A soft wind stirred the light snowflakes falling to the earth below. Bumlets shivered as he pulled his coat tighter around himself and brushed some snowflakes from his collar. He looked ahead and saw the old doll shop not too far off.

Today was a good day to visit Mr. Liebemacher, for January was one of the most boring months of the year to the newsies. When Bumlets finally reached the shop, he opened the door and was met by hot air coming from the fireplace. He entered, closed the door and then shrugged off his coat and hung it on the coat rack.

Finally, he removed his hat and an old man looked up from his desk at his customer. When he saw who it was, he smiled brightly.

“Ah, Bumlets!” he said, his German accent thick. “It’s nice to see you today.”

Bumlets nodded at the old man. “Nice ta see ya too.”

“So, what brings you here today?”

Bumlets walked toward the desk and observed the new dolls on the counter. “It’s January. One a da most borin’ times of da whole year.”

“Well, make yourself at home.”

“Thanks.” Bumlets said as he turned to look at the other dolls on the counters.

Mr. Liebemacher looked down at his sewing sadly as he noticed Bumlets browsing through the dolls. Though Bumlets had never bought a doll from him, he would soon not have any dolls for him to look at.

“Gee,” Bumlets said, after a long period of silence. “Yer dolls jus’ get bedder an’ bedder. How’s business goin’?”

Mr. Liebemacher looked up at the young newsboy and sighed. “Not good, I’m afraid. No one’s bought anything lately, and…well, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to close my shop down.”

Bumlets turned to his friend with a shocked look on his face. “Yer closin’ down?” he asked.

Mr. Liebemacher nodded. “Yes. My wife and I have decided to go west to live with our son’s family.”

“I’m sorry.” Bumlets said. “It’s gonna be lonely witout ya here.”

“Well,” Mr. Liebemacher said, “since you’re my friend, I’ve decided to let you have a doll.”

Bumlets’ eyes widened. “Really?”

“Don’t worry, you needn’t keep it. You can just give it to a friend if you wish.”

Bumlets thought for a minute. “Well, Saturday’s Dolly’s birthday party, so maybe I can give it to ‘er.”

“That would be nice. Is Dolly your girl?”

Bumlets turned around. “Naw, she ain’t my goil. She’s Spot Conlon’s goil, an’ she’s me special friend. I ain’t gotta goil.”

“Go ahead and look through the dolls.” Mr. Liebemacher said assuredly. “You will find the right one.”

Bumlets nodded and looked at all the dolls on the shelves. There were large dolls and small dolls, and each of them were dressed in fine clothes, some female dolls even in silk. Some dolls came in pairs; some exquisitely dressed, others dressed like him.

Finally, Bumlets found the dolls without partners. He found some dolls sitting around a tiny fireplace, and others on wooden horses. There were so many dolls, and too many of them Bumlets liked.

Just as he thought he couldn’t decide on one, he saw one hidden behind another. As he looked closer at it, he saw a doll sitting in a rocking chair, almost as if it were waiting for him.

The doll had shiny brown hair and an almost hazelnut green eye color. She was wearing a blue calico dress with a flowered light blue sash, and up in her hair was a tiny, white satin ribbon.

Bumlets picked up the doll and looked it over. This was definitely the one he would take. Turning to Mr. Liebemacher, he held it up to him.

“I think I’ll take this one.” He said.

Mr. Liebemacher nodded. “Good choice. Just hand her over to me and I’ll put her in a box so she won’t get wet.”

* * *


After Bumlets took the doll home, he went to Tibby’s to see the newsies. Just about every newsie had a girl, except for him. Jack, of course, had Sarah, and now that there were some newsgirls, they were all paired off.

There was Daisy, Azure, Mirage, Feather, Tigger, Amber, Dawn, Artemis, Jasmine, Dolly, Summer, Twilight and Tweetheart, and they all had their newsboys. Kid Blink was with Daisy; Azure with Dutchy; Mirage with Itey; Feather with Boots; Tigger with Racetrack; Amber with Skittery; Dawn with Snoddy; Artemis with Pie Eater; Jasmine with David; Dolly with Spot; Summer with Crutchy; Twilight with Specs and Tweetheart with Mush.

When Bumlets arrived at Tibby’s, the newsies greeted him with a friendly “hello,” and some invited him to sit down with them. Bumlets finally sat down with Dutchy, Specs, Azure and Twilight and ordered a coke.

“So Bumlets,” Specs said, “where were ya?”

“Went ta see a friend.” Bumlets answered. “’E’s a doll maker, an’ ‘e’s closing ‘is shop down.”

“That’s too bad.” Azure said.

“Well, I’m gonna miss ‘im, but ‘e doesn’t seem ta mind. Heck, he even gave me a doll for him ta remember ‘im by.”

“A doll?” Dutchy asked.

Bumlets leaned closer. “Actually,” he whispered, “I’m givin’ it ta Dolly fer ‘er birthday party on Saturday.”

“That’s awful nice.” Twilight said. “You know how much she loves dolls.”

“An’ I think she’ll like dis one. It’s real purty.”

“Didja meet any goils?” Dutchy asked eagerly.

Bumlets shook his head. “Nope. Ya know, I wish dat da doll I picked up were real. I’d like ta go out wit ‘er if she were real.”

“Abracadabra, hocus pocus!” Specs shouted. “She’s now a real poisen!”

“Ha ha ha.” Bumlets said. “Very funny.”

“Ah well, if I see any goils I’ll tell ‘em ‘bout you.” Azure said.

Bumlets shrugged. “Nope. I don’t like blind dates. I wanna find a goil by myself.”

* * *


Bumlets sat on his bunk, reading his book and observing the happy couples all over the room. Some newsies were out on dates with their newsgirls, while the rest were here, having a great time. Most of the newsies without newsgirls had girls somewhere in Manhattan, while others were too young and thought the older ones were pathetic.

As Bumlets returned his attention to his book, he let out a sigh, for he had read this book a million times before and was tired of it. Shrugging, he pulled his pillow up and set his book underneath. Looking around the room, he saw that no one was looking in his direction, so he reached under his bed and pulled out the box that the doll was in.

Holding the box close to his stomach, he slipped out onto the fire escape and walked up to the roof. Snow coated the roof in a thick blanket, but there were few clouds in the sky and the stars shone brightly with the crescent moon. Bumlets walked over to a box onto the side and sat down.

Opening the doll box, he drew out the doll and looked it over. The doll’s hazelnut green eye color shone against her porcelain face, and her pink cheeks made her look a tiny bit flushed. Her full red lips were curved slightly into a smile, and to Bumlets, it looked like this doll was happy.

“Such a face.” Bumlets whispered, running his fingers against the cold porcelain face. “Did Mr. Liebemacher make you up in his mind?”

Bumlets rethought what he had just said. He had known Mr. Liebemacher for years, and he knew that this man had a wild imagination. He often told him stories that he had written when he was younger, and they were all pretty amazing.

Sometimes Bumlets wished that Kloppman could tell stories like Mr. Liebemacher, but Kloppman preferred to tell the newsies about him and his wife before she had died. Sometimes they made Bumlets feel sad, for he could see that look in Kloppman’s eyes when he mentioned his wife.

Bumlets looked back down at the doll and examined her more closely. He gently touched the white satin ribbon holding half of her hair back and let the softness of the cloth tickle his fingers. He smiled as he thought of this doll as his, but his smile melted when he remembered that it was a birthday gift for Dolly. Sighing, he looked straight into the doll’s eyes and stared.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

The doll’s eyes reflected the moon’s white gold light and Bumlets was struck silent. This doll was so beautiful, and there were a variety of names he wanted to give her.

As he studied the doll’s face, he finally came up with one. He liked the name Sarah. It was a pretty name, and he wanted to name it after his mother.

“Sarah?” he said. “That’s a nice name. My mama was named Sarah. I hope da newsies don’t think I named ya after Jack’s girl. Do you have a last name?”

Bumlets studied the doll some more. What would be a good last name for this doll? He wondered. He thought for a minute, and then he thought up a name.

“Dawson.” He said. “Sarah Dawson. It’s nice to meet you, Sarah. I don’t suppose you have a job, do you?”

Bumlets thought for a few minutes. There were so many jobs out there today that it was hard to think up one for a doll.

“Are you an actress?” He offered. “No. You might be a good one, but I don’t think that’s what you are. Could you be a grocer? No, not that, either. How ‘bout a…a schoolteacher!” he exclaimed. “That’s what you are. You’re a schoolteacher. You must have very happy students, Miss Dawson.”

As Bumlets looked at the doll again, his heart grew heavy and sad. He was naming a doll and giving it a career? He knew he was going insane. What young man would buy a doll and treat it like a human being? Bumlets turned the doll around and hugged it to his stomach.

“You’ll be given to a friend of mine, Sarah.” He said sadly. “You wouldn’t like it with me. I’m just a lonely newsie who’s goin’ insane.”

Bumlets let out a long sigh, watching as his breath billowed out in a small cloud of steam. But as he looked back down at the doll, her tiny hand suddenly fell on top of his large one. Bumlets shut his eyes for a brief minute, then arose and put the doll back inside of her box and went back inside.

* * *


Saturday arrived quickly for Bumlets. He had finished selling late today, so he had to run home to be in time for Dolly’s party.

When he arrived, he rushed up the stairs to the boys’ bunkroom and over to his bunk. He stuck his money under his pillow and then knelt down to look at the doll. He pulled her out of her box and looked around to see that no one was looking. Looking back down at the doll, he smiled at her.

“I guess dis is it.” he whispered. “I’m gonna give ya ta Dolly since she loves dolls.”

Bumlets let out a sigh when he saw that the doll did nothing. Deep in the back of his head, there was a desire to keep the doll, for she was very beautiful. Shaking his head, he tried to push his desire to the side, but it only made it stronger.

“What am I doing?” Bumlets thought out loud. “Me, keeping a doll? Everybody’d think I’m nuts!”

Bumlets put the doll back in the box and was about to pick it up to head to Tibby’s, but then he stopped in his tracks. As he looked back at the box, his desire to keep this doll grew. Bumlets bit his lip and continued on his way.

* * *


“…Happy birthday to you!”

Dolly blushed a little bit when the newsies began cheering, but then she bent down and blew out her seventeen candles. As the smoke from the candles rose, even cheered louder. A waiter came by and began serving everyone a piece of cake. When everyone was finished, Amber stood up.

“Dolly,” she said, “why don’tcha open yer presents now?”

Dolly smiled and nodded, and small packages wrapped in newspaper were suddenly extended to her. Bumlets just let out a sigh and looked at the box near his feet. After what seemed like a long time, Spot asked if there were any more. Bumlets raised his hand.

“I do.” He said.

Bumlets reached down and picked up the box. When everyone saw it, “oohs” and “ahhs” were heard all around. As Dolly reached for it, she exclaimed,

“It’s so big!”

She ripped the newspaper covering it and opened the box. Her eyes widened and Bumlets sighed once more.

“What is it?” Jack asked.

Dolly drew out a book and a tiny bouquet of three roses. “Thank you, Bumlets!”

Bumlets smiled. “Yer welcome.”

Dutchy came over to Bumlets and nudged him with his elbow. “What happened to dat doll you was gonna give ‘er?”

“I, uh…” Bumlets stammered, “well, um…lost it. I think that it’s somewhere in the lodging house, but when I find it, I’ll give it to ‘er.”

Bumlets felt bad about lying to his friend, but he shook his guilt away. Something inside of him was telling him to keep that doll, but he had no idea why.

Am I doin’ the right thing? He wondered. I mean, who’d ever think a newsie who’s almost twenty would have a doll instead of a girl? I’m so lonely that I’m going insane!

* * *


“Blizzard hits Virginia, snow covers buildings in large piles!”

Bumlets looked around and saw no one coming near. He shrugged and moved to the other side of the street and tried again. Finally, after several more attempts, he sold the last of his papers. Sticking his hands in his pockets, Bumlets trudged through the snow on the sidewalk toward the lodging house. For some reason, he didn’t want to go to Tibby’s today.

When he reached the lodging house, he walked upstairs to the boys’ bunkroom and plopped down on his bunk. A minute later, he arose and reached under his bunk, pulling the doll out. He sat her down in his lap and looked at her porcelain face.

“Were ya lonely while I was gone?” he asked.

Bumlets waited for an answer, but none came. Get a grip, Bumlets, he thought, the doll ain’t real. She ain’t gonna answer ya.

“Well,” he continued, “since it’s cold outside, a whole lotta people weren’t out ta buy papes taday.”

Bumlets stared at the green paint for the doll’s eyes. He wondered what the newsies would think if they saw him with this doll.

No sooner thought than done, for at that very minute, Mush came in, whistling to himself. When he saw Bumlets, he gave him a friendly wave and went on his way; but then he looked back to see the doll in his hands.

“You play with dolls?” he asked.

Bumlets shook his head. “No. A friend a mine gave dis doll ta me. I’se jus’ lookin’ it ova, dat’s all.”

“Oh, okay. By da way, Artemis brought some a ‘er friends by at Tibby’s. If ya wanna meet ‘em, dey’s really nice.”

Bumlets shrugged. “No thanks. I’ll jus’ stay ‘ere.”

“Ya know, ya probably wouldn’t be so lonely if ya had yerself a goil.”

“Who said I was lonely?” Bumlets snapped.

“It’s written all ova yer face.” Mush answered, ignoring the tone in Bumlets’ voice. “Foist of all, yer always by yerself; second, we keep catchin’ ya starin’ off inta space like yer waitin’ for someone. C’mon, why don’tcha come ta Tibby’s?”

Bumlets waited for a minute. He looked down at the doll, and then he pondered about the girls at Tibby’s. He wondered what the girls would be like. But he didn’t want just any girl, he wanted someone who would listen to him and love him for who he was. Sighing, he put the doll back under his bunk and stood up.

“Alright, you win. I’m right behind ya.”

Mush nodded and headed down the stairs. Bumlets followed behind slowly, for he often got shy around girls. That was one of the reasons why he didn’t have one.

When they arrived at Tibby’s, he was greeted with friendly “hellos.” Bumlets only smiled and sat down at an empty table. A waiter came by and asked if he wanted anything, so he ordered a cup of hot chocolate.

Not long after he received his drink, a girl that he had never seen before walked over to his table. She smiled at him, and Bumlets returned the smile, but it came out all crooked.

“Hi.” The girl said.

“Hi.”

“May I sit down?” the girl asked, looking at the empty chair.

“Go ahead.” Bumlets answered.

The girl sat down and smiled at him. Bumlets blushed, but he tried to ignore it and waved the waiter down again.

“Another hot chocolate.” He said.

The waiter nodded and returned two minutes later with the drink. The girl took the drink and turned to Bumlets.

“Thank you.” She said.

“What’s yer name?” Bumlets asked.

“Kate. And you’re Bumlets, am I right?”

“Yep.”

Kate giggled a little bit. “That’s a cute name. Sadie told me that you were a newsie, and you go by nicknames.”

“Um…who’s Sadie?”

“Oh! I forgot, you go by your nicknames and not your real ones. She calls herself Artemis.”

“Okay. So, do you work?”

Kate shook her head. “No. I go to a boarding school in Midtown. I’m just here for a visit.”

For the next few minutes, Kate rambled on about an experience of hers that Bumlets got lost in and had no idea what she was talking about. Bumlets tried to get her to stop so she could retell him what was going on, but she wouldn’t stop talking. Bumlets let out a sigh of relief when she began to slow down and wrap it up.

“…So finally, I was like, ‘I need to get out of here!’ and that was when Sadie…I mean, Artemis, invited me here to stay with her aunt. Isn’t that sweet?”

Bumlets nodded. “Yep.”

Just then, Artemis came by their table and tapped on Kate’s shoulder. “Kate,” she said, “we need ta get goin’, my aunt don’t take in people after dark.”

Kate sighed and looked at Bumlets. “It was nice talking with you. And thank you for the hot chocolate.”

Bumlets forced a smile. “Ah, it’s okay. See ya ‘round.”

Kate stood up and Artemis and two other girls left the restaurant. When they were out of sight, Bumlets sighed once more, set his elbows on the table and hid his eyes. He was getting tired of being set up with other girls.

If this happens one more time, he thought, I swear I’ll go insane.

* * *


“Hey Bumlets.” Specs said, walking over to his friend’s bunk. “How was yer talk wit Kate? Was she nice?”

Bumlets shook his head and covered his eyes with his hand. “It was terrible. She talked on an’ on an’ on an’ lost me. I tried ta get ‘er ta stop, but she wouldn’t. So, I had no clue what she was tellin’ me.”

“Oh. Sorry ta hear dat, but da guys jus’ wanted ta see ya wit a goil fer once.”

“That’s the whole point.” Bumlets removed his hand from his eyes and scratched the back of his neck. “Everyone tries ta hook me up wit some goil, an’ I neva like ‘em. I wanna find a goil on my own. Besides, ya don’t seem ta know what I want in a goil.”

“Well, what do ya like in a goil?” Specs asked.

Bumlets opened his mouth to answer, but then he caught on to what his friend was doing and shut it. He snorted and shook his head.

“Nope, not gonna work. I know what yer plannin’. I told ya, I wanna find a goil on my own.”

Specs shrugged. “Okay, but I know dat we could hook ya up wit some real nice goils.”

Bumlets looked down at the ground as Specs arose and walked away. When he was gone, Bumlets got on the floor and drew out his doll from a box that he had found outside.

“Ya know what I hate?” he asked her. “Dey keep tryin’ ta hook me up. I wish dey’d jus’ leave me alone.”

The doll just stayed still, like she always did. Bumlets only rolled his eyes, for he knew that he couldn’t hear him. But talking to a doll did make him feel a little better, because he could pour out his secrets to her and she wouldn’t tell anyone.

“Ya know what?” he asked. “I think ya might jus’ come in handy. At least I got someone ta talk to dat’ll listen.”

“Uh, Bumlets,” Jake said, peering over his shoulder, “why’re ya talkin’ to a doll?”

“Huh?” Bumlets asked, looking up at him. “I…I ain’t talkin’ to ‘er, I was jus’ thinking out loud.”

Jake just gave him a funny look, and Bumlets knew that he didn’t believe him. Jake later turned around and Bumlets decided to put the doll away.

When he got up, he saw Jake talking to a few more newsies, and he was looking Bumlets’ way. Bumlets felt himself becoming angry, but he bit his lip and headed down the stairs. He just had the need to be alone right now.

* * *


Word of what Jake had heard spread throughout the lodging house in a very small amount of time. The newsies tried not to make it known to him, but sometimes it was hard. Some thought that he was finally losing it; others thought that he was just plain lonely.

Bumlets knew that everyone knew, but he did his best not to let it bother him. That day, when he walked into Tibby’s, he saw that the newsgirls were there, and not the newsboys. Feeling redness creep toward his face, Bumlets tried to hide it and walked over to Jasmine.

“Hey Jazz,” he said, “where’re all the guys? It ain’t normal fer dem not ta be ‘ere.”

“They’s at Irving Hall.” Jasmine answered. “We’s ‘ere cuz we din’t feel up ta goin’.”

“Okay. Well, I’ll be goin’.”

Bumlets turned around and left the building. As he walked down the street, he passed Central Park and saw a couple having a snowball fight. Bumlets then cast his eyes down on the ground before him and ignored them.

The next thing he knew, something hit him on the shoulder. Looking at his shoulder, he saw a ball of white powder, and coming toward him was little boy.

“Sorry, mister,” the boy said, “but I was aimin’ at someone else.”

Bumlets only chuckled a little bit and knelt down to the boy’s height. “Ah, it’s okay. Jus’ be a liddle more careful next time.”

The boy nodded and then looked around Bumlets at a little girl walking away.

“I’m gonna get you, Nellie!” he screeched, gathering up a pile of snow.

Bumlets watched as the boy threw the snowball at the girl and missed. He had to laugh and shake his head when he saw it. It had been so long since he was that age, and just seeing that boy reminded him of himself.

He used to do that to neighborhood girls in the wintertime, but only for fun. But then, his smile faded as he looked at the boy again. He was almost twenty and he didn’t have a girl. He wanted to have kids someday, but at the rate that he was going, he wasn’t going to get any until he was much older.

He stood up and continued on his way toward the Hall. When he arrived, the place was quiet. Confused, he walked down the halls, looking for his friends, but they weren’t anywhere.

“You just missed ‘em.” A voice out of nowhere said.

Bumlets turned to see Medda standing behind him. “They just left, and they were heading for Tibby’s.”

“Okay, thanks Medda.”

Bumlets turned around to leave, but Medda’s voice stopped him. “Is there anything you want to talk about?” she asked.

Bumlets stopped and turned back around. “Whaddaya mean?”

“Well…the boys soft of told me what Jake saw last night. Is there anything wrong?”

Bumlets looked at the ground. “Yeah, der is. I don’t have a goil, an’ dey keep tryin’ ta hook me up wit someone dat dey like. I don’ like ‘em, an’ I wanna find a goil on my own.”

“So in other words, you’re lonely?”

“Yeah.” Bumlets mumbled. “So lonely dat I started talkin’ to a doll dat a friend a mine gave me.”

Medda gave Bumlets a sympathetic look. “Oh. Well, I believe that the right girl will come along soon, and that you’ll know her the minute you see her.”

A smile tugged at the ends of Bumlets’ mouth. “Thanks Medda. Well, I’m gonna go catch up wit the guys now. See ya ‘round.”

As Bumlets left, Medda let out a long, heavy sigh. She certainly hoped that what she told him was true.

* * *