was nice, we went ta Central Park afta sellin and unintentionally met up wid Race. Whad you do, Jack?"
"I sold some papes but didn't do to well cuz I kept thinkin of ya."
"I had a hard time gettin ya off me mind too." Did I jes say dat out loud!? I should really keep me mouth shut but obviously he didn't mind cuz he held me hand. Oh, dere goes dat feeling from Tibby's.
"Scuse me Jacky boy, can I get ta me bed?" Spot said, our hands instantly slipped out.
"Sure Spot, ya gettin in bed a little early, huh?"
"Well I'se gonna leave early tomorra but don't worry Heidi I'll be back Friday. Maybe you'se can come ta visit Brooklyn some time."
"That'll be great Spot!"
"Sure will, night," he took my hand and kissed it. I smiled. Woah, did I jes see Jack glare at Conlon? No couldn't of."
"Night Spot," den I looked back at Jack, "I'se godda admit but I'se tired. Ain't used ta gettin up early."
"Ok, you get some rest den." He squeezed my hand like da night before and turned to da table where da guys where still playin poker. Last thing I remembered before fallin asleep was Pie eater accusin Race of cheatin.
We reached da houase and Sarah opened da door. She hugged Jack and he introduced us.
"Les and David told me all about this pretty girl from the future yesterday that they met at Tibby's. I can only assume they meant you."
"Thanks Sarah, it's nice to meet you." I hope dat didn't sound too fake.
"Speakin of da bums they ain't comin?"
"They're eatin lunch out with dad and mom today."
"When's his arm goin ta heal?"
"Doctors say he can go back ta work by next month. Well, I have to finish foldin clothes real quick. When I'm done we can eat. You two just stay here."
"Are ya don't need help?" I asked not wantin to be rude.
"No, I'll be fine it'll only take me a minute." When she left, I finally got da guts ta ask Jack dat oh so important question.
"So, Jack are you and Sarah still um togedda?"
He smiled, "No we both started ta see each odda as a brother and sister since I didn't have a family and all."
"Oh, ok." I was really, really, really glad they were not togedda. She came back and we enjoyed our simple meal. Jack and I headed back to da DO to get some afternoon papes and sold jes a few blocks from Mush who was where else, Bottle Alley. We met up wid him and picked up some vendor food which we ate on da way back to da Lodgin House. I joined in Race's poker game and wasn't doin to well.
"I wish you'd bet more Heidi. You'se rich enough to."
"Yeah, well I'se smart too Race." At da last game I actually beat him wid a royal flush. He was a bit sore but least his ego wasn't as big as Spots.
~
"Wake up beautiful." I opened my eyes to see Blink standin by my bunk.
"Mornin Blink."
"How's bout sellin wid me taday? You'se can pair wid Cowboy afta lunch."
"Sounds great!" After wakin Jack I got dressed and Blink and I headed ta da DO.
"Hey Heidi!" Jack was walkin afta us.
"Oh hey Jack, I'se gonna sell wid Blink dis mornin but I'll sell wid you afta lunch."
"Ok," his faded smile reappeared when I told him I'd sell wid him later. Blink and I got done sellin early so we hung out in da alley behind Tibby's. He told me how he got his patch and whad had happened ta his family. I'd write it down but seein how he told it to me in confidence I won't. Sorry! I didn't have much of a story to tell im but I related to him my incident wid Trevor. (How he liked me and I didn't know it. Then how I got ta like him and he led me on.)
"Are you still hurt?"
"You know, Blink. I really wes neva hoit jes disappointed. I guess I really didn't like him or else my heart would be broken. It bugged me a little til I got obsessed wid you and da odda Newsies." Whoops, wrong words! He laughed so hard we bumped heads. I quickly drew away when I heard Mush hollerin at us.
"Come on you'se guys!"
"K, Mush!" Blink yelled soundin a little irritated. We went in a took a seat next ta Jack.
"Hey I missed sellin wid you," he said puttin his arm round me.
"Well don't be ta glum cuz ya got me all aftanoon."
We were leavin and I told Blink I'd see him back at Tibby's for dinner.
"Well tonight we'se goin ta Medda's."
"Ok, I'll see ya dere den." Jack and I sold at da harbor and met back up at an abandoned warehouse. He sat by me on da stairs and started ta read his last pape he'd saved. Suddenly, his face turned pale.
"Was wrong Jack?"
"Uh, dis article's bout me fadda. He got out of jail like right afta da strike but he's back fer good, look." I read da article, "Sullivan, previously released, now sentenced for life for homicide."
"Wow."
"Yeah, I didn't even know he got out of da slammer."
"I'se really sorry Jack." I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"It's ok he probably would of beat me if he found me anyway."
"Did he always beat you?"
"Only afta me mudda died. That's when he started drinkin, too. I don know whad happened ta him."
"It's obvious he was upset probably wid God and da woild ova yer mudda. �Lot of people can't handle death and dey take out deir stress on uddas. Dey don't mean ta but dey'se jes so frustrated."
"Guess yer right. I neva saw it like dat befoa." He reached for my hand and held it. I gazed into his deep hazel eyes. "So um, I'm sure you have a boyfriend back home huh?"
"Actually no," I said.
"You'se mean a pretty goil like you doesn't have a guy?"
"Yep. Dat's ok dough cuz there ain't noone there I'se met."
"Whad about dat Trev guy?"
�Him, well..." I related to him my story bout that whole problem. The time seemed to fly but we headed back to da Lodgin House so I could get ready fer Medda's. I felt like changin inta somethin a little nicer. I took out my white sleeveless dress which miraculously wasn't wrinkled. After puttin it on, I twiste my hair and put it up wid butterfly clips.
"Wow," Jack said when I walked out.
"You like it?"
"Can't believe I'se escoitin such a beautiful goil ta Medda's." I smiled so big I thought my head would crack. He offered his arm and we walked togedda down da stairs and out da door.
"Overly dressed."
"No, ya look wondaful," he pulled out a chair next to me and Jack took da next seat.
"Oh, hea comes Medda," Jack said, "I'll introduce ya to her. Medda!"
"Oh, Kelly, hi boys! Jack who is dis lovely lady?"
"Medda, Heidi, Heidi dis is Ms. Medda Larkson da Swedish meadowlark."
"Pleased ta meet ya Medda."
"I da same dear. I havta start da show now, any requests dear?"
"Mmm, how's bout High Times, Hard Times?'
"So you've heard dat one. Sure I'd love ta as lon as you sing along."
"Of course." She walked up to da stage and started with dat numba. Den she walked ova to our table and we all sang along til da end.
"You've got a beautiful voice, Heidi"
"Thanks Medda." Funny, I neva considered myself any good at singing
"How's bout singin somethin?"
"Tonight? Well I don't know..."
"Come one Heidi." Blink said.
"Yeah go on!" Jack and da oddas chimed in.
"Well all right but it'll have ta be acapella unless yer piano man can magically wing."
"Bob is great be ain't Beethoven. Whad did ya have in mind?"
"It's definitely somethin noone hea has eva hoid but I'll be alright on my own."
"Great, I'll introduce ya afta dinna."
"Ok," just den our food came and everyone ate deir full. Da guys did anyway, I didn't want ta go on stage belching so I ate light. Medda had walked back on stage now and started talkin.
"Now, I'd like you all to velcome to da stage a very talented young lady." Talented she only hoid me sing one chorus and she's callin me talented! Jack nudged me and I got up and walked on da stage.
"Everyone dis is Heidi," dere was lots of cheerin and whistles. Den Medda walked off da stage. For a few seconds I jes stood dere and den I started talkin.
"Well, I hope you a enjoyin yerselves. I must say I'se new in town but I've met so many people who've been so kind ta me dey've become me best friends." Jack, Blink, and da odda Newsies who where der all beamed wid pride. "Ok nough said. Now, I'se gonna sing somethin none of you'se have eva heard befoa, it's called "Then You Look at Me". I took a deep breath and started.
"Laugh and cry, live and die. Life is a dream we are dreamin. Day by day, I find my way, look for the soul and the meaning.
Then you look at me and I always see, what I have been searchin for. I'm lost as can be then you look at me and I am not lost anymore." I paused to take a breathe. Well dey seemed to like it. Da people had turned around ta listen and Race had actually stopped smokin his cigar. But I barely noticed dese thing cuz all I could do was look at Jack.
"People run, sun to sun, caught in their lives ever flowing. Once begun life goes til it's gone. We have to go where it's going.
Then you look at me and I always see. What i have been searchin for, I'm lost as can be then you look at me and I am not lost anymore.
And you say you see, when you look at me the reason you love life so. Though lost I have been, I find love again and life just keeps on running and life just keeps on running. You look at me and life comes from youuuuu." As soon as I finished, clappin and roaring shook Irving Hall but I could barely hear it cuz I was still lookin at Jack. I walked offstage and decided to cool down in da back fer a minute.
Jack came backstage, "You were wonderful like an angel, Heidi. That song da woids meant so much..." he drew close, bout ta kiss me when Medda came.
"Oh, darlin you were excellent. She's good Kelly, really good! Well, you two medda get back out dere."
"K, thanks Medda."
"Oh, be sure ta come here Saturday. I'm throwing a dance.
"Sure thing," Jack escorted me through a side door and we went back to da table whereI was greeted by, "Great job" "Good singin" "Wondaful voice!"
"Thanks guys, your really sweet."
"Well, we should be heading home now," Jack said. We all walked out with Jack, me, and Blink trailing. We got to da Lodgin House extremely tired. I quickly got changed and climbed up to my bunk. I don't even know why I bodda goin all da way up here, noone sleeps on da lower bunk. Wait, yeah I do. It's so you can turn one way and look at Blink, den roll on yer odda fat side to stare at Jack. I smiled to myself and said goodnight to everyone.
~
Friday morning, I sold wid Blink while Jack went Brooklyn to get Spot. We headed ta Tibby's fer lunch. Jack and Spot where already der and we managed to sit across from dem with Mush.
"Hey, Heidi, miss me?"
"Sure did Spot."
"Good cuz I missed you." Was it me or did I see Jack and Blink look like they were gonna punch Spot?
"So, how're things in Brooklyn?" I asked.
"Dese past few days we'se been havin problems wid da Queen boys sellin in our territory and soakin some of our younger Newsies."
"Oh, so who's da leada of Queens?"
"His name's Max." Ooo, very intimidating.
"Uh huh"
"So I've been hearin thins from little boidies. Sounds like ya did a great job singin at Medda's last night."
"Yeah, I guess I did alright."
"Ya guess ya where all right?" Race said from da booth behind me, "You'se was poifect!" My face turned crimson but luckily Sarah walked in so it went back to it's normal shade.
"Hi, Sarah!" I wes da first ta greet er.
�Hi Heidi, hey boys. Listen Heidi I was in da neighborhood and wes wonderin if you'se goin to da dance tomorra."
"I had planned on it."
"Great cuz I have a dress you can use. It's really lovely, not dat your clothes aren't but.."
"Yeah, I understand Sarah. I'll come by roudn 5:30 is dat ok?"
"Perfect, see ya den. Bye."
"Bye," we all chimed in.
Jack and Spot sold papes but since it wes so nice Blink and I headed ta Central Park. We found a huge oak tree and I started to climb. Blink was not far behind me. I was doin fine but I grabbed a weak branch and it snapped. I started fallin but Blink grabbed me jes in time. We were fine for a second but then he lost his balance and we tumbled to da ground below. Luckily, it wasn't a high fall. Blink had landed on op a me and wes just lay dere lookin at each odda. Finally, he snapped out of it and stood up.
"You ok?" He offered me his hand and I stood up.
"Yeah, jes got a little wind knock out of me but I'm ok. Thanks fer grabbin me up dere." (Ok, stop thinkin dat you disgusting people you!)
"I'm afraid it didn't help much but yer welcome."
Just then we heard a cry of pain. We walked past some bushes and saw da Delancys beatin up on Les. "Hey leave da kid alone!" Blink yelled. They quickly dropped Les and walked ova to me.
"Hey suga. I missed ya dis afternoon. How come ya didn't come by?" Oscar asked.
"Well it was a nice afternoon so we thought we'd take a brake."
"Next time ya wanna relax you jes come see me." He said reachin for me but I stepped back. He grabbed me from behind and started kissin me. Blink rushed ta help but was forced to beat up Morris foist. Les helped me dough by jumpin on Oscar's back. He let go and tried ta get Les off. I wasted no time in kickin his stomach. Les slid off in time befoa I turned round and tripped him while he was bent ova in pain. Morris had run away and Blink had come up to me. He kicked Oscar once before takin my hand and Les's and we walked to da Jacobs' house.
"They didn't hoit me ta bad. I'se can still walk."
"What were ya doin by yerself?" I asked.
"Well, I went ta visit Snipes and wes comin home. Dats when Oscar and Morris bumped inta me." We were in front of deir door now and Les opened it. Mrs. Jacobs froze from her cookin when she saw Les's poiple eye.
"Oh God what happened?"
" I ran into da Delancys but Blink and Heidi helped me out."
"Well, I'm glad they came. It's nice to meet you, Heidi. The kids have been tellin me bout you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Jacobs."
"Well we betta get goin Heidi. We'se got ta meet everyone at Tibby's again."
"Bye kids, nice meetin you Heidi." We walked in to Tibby's havin joked around da whole way dere.
"There dey are!" Spot shouted.
"Where were you'se guys?" I sat next ta Jack and Blink took a seat across me.
"We were rescuin Les from da Delancy's." I said.
"Well dats twice ya beat the, up!" Mush said.
"Blink helped take Morris but da coward ran away."
"Aw, so humble," Race joked and patted my back.
"Ow!" I guess had a bruise from my fall.
"Hey was wrong?" Jack asked.
"Oh, I fell on my back."
"Da Delancy's?" Spot asked.
"No, um I was climbin a tree with Blink and I uh fell."
"Ouch dat musta hoit."
"Yeah specially cuz I fell on top of her." Blink said. The guys all teased cept Jack and Spot. "Ooops." He said lookin at me sheepishly.
"It's ok Blink," I said. The boys were still laughin and Spot jes said, "Ok everyone jes shuddup!"
You can imagine how quiet it got. Just den our food came and we ate in silence. Not dat we had nuthin ta say but we were pretty hungry. We all headed back to da Lodgin House. Blink put on his hat when we walked outside. Mush ran up from behind\n and took it runnin down da street. Blink chased it like lightnin leavin me to walk with Jack and Spot.
"Any of you'se know when da dance starts?" I asked breakin da silence
"7:30," Jack and Spot said simultaneously. Ok, den I'll have ta eat dinner afta I get ta Sarah's. When we got back Snoddy, Swifty, Itey, and Race played poker while da odda fellas gathad round me bunk and started ta tell me all bout da strike. Unsurprisingly, Spot made himself look big. We all went ta bed at midnight and I fell asleep right away. But den I woke up at 3a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep. I slowly climbed down from my bunk, quietly opened da window and somehow got up to da roof.
The sky was so beautiful and unusually clear. I was wonderin what everyone was doin at home. Sure I missed Crick and me udda friends but I sure as hell wasn't homesick. I leaned against the roof railing and looked up at da sky. I found myself startin ta sing "Santa Fe".
"..for a dreamer nights the only time of day," then from behind I heard Jack sing, "and I'm free like da wind, like I'm gonna live forever." I turned around and sang, "it's a feelin time can neva take away." Togedda we harmonized da rest of da song. In between da breaks we did dis supermergentroid dance. When da part came when he got on da horse he swung me towards him and finished da song in each oddas arms. "Dat was wonderful!" I whispered.
"Yeah, you were great. Can't believe they had my song in da movie."
"It's one of my favs. I hope I didn't wake you up goin out da window, Jack."
"No I jes rolled ova and saw you weren't dere so I saw da window was unlocked. I figad you were on da roof and I wes right."
"Yeah I couldn't sleep."
"Heidi..."
"Yes?"
"I was wonderin maybe if I could you up at Sarah's round 6:30 and we could eat dinna before goin ta Medda's. That is if nobody's asked ya yet."
"I'd love ta go wid you Jack. Noone's asked."
"Really? Great! I'se serprised ya haven't been asked."
"Nope and I'm glad nobody did." For awhile we stood dere. I yawned and Jack rubbed my shoulders.
"Ya want ta try and sleep again?"
"Sure." He jumped down to da fire escape and held out his arms. I lept down and he caught me. Gosh is he strong! Didn't even flinch. I opened da window still in his arms and we somehow managed to fit through. He gently hoisted me up ta me bunk and kissed my palm and said good night. He headed for his bunk and I brought my palm to my lips.