Hello, Goodbye

by Coneflower

"EXTRY! EXTRY! CORPSE FOUND FLOATING IN HARBOR! EXTRY! EXTRY!" Boots yelled on the busy street. People passed in a hurry. A few people came up and bought a paper from him. So far, his day wasn’t going that well. Maybe because he was different race. He didn’t know if his skin color was the fault in his selling. Slider, who was selling a little ways down the street from him, always had a good day - even on bad days. Dat’s ‘cause he's a cute lil’ white kid. Boots mused. No one wants ta buy from me.

His mind usually drifted on the fact that he was a different race than the other newsies excluding his sister, Flicker. They had never been criticized for being a different by all their friends. They didn’t even notice him and Flicker were - black. But, that was a different story on the streets of New York. Sometimes men and even boys his age would pass by and spit on him. Women would stick their noses at him He received a few threats from shop owners, because he was selling in front of their shop and taking away their business. Boots would shrug it off thinking to himself - "You don’ have business ‘causee ya don’ got nuttin’ good ta sell." He’d never say that out load for fear of being beaten or arrested. He would walk off to go find another selling spot - with Slider happily skipping behind him. Nothing fazed the little boy for some reason. He always found a new selling spot. His most recent one was in front of a rundown apartment building. The street was very busy around there too. Business was a little better for him especially when his selling partner was far down the street from him.

Boots picked up another paper from his pile to wave in the air to get peoples’ attention - pushing the disturbing thoughts to the back of his mind. He was about to shout out another headline when he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He winced thinking he was about to be kicked off another street. Dis can’ be happenin’ fer da tenth time. He turned slowly only to see a dark haired girl with deep blue eyes staring right into his. She blushed a bite when he started to get nervous. He fiddled to put his free hand into his pocket, and quickly converted his eyes to his shoes. She was the most prettiest thing he’d ever seen.

"Yes, miss?" he asked, shuffling his feet.

"I wondered how much is a paper?" she asked with a large smile.

"Two bites" he replied, still looking down.

Noticing this, the girl bent down to see his face. He raised his head as she bent back up.

"I’d like to buy one" she told him.

"Shoa." He handed her the paper he was holding, and she gave him two pennies. Their fingers brushed. The girl blushed even more. Boots’s eyes fell back to the ground. They stood for a moment not saying anything. The girl acted like she didn’t want to leave. She looked at him curiously. He wondered why she was staying so long.

"What’s your name?"

"Boots. Wha’s yer’s?" he asked shaky. I can’ believe I jist ask ‘er dat.

"Lacey." They stood there again wordless. "Well, I got to get this paper back to my daddy. See you tomorrow." She walked off with a wave.

"Yeah. Bye" Boots got out, waving back.

After she was out of hearing range, he kicked himself.

"Dang it, Boots! Da most prettiest goil comes up ta ya, an’ ya can’ even getta woid out ta say. She must think Ise a idiot. But, wha’ am Ise sayin’. She’d nevah like me. She’s white an’ I’m…" he cut-off, noticing he was talking out loud to himself. He received some strange stares from passer-byes. He kicked himself again. Next time, keep ya mouth shut when people are ‘round.

~*~

Flicker and Illusion walked down the busy street. Their papes were gone. Sold ‘em all in t’ree hours. Wha’ a record! Flicker thought. They were heading over to her brother’s new selling spot. She always wanted to keep an eye on her baby brother. He’d had too many hard times selling. Her and Illusion helped him sell sometimes. They were approaching Boots from across an intersection when Flicker noticed he had company. He was talking to a white girl, no doubt. She halted in surprised catching Illusion’s arm to stop her. Illusion turned to protect to see Flicker’s surprised expression.

"Wha’? Wha’ is it?" she asked, looking over in the direction of Flicker’s eyes.

"Look ovah at Boots." Illusion looked over at Boots. He was talking to a white girl.

"I wondah who dat is" Illusion said questioningly.

"I don’ know, but Boots shoa does look noivous. When dat goil leaves, wese gonna let inta ‘im."

Illusion glared at her friend, confused. "Youse gonna fuse at ‘im?"

Flicker laughed. "No, wese gonna have a little fun." Illusion was still confused. "Wese gonna tease ‘im."

~*~

Boots was literally talking to himself when Flicker and Illusion strolled up with silly grins on their faces. He turned just in time to see them before they could luntch a sneak attack on him.

"Hey sis. Hey Illy. Finish eoily as usual?" he said, not knowing they had seen him talking to Lacey.

"Yeah. As usual" Illusion replied.

"So, brodder, meet anyone interestin’ today?" Flicker said, crossing her arms awaiting his answer.

"No." That’s all he said.

"Really? Well, me an’ Illy heah saw ya talkin’ ta a real pretty goil jist a moment ago. Ain’ dat roight, Illy?"

Illusion shook her head in agreement. Boots lowered his head suddenly interested in his shoes again. Flicker and Illusion exchanged look.

"Yeah, I tawked wit a goil today. But, she wasn’ anything special. Jist anudder goil" Flicker could see the slight smile on his face. He raised his head trying to hide it, but was very unlucky.

"Like I can’ tell when me brodder is in love."

"Wha’?" He responded quickly to that statement. "Ise only eleven, Flicker!"

"Roight on time too." She swirled his cap to face forward on his head. "Now, c’mon, wese gotta getta Tibbys."

"But, I haven’ finished sellin’!" Boots said fixing his cap to the right way - which was actually the wrong way.

"Youse can finish sellin’ latah. I know ya stomach has ta be hungry."

Without anymore protest, Bolt throw his last papes over his shoulder, and proceeded to Tibbys forlunch. I knows I ain’ gonna see dat goil again. Boy, was she pretty though.

~*~

Lacey stared out from her small apartment window. She was watching a certain boy down on the street. He was talking with two girls - one his race and the other hers own. She wondered who they were and automatically became jealous. She watched them all walk away, and wished she was with them.

Moma, why haven’t you found me yet? Are ya still out there? Do ya still care? Do ya even remember me? It was questions that seeped in her mind offend.

"Lacey! Get ya sinkin’ hide over here an’ read me soma this paper. Now!" the harsh voice of her father rang in her ear. She cringed and wanted to cry right then and there. But, he’d only beat her if she did. She made another wish then prayed it would come true.

~*~

Boots glanced around nervously at his regular selling spot. He’d never been this nervous in his life. Not even when he went to Brooklyn during the strike. Not when shop owners threatened to call the police on him. Not when he was basically beaten by other boys on the street. But, he was nervous of a blue eyed girl he only met for a few minutes. It was actually his first crush on anyone in his life. He wished with all his might that she’d show up today.

It was a little passed lunch time. She still hadn’t showed. Boots was getting worried that she wouldn’t come. He had to leave soon to get to Tibbys. He picked up one of his papers to hold in the air. He was quickly stopped though by a sweet voice - "I got another two bites if ya want to sell in me a paper."

Boots spun around to see - her. He was off-struck. She was even more pretty than the day before. Boots slipped his free hand in his pocket.

‘Hi-a, Lacey" he got out, not looking straight at her - more at the sidewalk.

"Hi Boots. I’m glad to see you again." Her cute smile widened.

"Thanks." Something had to pop in his head. He didn’t want to just sell her a paper then have her leave. "Say, ah…dere’s dis place where…me an’ me friends eat at…ya wanna come along…if…if dat’s okay wit youse." He didn’t think he’d make it through that.

Lacey’s face lit up. "Of course, I loved to go."

"Great." Finally he could look at her in the face. "Let’s go." He picked up his papes - this time putting them under his arm. He’d sold more than he did the day before.

~*~

Boots lead Lacey to Tibbys. She mostly talked on the way. Boots was happy about her just being there with him. He was afraid if he opened his mouth, something he didn’t want to come out, would. They arrived at the restaurant, and he opened the door for her. When everyone saw Boots with a girl, smirks ran across their lips. Kid Blink stood - pulling his pants up - to saunter over to them.

"So, Boots, who’s ya goil?" he asked, curiously.

Boots tried to hide a grin; Lacey blushed. "Dis is Lacey, an’ she ain’ me goil. Jist a good friend."

"Good friend?" Blink raised an eyebrow. "Hello Lacey, Boots’s good friend. Ise Kid Blink." He bent down to kiss her hand which made her blush more.

"An’ Ise Mush" another boy greeted, walking over from the table Blink had came from. He also bent down to kiss her hand.

Boots was watching intensely, becoming more jealous of his friends by the second. He knew Blink or Mush wouldn’t put the moves on Lacey - they were five years older than her. But, Lacey might develop a crush for them. Boots lead her over to his usual table where he pulled a chair out for her. A few whistles rang in the room. After a slight grin fell upon Boots’s face again, he sat down next to her.

"Lacey, dis is Slider, Snipeshooter, Les, an’ Julie" he introduced his friends to Lacey clockwise around the square table. Lacey nodded to them all as the group of kids said ‘hi’ to her.

Flicker and Illusion were observing them from the moment they entered the restaurant. They whispered and giggled about Boots’s embarrassed expressions.

"Should we go over dere?" Illusion murmured, glancing across the room.

"Why not?" Flicker replied. "Ise love ta tease me brodder."

With that, Flicker and Illusion made their way over to Boots and his lovely companion who were talking with the others. Flicker cupped her hands on her brother’s shoulder, starling him.

"Wha’ da?" He turned around. "Oh, heya Flicks." He said meekly.

"Heya Boots. Ya weren’ gonna innerduce me ta ya new friend heah?" she asked, peering him straight in the eye.

"Yeah, I was. I was jist starvin’." Flicker glared down at him. "Really! Look dis is Lacey. Lacey dis is me sistah, Flicker an’ dat’s ‘er friend, Illusion."

Flicker stuck out her hand. "Nice ta meetcha, Lace."

"Has Boots been pickin’ goils out of no wheres again?" sneered Illusion. Her mouth was about to spout off even worst when Boots stood.

"Don’cha got food ovah dere dat’s gettin’ stolen by Jake." It was true. Jake was taking one half of Illusion’s turkey sandwich.

"Ya jist sayin’ dat." Illusion didn’t believe anyone, but when she saw Jake in the corner of her eye, she bolted toward him. "Gemme dat back, ya bum!" She yelled, taking off after him around the filled restaurant.

"Ya shouldna left ya food, Illy" he threw at her. They ran around for a while longer till Jack restrained Illusion from killing Jake. Of course, he made Jake give the sandwich back.

Lacey watched all the commotion and chaos in the small restaurant and only one thought slipped in her mind - I belong.

To be continued....