By Celtic

Celtic, Mr. Mantoya, Sergeant O'Reily, and Jackal are my own creation, all others are a property of Disney. The lyrics to Everything I Do (I Do It For You) are by Bryan Adams.

The one thing Celtic hated to do every morning was brush her hair. It was so thick and long that sometimes she would spend over an hour brushing it.

"Celtic? You still here?"

She turned to see Bumlets standing outside the washroom door. He smiled as he walked up to her, took the brush, and started brushing her hair.

"You don't hafta do dat y'know." she said.

"Yer takin' too long."

He put down the brush and turned Celtic around, kissing her. She pushed away and laughed. "Good mornin' ta you too."

Bumlets squeezed her as she wrapped her arms around him. "Ya wanna skip sellin' today an' spend yer day wit' me?"

Celtic grinned mischievously. "I'd rather ‘ave an exciting day."

The Manhattan newsie let go of Celtic. "Oh really?"

Celtic backed away as Bumlets stepped towards her. "Bumlets, you've got dat look in yer eye, don't come near me!"

The two ended up running around Celtic's bunk room, Bumlets chasing Celtic until he caught up to her and pinned her to the bed. "Whatcha gonna do now?"

Celtic smiled as she caught her breath. "Guess I gotta do what you say."

Bumlets kissed her once again before helping her up. He put an arm around Celtic and walked out of the lodging house. They walked around Central Park, stopped by Tibby's, then went up the lodging house fire escape to the rooftop where they sat and gazed at the sky. Celtic moved in close to Bumlets and rested her head on his chest.

"Y'know, I spent me whole day wit' you, an' I ain't tired of ya." said Bumlets.

"I got tired once we left th' lodgin' house."

Bumlets tightened his grip on Celtic and pinned her once again. "How is it I love ya so much even though you insult me?"

"‘Cause I'm yer goil."

He laid down next to her, resting his head in her hair. She put her arms around him and hugged him tight. "What wouldja do without me?"

Bumlets sat up. "I'd be able to go a day without insults."

Celtic laughed. "I'm not so sure."

"What's dat supposed ta mean?"

She sat up and put her arms around his neck. "The newsies usually find somethin'."

Bumlets took her in his arms once again as the sun began to set. They stayed that way as the stars began to twinkle. Celtic finally stood and entered the lodging house, hearing the other newsies laughing and talking, she joined them.

"Hey der Celtic, get tired of Bumlets?" asked Specs.

"As always."

"Got time fer a game?" asked Race as he dealt cards out to Skittery and Swifty.

She sat next to Race as he dealt cards out for her. They didn't get to start their game because suddenly two policemen came into the lodging house.

"We're looking for a guy named Bumlets." said one.

"What makes ya think he's here?" asked Race.

"Is he here or not?" asked the other.

"Ya might try Brooklyn, he's usually der." said Swifty.

The two policemen looked at the newsies then left. At once Celtic rushed upstairs to talk to Bumlets. He was coming in from the rooftop when she found him.

"Can't git enough of me?"

"Da bulls were here."

Bumlets' expression changed to shock. Celtic took his hand and asked, "Why would dey be lookin' fer you?"

He brought his hands to her face and held her that way as he said, "I can't stay here Celtic, I gotta leave."

Celtic's eyes when wide. "Yer gonna leave?"

Bumlets nodded. He kissed her before exiting to the rooftop once again. Celtic stood there, wondering why he would leave her without explaining why.

"Everythin' alright Celtic?"

She spun around and saw Jack Kelly. "He's gone."

Jack walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Did he say why he had ta leave?"

Celtic shook her head as tears began to form. Jack hugged her as she cried softly, rocking her back and forth. "He'll come back, don't mistake dat."

"But why would he leave in the first place? An' what did he do?"

"Don't worry ‘bout dat now. Bumlets'll tell ya when he returns."

Celtic slowly walked back to her room and shut the door. She walked into the washroom, and seeing the brush that just that morning Bumlets used on her hair, Celtic cried freely. Her tears were not those of pain, but of suffering, which was what she was going to go through without Bumlets.

Celtic opened her closet and pulled out an old raggedy shirt that used to belong to Bumlets, she held it close, breathing in the multiple smells of the outdoors and his sweat. She pulled it on, laid down on her bed, and went to sleep.

Celtic's eyes fluttered open as she awoke to a pounding on her door. She slowly got out of bed and opened the door to reveal Specs. He wasn't surprised to see her in the state she was in. "We're leavin' ta sell, you comin'?"

Celtic sighed. "Guess I should since I didn't yesterday."

Specs put a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you'se should see Sarah. I kin sell extra fer you."

She turned and closed the door on Specs. She changed for the day, wearing Bumlets' old shirt, then brushed her hair, and left the lodging house to visit Sarah Jacobs. Celtic stood in front of the apartment door for ten minutes before knocking, not knowing what to say, afraid of breaking down if anyone mentioned Bumlets.

David opened the door, startled to see Celtic. "How come you're here Celtic? We were just going to work."

"I came ta see Sarah."

Esther came to the door. "She's at work Dear."

Celtic looked down and started to walk down the hall when David stopped her. "I'm sure Mother'll talk to you."

Esther came up to Celtic and led her into the apartment. She sat the young girl down at the table and sat next to her. "What is troubling you Celtic? I'm willing to listen."

"I don't know why dis bothers me so much but..." Celtic's eyes began to fill with tears.

"Did something happen to Bumlets?" asked Esther.

Celtic nodded as she wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She then took a deep breath and told Esther the events of the night before.

"Did you ever think that by not telling you what was going on he was protecting you?"

Celtic shook her head. "But why did he leave me?"

Esther stood and walked into the kitchen. "You will just have to trust him Celtic. Bumlets wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

The door to the apartment burst open and in walked Sarah. Esther was surprised to see her daughter home early.

"Jack told me what happened last night," she went over and hugged Celtic, "I believe Bumlets will return to you."

The newsgirl stood and put her hand on the doorknob. "Thanks Sarah, Mrs. Jacobs. I'm sorry ta bother ya like dis."

"You're never a bother Celtic," said Esther, "Come by anytime."

Celtic left the apartments and went back to the lodging house. She said hello to Kloppman, who stopped her from going upstairs.

"There's something I need for you to get me from the back room. Another ledger book."

Celtic went to the back room and froze. Bumlets was sitting on the floor, when he saw her he jumped up and held her close. She threw her arms around him and held him like she would never let go. "Bumlets, oh Bumlets! I missed ya so much."

He chuckled. "I wasn't gone dat long."

"Two seconds without ya is an eternity."

Bumlets ended the embrace, but never let go of Celtic. "I gotta tell ya why I left."

Celtic sat down on a box, Bumlets sat next to her. "The reason I left was ‘cause me fodder's lookin' fer me."

"Why?"

Bumlets sighed. "Y'know dat murder dat's been in da papes fer a week now?"

"The one about da millionaire's wife gettin' killed?"

"Yeah. Dat woman's me mudder."

Celtic gasped. "But you didn't do it."

"Remember what I told ya ‘bout me fodder?"

Celtic nodded. He had told her about the violent fits his father would have whenever he got angry or drunk. "Why's he afta you'se?"

"I went ta visit me mudder like always, an' I saw him go into da house, drunk an' angry. I didn't go into th' house, but stayed around ta see if Mudder would be OK. He lashed out at her, and ended up killin' her, crushin' her skull," Bumlets turned away from Celtic, "I ran as fast as I could, but he must've saw me runnin'."

"An' because he don't wanna be caught, he's tryin' ta git rid of th' only witness."

Bumlets nodded. "An' ‘cause he's rich he kin say what he wants ‘bout me."

Celtic put her head on his shoulder and held his hand. "So what're you gonna do?"

"I ain't leavin' you again. Maybe der's someplace I kin sell where I won't be found."

"The newsies'll protect ya."

Bumlets put his free arm around Celtic's shoulder and stroked her hair. She enjoyed being close to him again, his touch reviving what was dead in her, making her whole once again.

That night Bumlets told the newsies what was going on, and at once they thought of ideas that would help him.

"Ya can't really go to anudder part of New Yawk City ‘cause he's gotta have connections everywhere." said Mush.

"Maybe you'll hafta leave---"

"I ain't leavin' Celtic again." Bumlets interrupted Pie Eater.

"So what're you gonna do? Run away an' hope ta never git caught?" asked Jack.

Bumlets ran his fingers through his raven black hair in frustration. He didn't know how to get out of this problem, but he didn't want to leave Celtic for any reason.

"I'm sure Celtic'll understand if ya tell her." said Specs.

"Tell her what?" asked Bumlets.

"Dat ya gotta leave fer a while." answered Specs.

"I can't leave her."

"Den talk to her an' figure out somethin' wit' her." suggested Jack.

Bumlets nodded and left the bunk room to talk to Celtic. He went up to the rooftop and saw her gazing at the sunset. "Celtic, I gotta talk to ya."

She stood and hugged Bumlets. He kissed her, the first time since the night before.

"What is it ya gotta tell me?" she asked.

He started to tell her when the rooftop door was kicked open and two policemen came out. They grabbed Bumlets, pushing Celtic aside. She ran after them, yelling her love's name. As they exited the lodging house, Jack stopped Celtic from following any more, no matter how much she struggled. "Celtic, stop! Der's nothin' you'se kin do!"

"Stop ‘em Jack! Der takin' Bumlets!" exclaimed Celtic.

Jack tried to calm Celtic down with little success, so he sat her down on the stairs and held her as she cried.

"Don't worry Celtic, we'll git Bumlets back." said Mush.

"His fodder ain't gonna git away wit' dis." said Racetrack.

Celtic quickly went upstairs and closed her door. She fell into her bed and cried into her pillow until she could cry no more. As she wiped her face of tears, she thought of what she could do to save Bumlets. The first idea that came to her scared her, but deep down she knew she had to do it.

"I'm here ta see Bumlets, he came in last night."

The chief of police, without a word, led Celtic down a row of cells until they came to the one Bumlets was in. When he saw Celtic he jumped up and rushed to her.

"What're ya doin' here? I don't like you bein' here." said Bumlets.

"I gotta tell ya somethin."

Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more

Celtic gazed into Bumlets' eyes, and for a second thought of backing out of telling him. He reached through the bars and grabbed her hands, giving her the strength she needed. "Bumlets, I'm gonna go to yer fodder an' see if I kin talk to ‘im."

The newsie tightened his grip on Celtic. "No! Yer not gonna see dat man, understand? He ain't ta be trusted."

"But maybe if I---."

"Celtic, I love ya, an' if anythin' happened to ya I'd die. I don't want what happened to me mudder ta happen ta you'se."

The chief of police tapped Celtic on the shoulder, indicating it was time for her to leave. She leaned forward and kissed Bumlets before leaving the station. She bumped into Dutchy on her way out, he had finished selling his papers. "Is he alright?"

Celtic nodded. "But I ain't. I already miss ‘im."

Dutchy put an arm around her as they started to walk away. The appearance of Medda Larkson walking toward them made the two stop in confusion.

"Medda? What're ya doin' here?" asked Dutchy.

"Racetrack told me what happened. How are you doing Celtic?"

"Have ya come ta help?" Celtic asked.

"As much as I can." answered Medda as she grabbed the two newsies and marched into the police station.

"Miss Larkson, what brings you here?" asked the police chief.

"How much is bail for Bumlets?" she demanded.

"It hasn't been set yet."

"What is his crime?"

He pulled out a paper and handed it to Medda. She read it then crumpled it up. "What proof does this man have that ties this boy into the murder?"

"Miss Larkson, Mr. Mantoya has given us proof."

"An' what's dat?" asked Dutchy.

"I'm sorry, but you have to leave now. I've got work to do."

Celtic started to protest, but Dutchy and Medda led her out of the station before she could say anything.

"Der's gotta be a way ta git Bumlets outta der." said Dutchy.

Don't tell me it's now worth trying for
You can't tell me it's not worth dying for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

"Der is, an' I'm gonna do it." said Celtic.

"What's that?" asked Medda.

Celtic looked at Dutchy then Medda. "I'm gonna see Mr. Mantoya."

Dutchy grabbed Celtic by the arms. "Are ya crazy?! He's dangerous."

"Celtic, you can't go to him. Bumlets wouldn't want you to." said Medda.

"I already told him I was goin'."

Dutchy looked at Medda. "Her mind's made up," he looked back at Celtic, "But you ain't goin' alone. Me, Race ‘n' Pie Eater are goin' with ya."

Medda put a hand on Celtic's shoulder. "That's the best way. Then he can't do anything to you."

The attractive performer left the two newsies as they headed back to the lodging house.

"You sure about goin' ta Mr. Mantoya?" asked Dutchy once again.

"Yeah, I'm doin' it fer Bumlets." answered Celtic.

Dutchy sighed as he walked up the lodging house steps with his best friends' girl. "Sometimes I wish you was my goil. Everythin' ya do ya do it fer him."