by
Spitfire
"Some one think of something!" exclaimed Clown. The female half of
Manhattan's newsies turned from their seats around the apartment to look at her
in surprise. "If I have to listen to one more 'I remember' story. I'm
going to scream!"
Clouds jumped, almost falling out of her chair, and glanced around the room
to see the others' reactions. Nickel, Jamie, Mary, and Firefly looked slightly
taken aback. Spitfire looked angry. "Did ya even happen ta t'ink dat some
a us jist lost a friend-?"
"I've been here almost as long as you, Porter. I don't need your
lectures-"
"Calm down, aw ready!" Truth broke in and began talking quietly to
her best friend, who after the unusual outburst had begun crying.
"Ev'ybody's jist as upset, jist calm down!"
Clouds understood Clown's outburst. Joe Chandler had given the newsies free
se of his apartment while he looked for work in New Jersey, and they'd seized
upon it gratefully when the atmosphere at the lodging house became too
oppressive. It had been three weeks since Sarah's funeral. Jack had stopped
talking to anyone but Dave, Spot, Kloppman, and Pen who had not left his side
since the news came. Dave seemed to be blaming himself for some absurd reason,
and of the only people who could talk sense into him, Jack was in no shape to
try, Spot was busy in Brooklyn and Sarah was - well. It was becoming
unbearable.
"I agree, though." Pounce came to the rescue by being herself.
"We came heah ta get away from all dat. Let's tawk about somet'in
completely frivolous. We'se got plenty a time ta be serious latah."
"Like what?" As they gathered into a circle, Clouds could see a
few tears in Clown's eyes. The former-circus performer would never have
admitted to them, but it was obvious she was not as unaffected as she seemed.
Pounce grinned. "Like guys." At that, even Spitfire laughed
against her will. "No, I mean, what foist made ya like yer guy? Why'dja
fall in love wit 'im? Jamie, yer foist."
Clouds glanced at the girl in question and smiled inwardly. A few months
ago, Jamie would never have joined the girls at all. Since her illness, she'd
been no less shy, but infinately more trusting of her fellow newsies.
"I-" the girl blushed.
"Come on!" Pounce was unrelenting. "What is it 'bout Dutchy
dat makes ya faint whenever he comes by?" she swooned theatrically, then
sat up again.
Jamie's face could have been on fire as the others laughed. "I do
not!" She thought carefully, while the others waited. "I guess-"
she blushed again. "I jist - da way he don't nevah leave me alone. I mean
- even when I was tryin' so hard not taa let nobody near, he wouldn't stay away.
Dat make sense?"
It couldn't have made more sense to Clouds. The others nodded as well and
looked expectantly at Porter who sat next to Jamie. "He trusts me."
the girl said quietly. "Ain't - ain't many people trusted me 'fore Crutchy
- an' no one dat trusts da way he does.."
"Boy, ya know how ta make a goil feel guilty, Spitfire!" Truth
said. Da raid. Clouds remembered. Crutchy had been the single person to
stand up for Porter - even before she sprang half of the Manhattan newsies out
of the Refuge and, by an unexpected coup, had Snyder thrown in jail for good. I'd
still like ta know where she found all dat out 'bout 'im. Sellin' stolen goods!
Snyda'! Dat's one fer da records!
Porter was immediately embarrassed. "I din't mean ta - ya know-"
Clown who enjoyed a clear conscience by not having been a newsie at the
time, took the next turn. "I'm far more frivolous than you two." she
laughed. "I fell for those blue eyes, and that was that."
Which probably wasn't true, but Clown - like Spot, Clouds thought -
often refused to admit to any strong feelings or thoughts.
Nickel approved. "I don't feel so shallow now." she laughed.
"Skittery's jist da most handsome boy dere is. Fly?"
Firefly closed her eyes and thought, while several of the girls loudly
disputed Nickel's statement. "Like Jame said." she answered at last.
"He's always dere fer me. An' he don't mind needin' me sometimes,
eidda."
It's nice bein' needed. thought Clouds before turing out the
discussion. No one asked her the question, but she knew her answer. Da
voice.
"Nita, Juanita, let me linger by thy side. Nita, Juanita, be my own
fair bride . . ."
She leaned back and clapped, smiling. "Beautiful! Didja write
it?"
Bumlets grinned with embarrassed pleasure and sat down, shaking his head.
"Naw, it's old. Don't 'memba when I hoid it foist."
"I t'ink ya oughta sing fer da odders sometime."
He shook his head, then smiled. "I on'y perform fer special
people."
~*~
"Clouds!" Firefly shook her shoulder. "Ya aw right?"
Startled out of the daydream, Clouds looked around in embarrassment. Everyone
was looking at her.
"Sorry. I jist-"
"Jist had yer head in da clouds as usual." Truth laughed.
"C'mon, we'se goin' now."