STANDARD DISCLAIMER: None of the people in this story are
mine. (Well, Spitfire and Clouds, briefly mentioned, are mine.) They all belong
to Disney. The song "Lullabye" is copyrighted by 1992 Impulsive
Music. I'm using them without permission, but I am not making any money off of
them. Honestly, if time is money, then I'm losing it. Besides, my worldy possessions
at this moment are valued at about 100$ absolute max. What would be the point
in suing me?
WARNING: This story is sappy in the extreme and has little or no plot. It
insisted on being written and refused to listen to reason.
by
Spitfire
I fell for him the moment I saw him. I'm sure many girls must have done the
same before me, and many will after me. I was in the kitchen, working on the
mending I hadn't finished at work that day, listening to my parents worry about
where my brothers could be. It was their first day working for the World,
selling newspapers - Dave had had to beg for days to be allowed to miss school
to work - and of course they were late coming home.
Dave came in, finally, around nine that night. Mama immediately took Les out
of his arms to put him to bed, while Papa started questioning David. I had my
eyes on the boy who followed them in. He was tall, with hair that was kind of a
dark gold, and wore a cowboy hat and a red bandana around his neck. He was -
very handsome. I was staring at him so much that I didn't hear when David
introduced me. He caught me staring at him, and I thought I was going to die of
embarrassment. I blushed, smiled, and looked down at the shirt I was mending.
He wasn't just handsome, either. He was funny, and I was short on laughter
at the time. The most outrageous things came out of his mouth! That same night
he and my father were talking about the newspaper business. Anxious to redeem myself,
I asked him what makes a headline good. Right in front of my parents he answers
"Catchy woids like - let's see - maniac or corpse or lovenest or
nude."
I thought I was going to burst out laughing, but I didn't know what my
mother would have said, so I just smiled. And she said plenty after he'd left,
too! It was a good thing Papa was on Jack's side or I probably never would have
seen him again.
Papa liked Jack for one of the same reasons I did. He could make me laugh -
and with things the way they were I was getting more lenient treatment than I
normally would.
I never did tell Jack - well, not until it became absolutely
necessary . . .
"Full house!" Jack said. Racetrack, Clouds, Snoddy and Spitfire
(making history by joining the game) all groaned as their friend colected his
winnings.
"Jack!" David came pounding up the stairs and burst into the
bunkroom. He was out of breath and anyone who didn't know better would have
thought he was crying.
The poker game forgotten, Jack stood. "What happened?"
"It's Sarah."
I coughed, laying back in bed. My head ached. Papa had taken Les to a
neighbor's and David had gone for Jack, so the only ones in the house were me
and my mother. She was singing a lullabye. More to calm herself, than me, I
think. I wanted to cry, but I refused to let her see me upset. She wouldn't cry
to protect me, so we both kept up our show of bravery, knowing that neither one
of us really meant it.
The door opened and Papa came in, wearing a very forced smile. "Les is
enjoying Mrs. Beaton's stories about Ireland."
I managed a smile in return. "Is Jack coming?" I asked.
His smile faded. "He and David should be here soon."
The door was flung open, and the two entered. My stomach twisted up. He was
going to be upset, and I didn't want him to be. I didn't want him to be
anything, but happy, ever. Even if I wouldn't be there to see it.
"Sarah?" Jack paid little or no attention to the presence of my
parents and sat down on the bed next to me. "What happened? Ya aw
right?"
"I'm-" The door closed behind my family and I silently thanked
them for leaving. "I'm dying, Jack." I said without looking at him,
far more calmly than I thought I'd be able to. "I've been sick for a long
time. Since before I met you. I-"
"What? Ya can't - why din't ya tell me?" he looked bewildered. I
don't think he believed or understood what I was saying yet.
"I didn't want you to worry about me. I just wanted to be able to live
things like normal. With you not knowing I could-" I ran out of breath and
paused. "I could do that. You were wonderful. My angel. I don't think I
could have gotten through the past year without you." I was crying now,
and he automatically lifted a hand to wipe away the tears. I coughed again.
"I just wanted to say thank you. And - I love you."
"Don't!" He stopped me. "I ain't lettin' ya leave me dat way
witout a fight, so don't even say good-bye-" The words were choked off,
and I realized he was crying as well.
"Not good-bye-" I coughed. "Good-night. For a while. We'll
both wake up together someday, somewhere." I'd gotten that from one of
David's books. I was too tired to think of anything orginal to say.
"Ya ain't leavin' me." he repeated. His hair was falling into his
eyes and I brushed it away. Hecaught my hand. "Ya ain't leavin' me! If I
can't keep ya heah, I'll go wit ya-"
"Jack-"
"What am I s'posed ta do witout ya?" he asked angrily.
"What would the newsies do without you? Your friends? Your
family?"
"Dey can manage. You are me fam'ly." My head hurt more from the
tears.
"I'd never forgive you." I told him. I couldn't see his face
anymore, because my vision was too blurred from crying.
"A liddle ways-" He said at last. "Jist don't make me go
before-"
"I wouldn't let you." I managed. He laid down next to me, outside
the blankets and put his arms around me. I sang my mother's lullabye. He
finally stopped crying and began to fall asleep. I brushed his hair out of his
eyes again. "Goodnight, my angel." I whispered, and fell asleep
myself.
by
(the greatest singer/songwriter ever) Billy Joel
Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes.
And save these questions for another day.
I think I know what you've been asking me.
I think you know what I've been trying to say.
I promised I would never leave you.
And you should always know-
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away.
Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say.
Remember all the songs you sang for me,
When we went sailing on an emerald bay.
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark
And deep inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me.
Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to dream.
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me.
Someday we'll all be gone,
But lullabyes go on and on-
They never die
That's how you
And I
Will be.