By Cosette
It was a nice sunny day in Neptune, New Jersey. My best friend, Sienna, and I were getting ready for the picnic that we were planning thatday.
“Hey CC! Don’t forget the apples!” I called from outside.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got everything.” answered Sienna.
Ever since I could remember I had called Sienna, CC. I don’t know
where it came from, but it stuck.
“Come on, hurry up, we’ve got to get going! We want to get there
when the sun’s still up!” I shouted inside, getting a little impatient.
“OK, OK, I’m coming.” Sienna replied, coming out of the house.
“OK then, let’s go.” I said.
So off we set into the woods to a clearing which I knew of. Sienna and
I had been having picnics there ever since we were little. It always
brought
back happy memories to me.
As soon as we had arrived and had all of our stuff unpacked, we
decided to go lie down in the big grassy field before us. But there was
something different, something new.
“Hey Rachael! Earth to Rachael! Did you notice that large rock over
there before? I didn’t. What do you think it’s from?” Sienna asked.
“Oh, sorry. No, I haven’t seen it before. Let’s go over to it and take
a
look.” I answered, still confused.
We walked over to the rock, only to notice everything around us
began spinning. It was really strange.
“Rachael! What’s happening?” Sienna cried.
“I don’t know! The world is disappearing!” I answered.
* * * * *
“CC, what happened? Where are we, this isn’t the field.” I asked, still
dizzy from the strange journey.
“I’m not sure. All I do know is that we aren’t where we used to be.”
replied Sienna, sounding frightened.
Just then we heard shouting from behind a large bush. “Trolley strike
drags on for third week!” someone yelled.
I walked over to a guy who was holding up newspapers. “Excuse me,
could you tell me where we are? My friend and I seem to be a little
lost.” I
asked politely.
“Sure miss, youse in Brooklyn, New York, home of the famous Spot
Conlon.” the guy replied. “That’s me. Oh by the way, would youse like to
buy a
pape? Only a penny a piece.”
“Sure, thanks.” I said, handing him a penny.
I started to walk back to where Sienna was when I heard the guy call
after me. “I didn’t catch your name.” he said.
“It’s Rachael, and your Spot, right?”
“Yeah, anyways, where ya stayin’?”
I hadn’t thought of that one. I knew I wasn’t in the right place, and I
had no idea where to go anyway. Wait, hold on a second, Spot was selling
newspapers. People don’t sell newspapers like that anymore, they did
that
over 50 years ago. Did Sienna and I go through a time gate? Are we in a
different point in history? I didn’t know how to answer these questions,
but I
knew I had to find out sometime.
“Hey Rae, where were you?” called Sienna, breaking my thoughts.
“Oh, sorry. Did you know that we’re in Brooklyn? I mean, we were in
Jersey 5 minutes ago, and now we’re in New York! I am so confused.” I
said,
shaking my head.
“We’re in New York? Oh my g-d!” Sienna cried.
Then she looked over to where Spot was standing. “Rae, who’s that?”
“Oh, I forgot to introduce you. Spot this is my best friend Sienna.
Sienna, this is Spot. “I said.
“Pleased ta meet ya.” Spot said, kissing Sienna’s hand.
“Nice to meet you too.” said Sienna, blushing.
“Rachael? As I asked before, where are you staying?” Spot repeated.
“Um, I guess since we’re nowhere near home, we both don’t really
have a place to stay.” I answered.
“Well, I’ve gots me pals in Manhattan, I’m sure they’ll give youse a
place to stay.” Spot suggested.
“Sure, we’ve got nowhere else to go.” answered Sienna, hopping Spot
would be there. “Do you live in Manhattan too?”
“No, but I’ll stay there with you guys for a while till youse settled
in.” he
answered. “Come on, this way to Manhattan.”
So Sienna and I followed Spot to Manhattan where he stopped in
front of an old building with a sign that read: Newsboys Lodging House.
“Heya Spot! How ya been?” asked a boy with a cowboy hat, walking
through the front door.
“Just fine. Jack, I would like you to meet Rachael and Sienna, deys
from Jersey. I was wondering if they could stay here for a while?” asked
Spot.
“Sure, if youse two don’t mind staying in a room with a bunch of guys
and crowded bunk beds.” Jack said.
“We don’t mind.” Sienna stated, winking at me.
“Great, I’ll find two empty bunks for ya.” Jack replied.
“Heya, Jack, do youse think I could stay here in Manhattan, just till
da
goils are settled in?” Spot wondered.
“Sure, you still gots a bunk here.”
As we all walked in, a guy with a cigar came up to Jack and said, “So
you gots yourself a couple of goils, do ya, Jacky-boy.”
“Racetrack, dis is Rachael and Sienna, there donna be stayin’ wid us
for a while.” Jack said, introducing us.
Racetrack looked at us and replied, “Heya Rachael, heya Sienna,
welcome to da newsie lodgin’ house. Make yourselves at home.”
Jack showed us our bunk at the end of the room. “Sorry, we’ve only got
one extra. Hope you guys don’t mind sharing.”
“No, we don’t mind, that’s fine.” I said reassuringly.
“OK, well Spot’s bunk is dere next to yours, and Race sleeps above
him.” Jack pointed out. “And now, if youse hungry, we’ll all go down ta
Tibby’s
to get a bite ta eat.”
So all the newsies walked down to a tiny restaurant called Tibby’s.
Sienna had walked up to the counter to order, when Race came up to her
and asked, “So Sienna, whadda youse like ta do best?”
“I don’t know, play cards maybe.” she answered.
“Great, I love cards, you wanna play a game?” he asked.
“Sure, after I order. You want something?” she asked.
“Why not.”
Sienna reached into her pocket and pulled out a wad of money.
“Whoa! Where’d youse get all dat?” Race asked, surprised.
“Why? It’s not that much. See? Only $15.” she said, quite confused.
“Not even da rich people got dat much money.” Race continued.
“Hello, it’s 1998, everyone has this much money, and more.”
“Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, did you say it was 1998? da year is 1899.”
“Rachael!” Sienna shouted over to me.
“What? You don’t need to yell.” I answered.
“Race here says it’s 1899, but it’s 1998.”
“CC, I think there’s something you need to know. You see, we went
through a time gate, I was just discussing it with Spot here.” I stated.
Just then Sienna fainted. “CC? CC? Wake up! Race, can you get her? I
think we’d better leave.” I said.
“Sure.” he answered, delighted to carry her.
* * * * *
“Sienna, wake up, it’s me, Race. How ya doin’?”
“Huh? What happened?” she asked, still dazed.
“Youse fainted. I carried ya back to da lodgin’ house.” he said.
I walked over to my bunk. “CC, your up. Well you might as well go back
to bed, it’s nighttime.” I told her.
“OK, g’night.” she replied, and turned over into a deep sleep.
“Goodnight everyone.” I said.
“G’night.”
THUD
“Ouch! That hurt.” I whispered sleepily. “Hey, why am I on the floor?”
I
tuned over not only to see Sienna occupying the whole bunk. “Oh, that’s
why.”
“Heya Rachael, whadda youse doin’ on da floor?” somone asked.
“Oh Spot, hi. I’m sorry, did I wake you up? I didn’t mean to, it’s
just, well,
as you can see, I don’t really have a place to sleep anymore.” I said.
“Youse can sleep here.” he said moving to the edge of his bed. “I don’t
bite.”
“Fine.” I answered. I mean, what else was I supposed to do?
* * * * *
“Mornin’ loverboy, so have a fun night?” Jack said to Spot.
“Leave me alone Jacky-boy, nottin’ ‘appened.” replied Spot
As I opened my eyes there was lots of whistling.
“G’mornin’ sleepin’ beauty.” Sienna whispered.
“What?” I asked.
“You leave me, to go spend the night in Spot’s bunk? Betcha had fun.”
she said.
“Nottin’ ‘appened.” I replied.
“Oh fine, we believe ya.” Jack said. “But now we gotta go sell papes.”
* * * * *
After a day of selling newspapers, I was pretty tired. Sienna and I
were walking towards our things when...
“Sienna, come ‘ere a sec.” It was Race.
“Be right back Rae.” she said, as she was walking away.
Race motioned for her to come outside on the floor. “Sienna, I need
ta tell youse sometin’. Dis is kinda hard but ‘ere goes...Sienna, I
really likes ya.
I mean really. I know youse may not think much of me but...”
“Race, I love you too!” Sienna interrupted.
“Ya do? Oh, dat’s wonderful!” he said, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Yeah, ever since I saw youse!” Sienna replied.
“Come ‘ere.” Race said, putting his arm around her shoulder.
Sienna and Race walked back into the main room, arm in arm.
“So, things turned out right for ya.” I said to Sienna.
“Ya, youse gots yer goil.” Spot added.
“And a perfect one she is.” Race replied.
* * * * *
That night as I was falling asleep, I realized that deep down inside, I
was jealous of Sienna. I mean, she had Race, and who did I have? no one.
CC got the guy she wanted and me, well, who did I want? Spot, maybe. who
knows.
* * * * *
The next morning we all walked down to Tibby’s for breakfast. “I’d like
one hot chocolate and buttered toast.” I said, pulling out my money.
“That’ll be 50 cents please.” said the cashier.
“Whoa, wait a minute, dat ain’t right. Hot chocolate costs 10 cents and
toast costs 20. dat means 30 cents, not 50.” I said, amazed at what I
had
heard.
“No, we had to raise the prices because we need more money.”
replied the cashier.
“Well, fine then! Keep yer doity food! I ain’t payin’ 50 cents!” I
said.
I walked over to Jack. “Jack, youse wouldn’t believe it, me breakfast
costs 50 cents now! Dey jacked up da prices!”
“What?!” Jack asked. “But that ain’t fair!”
“What?” Race asked.
“Tibby’s ain’t gonna get our money!” replied Jack.
“Huh?” asked Race, still confused.
“Race, we’s gonna strike! Tibby’s raised da prices.”
“Here we goes again.” mumbled Race.
Over the next couple days, the newsies quit going to Tibby’s. Boy did
that hurt. Tibby’s only customers were the newsies, so there goes
business.
Then a couple of days later, the owner of Tibby’s decided he had enough.
He went to the judge and said to punish the newsies, they had no right
to
strike. So that day, all of the newsies went to court.
“Does anyone have something to say against the request of Mr.
Renton, owner of Tibby’s restaurant?” the judge asked. silence. “Then
you all
are to pay twice as much for your newspapers.”
“Yer honor I object.” Spot said.
“On what grounds?”
“On da grounds of Brooklyn yer honor.” Spot finished.
“I fine each of you $5 or 2 week confinement in the house of refuge.”
the judge announced.
“I ain’t goin’ to no refuge! I ain’t goin’ nowhere!” I stated.
“You young lady are definetly going. As for the rest of you, get out.
Miss,
you will be escorted to the refuge immediately.” said the judge.
So that is how I ended up in jail. Me and my big mouth. It always gets
me in trouble. Well, I’m sittin’ here in my room at the refuge now,
thinking
about what to do next.
tap, tap, tap.
“Huh? Who’s there?” I asked.
“Rae, it’s me, Spot, come on, we’re gettin’ you outs here.” he
whispered.
Spot helped me out the window onto the rope he had climbed on.
When we were on the ground again I turned and gave him a quick kiss.
“Thanks for savin’ me.” I said.
“Shhhhhh, someone’s comin’.” he replied.
Spot winked at me and them pulled out his slingshot from his pocket
and shoots a marble a ways away. The guard tuned and ran towards where
the marble had landed. “Quick, here’s our chance!” he said, pulling my
arm.
We ran as fast as we possibly could back to the lodging house. “Spot,
youse did it! Rae, your back! Thank g-d!” Sienna cried, running up to
me.
We all went to bed then because it was real late. Everyone had stayed
up waiting for me and Spot.
* * * * *
2:30am. Still night. I miss mom, I miss my whole family. “CC, hey CC,
wake up.” I whispered.
“Huh?” she said.
“Do youse miss yer family, friends, yer real home?” I asked.
“Yeah, I does. I kinda wanna go home but then again I don’t wanna
leave da newsies. “ she answered.
“I know.” I said. “’Cause dey’re family too now. I don’t know what ta
do?”
“For now, go ta bed.” she said, turning over.
“G’night.” I said, falling asleep.
* * * * *
“G’mornin’ sleepy head.” Spot said shaking me.
“I’m tired.” I replied.
“Maybe these will wake youse up.” Spot said handing me a big bouquet
of roses.
“Oh Spot, dat’s so sweet.” I said sitting up. I gave him a kiss on the
cheek. “Thanks.”
“So whadda ya wanna do taday?” he asked.
“Honestly? I talked wid CC last night and well, we’re both kinda
homesick.” I replied.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, da only thing for youse ta do, is go home.” Spot said.
“But I’ll miss you too much!” I said, as I began to cry.
“Don’t cry Rae, youse can always come back and visit us newsies.”
Spot said, trying to cheer me up.
“Ya sure?” I asked.
“Positive.” he answered. “We’re always glad ta have youse here wid us.
Both you and Sienna.”
That day was the saddest I could remember. It was filled with tears
and good-byes. Once Sienna and I got home, we vowed never to tell
anyone the secret of the time gate. We still go there to visit the
newsies
about every week or so. Once when I returned home I stopped walking and
realized, “The memories will never end."