Lanie

By: Jessica

Lanie lay on her top bunk enjoying every second of her final evening before school started. She was watching the newsies playing their poker game, having declined the offer to play. She didn’t feel particularly lucky that night, and was enjoying watching Race. From her angle she could see his cards, and was pretty sure there was no way he was ever going to win this round. But he was valiantly trying to bluff his way out of it, and doing a pretty good job of it, as far as she could tell. Blink, Mush, Skittery and her brother Jack didn’t seem to be able to see through him.

She let out a small sigh and rolled over on her back to stare at the ceiling. She wanted more than anything to just be a newsie, but Jack was insistent that she go to school. The local public school wasn’t bad, and Lanie was smart, but she still hated it. Even more, she hated the skirts and blouses she had to wear when she went to school. Everyday after school she ran straight home to the lodging house and changed into pants, a shirt, a vest , and a hat, then went out to join Jack in selling his papers. In the summer she got to sell her own papers, and dress how she wanted all day long. However, now school was starting and she was going to have to spend her evenings on homework and studying.

Noticing that the hand in the poker game had ended, she decided to join in. She wanted to enjoy her last night of freedom, and suddenly her feeling of ill luck disappeared. She slid off her bunk, and played the next three rounds. And won every one of them, as she was apt to do sometimes. She really was an amazing poker player when she felt lucky.

*********

"Come on, come on! Up and at ‘em! Sell your papers, carry your banner!"

Kloppman entered with his usual rude awakenings. Lanie didn’t have to be at school until 8:00, much later than the Newsies had to be at the circulation office. But she always got up at the same time as they did anyway. After the boys left, she and Kloppman usually ate breakfast together. She was a terrible cook, but Kloppman was an adequate one. She loved the boys and their company, but she liked her quiet mornings with Kloppman. He enjoyed them just as much, if not more. He was the father she never had, and she was the daughter he never had. They filled each other’s empty spaces quite nicely.

That morning the boys grumbled their usual complaints at Kloppman’s morning rising technique, but got up fairly easily once awakened. They worked their way into the washroom groggily, and began to get ready for the day.

"Heya Lanie, lookin’ forward to school?" Race asked mischievously. He knew well how much Lanie hated school, and loved to tease her about it. He also disagreed with Jack on making Lanie go to school. But he didn’t usually say anything.

Lanie gave him a friendly punch on the arm and said, "I think that you know the answer to that as well as I do Race."

Jack chose that moment to walk into the washroom, and Race asked him, "Why do ya make Lanie go to school Jack? Ya know she hates it."

Jack gave him a nasty glare, then turned to Lanie with the same expression. He loved his sister, and knew he was overprotective sometimes, but he knew that going to school would pay off in the long run. "She goes Race, because I ain’t gonna have her being a newsie all her life like her brudda. She’s gonna go to school until she turns 18, so she’s still got three years left."

Lanie rolled her eyes, knowing there was no use arguing this subject. She had tried countless times, but always lost out to her big brother. She gave a small sigh as she looked down at the sink, and felt a hand placed on her shoulder. She looked up into the mirror, and saw the reflection of Mush. He gave her a small smile as if to say, "Jack’s only doing what he thinks is best because he loves ya." She smiled back, Mush was always a comfort to her.

Lanie finished getting ready, and followed the newsies downstairs. They all gave her a hug and/or wished her luck at school as they left. Jack was last, and he gave her forehead a kiss and said, "Now make sure you try your hardest at school Lanie. If I hear about you slackin’ off I’ll personally soak ya."

Lanie smiled, knowing he was just kidding, and hugged him. "I’ll try my hardest for you Jack, even though I hate it." Jack smiled at her (and at her lack of a street accent which never ceased to amuse him) then ran out to catch up with the rest of the newsies on their way to the distribution ally.

Lanie sighed as she watched him run off, wishing she was going with him. Kloppman came up behind her and gave her a hug. She smiled at him, knowing he was trying his best to comfort her. He then gave a silly bow and offered her his arm. She laughed and gave him an equally silly curtsy as she took his arm and followed him into the kitchen for breakfast.

**********

"Then, after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed..." Lanie’s teacher droned on as she sat in her classroom, trying to pay attention for Jack’s sake. But she found her mind wandering to the newsies, thinking about them instead of history.

She loved all of them like brothers, and they all treated her as their little sister. But Jack was the responsible older brother, the one who laid down the law. He also had a fun side, and let her be pretty free as long as she wasn’t putting herself in any danger. Not that it mattered, Lanie could soak almost anyone, guys included. During the strike she had exhibited the same characteristics of her brother, always ready to soak someone, not quite thinking it through. She had a quick temper.

She thought Race was the funniest newsie; she loved his smart aleck comments because they were a lot like her own. Mush was the best one to comfort her, and Skittery and Blink were her best friends. Of course, no one compared to Jack, but he was her brother.

Jack had been taking care of Lanie since their mother died when Jack was nine and Lanie was six. Lanie didn’t remember much of her mother, but Jack was the best big brother anyone could ask for. He was a very responsible nine year old. When their father became abusive, he took Lanie and himself to the newsboy’s lodging house and started working as a newsie, baby-sitting Lanie while he sold. Later, Jack started sending her to school while he sold, and letting her stay with him after school and during the summer. And that’s the way it had been ever since she was seven. Jack was a great guy, but very protective of his sister, especially where other guys were concerned. Lanie hadn’t taken much interest in guys yet, and that’s the way Jack liked it. The less interest Lanie took in guys the happier Jack was, he was really like Lanie’s father in that sense.

Lanie didn’t really have any girl friends. All of the girls she met at school were nice, but so silly to her. She knew their only aspirations were to get married when school was through.

There were quite a few boys at school that had taken notice of Lanie. She was a pretty girl, with Jack’s light brown hair. Except hers had reddish streaks brought out by the sun. It was short, just a few inches below her ears. Jack had been so angry when she cut it. It had been down to her waist, but Lanie discovered, during the strike especially, that long hair got in her way when she tried to fight. So she cut it off, and boy had Jack been mad. But he got over it, like he always did when Lanie did something crazy. Her brown eyes -- almost identical to Jack’s-- were twinkely, and she was petite but far from weak. Lanie didn’t like any of the boys though, she knew they all wanted her to be someone she wasn’t; a docile and obedient lady. Boy she wished she was with the guys out selling papers...

"Elaine Kelly!" Lanie winced at the sound of her full name, and knew the teacher must have been trying to get her attention for sometime. "Elaine, welcome back to class," her teacher said sarcastically. "I don’t suppose you can tell me the President of the United States during the Emancipation Proclamation can you?" The teacher gave her a rather smug look.

Lanie looked just as smug as she answered, "Abraham Lincoln." The teacher looked taken aback at her correct answer, and when recovered began to lecture again. Lanie breathed a sigh of relief, but decided she had better pay attention. That was a lucky guess.

*********

When school finally let out for the day Lanie ran home as fast as she could, considering she was wearing a skirt and carrying books. Several boys had offered to walk her home, but she always declined, not wanting to be a helpless girl. She was anxious to get out and start selling papers with Jack, or maybe Race today.

When she finally reached the lodging house, Kloppman was there to greet her. He saw her windblown hair and red face and could tell she’d run home. "You can tell me about your first day later," he told her. "I can see you’re ready to go see the boys." Lanie flashed him a thankful grin and ran upstairs to change.

Once she was done, she headed over to the Metropolitan Museum in Central Park *(for anyone who thinks this is not the Met’s location- it was in 1899 and is now, it’s on the edge)*, where she knew Race was selling for the day. But when she got there he was nowhere to be seen. She figured it must have been a slow spot and that he had moved somewhere else. She sighed, not knowing whether to look for him or head to the pond south of the Met where she knew Jack was selling. He didn’t usually move during the school year, he wanted Lanie to be able to find him whenever she needed to.

Lanie decided to head over to the pond. Maybe she’d bump into another newsie on the way and spend the afternoon with them instead. But as she was heading down the steps of the Met, someone running up the stairs bumped into her-- hard. Her hat fell off, and she fell down with a grunt of pain and started rubbing her shoulder where she had been hit. She felt someone from behind helping her up, and apologizing the whole time.

"Hey, what the hell’s you’re problem!" she exclaimed as she stood up. "That hurt! Watch where you’re-" But she stopped short when she cam face to face with a boy about her age. A very  good looking boy by Lanie’s standards. He had dark brown hair and deep velvety brown eyes. He was about 6’ 2", tall for Lanie who was only 5’3". He was dressed in the type of clothes middle class men wore-- he had a full three piece suit on. She wondered what he was doing going into a fancy place like the Met.

"I am so sorry miss! It’s just I was rushing to get inside-- I wanted to be early to my  job-- and I guess I didn’t see you!" The boy explained this all in one breath, and really looked quite sorry as he said it.

"Uh, that’s okay," Lanie said still looking at him. "I should of been looking out too." She continued to rub her shoulder, which ached a little from being bumped so hard.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.    

"Nah, I’ll be fine. My arm will just be a little sore for awhile from being bumped," Lanie answered him.    

The boy smiled at her and said, "I really am sorry. My name’s Charles- Charlie. What’s yours?"    

They shook hands as she replied "Elaine, but no one calls me that except my brother when he gets really mad at me. Everyone calls me Lanie." Charlie laughed, and continued to look at her. She was pretty, he thought. Very pretty. Healthy looking, not weak or overly thin from a corset’s effect.    

"Well look Lanie, I have to get to work. I work as an accountant." Lanie nodded, impressed. "But, well, I was wondering. Can I maybe take you to lunch tomorrow?"    

"Sorry but I can’t," she replied quickly. She met the boys for lunch everyday at Tibby’s on her lunch break, and knew if she didn’t Jack would get suspicious and want to know where she was. He didn’t like her wandering around on her own. He was really so unreasonable sometimes. Lanie saw Charlie’s face fall, and knew she really wanted to see him again; he seemed nice. Then she got a brilliant flash. She could just tell Jack she’d be selling with someone else the next afternoon, and meet Charlie instead. "But I can meet you around this time tomorrow somewhere."    

Charlie’s face lit up again, and he said, "That’d be great. My break is from 3:30-4:00. I can meet you at... let’s say 3:35 tomorrow for a quick bite to eat or a sarsaparilla or something at the restaurant over there." He pointed at a restaurant across the path in the park called Mike’s.

Lanie grinned back at him and said, "Sure, that would be great. See you tomorrow."    

"Yeah, see you tomorrow Lanie," Charlie replied. He headed up the stairs to the Met, and Lanie watched him.  A split second after she turned away and started heading toward Central Park, Charlie looked back at her. She was putting her cap back on, but he caught a glimpse of her hair, the red in it shining in the afternoon sunlight. It was short, just a few inches below her ears. She really was pretty he thought. He grinned to himself and headed inside the massive building where he worked, looking forward to the next afternoon.

**************

On her walk toward the pond, Lanie thought about Charlie. He was certainly good looking, and he seemed very nice, what with helping her up and all. She was thinking about the next day, when suddenly she cried out, "Oh no!" Some passing people gave her an odd look, but she didn’t care. Sure she was planning on telling Jack the next day that she had been selling with someone else, but who? She knew Jack would ask them to make sure she wasn’t wandering around on her own. "Shit," she said under her breath. She knew she was going to have to tell one of the Newsies about Charlie, but who? They had to be able to keep a secret, she couldn’t let Jack find out. Suddenly she knew just who to tell. She changed her direction, heading toward Grand Central Station. She knew she’d find just who she was looking for there, he rarely moved. Mush would be the perfect one to help keep her secret.

**************

"Wow," was all that Mush could say. "You wanna have me help you keep a secret like this from Jack?" he asked Lanie in disbelief. She nodded her head with a pleading look in her eyes. Mush let out a breath, thinking about what this meant.

"Please Mush?" Lanie begged him. "It’s just that he’s a really great guy, and I just want to be friends with him!" Lanie decided interjecting a tiny lie to get Mush to help her was okay. Even she knew that Charlie was too good looking to just be friends with. She continued with, "But Jack never listens, he just gets all protective of me and I can’t do anything! Please Mush, just for a little while?!"

Mush looked at her, she was begging him with her eyes. Mush always was a sucker for Lanie. "All right," he consented, and she grinned as she threw her arms around his neck. "But only if it’s just for a little while and you’ll tell him later," he said with a warning tone in his voice.

"Oh, I promise Mush, I promise!" Lanie stopped hugging him and just grinned at him. "I knew I could count on you! I thought about Race, but with that mouth-"

"The whole world would know in 10 minutes," Mush interrupted her.    

"Well, yeah," Lanie smiled sheepishly. "Are ya ready to head to Tibby’s? I see you’re out of papes."

"Yeah, I’m ready, let’s go." So they headed to Tibby’s to meet up with the other newsies.

**************

After dinner at Tibby’s the newsies returned to the lodging house to play some cards, shoot some craps maybe. Jack had asked Lanie how her day was and who she was selling with back at Tibby’s, but she just told him that they'd talk back at the lodging house, she was tired of thinking for awhile and wanted a break, He agreed, and now sat facing Lanie, she on her bunk, he on his right across the way. Lanie wanted to rub her arm, it was hurting a little, but she didn’t want Jack to know she was hurt.

"Well, how was your first day back? Did ya behave and all?" Jack asked these questions, hoping to get a yes to all of them. He didn’t want Lanie ending up in the slums, he wanted her to be someone.    

"Yeah, I behaved myself really well, except for when the teacher called on me and I wasn’t paying attention." Lanie saw Jack’s disapproving glare, and immediately exclaimed, "I got the answer right anyway!" Jack relaxed a little, but still admonished her for not paying attention.

"And who’d ya sell with this afternoon?" Jack asked, already anticipating her answer. He knew she had been planning on selling with Race.

"Well I went to the Met looking for Race but he wasn’t there-" she began.    

"Yeah, it was a lousy selling spot today," Race interjected, his eyes never leaving his cards.    

"So I went and sold with Mush instead, down by Grand Central," she finished up.

"Yeah, but I was already out of papes when she got there," Mush added, and Lanie sent him a silent thank you with her eyes.

The poker round had come to an end. Race, for once, had dropped out. He came up to Lanie, his head level with her waist as she was on a top bunk. "Did ya miss me today Lanie? Huh, did ya miss me?"

Lanie laughed, and said, "Of course I missed you Race."    

"Did ya miss everything about me?" he asked with a gleam in his eye.    

"What are you talking about Race? Lanie said sounding puzzled.    

"Oh, just this." Race ran around to the back of Lanie’s bunk and started to tickle her mercilessly from the back.

"Stop! Oh god Race stop!" Lanie was laughing so hard she was gasping for breath. Her shoulder was really hurting her, and she tried to get him to stop. Race knew her biggest physical weakness, she was extremely ticklish. Suddenly she fell on her hurt shoulder and gave a small gasp of pain. Race heard it and immediately became concerned.    

"Did I hurt ya Lanie?" he asked worried. Jack slid off his bunk to come look Lanie and her shoulder.    

"Nah, I just hit my shoulder today and it’s a little sore." Lanie gave Race a reassuring look. "It wasn’t anything you did." Race looked relieved, but Jack looked concerned.    

"Lemme look at it Lanie," he said gently.

"No!" she said, pulling away. Another physical weakness, she hated people poking and prodding at her, examining her, She hated going to the doctor, so she tried to stay pretty healthy.

Jack gave her a firm look and said, "Elaine Kelly, let me see your shoulder. She relented, knowing "Elaine" was her cue to stop resisting. Lanie unbuttoned her shirt and took it off, leaving her long underwear top on. She pulled it down off her shoulder, and Jack leaned in for a closer look.

"Lanie, it’s already gettin’ a little swollen and it’s definitely already black and blue. Why didn’t ya tell me earlier, and what happened?" Jack asked her.

Lanie squirmed under his gaze and tried to decide how to go about telling him. She knew that he could always tell when she was lying. "Well, when I went to the Met looking for Race, I was going down the stairs and a guy bumped into me and knocked me down," she started to explain. Jack looked mad, at the guy probably, and Lanie quickly defended him. "He was real nice about it, and he helped me up and apologized and all. And my arm didn’t start hurting again till just a little while ago, so I didn’t think it was a big deal."

Jack gave her a look, and then said, "Race go ask Kloppman to bring up some bandages. We need to make a sling for her or something," Lanie started to protest, but the other newsies, who had been listening to the whole conversation, murmured in agreement. She sighed. It sure was tough on a girl, having so many big brothers. She allowed Kloppman to make her a sling, then went to bed as ordered by Jack, again supported by the other newsies. She hadn’t realized how tired she was, and fell asleep almost instantly.

*************

Jack watched Lanie until she fell asleep and then sighed. Why hadn’t she told him about her arm? It could have been something serious, he just wanted to do what was best for her. He sighed again, and headed back over to the crap game. He took a seat next to Mush, and then asked aloud, "Why didn’t she tell me?" The other newsies exchanged glances, and Mush finally spoke up.

"Jack, you’re a real good big brudda and all, but sometimes you’re just too overprotective of Lanie. She’s already 15, and a real independent person. You’re lucky she ain’t interested in guys yet Jack, but that’s only because she’s grown up as one of the guys." Mush explained all this, hoping when he was done Jack wouldn’t punch him.

But Jack just sat there quietly, his expression unchanged. Specs spoke up then. "I got a little brudda Jack, and I worry about him too. But you can’t tell ‘em where to go, who to see, and who not to see. Otherwise they’ll just get mad atcha." Specs always was one of the most insightful newsies, and the others nodded in agreement. Jack finally spoke.

"Yeah Specs, but you’ve got a little brudda and I’ve got a sister. A sister I just want the best for. I don’t want her sitting around here forever, I want her to be someone. So I think that you guys should quit givin’ me advice and start letting me make the decisions about MY sister!" Jack was visibly angry by the last sentence, and stormed out the window to sit on the roof. Specs and Mush, the two to speak to Jack, looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Lanie was right, sometimes Jack just never listened. Everyone returned to their games and the subject of Lanie and Jack was forgotten.

***********

The next morning all was forgotten, and Lanie’s arm looked much better. But Jack still insisted she keep it in a sling for that rest of that day. She agreed fairly quickly, her arm did still hurt a little. Lanie ate her usual breakfast with Kloppman, but didn’t talk as much as usual. Kloppman chalked it up to her arm hurting, but it seemed to him that something else was bothering her. He didn’t press the issue though, and let her go off to school.

School seemed longer than usual that day, and when the final bell rang Lanie ran back to the lodging house to change her clothes. She realized when she finished changing that if she wanted to be over at the Met on time she was going to have to run really fast. She ran as fast as she could, and was right on time, to find Charlie waiting outside for her. She took a deep breath to calm her breathing, and walked the short distance there was left to reach the restaurant.

Lanie smiled at Charlie, and said, "Hey, sorry I’m late."    

Charlie smiled back at her, and said, "You’re not late, I was just a little early." Then he noticed her flushed face and her panting breaths. "Did you run here?"

She grinned and replied, "Yeah, I thought I was going to be late. And I would of been if I hadn’t run. You ready to go in?" He nodded, so they headed into the restaurant. But their conversation hadn’t gone unnoticed.

************

Racetrack was selling across the path at the Met, and things had been going well so he decided to stay there. He had taken a minute to stop calling out the headlines and have some of his cigar, and what he saw caused him to drop the cigar from between his teeth and stare open mouthed across the street. It was Lanie, wasn’t it? And she was heading into some place called Mike’s with a boy Race had never seen before. Suddenly Race knew how Jack felt as an older brother, and he wanted to run right across the street and pull Lanie out of there. But he knew that was no way to go about doing anything, so he picked up his cigar and started selling his papers again. He’d talk to her when she came out.

***********

Lanie and Charlie sat down at a booth in the back of the restaurant. He ordered a sandwich and a sarsaparilla, but she only ordered a sarsaparilla.    

"Well," Lanie said. "I know you’ve got to be back to work in about a half hour, so let’s get right to it. What’s your favorite color?"    

Charlie laughed at her bluntness. "Do you really want to know?" he asked her.

"I want to know something about you," she replied. "You know, your favorite stuff, things you hate, just things about you. And when you’re done, I’ll tell you about me. It’ll be a fair trade."

Charlie smiled again and said, "Where do I start. I work over at the Met, as an accountant. I’ve been working there for almost two years now, before that I went to school. I didn’t go to college, but math comes easy to me and once I proved that to the people at the Met I became the supervisor of their accounts. I don’t have a favorite color, but my favorite food is the pasta my neighbor makes. She’s this real nice Italian lady who lives in my building, on my floor. I live alone in an apartment in Booklyn, and I come over here to Manhattan everyday for work. I’m seventeen years old, I’ve got no siblings, my full name is Charles Benjamin Grant, and I’m a very messy person." Charlie stopped and took a breath. "Is that enough of me, can I start hearing about you now?"

Lanie laughed and said, "Of course, it’s mine turn now. I live with my brother and about forty other guys in the Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House. My brother’s a newsie, and so am I during the summer and after school. He makes me go to school, even though I hate it, because he says it’ll be good for me in the long run. His name’s Jack, and my mother died when I was too young to remember her. My dad wasn’t the greatest, so Jack took himself and me to the Newsboys Lodging House. We’ve been there since I was six and Jack was nine. Jack’s been my mother and my father all my life. I love being a newsie, and I hate being a girl. The reason I was late to meet you was because I ran home to change first, I hate wearing skirts and stuff like that. My full name is Elaine Katherine Kelly, but if anyone besides my brother uses that name I’ll soak them. I’m also a very messy person and I’m a terrible cook." She smiled at him, then asked, "After all that how much time do we actually have left to talk?"    

He looked at his watch, then said, "About five minutes. So let me ask you this. Do you really like living with 40 other guys like that?"    

She grinned at him, and said, "Yeah, I do. They’re all like my brothers, and even if they can be over protective sometimes, which I really hate, I love them all. I already said that I hate being a girl. They let me be a guy, and I love it." She paused for a second, then look him straight in the eye. "How about you? Do you really like living all alone?"

He grimaced and said, "It’s a lot better than living with my father. My mother also died when I was too young to remember her." She nodded sympathetically, she understood. Charlie looked at his watch again and jumped up. "Oh, I’m sorry, but I’ve really got to go."

She got up quickly too, and replied, "That’s OK, I’ve got to go too."    

He smiled at her as they headed out of the restaurant together. Once outside, neither of them noticed the man standing awfully close to them, holding a newspaper in front of his face. "I’m sorry about having to run, like this, but I have to get back to work. Do you want to meet here tomorrow, same time, same place?" Charlie asked Lanie, a hopeful gleam in his eye.

"Sure," she replied. "I’d like that. See you tomorrow Charlie."    

"Okay, bye Lanie." Charlie waved to her as he headed across the street.

Lanie sighed contentedly as she watched him cross the street, then turned to walk down to Grand Central, where she knew Mush was. Much to her surprise when she turned she came face to face with Racetrack.    

"Race!" she stammered. "What- I mean where- um-"

"Dat’s OK Lanie, I saw and heard it all," he snapped back. "Is ‘dis da ‘nice guy’ who knocked ya down yesterday?"

"Yes," she said quietly, her face flushing with embarrassment.    

"Boy, you wait until Jack hears about ‘dis-" Race started to say.    

"No! Race you can’t tell him!" Lanie exclaimed. "Charlie’s just a nice guy, he’s just a friend! Jack will take it all the wrong way and start getting so damn over protective again!"

Race’s anger melted away when he heard her say that and when he saw the panic in her eyes. He started to say, "He only does it because he lo-"    

"I know, I know," Lanie interrupted sighing. "He only does it because he loves me. And I appreciate that, and I love him too. But sometimes all that love is smothering me."

Race folded her into a hug, which she gladly accepted. "I’m sorry Lanie, it’s just now I know how Jack feels. I didn’t like seeing ya go into dat restaurant with that guy. But if he’s just a friend, then I guess I won’t tell Jack."

Lanie hugged him even tighter, and whispered, "Thank you Race."    

"That is," Race added, with the same warning tone Mush had had in his voice the day before, "if you promise to tell him yourself someday soon."    

Lanie pulled away. "I promise Race, I’ll tell him soon."

Race smiled at her, the put his arm around her shoulders. "What say we head to Tibby’s. I’m ready. I ain’t selling any more papes today."    

Lanie returned the smile, then said, "Only if we can pick up Mush on the way. He knows about Charlie, and he promised to always tell Jack I was selling papes with him when I was really seeing Charlie."

Racetrack frowned. "How many newsies know about this!?" he asked.    

"Just you and Mush, I swear!" Lanie exclaimed smiling, and Race smiled back at her. "Now let’s go. If we don’t leave now, we won’t be able to reach Mush in time to get to Tibby’s for dinner." They set off, his arm still around her shoulders, her arm around his.

************

Mush seemed surprised to see Race with Lanie, and then even more surprised when she told him why he was with her. Then Mush grinned and said to Race, "Think you can keep that big mouth shut until she decides to tell him?"

Race pretended to look insulted, and said, "I take some offense to that Mush. I am a very trustworthy person, at least when I put my mind to it."    

Mush just laughed again, and this time so did Lanie. "Come on, let’s go you guys," Lanie said, "time to head to Tibby’s." They set out together, Mush joining onto the chain Race and Lanie had formed. Mush put his arm around Lanie’s shoulders so she was in the middle of her and Race, and they reached Tibby’s in record time.

************

That night while Lanie was working on her math homework, her hardest subject, she suddenly threw down her pencil and let out an exasperated sigh.    

"What is it Lanie?" Jack asked.

"I just don’t understand this at all. I think I’m going to go see if Dave can help me." Dave had told Lanie earlier that if she ever needed help to just come on over to the apartment and he’d do his best to help her. She was usually able to figure things out on her own, but sometimes she just got stumped. "Yeah, I’m definitely heading over to Dave’s," Lanie said, gathering up her supplies.

"I’ll walk ya over," Blink offered.    

"That’s OK Blink, I’ll be fine," Lanie said.    

"No, I think it’s a good idea for Blink to go with ya Lanie," Skittery said. Jack flashed him a grin, glad for once that he wasn’t the one to have to say it. "It ain’t so safe out at night sometimes," Skittery continued. "I know you can soak anyone but it’s probably just safer."

Lanie shrugged, and said, "Sure, I don’t really mind. Come on Blink, let’s go, I haven’t got to talk with you in awhile anyway." She grinned at him, and he grinned back. "I’ll probably be back by nine Jack."

"I’ll drop her off and then come back and get her," Blink added.    

"Kay, bye Lanie," Jack said. The other newsies echoed similar farewells, and soon Lanie and Blink were on their way to Dave’s.

The night was beautiful, as they usually are in early September, and Blink and Lanie walked for awhile without talking. Then Blink said, "Hey Lanie, I know you’d never admit it to Jack, but you can tell me. You’re starting to like school just a little aren’t you?"    

Lanie blushed, glad it was dark out, and replied, "Where’d you get that crazy idea?"    

Blink grinned and laughed a little. "I can just tell," he said.

"Well I still hate school and most of the people there. And I still REALLY hate wearing those skirts and stuff, but I don’t mind the work as much as I used to. I still hate going and not being able to spend the day with you guys though. Besides, I know that it’ll be a good thing to have done later." She smiled sheepishly, and added, "Now I sound like Jack."

Blink laughed out loud, and agreed with her. "You sure do. Maybe it’s finally rubbin’ off on ya. Well here’s Dave’s, I’ll walk ya upstairs."    

"Kay," Lanie agreed. She knew Blink wanted to see Dave anyway. When they reached Dave’s apartment, Dave answered the door himself, and looked a little surprised to see them. Once they explained their purpose he smiled.

"Sure, I’d be glad to help you," he said. "Believe it or not, I’d actually like to do some homework, It’s been awhile." Mayer’s arm was still broken, and Dave was still working as a newsie. Dave liked his break from scho ol, but felt like he was getting dumber sometimes.    

"OK, I’ll be back at nine to pick her up," Blink said, heading for the door.    

"Oh don’t bother Blink," Dave said. "I’ll walk her home, it’s no trouble."    

"Are you sure?" Blink asked. "I can come back."    

"No, it’s no trouble. Is that OK with you Lanie?" Dave asked, turning toward her.    

"Sure, of course it is," she replied. "You act like I don’t like you Dave." Dave smiled at that last remark. He missed Lanie’s jokes, and even her quick temper now that she was at school.

Blink bid them farewell, and Dave settled in to help Lanie with her math. Dave was a good teacher, and Lanie was a good student, so they were done a half hour before they thought they would be. As Dave put on his coat, Lanie gave Mrs. Jacob’s a kiss on the cheek, and thanked her for letting her come over. Mrs. Jacobs hugged her back and told her to come over anytime she wanted to talk.    

As Lanie and Dave walked back to the Lodging House, they mostly talked about school. Neither of them were too fond of it, but both looked on it as a necessity. "Unless I want to work in a factory like my father I need to go to college. So I’ll tough out school, and then work as a file clerk or something until I have enough money for college."

Lanie nodded, then said, "Yeah, Jack’s really determined that I be someone. So I’ll do it for him."    

"You really love him, don’t you," Dave said softly.    

"Jack? Of course I do he’s my brother." The Lanie thought about it more. "I think I see what you mean. Yeah. I love him a lot because he was my mother and my father and my brother. He’s my whole family."    

Dave nodded, then looked up. "Well we’re here."    

"Aren’t you coming in? I bet the guys would want to see you," Lanie asked him.

"Nah, I’ve got to get back. I told Les I’d read him a story, and he’s really looking forward to it. If I don’t go home now  he’ll be asleep already."    

Lanie nodded, then gave him a spit handshake and said, "Thanks a lot for the help Dave. I’ll talk to you later."    

"No problem, anytime," Dave replied. He flashed her a grin before he walked away.

Lanie let herself back into the Lodging House, and found the boys in the middle of a heated poker game, though she could see Jack was sitting this one out.    

"You’re home early Lanie," Jack said, as he got up off the couch to give her a hug. "Where’s Dave? He walked ya home didn’t he?"    

"Yeah," Lanie said, "but he had to get home. He promised Les he’d read him a story. He knew if he came in he’d get sucked into a poker game or something."

Jack smiled, he knew how a game could suck Dave in as Lanie had said. "Ya get the help ya needed." She nodded. "Good," he said. "Ya’ll done with everything else?’ She nodded again. "Good. Ya feelin’ lucky?" A grin spread across her face and she nodded her head vigorously. "Then pull up a chair and win your brudda some money. He ain’t feelin’ so lucky tonight." Lanie proceeded to win 5 rounds and lose 3. Not bad after a day of homework and school. Not bad at all.

************

Lanie and Charlie continued to meet at the same time each day at Mike’s for the next two weeks. They became fast friends, and soon knew a lot about each other-- favorite things, family, and even their pasts. Both had been reluctant to talk about their past, but for some reason they found each other easy to talk to. Charlie heard about all of the newsies, and one day curiosity got the better of Lanie and she asked Charlie how he came about his current job. She knew he had gone to school until he was thirteen, but that wasn’t a hell of a long time for the kind of job Charlie had.

"Well, math just comes really easy to me," Charlie started. "Put a problem in front of me and I just get it. I can read it like most people can read words or books. I was working in a factory when I read in the paper about this position. So I went into the job interview and I was defiantly the youngest one there. I had a suit, but it wasn’t a very nice one or anything, and I looked like a poor boy. I went into the office where you got interviewed, and the man took one look at me and his eyes bugged out. I told him that I had no experience, that I had only gone to organized school until I was thirteen, and that I was poor. His eyes got bigger with each word I said. After I told him all of that and he recovered he asked my why I was there. I said because he could put any math problem in front of me and I could do it, and I really knew how to balance money because I was poor . I pointed out that rich men don’t need to worry about money because they have it. I knew how to work with it hands on, because if I didn’t I would have starved a long time ago. After all of that I just sat there nervously, while the man-- his name is Mr. Enderson-- sat and looked thoughtful. After about two minutes of silence he says to me, ‘You’re hired.’ I’ll spare you my initial shock comments, so that’s about it."

Lanie grinned. "That may be one of the best stories I’ve ever heard."    

Charlie grinned back. "I try," he said.

************

Lanie continually told Charlie she couldn’t meet him anywhere or anytime except for Mike’s when they met. She explained why, and told him about Jack. She also told him about Mush and Race, and their part in her being able to see him. Charlie said he understood, but one Friday he just couldn’t resist asking her again.    

"Lanie," he said, a pleading tone in his voice. "I know I’ve asked you this before, but I can’t help trying again. There’s a great Italian restaurant near my apartment that we could go to, let’s say Sunday night. Come one Lanie? Ask Mush or Race to cover for you."

Lanie sighed. She wanted more than anything to go somewhere with Charlie besides Mike’s, but she knew it would be impossible. She didn’t want to ask Mush or Race to lie for her more than they had to. She still hadn’t gotten up the nerve to talk to Jack yet. But such a huge part of Lanie wanted to say yes to Charlie’s invitation, that she couldn’t resist saying, "Yes."

Charlie looked stunned, and then thrilled. "Really? You sure?"    

Lanie took a deep breath and nodded smiling. "I’ll figure something out. I’ll meet you there."    

"Great!" Charlie said. He looked like a little kid who had been promised ice cream or chocolate. Lanie couldn’t help but laugh. "What?" Charlie asked curiously.    

"Nothing," Lanie said with a smile. "Now, where in Brooklyn is this restaurant? I know Brooklyn pretty well, give me an area and a street." Charlie was more than happy to oblige.

************

"Lanie, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep lying for you," Mush said, as he sold his papers by Grand Central Station. "I mean, it’s been two weeks now. When are you going to tell Jack?"    

"Mush, I promise that I will tell Jack after Sunday, Monday morning in fact!" Lanie was basically begging with Mush now. "Please!? Mush this is the last favor I’ll ask you to do for me concerning Charlie, I swear!"    

Mush stopped calling out his headlines and looked at Lanie. She had a pleading look in her eyes, the one that Mush could never resist. He sighed, and said, "Okay."    

Lanie heaved a sigh of relief and gave Mush a hug. "Thank you so much Mush . I promise I’ll talk to Jack on Monday."

"You better," Mush said. Then he went back to selling his papers, and Lanie took some to sell. When they were out of papers they headed to Tibby’s to meet the other newsies for dinner, Lanie promising all the way that she would talk to Jack on Monday.

************

Lanie had worked out the perfect lie. She’s say Mush and her were going to see Medda’s show. She knew none of the other boys would want to go, there was a great poker game going on the night. Mush had never been much of a poker player, so it would be believable that he wasn’t staying for the poker game. Mush would then go to Medda’s show, but Lanie would head to Brooklyn. They would meet up again at Medda’s at midnight, then go back to the lodging house. Perfect Lanie thought to herself, perfect.

************

Once Mush had gone to Medda’s, Lanie headed toward Brooklyn, humming to herself. She had sacrificed comfort for the night, and was wearing her school outfit-- a white blouse and a dark green skirt. Her hair was down like it always was, but she had carefully brushed it and she looked pretty good, considering it took her all of ten minutes to get ready. She liked Charlie a lot, but she didn’t like him enough to get totally dolled up. Mrs. Jacobs was always pleading with Lanie to let her make Lanie over, but Lanie always staunchly refused.    

Lanie found the restaurant without any trouble, and Charlie was waiting outside for her. "Am I late?" she asked.    

Charlie smiled approvingly at Lanie’s appearance and shook his head. "No, I was here a little early. Ready to go in?"    

Lanie nodded, and Charlie offered her his arm. She blushed, punched him lightly on the arm, but accepted the gesture.     They were seated at a small table in the back, and both of them ordered spaghetti. They began talking as soon as they sat down, and didn’t stop until they left the restaurant two hours later. When they stepped outside they noticed it hard started to rain. They had been so absorbed in their conversation that they hadn’t noticed.    

"Oh no," Charlie said in a disappointed voice. "You can’t walk home in this."    

Lanie gave him a strange look, and said, "Of course I can, I’ve slept in this."    

"But it’s not right," Charlie insisted. "Why don’t we wait here until it lets up a little?"

Lanie grinned at him, and without a word she ran out into the rainy street. "Come on Charlie!" she called. "You afraid of a little water?"    

Charlie had previously been staring open mouthed at Lanie, but with her last comment he decided to join her. He ran out into the street next to her.

"I can’t believe that-" Charlie was cut off as a wall of water hit him when Lanie jumped in a nearby puddle. He remained shocked for only a second when he grinned mischievously at Lanie and said, "You’ll pay for that." He started to chase after her, and she tried to run away, but was hampered by her long wet skirts and the fact that she was laughing so hard. He caught up with her easily and jumped in a puddle, splashing her back. She shrieked when the water hit her, and started searching for a puddle to splash Charlie back with. Just as she spotted one, Charlie scooped her up in his arms, her back and feet supported.

"No way am I letting you get any more splashing in," he said. "Not that I’m not already soaked all the way through, but I’m not letting you get away with it." Lanie struggled against his grip, still laughing.    

"Come on now, that’s cheating! I can’t pick you up!" she yelled.

"Tough," Charlie yelled back. Lanie finally gave up struggling, and wrapped her arms around Charlie’s neck for support. She looked him in the eyes, both of them still laughing, and she realized how close they were. So did Charlie, and their laughter subsided. Charlie set her feet down, but kept his arms around her waist. Likewise, she kept her arms around his neck. Then, in the middle of the rainy dark street, Charlie leaned down and kissed her deeply, something he had wanted do for almost two weeks now. Lanie willingly kissed back, wanting the kiss as much as Charlie. When they broke the kiss a minute later, they smiled at each other.    

"We should have done that a long time ago," Lanie said.

"Yeah," Charlie responded. He pulled her into another kiss, and when he pulled away a moment later he said. "It’s a little to late for you to walk all the way back to Manhattan. Why don't you come on back to my apartment and get some dry clothes." When he saw the expression on her face he quickly said, "I’ll give you some of my old clothes and I’ll sleep in my room you can take the other bedroom!"

Lanie smiled at his good intentions. "That would be great." Charlie grinned, and Lanie pulled his face down to meet hers in one more kiss, all the time ignoring the nagging voice that told her to go home and not worry Jack.

************

Jack paced the floor of the lodging house slowly, never breaking the rhythm of his steps. "Where is she," he asked, his voice trying to decide whether to be worried or angry. It seemed to settle on both emotions for the time being. The rest of the newsies had abandoned their games and were mostly just sitting around, feeling the same worry as Jack. A crash of thunder outside made Jack look up at the window, though he never stopped his pacing.    

"Damn it, where is she!" Jack yelled. He was on the verge of tears, and the wobble in his voice gave it away.

Race looked at Mush, and raised his eyebrows. He gave a slight lean of his head toward the washroom. Mush gave a small nod in return, and Race got up and walked to the washroom. A few minutes later, Mush joined him.    

"Mush," Race whispered, "what are we going to do. I mean, Jack is so worried about her, and I think he’s actually about to cry !"

Mush nodded miserably. "I know," he said, "but we promised Lanie we’d never tell!"    

"I know," Race sighed. "But just look at him Mush. I’ve never seen Jack this worked up before."    

Mush remained silent for a minute, then said, "We have to tell him." Race looked surprised, and Mush felt just as surprised. But he knew it was true. So Race nodded, and they agreed to tell Jack together. They headed back into the bunkroom, Jack still pacing up and down, keeping his rhythm.    

"Um, Jack" Race said tentatively. "Me and Mush, um, we gotta talk with ya."    

"Not now Race, I ain’t got time," Jack said through clenched teeth.    

Race and Mush exchanged looks, and Mush said, "Jack. It’s about Lanie. We know where she is."

The steady pacing that had been uninterrupted for almost a half hour suddenly halted. Jack’s back was to Mush and Race, and he turned around slowly to face the two boys. The look in his eyes was almost enough to make Mush and Race turn and run out of the room. But they held their ground.    

"Where is she?" he asked, his voice so low and forced it was barely audible. When the two boys didn’t respond right away, he charged across the floor and yelled, "WHERE IS SHE!" He grabbed Mush by the collar, and it took five of the Newsies to hold him back while he tried to soak Mush. "You’d betta tell me where she is now you two! Or you’ll wish you’d neva been born!"

By this time, both boys had backed up against the wall to get away from Jack’s wild arms. "Just calm down Jack and we’ll tell ya!" Race yelled. Jack continued to fight back at the newsies resisting arms, but then shook himself free of the newsies grasp and sat down on the nearest bunk, his face expectant.    

Race and Mush squirmed under Jack’s eyes, and finally Race began. "Do ya remember two weeks ago, when Lanie got knocked down and hurt her shoulder?" Jack gave a small nod to show he understood. "Well," Race continued, "the guy who knocked her down, well, she sorta met him at a restaurant the next day." Jack’s mouth dropped open in surprise, but was quickly set in an angry line instead.

"She wanted to tell you Jack!" Mush said quickly. "But she was scared of what you would say. She knows you do everything because ya love her, but she said that she didn’t want ya to know because she knew that you wouldn’t want her to, and she didn’t want to disappoint you she said."    

Jack’s lips were set in a firm angry line, and his eyes were furious, and a little hurt. "So where is she?"

Mush was silent for a moment thinking, trying to decide whether or not he could betray Lanie’s secret. But the hurt in Jack’s eyes was enough to convince him that telling her whereabouts would be the best for all concerned. "She’s probably at his apartment Jack," he said quietly. Jack’s eyes bugged open, and his mouth dropped almost to the floor. Then he exploded.

"I’ll kill that son a of a bitch if he even touches my sister!" Jack yelled as he jumped off the bunk. "How could you let her go Mush!" He looked like he was either going to kill Mush or cry.    

"Hey Jack, she didn’t tell me she was going," Mush said, quick to defend himself. "I’m just guessing, ‘cause she told me he lived in an apartment over in Brooklyn and she was having dinner with him tonight in a restaurant in Brooklyn."    

Jack looked a little stunned as he asked, "How long have you and Mush known about this?"    

Race was the one to answer this time. "Two weeks ago, when she first met him."    

Now Jack looked angry. "And you never told me!"    

"Hey, she made us swear we’d never tell!" Mush cried.    

Jack didn’t say anything for a minute, then said quietly, "I’m goin’ over to Brooklyn and gettin’ her. I’ll find the apartment."     The other newsies murmured their disapproval. "Jack, you could be lookin’ all night and never find her," Bumlets said. "Wouldn’t it be better to just wait until she gets home tomorrow?"    

"Not if that bastard has touched her before I can get to her," Jack said, getting ready to go.

"Um, look Jack," Skittery started to say. "I know this is the last thing ya wanna hear, but going to Brooklyn is stupid. It’s almost impossible odds that you’d find her. It’s 1:00 already." Jack made a move toward Skittery, but was stopped by the restraining hand of Specs.    

"He’s got a point Jack," Specs said. Jack relented, realizing that what they said was probably true.    

He thought in silence for a minute, then said, "I’m meetin’ her at school tomorrow, and we’ll have a little talk."    

"What are ya gonna do Jack?" Mush asked worriedly.    

"I think you’ve done enough Mush," Jack answered him in a cold voice. "But I’ll tell ya this much. She ain’t never gonna see that jerk again." Then he turned away and went to lay down on his bunk.    

Crutchy started to say, "Jack you don’t know he’s a jerk, he might be a real nice-"    

But he was cut off by Race, who said, "Don’t even try Crutchy." The newsies all headed to bed, each worried about Lanie, and what she would do when Jack confronted her the next day.

************

Lanie woke up in unfamiliar surroundings. She was confused, then the memories from the night before came flooding back. She smiled as she thought about Charlie, and brushed her fingers lightly over her lips. She sat up and looked down. She was sleeping in one of Charlie’s old shirts. She looked down at the bedside, and saw her clothes laid out, now dry. She slipped on her clothes, and then ventured out of the bedroom and found Charlie sitting on the couch reading the paper. He grinned when he saw her.    

"Morning darlin’." He walked over to meet her with a small kiss, which she gladly returned.    

"Morning’ to you too," she said, still in his arms. They were both reluctant to let go, but knew they had to. "I have to be getting back now," Lanie said regretfully.    

"Oh, not yet," Charlie whined.    

"Well, whining certainly isn’t going to make me want to stay," she said amused.    

"How about this?" Charlie leaned down and gave her a deep and passionate kiss. He broke away no less than a full minute later and looked into her eyes. "Well?"

Lanie was breathless, but smiled at shook her head. "If I was one of those weak  women I would stay. But since I am so responsible I am going home. I’ll be in enough trouble when I get there, I’m going to have a lot of explaining to do as it is."    

Charlie sighed, and said, "I guess you’re right. But I get one more kiss right?"    

Lanie grinned, and said, "You mean I  get one more kiss right?"    

They both laughed and their lips met. Then Lanie headed out the door. Right before she closed the door behind her, Lanie blew Charlie a kiss and he winked back at her.

**************    

Lanie didn’t show up at school that morning, which made Jack even angrier. He figured she must have gone back to the lodging house, and headed over there.

**************

Lanie had gotten home in a half blissful, half worried state. She slipped into the lodging house, to find Kloppman sitting in the downstairs room. A look of relief crossed his face as she came in the door, safe and unharmed. He jumped up to hug her.     "Lanie! Thank goodness you’re back!" She hugged him back, and then felt him stiffen and pull away. "Were you at his apartment?"    

Lanie couldn’t hide that shock that registered on her face, and she whispered, "How did you find out?"    

Kloppman sighed, and said," Mush and Race told us last night." Lanie face clouded over with anger, but Kloppman was quick to defend the two boys. "They only told because Jack was so worried!" Lanie’s face resumed her look of guilt. Jack should be back around lunch time."    

Lanie sighed, and became momentarily lost in thought. But she shook herself out of her reverie, looked at the clock, saw it was 8:30, and headed up the stairs. "I’m going to take a shower Kloppman." She didn’t look back at him, and he echoed Lanie’s sigh.

**************

Jack came back to the lodging house about five minutes after Lanie had started her shower. Kloppman was surprised as he looked up to find Jack walking into the lodging house so early.    

"Is she here Kloppman?" Jack asked, his face expressionless, his voice a quiet monotone.    

Kloppman nodded and said, "Yeah, she’s taking a shower. She should be done in about fifteen minutes." Jack nodded, and started up the stairs. "Jack?" Kloppman said. Jack paused in climbing the stairs, but didn’t turn around. "Please try and understand her. Listen." Jack continued up the stairs, and Kloppman sadly watched him, hoping that he wouldn’t do anything too rash.    

Lanie dressed in the washroom, putting on clean pants and a clean shirt. She re-entered the bunk room, with a towel over her head, drying her hair. When she pulled it off she saw Jack sitting across the room on his bunk. He was watching her with no expression on his face, except he looked cold as ice. Lanie froze with her eyes open wide. Her mouth felt like it was full of sawdust or glue, she couldn’t say a word.

"Nice to see you Lanie," Jack said, his voice quiet and controlled. "Missed you last night." Lanie still couldn’t move or say anything. "I don’t really need you to tell me where you were."    

Lanie had finally recovered, and now interrupted with, "Jack, if you’d just listen-"    

But Jack cut her off, "I just want to hear one thing Lanie. Did you sleep wid’ him?"  Lanie responded by looking Jack straight in the eye, and saying, "No Jack, I did not." She was a little angry with Jack for assuming that she would do something like that, but she knew he didn’t have much to think. She had been gone the whole night before.    

Jack studied her face for a moment, and could tell that she was telling the truth. But he knew that "no" wouldn’t be her answer for long.    

"Look Lanie, you aren’t goin’ to see him again."    

Lanie had been engulfed in guilt, but now all her emotions turned to anger. Why was she guilty? She didn’t do anything wrong, it was her life. Her eyes were blazing. "Excuse me?" she snapped in disbelief. "I’m not going to SEE him anymore? Sorry Jack, but that’s not your decision!"    

"Like hell it’s not!" Jack yelled back at her. "You’re my sister, and I gotta look out for you!"    

"I can look out for myself Jack!" she yelled angrily. "And looking out for someone doesn’t mean you tell them where to go and who to see all the time! It means you trust them to look out for themselves, and help them when they need it!"    

Jack had regained his composure, and now he said in a perfectly controlled voice, "You ain’t seeing him Lanie."    

Lanie walked over to her bunk and calmly put on her shoes, brushed her hair and put on her hat. Jack watched her wordlessly. Once she was done, she walked over to the door of the room, and looked back at Jack. "Good-bye Jack." She closed the door behind her, leaving Jack open mouthed.    

Then Jack shook himself out of his shock and sat back down on his bed. "She’ll be back after she cools off."

**************

Once Lanie had gotten about a block away from the lodging house her anger began to melt away, and she started to cry. She felt horrible about her fight with Jack, but she didn’t regret telling him what she had. After all, it was her life. But she hated fighting with him, he was her whole family. Her eyes were too blurry with tears to see where she was going, and she didn’t even realize she was in the middle of the street until someone screamed watch out. She turned toward the voice, but it was too late to move out of the way. The last thing she remembered was the horse rushing towards her, a sudden unspeakable pain in her arm and her head hitting the curb. Then she passed into unconsciousness.

**************

Skittery had been wandering aimlessly, not really staying in one spot. He just sold his papers as he walked along. He was worried about Lanie. He knew Jack would never hit Lanie, but both of them had quick tempers, and if both of them got angry at the same time: well it wouldn’t be good, he knew that. He just hoped neither of them would do something stupid.    

As Skittery approached 37th street, he saw a large crowd of people in the street. Curious, he ran over to see what was going on. He couldn’t see past all the people gathered, so he asked the man next to him what was going on.    

"A young lady was hit by a passing carriage, and they think she’s broken her arm," the man explained.    

"Have they gotten an ambulance?" Skittery asked automatically. He was by nature a curious guy, but he was also a really nice one, and seemed genuinely concerned.    

The man looked at him curiously. "Yes, someone went for one earlier." He gave Skittery an amused smile. "If you’re so concerned why don’t you push your way up there."

Skittery gave him a dirty look, but then changed his expression. "I will," he said haughtily. He pushed his way into the middle of the crowd, and the color drained form his face at what he saw. "Lanie?" he whispered in disbe lief. He recovered and dropped to his knees beside her, pushing another man out of the way. "LANIE!" he yelled. His eyes looked over her frantically, and he saw that her arm was broken. "Oh my god, Lanie!"    

The man Skittery had pushed out of the way had been angry at this boy’s rudeness, but realized that "this boy" knew the girl who had been hit. "You know this girl?" the man asked gently. Skittery nodded, his eyes filled with disbelief at the situation. "Well," the man continued, "the ambulance should be here soon, and then you can ride with her to the hospital." Skittery nodded again, trying to regain his composure. No sooner had the man said the ambulance was coming, that Skittery heard the clip-clop of the horses drawing the ambulance near.

"Clear out everyone, give them some room!" Skittery yelled. The crowd backed away, and ambulance brought a stretcher out and put Lanie on it. They put her in the back of the ambulance, and Skittery climbed in the front next to the driver after he explained he was a friend of hers.    

Once the ambulance reached the hospital, Lanie was rushed right inside. Skittery tried to follow her, being pushed on a stretcher, but a nurse stopped him.    

"But I know her, I need to stay with her!" Skittery said frantically.    

The nurse was sympathetic, but firm. "I understand that, but you cannot go back with her. You can wait right here. I assure you that she won’t be able to receive any visitors for at least a few hours. Is there anyone else you may want to inform of her accident?"

Skittery felt numb, but the nurse’s words finally got through to him. "Yeah," he said slowly. "I better go get her brother at least." The nurse nodded and gave Skittery a pat on the back. "You’re sure it’s OK for me to leave?" The nurse nodded, and Skittery left the hospital quickly. No matter what the nurse said, he wanted to get back to the hospital as soon as possible.    

But where was Jack? Skittery’s first guess was the lodging house. He knew Jack was going to meet Lanie at school, but judging by Lanie’s boyish clothes she hadn’t gone to school. He also figured that Jack wouldn’t be going out to sell that day, he was probably to angry. So Skittery walked quickly toward the lodging house. About half way there he broke into a run.     Skittery burst into the lodging house, to find Kloppman sitting behind the desk downstairs. "Where’s Jack?" Skittery asked quickly.    

Kloppman pointed upstairs, and called after Skittery, "Have you seen Lanie?"

Skittery called back, never stopping his ascent of the stairs. "She got hit by a carriage, she’s at the hospital now. St. Luke’s on 14th and 6th avenue." Kloppman was left open mouthed, but quickly decided that he could ask his millions of questions later and headed out for the hospital.    

When Skittery reached the top of the stairs he threw open the door to the bunk room, and scanned the room quickly. Jack was sitting on a bunk. he swung his feet to the ground off of the bunk. "What?!" he said in disbelief.    

"I was selling my papes, and I saw a big crowd. I went over and asked a man what was going on. He said a girl had gotten hit by a carriage. I pushed my way to the front of the crowd, and I saw Lanie. I rode with her to the hospital, and I tried to go in with her. But the nurse stopped me and told me that it would be a couple hours before anyone could see her. Then she told me that I should go get anyone else that knew her so I came here to get you." Skittery took a deep breath after he finished, and then looked at Jack worriedly.    

Jack didn’t move a muscle. He sat still as stone for almost a full minute before he asked, "What hospital?"    

"St. Luke’s, on 14th and 6th avenue," Skittery answered, looking at Jack carefully. But there was nothing to see, Jack showed no emotion. He just got up and started walking toward the door of the bunkroom. About half way there he started running. Skittery started after Jack, but then decided it would be better for him to stay and tell the other newsies the news when they came back. Skittery slowly headed downstairs to wait for the return of Lanie’s other friends and the job of telling them the sad news.

***************

As Jack ran toward the hospital he was filled with incredible guilt. He had done this, he had driven Lanie away. Why couldn’t he have tried to be more understanding? Why couldn’t he have listened to her? He pushed back the tears that were trying to fall, and took a deep breath. He had reached the hospital. He slowed his pace inside, and entered through the main doors.    

"‘Scuse me lady," he asked the nurse at the front desk. "I’m lookin’ for a girl named Lanie Kelly."

The nurse paged through her sign in book with all the names of the patients from the last week. "I have an Elaine Kelly listed who was admitted today. Is that the young lady you are looking for?"    

"Yes," said Jack, realizing that Skittery must have given the hospital her full name. "Where is she?"

"Well, according to my records, she was admitted an hour and a half ago, and is not scheduled to see anyone for at least another hour. So you can wait here until I find out more." The nurse pointed Jack toward a chair.    

"But I’m her brudda! I gotta know what happened to her!" Jack protested.    

"Now I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go anywhere but here." The nurse was polite but firm. Jack gave in and sat down.    

"But you’ll tell me first thing you know anything, right?" Jack asked worriedly.    

The nurse gave him a reassuring smile. "Of course." Jack just sat motionless. He felt numb, and gave limited responses to the other newsies questions when they arrived at the hospital later.    

The boys sat in silence, waiting for news, any news from the doctor about Lanie. Race didn’t even whip out his cards for a game of solitaire. He just sat, with everyone else, worrying. They couldn’t imagine life without Lanie. She had been a part of their lives for almost longer than they could remember. Losing her would be incomprehensible.    

Finally, after the newsies had waited around for almost two hours, a doctor came out into the front room. He spoke to the nurse, and she pointed at the newsies. The doctor strode over to them, and asked, "Which one of you is Jack Kelly, Elaine Kelly’s brother?"

Jack stood up quickly. "That’s me doc. What happened? How is she? When can I see her? Will she be okay? What-"    

The doctor held up his hand as an indication for Jack to shut up. "Now slow down boy," the doctor said. " I’ll answer all your questions, just give me second. Now, your sister was hit by a passing carriage. More accurately, she was hit by the horse. Her arm was broken when the horse stepped on it. She then appears to have hit her head on the curb, because she had a rather large gash on her forehead. When she arrived here at the hospital she was unconscious, I assume form that hit on the head. Though from what I can gather she was unconscious when the ambulance arrived to bring her here. Her arm was broken badly, but I set it and it should heal fine in about three months or so. The gash on her head looked much worse than it was, I cleaned and bandaged it. She may have a small scar there, but that’s it. However, she still has not awoken. I anticipate that she’ll awake soon, but I can’t be sure. It could be a few more hours, or it could be a few more minutes. And in response to if you can see her, the answer is yes, two or three at a time. She’s down the hall in room #205. Now I have things to attend to, but I’ll come check on her in a few hours, or when she wakes up." The doctor strode away without another word.

"Okay," David said. He had been fetched by Snipeshooter after all the newsies had arrived at the hospital. "Jack, why don’t you go on in first, alone?"    

Jack nodded numbly, but stayed rooted in one spot until David gave him a gentle push toward Lanie’s room. Jack walked slowly toward Lanie’s room, but halted once he got to her closed door. He took a deep breath, and opened the door slowly. Lanie was lying in her bed, the sheets tucked up under her armpits. Her forehead was bandaged with white cloth, and her arm was secured in a splint, and placed in a sling. She wasn’t moving at all, except for the slight rising and falling of her chest as she breathed. He just stood in the doorway for a few seconds, then walked over and sat down in the chair placed next to her bed.

Jack began to wallow in guilt again as he looked at Lanie lying there. She suddenly looked much more vulnerable than she usually did. If he hadn’t yelled at her, if he hadn’t been so stubborn, if he had listened-- well she wouldn’t be here. He took her hand. "Lanie," he said, in a wavery voice, "I am so sorry about what I said to you earlier. I can’t believe that I would be such a jerk to the only family I have. The best family I could ever ask for." By now, there we a few tears in Jack’s eyes, the only ones he would let escape. He took a deep breath, and regained his composure. "So Lanie, please wake up and tell me you’re okay. I can’t stand seeing you like this. Please wake up." Jack said all of this with great difficulty. Expressing his emotions was never a strong point with Jack, but he found it easier when the person he was talking to was unconscious. He simply stared at Lanie for the next five minutes, hoping she’d wake up. When she didn’t, he just sat back in his chair. He fell asleep within minutes.

**************

When Jack didn’t come out of Lanie’s room for an hour, David began to get a little worried. He told the other guys that he was going to check on Jack, and those that were still awake nodded in agreement with him. David walked to Lanie’s room, and found the door closed. He knocked softly, and when there was no answer, he opened the door and peeked inside.

Jack was asleep in his chair next to Lanie, he must have been more tired than he let on. David just sighed and closed the door. Lanie was still unconscious, and now Jack was asleep too. He looked at his watch. It was 4:30 PM, and he figured it would be best to just send everyone home. There was nothing really to stay for, and they would be more comfortable back at the Lodging House anyway. However, when he told them this, Skittery insisted on staying.    

"Someone has to be here when she wakes up," he protested. "I’ll stay with her and Jack, and if I get tired then you can go sit with them. Someone  should stay with them."    

David agreed, and all the newsies went off the Lodging House except for David and Skittery who stayed at the hospital.

*************

David and Skittery had been sitting in the hospital talking for awhile, when David decided to go check on Lanie. David entered Lanie’s room, only to be greeted by an awake if not somewhat groggy Lanie.    

Lanie was awake and looking at Jack, with a small smile on her face. At the sound of the door opening, she looked over at David and gave him a weak smile. "Heya Dave."    

"Lanie!" David exclaimed as loud as he dared. He didn’t want to wake up Jack. "Oh, thank god you’re awake! We’ve all been so worried." He came over to her beside and gave her a small hug. "Why didn’t you wake Jack?"    

"I didn’t want to disturb him. I figure he hasn’t gotten much sleep lately," Lanie replied.    

David smiled at her. "Awww... what a sweetheart you are," he said sarcastically. Lanie smiled back, but her smile faded as a wave of pain came over her arm.    

"What is it Lanie?" David asked, concerned.    

"My-my arm really hurts. I think you’d better get the doctor." Lanie winced.

"Yeah, okay," David said quickly. "The doctor said he wanted to see you when you woke up anyway." David turned and walked quickly out of the room.    

Lanie let out a little gasp of pain after David left. She hadn’t wanted to let on how much her arm hurt in front of David. Her gasp hadn’t been as quiet as she had hoped though, Jack stirred in his sleep, and then woke up to find Lanie with a grimace on her face. "Lanie!" Jack exclaimed. "You’re awake!" The he noticed her twisted expression, and immediately asked, "What’s wrong?"

"My- my arm really hurts." Lanie saw Jack get up to go for a doctor, and said quickly, "Dave came in and he went for a doctor. He’ll be back in a second." She winced again, and Jack kneeled beside her.    

"I’m not leaving ya Lanie," he said softly. The two of them could hear the doctor’s footsteps approaching the room. Right before he walked in, Jack said softly, "I’m sorry Lanie."

Lanie gave him a small smile and replied, "Me too." The doctor came into the room then, and shooed Jack and David outside. Just as Jack was leaving, Lanie called after him, "Jack?"    

He stuck his head back into the room. "Yeah, you need something Lanie?"     The pain in her arm was becoming almost unbearable, but she managed to choke out, "Tell Charlie where I am." This time the doctor gave Jack a small push out side of the room and shut the door behind him. Jack stood in the hallway, confused for a moment. Then he realized who Charlie was.

David, who had been in the hall, overheard Lanie ask Jack to tell Charlie. He could see that Jack wasn’t sure whether to tell Charlie or not, so he decided to give Jack a nudge in the right direction. "Jack?" Jack turned toward David, his eyes pleading for guidance. "Do what’s best for Lanie."    

Jack mulled over that statement for a minute, then said, "How can I do what’s best for Lanie when I don’t know anything about this guy Charlie?"    

"Maybe you need to find something out about him," David replied. "The doctor said Lanie would be out cold for about ten or twelve hours, he’s giving her a sleeping powder, that gives you time to do some investigating." Jack looked like he was starting to like David’s idea, and he nodded his head ever so slightly.    

"Would you-- help me?" Jack asked David hesitantly.    

David smiled. "Of course I would," he said amiably. "You want to get started?"    

Jack nodded, and asked, "What time is it?"    

David looked at his watch, and replied, "It’s almost 5:00 in the evening. I’d say, that since this guy lives in Brooklyn, we start with Spot. Let’s head over there and see what he knows about Charlie, or if he knows anyone we can get information from."   

Jack flashed a grin at David and then shook his head. "This is why we call you a mouth with a brain."    

David playfully punched Jack on the arm, and said, "Let’s get going."

**************

Once the other Newsies were informed of Lanie’s condition and of David and Jack’s plans, they split up. Most stayed in the Lodging House, but Skittery, Mush, Blink, and Race decided to accompany Jack and David on their quest for knowledge in Brooklyn. When Jack told them that they didn’t have to go, Mush protested with, "We’re her best friends. Six heads are better than two, plus Race and I might remember something that Lanie told us about him."

"Though she sure didn’t tell us much," Race added.    

Jack relented, and soon the six boys set out toward Brooklyn. They walked most of the way in silence, the six of them each concentrating on their own thoughts. When they reached Brooklyn, they found Spot and his crew all sitting on the docks or swimming in the river. Spot was perched on his normal position, overseeing all his newsies.

Spot jumped down to greet the newsies. "Hiya boys, how’s it rollin’." Jack explained about Lanie, everything about Lanie including Charlie, and Spot’s brow became furrowed with worry. "Is she gonna be all right?"    

"Yeah she’s gonna be fine," Jack said quickly. "Actually, the reason we’re here is about this Charlie guy. I wanna know who he is. I trust Lanie’s judgment and all, but I just wanna make sure she’s not blinded by good looks or something." Spot nodded in agreement, and Jack continued. "So anything you know about this guy, he lives in Brooklyn, would be good."

Spot thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know his last name?"    

"It’s something like Grant or Grand," Mush said. Jack looked at him, surprised. "That’s one thing she did tell me," Mush said sheepishly.    

Spot shook his head, "I don’t know him, but one of the other boys might." Spot yelled at the other boys then, "Hey! Do any of you’se know a Charlie Grant or Grand or something?" He was greeted by silence, but then an older newsie named Sketcher spoke up.    

"Hey I think I know ‘im," he said stepping forward.    

"What do you know about him?" Jack asked eagerly.

"Oh he’s a real good guy," Sketcher replied. " He used to live in my building, a long while ago. His ma died when he was about ten, and it was just him and his pop. His pop was all right in the beginning, but he started drinking and then beating on Charlie. So when Charlie was thirteen he moved out. Ran away actually. He went to school before he ran away though, he was real smart. Especially at math. Man, he could do anything, any kind of math. But he was a real nice guy. Never complained about his pop, even though you could tell he hurt Charlie bad. His pop died about a year after Charlie left. I wondered whatever happened to Charlie. I missed him when he left."    

Jack and the others absorbed this news silently, until Jack asked, "Do you know where he lives now?" Sketcher shook his head no. "Thanks any way, "Jack said. The boys retreated back into silence, and continued to be silent until Spot cleared his throat.

That shook them out of their reverie, and David quickly said, "Well thanks a lot for your help guys, especially you Sketcher. We have to be going, but thanks again." The six boys started to head into Brooklyn to search for more leads.    

On the way, they discussed the news Sketcher had given them. "He sounds like an OK guy Jack," Skittery ventured to say. Jack didn’t say anything, but he nodded thoughtfully

"Plus, you know, Lanie’s real smart, and she can take care of herself real good," Mush added tentatively. Jack nodded again. The six boys were in about the middle of Brooklyn when Jack finally spoke up.    

"We have to find this guy so we can tell him about Lanie," Jack said suddenly. The other boys were surprised, but pleased with Jack’s decision. "I mean, he should know where she is. He’s probably worryin’ about her," Jack continued.    

"Yeah," David said, the first to speak up. Jack looked at David with a questioning look in his eyes. Am I doing the right thing?  it said. David gave Jack a reassuring nod and a smile to tell him he was doing exactly the right thing. Jack flashed David a smile of thanks, and David gave Jack a quick pat on the back.    

"Can’t we go to a place with some sort of records of people in the city?" Jack asked. Race, Blink, Mush and Skittery shrugged, but David spoke up.    

"We could try City Hall, it’s here in Brooklyn. It has a record of everything in this city. Addresses, people’s names, births, deaths, everything." David looked thoughtful for a moment, then continued. "I think it’s down on Broadway." He paused for another second before continuing, "Yeah, it’s down on Broadway."    

Skittery nodded, and then said, "Well? What are we waiting for? Are we goin’ to City Hall?"    

"Yeah," Jack said, "let’s go." The six guys set off for the south of Brooklyn and the City Hall.

************

"Well?" Blink asked after Jack and David came out of City Hall.    

"We got his address," Jack said. Blink grinned, while Jack continued, "He lives in a pretty nice part of Brooklyn. Not a townhouse or anything, but not in the slums either."    

"So are we going?" Mush asked. "I know it’s kinda late, but I don’t think he’d mind if we were coming to tell him something this important." The other’s nodded their agreement, and soon they were on their way to Charlie’s apartment.

************

Charlie was sitting in his living room, enjoying the peace of the evening. He had enjoyed last night with Lanie immensely, and couldn’t wait to see her the next evening. He was forced out of his daydream with a knock at his door. "Who could that be?" he muttered to himself. He had been nice and relaxed.    

When he opened his door he found six boys, all about his age. One of them looked very familiar to him, though he couldn’t imagine where he had seen him before.    

"Charlie Grant?" the familiar looking boy asked.    

Charlie nodded his head in response. "Yes, who are you?"    

"The name’s Jack Kelly, I’m Lanie Kelly’s brother."    

Recognition hit Charlie. Of course this guy looked familiar, he was the spitting image of Lanie. Or rather she was the spitting image of him.

"Oh! Hi!" Charlie stuck out his hand, and Jack went to spit on his out of habit, then decided against it and shook. "Mum... come on in." Charlie was more than a little flustered, but ushered the six boys into the living room.    

"Thanks," Jack said. "Well, before I tell you why we’re here, lemme introduce these guys. This is Skittery, Blink, Racetrack, Mush, and David." Charlie nodded hello to each boy as their name was called, and they in turn nodded back. Jack sighed. I don’t know any way to say this except straight out. Lanie had an accident." Charlie’s mouth fell open in shock, while Jack continued. "A horse stepped on her arm and broke it. She also got a big gash on her forehead."    

Charlie couldn’t hold his questions in any longer. "Is she going to be OK? Is she awake? Is she in a lot of pain?"    

Jack interrupted Charlie with, "Lemme finish, I’ll tell you everything in a second."    

"Sorry," Charlie said, resolving to save the rest of his questions until he was sure Jack was done.

"The doctor set her arm and it’s in a sling. Her head is wrapped so you can’t even see the cut, plus the doctor said it wasn’t as bad as it looked. He said her head’ll be ok in a few weeks, and her arm in about two months. Right now she’s out cold cause her arm was hurtin’ her so the doctor gave her something to help her sleep. She won’t wake up for probably another eight hours." Jack paused to show he was finished. "Any questions now?"    

"A few," Charlie asked. "One, what hospital is she in. Two, when can I see her. And three, how the HELL did you find out where I lived?" The last question was asked with a small smile on Charlie’s face and in an amused tone.    

Jack actually smiled back at Charlie, smiled back at the guy he wanted to kill less than 24 hours ago. "St. Luke’s on 14th and 6th Avenue in Manhattan, tomorrow when she’s awake, and City Hall records. Those are the answers to all your questions in order."    

Charlie took a minute to process all that information, then said, "Ah. Well, I’ll be dropping by to see her tomorrow then. I guess there’s no point in me going now huh?"    

Race shook his head, and spoke up for the first time since they had been in the apartment. "Like Jack said earlier, she’s out cold. Tomorrow would be better."    

Charlie nodded. "Thank you," he said after a moment. "For taking all the trouble to find me and tell me this."

"Umm, it’s no problem," Jack muttered, unaccustomed to being thanked. There was a lull in the conversation, then Mush spoke up.    

"We should probably be getting back. It’s a pretty long walk back to Manhattan." The others murmured their agreement, and they stood up to go.    

Charlie walked them to the door, and said good bye. Jack was the last one out, and he and Charlie shook hands before Charlie closed the door behind him and sighed. What a shitty ending to a great day  he thought to himself.

****************

Lanie woke up at about 5:00 the next morning, her head feeling like it was in a cloud. Her first coherent thought was that her arm was still sore, but it wasn’t the searing pain she had felt the last time she was awake. She slowly opened her eyes, to see Jack in the same position he had been in the last time she woke up; sleeping in the chair next to her bed. She brought her hand up to her head, and found it was still wrapped in cloth. She looked out the window and saw that it was still dark outside, with daylight just beginning to show. She smiled as Jack began to snore lightly in his sleep. Lanie decided to let him sleep while she sorted out her thoughts. For God’s sake, she didn’t even know what day it was.    

"Well, when I left Jack it was Monday. So today is either Tuesday morning, or if I slept REALLY long it’s Wednesday morning," Lanie muttered to herself. She sighed. "Damn, I wish I knew what day it was." Then she started thinking about Charlie. A small smile spread across her face, as she thought about the night they had spent together. She had never imagined that kissing a boy would be so... thrilling. She had felt a shiver at his touch, and felt the same shiver now just thinking about him. Then her smile faded when she realized he may not even know where she was. If it was Wednesday, she had missed their date on Tuesday afternoon. She had asked Jack to tell Charlie, but who knows what had come of that. Jack didn’t even know his last name, much less where he lived. She groaned quietly, "Worrying never does any good, plus you ain’t a worrier." She shook her head at her foolishness then winced. "Ow, that hurts. No more shaking my head."    

Her body ached from not moving in a long time, so she decided that she would get up and just stretch a little. She pushed back the covers with her good arm, and slowly sat up. She gently swung her feet over the edge of the bed then stood up, still leaning on the bed for support. She took a tentative step away from the bed, and she then felt steady enough to take another. She walked all the way over to the window, her muscles feeling better and better with each step. Once she reached the window, she took a look at the view. She squinted in the darkness at the street sign outside, and it looked like it said 14th street. The only hospital she knew of down in this area was St. Luke’s, so she guessed that was where she was. She continued to stare out the window until a voice behind her said, "What the hell do ya think you’re doin’ out bed?"

Lanie whirled around to see Jack rubbing his eyes, with a smile on his face. "What does it look like Jack? I’m standing here." He grinned at her smartass reply, then shook his head.    

"Back to bed now sis if ya wanna ever get better." Jack pointed to the bed, as if to make sure she understood.

"All right all right," she grumbled with a smile. "But just so you know, I feel much better after taking this little walk." She climbed back into bed and unsuccessfully tried to tuck the covers back up around her waist with one hand. Jack offered her some help.    

"Thanks," she said.    

"My pleasure," he said. He propped some pillows up behind her back so she could sit up. He had previously been smiling, but now his smile faded as he said, "Um, Lanie. We gotta have a talk."

Lanie took a deep breath and replied with, "Yeah, we do Jack." There was a pause. "I guess I’ll start," she said. "Well, uh. I just wanted to say that I won’t hold any hard feelings if you didn’t go find Charlie last night. I mean, you weren’t crazy about the idea of him in the first place and I shouldn’t have asked you and you don’t know where he lives--" Lanie was rambling now, and Jack was trying to interrupt her but she just kept on going. "-- you don’t even know his last name, how could I expect you to be able to find him and I’m really sorry but I don’t know what to do to make it up to you--"    

Jack had been trying to get Lanie’s attention for quite a while, when he finally decided that he was going to have to do this the hard way. He clamped his hand down over Lanie’s mouth and held it there.    

"If you’d be quiet for half a second I could tell you that there are no hard feelings, I talked to Charlie and he’s comin’ by later today." Jack then took his hand off of Lanie’s mouth. There was no need to keep it there, she was speechless with shock.    

She finally found her voice a few seconds later. "You found him?" she asked in disbelief.    

Jack grinned. "Yeah, mostly thanks to Dave and his brains."    

Lanie shook her head, then winced, remembering her resolution to not shake her head. "I can’t believe you found him." She got over the initial shock of what Jack had said, then asked meekly, "Did you hit him?"

Jack was amused by his sister’s sudden timidness. Though he knew her question wasn’t too offbase. "Nope. I didn’t even yell or anything. Actually--" Jack stopped mid sentence trying to decide whether or not to say w hat he was going to say. The look in Lanie’s eyes was enough to convince him to say it. "Actually, he was an OK guy." Jack looked down at the floor as he was forcing out the words. It was almost impossible for him to admit that he was wrong, but he’d do it for Lanie. After all, she was his sister. He continued to stare at the floor until he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck. He wrapped his arms around Lanie and hugged her back.

"Thank you Jack," Lanie whispered. Lanie too was forcing out the words. Expressing their emotions was not a Kelly family strong point.    

Lanie released Jack and said, "I just have one question."    

"What’s that?" Jack replied. He was expecting something about Charlie, how he found out where Charlie lived or something. Instead--    

"What day is it anyway?    

Jack burst out laughing at her question, but quickly sobered up when he saw the dirty look she was giving him. "Sorry Lanie," he said, still snickering. "But I wasn’t expecting that."    

"Well? Are you going to answer my question or should I get someone else?" Lanie asked impatiently.

"It’s Tuesday," Jack replied. "Tuesday morning, and it’s about 5:30 in the morning."    

"Is it out of the question for me to take a bath or something?" Lanie asked. "I want to wash my hair. Could you maybe get me a nurse or a doctor or something?"    

"Sure," Jack said. "I’ll be right back."    

True to his word, Jack was back with a nurse AND a doctor. The doctor looked Lanie over and said, "You seem to be doing just fine. I’d say you can go home in a few days, but we’ll talk about that later. Right now you can take a bath very  carefully, and I’ll come and check on you in about an hour." The doctor left the room followed by Jack.

**************

A half hour later, Lanie felt much better. The nurse had helped her bathe and wash her hair, and then the nurse brought her a clean night dress. She had also been permitted to take a short walk, and neither her arm nor her head hurt anymore, thanks to the doctor’s aspirin. She and Jack were talking, when Jack decided he should go tell the other newsies that Lanie was OK. He was on his way out the door, and had just closed it behind him, when he came face to face with Charlie and a bouquet of daisies.

"Hi Jack," Charlie said, with a tentative smile on his face.    

Jack took a deep breath and then smiled back, and replied with, "Heya Charlie. She’s in there waiting for ya, go on in."    

Charlie’s small smile had grown larger and he said, "Thanks." He headed into the room, and Jack resisted the urge to follow him in and be a chaperone. His decision was confirmed when he heard Lanie’s happy exclamation, "Charlie!" Jack smiled to himself, knowing he had done the right thing. He closed the door softly behind him and headed to the Lodging House.

**************

THREE MONTHS LATER, DECEMBER:    

Lanie sighed as she squirmed in her chair in the bunkroom. "Are you sure about this?" she asked Esther Jacobs.  

"I’m positive Lanie, now hold still." Esther continued to pin up Lanie’s hair, leaving a few pieces down for her to curl later. Lanie was wearing one of Sarah’s old dresses that Esther had altered to fit her. Sarah was married in Chicago, and had left her old dresses in New York when she moved away. There had been no hard feelings between her and Jack when their relationship ended (two weeks after it started), and Sarah had given her mother permission to give all of her old dresses to Lanie if she wanted them. This dress was particularly pretty one that Esther had picked out for Lanie to wear. It was a deep maroon color with a modest neckline and simple white lace edging the neck and sleeves. Medda was throwing a Christmas party that night, to celebrate the holiday season, and Esther had convinced Lanie to let Esther make her over for the night. Lanie had reluctantly agreed, but now she was having second thoughts.

"Mrs. Jacobs, I’m not sure this was such a great idea."    

"Nonsense," Esther said briskly. "Don’t you want to look special for Charlie?"    

Charlie and the newsies got along great. Ironically, Jack and Charlie got along great. Though there had been some initial barriers, once they were down the two guys found they enjoyed each other’s company very much.    

"I guess I could do it for Charlie," Lanie relented grudgingly.       

"Of course you can," Esther said encouragingly. "Now I’m done, let’s go have a look at you." The two women walked across the empty bunkroom-- Mrs. Jacob’s had shooed all the boys downstairs once they were done dressing-- to the washroom. "Well?" Esther asked, a pleased expression on her face.    

Lanie looked at the face in the mirror curiously; she had never seen herself looking so much like a girl before. Her hair had grown since she had chopped it all off last July, and Esther had pinned it up. A few springy curls framed her face. The dress made Lanie look slender and her hair’s red was brought out by the deep hue of the dress. Lanie had valiantly been trying to look unhappy about the whole thing, but after getting a good look at herself she couldn’t help but grin.    

"I knew you’d like it!" Esther exclaimed happily.    

Lanie turned to Esther and gave her a hug. "Thanks Mrs. Jacobs."    

Esther hugged her back, then gave her a nudge toward the door. "Your welcome. Now go on downstairs. I bet those boys are dying to see what you look like after 45 minutes of preparation." Lanie grinned and walked out the door.

The guys had previously been talking, a few of them were playing cards. Race was deeply involved in a conversation with Charlie about probability. Charlie, in all his mathematical glory, was trying to explain to Race how he could use probability to figure out what horses to bet on at the track. When the boys heard the door to the bunkroom close thought, they looked up at the stairs and quiet descended on the room. Racetrack, as usual, was the first to recover and open his mouth.

"Lanie," he said. "You look stunning." The other newsies slowly recovered and delivered similar comments while Lanie blushed and thanked them. Throughout all of this, Charlie had remained open mouthed on the couch. The other boys had all headed out the door for Medda’s by the time Lanie reached the bottom of the stairs. The room was empty as she headed over to Charlie, still blushing, even more if possible.    

"You aren’t even going to say anything?" she asked jokingly.    

Charlie shook his head grinning and stood up. He wrapped his arms around Lanie’s waist and kissed her deeply. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back, and when he broke the kiss a moment later he said, "I’m speechless."

THE END

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