| Family To Belong To Author: Books |
Prologue Three children, one girl and two boys, played in the streets. The girl, age 6, bounced around as the two boys, both age 7, tossed a small ball around. And older man came out of the building and smiled as he observed his 2 grandchildren and their best friend playing. He made his way inside to make lunch, never seeing the two thugs that came and tooks his granddaughter away. Upon hearing the 2 boys yelling, he ran out just in time to see his little girl carried around a corner. Chasing after her, he rounded the same corner, only to find they had disappeared. He ran back to find one boy with a black eye and the other with a small gash on his cheek. He took the boys inside and then rushed to the police. But they were no help. All they said was that they would do the best they could. Deep down, though, Eugene Kloppman knew he may never see his precious granddaughter again. ~2 years later~ Two men in their 30's sat in a corner of an old abandoned warehouse and discussed what to do with the girl. They had been stuck with her for the past 2 years after their plan to sell her as a slave failed. No one had wanted a child so young. They both turned to look at the now 8-year old girl who sat in the corner by the door. Although not cruel, both men had never shown her any compassion. She never attempted to escape, due to the heavy excess of threats they threw her way. Neither man wanted to kill her, but both knew that if they let her go, she would just run to the cops and get them arrested. Still grumbling ove the failed plan, the older of the two flicked his still lit cigarette to the side, unaware of the pile of rags that sat nearby. The heat of the fire caught their attention, but it was too late as both were engulfed in flames. The small girl, terrifed, stood in place, frozen at the sight before her eyes. It wasn't until she inhaled some smoke and began coughing that she realized she needed to get out. She ran to the door and pulled but it wouldn't budge. She kept pulling and tugging, yet the door still would not open. By this time, she was coughing uncontrollably. She decided on one last attempt and pulled with all her strength. Miraculously, the door opened and she fell into the open fresh air. Unfortunately, she had inhaled too much smoke and collapsed after pulling herself away from the burning warehouse that she had called home for 6 months. A little later, the fire marshall approached her unconcious body and picked her up tenderly and took her to the carriage. Noticing her necklace, he picked it up and saw one word engraved on the small heart pendant. Samantha. ~*~ Part 1 ~*~ "NO!" Samantha Simmons yelled as she awoke from the nightmare that had haunted her for the past week. She pushed her long dark brown hair out of the way and looked over at the bed on the other side of the bedroom to see if she woke her sister, Gabrielle. She saw movements but Gabi never woke up. Soon all that was heard was the slow, even breathing of a sleeping child. With a sigh, Sam sat back in bed and began to think of the un-nerving dream. Every night it was the same. She saw herself as a little girl with two small boys about her age and an old man. Suddenly two men came and swept her away, knocking down both little boys. She never knew what happened after that, because she always woke up at that moment. She began to play with the necklace that was around her neck. She had if for as long as she could remember, which wasn't very long. It was a small gold chain with a gold heart pendant that simply had "Samantha" engraved on it. It was the only identification she had when she was found by the burning warehouse. Not being able to remember anything, she wouldn't speak to anyone at all. Assuming that she was a runaway or an orphan, the police took her to the orphanage in Boston, where she remained silent. Many of the older girls would tease her, but she didn't care. She never cared what they did. Until one day when one of the girls tried to steal her necklace. She had hit the girl in the jaw and knocked her unconcious. After that, all the girls left her alone. They stayed out of her way and she stayed out of theirs. It remained that way for three years, until she saw them picking on a small girl who had just arrived two days earlier. She walked up to the girls and asked what was going on. None of them would say a word. She grabbed the little girl by the shoulder gently and led her away. The older girls didn't like that and one of them cheap shotted her. Sam was knocked to the ground and ended up with a black eye, but the other girl, when the fighting was done, ended up with a broken jaw. From that day on the little girl and Sam were inseperable. Sam found out that the girls name was Gabrielle, but she called her Gabi for short. Gabi was only 2 years younger than Sam, but looked about 5 years younger. A few years later, a couple came and adopted Gabi. Sam was heartbroken at losing her best friend, but a few weeks later, the same couple came back asking for her. They told her Gabi was miserable and would hardly talk. And when she did, it would be to talk about her. They told her that they wanted to adopt her. Sam agreed and was overjoyed to be reunited with her buddy. "Sammy? What are you thinking about?" a voice asked. Sam snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the bed that moments before held a peaceful girl. "Nothing Gabi. Just couldn't sleep that's all," she explained. She got up and sat on Gabi's bed, tucking her in. But Gabi had other plans. She threw the covers off the bed, and in her hand was a small package. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" she cried excitedly. Shocked, Sam stumbled backwards. She had forgotten her own birthday! Gabi tackled her in a hug and then presented her with the gift, which was a very beautiful black shawl. "Roger helped me pick it out," Gabi informed her. Just then a small knock sounded at the door and Roger, their "dad", walked in with a tray of breakfast for the two of them. "Morning girls! Happy birthday, Samantha," he said as he placed the tray on the small table in the corner. He walked over to Sam and gave her a small peck on the cheek. Uncomfortable, Sam just smiled and ducked her head. Even after 2 years of living with these people, she still couldn't allow herself to become close. She was so used to being on her own, having her own space. "So, how does it feel to be sixteen?" "Just the same as fifteen, really," she replied taking a bite of the eggs that were sitting on the plate. Roger smiled and began to walk out the door. "Oh, Regina wants to see you before you go to work," he told her. "Is she feeling alright? She's not feeling worse, is she?" Sam asked alarmed. Regina had become sick about 2 months ago, and no one could find out what was wrong. The family had just moved to Brooklyn a week ago to be closer to some better doctors. "She's fine. She just has a present she wants to give you," he smiled, but Sam could see sadness in his eyes. After getting dressed, Sam ran down the hall to Regina's room. She knocked softly and let herself in. She found Regina laying in bed, looking pale and weak. "Regina?" "Sammy. Hey honey. C'mere and sit beside me. I have something for you," she said, grabbing a small box off the nightstand next to her. She handed the box to Sam and in it was a small ring, in the shap of a butterfly. "This was given to me and Roger when we picked you up at the orphanage. They said that were wearing it when you were found. But the rule was no jewelry. They let you keep the necklace only because you made a huge fuss over it. But they put this in a box for when you were adopted. Roger and I were going to give it to you when you first arrived, but then we decided that maybe you weren't ready. But now you are." Sam couldn't take her eyes off the ring. Something about it was familiar, but she didn't know what it was. "Thanks." Regina smiled and the fell back onto the pillows. Sam tiptoed out and went to the kitchen where Roger sat. "Is she really alright? Because she doesn't look at all okay." "She's not going to get better. The doctors are sure of it. They don't know what it is, but they say she gets weaker and weaker everyday. I wasn't going to tell you girls, but I guess you should know. I'll tell Gabi later. You better go or you'll be late for work," he explained. He walked her to the door and watched her decend the stairs of the apartment building. Once out in the streets, Sam began walking towards the bookstore where she worked. "Buy a pape miss?" a voice asked from behind. Startled, Sam spun around to be met with the most intense blue eyes she had ever seen. They belonged to a boy about her age with brown hair. She looked down and saw a cane in one hand and papers in the other. "Uhhh...no thanks," she said politely. She was about to turn around, when suddenly the boy grabbed her hand. He lifted it up and stared at the ring and then at her. "Where did you git dis?" he demanded. "Get your hands off of me!" Sam yelled, jerking her hand out of his grasp. Terrified, she ran away to the bookstore, not once looking back. 'What a psycho,' she thought. She went about her business and forgot about the incident. After work, Sam made her way home. But she was stopped just before she got to the doorway of her apartment building. "Please, don't run away. I'se sorry if I frightened ya dis mornin'. I'se was jist surprised ta see dat ring on ya," said the same boy from earlier. "Da names Spot Conlon, leadah of da Brookly Newsies," he stated proudly. "My name is Sam. Samantha, she corrected herself. "And it's okay about earlier. I guess." Spot smiled at her and she found something really familiar about him. "Uhhh...well, I better get inside. I'm sure my family is waiting dinner for me. Bye," Sam said as she ran up the stairs. She just couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him. "I'm home!" she yelled as she opened the door, but recieved no reply. "Roger? Gabi? Where is everyone?" Listening carefully, she faintly heard sobbing coming from Regina's room. Panicing, she ran down the hall and rushed into the room. There she found Roger and Gabi crying over an empty bed. "What's going on? Where's Regina?" "Honey...she died about an hour ago," Roger informed her, standing up to give her a comforting hug. "Why the hell didn't anyone come and get me at work! I should have been here too!" She cried. She felt sadness for the loss of the only mother she could remember. "I'm going for a walk!" "Can I come?" Gabi asked. She couldn't stand to be in the room much longer. Sam nodded and walked off, not waiting for her. When the both reached the streets, the first person Sam saw was Spot. Feeling like he could comfort her, she walked up to him. "What's da mattah?" he asked, shocked to see her so soon. "Regina is dead." "Who?" he inquired. "My adopted mother. She died an hour ago," she said, wiping away the tears that were running down her cheeks. "I'se sorry. Ya wanna go git a bite ta eat and we can talk about it?" he asked. The two girls nodded. They made their way to a small pub about a block away. There, Sam told him her story of how she met the Simmons' and how she couldn't remember anything from before she was 8. Spot kept making funny faces but she didn't ask him why. About two and a half hours later, Sam and Gabi told Spot that they had to go back home. He walked back with them and they found that the apartment building was engulfed in flames. The two girls made their way around the people looking for Roger. They asked neighbors if they had seen him, but many hadn't. Finally, Sam approached her neighbor, Mrs. Johnson. "Mrs. Johnson? Have you seen Roger?" she asked. The older woman turned to look at her, with tears in her eyes. "Honey, he was still in the building last I saw," she was interuppted by screams coming from the second floor. Everyone looked to see the face of a man in the window. Sam squinted to see better and suddenly felt her knees buckle as she realized it was Roger inside the building. She heard screaming and realized that it was herself. She found Gabi being held by Spot. Sitting on the ground, Sam thought, 'What are we gonna do now? "Sammy? What's going to happen to us now?" Sam looked up to see a very confused, very tearful Gabi. "I-I'm not sure. Stay with Spot right now. I'm going to go find out what happened," she got up and went to search for the landlord. She found him amongst many of the tenants. "Mr. Parker, what happened? How did it all start?" The old man looked at her, dazed. He didn't utter a sound, only shook his head and looked away. "Please, Mr. Parker. I need to know what happened. Roger was in the building. He's dead. Please, tell me," she begged. "Explosion. In the basement. Huge fire. So sorry," was all the man would say. Sam nodded at the poor man and made her way back to her sister and Spot. She told them what the landlord had said and grabbed Gabi in a hug. "I don't know where we're gonna sleep tonight," Sam sighed as she saw the sun begin to set. "You two could stay at da lodgin house if ya want. Dere's plenty of room," Spot offered. Sam looked at him in surprise. "Really? But you hardly know us." "I know, but I'se feel like I'se known ya forevah," he replied. Sam agreed, happy to have a place to crash. Spot led the way to the lodging house, which wasn't all that far away from where Sam used to live. Spot introduced them to all the other newsies, but there were so many names, Sam and Gabi couldn't remember them all. Then he showed her where the girls bunks were. The two girls were introduced to Bitter, who was somewhat the leader of the girl Newsies. Sam automatically liked the loud, tough, yet friendly girl. Bitter showed the girls a couple of empty bunks and Gabi plopped on one and passed out. Sam, not really tired, decided to go up onto the roof. Once there, she began to weep quietly for the only family that she knew and for the family that she couldn't remember. "Sam? You'se okay?" came Spots voice. Ashamed at being caught crying, Sam brushed away her tears. "What's da mattah?" he asked. "Nothin. Just getting a little sleepy that all," she lied. "Sam, I wanna take ya ta Manhattan in da mornin. Dere's a couple of people I want ya ta meet," Spot said. Sam nodded. "I need to go to Rogers lawyer in the morning though. I need to find out from him what to do now. Can we go later?" "Yeah. We can go about noon if ya want ta. We can even stay dere. I know for a fact dat Cowboy has a few empty bunks," Spot informed her. "Cowboy?" "Jack Kelly. He's da leadah of da Manhattan newsies. You'll like him I think," he answered. "Well, I'se tired. I'll see ya in da mornin." "Night," Sam said. Left alone, Sam thought about her life. 'It's got to get better. It can't get worse...I hope.' ~*~ The next morning, sam awoke to someone shaking her. Slowly she opened her eyes, expecting to see Rogers smiling face, but was surprised to see a stranger standing there. Feeling a bit confused at first, Sam took in her surroundings. Suddenly, the previous days events came rushing back to her and her eyes misted over, but she refused to let the stubborn tears fall. "Spot asked me to wake you up. We'se about ta go sell our papes," said the strange girl standing before her. "Thanks...uhh..."Sam racked her brain trying to remember the girls name. "I'se Satine," she reminded Sam. "Thanks. I'm so sorry I forgot. It's just that I met so many of you last night, the names are all jumbled in my head." "Well, it's okay wit me. Uhhh, I hope ya don't mind, but Spot said it would be okay if Iwet wit ya ta Manhattan. Me guy, Itey, is dere. He a newsie also." "That's find with me. Well, I guess I better go get ready. Thanks for waking me," Sam told Satine. Satine nodded and made her way downstairs. Sam looked at the bunk next to her and found Gabi fast asleep. Not seeing any reason for taking her with her, she let her sleep. Sam got ready and left to go to the lawyer. She found Spot yelling headlines not to far away. She waved to him, but didn't stop. He was surrounded by people wanting their morning paper. She reached Mr. Southers office about ten minutes later. She was escorted to his office by his secretary where she waited, nervously. "So sorry to keep you waiting Samantha. I was in a meeting with a client. I'm so sorry about Roger and Regina. They were very wonderful people," Mr. Souther said solomnly. "Thanks. Umm...I'm not sure what to do next. That's why I'm here. What's going to happen to Gabi and me?" "Well, you both are too young to be on your own. Unfortunately, you might both be placed back in the orphanage. Unless we can find someone who can take you in," he told her. Sam got upset. She couldn't go back to the orphanage. She refused to. "And if we don't want to go to the orphanage? Gabi and I hated it there. We don't ever want to go back. Please, is there any other option?" Sam begged. "If you had enough money to get your own place, I don't see how anyone could stop you. Which brings me to something else. Roger left a will behind leaving everything to Regina. But since Regina passed on before him, it is stated that you and Gabrielle get everything. But not until you are 18. You'll recieve half and then when Gabrielle is 18 she'll recieve the other half." "But, I don't make enough to pay rent. Is there no way to get the money now?" Sam was getting desperate. She refused to go back to that orphanage. "I'm sorry. But no," said an apologetic Mr. Souther. Sam didn't want to hear anymore. Now she knew. If she didn't have enough money, she and Gabi would be seperated. And she knew that she could not let that happen. As Sam walked back to the lodging house, she thought about what Mr. Souther said. 'There's no way I'm letting them seperate me and Gabi. I have to think of something,' she thought. "Hey! Sam!" a female voice called out. She looked behind her and saw Bitter running up. "Hey, what's going on?" Sam asked "Not too much. Spot sent me back to see if ya were ready ta go ta Manhattan." "Yeah. Just let me run upstairs and get Gabie, then then we'll be ready," Sam told her, making her way to the door. "Ya don't hafta. She's wit Spot. Dey's been sellin' all mornin'," Bitter informed Sam. "She's a natural at it too. Sold about 40 papes in just a couple of hours." Sam beamed with pride. "I guess we better go then. I'm getting really curious as to who Spot wants me to meet," Sam said as the two girls made their way to Spots selling spot. Along the way, the two girls talked about everything. Sam found out how Bitter came to be at the lodging house, and Bitter found out about Sams not remembering her past. "It's bout time you goils got heah. Ya ready?" Spot interrupted. Both girls nodded and they walked behind Spot and Gabi to go get Satine. Once they retrieved her, they made their way towards Manhattan. Sam kept thinking about what she and Gabi were going to do. Before she knew it, though, they had reached the Manhattan lodging house, where a boy about her age stood by the door. "Spot! Whatcha doin heah?" asked the boy. "Nuttin, Snoddy. Just wanted ta introduce a couple of goils ta someone heah," Spot explained, spit shaking with Snoddy. "Well, Kloppman and Dutchy are da only ones heah right now. Da rest are at Tibbys. I'm was just heading dere myself." "Well, will ya take da goils wit ya while I talk to Dutchy and Kloppman?" asked Spot. Snoddy nodded and the girls followed him to Tibbys. Once they were gone, Spot made his way into the lodging house. "Gramps!? Dutchy?" he called. "Spot? Is dat you?" inquired an elderly mans voice. "Nah, it's someone else dat calls ya Gramps!" Spot said sarcastically with a smile on his face. From the office emerged Kloppman and Dutchy. "What's new, Spot?" Dutchy asked. Every newsie in Brooklyn and Manhattan didn't understand the friendship between the two. They were so different from each other. They never told anyone about how they met or how they became such good friends. But usually when Spot came to Manhattan or when Dutchy went to Brooklyn, they talked about one thing. "Samantha." Spot told the two standing before him. And all they could do was look at him in shock. "Samantha? What about Samantha?" Kloppman asked eagerly. Not a day had gone by that he didn't think about her. "I-I think I found her," Spot told the old man. "Y'ya found Sammie?" Dutchy asked, not believing his ears. Spot nodded. The three guys stood in silence for a few seconds, thinking about their granddaughter, cousin, and friend. "Where is she? I want to see her," Kloppman demanded. "She's at Tibbys. Gramps, she's wearing Aunt Alaines ring. That's why I think it's her. And she has the necklace. I'll go to Tibbys and get her, but I have to warn you, she doesn't remember me. She has amnesia," Spot told them. "I'll go get her." "I'll go wit ya," Dutchy said running after Spot. The two walked to Tibbys, talking about the girl they remembered and all the fun they could have again. "We'll have to remind her of who we are. And all the fun we had as children," Spot told Dutchy. When they got to Tibbys, they both stood outside so Spot could point out Sam to him. Spot heard Dutchy's breath catch. "That's her. I just know it. It has ta be," he breathed softly. Spot nudged him inside where Sam was laughing with Race, Snoddy, and Bookie. Gabi was at a table with Itey, Satine, and Bumlets. "Spot! Guess, what! I got a job!" Sam exclaimed when she saw her friend. "A job? Here in Manhattan. What about Brooklyn?" "Gabi and I can't stay there. Rogers lawyer said that the city would seperate us and take us back to the orphanage. When we're 18, we can collect our inheritence, but until then, we're going to hide out here in Manhattan. Jack said that we could stay at the lodging house," she explained. She kept noticing that the blonde with Spot kept staring at her. And she noticed that Bitter kept staring at Spot and her. "Oh, this is Dutchy. A good friend of mine. Uh...Sam, he's one of the people I wanted ya ta meet. Da udder is back at the lodgin house. Will you come back wit us?" Spot asked. Books nodded and left, saying good-bye to Bookie, Snoddy, and Race. "Who is it that you want me to meet?" "You'll see," was all that Spot would say. She was walking between the two boys and kept feeling Dutchy stare at her. "What the hell are you looking at!?" she cried. Dutchy looked away quickly, but wouldn't utter a word. They walked through the doors of the lodging house and there stood Kloppman. "Sammie. It is you," he said grabbing her in a hug. Sam panicked, not knowing who this strange man was. "LET ME GO!" she yelled, squirming. When he finally let go, she went and hid behind Spot. She could see hurt and pain in the old mans eyes. "I'm sorry. It's just dat, I ain't seen ya in so long. I didn't mean ta scare ya," Kloppman apologized. "Sam, c'mon, we all need ta talk. We'se gonna tell ya something that may change you're whole life," Spot told her, sitting her down on a couch. "What's going on? Spot...you're scaring me," she trembled. "Sam. Kloppman heah is your grandfather and mine. I'se your cousin," Spot told her. Sam just stared at Spot like he had grown a second head. "Grandfather? Cousin? I suppose the next thing you're going to tell me is that Dutchy here is my brother," Sam spat back, still shocked by the news. "No, I'se a good friend though. You, Spot and me, we used ta play tagether when we'se was younger. Before ya was kidnapped. We spent everyday looking for ya. W-we thought you was dead," Dutchy said, voice wavering with emotion. "S-so, you're telling me that I have a family? A real life family?" she teared up. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember any of you..." her voice trailed off suddenly as she thought back to the dream that had been interrupting her sleep for the past week. "Oh. My. God. You," pointing to Kloppman. "I"ve dreamt about you. I was a little girl...with two boys..." she looked at Spot and Dutchy. "You two...the two boys...Oh my goodness..." Sam didn't know what to think. All she knew was that she was surrounded by strangers, but strangers that were familiar to her. "I don't know what to think. Why can't I remember anything? All I have is that dream. Just that damn dream. Please, can I go lay down? This is a lot to think about," she asked. She was led by Spot to the girls bunkroom, where she found a bunk and fell asleep. A dream interrupted Sams sleep. It was the same dream as usual, but there was more. Two adults and two children stood in front of what Sam now knew to be as the lodging house. It was her and a young boy, but she could tell that it wasn't Spot or Dutchy. The two adults hugged her and then the little boy did. Suddenly Kloppman came out and took her hand and the two of them waved as the carriage rode away. Suddenly the little girl broke free from Kloppman and ran after the carriage yelling. But Sam couldn't make out what she was saying. "Sammie? Wake up?" Gabi's voice broke through, waking her up. She looked up to see Gabi's smiling face along with a huge red bump on her forehead. "How in the world did you get that bump?" Sam asked in alarm. "Uhhh...I took Bumlets hat and was running away and didn't see the tree. I kinda ran into it. But Bumlets said that I could keep his hat," she said proudly, showing Sam the hat. "And the others gave me a nickname. Everyone has one. They call me Blaze now...cuz I blaze into things. So, will you please call me that now?" Sam smiled at how happy Gabi was. She nodded her agreement, glad that her sister had found such wonderful friends, and knew that she would have to problems with staying. "Well, Blaze, we need to talk. You are going to have full say in this situation...but I want you to be truthful. I went to see Rogers lawyer before we came here. He said that since we are still young, that the city would place us back into the orphanage..." "NO! I WON'T GO BACK!" Blaze interuppted. "We're not going back," Sam calmed her down. "He said that if we found family we could stay with or if we had enough money, we could stay together. So, I asked him about the inheritance that we are to recieve and he said that we couldn't collect until we're 18. So, it's gonna be a few years. So, I thought, that maybe, we could both stay here in Manhattan with the newsies. You have friends here. And I might have family here....I think," she told Blaze. Blazes eyes grew wide at the mention of a possible family. "You have family here? Who?" "I don't know for sure. I still don't remember anything before I was 8. But I'm trying to remember. Once I do figure it all out, I'll be sure to tell you. Promise," she said. "Oh, Mr. Kloppman said to come get you for dinner. And then the guys are going to go to a place called Irving Hall. So, lets' go. I'm getting hungry again!" Blaze demanded grabbing her sisters arm. Sam just laughed as she followed her downstairs. She quit though when she saw all the people sitting at the table. Luckily, Spot had saved her a seat next to him. As she sat down, she noticed that Bitter shooting hateful looks at her. Confused, Sam sat down and ate. There was no talking as everyone ate their bread and soup. Sam looked up and across from her sat the boy they met when they first arrived. She remembered his name was Snoddy and smiled. She was surprised when he blushed and looked away. "Snoddy is kinda shy when it comes ta goils," Bookie, who was sitting on the other side of her, explained. Sam smiled at the girl and could tell they would be great friends. "Do you wanna come ta Medda's wit us tanight?" Spot asked. "You'se could be my date." Sam nodded, and again, noticed the looks that Bitter was shooting her way. After dinner, Sam approached Bitter. "Can we talk?" She asked. Bitter, a bit hesitant, agreed and the two made their way towards the bunkroom. "Are you upset with me for some reason? I thought we were getting to be pretty good friends. Suddenly you're shooting hateful looks at me." "I like Spot. In fact, I've been in love wit him for ovah a year. Suddenly you'se come around and he don't even pay attention ta me," Bitter sulked. "Spot and I aren't like that. It's all complicated, and I can't really tell you everything, but, please, be assured, I don't want Spot. Actually, I'm not really looking for anyone. I just want to make friends," Sam explained. She could see the jealousy leave Bitters eyes, but they still weren't the eyes of a friend. "Fine. We better go," Bitter said leaving in a huff. Sam sighed. She had hoped that she and Bitter would be best friends. Not enemies. She followed after Bitter and saw Spot waiting for her by the end of the stairs. "Ready?" "Yup. Let's go," she said, ignoring the looks from Bitter. |
| Back to Entries Page Back to Newsie Page |