Chapter One: Her Past
She watched as the casket lowered in the ground. Tears flowed down her cheeks and dripped off her chin. Her brother put his arm around her to comfort her, but met with no success. Their father stood on the other side of the grave. He was a solemn man and showed little emotion.
“Ashes to ashes and dust to dust...” the priest started. She tossed a yellow rose on her mother’s eternal resting bed and ran from the crowd with only her brother following.
“Pet,” he started, “I don’t know what to say right now to comfort you. All I can say is that I’ll be here for you.”
“Mark, you don’t understand. Daddy doesn’t love us; who is going to take care of us now that mommy is gone?” the three year old cried.
“We’ll find a way to make it, I know we will,” he assured her.
One week later...
“We are moving to New York in one week,” he demanded.
“But dad, what about our family, here?” Mark pleaded after being told the news.
“I said we are moving in one week. Can’t you hear?” Mark’s father yelled.
“Daddy, I want to stay here with grandma.” Pet said from the doorway to the parlor.
“Listen, kids, I think that things will be better for us in New York. We’ll be able to get over the loss of your mother and you’ll have a chance to make many new friends. I bought us a nice big house on Fifth Avenue that we can live in. See? It won’t be so bad.” He spoke more kindly in the presence of his daughter.
The two kids' faces sank at his words. They knew that there was no use arguing with him.
So, with dampened spirits, they left the parlor hand-in-hand.
After the move...
“I hate it here! I want to go back home!” Pet screamed at her father.
“Don’t talk to me in that tone of voice, young lady. I am your father,” he scolded.
“Mark is more of a father to me than you are. I hate you!” she yelled back at him.
“He is only five years old," he said, a bit shocked at her words.
“So? He is older than me,” she stated.
“Two years.” He laughed at the three year old.
“Oh yeah? Well, he loves me. He doesn’t yell at me like you do. He loves me. And you don’t,” she snarled. Her father opened his mouth to reply but no words came. He hadn’t expected her to say that. He turned and left the room without another word. Pet curled up in her bed and cried herself to sleep.
Three years later...
“Pet!”
She looked up at the door and saw her brother standing in the doorway.
“I’m leaving. Pa don’t love us, and I'm leaving,” he said to his sister who was sitting on her bed across the room.
“Mark - let me go with you. I want to come,” she said, rising to her feet.
“No, not right now. I’ll be back for you as soon as I find a place to stay. I won't be long, just...don’t make dad mad. I promise I’ll come back for you. I promise,” he assured her. And then he was gone.
Pet stayed up late every night, looking out her window, watching for her brother to come back. And every night she cried herself to sleep, there by the window.
One month later...
“Pet, we’re leaving on a vacation. Don’t bring a lot of junk; just a few changes of clothes is all you will need,” her father said as he handed his daughter a small carpet bag. Pet said nothing; she hadn’t said anything since her brother had left. She hesitantly took the bag and went to sit by the window.
“Aren’t you going to pack like I told you? We are leaving tonight!” he scolded his silent daughter. She continued to look out her window as if she hadn’t heard him.
“If you don’t pack right now, I’ll pack for you!” he yelled at her. She shot him a look of hate and rose to her feet with an attitude of death in her eyes. She shoved a few skirts and blouses into the bag, her portfolio of pictures and stories, her brother’s black hat, and her mother’s corduroy blanket. She fastened the top and threw it down on the bed.
“Thank you, that’s all I wanted. We leave in a few hours; be ready by the time I come back.” He closed the door behind him and she returned to the window.
The anxious Pet watched desperately for her brother for the next two hours. He didn’t come.
“Come Pet, we leave now,” her much calmer father said as he reopened her door.
With tears in her eyes, she followed him out with her carpet bag in hand. She rode in silence in the carriage all the way to the harbor. Her father drug her onto the huge boat. Soon the boat started to move from the harbor and everyone started to wave good-bye to their friends and family. She stood at the railing by her father who was holding onto her with a death grip on her shoulder.
“Damn you Mark, Damn you!” Pet screamed from the boat above the crowd. Several people stared at her. “You promised, damn you!” She cried again even louder. Her father put his hand over her mouth but she continued to scream and curse her brother for not coming back for her.
For the next seven years...
Pet’s father dropped her off in places all over the world: monasteries, palaces, villages, British Colonies and many other rural places that most young girls would normally not be left all alone in. While she spent her life alone in these places, her father went to nice fancy hotels and poured his life away.
Pet learned many languages, skills, and other things that most people don’t know. She would draw pictures of places she went and would write stories about them too. She kept these in her portfolio that was always by her side. She became strong-willed and cold-hearted. She forgot what true friendship was, and she forgot how to love. She knew no emotion and you could see it in her eyes.
Pet changed her name many times, just to get away from the awful memories of her heartbreaking past. Soon she picked up her mother’s madden name, LaRae Rankin, and forgot the one she was given at birth, Patricia Cutstone.
After her travels...
“Pet,” her father said in his weakening voice from an approaching buggy in India.
“Don’t call me that. That ain’t my name anymore; it’s Ray. Short for LaRae,” the rebellious 13-year-old stated boldly as she stood next to the stopped buggy.
“Ok, whoever you are, we are going back to Prince Edward’s Island. And we are staying there,” he said as an English officer helped her into the buggy and loaded her small carpet bag. They drove off in silence, for she hardly ever saw her father, and when she did, she had nothing to say to him.
She followed him onto a boat in the harbor which took them to Great Britain, where they boarded a passenger boat to go back across the Atlantic again. This was not her first time to go back across the Atlantic. In fact, it was more like her tenth or eleventh.
After the boat took off, she took out an off-white shawl from her bag and left their first class cabin for the port-side railing across the ship. She would stand there, perfectly still, for hours at a time. Her light blue skirt moved flowingly with the wind, as did her hair.
She wasn’t dressed like most other first class passengers, but she was much more elegant than them all. She had a peace about her that demanded that everyone keep their distance. People watched her in awe of the simplicity of this mysterious girl. She watched the horizon during the day and the stars by night. She only left her spot to eat when ordered and to sleep when ordered.
Once back on the island she hadn’t seen for 11 years, she saw no reason to stay except for the anger of her father. Even though her father expected her cold heart to be broken by the memories, she kept a thick wall of ice around her heart. She had forgotten that people could care about her and that these people once loved her very much. She turned her back to them all and kept to herself until her father died one year later.
She left the island, taking everything that was left to her; the Cutstone fortune, the deeds to all the property and most of what once belonged to her mother that her father once left behind. She traveled by foot once she reached the mainland with only her carpet bag full of things that were hers, left to her in family wills.
She ran all the way to New York in hopes of finding her brother. Her brother that had failed to come back for her. For weeks she stayed in the fine house on Fifth Avenue and watched out her old window just as if she had never left. One night, she had a dream about finding her brother. And then they both died and, just as it had been 13 years ago, they were a happy family. She wrote down the dream and began the long search for her brother on the streets. Nearly a full year later, with no success, she found herself at the Harlem Newsgirls' Lodging House. She was allowed to stay here. And, even though she was unsure about trusting these strangers, she figured that she would be better off here than alone for the rest of her life.
The rest has yet to come...
Pet, who now goes by Ray, is a member of the Harlem Newsgirls' Lodging House. She hopes to find a life were she can have friends and what she has always wanted: a family.
Chapter Two: Her Home
Part One: Finding Her Place Amongst Friends
“Welcome to the house, Ray. Yer bunk’s over there, and keep it neat.” Blue stated as she watch the newest lodgie walk into the now-full bunkroom.
“Yeah, sure,” was all Ray replied. She walked over to the last empty bunk and put her small but full carpet bag on it. She climbed up on it in silence and pulled out her leather portfolio and a whittled down lead pencil and began to draw a picture.
“Hey Blue, who’s the new kid?” Sketch asked as she entered the room after watching Ray climb on to the bed.
“’Er name is Ray, and right now, that’s all she’s said. She came in and began to draw. She ain’t even bothered to meet anyone else here.” Blue answered a bit confused by Ray’s actions.
“Ray, don’t you want to meet the girls?” Blue said as she approached the bed that had been assigned to Ray. Blue received an empty look from Ray with no words to go with it. Blue waited for a response, but when none came she started to turn to leave.
“Well, who are they?” Ray said, not understanding why Blue hadn’t started to introduce everyone.
“You didn’t respond, so I figured you didn’t want to know,” Blue said, explaining why she hadn’t introduced the other girls.
“I don’t talk much; if I look at you, then you got me attention, if not, then ya don’t,” Ray stated as she began to draw again.
“Well, that’s Liberty over there with Flash. And that’s Sketch that’s joining them. And that’s Quill that’s over there writing. There are a whole bunch more of us but that’s all that is here right now,” Blue said, satisfied that she had established contact with this girl that seemed to be a loner.
“By any chance, would you have a broken chair around here?” Ray asked as Blue began to leave.
“In the attic, but the door's locked, and I don’t have that key.” Blue said over her shoulder as she joined the three girls' conversation.
Ray jumped off her bunk and walked over to the window. The four girls watched her, wondering what she could be doing, since there wasn’t a staircase on the fire-escape. Ray opened the window and leaned out and looked at the ladder. She reached out with one hand to grab hold of the ladder while she pulled herself out the window. When she had a firm grasp on the ladder she slid all the way out the window. All four girls ran to the window in concern for the new girl they didn’t even know. To their surprise, she was climbing in the window to the attic. Once she was in, Flash called up to her.
“Ray, you can’t get out that door, it’s locked.”
They waited for Ray to reply, but only silence came. Soon, Ray returned to the window with an old broken chair.
“What is she doing?” Liberty asked as she watched Ray climb back out the third floor window back onto the ladder.
“I have no idea, but if she kills herself, it’s her fault.” Flash stated as she watches this strange girl.
Ray balanced the chair on the windowsill as she climbed onto the ladder. She grabbed the chair with one hand and began to slide down the ladder. When she was even with the window out of which she had originally climbed, she stopped herself by putting her feet on the next rung. She handed the four girls the chair and then climbed back in the window. She picked up the chair and went to an empty corner of the room and put the chair in its new respectful place. She went back to her bed and returned to the chair with her pictures. She sat down and returned to her drawing.
“Tha evnin’ edition will be comin’ out soon, ya want to come?” Flash asked, approaching the new girl.
“I haven’t sold papers before.” Ray informed her as she covered up her work when Flash got close.
“We’ll show you how; don’t worry ‘bout it.” Flash offered a hand to help Ray up from the busted chair that sat unusually close to the ground. Ray simply stood up while looking at the extended hand, wondering why it was placed in front of her. She placed her portfolio under her arm and was ready to follow the others out. They waited on her, but she didn’t move.
“Well?” Blue asked.
“Well what?” Ray responded.
“Are you going to put that up so we can leave?” Flash interrupted.
“No, I don’t leave these, nowhere!” Ray answered plainly. The four girls began to leave, with Ray on their heels. Ray observed them carefully as she followed them down the street. She watched their every move. She noticed Liberty had a slight limp on her right foot, and Blue kept rubbing her left wrist. She listened to them talk and noticed how they talked. By the time they reached their destination, she knew most anything about them that a person could pick up just by following someone.
“First thing ya need ta know about sellin’ papes is that the headline writers are terrible at their job, so you got ta improve them,” Flash started to say once they all had their papers.
“I know how to sell your papers,” Ray informed her as she headed out in front of them.
“You said that you hadn’t sold them before,” Flash stated from behind her. Ray turned around but continued to move out.
“I lived on the streets of Manhattan for a year, I know how to sell papes,” she said as she turned the corner out of sight.
“She is a strange one.” Blue said from beside Flash. “Makes me wonder if I did right by letting her stay at the house.” Flash chuckled at her friend's comment and then they were off hawkin' headlines for the afternoon.
After Ray's papers were gone...
Ray sat on a bench in front of the local police station. She had her pictures out and she was once again working on a drawing.
“Excuse me miss, can I help you?” a young man asked as he approached Ray. At first glance he saw her a common lady of New York. Ray look up at him wondering what he could have ment. “You seem lost; can I help you?” he said again, in case she hadn’t heard the first time. Ray closed her portfolio with her pictures in it and rose to her feet.
“Robert! Oh, Robert! Time for dinner,” a bouncy first class girl hollered as she pranced through the streets with a high-strung air about her. The young man looked up at the approaching girl and then back to the one he had found drawing.
She was gone.
“Rachel, I told you not to follow me anymore!” he scolded as he started down the street in the direction he had come from. Ray watched from around the corner and smirked inside at the young man’s expense.
Ray looked around from the little corner she had found and saw Blue and Flash looking around. “She was just over there, I know that it was her that I saw,” Flash said continuing to look around.
Ray casually walked out of her nook and began to walk in the opposite direction of her new peers. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure they saw her and, when she saw they had, she made sure that they stayed far behind her. She looked across the street and saw the ever-so-painful sight of Fifth Avenue. She cringed and then walked down the street to get a glimpse of her past. She kept her eyes moving while observing everyone around her.
One tall boy just a little older than herself seemed to be following her, and he gained with every step. She also noted that Blue and Flash were still behind her too. Their concern seemed to be growing, especially because of the approaching of the much larger boy to their new, smaller room mate. Ray slowed down and allowed the boy to come right up to her; she watched as Blue began to approach rather fast.
“No newsgirls this side of Fifth Avenue!” he stated bluntly. She said nothing, just stared him down with her empty eyes; he cringed inside at the feeling he got with her eyes upon him. “I said get, I see the ink on your hands, now get on your side of the street.”
Blue came up close enough to hear but no closer. Still, Ray said nothing.
“I said get, now!” he practically yelled at her. She looked to the right and then back at him; he just watched. She looked to the left and then back at him; still he just looked at her. She took five steps toward the boy’s side of the street and the mysterious newsie followed her. She set down her portfolio next to a brick pillar next to a gate. “I said get out of East Harlem,” he warned again.
“She’s new, Ruse; she don’t know yet,” Blue stated, coming to Ray’s defense since she didn’t seem to be heeding all the warnings that she was about to get soaked.
“Blue, stay out of this,” he replied. “This sorry excuse for one of us thinks she is gonna be big and bad and break the rules and now I have to explain in me own way she cain’t do that,” he said taking a single step toward Ray. Ray simply raised her hands so that they were just above his clavicle. She pressed her hands in to the sensitive spot, and he easily allowed her to shove him into the brick pillar. She then pressed her thumb and index finger just behind his condyloid process (joint of the jaw bone) and slightly pushed up. Ruse rose to his tip toes and would have gone farther if he could have. (Ray hit his pressure points; she ain’t super strong, just smart). After he started to struggle for breath she pulled her hand away and he fell in a heap on the ground. Silently, she picked up her portfolio and continued to walk down the street with Blue and Flash right beside her.
“How did you do that?” Blue asked, she couldn’t figure out how she'd literally single-handedly beat Ruse in what wasn’t even a real fight, just a misunderstanding.
“Do what?” Ray responded bluntly.
“What you did back there. It takes a lot of nerve to cross him and a much larger newsie than yourself to push him up against the wall and practically pick him up,” Flash stated amazed at Ray’s calmness.
“Oh that. He was in my way,” she once again bluntly stated.
“As far as being in the way, we are now in East Harlem and we ain’t supposed to be here,” Blue stated as both she and Flash stopped. Ray kept going.
“Did you hear her? We have to go back.” Flash remarked grabbing Ray’s shoulder. Ray spun around and harshly pushed her hand away. “What'd you go and do that for?” Flash scolded grabbing her wrist.
“Don’t ever touch me, ever!” Ray sharply pointed out. She turned and kept going.
“Where might it be that you are going?” They asked Ray almost in unison.
“No where.” Ray stopped and turned around once, realizing that she wasn’t going to lose the two. She turned around and began to leave the same way she had come.
The two looked at each other in confusion and then followed Ray in wonder. What could be running through that mind of hers?
Back at the lodging house, later that night...
Ray sat in the busted chair that she had brought down for herself. She had her portfolio open, but her pencil was not in hand. She watched everyone come into the room, noticing every little detail about them.
“Ok, you’ll need to keep it wrapped up, Liberty,” one girl told Liberty as she finished wrapping up Liberty’s ankle that she had been limping on. Ray closed her portfolio and set it down. She casually walked across the room to the bunk Liberty was sitting on.
“Oh, Searcher, this is Ray; she took the bunk over you,” Liberty introduced.
“All done,” Searcher said to Liberty as she stuck out her hand to Ray. Ray looked down at the extended hand. She hesitated before shaking it. She then without word started to unwrap Liberty’s ankle.
“What are you doing?” Searcher squealed, trying to get Ray away from her handiwork. Ray still said nothing, she simply pushed Searcher back and continued to unwrap the ankel. Once she had all the bandaging off she carefully felt around the bones in Liberty’s ankle. Out of nowhere, Liberty let out an ear-piercing scream. Ray continued to press her thumbs into the swollen ankle. Liberty stopped screaming when Ray removed her hand.
“What in the world did you do to her?” Searcher asked the question that was written on everyone’s face.
“If she kept it wrapped up, the only way for it to get better would be to stay off it, and for her lifestyle, she can’t do that. This way, she is as good as new as we speak.” Ray said over her shoulder, not looking back at the room of shocked faces.
“Wow, that was amazing!” Liberty burst out as she jumped to her feet. “It don’t hurt no more." She jumped about the room. Everyone turned their eyes to Ray and the room grew silent. Ray picked up her pencil and, for what seemed hours, the room remained like that.
“Heya, goils,” Blue stated as she waltzed into the silent room followed by Flash. “What happened in here?” she asked as she began to grow suspicious of the strange silence. She traced their gaze to Ray. “Oh, the new goil. Everyone, that’s Ray; she took the bunk over Searcher.” Still the room didn’t move. “Is something wrong in here?” No one responded. “Will some tell me what is going on?” Liberty walked up to Blue and Flash with recently gained limp gone. “Hey your foot is all better.”
Liberty nodded her head and didn’t say a word. “Aliens landed in Central Park!” she yelled into the silence, and the room suddenly came to life with questions.
“I was kidding, at least there is some noise in here now. That silence was getting to me!” She laughed as she walked up to Ray who closed her portfolio when Blue got even somewhat close. “Can we talk? I want to know what it was that you did.”
Ray looked up at her and didn’t say a word but rose to her feet. Blue wasn’t sure what was running through her mind, but she just had to pick her brain.
Downstairs...
“What happened earlier?” Blue asked once they reach the bottom of the stairs.
“What do you mean? What happened?” was the only answer she received.
“After you got done selling, you went into East Harlem. Why?” Blue calmly asked again. Ray looked at her with her empty eyes. The simple look sent chills down Blue's spine. She watched as the thin figure silently stood in front of her, not moving or making a sound. Finally, the silence was broken when the front door opened.
“I want to meet this new girl that soaked Ruse.” Knuckles stated as he approached his girlfriend.
“Knuckles, this is Ray. Ray, this is Knuckles,” Blue stated not taking her eye off Ray.
“Nice to meet you, but were’s the one that soaked Ruse?” he asked again.
“That is her; we watched with our own two eyes. I’m trying to figure out how she did it, because face it, when Ruse has his footing, even you have trouble pushing him up against a wall,” Blue stated. Knuckles glared her down but quickly brought his eyes over to Ray after noticing that Blue's eyes rested on the strange girl before her.
“What exactly is going on here? Did I interrupt something?” he asked as he backed up, as if to see the whole picture.
“No, you didn’t,” Ray told him as she turned to leave. She walked up the stairs, leaving the two behind in the lobby.
“What was that all about?” Knuckles asked, glad to have Blue's full attention.
“She is a strange one. You know how most people are when they first move into a lodging house like this, but there is something about her that scares me. The way she looks at you. It’s like her eyes are empty. When she looks at you, you feel this cold chill run down your back that makes you shiver. It’s not that I don’t like her, it’s just that...I don’t know, she scares me with her silent ways,” Blue explained to more-than-less-interested Knuckles.
“I thought most of the girls that came here started out like that,” was all he said.
“Yeah, but there is something about her that is different. I mean, sure everyone starts out shy and silent-like, but there is something about her I can’t explain. It’s not like I think that she has had a terrible past or anything, but...I don’t know.” She stuttered to a stop. Knuckles looked at her in wonder; never had he seen her so puzzled by a new girl.
“So about the one who beat up Ruse?” he said, restating his reason for the visit.
“That was her, I swear. I don’t know what she was doing over there on your side of Harlem but she was dead set and determined. Until she suddenly just...turned around.” She walked outside and he followed her. They stayed outside for a while talking before coming back in. Blue ran upstairs and returned alone.
“She said she will be down in a minute.” They sat down on the counter and waited. Soon, Ray emerged at the bottom of the stairs, followed by several of inhabitants of the lodging house.
“Ray, tell him that you are the one who soaked Ruse.” Blue stated as they all turned to Ray.
“I didn’t,” Ray explained simply.
“No, remember earlier today, that really tall boy that was in your way, and you pushed him against the wall, and then picked him up with one hand...we saw you,” Flash chimed in from behind Ray.
“Oh, that, I didn’t soak him. It’s called brains. If you know what you're doing, you can do anything.” She turned to go back up the stairs.
“She is the one that put Ruse on his knees; I watched her,” Blue stated as she followed the rest of the group up the stairs after telling Knuckles good-bye.
Later that night...
Ray lay on her bed in the dark. She listened to every sound about her. Some of the girls were breathing heavily and some were talking, either in their sleep or to someone else. She found Blue’s conversation with Flash the most interesting.
“I don’t know Flash, there is just something about her that scares me.”
“Blue, give it up, she's new, give her a break.” Flash said, wishing for quietness so that she could go to sleep.
“It’s not like I have anything against her, she just has this way of looking at you. I don’t know, she’s a nice person, but she just scares me.”
“Like how does she scare you?” Flash asked.
“She hasn’t said but maybe ten words since she got here. When she asked if we had a bunk she could stay in, she got out a pencil and when we asked her the questions, she wrote the answers down.”
“What?” Flash laughed, beginning to understand why everyone thought her strange.
“She doesn’t talk much, she climbed into the attic to get a broken chair that she sits in, she claims to not be very humble yet she said that she didn’t beat up Ruse. She did. You saw it.”
“Can we drop this till morning?” Flash said, suddenly loosing interest with a big yawn. Not another word came from the two, but Ray thought on their conversation for quite a while.
So, she thinks that there is something about me scares her, Ray thought to herself. My eyes are empty. Ray laughed to herself. She pulled up her old corduroy blanket up under her chin and fell asleep.
The next day, after selling...
Ray sat on a bench in a park in Harlem. Her portfolio was open on her lap, but her pencil was still sitting neatly in its respectful place. Her hand glided over the page it was open to. She turned the page and slid her hand over that page, she studied the picture as if she had never seen it before. Her eyes closed for a long while, as if dreaming of the picture that was under her hand.
“Miss, I know that I’ve seen you some where before. Can I buy you lunch?” A young man interrupted her thoughts. Ray opened her eyes and saw the young man that had approached her the day before.
“I believe that you have seen me, like yesterday.” Ray rose to her feet while closing her portfolio. She began to walk off when again the young man spoke.
“That’s not it, you remind me of someone. A person I once knew but lost a long time ago,” he said. Ray stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to face him.
“You don’t know me. I haven’t been here all that long and I don’t think that I could have run into you anywhere I have been.” Ray turned and began to walk away.
“My name is Robert. Please tell me where it is that I know you from,” he pleaded as she walked away without another word. She walked through the park studying the people around her. She loved observing things around her, comparing them to other places she had been, imagining what it would be like to have their simple lives. She dreamed about having everything fixed in her life; having friends, a family, and people to count on...all things she had never had before. She thought about Robert’s lame pick-up line. She almost for a second felt flattered yet somehow annoyed.
“Ray, wait up.” She turned to find Liberty running up behind her. “I’m glad I found you. I wanted to ask what it was that you did to my ankle last night. I sprained it a while back, and for the first time since then, I can run and it doesn’t hurt. How did you do it?”
“First of all, you didn’t sprain it,” Ray started.
“But Searcher said...” Liberty interrupted.
“If it would have been sprained, you would have held it differently. You merely twisted it, and because you favored it, it didn’t get better. All I did was put what was out of place back into place.” Ray started to walk away and Liberty stayed with her. Ray couldn’t figure out why; never before had anyone wanted her to remain in their company.
“So, how was your sellin’ today? It was a good day for me. People just ate those papes right out of me hand,” Liberty continued. Ray’s mind wandered and, before she knew it, it had grown silent around her. She could see Liberty still beside her. “Ya know, it takes two people to have a conversation.”
“Sorry, I haven’t been a part of conversations since I can remember.” Ray stated, a bit shocked that she almost was involved in a conversation. They walked in silence for a while before it was broken.
“Listen, me and Harper are going down to Brooklyn. Ya want ta come along?” Liberty asked in full sprint. Ray thought to herself about having to spend a whole day with people, ones that enjoyed talking none-the-less. Ray was about to say no when suddenly Harper appeared around the corner with a pathetic look on his face as if longing for company. Ray gave it a second thought, but came up with the same answer.
“No, I don’t want to go nowhere,” Ray answered bluntly.
“Come on, just for one day. I want to talk to you for a little bit.” Liberty smiled at her.
Just what I need to convince me to go...talking will be involved, Ray thought to her self.
“I really don’t want to talk; I’m not too good at it,” she finally said out loud, hoping that the two would soon leave.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. You're coming. Please!”
Ray looked at her coldly.
Liberty shivered as her blood ran cold. With that, any normal person would have left, but shall I say, Liberty is far from normal. “I said I’m not taking no for an answer, so come on.”
Ray reluctantly followed. Liberty would slow down in order to have Ray next to them, but Ray would slow even more to stay behind them. When they reached the southernmost part of Harlem, Ray stopped.
“Come on, Rankin,” Harper stated.
“Don’t call me Rankin; me name is Ray. And I ain’t goin’ through Manhattan; I don’t care what you're taking for an answer.” Ray responded, her voice almost as empty as her gaze.
“C’mon, we’ll stay by tha river' no one will see ya.” Ray stood just north of the border between the two. She knew if she crossed that line she would be tormented by old aquaintances about something she would rather not be asked about.
“Ray, yer comin’,” Harper said as he walked up to her next to Liberty. Ray began to lift her hands so they were just above his clavicle. “So, yer tha one that did Ruse up yestaday.” He chuckled at a thought. “You should have seen him, he came back all light headed and could barley open his mouth. No bruises, but he was hurtin’.”
Ray looked at him bluntly. She watched as they both stood several feet away. She looked around her. “I’ll meet you at the bridge. Other side.” Ray stated as she hesitated on her next step. She took off running through Manhattan. She ran as fast as she could. She didn’t have to look back to know that Liberty and Harper were running after.
“Shoot, I’se a runner, but I ain’t never seen nobody run like that,” Liberty said as they sprinted through the not so foreign streets.
Ray didn’t slow until she reached the Brooklyn side of the bridge. She stopped and waited. She could see Liberty and Harper at the other end of the bridge.
“So, you’se a runna’,” Liberty said as they approached a waiting Ray.
“If that’s what you call it, I guess that I am.” Ray stated.
“That was pure English if I eva’ hoid it.” Harper stated as he came to a stop next two them.
“Ya, well, that ain’t all it was. Don’t mess with me now, I ain’t in da mood,” Ray scorned as she waited for them to get moving. The two walked into a small pub. Ray reluctantly followed.
“I remember what it is like not to face your past and let it get the best of you. I’m not a mind reader, but I can tell that something is bothering you and I’m here to listen,” Liberty finally said after they found a table.
“I said I ain’t inta’ talkin’,” Ray stated.
“I know that, so that’s why we're gonna’ do the talkin’ foist so that ya know you’se can trust us,” Harper chimed in. He proceeded to tell his little story. Ray almost considered having pity for him but then thought of how everyone must have a pathetic story to go along with who they are. Liberty told her story and Ray barely was able to pay attention to her.
“Now, would you like to tell us why you are so empty?” Liberty said after she finished.
I should not have come. It’s not like newsies to go and tell someone their story, Ray thought.
“We know how hard it is to keep it inside and we want you to be more relaxed. We see you around and you just keep everything locked up,” Liberty added.
Okay, there is my answer. My life is not like that, I can’t go and just say it. I’ve never said any thing about it. What can I tell them? I know, I’ll tell them I’m not interested in telling my story, it ain’t worth the thought, Ray continued to think to herself. She opened her mouth to answer but no sound came out.
“Ok, I’ll tell you my my story,” she finally said. “I grew up in India.” She remembered the Colonel and his daughter. “The British colony was like an island in the ocean. A civilization in the middle of nowhere. My family was huge. I had many brothers and sisters. One day the locals, as we called them, stormed the colony and killed my entire family and I hopped a boat and came here,” Ray said as if it was the truth.
“Really?” Liberty asked.
“No, actually, I grew up in China. I was an only child. My parents were German and they got tired of the bossy government. So they left. When we went back, they were killed in a fire and I hopped a boat and came here,” Ray explained again as if it was the truth.
“Really?” Harper asked.
“No, I really grew up in Russia. I was found on a train, my parents lying dead next to me when I was an infant. I grew up in an orphanage and when they got me a job, I hopped a train to Germany and then I got on a boat and came here,” Ray stated as they started to catch on to her way of thinking.
“Come on, tell us the truth,” Liberty said getting a bit annoyed.
“Ok, My father took me all over the world and left me in places for weeks, even months at a time. Finally he said, ‘We’re going home.’ So we went home and he died and I came here.” Ray finished.
“Ok, I give up. We can’t make you tell us your story we were just trying to make you feel more comfortable by getting it off you chest,” Harper said disgusted that their attempts hadn’t worked. Ray laughed satisfactorily. She knew she could go on, but decided to quit.
“So, you’re a liar too,” Liberty stated.
“If that’s what you call it, I guess I am,” Ray responded. For some reason, that sounded familiar to Liberty. She and Harper rose to their feet a bit down-cast; they hadn’t been able to make her feel more welcome to her new family.
“Wait,” Ray said. The two stopped turned at her not expecting the truth. “Why did you bring me to Brooklyn to tell me this.”
“I wanted to show you where it is that I came from. Well not actually came from, I’m Italian, from Little Italy...and Brooklyn...” Liberty said as the two began to leave again.
“Hold on, can you keep a secret? I mean, if you tell anyone will you be willing to die.” Ray said, somewhat skeptical of what she was thinking of doing.
“Yeah, I can keep a secret; I won’t tell nobody.” Liberty said as she suddenly began to step toward Ray. Harper followed.
Ray stood up and walked out of the pub. Liberty and Harper followed.
Back on Fifth Avenue...
“Where is it that you are taking us?” Liberty asked, wondering.
“Just a minute. We’ll get there,” was all Ray responded. She walked past a few more mansions. She stopped in front of one of them and looked at it. Liberty followed her gaze to the house that was right beside them. Ray took a key from under her belt. She placed it in the weeping gates, and walked up to the front door. They reluctantly followed.
“This is what I couldn’t change.” Ray said at the bottom of the stairs. Liberty looked at her.
How sad, Liberty thought to herself. She looked at the figure standing at the bottom of the stairs. For the first time she noticed how thin she was. Seeing her standing there made it seem that if you touched her, she would break. Her gaze about the house was as empty as ever. It’s like she doesn’t have a heart, or knows feeling, Liberty thought.
“Why did you bring us here?” Liberty finally broke the silence that consumed the massive house.
“Why did you take me to Brooklyn?” Ray said. When no response came, she spoke again. “You're right, if you tell someone, then you do feel better, but I have nothing to tell to make me feel better. I don’t feel, and, quite frankly, I don’t want to.”
“I know that the pain inside hurts,” Liberty started.
“No, pain doesn’t hurt, weakness hurts. I am not weak,” Ray responded coldly. Liberty opened her mouth to respond but no words came. She realized that what Ray was holding back was more than just a story of hurt and sad feelings. Ray nodded her head as if knowing Liberty’s realization. They turned to leave at the same time.
“Don’t tell..." Ray started.
“I won’t,” Liberty answered and Harper nodded in agreement before Ray had a chance to finish. “Listen, it’s getting dark, maybe we should get back to the lodging house.” Ray looked straight forward but, somehow, knew that they agreed. Together they walked toward the house.
“Excuse me miss, I know that I know you.” She turned around to see Robert.
“Listen to me, you don’t know me,” Ray snapped. She saw an entire family behind him, a first class family. She rolled her eyes and continued to walk on, she didn’t have to look to know that he was following her at a distance, along with some of his family.
“Who was that?” Liberty asked. “Just some guy that swears that he knows me.” They continued on.
Back at the lodging house...
“What?” Spider screamed as yet another knock came pounding on the door. She opened it to see another group of East Harlem boys.
“Where’s the new goil that soaked Ruse?” one of them asked as they entered the already crowded lobby. “Wow, I think that makes all of us that want ta know who she is,” he laughed.
“Everyone!” Mrs. Evans yelled above the rucuse in the room. “Why don’t you all go up to the attic? There is more room up there and it won’t give me so much of a headache,” she said after all noise had ceased. Blue and Flash headed up the stairs and all followed. Several took lamps and candles for light since the sun had just about sunk into the horizon. A knock rapped on the door down stairs and Mrs. Evans opened it.
“Yeah, they are in the attic, go on up,” is all they heard. They watched the doorway for Ray but only found Four Eyes.
“Hey, Four Eyes, what are you doing here?” Ruby asked as she approached him with a slight grin growing on her face.
“I wanted to make sure you got home all right. Ya know, you hadn’t been...over there... in a while so I thought I would come and check on ya,” he said as he approached her.
“I left you this afternoon and you can’t stay away for even a few hours,” Ruby teased.
Several conversations continued throughout the attic. The noise level had grown so much they didn’t hear the door open downstairs.
Downstairs...
“Ray, glad to see you back. There is a mass of people in the attic here to see you about something,” Mrs. Evans told her as she walked into the house in silence beside Liberty.
“Nice!” Ray answered her, as if not surprised. “There will be some more coming, they followed me, or at least one did.” They headed upstairs. The closer they came to the top of the stairs, the louder the noise grew. Ray turned in at the bunkroom, wishing with all her might that she could get out of having to be around people.
“Ray, were are you going? Didn’t you hear? You have company in the attic!” Liberty informed as she headed up with Harper.
“I heard; tell them I’ll be up in a little while,” Ray said. She had been thinking all day. Everyone seemed to find something about her that they didn’t like. She remembered her past. She knew she couldn’t be someone she wasn’t. Ray knew what she was doing, and what she wanted to do, and then she knew what she had to do.
Ray walked up the stairs to the now well-lit attic. She gave a cold empty stare into the room. Everyone’s blood ran cold. Several turned white as ghosts. She overheard someone say that they only knew one other person that could do that to a room full of tough people.
“So, you're the one who soaked Ruse,” one of the east Harlem boys said.
“I didn’t soak no one.” Ray turned and left the room. She knew what all of them wanted, and she had answered all of their questions with one sentence. She went back to the bunkroom and went up to the roof. Just as she climbed onto the fire escape, on her way up, Robert walked into the room calling after her.
“I know that I know you from somewhere.”
Ray closed her eyes. She could hear the large group of people come to the doorway behind Robert. She thought of that promise that had been broken eleven years ago. Then she thought of saying goodbye to the one person that seemed to love her. When she opened her eyes they were full of something that had never been there before; love, kindness, forgiveness, and trust. Robert’s face turned white as a ghost's. Everyone else just gasped to the peace in her eyes. As soon as they had opened, they were shut again, and then it was gone. She knew who Robert was, and she didn’t need him. Or anyone else.
She made her climb to the roof. A clash of thunder rolled over her. The stares were invisible due to the clouds that had swollen over her. She sat down next to wall. Rain drops fell on her, as if washing away what hurt there was left in her.
“I can’t do it, Mama. I just can’t. I can’t be someone I’m not. I’m not you, and I never was. People wonder why that emptiness is there, well, it’s because you're not there. I’m not you. And I’m not your little Pet anymore.” Tears dolled down her face. “I have to be who I am; I’m not your little innocent girl any more. My name is Eponine now, that’s who I am, who I know. I’m not your little princess anymore.” Suddenly that emptiness was gone. Wildness and life filled her eyes. She stood up; she was like a different person altogether. She climbed back down into the bunkroom. Everyone watched her in silence. They didn’t know what to expect.
“What’s up, Ray? You’se been actin' weird since ya got home.” Blue asked out of concern. Ray didn’t answer.
She went to her small bag that she had brought with her. She pulled out a pair of small black pants and a sleeveless black top. They landed on her bed while she continued to dig. Finally she pulled out a pair of scissors and went into the wash room. She closed the door and when she came out again her hair was cut in a swing that followed her jaw bone. She went back to her bunk and proceeded to take off her blue and white close. She put on her black pants and shirt. The pants fit her tightly following all of her curves. The shirt was a button up with a vary low neck that fit her skin tight and revealed a slim figure that any boy or man could want.
“My name’s Eponine, Ray ain’t with us no more.” She put on her hat to complete the ensemble and everyone in the room stared.
“I think you should have waited till the boys left to do that,” Flash stated with more logic than could be expected in her voice.
“And why should I have waited?” she asked.
“Well Ray, they are guys and you just practically stripped in front of them.” Blue said for Flash and all the other shocked newsies in the room.
“I said me name’s Eponine. Got it? Don’t be callin’ me’ Ray.” She walked out the door and all of the guys watched her as she traipsed out.
“God have mercy on me, but that was...” Doc started.
“Unbelievable!” another one said.
“No, that ain’t the woids I was looking for, but they will do,” Doc finished.
“All right, show's over,” the Harlem girls' leaders said as they showed out the men.
“I’m sure glad that Robert guy left before she did that.” Liberty said as they all prepared for bed. Once all of the boys were gone, “Eponine” climbed back in through the window from the fire excape.
“Do I got ta sell newspapes to live here or can I have a different occupation?” Eponine asked.
“If ya start ta sell yaself, ya need ta find another place, but unless you stoop that low, I’d say you could stay,” Blue said as she looked the new roommate over. “Good night goils, we gots a job ta do in tha mornin', so get some sleep.”
Soon the lights were out and most were asleep. Eponine went to sleep thinking how great it was to be back.
Chapter Three: Becoming Complete
The room was still dark. Muffled sounds came from every corner of newsgirls in their sleep. A wide grin grew on Eponine’s face. It had been a long time since she had been herself and she was going to make the best of it. She looked about the room and decided to pay her old house a visit again to exchange some of Ray’s things for things of her own. She crawled down from her bunk in silence. She glanced over at Blue's watch noting that she had a good hour and a half till sun up. She took her small carpet bag and made her way out of the window. When she made it to the street below she decided to run, just for the fun of it. It took her only a matter of minutes to get across Harlem to her house on Fifth Avenue.
“Home sweet home.” She joked with herself as she walked in the door. She trotted up the stairs to the room that she had once called her own. She noted the box in the corner that had “Eponine” neatly written on the front. She went and sat down by the box and opened her bag. First she pulled out her portfolio. She set it down on the ground next to her and then picked up a black one out of the box. She opened it up to find her life; one that she was proud of, one that was the one she had lived. Next Eponine removed all of the skirts and blouses and stacked them on top of her old portfolio. She reached into the box and retrieved all of her black pants and tops. She smiled at her wardrobe as she placed them down next to her black portfolio. She exchanged several more items before leaving. She placed all of her “new” things in her bag and began to walk out of the room as if it held no sentimental value. She looked up at the door and stopped.
“Mark.” Eponine looked at the figment of her imagination standing in the doorway. She was looking at Robert. “No, you're gone, you're dead and no matter what my mind tells me, I know that you're not him.” She closed her eyes and shook off the image. When they reopened them he was gone and she left as if she had seen nothing. Alone she walked back to the lodging house. She imagined how much better life was going to be now that she was back.
“What are you doing here?” Eponine jumped a foot in the air and look up to see the last person on earth she thought she would see a good hour before sun-up.
“What do you want?” She growled.
“I should charge you with breaking and entering.” It was Robert. She looked up at him.
“Excuse me, but I have more right to be here than you.” Eponine said to the person.
“This is my family’s house and I don’t like you taking our things.” he stated as he grabbed her arm.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t think that anyone lived here.” She decided to play along. She knew he didn’t recognize her but she knew just who he was. “Not exactly live there, but the things in there are my families so I would appreciate if you would put them back.” he scolded her.
“First of all, I didn’t take anything from you or your family. I think you should be more concerned about what you took from me.” She looked at him with her wild eyes. He was not sure how to take this girl. She seemed arrogant to him and more of a pest than a person.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” He was getting annoyed and seemed anxious for her to leave.
“You look as if you have seen a ghost.” She said once she saw how pale he was.
“As a matter of fact, I did! Would you mind getting away form my house."
“You think I’m her.” She was more shocked than anything.
“No, I think you're annoying.” Neither of them moved. She didn’t know what to say to him and he wasn’t sure what to think of her.
“All right, you thought I was her.” she finally said.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?” He said getting really mad at her.
“You have no clue who I am, do you?” She asked him as she stood there.
“Should I know you? I mean, I found you breaking and entering a house that’s not yours. You're a total stranger.” He turned to leave giving up the effort.
“Mark!” she called after him. He froze in his tracks. She could see a chill run down his spine and his skin turn even more pale. Neither of them moved out of fear. She hadn’t meant to call after him, but now it was too late.
“How did you?” Robert started.
“Well,” she wanted to yell at him, tell him how much he had hurt her, explain to him what he put her through. She had so many things to say, but when she opened her mouth, nothing came out. “You didn’t see Mom last night, don’t worry, there are no ghosts.”
“How did you know about who I saw last night and my name?” he was getting concerned and wished that he had stayed home.
“Just guessing. I have to go.” Eponine disappeared around a corner and he had no idea if it had all been a dream or what but it made him uneasy so he left also.
back at the lodging house
“Hey, uh...Eponine.” Flash found it difficult to call her by her new suggested name. “We were just about to leave are you already ready to go?” She finished.
“No, I ain’t sellin’ papes anymore.” Eponine said as she placed her bag back on her bunk.
“Ya want ta talk ‘bout what’s going on later?” Flash asked just before she left with most of the others.
“Sure, why not?” Eponine smiled at her. Several girls looked at her. They had never seen her smile before and they all began to think Eponine might not be all that bad. Eponine took out her black leather portfolio from her bag. she followed them out. She kept back far enough so that no one could see her. She decided to follow Gypsy today.
at Gypsy’s selling spot.
Eponine sat at a distance so that she could not be seen. With her whittled down pencil in hand and a fresh piece of paper on top. She carefully started to draw her new roommate. She put in the crowd around her and just a few papers left. The picture held so much detail and everything was strategically placed. When Eponine looked at her final product she couldn’t help but think that it was a camera that took it. She turned the page over and began to write on the back.
“Gypsy stood at the street corner waving her paper in the air. 'Two strangers found making love on the Mayor’s yard.' Several people paid for a paper and were back on their way. She seemed rather proud of herself for getting rid of her papers so fast. She walked down the street with a grin on her face. She watched several other people before calling out the same headline that was doing such a good job. Again several papers were bought. Now with just a few papers left she decided to try the spot down at the other end of the block. Her decision was a good one for when she called out her headline, the rest of her papers were gone. She took off her hat and her long hair fell down her back. She twisted her hair back and carefully placed her hat back on so that her hair was once again out of the way. A small clump of hair fell back down by face, and she made no attempt to put it back under her hat. She strutted down the street and around the corner.”
Eponine read over her work. ‘Man, I’m out of practice.’ she thought to herself. She turned the page over and shut her portfolio. She walked back to the lodging house noting all the men that watched her every stride. It had been two years since anyone had done that. ‘Man it’s good to be back.’ She thought. She was almost to the lodging house when she saw Angel sitting on the curb eating an orange. Eponine’s eyebrows went up and she once again sat down at a distance and began to draw. She scraped some of the wood down on her pencil so that she could use the lead instead of the wood and went on. Angel left before the picture was done but Eponine remembered what it had looked like. She didn’t write anything but began to think about what she would write. She walked back to the lodging house and when she got there she saw several other people wonder in.
“Eponine, we're going for lunch, ya want ta come?” She looked up for who had asked. She saw Spider and Breathless standing by the door.
“Sure, I’d love to.” Eponine hoped down off her bunk leaving her portfolio behind. She followed them out after grabbing a handful of loose change from her bunk, leaving any and all paper bills.
“What did you do today? I didn’t see you at the distribution office” Breathless asked as they left the lodging house. She didn’t expect much of an answer but had asked anyway.
“I drew today. This afternoon I’m going to go down to Brooklyn for a while.” She answered.
“Brooklyn is a day trip. How ya gonna get there and back in one after noon?” Spider asked as they turned a corner.
“Oh, I’ll run. I should get there and back in plenty of time. By the way where are we going for lunch?” Eponine asked. The two were surprised at how much different she was today as from who she had been the past few days. They seemed to like it more. Eponine looked behind her just for a second and laughed.
“What’s so funny, I don’t remember a joke being told.” Breathless asked.
“I’m just comparing their reactions to other reactions I’ve gotten before.” Eponine laughed as she pointed over her shoulder. Both Spider and Breathless look back and began to laugh as well.
“Well, if we ever need to find you, we’ll just follow the trail of drool.” Spider laughed as they turned into a restaurant. Eponine could hint a bit of uncertainty in her sarcastic remark, but decided to make nothing of it.
after lunch, in Brooklyn
“Pardon me, but would you happen to know where I could find the local mob?” The boys she had just asked continued to look at her in awe. “Hello, I asked you a question.” Finally one of the boys spoke up.
“Sure, I know where it is.” he said.
“Well, would you mind telling me where it is?” She asked.
“If I tell you, you can’t tell him who told you.” He said.
“I won’t.” She replied. He leaned down and whispered in her ear the directions. “All right, now if they asked, who should I say didn’t give me directions?”
“Dove, Dove Parker.” He smiled at her but she was gone, just disappeared.
Eponine looked up at the building. She was impressed at how few measures of safety they took. She knocked on the door.
“May I help you Miss.” An elderly woman said brushing her gray hair away form her eyes.
“May I see the head of this fine organization?” Eponine said, sucking up.
“May I ask who is here to see him?” The woman replied, not sure what to say.
“Tell him a street rat looking for a job.” Eponine smirked. She was surprised when the door was opened to her. She was lead up stairs and asked to sit and wait. Eponine listened to someone yelling at a person through the wall. Eventually the door was opened and a man walked out with his head hanging low.
“Mr.Valentino, there is a street rat looking for a job here to see you.” a lady said. Eponine smirked, she hadn’t expected them to say those exact words.
“Come here, but I’ll warn you, he’s had a bad day so far.” The lady said as she showed Eponine to the door.
“Who told you where to come for a job?” The man at the desk asked as he rubbed his head.
“I did.” She said as she approached. Him. “ I want a job.” She stated as she stopped in front of the desk.
“What use could you be to me?” he asked looking at her for the first time, half a smirk came across his face.
“I run, and I can disappear and I can hold my own.” She said watching him carefully.
“I’ll ask again, what use could you be to me?” he said again.
“Not what you're thinking. Hand me that pencil.” She said. He looked down at his desk and when he looked back up with the pencil in hand she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. “You see,” he heard come from what seemed every corner of the room. “I could be one of two things. I could be your worst nightmare. I run faster than anyone you know, I disappear as you can see, and I got more brains than even you know what to do with. Or, I could be a dream come true for you; I’m willing to work for you.” He looked around the room looking for her.
“What do you think about running messages?” He asked finally.
“I can do that.” she responded. He opened a drawer and when he looked back up, she was once again standing in front of his desk.
“My old man wasn’t on good terms with Jersey City. I intend to bandage up the sour feeling between them and Brooklyn. They have a girl, Ro, that runs them between Jersey and Queens; but she won’t stop in Brooklyn. Your job is to do what she won’t. How long could it take you to get to Jersey and back?” he asked after explaining.
“A day, if I take my time.” she said.
“That’s good. If I have a message where can I find you?”
“Ya know the light pole just on the other side of the Brooklyn bridge, mark it with white chalk if ya need me. Now may I ask, what about pay?” Eponine wasn’t going to leave with out discussing everything that she wanted to know.
“Five dollars a message, That’s the standard rate. Remay should pay you the same.” he said. “That should be all for now, come back here in two days. You’ll run your first message then.” He motioned for her to leave.
“You might want you watch back.” She set it down on his desk. “I would have keep it if you hadn’t given me that job. Aren’t you glad I’m on your side.” She said as she left the room.
“Stop that girl that just left my office.” Nicholas said on his phone.
“But sir, she hasn’t come out yet.”
back out on the street.
Eponine walked down the streets laughing out loud at her little tricks that she loved playing. She could feel someone’s eyes watching her every move. She turned to find a boy about her age with a gold topped cane standing not too far away. She recognized him from Manhattan, he had been there a couple of times when she had been down there. She tried to remember a name to go with his face but none came to her. She walked up to him, ‘Spot, that was it, his name is Spot.’ she thought to herself.
“What you looking at Spot?” she asked as she approached him.
“I thought you were someone else. I don’t recognize you from ‘round hea’, how did ya know me name?” he asked as he looked her over like a peace of meat.
“Your right, I ain’t from around here and I don’t think that you want to look at me like that.” She warned him, half a smirk came over her face.
“And why not?” he asked taking a step towards her.
“Lilly might get mad.” Eponine answered, as her smirk became a full grin. Spot looked at the person next to him and when he looked back at her, she was gone.
back in Harlem later that night
“Hey Eponine, how was your day?” Flash asked as she entered the bunk room just before dark.
“Great.” Eponine said as she pulled out her portfolio.
“Ya want to go talk for a while before lights out?” Flash asked as she remembered their agreement from that morning.
“Yeah, we can go up to the roof.” Eponine crawled out the window and Flash followed without hesitation.
“So what’s going on. You did this personality change on us yesterday and...” Flash stopped unsure how to put her question without offending her.
“You don’t know what to think of me now. Right?” Eponine said.
“Well, yeah.”
“Don’t worry ‘bout it. I would feel the same way if I was you. You’re wondering about why I changed like I did.” Flash nodded her head. “I guess that I should start at the beginning if you want to understand it. My mother died when I was just three years old. Her name was LaRae Cutstone, maiden name LaRae Rankin.” Flash listened carefully wondering how this would answer her question. “I was born under a name that is no longer of any importance and it will stay that way. When I was in London, my father took me there first, I was a pathetic child. He would leave me places and the first place he left me I ran away from. I was six and I met up with an fifteen year old named Tabby in London. Together we created Eponine. No longer was I a pathetic kid. I had courage and a free will. I didn’t care about my past or those who had let me down. Eponine became a person that knew more than anyone could imagine, she also learned how to get what she wanted and how to play with minds. She stayed everywhere one could imagine and became well known in some places. When I was in India, I had a dream about my mother. She told me how disappointed in me she was. So I took on her name in India and became Ray. The reason that Ray was so empty is because the person I was trying to be was gone. Last night I couldn’t take it anymore, so now I’m back.”
“What about that?” Flash asked pointing to the black portfolio. “Before it was brown.”
“The other one was my mother’s. This one is mine. See.” She pointed to her name that had been pounded into the front bottom corner of it. She opened it up. “That’s Tabby, the first picture I drew.” She handed the portfolio to Flash. She began to look through all the pictures in it, she read all the stories on the back of them.
“Wow, those are good.” Flash said as she handed it back to Eponine before she got through just over half.
“I inherited it from my mom. She loved to draw. I never had my picture taken, but she would draw them of me and they were far better than any photographs.” Eponine closed it and they went back in side for the night.
“Did you really go all those places?” Flash asked as the two crawled back in the window.
“Sure did. Most of them more than once. Traveling ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. But the fun part is meeting all those people. In Edinburgh, I met group of street kids and stayed with them for several weeks, you would not believe some of the things about them. They stayed in the vaults, talk about scary. That’s ten times worse than the streets of New York. There was this one kid, Roller, he would tell these ghost stories, and scary thing would be is that most of them really happened. Oh, and in China, I was at this Temple and one of the priests tough me all these things. I spent a bout a year in China, ya know a small group of towns in one area so when my dad would drop me off at a different town I would run back and stay at the temple. So I practically spent a year there with this guy. He tought me so many things. That’s where I learned to fight. He’s the one that taught me what I did to Ruse. It’s great. He told me that some time when I find a home to write to him and if he could he would come and see me.” Everyone in the room had gathered around to hear her stories. She looked around at everyone. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize everyone was listening.”
“No, go on. those are pretty interesting stories.” Liberty said.
“Tell us one of those stories that Roller told, that sounded good.” Blue added.
“Oh no, you don’t want one of those stories. You wouldn’t sleep for weeks.” Eponine laughed. She climbed up on her bunk and unfolded her corduroy blanket.
“Is there a story about that?” Flash asked as she walked past.
“Yeah, my mom made it for me. I never go anywhere without it.” Eponine said. The lights went out and several people continued to talk. She thought about how great her day had been; for the first time in just about three years.
the next morning, bright and early
“Blue, you went selling with him yesterday. Besides, who am I supposed to hang out with?” Flash pouted. Eponine walked into the washroom where the two stood at the sinks.
“Hey Flash, Blue. How’s your day goin’ so far?” She teased as she joined them.
“She going sellin’ with Knuckles again.” Flash looked at Blue. Blue, she wasn’t mad, but it was fun to make her pout like that.
“Ya got no one to sell with? I’ll go with you.” Eponine offered.
“I thought that you wasn’t gonna’ sell papes.” Blue said as she put the last bobby pin in her hair.
“I said go with her, not sell with her.” Eponine ran a brush through her hair and put her cap on. She knelt down and tied her shoes tight. She stood up and looked at Flash.
“Sounds good to me." The two left the room leaving Blue dumbfounded.
“What runs through you head when you wake up in the morning?” Flash asked as the two walked toward the distribution office.
“What do you mean?” Eponine seemed a bit uncertain about the question. She could come up with many answers but not one reason for the question.
“I mean, what is the first thing that runs through your mind. What’s the one thing that you think about without realizing that you're thinking about it?” Flash looked at her. “I don’t know what compelled me to ask the question, it’s just with a person like you, I can’t help but wonder.”
“Now what’s that supposed to mean?” She wasn’t sure how to take the comment.
“Not like that, I mean, you're not a typical street kid.” Flash explained
“I know what you meant, don’t worry. It’s not the question that bothers me, it’s the answer.” Flash looked at her, baffled. “I think about broken promises. No wait, I didn’t mean that. I think how much worse my life would have been if that promise hadn’t been broken.” Flash looked at her even more baffled. “You're not getting this. I wake up thanking God that someone broke a promise. As much as it hurt then, I’m glad he did it.” Flash still didn’t understand but nodded as if she did.
“Fifty papes.” Flash set thirty cents on the counter and picked up her papers.
“What about you. What’s your first thought of the day?” Eponine rebounded the question.
“How am I going to make ends meet.” They left the distribution office and sat down while
Flash read over her papers for headlines. After a moment of silence, Flash stood up and Eponine followed. “What do you do if you don’t sell papes?” Flash finally asked.
“I work.” Eponine didn’t go any farther in her job description.
“When?” Flash asked
“When I’m needed. It’s a good payin’ job, and I don’t work but a little.” Eponine went silent for a moment. “You aren’t gonna find out what it is.” She finally added.
“That’s good. Look I’ve got to sell my papes, I’ll meet you back here in two hours.” Flash turned the corner and began to hollar headlines. Eponine stood back and pulled out her pencil and a fresh sheet of paper. During those two hours she drew pictures of Flash, Blue and Knuckles, Sketch and Smoke. All were full of detail and meaning. When the two hours were up, she went back to the corner where her day had started to meet Flash.
“Want to get some lunch?” Eponine asked as she approached Flash who was walking up to the corner.
“Sure.” The two chatted all the way to a resterant. When they got to one they found an empty table and sat down.
“So Eponine, if you could have any guy in New York, who would it be?” Flash asked.
“No one in New York. What about you?” Eponine asked.
“Oh come on, what about that Robert guy that kept following you around?” Flash went on. Eponine’s blood ran cold at the thought of ‘Robert’.
“Not him!” She responded a little more coldly that she had intended.
“What’s wrong with him? He’s handsome, and he obviously sees something in you. In fact, he asked about Ray today when I saw him.” Flash informed.
“There’s something about him that you don’t know.” Eponine leaned back in her chair away from the table. She looked away as if thinking that it could excuse her from explaining.
“Like what?” Flash questioned.
“Like who he, never mind it don’t matter.” Even though she didn’t realize it, hurt was flooding her eyes.
“You like him, don’t you?” Flash was trying to play match maker.
“He’s first class, I live in a lodging house.” Eponine figured that if she gave an excuse Flash would drop it.
“So what, he sees something in you that is worth going after.”
“Your want to know what it is that he saw in Ray? Do you really want to know. He sees nothing in me, he doesn’t even know me, but he knew Ray.” She practically yelled.
“Sorry, I didn’t know it was such a touchy subject.” Flash seemed disturbed by the attitude of her friend.
“It’s not that, after we eat, I’ll show you what I mean.” They ate the rest of their meal in silence. Eponine watched those in the restaurant. She studied their every move. She tried everything she could think of to quit thinking about what she was thinking about, but everything made it worse.
down Fifth avenue
“Remember the other day when Ray was walking down this street and she stopped and went back.” Flash nodded. “I’ll show you where she would have ended up if she hadn’t stopped.” They walked up to the house that Eponine had gone to that morning. They went inside and still no words were spoken. The stairs creaked under them and the sound seemed haunt the silent house. They went in to the same room that Eponine had gone to earlier. She picked up the brown portfolio and they sat together on the moth-eaten bed.
“That was my mother.” She opened to a page with a picture on it.
“Wow, you look just like her.” Flash studied the picture.
“That’s who Mar...Robert saw in me.” Eponine stood up and walked over to the window. She could feel Flash’s eyes on her, but then another gaze fell on her that she knew all too well. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I knew that I saw you here this morning, it wasn’t a dream.” Robert said from the doorway. Eponine continued to look out the window. “I told you stay away from this house. I’ll call the cops, you’ll go to the refuge.” He was angry, and Eponine felt he had no reason to be. “
Oh yeah, What will they do when I hand them the... Wait, I don’t have any explaining to do. Your the one shouldn’t be here.” Eponine’s heart turned ice cold and the thought of him.
“That’s it, I’m calling the cops.” Robert turned the door.
“Why did it take you almost twelve years to come back?” Robert turned around and looked at Eponine who was still by the window. “You promised, and you didn’t come.” Robert drilled her down with a gaze of wonder. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You lied to me Mark.” Robert turned white as a ghost. “That’s right Mark, you look at me good, this is what happens to a six year old when you break a promise.” She crossed her arms across her chest and turned toward him. “I cursed you for almost twelve years for not coming back. It wasn’t till you followed me to the lodging house that I realized how glad I was that you lied to me.” He stared at her in disbelief. “That’s right, I’m Ray, well, was Ray. You looked at me and realized that you were looking at Momma and couldn’t handle it. I realized that you were looking at Momma and I couldn’t stand it. I’m not her, I’m--”
“Pet.” Robert finished before she could. Tears welled up in both their eyes. Flash just watched them. Eponine held out her arms to her arms out to him and practically ran into his arms. She cried on his shoulder for what seemed forever.
“You know how it’s been since I’ve done that?” She finally asked taking a step back.
“Twelve years almost.” He halfway smiled at her.
“I want you to know...” She started.
“Yeah, I understand. you should know that I...”he responded.
“I know. I’m glad that...” she answered him
“Really. Not a day went by that I...” he said.
“Me too. What made you...” she asked
“I don’t know. Do you...” he questioned.
“Never. Was life...” she inquired.
“Yeah. Do you think that we...” he replied
“No. So, you have a ...” she stated.
“Sure do. I guess you found...” he examined.
“The best. I hope that...” she persuaded.
“Me too. I never thought that this...” he proposed.
“Me either. Are you really...” she explained.
“Yes. Are you pleased with...” he interrogated.
“More than ever. Do you have any idea how...” she demanded.
“No I don’t. Do you know how...” he pleaded.
“Should I? You don’t understand what...” she argued.
“Your right. I wish that...” he cried.
“Yeah, me too. I really miss...” she sighed.
“Who wouldn’t. Things could get...” he pointed out.
“They already are.” she smiled.
“I’m sorry!”
“Yeah, me too.” She reopened her arms to him and she cried again. Flash sat back and listened to the brief conversation. She still had no clue what had happened but she knew that something was different about her now.
“Listen, I have to go. But I’ll stop by the lodging house and see you again soon. I pro...” he stopped when she looked at him angrily at his words.
“Don’t lie to me again. Don’t you dare say that word to me.” she scolded. He looked at her and understood what she meant. He left and Eponine looked up at Flash who was still on the bed.
“Well, the evenin’ edition will be out soon, we better go and get you some.” Eponine turned to the door and Flash remained on the bed across the room.
“What just happened?” Flash wasn’t aware the she had asked the question out loud but honestly wanted an answer.
“That was my brother.” Eponine said flatly. She turned out the door and Flash followed her. “You won’t tell anyone, will you?” She asked out of concern.
“No, I wouldn’t do that to you.” She put her arm around her shoulder and they both laughed as they left the house. Flash got her papers and Eponine continued to draw pictures of all of the girls at the house as they worked. By the time it was time to head back she had a picture of all of the roommates. ‘Now all I have to do is write about them.’ she thought as she headed back to the lodging house. That night Eponine stayed on her bunk writing. No one bothered to ask her what it was she was writing about but for some reason Flash was the only one who didn’t have the question written across her face.
Chapter Four: Let Love Go
She ran down the streets with an envelope in her hand. She wasn’t running to get away form something but to get some where. She followed her directions exactly and found them to be a little off. She look over the foreign Jersey streets.
“Ro, wait up.” Eponine heard from behind her. She stopped to see what was going on. “Oh, excuse me, I thought you were someone else.” he turned back around to leave.
“Wait, maybe you can help me. I’m looking for a guy named Remay. Do you know where I can find him?” She asked not moving from her place.
“Go down the block and turn right, it’s the dump before the dead end.” he said before he continued on his way.
“Great, again I’m left with vague direction.” She started to run down to the end of the block.
“Hey you, wait.” Eponine looked back to see a girl dressed fairly similar to herself. Her hair was short and black like hers.
“I just saw Mockery down the street and said there was a Ro look alike and just had to see for myself.” She said as she approached. “My name is Ro.” She stuck her hand out infront of her.
“My name’s Eponine.” She reached her hand out and they shook. “Maybe you could do better at directions. I’m looking for Remay.”
“What would a little thing like you want with a turd like him?” Ro asked.
“Got something from Brooklyn.” Eponine held up the envelope. She would have been more cautious but she knew that Ro did the same job.
“I thought Remay told me he wasn’t on good terms with Valentino.” Ro stated as they reached the corner.
“That was senior. Junior tends to patch things up.” Eponine laughed as they approached an old run down warehouse.
“Fair warning before you throw yourself into the shark pit. He’s drunk.” Ro warned. A grin grew on her face before she begun to laugh.
“Drunk or hangover?” Ro laughed even harder at the before at Eponine’s comment..
“A little of both I think. This is it. Mind if I come in to see how well you can handle him. Just for fun.” She turned serious.
“Sure, why not.” Eponine walked into the room. Drunk men with drunk women on them were spralled out in the room. Eponine cringed and Ro got a kick out of the response.
“It’s back here.” Ro opened a door and Eponine walked in.
“Ro, I didn’t expect you today. Ya know, I t’ink sum’in’s wrong with me cause, I’se see’in two of ya.?” A man broke out laughing and stopped when a rush of pain shot through his head. “I need to sit down.” The man took a seat behind a desk. “I didn’t know you were work’in today, Ro.” He started to get the hic-ups. “Do you want a new ‘hic-up’ job. I got a great one for you.” he puckered up his lips. “Come here ‘hic-up’ and see me. Wait which ‘hic-up’ one of you is the one I want. Hold ‘hic-up’ it, the more the merrier.” He trust his arms at them fell forward on his desk. “Owe, remind me not ‘hic-up’ to do that.” he yelped when his head hit the desk.
“Watch this.” Ro whispered over her solder as she made her way up to the desk. “Remay, kiss me.” She crawled up on the desk and leaned over him and barley kissed him.
“Wow, that was great.” Remay smirked.
“Remay, my lips are poison.” Ro teased.
“Oh no, I’m going to die, some one help me. Ahhhh what did you do that for now I’m going to die and I didn’t get to see my mommy good bye. Oh no.” He cried. Ro stepped back and the two laughed at him. Eponine noticed a slight tug on the envelope. Her grasp tightened and her remaining had reached over and grabbed the hand of the perpetrator.
“I don’t think so.” Eponine turned serious. “I don’t think you should have done that.” she turned to find a girl about three years older than herself. Her hand rose and she pushed her thumb and index finger just under the jaw bone joint and started to lift.
“Ro, help.” she pleaded just before she couldn’t talk anymore.
“My instructions were to give this to Remay and no one else.” she pulled her hand back and the stranger collapsed to the floor. Eponine crossed the floor to the desk. She put her hand on the back of Remay’s head and trust it down on the desk. “Ya ain’t die’in Remay. This is from Brooklyn. Sign here and I’ll be on my way.”
“Who are you?” he asked rubbing his head, almost like he had suddenly be made sober. “Never mind, I like you your cute.” he put his arm around her.
“Sign!” Eponine scolded as if not even noticing his hand. She put her finger down on the line and he signed. “Thanks.” She picked up the paper. “So do I get a tip?” Remay pulled out a five from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Do I get a tip too.” he pouted back in his drunken state. Eponine pocketed her money.
“Sure.” she placed her hands just above his clavicle, and her foot on the front leg of his chair. She pushed back and tipped the chair over so Remay was on his back and feet in the air. “Don’t mess with me.” She walked out of the room and Ro followed laughing.
“Nice, I think that you just might last more than one visit.” Ro said as they got back out on the street.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You think that your the first one ole’ Valentino has sent.” Ro watched her as she left. Eponine didn’t turn back but once she turned the corner she took off at a full sprint. By the time Ro reached the corner Eponine was no where in sight.
On the way home to Harlem...
Eponine walked up fifth avenue with ten dollars in her pocket and a smile on her face. She enjoyed having the Manhattan boys watch her with eyes of lust rather than eyes of pity. She walked up through Midtown on the same street and again all of the newsies looked at her in a new way. When she got to East Harlem the boys whistled at remembrance of what happened when Eponine first showed up.
“Hey Ep, wait up.” a voice called from behind her. Eponine stopped and looked back.
“Oh, hi Flash. What happened with selling with Blue?” she asked when Flash fell into step beside her.
“We were in a restaurant waiting for everyone else and we saw you walk by. Ya want ta join us?” Flash offered as they both stopped.
“Sure why not.” They turned to head toward the restaurant where many of the Harlem newsies were gathering for particular reason.
“My, my, my. If I didn’t fail to put two and two together.” They heard from behind them. Eponine smiled with sarcasm as she turned around to Harper who was in his respectful place beside Liberty.
“So, the world is round after all. Should I say...” Eponine started.
“No, you shouldn’t.” He broke in a pure British tone.
“I would ask but you already told me what you were doin here.” Eponine replied in a full Scottish accent. The two foreign dialects sounded quite out of place in New York.
“I figured that out. I should have known it was you when Ruse came back after that first day. I should have known when you ran through Manhattan. I should have know from that wit of your you threw in Brooklyn. But I didn’t even think about it.” he opened his mouth but Eponine cut him off.
“So you missed me that much did ya?” She teased as she approached him. Flash and Liberty weren’t sure what to think, so they stepped back to get a better picture.
“One question Ep, why didn’t you say anything that day we went to Brooklyn?” he asked looking down on her.
“Mainly because I’m a bigger person than you are.” she started and a question grew on Harper’s face. “Unlike you, I don’t show my hate. I know how...” she answered his unanswered his unasked question before he cut her off.
“Let me guess, Chang taught you.” he sarcastically flaunted in her face. Eponine drew up her knee to her chest and thrust her foot into his thigh. (basically dead-legging him)
“Let me guess, Chang.” he growned as he leaned against the nearest wall.
“You want to see what else Chang taught me?” She said approaching him with a scowl. He shook his head. “Too bad, you could have had feeling in your leg again with in the hour.” she laughed as she turned to leave.
“What was that all about?” Flash asked Harper as the two girls helped him to his feet; both angry at Eponine for what she did that appeared without reason.
“Lets just say I’ve know Ep as long as she’s been around.” he explained, showing no anger.
“What do you mean by that?” Liberty asked as they helped him hobble down the street toward the resturant where they were all meeting for lunch.
On Fifth Avenue...
She knew that the sun would be setting soon, but she was enjoying the time to herself. Her thought were interrupted by a slight throb in her head. She flinched at the thought of the last time it had happened. This head-ach made her think of all of her friends she hadn’t seen in such a long time. She sat down on a near by park bench and opened her portfolio. She flipped through some of the pages till she found the ones she was looking for. She studied the pictures of Tabby, Roller, and Chang. All three of which had been there for her when ever a need arose.
She pulled out a clean sheet of paper and began to write a letter.
Dear Chang,
I found myself a wonderful home. The people in New York are wonderful. Remember when I got that head-ach once when I was at the Temple. I’m staying at the Harlem Newsgirls Lodging House.
See you soon!
Eponine
Tears lightly strolled down her checks as closed the portfolio and slowly rose to her feet. The world around her spun, but she continued back to the lodging house.
The next morning...
Girls scurried about the room getting ready for a day of selling. Eponine couldn’t help but want to go with her new found family. She sat up in bed and watch the room spin about her.
“Hey Eponine, you fellin’ alright?” Smoke asked as she passed by.
“Sure, why?” Eponine responded.
“Ya lookin’ a little pale, that’s all.” Smoke said dissapearing around a corner. Eponine knew what she ment, this wasn’t the first time.
“Hey Flash, who ya sellin’ with ta’day?” Eponine climbed out of bed and fell into step next to her friend.
“I think that me and Blue are going, ya want ta come?” Flash asked as she met up with Blue.
“No thanks, I’ll find someone else. But thanks.” Eponine turned around to see Gypsy tying her shoes. “Hey Gypsy, who are you sellin’ with?”
“No one yet.” She said rising to her feet.
“Can I come?”
“Sure, why not?” the two left once Eponine had run a brush through her hair. They didn’t say much on the way to the distribution office. After Gypsy got her papers, Eponine laid her sixty cents on the counter, to everyone’s surprise. They threw their papers on their shoulders and walked out on to the streets.
“Hey Eponine, you feelin’ alright?” Gypsy asked after a moment of silence.
“Sure.” Eponine lied threw her teeth. She was light headed and a throbbing enchanted her head. The world spun about her and she was beginning to feel a bit feverish. “British claim Americans speak pidgin English, Who’s right?” she called out above the crowd. Several people raised an eyebrow and bought a paper. Eponine smiled over at Gypsy and they turned to sell their papers. Eponine finished selling her papers at just about the same time as Gypsy.
“Are you sure your feeling alright?” Gypsy asked. “You look pale, I mean more pale than this morning.”
“I’m fine.” Eponine lied. She remembered the letter she had written to Chang and thought about the truth. “Can I go mail a letter right fast?”
“Sure.” The two stopped by a post office and mailed Eponine’s letter on their way to lunch. Eponine spent the rest of the day by herself. She went to fifth avenue and sat down on the pavement infront of her house. She looked up the old window to her room. As she looked up at it, she could have sworn that she saw a weeping six year old sitting just on the other side of the lace curtains. She opened her portfolio and began to draw what her mind saw. Her head seemed to have a pulse growing ever so slightly louder at each stroke of her pencil. When she had finished drawing she looked down at the finished picture. She smiled at her work and close her portfolio so that she could start for home. She stopped and closed her eyes when the world started to spin. She sat back down in hopes to stop this dizzying sensation. She pulled out another sheet of paper and began to draw another picture. She looked about the street and saw people of all ages taking care of their lives. All of them not caring about the world about them. She drew the people in passing and the people she wished were in passing. When she finished that picture she started another one. She dared not get up. The air about her was cooling with the setting of the sun. She could feel a fever come over her, but couldn’t help but stay there out of fear getting lost in dizziness.
At the lodging house, later that night...
“Flash, it’s your turn to round up the stragglers.” Blue said as she curled up in her bed.
“Couldn’t you just do it this one time for me?” Flash pleaded as she rose to her feet. She watched Blue shake her head. “Alright, who’s not here?” She looked about the room “Eponine, and...:” She looked around, everyone else was here. “Ok, just Eponine. Hey, didn’t she say if she wasn’t here for a night, she would be at her old house, so I don’t have to go.” Flash stated joyously.
“She also said that she would tell me if she wasn’t going to be here. She didn’t say anything, so go find her.” Blue implied as she herded her fellow leader to the door.
“Alright, alright I’m going. Does anyone want to come with me?” Flash’s eyes pleaded.
“I’ll go.” Smoke stood up. They left the building just in time to see the orange sky in the west sink below the horizon. The stars twinkled above them. “I haven’t talked with Eponine much, but I’ve heard that she’s from England.” Smoke finally said.
“Well, I’ve talked with her. It’s hard to explain her. From what I understand, she has some friends over there. But she said that she was born in Canada. She claims to have become who she is in London, along with the help of a girl named Tabby. But other than that, I don’t know.” Flash explained. “Let’s head over to fifth avenue. I bet she’s sown there.” The two turned the corner in hopes to find their friend.
Meanwhile...
Eponine sat with a handful of new pictured to put in her portfolio. She was leaning against the gate to the drive of her house. Tears had found their way down her cheeks and onto her new pictures. The chin quivered as if she was freezing in the warm summer night’s air. Her face had gone pale and she curled up into a small ball as if it would make her invisible to the world. Her pictures were scattered around her tear stained. The sight was a sad one, as Flash and Smoke approached.
“Hey Eponine, what’s wrong.” Flash bent down infront of her. Smoke began to gather the pictures up into a neat pile. “Eponine are you alright?” Flash asked in concern for the lack of an answer for her first question. Eponine looked up at her. “My lans, what happened to you?” still she received no answer. Smoke carefully placed the new pictures in the portfolio. “Eponine, we’re going to take you home now.” Flash put her arm under Eponine’s and helped her to her feet. Eponine winced at the spinning world around her. Smoke put her arm around her and they helped a whimpering Eponine back to the lodging house.
“Gees, it took ya long enough to find her.” Blue teased before she got a good look at her comrade. “What happened to her?” she cried in concern.
“I think she’s sick.” They helped her up to her bunk, where she laid down and closed her eyes.
“Look at how pale she is.” “Is she running a fever?” “Should we go get Mrs. Evens?” “She looks like she’s half dead.” comments came from around the room. Eponine listened to them. They weren’t aware that she was still awake, but Eponine was glad to hear the concern in the room, rarely had anyone ever been concerned about her before.
The next morning...
“We need to tell Mrs. Evens. She doesn’t’ look any better.” Imp said as the room looked at the pail and feverish Eponine.
“Forget Mrs. Evens. She needs a doctor.” Blue said as she began to dash down the stares.
“No, no doctors.” Eponine pleaded in a weak voice. “Please, no doctors; Chang is coming. No doctors. Promise me, no doctors.” She continued.
“Ok, we promise no doctors. But what should we do to help you.” Breathless asked.
“How about we don’t. She pounded up on Harper last night, why do you think that he couldn’t walk last night?” Liberty scowled as she passed by.
“Liberty, you heard what Harper had to say about it, besides, look at her.”
“Where is Tabby, go get Tabby.” Eponine moaned. The room looked at her.
“Great, she’s turning dilusional.” Fingers delivered flatly.
Sounds rose and fell in the room, questions came and left. Eponine babbled on, unaware of the world around her. It was only a matter of time till the girls realized that they had to be other places.
“We can’t just leave her here alone.” Sketch said as she made sure that she had.
“I’ll stay.” Many eyes turn to Imp who approached the bed of her ill friend Eponine.
“I don’t know Imp, I’m talking about a person that has had medical training..” Sketch said.
“No doctors, “ Ep pleaded. They all looked back at her in concern.
“Ok, no doctors.” Flash said calmly. “We’ll tell Mrs. Evens that she is up here and to keep an eye on her. She not a doctor, but she will know what to do better than any of us would.” They all left the house.
On the harbor...
A tall red head woman walked off the boat from the first class levels. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties. She had an hour glass figure and perfect posture. Her hair was a smooth flow, full of loose waves that fell to her midback. Her blue eyes sparked with life and joy unlike any other that you could imagine. The smile on her face was infectious to those around her. Despite her beauty, she was simple and plain, not overly painted like other first class snobs. Accompanying her was a young man that seemed to be in his early twenties. His hair hung down in his eyes, but not much farther than that. It was a brown unlike most others in the western world, and hung in eyes of a mix of green and blue. He was near six feet tall, but not quite. The suit he wore fit over a built and lean body. Like the woman, despite how handsome he was, there was something about him that was simple and plain. Each of them carried a small bag. They spoke not a word, but a single glance between them said all that needed to be said. Side by side they walked down the street. People watched them but said no words to or about them. However, they listened to everyword said about them as if it was spoken directly to them. What they found most interesting was what was said by the street kids. She looked at him, over to a rundown restaurant and then back at him. He nodded and they walked in that direction. They went into the restaurant, they seemed so out of place. The first thing they did was occupy the restrooms and when they emerged from them, they were dressed in shabby clothes, not like the ones they wore when they got off the boat. They left the restaurant and went out on the streets.
“Remind me again, who told you she was here?” the young man said with a pure Scottish dialect.
“Caleb.” was all she said in response. She was British, and it was easy to tell. The two foreign dialects sounded so strange in New York.
“It’s such a big city, how do you know we will find her?” he asked.
“We will, I just know. Caleb saw her and he’s working in Brooklyn in that book shop. Harper is somewhere in this city, you know how easy he is to find. Trust me when I say, we will find her.” They said no more, but walked down the streets in silence, watching and listening to those around them. The woman tapped the man on the shoulder and pointed at a boy at the other end of the block.
“Harper.” He laughed in sarcasm. He was suddenly glad that he came to New York.
Back at the lodging house...
“How’s she doin’?” Blue asked as she and Flash walked into the Lodging house.
“She has these spasms where she starts talkin’ like someone understood what she was sayin’. She won’t let me go get help, and she won’t keep the blanket on. She’s tossing and turning and she keeps gettin’ paler. To tell you the truth, I think that she’s getting woise.” Mrs. Evens said not rousing form her seat in the office.
“That’s it, we are gettin’ a doctor.” Flash said and turned toward the door.
“Roller, you don’t under stand.” Eponine moaned. Everyone in the room looked at her. “I would if he didn’t care where I was.” She started to peal the blanket away from herself. “Please, understand, I’ll come back, I just can’t stay right now.” She continued and then slowly started to grow quiet.
“She has a fever. If someone has a high fever like her, shouldn’t they sweet?” Imp asked Flash who had stopped and re-entered the room.
“Only when it breaks.” They looked at each other in pure concern.
Back on the streets...
Harper walked down the street beside Liberty.
“How’s your leg today?” She asked.
“Great, why?” he answered.
“What Eponine did to it yesterday.” She said, unaware of the strange woman and young man behind them who perked at her words. Harper opened his mouth but a voice cut in before he could say anything.
“Harper, where is she?” Harper turned to see a woman that was all too familiar.
“Tabby, nice to see you again.” he said, voice full of nervousness.
“You should know better than to lie to me Harper.” She warned.
“You were talking about Ep, where is she?” The young man said.
“Roller, glad that you could be here too.” Harper smiled a smile that was covered in fear.
“We ain’t here for you Harper, where is Ep?” Tabby said again.
“Your lookin’ for Eponine?” Liberty asked. Tabby and Roller nodded. “She’s sick.”
“Where is she, for the last time.” Roller said, it was obvious that he was getting impatient.
“I’ll show you.” Liberty finally said. Her and Harper started down the street and Tabby and Roller followed.
At the lodging house...
“Blue, she needs a doctor.” Flash tried to insist.
“Don’t you think I know that, but I promised no doctors...” Blue said as if she had been saying it all day and was getting tired of saying it.
“Blue, Flash, are you up there?” They heard coming up the stares. “Where is Eponine.” The voice said again just as Liberty and Harper entered the room, followed by two people that no one else knew.
“Who are you?” Smoke said to the two strangers.
“Never mind who we are, what’s wrong with Ep?” Tabby said.
“We don’t know, and I don’t like you being here.” Blue said to the strangers with an attitude.
“Just tell us what she said she felt like.” Roller said.
“We don’t know, she ain’t responding anymore.” Blue said as matter of factly.
“Ep, we are here, now. Ep, do you have a head-ach?” Tabby asked as she approached Eponine.
“I told you she ain’t responding.” Blue said before she was cut off.
“Tabby?” a weak voice mummers. “Tabby, I don’t feel vary good.” She said.
“I know, I know.” Tabby comforted. The brushed a stray strand hair out of Eponine’s face. “Lord, your burning up. I need blankets.”
“She has one.” Blue said as she crossed the room.
“No, she needs more than just this one.” Immediately several spare blankets were pulled out of storage from down stares. They were pilled up on Eponine.
“I’m hot Tabby, no more blankets.” Eponiene pleaded.
“Ep, it won’t go away without them.” Tabby said. “Can some one bring me hot, and I mean boiling hot, water?” She asked anyone in the room. People ran out of the room to fulfill the request.
“She said that she didn’t want any doctors.” Blue said, deciding that she didn’t like the strangers who had walked in and taking over.
“I’m not a doctor.” Tabby said, not too concerned about anyone else in the room.
“Well, would you mind telling me who you are?” Blue said as she came up behind Tabby.
“My name is Tabby, I’m from London. Eponine is one of my girls and it’s my job to make sure she is alright.” She said still not caring about the asker of so many questions.
“Excuse me, but Eponine is one of Harlem’s girls...” Blue started.
“I said, my name is Tabby, I’m from London. Eponine is one of my girls and it’s my job to make sure she is alright.” Tabby repeated.
“I heard ya the foist time.” Blue said as if she was annoying. “And what about you?” She said turning to Roller.
“Roller, of Scotland, Edinburgh to be exact.” He answered.
“The story guy. She told me about you.” Imp said climbing off her bunk.
“Hot water, coming through.” Flash said as a way was made for her to get through the room to Eponine’s bunk. Tabby silently dipped a rag in the water and put it on her forehead and continued to aid Eponine.
“She said that you can scare anyone with your stories.” Imp continued.
“The stories are only scary when told in the volts.” He said more concerned about Eponine than other’s in the room. “Tabby, is it the same thing as before?”
“Roller, I do not know.” She said not looking up.
“How did she get better last time?” He asked.
“Chang, but I don’t know how to get a hold of Chang.” She said turning to him, face loaded with disappointment.
“She said a guy named Chang was on the way.” Imp said from her bunk.
“Yeah, that’s right, she mailed a letter yesterday.” Gypsy said from a card table with Smoke and Fingers.
“You said that this has happened before.” Flash said, making note of the time.
“About three or four years ago.” Tabby continued to tend to Eponine.
“How long does it last?” Flash asked wanting to know more.
“I don’t’ know, Chang came about a week after it started last time, and it was over. If she sent the letter yesterday, it will take two weeks at least. I honestly don’t’ know how long it will last.” Tabby said. She was much more concerned than she appeared. Roller on the other hand was scared to death and showed it.
“Hey girls, the evnin’ papes are gonna’ be out soon, we betta’ get goin’.” Flash said with one last look at her watch.
“One of us should stay here, just incase something happens.” Blue said with a slight nod of her head referring to the strangers in the room.
“Blue, give it up, they’re the good guys.” Harper said. The room looked up at him surprised that he had said anything at all.
“What do you know Harper.” Blue snapped back.
“I know that with out Tabby, there would be no Eponine. She wouldn’t do anything that could hurt her, even if her life depended on it. And Roller, well what else is to be said except that he is Roller. He’s had a thing for Ep as long as she’s been around. To tell you the truth; I would be more concerned about leaving her here with you than I would be about leaving her with them.” He Explained standing up for himself and the two strangers that he feared all too much.
“Fine, but if she is not here when we get back....” Blue started.
“Sure, like we would move her in the condition that she is in.” Tabby said .
“Fine, we’ll leave and be back latter.” Blue snarled as she and all the other newsgirls and Harper left to go sell.
After all the evening papers are sold on the streets...
“I can’t believe what some people will put in a newspaper. I mean...” Spider started to say before she was interrupted by Fingers.
“Look over at that guy, can you believe he is wearing that?” Fingers laughed.
“It looks like he is wearing a dress. And of all colors, yellow and orange.” Spider said going along with her companions comments.
“And he’s bald too.” They sat down on a curb across that street from the strange man. They laughed at each other’s comments.
He stood perfectly still with his back to them. His stillness came over them and they grew strangely silent. They weren’t sure what it was that came over them, but what ever wit was, it seemed to move all through them. They weren’t’ scared, but his stillness swept over them. Slowly he turned toward them. They looked at his face. It was an Asian face. His eyes were the calmest of brown. He closed them, nodded his head slightly and then reopened them with his gaze resting upon them. The two girls shivered at the strange peace that overwhelmed them. They looked at each other and then back at the strange man; he was gone.
“That was strange.” Spider said as she rose to her feet.
“Yeah, let’s get out of here.” They left in the direction of the lodging house. Neither could explain what had happened or how they felt, but they knew that they felt different.
Back at the lodging house...
“You would not believe what we saw.” Fingers bragged as they entered the almost full bunk room.
“I can’t. I can’t do it.” was the only response they received. It was Eponine. She was tossing and turning in her bed, blankets were kept being piled on her. “How, tell me, I don’t’ want to guess anymore. I can’t. I don’t understand.” She grew more silent with each word and finally made no sound.
“You would not believe what we saw.” Fingers said again to the room. Several people turned to her. “There was this guy dressed all weird. It was like a dress, yellow and orange.” She continued. Tabby and Roller both sat up strait and began to listen. “He was across the street and we were talking about him. He got really still and I can’t explain it, but it was like everything in the world got really still. He turned around and looked right at us....” She continued before being interrupted by both Tabby and Roller.
“Chang.” They whispered to themselves. “ Where did he go?” Both were by Fingers in a split second.
“I don’t know. He disappeared on us.” Fingers back off. She was unsure why they seemed so concerned about what had happened to her.
“Were did he go?” Roller asked more angrily.
“I don’t’ know. It’s not like he hurt us or anything. You don’t have to go after him or anything.” Fingers said worried at his tone.
“No! You don’t understand, we have to know where he is.” Tabby said in concern looking down at Eponine.
“I don’t know. How many times do I have to tell you?” Fingers complained defensively.
“Well, at least we know he’s in New York.” Roller thought out loud. “We’ll find him.” He looked down at his friend, his eyes were full of secrets and heartache. For the first time the worry was not in either of their expressions. A strange clam came over the room that had not been there since Tabby and Roller walked into the Lodging house.
On the street, the next day...
Men watched Tabby as she walked down the street, her gate was like Eponine’s, vary attractive. Several of the Harlem girls watched her.
“Now I know were Ep gets it from.” Liberty teased as she approached the group of girls.
“You look in a rather good mood right now.” Spider stated as they all turned away from Tabby.
“Yeah, I just got back from seeing my brother, he’s mad as his little messenger.” She laughed.
“And why would that put you in a good mood?” Imp asked.
“That little messenger is laying in bed sick.” Liberty smiled.
“Ep?” Flash asked before Blue could.
“Don’t you know it.”
At St. Mary’s Hospital...
“Who’s there?” Damion asked when he heard the door open.
“I’m looking for the Shoilin Priest.” Tabby said as the door closed behind her.
“Who’s there?” he asked again.
“My name is Tabby. I’m looking for Chang, the Shoilin Priest.” She said again.
“Meow....” a fiesty cat claimed softly. ((‘Ohh, a new smell’.))
“He came in not too long ago. My name is Damion.” he reached out his hand as if going to shake her hand. She looked at it in wonder. “You really are looking for Chang.” he said as he lowered his hand after getting no response from her.
“I need to ask him if he remembers this girl.” She said holding out a hand drawn picture.
“It will do you no good to show him that. He’s blind.” A man said who was mopping just out side the door.
“Purrr...” the cat stated as he headed for the mop. ((‘a toy, I won’t let you win this time. I’ve got you cornered.’))
“Can you tell me where Change is?” She pleaded again.
“He’s looking for some girl.” the man said. She looked about the room as if in a panic. “My name is Jacob. If you wait here, I’m sure that he’ll be back latter.” he tried to comfort her.
“You don’t understand, this is an emergency.” Tabby almost yelled.
“I heard my name.” A calm voice said in broken English. “I thought that was you. Tabby, do you know where she is?”
“Chang!” Tabby cried.
“Meow....” the cat came running. ((‘ The strange leafy man, give me one of those green one’s.’))
“Gloves, I have something for you.” Chang said. He untied his leather pouch hanging from his rope belt and pulled out a green leaf. “Mint, just the way you like them.” Chang smiled as he place the leaf on the ground.
“Purrr...” Gloves pounced on the leaf. ((‘I won’t let you win, ha ha, I’ve got you now.’)) he chewed on the leaf in great content.
“She’s bad, Chang, real bad.” Tabby said. Then they were both gone with out another word spoken.
Back at the lodging house...
Chang tied his pouch back around his belt and smiled down at the thin and pale girl in the bed before him. “She will be fine, I will stay till she wakes up.” his broken English clamed the room. Fingers and Spider watched him like a hawk. It wasn’t long before Eponine opened her eyes and looked about her, fully aware of the multitude of it’s occupants.
“Chang, Tabby, Roller,” She looked each one in their eyes as she said their name, “I knew you would come. I just knew it.
Stay tuned! More to come!
