By Celtic

"Jasmine, honey, I'm leaving for work now."

A young teenage girl came out from the back room of the lodging house. She threw her arms around Swifty and kissed him on the cheek. "Bye Daddy. See you later."

Mush grabbed Swifty's arm and pulled him out of the lodging house. "The little ankle-biter ain't so little anymore."

Swifty sighed. "I know, she's sixteen now."

The two newsboys stopped in front of the World gate to watch Jack fight with the Delancey brothers before starting work. Once again Oscar and Morris were beaten by Jack Kelly. The newsies lined up to get their papers.

"Hey Swifty, what's up?" asked Itey, nudging the newsie.

"Three years ago Esmeralda passed away. I'm gettin' th' idea I ain't raisin' Jasmine right." answered Swifty.

"She don't seem ta care." said Jake.

Swifty bought his papers and started to leave when Jack put a hand on his shoulder. "Yer doin' better than her real fodder."

The other newsies nodded agreement as they went out to start work. Swifty lagged behind, thinking of how much his life had changed after he met Esmeralda. What hurt him was he wasn't Jasmine's real father.

Jasmine leaned against the rooftop edge and gazed at the streets below. She had never walked those streets because Swifty told her that for her protection from certain people she shouldn't walk in the streets of Manhattan.

"Kinda feel like dat hunchback in th' book ya read us?"

Jasmine turned. Tumbler strolled up next to her. She laughed as she went back to watching the Manhattan life on the streets. "In a way yes, I do."

Tumbler moved closer to Jasmine. "Der's a reason Swifty don't let ya outta here."

Jasmine sighed. "I know, but I wish Daddy would let me leave this place."

"Why don't cha just go?"

The young girl stared at the newsie with wide eyes. "How could you suggest something like that?"

Tumbler backed away and put his hands out in front of him. "Hey, yer sixteen now Ankle-biter. He can't run yer life forever."

"He's my father." she exclaimed.

Tumbler placed a hand on her arm and started to say something when a rumble was heard. The two looked up as rain started to fall. Tumbler grabbed Jasmine's arm and rushed into the lodging house, unable to escape the downpour. Jasmine went downstairs to her room to change out of her wet clothes. Tumbler sat on the stairs next to Jack and Dutchy as they watched Race and Bumlets in a serious game of poker.

"So how's Ankle-biter?" asked Dutchy.

Tumbler pushed his wet hair back. "I'm worried 'bout 'er."

"Why's that?" asked Jack, not taking his eyes off the game.

"Swifty won't let 'er outta dis place."

Bumlets looked up from his cards at Tumbler. "An' look how sweet she is."

"Her mudder didn't want 'er ta go t'rough what she did." said Dutchy.

Racetrack threw his cards down. "Yer cheatin' Bumlets, I swear yer usin' a rigged deck."

"Irish must not be here." said Jasmine as she emerged from her room, brushing her hair.

The other newsies laughed as Race pushed away from the table. He passed Jasmine as she leaned against the banister. "Where's Daddy?"

"Still sellin' I'm thinkin'." answered Bumlets as he lit a cigarette.

"In this rain?"

"Just started Ankle-biter." said Jack.

The lodging house doors opened and in walked Swifty, still holding newspapers. Jasmine stared at her father and asked, "Daddy, did you sell any of your papers?"

Swifty looked down at the rain-ruined papers. "Uh, yeah, I did sell...three or four."

Jasmine collected the papers and handed them to Dutchy. She then put her arms around Swifty and hugged him tight. "Daddy, what is bothering you?"

Jack tapped Tumbler and Dutchy, motioning for them to leave father and daughter.

"Jasmine, do ya like it 'ere?"

The young teen looked at her father with a knitted brow. "Why do you ask?"

Swifty sat her down on the steps. "Ya never left dis place, an' I'm thinkin' you deserve ta go out in th' streets now."

Jasmine's eyes grew wide. "Really, you mean it?"

Swifty nodded. "Yer sixteen now, I can't hold ya close forever."

Jasmine stood, never taking her eyes off of Swifty. "Daddy, I won't leave until you really think it is time. I know there has to be a reason you never let me set foot out of here."

Tumbler hid at the top of the stairs and listened to the conversation. He was puzzled as to why Jasmine wouldn't leave the lodging house when not long ago she was wishing to leave. He scratched his head as he went into the bunk room.

"What's buggin' you?" asked Jack.

"Fer some reason she won't leave da lodgin' house." he answered.

The newsies fixed their gaze on the youngest. "What're ya talkin' about?" asked Skittery.

"Swifty gave 'er th' chance ta go out an' she says no."

Bumlets threw his cigarette out the window and quickly closed it. "Ankle-biter must 'ave a reason, just stay out of it."

"Yeah Tumbler, butt out." agreed Mush.

Tumbler sat down on his bed and stared at the wall, the others went back to what they were doing before. Swifty soon walked in and slumped down on his bed.

"How's Ankle-biter?" asked Mush.

"I'm takin' 'er out tomorrow." answered Swifty.

"Can you afford it?" asked Jack.

"She made me promise ta sell all me papes b'fore takin' 'er anywhere." said Swifty.

The newsies laughed. "Seems she's takin' care of you'se insteada th' opposite." said Racetrack.

Swifty sat up. "You'se guys hafta help me out. Kinda watch out fer Oscar 'n' Morris."

"Sure Swifty, no problem," said Jack, "we'll keep 'em off yer back."

Jasmine finished putting up her hair when there was a knock on the door. She put down her brush and opened the door. Swifty stood there, his pockets full of money. "Ya ready ta go?" he asked.

She nodded as she closed the door. Swifty took her hand and led her out of the lodging house. Swifty waited patiently as Jasmine looked all around her, slowly walking down the front steps. "Daddy, it's so much better to see it up close than from the rooftop."

Swifty laughed. "Yeah, guess so."

Father and daughter walked the streets of Manhattan, taking their time. Swifty took Jasmine to Central Park, the World building, and other places of interest. The last place he took her was Tibby's, where they stopped to eat. Some of the other newsies were there too.

"Hey Ankle-biter, are ya lost?" joked Skittery.

Swifty sat Jasmine down as he ordered for the both of them.

"Where did Swifty take you so far?" asked Irish.

"We went to the World building, and Central Park, and..." answered Jasmine, not finishing because Spot Conlon walked in with another newsie. Racetrack quickly sat next to Irish and put his arm around her. "Hey Spot, how's life?"

"Yer's is gonna end soon if ha don't move it." said Spot.

"I'm convinced yer not Irish luck." said Race as he got up.

Jasmine nudged her father and asked, "Who is that with Spot?"

Swifty put an arm around his daughter and answered, "Dat's Swindler, one 'a th' Brooklyn Boys."

Jasmine gazed at the newsie. Even with growing up with the Manhattan newsies she had never seen anyone as handsome as Swindler.

"Who's dat wit' ya Swifty?" asked Swindler.

"Dat's Ankle-biter, Swifty's kid." answered Spot.

"Ah yeah, I hearda you'se."

"Did you hear my real name is Jasmine?"

Swindler laughed. "I figgered Spot just didn't know yer name."

The newsie grabbed Jasmine's hand and kissed it, making her blush and Swifty tense up. Jack put a hand on his friend's shoulder and motioned for him to follow him to the other side of the diner.

"What is it Jack?" asked Swifty, not taking his eyes off his daughter.

"Ya gotta let 'er be wit' udder guys b'sides us. She's sixteen now."

"Why couldn't it be Tumbler or Snipeshooter?"

"Jack laughed. "'Cause she grew up wit' 'em."

"Swifty turned to Jack and gave him a hard glare. "How can ya laugh at dis?" Yer like 'er second fodder."

Jack looked over at the newsie table and saw Swindler helping Jasmine up. Swifty looked too and started for the two but Jack stopped him. "You'se kin trust Swindler, and Jasmine."

"Jack, let me go." threatened Swifty.

"Swifty, he's tough enough ta protect Jasmine, if he don't ya know Spot'll soak 'im first."

Swifty watched as his daughter left Tibby's with the Brooklyn Boy.

Swindler and Jasmine walked the streets of Manhattan hand in hand.

"Ya sure ya don't wanna go ta Brooklyn?"

Jasmine nodded. "I don't want to stray too far from home."

Swindler chuckled. "Thought you'd wanna see all of New York."

"I do, but Daddy should be the one to show me."

Swindler's smile faded as he stopped in front of the Horace Greeley statue. He knew the truth about Swifty not being Jasmine's real father. He hefted her up on the base of the statue and then sat next to her.

"This day has been wonderful." said Jasmine.

"How come ya didn't come out sooner?" asked Swindler.

"Daddy said I shouldn't."

Swindler wiped his forehead and took Jasmine's hand. "Y'know, about yer fodder---"

"Swindler!"

The two looked over and saw Spot standing next to them. "We gotta head back ta Brooklyn."

Swindler sighed as he hopped off the base and helped Jasmine. "Guess I gotta go. I'll see ya."

The Brooklyn Boys said good-bye to the young girl as Bumlets strolled up next to her. She turned to him with a confused look on her face.

"What's up Ankle-biter?" asked the newsie as he took her hand.

"Swindler started to say something about Daddy, do you know what it could be?"

Bumlets nervously cleared his throat as he walked with Jasmine to the lodging house. "Can't say I do."

Jasmine took her time up the steps as Bumlets rushed into the building. He bumped right into Swifty on entering. "Swifty, we got problems."

The newsies' eyes went wide, thinking it had to do with his daughter. Bumlets grabbed his arm and led him up to the bunk room before Jasmine came in.

"What's goin' on Bumlets?" asked Swifty.

Bumlets put down his staff and quickly lit a cigarette, like he always did when he was nervous. "Swindler almost broke th' chain."

Swifty's brow knit. "What?"

Bumlets started pacing. "He almost told Ankle-biter th' truth ‘bout you'se."

Swifty jumped up. "What?!"

Bumlets took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair while holding the cigarette in his other hand. "Spot stopped ‘im b'fore he could say anythin' to ‘er."

Swifty balled his fists as he started to pace with Bumlets. "If she ever found out th' truth..."

Skittery, Tumbler, and Kid Blink burst into the room.

"We ran inta Spot ‘n' Swindler on th' way ‘ere." explained Tumbler.

"Irish ‘n' Anna're wit' Ankle-biter right now." said Skittery.

Swifty sat down on his bunk and buried his head in his hands. The others sat around him.

"What now?" asked Kid.

Bumlets dropped the cigarette on the floor and stepped on it. "She can't know th' truth, it'd kill ‘er."

Swifty jerked his head up. "It'd kill me too."

Footsteps coming up the stairs was heard, then the door opened and in walked Jasmine. She rushed to her father and threw her arms around him. "I missed you Daddy."

The newsies looked at each other and quickly left the room. Swifty backed away from Jasmine and stood up. "Whatja do wit' Swindler?"

"We just walked around Manhattan until Swindler had to leave."

"Anythin' happen?"

Jasmine stood next to Swifty. "He started to tell me something about you. Do you know what it could be? And why is everyone acting so strange?"

Swifty sighed. He didn't want to tell Jasmine the truth, but he knew she needed to know. "Jasmine, I gotta tell ya somethin' dat may change our relationship."

"What is it Daddy?"

Swifty grabbed his daughter's hands and said, "Ya gotta know I ain't---"

"He ain't likin' ya wit' Swindler!"

Jack burst into the room, cutting Swifty off. He went up to Jasmine and put an arm around her. "Y'see, yer fodder's not ready fer you'se ta grow up."

Jasmine looked at Swifty. "Daddy, I'm sixteen now, this kind of thing should be no surprise."

Swifty glared at Jack. "Dat wasn't what I was gonna say," he turned to Jasmine, "I shoulda told ya dis when yer mudder died."

Jasmine's smile faded, Jack drew her closer.

"Jasmine, I ain't yer real fodder."

The young girl stared at Swifty as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest. She looked up at Jack, hoping to find a hint that showed what was just said was untrue.

"Swifty should explain da whole story," said Jack, "He met you ‘n' yer mudder when you was a year old. Yer real fodder run out on ya."

Jasmine slowly walked out of the room. As she walked down the steps, the newsies knew what happened because of the look on her face. She stepped out of the lodging house, darkness enveloped Manhattan. She walked the streets, not knowing where she was going and not caring until she ran right into Spot.

"Hey der, you'se shouldn't be out late. Der's freaks around."

It was as if everything she was holding back came out all at once. Jasmine's eyes filled with tears and she cried, startling Spot. He put an arm around her and walked with her.

"I was so happy, why did he have to tell me?" asked Jasmine.

"Jasmine, thinka dis. You had someone to call fodder all yer life ‘cause Swifty cared fer you'se an' yer mudder."

"But why did he tell me he wasn't my father?"

Spot heaved a sigh of frustration. "He's yer fodder in every way, th' only part he missed was--"

"I get what you're saying." said Jasmine quickly.

Spot squeezed her as they stood in front of the lodging house. Jasmine stared at the building like it wasn't her home, but a distant memory, the truth she had received was a memory she wanted to forget. Spot released her, making Jasmine turn her gaze to him. The rough newsie gave her a gentle smile and kissed her on the cheek. "We only want what's best fer ya."

Jasmine walked up to steps and opened the door. She never entered because the sound of footsteps was heard, then voices, taunting Spot. Jasmine turned to see two men, same age as the other newsies, circling the Brooklyn newsie.

"Whatcha doin' ‘ere Spot?" asked one.

"Dis ain't yer territory." said the other.

"Hey, leave him alone!" said Jasmine.

"Jasmine, get inside!" said Spot, not taking his eyes off the two.

The two men saw Jasmine for the first time. They forgot Spot and started for the young girl. She ducked between them and rushed to Spot, confusing him because she had the chance to get inside the lodging house.

"Jack! A little help would be good ‘bout now!" yelled Spot.

In just a few seconds Jack burst out of the lodging house, catching the two off guard. He pushed them down the steps while Spot took Jasmine to a nearby alley.

"What were ya thinkin'?! You'se had th' chance ta git inside!"

For the first time Spot saw Jasmine angry. "So I wasn't thinking. Being locked away doesn't teach you much Spot Conlon!"

Jasmine started to walk away. Spot grabbed her hand and asked, "Where're ya goin'?"

She jerked away. "What do you care? You're not my father, I don't have one."

Spot didn't know what to do as he watched Jasmine storm away. He emerged from the shadows, Jack asked right away, "Where's Jasmine?"

"I couldn't stop ‘er, she left."

Jack's jaw dropped at the news. "Ya mean she's anywhere in New York?"

Spot nodded. "She glared at me Jack."

The Manhattan newsie wiped his forehead and sighed. "This'll kill Swifty. He loved ‘er so much."

The two newsies parted, Spot started to light a cigarette, and Jack went into the lodging house, wondering how to break the news to Swifty.

~One Year Later~

Bumlets finished selling his papers and started walking around Central Park when he heard his name.

"Bumlets!"

He turned to see a fellow newsie running toward him, but he had never seen this person before. "Dat's me..."

The newsie threw his arms around Bumlets, making his eyes grow wide with surprise. He pushed the newsie away and started to ask what his problem was until he saw the newsies' face, causing his eyes to grow wider than before. "Jasmine?"

She smiled. "Not no more. "I'm Isis."

"What?"

"Afta I left dat night I went ta th' Bronx an' stayed der. Da leada der's inta Egypt, an' when ‘e saw me, ‘e said I looked like a goddesss, an' so I'se named Isis."

Bumlets hugged her once again, hardly believing it was her after a year. When he finally released her, Bumlets walked around Central Park with Isis as she told him about living in the Bronx.

"...the funny thing is he said he should change ‘is name ta Osiris so's we would ‘ave a..."

"Why didja leave?" interrupted Bumlets.

Isis' smile faded as she lowered her eyes. "I had to."

Bumlets put an arm around her. "Ya gotta know Swifty's never lost hope dat you'll return. You'se meant more ta ‘im den th' newsies. Yer ‘is reason fer livin'."

She looked up at him as she removed her cap, her raven black hair (which matched Bumlets') cascading down over her shoulders. "I've come back. Da only reason I left was so I could take carea myself like a newsie. I ain't gonna let what happened a year ago happen again."

"Der's more to it den just talkin' like one."

"Ya mean I learned wrong when dey taught me dis?"

Isis lunged at Bumlets, knocking him down and landing on top of him, pinning him to the ground. Bumlets laughed as he turned and pinned Isis. "Looks like it."

He stood and helped Isis up. She brushed herself off as Bumlets picked up his wooden staff. They walked together to Tibby's, where the other newsies were.

"Hey, Swifty here yet?" asked Bumlets.

"No...." started Dutchy, until he saw Isis.

The other newsies became silent and stared at the girl they watched grow up. She sat down just as Swifty walked in, his eyes distant. He sat down next to Isis, not knowing who she was.

"Hey Swifty, how goes it?" asked Racetrack, trying to hide a smile.

"So yer th' Swifty I heard so much about." said Isis.

He turned suddenly, remembering the voice. Isis smiled as she threw her arms around him.

"Is it really you?" he asked.

"I ain't Jasmine anymore, I'se now Isis." answered Isis.

"Why didja leave me?"

"I wanted ta learn ta be a newsie, like my daddy."