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The night was still young as Cobblestone made her way through the lonely streets of Randall's Island to the Bronx. As she continued on her walk, she stopped and did a jig on the cobblestone road, hence her name. She was Irish and had picked up jigs from her father, but that was before…well, never mind those days were over. She glanced around to make sure that no one else was on the bridge connecting the two islands before she paused to gaze over the railing into the river. She looked at her reflection in the water. She was pretty, with thick red hair and hazel colored eyes. She continued walking toward her destination as the moon rose even higher.
"Hey! Who're you, and what da youse want?!" asked a mean voice behind her.
Smoothly, and without a pause, she replied, " Lazybones Johnson, I's come ta talk ta Lazybones." Lazybones Johnson was the leader of the Bronx.
A dark figure emerged from the shadows and approached her, "What da ya want ta talk ta 'er bout?" a girl of about sixteen asked.
"Dats fur 'er da know, nots youse," Cobblestone answered, pushing the girl aside and proceeding down the street at a run. Dodging crates, people, and other obstacles in her path, she alluded capture to make her way to the Bronx's Girl's boarding house.
"Whew! They get better every time," she laughed sarcastically as she opened the boarding house door and glanced inside.
"Ey, look 'ews 'ere," a girl whose name Cobblestone couldn't remember yelled upstairs, "Its Cobblestone, and she's looking as good as always!" she joked, jumping up from her seat and slapping Cobblestone on the back. There was a noise upstairs and soon ten girls in their pajamas, disheveled hair, and sleep filled eyes slid down the banister. One girl in the lead, stopped before Cobblestone, spit in her dirty hand and held it out.
"Well, well, we meet again," Lazybones said as she spit shook with Cobblestone then raked her hand through her thick wavy hair.
"Guess so. Looks as if youse done all right for yerself Johnston," Cobblestone answered the greeting.
"So, what do ya want wid us dis time and at dis hour of da night?" Lazybones asked as she turned on her heel and walked into a small office.
Cobblestone followed the Bronx leader as she answered. "Da Bulls is afta me, and I's was hoping dat youse could let me lay low 'round 'ere; its da only place dat dey ain't looked for me," Cobblestone unrevealingly pleaded.
"And whats gonna 'appen to me goils if da Bulls come 'ere?" Lazybones asked warily, rubbing some of the sleep out of her eyes.
"I's only want'a stay in youse territory at night, I's just desiring a reassurance dat youse goils ain't gonna soak me if me I's in youse territory." Cobblestone sarcastically eyed Lazybones's face, which showed no emotion.
"For 'ow long?" she asked weighing the pros and cons of the request.
Cobblestone looked Lazybones in the eyes "Only 'bought a month at da most, den I's gonna be on me way."
"What a ya gonna give me in return, if I's let ya hang 'round 'ere?" Lazybones asked.
Cobblestone narrowed her hazel eyes ready to bargain with Lazybones. "I's got some new information 'bout Spot Conlon's territory," she said off-handedly, knowing that Lazybones would give almost anything to beat Spot Conlon out of something that he wanted.
"Tell me foist, and if I's tink dat its good enough, den you can stay," Lazybones said, settling back into a brown wooden chair.
"Well, me ears told me dat Spot's joining wid da Manhattan leader Jack Kelly, and 'is newsies ta take youse territory away," Cobblestone reported, a twinkle in her eye. She knew that she had gotten Lazybones 's full attention.
Lazybones thoughtfully considered this new piece of news. "Da pass woid is "riva", and don't youse cause any trouble, ya hear?" She warned Cobblestone as she placed the chair in an upright position and stood up.
"Ya, I's hear ya. T'anks again, I'll see ya 'round," Cobblestone replied, walking, out into the hallway, stepping over the sleeping girls, and continuing down the filthy streets of the Bronx to find a place to sleep. As the moon slowly sunk beneath the horizon, Cobblestone finally settled into an old box and fell asleep, not knowing what the next day held for her.
The hustle and bustle of the city had always excited Cobblestone, and this morning was no exception. Cobblestone walked down Market Place Row, basking in the aromas surrounding her. The smell of the morning's first loaves of bread set out to cool in the brisk dawn air; the stench of the fishermen's late night catch, only now being unloaded; and the sweet fragrance of bacon and coffee that ascended into the street from the apartments above the avenues and roadways. All these spelled home to her, the only home that she'd ever known. As she continued her observations, she inadvertently crossed into Manhattan, Jack Kelly's territory.
Hearing a sudden commotion up ahead Cobblestone was jolted back from her daydreams with a start. She glanced up; seeing her surroundings and noticing that she was no longer in the Bronx she spun around to run but was grabbed by two strong arms. Cobblestone looked up into the face of her captor as she kicked and scratched, trying to get away. What she saw made her heart sink, here preventing her from escape was Oscar Delancey and three policemen.
"Well looky 'ere. Its da little street rat dats been avoiding us," the officer in charge laughed and continued, "bring 'er along boys; its back to da refuge wid you," he said, throwing her into a barred wagon along with another boy and slamming the door shut.
The large wooden door banged shut behind Cobblestone once again as she was shoved into a room full of other kids like herself. Cobblestone walked across the room under the stares of the ten other "captives" to an unoccupied bed and sat down to think over her predicament.
After the policemen's voices diminished down the hallway, a young freckle-faced boy shyly approached her and asked, "Where youse from?" Not waiting for the answer, he continued, "Youse soitinly ain't from around 'ere cause I ain't eva seen ya in Manhattan."
Cobblestone looked up from the bed that she was sitting on. "I've lived in every part a New Yawk some time or another in me life, even Manhattan; though I's wouldn't say it was da nicest place da I'd eva been ta." Cobblestone stood up, "So ifen youse neva seen me in Manhattan youse either blind, or I's really good at hiding. There were some chuckles in the room as the boy turned red and backed off in to another part of their prison. Cobblestone looked around for the window that held the lose bars; every time she was in there, she always managed to escape in less then twelve hours, and she was quite proud of it too.
"So," came a familiar voice, "what are we in here for dis time?"
Cobblestone spun around, "Blink? Is dat you? What are ya in here for?" She asked embracing the blond-haired boy and taking in his ever present patch and mud-splattered shirt with an investigative eye.
"Good ta see ya, Cobblestone. I's missed my good old arguments with ya," Blink laughed as Cobblestone playfully punched him in the arm.
"Youse coming with me?" Cobblestone asked pointing to the window as she walked over and removed the bars.
"How'd ya do that?" Blink questioned walking over and examining the window. "Sure I'll come with you, Cowboy will be glad ta see me." He said as he started though the window.
The streets of New York were all but empty as Blink and Cobblestone stood in front of the Lodging House. The night reminded Cobblestone of her last night at Manhattan's Lodging House (that was before the strike). "Well, let's go. Cowboy will be surprised!" Blink spoke, interrupting her train of thought.
"Yeah, well, since it's been a long time, how bout you go in and tell da guys while I wait out 'ere." Cobblestone said leaning against the wall.
"Sure, I'll be back, just wait right 'ere," Blink said, looking over his shoulder as he ran in the building.
It was cold out, and it looked like it might snow, and, as she waited for Kid Blink, Cobblestone started to doubt if this was such a good idea. Gee Whiz, I didn't exactly leave on good terms with Jack. I mean, after I started dat fight wid Specs and got thrown out a da Lodging House, he ain't been exactly friendly. Only, I miss all da guys, and I've not seen Mush or Blink in a year. Why am I staying round 'ere? Cobblestone, you're a dumbbell. Why do ya even tink dat da guys even care bout ya any more? Cobblestone wrestled over what da do; all of a sudden, she made up her mind. She darted down the street and on to the wharf where she took the short cut to the only place that she'd ever be able to think.
The Brooklyn Bridge loomed up in front of Cobblestone; the massive structure seemed almost friendly as the lone figure made her way to lean her head over the edge of the bridge. Cobblestone knew that she should not be here, or even near Brooklyn for that matter. But, tonight her need for peace outweighed her apprehensions.
The sun peaked over the horizon, glorifying New York's gray streets with its warmth and light. Cobblestone slowly opened her eyes; a little snow had fallen last night. She found herself curled up in ball with her back supported by one of the large beams holding up the Brooklyn Bridge; the sunlight making patterns on the street as the light shown though the decorated slits on the side of the bridge. She closed her eyes again, just wanting to sit there and feel the sun's warmth fill her body. A few minutes later voices made her pop one eye back open. Down the street a little ways walked Jack, Bumlets, Specs, Snotty, Mush, Blink, Race, and Spot Conlon. Cobblestone knew that she was in trouble. She also knew that one look at her, and she'd have to deal with Jack's mouth. Cobblestone looked for an escape route; she glanced down the opposite side of the street, the one that led into Brooklyn and away from the group. If she could make it into Brooklyn, she might have a chance, a very small chance, but a chance of making it safely to Queens. If she stayed here there was no chance of getting away, and plus she was the fastest runner that Jack had before he had her kicked out of the Lodging House. Making up her mind to go for it, she looked to make sure that they hadn't seen her yet before she darted up and started running, hearing the yells of the surprised newsies behind her as the pursuit headed into the heart of Brooklyn.
Cobblestone knew that Spot Conlon had more spies then she could count. She'd also read that Spot could walk the whole of Brooklyn in his sleep, so she knew he could certainly find her. Slipping into the darkest alleys, running through the minutest of streets, Cobble managed to keep Spot working long enough to keep him off her tail until she was within half a block of Queens when three tall strong guys stepped out in front of her. They barely managed to grab her as she lashed out furiously, landing kicks, punches, and scratches to who-ever was unlucky enough to get with in two feet of this fighting bundle of a girl. When at last Spot and the guys reached the area of Cobble's capture they saw that Spot's punks had given up trying to hold her, instead they had her surrounded so that she was glaring at them as if she was ready to fight the world.
" 'Eh Spot! Youse neva told us dat she'd try ta kill us!" one of the goons said showing Spot the scratches and black eyes that were now apparent on all three of her guards. Snickers quickly covered by coughs and clearing throats was heard as the boys suppressed their laugher at the injury done by one girl to three of Spot's best guys. Spot's eyebrows went up and his trademark smirk flashed across his face. She glared at him and started circling him while observing his movements. He followed her every turn, and she smiled.
"So, Spot you sent your guys out ta catch me? Well, it ain't as easy as it looks, huh, boys? Cobblestone taunted Spot.
Spot turned to Jack. "Jacky-boy, wad a ya want wid her?" Jack motioned Spot aside and whispered something to him.
Jack approached Cobblestone, "Well ta tell ya da truth, we need ya." Cobblestone looked taken aback by the reply.
"YOU need me? For what, ya royal pape carrier?"
"No," Jack ran his hand through his hair before continuing, "Dis kid from Queens, 'is name's Hunter, and well, 'e challenged us to a race, and we need ya ta run it for us."
"ME??"
"Ya, da kid who was going ta, got soaked yestaday and youse da only one fast enough ta run."
Cobble thought a minute before answering, "ok, say I run dis race for ya, what's in it for me?"
Jack looked at his boys, "youse can come back ta da Lodging House." The expression on his face made Cobble burst out laughing.
"Man oh man, looks as if youse was made ta swallow five spoons a caster oil!" Cobblestone again started laughing. "Ok," she said recovering from the spasms with one look at Jack's face, "Man I's neva thought dat it'd be so hard ta live wid me… I'll run but only cause I want to, and I'm not coming back to da Lodging House after da race."
The bucket of ice cold water came crashing down on the bottom bunk; an ear splitting shriek woke all in the Manhattan Lodging House. As the figure in the now soaked bed expressed her displeasure at being awakened in that manner.
"ANTHONY HIGGONS, I'M GONNA SOAK YA!!!!!!" Cobblestone yelled as she leaped out of bed, dripping wet.
"Rise and shine! Time for ya morning run!" Racetrack called over his shoulder; "Youse gotta start getting in shape, Hunter's one fast kid!"
"Shad up! I'm trying ta get some sleep 'er!" Cowboy's voice broke through the pending argument between Racetrack and Cobblestone.
"Oh knock it off, youse didn't just get a bucket a cold water dumped on ya head!"
"And ya's gonna get another if ya don't shad up." Came the reply to Cobblestone's complaints. Grabbing a dry pair of pants and an undershirt, she dragged herself into the washroom and shut the door.
"Would ya hurry up! I ain't gonna stand 'round 'er all day, how long can it take ta dress?" An impatient Racetrack called half an hour later.
The door opened Cobblestone looked at him though the ten inch crack, "who gave you da job a training me?"
"Eh…like we care, just get ya lazy butt out'd dat bathroom 'for I lose my tempa and soak ya!" Jack Kelly's voice yelled what the majority wanted to.
Cobblestone opened the bathroom door the whole way and tried to keep her pride as she relinquished the fortress she had held for the last half an hour and walked downstairs.
A tall lanky boy stood up on a statue of a horse in Queens before the crowd of newsies and gave an excited greeting, "Carrying da Banna!!!" A roar of voices answered as newsies from Queens and Manhattan stood waiting for the two racers. "O.k., will Hunter and Cobblestone come to da starting line!" He pointed to a spot in the street where a string or more like several strings tied together, hung marking the starting line. It had started snowing, big soft flakes, and the sky promised more by night.
"Anybody gonna bet dat Hunter from Queens will beat Cobblestone 'ere?" Racetrack gathered up the money as bets were placed. "O.k. youse gotta beat Hunter; he's one a Mac's boys." Racetrack whispered to Cobblestone.
Cobblestone made sure her hair was pulled back in a ponytail before she turned to Racetrack. "I'll beat 'em…" she gestured with her head, "whose da people wid 'em?"
"Da one wid da black hat is Mac; he's da leada a da Queens boys."
"Oh, and who's dat goil wid 'em?"
"Dat's Birdie Kelley she's da leada a da Queens goils, don't mess wid 'er." Jack warned "And no, she's in no way related ta me!"
Cobblestone was about to give a smart-mouth retort, but the boy beginning this race was impatient to start. "Eh! Let's go, ya t'ink I want ta stand outside all day?" Cobblestone gave him a dirty look then made her way through the crowed to face her opponent.
He looked her over as if to measure her up, then turned to Jack who was standing behind her. "Jack, why even 'ave this race, I mean I wouldn't want to humiliate a goil," he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, leaving a streak of sooty dirt behind. "Plus, I wouldn't want ta be responsible for anything dat 'append to 'er!"
Cobblestone stared at him in disbelief, " Get real! I came ta race ya, and I plan ta win. Ya ain't backing out on me now!" Jack's newsies laughed and cheered her on.
"Ok, race we will, but don't t'ink you're gonna beat me." With that, he turned and positioned him self at the starting line, Cobblestone following suit. Seconds latter the rope dropped, the race had begun. However, one person in the crowd of newsies was not concentrating on the race, her gaze continued to focus on the fast disappearing head of Cobblestone. Birdie Kelley wanted to meet this girl who seemed to hold no regard for those with more strength or power than herself; Birdie found her, in a way, fascinating.
Almost as soon as the two runners took off from the starting point, Hunter left the main street to weave his way through the city and to the finish line. Cobblestone didn't leave the street for a few minutes, then when she located the correct ally she ducked in to it and ran up a fire escape, to the roof of the tenant building. Perched on the roof, Cobblestone looked across New York until her gaze met with the top of the Brooklyn Bridge's spires where the finish line would be waiting. Leaping across to another apartment building, she scurried to the opposite side of the roof then descended another fire escape to the ground below.
After the two runners had disappeared from view, the crowed of newsies made their way to the finish line anticipating a close race. Jack Kelly walked over to the Queens leaders Birdie and Mac, interested to see what they thought of Cobblestone.
" 'Ey Birdie, I see ya got ya eye on me runner." He glanced at her face than back at his shoes.
"I gotta size up Hunter's competition," She continued walking, her eyes taking in every little object of interest, "is der a problem widdat?"
He quickly redirected the conversation, "What do ya t'ink of 'er?"
This time Mac spoke, "She's in shape, but 'er attitude will be da determinin’ factor in da race."
Jack nodded then turned to Queens co-leader, "What da you t'ink, Birdie?" He searched her face and then waited for the reply.
She stopped and turned to Jack, "I say dat if she wins dis race, den I wanna meet 'er." Birdie resumed walking, not waiting to talk on the subject anymore.
Not knowing that she was the object of a conversation between the two leaders of Queens and Manhattan, Cobblestone was quickly nearing the Brooklyn Bridge when her and Hunter's paths met.
Taking a quick turn around a corner, Cobblestone collided with her opponent, leaving them both sprawled in a half-frozen mud puddle. However, neither of them was paying attention to the solution seeping into their clothes. Instead, they both were paying attention to Hunter, who was hunched-over with his knees pulled up against his chest, holding his ankle.
Cobblestone stooped over him and put a hand on his shoulder, "'Ere," she said, gently kneeling down and feeling his ankle, "It's not broken," she felt some more, getting a howl out of Hunter, "just sprained."
Hunter scowled, "Well den, I guess youse won."
"No, you're coming wid me," She offered her hand to help him up, "get on me back. I'll carry you; it's not much farther."
"I ain't gonna be carried by a goil!" He looked at Cobblestone but refused her hand.
Cobblestone grabbed Hunter by the arm and pulled him up on to one foot. "Youse gonna get on me back now! I don't give one t'ought ta ya big ego, and right now ya ain't in da position ta ague, so move it!"
Hunter hopped onto Cobblestones back, watching out for his twisted ankle. "Ok, let's go." Cobblestone started again toward the finish line.
Racetrack approached Cowboy who was looking very nervous and fidgety, "Hey Jack, dey shud a been 'ere all ready," Jack pulled his coat a little tighter around his lean frame, trying desperately to ward off the chilly air. "Ya t'ink she got 'urt, or maybe Hunter started a fight wid 'er…" Race's voice trailed off when Jack gave him a dirty glare.
"Shad up!" With that Jack turned away, to look down the street.
Cobblestone shifted her weight so Hunter was more evenly proportioned on her back. "Hunter," she continued walking but turned her head to look at her passenger, " how're ya doing up der?"
A soft mumble caused Cobblestone to request a repetition of his answer; "I's fine, just a little cold." "'Eh look! Der's da starting line, and everyone's dar ta met us too." With that she stopped, letting Hunter dismount, and turned to face him. "Hunter, since I's probably won't get ta talk ta you again any time soon, I just want ta wish ya well and hope dat ya ankle heals quick."
Hunter saw the olive branch for the peace offering that it was and accepted it. "T'anks for da ride, Cobblestone, no grudges held." With that, the two racers continued on to meet the now surging mass of excited newsies.
Two days later:
After a relaxing bath and a good nights sleep, Cobblestone had gotten all the kinks out of her system and was preparing to leave Manhattan that afternoon. The weather had taken a turn for the worse that night, and it had continued to snow all morning. Looking out one of the bunkrooms dirty windows, Cobblestone felt a pang of anxiousness to leave the Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House and move on to a place where she would feel more at home.
As she was thinking, Kloppman's voice was carried up the staircase and into the bunkroom, "Cobblestone, youse still 'ere?"
Cobblestone turned and walked towards the bedroom door while answering him, her brow wrinkled with the question of what he wanted. "Yeah, I's haven't been blessed wid da ability a leaving 'ere yet. Why'd ya ask?"
"Ah, well, youse got a visitor 'ere who wants ta see ya."
Grabbing her hat, she took the stairs two by two, reaching the hallway in record time. Extending her hand, she introduced herself to the girl facing her. "Hi, da name's Cobblestone. I's believe youse da goil Cowboy said was da leada a Queens goils, Birdie Kelley."
Birdie nodded then replied. "Correct, I'm Birdie Kelley. I was wondering if you’d mind if I used a few minutes a your time."
"Don't 'ave anyt'ing else ta do 'round 'ere; talk all youse want." Cobblestone pointed to an office-like room and led the way, closing the door behind her. "So is dar something in particular dat ya wanted ta see me 'bout?"
Birdie went strait to the point. "Well, ya see, Jack told me dat you ain't stayin’ 'ere, so I thought I'd give ya da offer a becoming a newsgirl in Queens."
"Why me?"
"You look like ya need a place ta stay, and I like ya."
There was a moment of silence before either spoke. Then Cobblestone thoughtfully replied, "Youse don't really know me, but after I's tell ya some 'bout me, and youse still want ta let me come, den I will."
Birdie smiled, "I like ya. Yer smart not takin’ my offer outright."
At the Queens Girls Lodging House:
Cobblestone admired the outside of the Queens Girls Lodging House, it was one of the nicer buildings on the street, even though its green paint was starting to peel. "Youse got a nice place 'ere; 'ow many girls do ya 'ave?"
Birdie smiled at the compliment then opened the door and led the way inside. " Der are officially nineteen including me, and we 'ave one girl, Mystic who sleeps 'ere every so often. Oh, and our landlady. Come on; I'll introduce ya." Birdie walked up to the front desk were an elderly lady sat reading the day's paper she had bought from one of the girls. Her hair was as white as the snow outside, and it was pulled back into a large bun. Her wire rimmed glassed sat on the bridge of her nose, and she continued to push them back every few minutes. "Lilah, I gots a new girl who'll be staying 'ere."
Lilah looked over her paper, then set it down when she saw Cobblestone. "Hello," she extended her hand to grasp Cobblestone's in a very tight grip. "Ya got a name kid?"
"Yes, ma'am, me name's Kelin McManning, but youse can just call me Cobblestone."
Lilah's crystal blue eyes studied Cobblestone for a moment, then turned to an open book on the desk, and wrote something down. Still bent over the book she popped another question, "How old are ya?" Her pen poised in the air she waited for the answer.
Cobblestone replied, looking to see what Lilah would write. "Fifteen."
Finished with her writing, she straightened, "Ok den, da rent's five cents a night including meals, and Birdie will introduce ya to da goils and show ya to yer bunk. Da curfew is midnight, and when ya come in every night sign da book 'ere so I's know who's 'ere." With that said, she turned back to her paper, and Birdie lead Cobblestone upstairs and into a room full of girls.
Birdie jumped onto a chair and held her hands up for silence, "Girls, I'd like ya ta meet Cobblestone. She's gonna be stayin’ 'ere. Patches," a brown hair girl stepped up to the front of the group. "You’ve got an empty bunk, right?"
The girl put down the piece of wood that she had been whittling, "Yeah, Cobblestone can bunk wid me."
Birdie stepped off the chair. "Ok den, lets get some shut-eye, morning always comes faster that I t'ink." Cobblestone followed Patches to her new bed, while examining the bunkroom.
Patches took off her hat and hung it on one of the bedposts. "Make yaself at home; da bathroom's right over dar," she said pointing to a door at the end of the room. "Lilah wakes us up kind a early, but dat gives us plenty a time before da circulation bell rings." Patches pulled herself up onto the top bunk and turned over on her back. Cobblestone hung her hat on the opposite bedpost as Patches’ before taking off her shoes and lying down on the bottom bed. She had just shut her eyes when a shadow fell on her face.
"Hi, Cobblestone," Cobblestone opened one eye and looked up at an other girl, "da name's Dragon~Fly. I's pretty new 'ere myself, came just 'fore you. Well, I just wanted ta say hi!" Cobblestone nodded her head and then closed her eyes as the girl left. She felt a little guilty about not talking to the girl, but there would be time for introductions tomorrow.
Lilah called up for the lights out. Swiftly the remaining girls who were still up scrambled into bed as Birdie extinguished the lights. As Cobblestone lay looking up at the bunk above her, she suddenly felt tired. Here she was, with a new family, and new friends, for the first time in her life she finally felt at home. She didn't need to run anymore.
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