"Please don't be mad at me Blink!" I begged. He wiped his face with his free hand while I let go of da odda.
"I ain't mad at ya, I'se mad at meself."
"Yerself, why?" How could he not be upset with me?
"Fer thinkin I actually had a chance wid you. I knew Jack had his eyes on ya eva since ya came hea. I can't believe I was so damn stupid for trying."
"Blink, don't talk bout yaself dat way. It is my fault. I led you, Jack, and Spot on," surprise hit his face again when I said Spot, "Dats why I left, I couldn't take it nomoa. I had ta clear me minde befoa I could face anyone. I spend days walkin round da city like a drunk idiot til finally Race knocked sem sense inta me head dis mornin."
"Wad he tell ya?"
"Simple, he jes told me to choose and do it quick. So I did." I sighed. We'd already entad da Park and I discovad we were standin by da oak we had climbed togedda.
"And ya chose Jack."
"Blink, I'se sorry, truly. I want ya to fergive me. Hoitin someone's heart is da most awful thing. I'se don't want ya ta feel like ya constantly got a dagger in it and..."
"Sh!" He put a finger to my lips, "no need to ramble on. You said you wer sorry and I forgive ya. I can't make you love me."
"You forgive me, really?"
"Yeah, it'll be a little hard but hey, I'll live."
"An ya won't be a joik bout it?"
"Naw." I gave him a big hug cuz a lot of guilt had been lifted off my shouldas.
"Oh Blink, I'se so happy ta don't hate me! I'd go crazy if ya did."
"Well, friends can't hate each odda, den they wouldn't be friends. Now come on, we'se gotta head back."
We walked in and everyone was gathad round Jack. Dey all stopped talking and looked at me. "Dey know?" I asked Jack.
"Yeah."
"Thanks, it woulda been weird telling everyone."
"Dats awright, we undastand." Snoddy said.
"Ya made a good choice dough, not dat Blink or Spot ain't great." Skitts said.
"Well, we'se betta head ta Brooklyn, Heidi." Jack stood up.
"Mind if I go?" Blink asked.
"Coise not, it may help me if you'se dere. But I'd like ta talk to Spot alone."
"Got it." "Come on, let's go den." Jack got up and opended da door. To keep them humored, I told da guys everythin dat reminded me of Newsies back home.
~
We reached Brooklyn round three o'clock. Brick and Brass wee playing a game of war at da Lodgin House. They looked up at me as I entad da door. Instantly, dey threw down their cards and ran ta give me a hug.
"Yer back!" "Great ta see you again!"
"You too guys! Where's everybody?"
"Spot took Fish, Shiner , and some oddas ta look fer ya in Midtown," Brick said.
"He's still lookin fer me?"
"Nonstop," Brass answad.
"But, I specifically said.."
"Aw come one ya know Spot would go out lookin fer you no matter whad ya said. He wouldn't let ya walk round aimlessly on da streets." Brick interrupted.
"So, when's he comin back?" Jack asked.
"Not til late dis aftanoon."
"Guess we can spend da night," Blink said.
"Meantime, you'se guys wanna play cards?" Brick offered.
"You guys can I'm gonna take a nice long bath in dat tub you guys got. I ain't cleaned meself thoroughly in bout a week." I climbed da stairs and headed ta Spot's room. It was exactly as I remembad it. My bag was still by da wall and mu bunk was still made. I noticed my letter lyin on da top of Spot's bunk. I took some clean clodes and endulged in my bath.
Much later, I walked back inta Spot's room having forgotten my brush. I shut da door behind me and turned ta see Spot climbin in through da window. He almost fell on da floor when he saw me.
"Heidi! Yer back!" He stepped closa, "I'se been lookin all ova fer ya." Goin right up to me he put his arms round my waist, "I wes so worried and I missed ya so much I..." he leaned down and kissed me.
"Please Spot," I broke away, "don't."
"Why not? I'se been wantin ta do dat eva since you left."
"Cuz," I could barely speak; my throat was chokin up. Aw geez, I can't cry. "Did ya eva figa out why I left?"
"Yer note said ya had personal problems, you coulda talked ta me bout it." He put his arm round my shoulders.
"No I couldn't of.."
"Why not?"
"Cuz, I was fallin in love...wid you, Jack, and Blink. I needed ta get away, couldn't take it. I felt awful for leading the three of you on. I had no clue wad ta do so I walked all round New York til Race helped me out." He wes tryin ta hide his surprise but still kept his arm round me.
"You saw Race?"
"Not on purpose. I fell asleep at St. Patrick's and he found me."
"Wad he tell ya?"
"Dat I needed to let me heart choose who I loved..."
"And?"
"And," God, dis was hard ta get out especially since I had no clue how he'd take it, "I chose Jack." I expected him to blow his top and walk out of da room. Instead, he removed his arm, sat on my bunk, and started running his fingers through his hair. His face was full of sorrow and cunfusion. "Spot, I'm really sorry. I was, I was... a real bitch." Did I just call myself a bitch? I hate dat woid. He stood up and held my shoulda.
"You weren't a bitch, Heidi. You were everythin a guy could eva want."
"No Spot, I should neva of led da three of you on like dat. Now cuz of my selfishness, I'se lost a good friend."
"Hey, who said ya lost me?" He pulled my chin up to look me in da face.
"Well, I thought.."
"Wad? Dat I'd get all upset cuz I couldn't have ya. Well, Spot Conlon's jes gonna have get used to rejection."
"I guess I'se da first huh Spot?"
"Come to think if it you are."
"Hope it don't hurt yer ego."
"Coise not."
"So you forgive me and everything?"
"Coise, how could I not forgive you?"
"Oh Spot! Yer da greatest!" I hugged him.
"Yeah, i know," I pulled back and punched him. Now, I definitely know his ego wasn't hurtin.
"Oh, I'm gonna get you..." he grinned wickedly inching closa.
"No, Spot, please don't tickle me!" I ran down da stairs wid him on my heels.
Da room was full of guys but I found Jack playing cards with Blink, Brick, and Brass. I ran and hid behind him. "Hey, wads da matta?"
Jes den, Spot came and said, "Ok Cowboy let me at her!" Jack thought Spot was really gonna hurt me; he didn't know we were playin.
"I ain' gonna let ya touch her." Den he put up his fists really expecting Spot to fight him. Da oddas all looked worried. I stepped in front of Jack and put my hands on his fists.
"It's okay Jack, Spot and I were jes playing."
"Huh?" He looked down at me.
"Yeah, I told him and everythin's fine now."
"Oh, okay." He put down his fists feelin radda stupid fer thinkin Spot was bout ta hurt me.
"Yeah, Jack, no need ta get excited." Spot said.
"So yer ok wid us?"
"Coise Jacky boy, we'se friends. I ain't upset dat Heidi's yer goil. I am glad ta know she's back safe and sound. In fact, I say all of us have a Welcome Home party for her at Medda's tommora night."
"Dats a great idea!" Blink burst out.
"No, really guys, ya don't have ta.."
"Sua we do and we won't take no fer an answer." Jack said
"Fine, you guys are so sweet. I can't believe how lucky I am."
When it was all settled, da four of us walked out on da docks to watch da sunset. I asked da odda guys ta join us but they insisted on stayin inside. Blink, Spot, me, and Jack (bad English I know) leaned up gainst a crate. Jack put his arm round me and I leaned on his shoulda as we watched da sun began its descent.
"Ya gonna sing tomorra?" Spot asked.
"If you guys want me ta,"
"Coise we do!" Blink said.
"Yer like an angel!" Jack said softly in my ear but not soft enough cuz Spot and Blink still heard.
"You sure are!" Spot said.
"Well, den I guess I'll have ta."
Fer da rest of da time, we sat in silence soakin in da beauty of the sun as it set. I found da surroundin atmosphere so peaceful and romantic; it's too hard to find da words dat describe it. As da last rays disappeared ova da horizon, Jack took my hand and gently lifted me up. I got up and gently kissed him between his eyebrows. Spot and Blink also arose and we headed back for da Lodgin House.
Spot walked ova and put his arm round me, "Guess dis is yer last night hea in Brooklyn, huh?"
"..den this guy says ta me, �You'se can't sit dere, dat's my seat'..."
"So wad ya do?" Brass interrupted.
"Would ya shuddup and let him talk, Brass," Brick said.
"Thank ya Brick, so anyways I said, �Well, scuse me but I don't see yer name anywhere on it bum.' Then dis guy makes da mistake of tryin ta hit me. I jumped out of da chair and landed three nice punches to his left eye before he finally keeled ova."
"Maybe I should lend him my patch," Blink said.
"Well Shiner, definitely sounds like ya lived up to yer name," I said.
"Hail da glorious champion!" Fish shouted and mockingly bowed befoa him. We all followed his shining example laughin hysterically.
Da rest of da night, I told dem whad I had done fer five days. Fer some reason, I had no problem tellin da Brooklyn newsies why I'd run away. Finally, we all called it a night. I wes bout ta walk up da stairs but remembad Jack and Blink.
"Where you are you two gonna sleep?"
"Down hea wid da oddas," Blink said pointin to some empty bunks.
"And yer ok wid me sleepin in Spot's room?" I asked lookin at Jack.
"Cois I'se trust me goil and best friend."
"Ok."
"Night, Heidi."
"Night, Jack." He walked ova and planted a kiss on my lips. I kissed back and headed up da stairs hearin all da guys cheer in da background.
When I got done changin I entad da room to see Spot sittin in a chair by da table. "Ya know thins �ill be different round hea. Ya make da guys loosen up. Dey ain't usually as happy as dey've been when you'se hea."
"Well, hopefully that won't change too much."
"I'se gonna miss ya Heidi."
"Aw come on Spot, I'se right ova da bridge."
"Yeah I know but..."
"Good night Spot," I planted a kiss on his cheek and crawled into my bunk.
"Good night, Heidi," he said while dimmin da lamp. Den, he walked ova to his bed and squeezed my hand befoa climbin up.
"Mornin Jack."
"Sua is a wondaful morning."
"It jes got even betta when ya jes kissed me."
"Didn't it dough." He took my hand.
"I'se ready to leaved wheneva you are Jack."
"Well we'll sell papes hea and meet yo wid da boys at Tibby's. Spot and sem of da guys will come too. I guess from dere we'll bum round til it's time ta go ta Medda's."
"It's good ta know someone's got oua schedule all figad out." I teased and he laughed.
Jes den a whole mass of guys came out of da Lodgin House. Blink had me bags wid im.
"Hey ya Jacky boy, Mornin Heidi," Spot said, "ya ready ta go?"
"Yeah Spot, we'se ready." I walked ta Blink and said, "Ya know Blink, I feel awfully bad. You always are carryin me bags round. Let me take dat from you'se."
"Nothin doin. I don't mind takin yer bags."
"Really, Blink, I insist." I grabbed da handle of my duffle.
"And I said no. You can take yer purse dough, k? It's a common coitesy fer a guy to carry lady's belongin."
"Awright Blink, I give up, I give up. Thanks." Da guys started laughin. Geez dey must be awfully tired to think dis is funny.
"Well come on, we'se godda get ta da DO," Spot said. I took one last look at da docks.
"Ya comin?" Jack asked huggin my shoulda.
"Oh, yeah, ok let's go."
We bought half as many since we had ta get ta Manhattan. Da guys refused ta let me sell by myself so I paired up wid Brick and Brass. I wanted ta spend my time wid da Brooklyn boys as much as I could. Jack undastood and let me go willingly.
At 11:30, we all met up at da bridge. I regretted leavin but cheereed up as I saw the buildins of Manhattan. "Hey come on!" Jack gently grabbed my hand and brought me towards da side of da railin. Blink joined us and I grinned. Da three of us leaned ova and screamed.
"Geez, whad is it wid you Manhattan newsies and screamin ova da bridge?" Spot stared at us like we were insane. Da three of us just burst out gigglin. Seriously, Jack and Blink were gigglin. I can imagine Blink gigglin but Jack? Dat got me crackin up.
"Whad's so funny?" Jack asked.
"You!" I pointed at him and continued laughin. He gave wicked grin and lunged fer me. I took off runnin down towards da odda end of da bridge. He easily overtook me and swung me around.
"So ya think I'm funny do ya?" His eyes were sparklin and befoa I could say anythin he pulled me inta deep kiss. Den he drew back, "So wes dat funny?"
"No," I smiled, "it wasn't funny at all but I sua loved it."
Da oddas had come up. "Wad we miss?" Fish asked.
"Nothi..." I didn't get ta finish cuz Jack said, "I'll show ya." Den, he pulled me inta anodda kiss. In da back I could hear hootin and hollerin.
"Now dat was funny." I whispad.
~
Round 11:30 our huge group arrived at da slightly packed restaurant. Mush wes da foist ta see me. "Hey ya Heidi!"
"We missed ya!" Race said.
"I ain't been gone fer no moa den 12 hours guys!"
"We know but we still missed ya!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, we'se serious."
"Oh guys!"
"Hey fellas!" Spot shouted above da din, "We'se gonna celebrate Heidi's retoin tanight at Medda's," he was intarupted by cheers which stopped when he put up his hand, "Thank you, now da lovely guest of hona is also goin to kind enough to entertain us wid her beautiful voice." When he finished da boys shouted even louda.
Once we finished eatin, sem boys includin a few from Brooklyn headed ta da DO. I was gonna head ta head ta Central Park wid Spot, Blink, and Race but remembad I had ta figa out whad I was gonna sing and I had ta find somethin ta wear. Jack of course wouldn't let me walk by myself so he took my bags and we went to da Lodgin House.
Jack put down my bags by me old bunk. Bending down I took out my CDS and started browsin through songs. Jack went ta take a showa while I continued lookin through my music. Hm, well I'm gonna do "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon" again and I may as well do "Goodnight My Love." Let's see "I Will Always Love You", "More than Words" uh "Flying Without Wings". Then there's "From My Head to My Heart", "Again" by Lenny Kravitz and "Drops of Jupiter". Oh definitely can't forget "Then You Look at Me". As I started writin dow n da songs I was gonna sing, I broke out in "Bei Mir Bist du Schon."
"Bei mir, bist du schon, please let me explain, bei mir bist du schon means that your grand. I could say bella, bella, even say vunderval. Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are. Bei mir bist du schon, I've tried to explain so kiss me and say you understand...."
Jes den, Jack climbed up on me bunk and started to (duh!) kiss me. After coming over the shock I put my arms round his neck and moved in to deepen da kiss. Jack turned his head to kiss da corna of my ear. Den he whispad, "I'se glad ya told me ta kiss ya!"
"So am I!" I slowly drew back
"Well, I'se got ta do some things befoa da party tanight, so I'se gonna go out now. But, I'se �il be back at six ta pick ya up. Ya gonna be ok hea?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine, Jack. I can practice and I should go take a showa."
"Yer sua?"
"Yes, Jack, now go." He gave me one last kiss on da cheek and headed down dastairs. As soon as he left, I fell back on my bed letting out a deep sigh. I wes so lucky to have Jack!
Well I practiced me songs and headed fer da showa round 5. I hung da dress Sarah gave me outside da curtain. I quickly scrubbed meself bein careful not to get my hair wet. I walked out expectin to see Sarah's black dress on the hook but instead deir as a lovely blue silk dress lined wid black satin. It wes so similar to Sarah's but a little more decked up. I stared at it fer several minutes and finally thought, "Where did dis come from?" Oh, Jack! He is so sweet!
I quickly put on me slip and carefully put on da dress. It fit perfectly, I guess Jack guessed my size afta all dose hugs! I opened da dorr and looked in one of da full length mirrors which were installed afta da strike. I have to admit, da dress looked wondaful on me. I put on my makeup and decided to leave my hair down. I put my stuff one of da washroom cubbies and walked out.
Jack was dere, awready dressed up in a new suit. Da pants and coat were black but his vest was da same color as my dress. He wes lookin out da window down to da street below. He notice me and met me wid a beamin smile.
"Jack da dress is so beautiful! I love it, thank you so much! How'd ya get da money fer it?"
"I have my ways. Heidi, ya look perfect. Can't believe ya sing and look like an angel!" I smiled as he took my hands and brought his lips ova dem. Inside I squirmed with happiness as I looked into his hazel eyes. The way he looked at me told me his feelings were truly sincere. He glanced at my watch. "It's 6:00 we betta burry. You'se gotta get der on time. Afta all you'se da guest of hona."
"Dats right, dey can't da party widout me."
"Cuz yer so special!" I smiled, I wes special. Very few times in my life did I eva fell special. But eva since I had come hea things changed. I felt loved all da time and wes so happy.
I tore it out of my purse and Jack looked at it strangely. Their was a brand new roll in it! Yay!!! How could I have forgotten I had it? "Whad's dat?" Jack asked .
I handed it to him, "It's a camera."
"Wow!" by now Denton came up and intraduced himself.
"Hello Ms. Reed, I ran inta Davey taday and he told me bout you and yer party. So I figad I'd come and take pictuas."
"Pleased ta meet ya Denton. Ya see dis hea, well it's a camera, believe it or not." I placed it in his palm and he peered through the lens. "Would you mind takin me pic wid Jack?"
"Sure, just tell me what to do." I explained it to him and he flashed a pic. Now if I eva get back and noone believed me I had proof!
Afta dat Jack walked me to a table in da middle of da hall. I sat next ta Spot and Blink, Mush, and Race were dere too. "Wow, Heidi ya look great!" Mush da flaterer said.
"Thanks Mush, smile!" He looked confused but smiled as I took his picture.
"Whad's dat?" Spot asked.
"A camera," Jack answad.
"Woah..."
"Yeap dey get even smaller too. Look at me Blink." I snapped anodda pick of Blink and Spot.
"So dat little thing takes pics?" Race asked.
"Yeah and dey come in color too. Don't ask me how it works I haven't a clue. Hey Jack lean ova towards Race. Dere now smile you two." Dey did and I clicked down on da shutter. I wonda if I'll even get dese developed, I rememba thinkin.
Befoa we could start talking again, Medda came out and started wid a lengthy talk of how everyone missed me and now everyone was happy I wes back. My face was red wid embarrassment.
"...and now I'd like da guest of hona ta come up on stage." Cheers broke out as I rose and stood next to Medda.
"Da stage is all yours deary! Afta a few songs you can head back to yer table, den I'll call ya up again."
"Thanks Medda."
"Well, you'se guys know I ain't much fer long intro but I want ta say I missed each and every one of you'se while I wes �gone'. But I'm home now and I promise neva ta run away again." I den introduced my first song, "Most of ya �ill rememba dis song from da dance but if yer from Brooklyn it's called �Bei Mir Bist du Schon' and dats German. If ya listen carefully you'se �ill be able to figa out whad it means."
I den started to sing. Afta I finished I waited fer da applause to quiet down til I started wid "Drops of Jupiter" den I continued wid "More than Words" and "Again". I walked off da stage afta dat to rest my diaphragm. I sat down and Jack gave me a peck on da cheek. I took a few bites of da food dat was at my plate and in between thanked da guys who were showering me wid compliments.
"Hey guys, mind if I talk ta me odda guests?"
"Coise not, it's yer party." Spot said.
"Awright thanks!" I took my camera and headed ta da table where Snoddy, Sarah, Davey, and Skitts were.
"Hey ya!" Sarah said.
"Hey Heidi, great singin!" Snoddy said.
"Yeah, I could listen to ya all night!" Skitts sighed.
"So how's it feel to be back?" Davey asked.
"Well, like I said Dave, I missed all of you and it's great ta be back."
"Whad's dat yer holdin?" Skitts asked. Oh geez, ya know I should jes tell everybody. I walked up on stage and was bout ta yell at everyone to shuddup but when da lights hit me da room was silenced.
"Thanks everyone! Anyway, I ain't gonna sing again..." dere were tons of disappointed remarks, "well not jes yet anyway. Right now I want to tell all of you dat dis thing hea, is a camera. So's I'se gonna be takin lots of pictuas tanight. Thank you." I walked off and headed back ta Skitts.
"Sorry bout dat Skittery. I figad it'd be easier tellin everyone. Now dat ya know whad it is why don't you'se all look at me and smile. Poifect say cheese!" Dey all said cheese and smiled."So Dave, where's ya goil?" I asked.
"Ok well she couldn't come on such shoit notice."
"Too bad, well how's bout you Skitts, Snoddy brought Sarah, you'se gotta goil?"
"I woulda brought her but since ya didn't know her I decided not ta."
"Oh, ya shoulda brought her."
"Ya wouldn't of minded?"
"Coise not."
"Yer real sweet Heidi!"
"Thanks."
I talked wid dem fer a few minutes and took moa pics. Den, I moved ta where Dutchy, Bumlets, Brick, and Brass were. It was good ta see dat all da boys didn't have trouble gettin along. Right next ta them was Crutchy, Specs, Pie Eater, Fish, and Shiner. I chatted fer a bit and took some pics. Befoa I went ta sit down, I went to da last two tables. Itey, Swifty, Snitch, and Jake were hanging wid Les, Snipes, Boots, and all da odda younga newsies. Dey looked a little bored.MO<
"Hey boys, you'se havin any fun?"I asked.
"Not real..OW!" Boots had jes kicked Snipes shin from unda da table.
"Hey don't worry bout it. I'se undastand. I used ta be dragged to borin parties all da time. If you'se guys are really dat bored ya can head ta da Lodgin House."
"You'd let us leave?" Jake perked up.
"Yeah I'se gonna let ya go."
"So you ain't gonna sing no moa?" Les asked.
"I'se got a few moa numbas comin up real soon."
"Oh, den I'm stayin!" Snipes said.
"Ok, but when you'se guys decide ta go make sua ya tell someone ."
"Awright."
"Hey boys?"
"Yeah?" Dey all said.
"Smile!" I took anodda pic wid me camera befoa walkin back to my table.
As I sat in my seat, Jack kissed my cheek, "Enjoyin yer party?" he asked.
"It's wondaful thanks guys."
"Hey, hey don't mention it." Spot said. Da waiter came by wid some drinks. Jes afta I took a sip of my beer, yes beer, Medda came out again to call me on stage.
"Come on Medda, I jes sat down." I whined.
"Aw don't complain," Mush said and den Blink came in, "Yeah, sides we all love ta hear ya sing."
"Hea, hea!" seconded Race and wid dat I once moa headed to da stage and immediately started singin "I Will Always Love You". Da next two where "Flying Without Wings" and "Goodnight My Love". For my last song I of course sang "Then You Look at Me". It was like da first night at Medda's, I could barely take my eyes of Jack. Course dis time da woids had more meaning to me. It was as if noone was in da hall cept Jack and me.
".....you look at me and life comes from youuuuuuuuuu." My fading voice was drowned by da cheers of everyone. I instantly snapped back into reality and bowed. Befoa I could get off da stage, Medda came up and told me I looked a little flushed so she told me to freshen up in her dressin room.