I Love You Forever
By Sarol
January 2, 2002

Everything was quiet in the Lodging House. The newsies all looked at each other. Jack had stormed out without giving them a chance to explain. Nick, the newsie who had taken Jack’s bunk when he left, was leaving the next morning along with Sam, his brother. If Jack had only stuck around instead of freaking out, he could have had his old bunk back and things would have been the same as before.
Finally, Racetrack made the first move and got into his bunk. Then everyone else got into theirs and fell asleep without talking to each other.
The next morning everyone was a little uneasy. Was Jack coming back or did he leave again? Why did he come back in the first place? Questions swirled around in their heads. They stuck around for a while, just in case Jack came back, but when he didn’t they left out for a day of carrying the banner.
When they came back after hanging out at Tibby’s for supper, the Lodging House was quiet. When they got inside, Jack was sitting on a chair in the main room, a thin, relatively short girl with wavy golden hair that fell a few inches below her shoulders sitting next to him.
“Jack?” Kid Blink asked cautiously after a few moments, not wanting his friend to freak out and leave again.
Jack turned around and saw all the newsies staring at him. “Heya, guys!” he said cheerfully.
They all took a chair and sat around by him, and then all their questions starting pouring out at once.
Jack held up his hand, and they stopped talking. “To make a long story short, let’s just say I figured out where my home was.”
“Welcome back, Cowboy!” Racetrack yelled, punching him on the shoulder, and they all started cheering.
When they quieted down again, the newsies told Jack that his bed was open now and he could stay. Then they noticed Ginny sitting next to him.
“Say, Jack,” said Mush. “Who’s da goil?”
“Dis is Ginny Conlon,” Jack began.
“Conlon? As in Spot?” asked Boots.
“Yep,” Ginny replied. “He’s me brudda. Our mudda died giving birth to me, and our fadda took up drinkin’ after dat. He was killed in a fight about a year lata. So Jeremy, our half-brudda, he was, oh, ten when we became orphans. He took care of me and Spot, who’s only a year older dan me, until Spot was ten, old enough to take care a’ himself. Den he took me ta Pittsburgh wid him and we stayed dere until today, when I decided I’d had enough. I wanted ta get back ta Brooklyn and ta Spot. Do you guys know what Spot’s doin’ dese days?”
Racetrack nodded. “He’s a newsie, like us. Probably da toughest one in New York.”
Ginny laughed a little. “Yep, dat’s Spot alright. He always said he was gonna be da toughest newsie when he ‘grew up’!”
“Tomorrow you want me ta take ya ta see him?” Jack asked.
Ginny kissed him on the cheek and everyone cheered. “Dat would be great!” After a pause, she said to the other newsies, “You guys got an extra bed fer da night?”
“Yeah,” one of the newsies said, and Ginny went on. “Good. I only need it fer da night, though ‘cause after dis I’ll just stay wid Spot.”
The next morning, Jack got up with the rest of the newsies and let Ginny sleep awhile longer. He sold as many papers as he could for an hour or so, and then went back to the Lodging House to wake her up. They walked slowly to Brooklyn, enjoying the sunny day and each other’s company, Jack selling a few papers along the way.
Around lunchtime they got to Brooklyn and stopped at a small restaurant where the Brooklyn newsies usually met. Spot was there, sitting at a crowded booth eating a hot dog. When he saw Jack, he slid out of the booth and walked over to him, spitting in his hand and barely glancing at Ginny. “Heya, Jacky-boy, what brings ya ta Brooklyn?”
Jack spit, too and shook Spot’s hand, opening his mouth to talk. Before he had a chance, Ginny rushed forward and embraced Spot, making Jack laugh at the startled look on his face.
“Who’s dis?”
Ginny stepped back. “Ya mean ya don’t recognize yer own sista?”
Spot stared at her for a second or two, and then his eyes narrowed. “What, Pittsburgh not good enough fer ya?”
“What?” Ginny asked, looking hurt. “Spot, I- you know I didn’t have a choice. Jeremy made me go wid him!”
Spot glared at her icily. “Ya could’ve come back or run away before now. Ya just didn’t wanna leave all da luxuries Jeremy had fer ya.”
“Dat ain’t true!” Ginny’s eyebrows started to furrow together. “Ya know it ain’t! Jeremy”
“Gave ya yer own room and fancy clothes,” Spot cut her off, gesturing at her clean, perfectly pressed dress. “Ya could’ve left- ya just didn’t want to. Brooklyn ain’t good enough fer ya now dat yer a lady.”
Both of their voices were starting to rise. “Spot!” Ginny yelled, now very angry with her brother. “Yer just bein’ stupid! Jeremy made me go wid him and I ain’t a lady! I came back as soon as I had da money fer da train!”
But Spot wasn’t listening. “Money wasn’t da problem. Da problem was you.” Then he grabbed his papers off the table where he’d left them and left the now silent restaurant.
“C’mon,” Jack mumbled, grabbing Ginny’s arm and pulling her outside, but Spot was already halfway down the crowded street. “Spot!” he yelled, trying to catch up with his friend, but Spot disappeared around the corner, showing no signs of hearing. Jack swore and turned to Ginny, who was now standing beside him crying softly. “What was dat all about?”
“I dunno,” Ginny mumbled. “When I left we was best friends, and I promised him I’d come back! I just couldn’t get da money- Jeremy wouldn’t pay or let me get a job! I just saved whatever money I could get ‘til finally I had enough.”
“It’s okay, don’t cry,” Jack hugged Ginny, doing his best to calm her down. “We’ll come back in a few days, or Spot might come ta Manhattan. You can stay wid us, we got room fer ya.”
Spot didn’t come to Manhattan. Two days later, Jack went to Brooklyn by himself, to try to talk to Spot without Ginny there. Spot was on the Brooklyn Bridge, staring out at the water.
“Who does she think she is?” he asked angrily after glancing over and noticing Jack approaching. “She left me fer eight years den she comes back and expects everythin’ ta be da same!”
“Well, ya ain’t givin’ her a fair chance ta explain,” Jack said cautiously, wanting to stand up for Ginny but also not wanting to anger his friend.
“What’s dere ta explain?” Spot asked. “She stayed away. She coulda come back, but she stayed away.”
Jack shook his head. “If ya’d only let her explain”
“Whose side are ya on?” Spot yelled, interrupting Jack. “If ya just came ta stick up fer her, ya may as well leave.”
“Spot,” Jack began, exasperated. “Just listen.”
But Spot wouldn’t listen. “Leave or I’ll soak ya!” he yelled.
Jack knew Spot wouldn’t soak him, but he couldn’t have an intelligent conversation when Spot was like this. “Fine!” he said, throwing up his arms. “When yer ready ta be sensible, ya can come ta Manhattan and you guys can talk dis out.” He started to walk back home.
“Yeah, well dat ain’t gonna happen!” Spot yelled after him, but Jack didn’t turn around. He kept on walking, both frustrated over his fight and angry that Spot was being so stubborn.
Ginny greeted him at the door of the Lodging House with a big hug and a kiss. “So?” she asked. “When can I go back to Brooklyn?”
Jack shook his head, not wanting to break the news to her but knowing he had to. “Not fer awhile. Not until Spot stops bein’ so stubborn.”
Ginny nodded, pushing down the tears that started to well up in her eyes before Jack could see.
Jack hugged her. “You okay?” he asked.
“No,” Ginny moaned. “I saved my money so long so I could escape from Jeremy and his terrible fiancé- dey was so mean Jack- but when I come home Spot won’t even talk to me!” This time she made no effort to stop her tears, and they spilled out. “Jack, dis is awful! I can’t go back to Pittsburgh and I can’t stay wid you forever!”
“Well, why not?” Jack asked, a bit hurt.
Ginny rolled her eyes. “I can’t stay wid you newsies. It would be different wid Spot, but you ain’t family!”
Jack shook his head and started to say that she was so family, but then he caught himself when he thought about what had happened with Bethany. He had let their relationship move too fast, and it had ended miserably. “Look,” he said. “Yer welcome here as long as ya want ta stay. We got room fer ya. Ya could even sell papes if ya wanted.”
Ginny looked at him for a few seconds, and then she noticed that they were still standing in the doorway and tried to change the subject. “Why don’t you come in?” She tried to laugh, but it came out as a groan and she fell back into his arms. “Thank you,” she mumbled into his chest and he hugged her back and wiped her tears off her cheeks.
“You hungry?” Jack asked.
“Nah, but I’ll go ta Tibby’s wid ya anyway,” Ginny replied.
Jack smiled and put his arm around her. They set off toward Tibby’s while Ginny kept rubbing her cheeks, trying to hide any sign that she’d been crying.
When they got there it was a little after two so all the newsies had left to sell more papers. Jack ordered himself a meal, and despite Ginny’s protests a bottle of strawberry soda for her.
Ginny kissed Jack’s cheek when they were done with their food. “Don’t sell papers today.”
Jack thought about it for a second or two, but when Ginny kissed him again he agreed. “Fine, but what are we going to do all afternoon?” Then his face turned slightly pink.
Ginny noticed and laughed. “I thought we could go on a walk. What are you thinking about, Jack Kelly?”
Jack’s face got a little bit pinker, and then he mumbled “Nothin’,” and they slowly walked out of Tibby’s, Jack’s arm around Ginny, whose laughter carried down the crowded street.
So they walked around Manhattan for a few hours. Jack stopped once by a flower stand and bought a lily, which he tucked behind Ginny’s ear.
“Oh, It’s beautiful!” Ginny gasped. “Lilies are my favorite!”
Jack smiled and took in how beautiful she looked with the large flower poking out from behind her thick golden curls. “I thought you might like it.”
“Like it,” Ginny began. “I absolutely adore it! It’s gorgeous!”
“So are you.”
Ginny didn’t have anything to say to that, so she just smiled and Jack put his arm back around her. They walked back to Tibby’s, where all the newsies were already crowded around the counter, waiting to order their food.
“Hey, Jack, what took ya so long?” asked Race.
“Nothin’,” Jack said defensively. “We was just walkin’!”
“Sure ya were,” teased Mush.
Crutchy noticed how uncomfortable Jack was and changed the subject. “Say Jack,” he said. “You goin’ ta Medda’s wid us tonight?”
“Sure,” Jack said gratefully. “Who’s goin’?”
Most of the newsies said they were, and Race said, “Spot Conlon’s comin’, too!”
At the mention of her brother, the color drained out of Ginny’s face. “Spot’s comin’?”
“Sure,” Blink said. “He wouldn’t miss a party like dis!”
“Well, maybe I should,” Ginny said to Jack, who noticed tears welling up in her eyes.
“No,” said Jack, hugging her tightly. “Yer comin’. You’ve neva been ta Medda’s before, and dis ain’t gonna spoil it for ya.”
“Okay,” said Ginny. “Ya must think I’m a terrible crybaby. I’m not really, but dis is so hard fer me. I can’t stand havin’ Spot mad at me.”
“I know,” said Jack. “It’s okay. Ya can cry anytime ya like, and if anyone makes fun a ya, you just tell me and I’ll soak ‘em fer ya.”
“Thanks, Jack,” Ginny said, lightening up. “And dis’ll give me a good chance to talk ta Spot.”
“Sure,” Jack said, not telling her how stubborn Spot had been earlier that morning.
As soon as they were done with their supper, all the newsies walked over to Medda’s. No one was there yet except for Medda, who greeted them at the door. “Hello, newsies!” she said in her Swedish accent. “Come in! Let’s get this party started!”
So they all crowded around in the seating area, talking and laughing and eating the refreshments Medda had set out for them. Medda sang a few songs, and during a slow song, Jack asked Ginny to dance with him. They were the only ones who danced, because Ginny was one of the only girls there, so they stuck out in the crowd.
It was then that Spot decided to come to the party, and he marched right up to the happy couple. “What do ya think yer doin’?” He asked Jack, angrily, ignoring Ginny.
“Dancin’,” Jack replied.
“Yeah, well why are ya dancing wid her?” He gestured toward Ginny, acknowledging her presence for the first time.
Ginny dropped Jack’s arms and turned to Spot. “I was hopin’ we could talk.”
“Yeah, well we can’t!” Spot yelled angrily. The other newsies had become silent and were leaning in to listen. The only other sound in the building was of Medda’s singing. “Dere’s nothin’ ta talk about. Ya left and ya didn’t come back.”
Ginny’s chin was starting to quiver. “Spot,” she began, trying to steady her voice. “I came back as soon as I could. I came back ta you. Yer da only reason I came back. So please, please just forget it took so long and let me go back ta bein’ yer little sista.” A single tear slid down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away, but not quick enough.
“What, ya gonna cry?” Spot taunted. “Pittsburgh made ya soft.”
Jack couldn’t hold back his anger any longer. He punched Spot hard in the eye, and then Spot ran back at him, pushing him backward on the ground then diving forward and punching Jack in the face. Jack kicked Spot up and started punching him back. Soon all the newsies were crowding around yelling, “Fight, fight!”
Medda stopped singing and ran out into the crowd. She and a few of the other newsies pulled Jack and Spot apart, and it took several of them to hold them away from each other.
“I’m gonna kill you!” Jack yelled, lunging forward before Kid Blink caught his arm.
Spot stopped moving and just stood there for a moment. “I guess we learned somethin’ about ya today, Jacky-boy,” he said cruelly. “I guess we learned dat yer friends ain’t as important ta you as we thought we was. All it takes is some goil you’ve only known a few days ta break us up.”
“Yeah, well dat goil taught me somethin’.” Jack, too had stopped trying to run forward and was just looking icily at Spot. “She taught me dat you ain’t half da guy I thought you was.”
Spot ran forward and punched Jack in the cheek, catching the newsies that were holding him back off guard. Jack punched him back a few times, but then the newsies pulled them apart.
Finally Ginny stepped forward. Jack could tell that all she wanted to do was cry, but she held her composure and said to Spot, “I was hopin’ you could forgive me. But since ya ain’t man enough ta hear what I had ta say, I won’t try anymore. If yer eva in da neighborhood, yer welcome ta stop by and talk dis out. But if ya ain’t mature enough ta talk, do me a favor and stay outta my life!” Then she slapped him hard on the cheek.
Spot just smiled. “I don’t hit little goils, and yer sure cryin’ like one.”
Ginny slapped him once more, and then she turned around and walked quickly out of the building.
“Lemme go,” Jack whispered to the newsies that were holding him back. They did, and Jack ran after Ginny, Spot shouting insults after him.
When he finally caught up to her a few streets down from Medda’s, he caught her arm and turned her around. A few tears were falling down her cheeks, but she looked more angry than sad. “Lemme go, Jack,” she mumbled and tried to get away, but Jack wouldn’t let her. “I said lemme go!” she yelled, kicking him in the shin.
“Shh,” Jack mumbled, pulling her close and giving her a hug. “It’s okay, calm down.”
Finally Ginny stopped trying to get away and sobbed loudly into Jack’s chest. “I’m so sorry,” she moaned over and over again.
“What for?” Jack asked, holding her by the shoulders, gazing into her angry light blue eyes.
“I’m sorry I made you hit Spot,” Ginny said, letting a few more tears run down her face. “I know he was one of yer best friends. I don’t wanna come between da two a’ youse any more dan I already have. Dat’s why I’m leavin’.”
“No,” Jack mumbled into her hair. “It was Spot’s fault, not yours.”
“It don’t matta,” Ginny said, looking up at Jack. “I can’t stay.”
“Where would ya go?”
Ginny thought for a few seconds, and more tears spilled down her cheeks. “I dunno! I ain’t got a family and I ain’t got a home!”
“Aw, come ‘ere,” Jack said, pulling her close and letting her cry. When she calmed down a little, Jack continued, this time not caring how fast their relationship was moving. “Da newsies are yer family now, and yer home is in da Lodging House.”
“Thank you Jack,” Ginny said. “But I don’t know how I can face the newsies afta how I acted back in Medda’s.”
“Dey’ll understand,” Jack said, not so sure if they would. “C’mon now, it’s gettin’ late.”
Ginny let Jack lead her back to the Lodging House, where all the newsies were already in the main room. When the newsies saw them come in, Ginny smiled shyly.
“Hi,” she mumbled, not quite meeting their eyes.
“You okay?” Mush asked.
Ginny nodded, but another tear ran down her already tear-stained face. “You guys must hate me afta how I acted! I ruined yer party!”
“Aw, we don’t hate ya!” said Kid Blink.
“Yeah,” said Race. “If we hated anyone, it would be Spot! You were tryin’ ta make up wid him and he was bein’ a real jerk.”
“So it’s okay if I stay?” Ginny asked.
“Of course,” said Specs.
“Just as long as you and Jack don’t do nothin’ up in da sleepin’ area,” Race added.
At this, Jack turned red and Ginny tried to look annoyed, but she gave up and laughed along with everyone else.
So Ginny stayed with the Manhattan newsies for several months. She was like a sister to them, and she and Jack were very much in love. The only thing that wasn’t perfect was that Spot never came to Manhattan. He never made up with Ginny or Jack, and Ginny felt really badly about that, but she didn’t cry so much like she used to.
One day around lunchtime, all of the newsies were sitting around at Tibby’s, laughing at a joke Racetrack just told.
Suddenly, the door opened and Spot walked in. Everyone stopped laughing and looked at him. Jack was eager to end their fight, so he spit in his hand and offered it to Spot.
Spot looked at it for half a second, and then smiled and spit in his own and grasped Jack’s hand.
Everyone in the restaurant cheered, except for Ginny who walked over to Spot. “So ya ain’t mad no more?” she asked.
“I ain’t mad at Jack,” he replied, and then turned his back on his sister. “In fact, I just came over ta ask Jack’s help fer somethin’. Dere’s gonna be a big fight in Brooklyn tonight, and we need his help. So waddaya say, Jacky-boy?”
Jack looked from Spot’s face to Ginny’s, torn between his two friends. Ginny was his girlfriend, but this was his chance to make up with Spot. Finally he spoke. “Count me in!”
Ginny gasped and looked away, and Spot smiled. “Good.”
But Jack wasn’t done. “On one condition.”
“What’s dat, Jacky-boy?”
“Dat you make up wid Ginny and end dis stupid fight once and for all.”
Spot just stared at Jack for a few moments, and then his eyes narrowed, letting Jack know how mad he was. “I shoulda known you’d chicken out!” Then he punched a wall and walked out of the building.
There was silence for a few moments, but then Mush gave a small laugh. Soon all the newsies were laughing except for Ginny, who was looking sadly at Jack.
“It’s my fault,” she whispered so only Jack could hear. “I broke up your friendship.”
“No,” Jack whispered back. “It ain’t you. Dis woulda happened anyway soona or lata.”
But Ginny wouldn’t listen. “Jack, I can’t stay wid da newsies anymore.”
The other newsies heard her and tried to talk her out of leaving, but she wouldn’t listen. “Jack, I been thinkin’ about dis a long time now. I already got a place ta stay and a job. I’m gonna be a nurse!” she tried to smile at the newsies, but they just looked at her and her smile faded. “I can’t stay.”
Jack met her eyes for a few moments. “But Ginny,” he whispered. “You can stay here. Yer a newsie. And yer family.”
Ginny shook her head. “I love all a ya guys. But if dis is what it takes fer you guys ta make up wid Spot, so be it.”
“We’d miss you, Ginny,” said Blink.
Ginny gave a sad smile. “And I’ll miss you. So much.”
“So don’t go,” said Mush.
A tear ran down Ginny’s cheek. “I have to. I’ll visit though. I promise.”
The newsies knew they couldn’t stop her, so one by one they nodded. Ginny hugged all of them. Finally, she walked up to Jack, but she couldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I hope dis doesn’t change things between us.”
Jack just looked at her for a second, and then pulled her close. “C’mere,” he whispered and hugged her tightly for a long time, the other newsies watching sadly. When she pulled away, he still held onto her shoulders. “I’ll help ya move.”
Ginny smiled. “Thanks Jack,” she whispered, and Jack put his arm around her like always and led her out.
First they went back to the Lodging House to get her small suitcase that contained a few dresses. Then, on the way to Ginny’s apartment building, Jack bought her another lily. “Dis can be yer housewarming present,” he whispered, tucking it behind her ear like he’d done last time.
Ginny smiled and touched the flower. “Thanks for being so supportive,” she told him, and Jack nodded.
Soon they were at Ginny’s apartment, which turned out to be halfway between Tibby’s and the Lodging House. Jack carried her suitcase up to her already furnished apartment. It had a small bedroom that contained a single bed and nightstand, a smaller bathroom, a dimly lit living room that contained a small couch, tattered armchair and a coffee table, and a small kitchen that was equipped with a wood burning stove, a water pump, a table with four chairs, and a few glasses and dishes. There was a small balcony outside of the bedroom and a larger one outside the living room. The entire apartment had faded cream-colored wallpaper with a blue floral pattern.
“Looks nice,” Jack said, setting down Ginny’s suitcase and looking around.
“Thanks,” said Ginny, giving him a kiss and pumping some water into a glass for her lily, which she set in the middle of the table. “Wanna eat here?”
“Sure,” said Jack. “But do you got food?”
“Yep,” Ginny replied, pulling a few cans out of a cupboard. She started a fire in the oven and emptied the contents of the cans, along with some water, into a pan. Soon a delicious smell filled the apartment.
Ginny ladled Jack a large bowl of soup and a smaller one for herself, and they sat at the table and started eating, talking happily the whole time.
An hour later it was late afternoon and Jack was about to leave. “Well, I suppose it’s time fer me ta go home and take deir teasin’.”
Ginny laughed. “I guess so.”
Suddenly Jack stopped smiling and pulled her close, hugging her and showering her with kisses.
“What’s dis for?” Ginny asked a few minutes later.
“I’ll miss you so much,” Jack said. “I’ll miss wakin’ up and havin’ ya dere in da next bunk. I’ll miss sellin’ papes wid ya. I’ll miss goin’ ta Tibby’s wid ya and takin’ deir teasin’.”
“Jack, I’m not dyin’,” Ginny said. “I’ll see ya tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow ain’t soon enough,” said Jack, and hugged her again. “I love you.”
Ginny smiled and touched his cheek. “I love you too.”
“You’re welcome back anytime,” Jack said, getting a little bit uncomfortable and changing the subject. “Ya gotta promise ta visit us.”
Ginny nodded. “I promise. Don’t worry, I’ll wear out my welcome by next week.”
Jack smiled and left, hearing the door shut behind him when he got to the end of the hallway. Then he left the building, breathing in the cool evening air, and hating Spot for making Ginny leave. He knew that Ginny would still be his girlfriend and he’d see her all the time, but it wasn’t the same. He had almost gotten back to the Lodging House when he realized something. He could still join Spot’s fight. Ginny wouldn’t know, and he could get Spot’s respect and friendship back.
Without really thinking about the consequences, he hurried toward Brooklyn, taking all the shortcuts he knew. He was running through a dark alley when suddenly someone grabbed him by his shirt collar and spun him around.
“Where da ya think yer goin’, William?” asked the guy that was now holding onto Jack’s arm. The sun had set, and the moon was hiding behind a building so Jack couldn’t get a good look at this man’s face. He was dressed all in black, and Jack didn’t need to see his face to tell that he was very angry.
“William?” asked Jack, struggling to get away.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Stevens,” the man said sarcastically. “Now do ya got da money?”
“What money?” Jack asked, exasperated and a little worried.
“Ya hear dat?” shouted the man and a few other men, also dressed in black, appeared from behind him. “Will here ain’t got da money. What are we gonna do about it?”
One of the men stepped forward, banging a bat in his hand. “I dunno. Maybe dis’ll convince him ta bring it, though.”
Jack saw him swing the bat, and suddenly everything went black.
Slowly Jack opened his eyes. The light that flooded in was so painful he snapped them shut again. His head was throbbing and he had no idea why or where he was. He clutched his aching head and heard a voice.
“He’s waking up.”
Some people he didn’t know sat him up in a chair and lightly slapped his face. “C’mon,” one of them said. “Wake up.”
Jack finally opened his eyes and gasped with pain at the bright light that was coming in through the window. “Can’t you shut dat?” he complained.
One of them obeyed, and then they all sat in chairs, forming a small circle. Finally, someone spoke. “What’s your name, kid?”
“Jack Kelly.”
“Jack Kelly,” he muttered, and then without warning slapped Jack hard on the face. “Don’t you lie to me kid! Now what’s your name?”
Jack knew that if he repeated Jack Kelly, he would only make this man madder, so he quickly thought up a plan. “What if my name was William Stevens?”
The room was silent. The man that had slapped him earlier, who Jack figured was the leader, spoke again. “What do you know about him?”
Jack shrugged. “I know dat last night dese people grabbed me and started calling me William Stevens. Den when dey asked me fer money and I didn’t have it, dey hit me wid a bat.”
The man slowly nodded. “So what did you say your name was?”
“Jack Kelly.”
“Jack Kelly, how would you like to be rich?”
Jack’s ears perked up. “What do I gotta do?”
A few of the men smiled, and the leader spoke again. “Let’s start from the beginning. I’m Mark Johnston. We’re with the FBI. This William Stevens is planning on assassinating the president. He’s paying those men you met last night to help him. They’ve never met before, they’ve just talked through letters, so when you showed up at their meeting spot, they assumed you were him. Now, a few weeks back, we intercepted one of their letters and learned of their meeting place. When we got there, we found you knocked out. Yesterday morning, we found William Stevens at a train station in New Jersey on his way here, so we arrested him. Since these men already think you’re William Stevens, we’re going to need you to go to the next meeting. Then, when we have enough information to lock them up we’ll jump out and arrest them. We’ll pay you well. Does that sound fair?”
Jack nodded. It seemed easy enough, and he’d like having the extra money. “When’s da next meetin’?”
“In a month,” Mark informed him. “Where can I contact you to give you more information?”
“Da newsie Lodging House,” Jack replied, and one of the men scribbled something in a notebook.
“Okay,” said Mark, standing to shake Jack’s hand. “You’re free to go then. When we come to the Lodging House, the story is that I’m your uncle from Maine. This is absolutely confidential. You can’t even tell your best friend.”
Jack nodded, and one of the men showed him out of the building. This was so exciting! And he’d love getting the money afterward. The sun was in the middle of the sky, so Jack went to Tibby’s to catch up with the newsies.
Jack stepped inside, expecting to be greeted with their teasing about where he was the night before. The newsies were planning on teasing him, but they noticed his bruised face and all began asking him what happened.
Jack wasn’t prepared for this. His face was sore, but he didn’t know it was bruised. The men had said to keep it a secret, so after thinking quickly, he said, “When I was done eatin’ at Ginny’s, I went to join Spot’s fight.” It wasn’t a lie; it just wasn’t the whole truth.
“I thought you was mad at him,” Racetrack said.
“Yeah, well, he was a newsie and he needed help,” Jack replied, hoping they would buy his excuse.
Kid Blink nodded. “So he ain’t mad at ya no more?”
“Actually he is.” Jack didn’t want to make Spot sound bad, but the newsies would notice if Spot was still mad later.
“What a jerk!” Mush said. “Look how bad you was beat!”
“Well ya shoulda seen what I did ta da udda guys,” Jack answered, punching the air next to him, not wanting to sound like a wimp.
“Wish I coulda been dere,” Racetrack said, and then he started telling a story about a fight he’d been in. Relieved that the subject was diverted away from him, Jack ordered a meal for himself.
It was much too late to buy papers, so Jack borrowed a few from his friends, and they all set off to carry the banner.
After supper, Jack hurried over to Ginny’s apartment. She was just getting home from work and they met at the door. Jack could tell that she was worried about something, so he kissed her cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“Jack,” she began. “I- dere’s so many sick people dere.”
Jack started to laugh, but the look on Ginny’s face made him stop. “Jack, today I took care of someone with smallpox. He was coughin’ all day, and you know how contagious and deadly it is. Jack- what if I get smallpox?”
Jack pulled her close to him and said, “Ginny, don’t worry about it. Da hospitals are safe ta work in. You’ll be okay.”
“Really?” Ginny asked.
“Sure,” Jack replied. Ginny looked perfectly healthy, and he didn’t want her to get worried over nothing. “Wait until tomorrow, ya won’t be sick. Den ya won’t have nothin’ ta worry about.”
“Thanks, Jack,” Ginny mumbled, hugging him. “I feel betta already.”
“Good.”
Suddenly Ginny looked up at him. “What am I doin’ complainin’ about my problems? Look at ya, what happened to yer face?”
Jack warily gave the same explanation about helping Spot as he’d given the newsies earlier. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he had to.
“Jack, why did you help him?” Ginny asked when he was done.
“Well, Spot may be actin’ stupid, but he’s still me friend, and one day he’ll realize dat and stop bein’ mad.”
Ginny smiled. “I’m proud of you.”
Jack stayed with Ginny for a little while longer, and it was dark when he stepped out into the chilly night. What a day! He’d met with the FBI, come up with a story to hide it, convinced his girlfriend that she wasn’t dying of smallpox, and still had time to make a quarter selling papers. It felt good to crawl into bed, and he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, ignoring the pain that still throbbed in his head.
When he woke up again, his head felt fine. Life was perfect for the next week and a half. Ginny felt ridiculous for being so worried about smallpox. She loved her job and she was just fine. One day, Jack went to Tibby’s for lunch, where Ginny was supposed to meet him. She wasn’t there yet, but Jack just figured she was running late, and ordered her usual turkey sandwich for her. When he was done with his cheeseburger, she still wasn’t there. He wrapped her sandwich in a napkin and ran over to her apartment, a bit worried.
He knocked on the door, but there was no answer so he walked in. “Ginny?” he called. “You okay?”
There was still no answer, so Jack peeked in her bedroom. Ginny was lying in bed, the covers pulled up to her chin. “I’m sick, Jack,” she said, and she really did look sick.
Jack ran over to her bed and stroked her hair off her forehead. She was burning up. It almost hurt to touch her. “Ginny,” he gasped. “Take off da covers, yer burnin’ ta death!”
“I’m so cold,” Ginny whispered, but Jack pulled the covers backward and ran to the kitchen to get some ice.
When he came back, Ginny was throwing up into the garbage can beside her bed. Jack ran forward and held her hair back. When she was done, she turned to Jack. “My muscles are so sore,” she whispered. “It hurts ta move.”
“It’s okay, lie down,” Jack whispered back. Ginny was so sick she looked like she was dying, but Jack didn’t want to tell her. “You’re okay, you’ll be okay,” he kept on trying to comfort her. She tried to pull back the covers again. “No,” said Jack. “Yer temperature's so high already.” He then held the ice up to her neck, cheeks, and forehead, which made Ginny cry.
“Please, Jack,” she moaned. “I’m so cold.”
Ginny looked so pitiful and afraid that Jack couldn’t bring himself to put the ice on her again. “Okay,” he finally said. “But only if you promise to keep the blankets off when I call the doctor.”
Ginny nodded. She was shaking so hard with the cold and muscle pain that Jack ran to the kitchen where he telephoned a doctor.
When he came back, he sat on the side of Ginny’s bed. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Da docta’s comin’. You’ll be okay.”
Soon the doctor arrived, and he gave Ginny some medicine to bring down her fever. Then he brought Jack into the living room. “Has she been exposed to smallpox?” he asked gravely.
Jack shook his head. “Not recently. About two weeks ago someone in da hospital she works at had it.”
The doctor nodded. “So twelve days ago?”
Jack thought for a second and mumbled, “Yeah, I guess.”
“Just as I thought.” Jack didn’t like how serious the doctor’s face looked. “After someone is infected with the smallpox virus it lies dormant for twelve days. Ginny’s now in the first stage of smallpox. Depending on how it progresses it could be fatal.”
Jack slowly nodded, letting it soak in.
“Don’t worry, it’s not contagious yet,” said the doctor. “But it will be in about two days. So you might want to get someone who’s had it already to take care of her. Have you had smallpox before?”
Jack nodded again. He hadn’t had it, but he wanted to be the one to take care of Ginny. He didn’t care if he got sick.
“Good,” said the doctor. “Then that will work out fine. However, you may want to get someone else to help you take care of her.”
“Okay.” Jack was feeling terrible. He knew it was crazy, but he privately thought this was his fault. If he’d only listened to Ginny at first when she thought she had smallpox, maybe they could’ve cured her before it developed into this.
“Well then,” said the doctor. “If you have no more questions I’ll be going. Call me anytime and I’ll stop in probably once a week to give you the medications.”
Jack just watched the doctor leave, and he stood there looking at the door for a few moments. Then he ran into Ginny’s room, where she was lying on her bed shivering.
Jack ran over to her bed and sat down beside her, stroking her hair. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, and Ginny turned to look at him. “Ginny, dis is my fault.”
Ginny tried to smile. “Jack, dis ain’t nobody’s fault.”
Jack wanted to cry, but he held his tears inside. “Yes it is! Ginny, if I would have believed ya when ya said ya had smallpox, we could’ve cured it!”
“Jack, smallpox is a virus,” Ginny said, touching Jack’s cheek and trying to comfort him. “Ya can’t cure it. Da minute I was infected two weeks ago, I had smallpox. Da doctor couldn’t have done anything.”
Jack still didn’t feel better. “I’m gonna take care a’ ya.” he whispered.
Ginny shook her head. “You’ll get it, too. I know someone who’s already had it. Bring me to da phone.”
So Jack helped her out of bed and brought her to the phone in the kitchen, propping her up on a chair by the table.
She slowly dialed a number and talked for a few minutes to the person on the other line. When she got off, she turned to Jack. “Cecile’s comin’. She’s me brudda Jeremy’s wife.”
Jack slowly nodded his head. He was starting to realize how serious this was. If Ginny would call her brother who she ran away from to escape, just so he wouldn’t get sick, it must be pretty bad.
Cecile arrived the next day, but Jack continued to take care of Ginny. He didn’t believe she had smallpox. He’d learned that smallpox was a rash or sores, not just a fever. Just to make Cecile happy, he convinced her that he’d already had smallpox and came every afternoon to Ginny.
The newsies were worried about Ginny, but more worried about Jack. He spent every second of every day thinking about her. He sold papers in the morning to make money for Ginny’s food, medications, and rent. Then in the afternoon he sat by her bed holding her hand. When he was back in the Lodging House, he was different. Before he joked around and was fun to be with. Now he never smiled and he just sat in a chair in a daze, then went to bed long before the rest of them.
A few days later, Cecile met Jack at the door of Ginny’s apartment.
“The fever is gone!” she whispered, but she didn’t look very happy.
A huge smile broke out on Jack’s face, then he ran to Ginny’s bedroom. It faded when he saw why Cecile wasn’t happy. A rash was forming on Ginny’s once beautiful face, and Jack could see it on her palms and feet, too. He ran over to her and scooped her up and hugged her for a long time.
“I’m ugly, ain’t I?” Ginny asked when Jack let her go.
“No,” Jack whispered, looking down on her. It was then that Jack realized how much he really loved her. He had been in love with Sarah’s looks and Bethany’s eyes and ringlets. Now, when Ginny’s good looks were gone, he loved her as much as before, maybe even more now that he was afraid he might lose her. “Ginny, I love ya so much!” he whispered loudly, his voice cracking. “Dis’ll go away soon. Den, marry me Ginny Conlon. I want ya to be my wife.”
Ginny smiled and stroked Jack’s cheek. “Jack, smallpox can result in scars. I might neva be pretty again.”
Jack just shook his head. “I don’t care how ya look. You’ll always be beautiful ta me. Anyway, dat don’t matta. You matta ta me, not yer looks. I love ya, more dan anything else in da world. So, will ya Ginny? As soon as dis all goes away, will ya marry me?”
Ginny’s smile widened and a tear ran down her cheek. “I love you, Jack,” was all she said, and Jack knew that meant yes. He pulled her close and hugged her for a long time.
The newsies noticed a change in Jack after that. He laughed and smiled. They noticed something in his face. A few of them recognized it as hope. However, one day after Jack returned from Ginny’s apartment, the hope in his face was shattered.
“What’s wrong, Jack?” Mush dared to ask after awhile. They were all afraid. The look on Jack’s face told them that something was terribly wrong.
“Ginny,” Jack whispered, sitting down in his chair. “Her rash. It’s worse. It developed into sores.” There was silence for a moment, then he continued, his voice cracking sometimes. “Dey’re awful. Dey’re all filled wid pus, and dey run togetta, all over her face. I-I don’t even recognize her anymore!”
The newsies stared at him sympathetically, not knowing what to say. Finally, Kid Blink gathered up his courage and started to speak. “Jack?”
But Jack wouldn’t listen. The newsies watched helplessly as he bolted upstairs, slamming the door behind him.
After a long time, Kid Blink ventured up after him. Jack was lying on his bunk, looking up at the ceiling.
“Jack?” he said, stepping forward slowly and cautiously. Before he had a chance to continue, Jack turned and started to speak.
“Da doctor said dat when da sores run togetta it means it’s deadly. Ginny’s gonna die. And it’s my fault. I didn’t believe her!”
Kid Blink slowly shook his head. “No. It ain’t yer fault Jack! I don’t know much about diseases, but I do know dat you love Ginny and would neva do anythin’ ta hurt her.”
Jack looked at Kid Blink for a few seconds, then started to speak. “We was gonna get married.”
“Well, she ain’t dead yet,” said Kid Blink. “She’ll get betta, you’ll see, den”
At that moment, someone knocked lightly on the door and came in without waiting for a response. After a few seconds, Jack recognized him as Mark Johnston, the leader of the FBI group who had asked him for help on their mission so long ago, almost a month, before Ginny’s illness, when life was perfect. Jack was about to ask him to leave and find someone else, but then a thought struck him. They would pay him a lot of money. With that money, he could buy medications, surgeries, anything for Ginny that she wouldn’t get with his newsie’s pay.
“Who’s dis?” Kid Blink asked, gesturing toward Mark.
Jack shrugged. “Me uncle.”
“Yes, and we have something important to discuss,” snapped Mark impatiently. “So would you be so kind as to leave us alone?”
“Okay, sorry,” said Kid Blink, shrugging and walking toward the door.
Mark watched him leave until the door was firmly closed and he couldn’t hear Kid Blink’s steps any longer, then turned to Jack. “So, let’s talk business.” Jack nodded and he went on. “The meeting is tomorrow night. Here’s your gun. I’m not saying you’ll need it, but you know, things happen. Tomorrow, at 8:00 sharp, meet them in the same alley you ran into them before. Don’t be late. When you get there, tell them you have the money but you want to run through the plan once more. They’ll tell it to you, we’ll listen, then right when they ask you for the money we’ll pop out and make the arrest. Simple enough?”
Jack nodded, staring at the gun, which was lying on Race’s bunk, the heavy metal sinking into the mattress.
Mark noticed and asked, “What, can’t you shoot a gun?”
“No, I can,” Jack replied, thankful for his time in Santa Fe.
“Well then, unless you have anymore questions I’ll be going,” Mark said, standing and walking toward the door.
Jack just shook his head and watched Mark leave. Then he crawled back into his bunk. A few minutes later he heard Kid Blink come back, but he just lied there, pretending to be asleep.
He eventually did fall asleep several hours after the rest of the newsies went to bed. He was a little worried about his mission the next day, but much more worried about Ginny. He wasn’t sure how much good the extra money would do, but he had to find out.
When he woke up, the other newsies were about to leave. Kid Blink saw him get out of bed and came over to him. “I wasn’t sure if ya wanted ta get up, ‘cause…”
Jack nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Do ya want me ta wait around wid ya or anything?” asked Kid Blink. He was the only newsie that knew about Jack and Ginny’s engagement or how close to death Ginny was, and he wanted to be there for Jack.
Jack shook his head. “Nah, you go ahead.”
“You sure?”
Jack nodded and smiled weakly and Kid Blink left, looking back for a long time when he got to the door.
Jack got ready as quickly as he could, and bought his papers when the other newsies were just leaving. He sold them half-heartedly for several hours, then he realized how useless it was. He was so depressed about Ginny that the headlines he ‘improved’ didn’t generate much interest. Jack gave his almost-full stack of papers to Racetrack, the first newsie he saw on the way to Ginny’s apartment, then he ran up to her room.
Cecile was in the kitchen, making soup. Jack gave her a brief nod, then went to Ginny’s bedroom. She was still sleeping, and Jack pulled up a chair and took her hand, watching her for a long time. She looked different. Her fever had returned the past few days, but now something was different. She looked calm and peaceful, like an angel. However, her sores were still bad. They were the only thing that reminded Jack that she was still sick.
When Ginny opened her eyes, she saw Jack sitting over her. She whispered his name and touched his face.
“I’m here,” Jack whispered back, and he hugged her.
Jack spent the next few hours by Ginny’s bed, holding her hand and getting her anything she wanted. Suddenly, he looked at the clock next to Ginny’s bed. It was seven thirty, and he had to be there by eight.
“I have to go,” Jack told her, though he wished he didn’t.
Ginny smiled and whispered, “Stay here wid me.”
Jack was about to agree, but then he thought about the treatments he could buy with the money. “I can’t, Ginny, I” then without thinking about it, Jack spilled out the entire story, starting with the night they had beaten him up on his way to Spot’s fight and telling her about the treatments he could buy with the money.
When he was done, Ginny looked up at him and said in a quiet voice, “Okay, Jack. But come back. Don’t let anythin’ happen ta ya. I love ya. I’ve loved ya eva since I met ya in Pittsburgh last year, when ya came runnin’ down da street just ta find out what me name was.” She smiled, remembering the good times they had, then became serious again and continued. “Jack, I love ya so much. So come back ta me. Just come back.” Then she pulled down his head and kissed him for a long time.
When Jack backed up again, he could see a few tears running down Ginny’s cheeks. He brushed them away, and whispered, “Don’t worry Ginny. I love ya, too. So much. And I’m gonna marry ya. You’ll see, things’ll be okay.”
Ginny gave him a weak smile through her tears, but didn’t say anything else. Jack hugged her once more, then left quickly.
He walked briskly out into the cool night. He knew he would be a little late, and how angry those men would be. Soon, too soon, he thought regretfully, he was turning onto that same dark alley. A large man met him with a bat. “Now ya got da money?” he asked, tapping it in his hand as if preparing to hit Jack.
“Yeah,” Jack said, struggling to remember the plan. “I got it. But first, why don’t we run through da plan? Just ta make sure everyone remembers.”
“No,” replied the man, stepping a little closer and speaking louder, “First, why don’t ya gimme my money?”
Jack shook his head and looked nervously around. Where were the FBI men? They weren’t there yet, and Jack was alone with this tall, armed man and a few other men who were now appearing from around the corners. Jack quickly thought up a plan. “Well, I ain’t gonna give ya da money yet,” he said. “Ya see, I gotta make sure ya ain’t just gonna take it and run.”
“We ain’t gonna run wid yer money, but we could do somethin’ a lot worse,” said the man, raising his bat and his voice.
Jack winced, thinking of how much it had hurt last time and how much worse it would hurt this time, and said quickly, avoiding the man’s eyes, “I ain’t got da money but if ya let me go I’ll give it to ya by next week.”
“Next week ain’t soon enough,” growled the man, raising his bat higher. “Ya wouldn’t mail me da money, ya wouldn’t give it ta me last time, and ya don’t got it dis time. Let’s see, dat’s three strikes. Stevens, ya just struck out.” With that, the man brought his bat down hard on Jack’s head.
This time, however, Jack wasn’t knocked out. The other men came running forward, and all started beating up on him at once. They hit him all over, bruising him badly and even tearing his skin in places. Finally, someone brought their bat down on Jack’s head with a sickening crack. Jack wasn’t sure if he heard his head cracking or the bat cracking, but whatever it was he fell down and the men walked away, satisfied. Jack just lay there, looking up at the stars, bleeding all over, and wondered if he was dying. The pain was terrible, so terrible he could hardly think. Things started to get blurry all around him, and Jack was sure he was dying. If dis is dyin’, he thought, it ain’t dat bad. It’s like fallin’ asleep. Afta a long, long, day. He closed his eyes, and for a moment was completely at peace with the world.
Just come back.
Ginny’s words echoed in his mind, shattering the peace that had once completely filled his body.
Groaning with pain, Jack stood up and made his way back to Ginny’s apartment. He had to get there, he had to get back to her.
Finally, he was up to her apartment, panting with pain and with exhaustion. When he entered, the first thing he saw was Cecile. She was sitting on a couch in the kitchen, weeping bitterly.
“No,” Jack whispered, stopping and staring at her, then yelling loudly, “No!” once again and running to Ginny’s bedroom. She was lying on top of her made-up bed, her hands folded on top of her chest, and a small smile on her lips, which were the only source of color besides the sores on her too-pale face. Jack touched her cheek. It was cool. His first thought was that the fever was gone, then he noticed the look on her face. It was calm, calmer than before. Too calm. A calm that could only mean one thing.
Jack embraced her tightly. She was gone. No tears would run down his cheeks, instead, all the sadness stayed cruelly inside his chest. “I’m here, Ginny,” he whispered. “I came back. You come back, too. Come back ta me, Ginny.” For a long time, he whispered to her, saying a lot but not saying anything.
Then Cecile appeared in the doorway, her hand covering part of her tear-stained face. “The doctor said she died of a secondary bacterial infection. The bacteria entered her brain through the sores on her face.”
Jack nodded, taking in Cecile’s words, though they meant nothing. The only thought that ran through his head was that Ginny was really gone, for good, and that she would never come back.
“Ya loved her, didn’t ya?” Cecile asked, a fresh batch of tears running down her cheeks.
Jack gave her a look that said of course he did but said nothing.
Cecile nodded, then turned around and left Jack alone.
An hour later, when Jack left the room, Cecile was sitting at the kitchen table. “I called Jeremy,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from crying. “He’ll pay for the funeral. It’ll be the day after tomorrow in the funeral home a few blocks from here. It’s at three o’clock. You’re welcome to come, and if you want, you can ask her brother to come, too. The one from Brooklyn.”
Jack nodded, and was about to leave, then he hesitated and said to Cecile, his voice cracking, “Thanks fer takin’ care of my fiancé. I appreciate it.”
Cecile’s hand flew to her mouth, then she ran over to Jack and gave him a big hug. “I’m so sorry- I didn’t know!” she said, and Jack just shook his head and left without looking back.
By then, Jack’s pain from the bats had been replaced with the pain of Ginny’s death, but when he stepped out into the cold night it returned with a vengeance. He stumbled home to the Lodging House and collapsed in a chair. The other newsies were already in bed, but Kid Blink was waiting up for Jack. The first thing he saw when Jack entered was the bruises all over his body, but when Jack came closer, he was more worried about the look on his face. The look told him everything, and he just sat there by Jack for close to an hour, saying nothing but not needing to. Finally Jack turned to him, and whispered the words Kid Blink already knew. “She’s gone.”
Kid Blink nodded, and after a little bit, he said, “I’m so sorry, Jack. It ain’t yer fault, though. Ya know dat, don’t ya?”
Jack just turned his head away, and silence filled the room. Finally, Kid Blink dared to break it again. “What happened ta ya? You get in a fight or somethin’?”
Jack nodded. “Or somethin’,” he whispered, too exhausted to spill out the whole story right then. Kid Blink understood, and didn’t break the silence again.
Jack laid in his bed the whole next day without eating or sleeping or talking to anybody. Kid Blink warned the rest of the newsies to leave him alone, and after giving Jack a few curious looks, they finally did.
On the day of the funeral, Jack still didn’t get out of bed. Before the newsies left to sell papers, Jack stopped Kid Blink on his way out. “Tell Spot the funeral’s at three,” he said quietly, and Kid Blink nodded and left, leaving Jack alone.
Around noon, Jack finally made himself get out of bed. He took a long shower, hoping to wash away everything: all his feelings of guilt and pain and love and regret. When he got out, he felt worse than he had before.
After putting on some nice clothes, Jack stepped out into New York and really looked around for the first time since Ginny had become sick. The city was full of smiling, happy people bustling about, and he felt out of place. On the way to the funeral home, Jack bought a single white lily, Ginny’s favorite flower. He arrived an hour early, and sat on a padded chair staring at the pattern in the carpet.
Finally, Cecile and Jeremy arrived. Jeremy resembled Ginny and Spot a little, but not much. Neither one of them looked very sad about Ginny’s death, and Jack suspected they were just glad Cecile would finally be able to go back home and Jeremy wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore.
Not many people came; just a few people that Ginny had worked with at the hospital, and a few people Jack figured were relatives. Spot didn’t come.
When they were about to bury her, Jack was the last person to say goodbye. He walked up to her grave and tucked the lily behind her ear. She was still beautiful, though her face wasn’t bright and happy as it always had been. Jack bit his lip and stroked her silky hair, then whispered, “I love ya, Ginny Conlon.” That sentence described everything he needed to say, and he started to walk away, but suddenly he got a very strange feeling in his head. He was hot and cold at the same time. His knees were feeling weak, and he could hardly stay standing. He was almost to his seat when he passed out, welcoming the darkness as an escape from the sadness.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in a place he didn’t recognize. There was a lady in a white dress bustling around his bed, and finally Jack caught her attention and asked her where he was.
“In the hospital,” she replied, a little too cheerfully. “Ya have a visitor, shall I send him in?”
Jack shrugged, figuring it would be one of the newsies. Instead, it was Mark Johnston. “Hi,” he said, walking over to Jack’s bed. “Listen, I’m sorry the plan didn’t work out. The guys that were supposed to come and back you up were stalled on the way over, but I can’t go into detail. Since it didn’t work last time, how about we try it again. We’ll pay you double.”
Jack shook his head. He didn’t care about anything anymore, especially not money.
“No?” asked Mark, looking surprised. “How about triple?”
Jack still wouldn’t agree, so finally Mark shook his head. “Well, I’m sorry,” he said. “We’ll pay you for all you’ve done already. How about a thousand dollars?”
Jack shook his head to that, too. Money wouldn’t do much good without Ginny.
Mark gave Jack a concerned look, then said, “At least let us pay the hospital bill.”
Jack finally agreed, but only because he knew he wouldn’t be able to pay it himself. Mark left then, giving the nurse the address where they could send the bill.
Jack fell asleep again, and the next time he woke up a doctor came to speak with him. “You have smallpox,” he told Jack grimly. “However, it’s not a bad case. You can be out of here in three weeks.”
Jack nodded, not caring about anything. He didn’t care if his case was bad or if he died. Without Ginny, nothing mattered much to him anymore.
The next few weeks passed in a blur, with nurses and newsies filing in and out, the nurses bringing him medications and the newsies bringing him news of what was going on, small talk like who soaked whom.
Finally Jack was able to leave. The first place he went was the graveyard. He found Ginny’s grave and sat down on it, placing a lily by her tombstone and lovingly stroking her epitaph:
Here lies Virginia Conlon
Our loving sister
1882- 1900

“And fiancé,” he whispered, wishing it said Ginny instead of Virginia. He knew Ginny would have laughed had she been alive to see it. ‘Our loving sister’ was a terrible epitaph for Jeremy to have chosen. He knew how much Ginny resented him, yet he wrote that on her tombstone.
Jack smiled, remembering the black eye Ginny had once given a newsie who called her Virginia, then felt immediately guilty. How could he be happy when Ginny was gone? When he stood up to walk away, he was surprised to see Spot behind him, and more surprised to see the tears in his eyes.
“She’s gone,” Spot whispered to Jack. “She thought I hated her. My baby sista died thinking dat Jack, and now I can’t say I’m sorry. I didn’t even come to her funeral!”
Jack nodded sympathetically, then said, “She loved ya, Spot. She forgave ya for bein’ mad.”
“I know,” Spot replied, shaking his head. “But I can’t forgive myself.” Then something that absolutely amazed Jack happened. A few tears fell out of Spot Conlon’s eyes, and he didn’t try to brush them away. Spot placed a lily next to Jack’s, then turned and walked back home without glancing back.
After Spot had disappeared from sight, Jack started to walk back to Ginny’s apartment, wondering what was the matter with him. He hadn’t been able to cry since Ginny’s death, so all the pain remained inside of him, eating away at his heart. Ginny’s apartment was already cleaned out, except for a single envelope on the counter with a note attached that said:
Jack, I found this when I was cleaning. I hope it helps- Cecile.
After examining it for a second or two, Jack slowly tore it open, careful not to rip it. It was a letter from Ginny. She had written it the night she died, after Jack had left.

Dear Jack,
When you read this, I’ll no longer be with you. I know it seems like I’m dead, but I’m really not. My love for you can never die. I had to go early, but you must stay behind. However, my love will always be with you. When you fall in love again, I will be smiling down on your happiness. When you get married, I will be there watching through tears of happiness for you. When you hold your first child in your arms, I will be there smiling and looking at the precious treasure that could have been mine but is yours. And when your final hour comes, I will be there holding your hand like you once held mine. Then you can join me in heaven where we’ll live forever. You see, even though my body’s no longer there, my spirit will be with you, laughing with you during the happy times and crying with you during the sad times. Jack, I love you. You were my first love and my last love and my only love. Which is why I’m sad to be leaving you now. I will miss you.
I love you forever,
Ginny Conlon

Suddenly Jack wouldn’t have been able to hold in his tears if he’d tried. The tears that he’d held in for so long all came pouring out at once- tears from when he found out Sarah was married, tears from when he realized Bethany didn’t love him, tears from when he was beat up, tears from when Ginny was sick and tears from when Ginny died. He let them all go, and when he was finally done crying it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his chest.
The next day, Jack went out again to sell papers. He was still sad about what had happened, and he knew that he would be for a long time, but he thought he could feel Ginny’s arm around his shoulders- the way he had put his arm around her so many times, and he knew that she would be with him forever.

The End