Worth Everything

By: Jennifer Pugh

“Heya, Cowboy!” a surprisingly cheerful boy yelled into a guy’s ear lying on a top bunk. “Wake up, Jacky-boy! Da papes are rollin!”

“Ah, ‘sa matta whichu? Ya blind?” Jack grunted. He opened his eyes just enough to recognize who his rouser was. “Ah, Race, c’mon…Ise sleeping…” he mumbled, turning over.

“Oh no you ain’t!!!” Race yanked the poor excuse for a blanket off of Jack and smacked him in the head with it.

“A’right, a’right, Ise up!” Jack yawned.

Race sauntered over to the sink and tried to slap people with the blanket. It looked as though he enjoyed giving the other guys from the Lodging House a rough time in the morning as a glint of amusement and playfulness flicked across his eyes. Jack Kelly, the most famed newsie of all time, stirred in bed until he finally tumbled out of his bunk. By the time he was up and moving around, the other newsies were already gone. He hurriedly splashed some cold water on his face, threw on a black pinstriped vest and some suspenders, along with his signature red bandana and cowboy hat. These were his trademark belongings. You see, ever since he was young, Jack had always dreamed of someday riding on his own horse on the vast plains of Santa Fe. He thought of this place often, whenever he had a spare moment, between the shouts of improved headlines; it lurked in the back of his mind.

*~*

When Jack finally reached the newspaper distribution stand, his usual toothy grin spread across his face as he decided how many papers to buy today.

“Heya Mr. Andason! How’s me old pal? Anythin good today?” Jack teased. He knew the headlines would be pretty lame as they always were lately. Since the strike ended, everything had been real slow newspaper-wise. Nobody had been up to much of anything, so Jack and the rest of the newsies used it as a great opportunity to improve the truth a little.

The weather was turning in New York. Swift breezes bit like yapping dogs on the days when it was needed the least. Heavy rains left rivers in the street and papers wet. Winter was the newsie’s worst nightmare. With violent snowstorms and freezing temperatures, most people were chased indoors during the day, leaving the newsies cold, penniless, and starving. Somehow they managed to scrape by, but this winter seemed as though it would be the roughest one yet.

Jack left the distribution center with a smile on his face, but it soon diminished into a scowl. A brisk wind flew into his face and he shivered, silently cursing to himself about forgetting his jacket this morning. However, all thoughts about the bitter cold left him as he saw a girl being dragged into an alley by two oafish thugs. He dropped his papes and ran across the street to the alley.

*~*

“Stop it! Get off of me! Let go! Help!” yelled the desperate girl. Why isn’t anyone helping me? Oh my god! Why can’t they just let go of me? She frantically thought. “No! Go away! HELP!!!” she screamed, really panicking. The helpless figure was tossed about like a limp rag-doll between the two merciless men. They pushed her deeper and deeper into the alley, to the darkest shadows.

“Hey there, little girl. You’ve been naughty…I think you need someone to teach you a special lesson,” one of the men croaked out, his obvious years of smoking showing through his teeth and unpleasant aroma.

“Yeah, ‘Uncle’ Ricky wants to talk to you…in private,” the other one chimed in, an evil grin plastered on his face.

“No…. please … don’t… stop! Please!” the little voice belonging to the girl whimpered. She sank to her knees, powerless to what they were about to do to her.

Suddenly, the scuffling of a tall shady figure could be heard, and somewhat seen, it was very dark in the shadows. She heard the rough sound of fists colliding with flesh and bone. The fierce fight lasted for what seemed like forever until she finally heard a loud thud. Someone had fallen. She listened closely as one of the men who had attacked her threatened her savior.

“Ricky? RICKY!!! You…you killed him! How could you do that? He was my brother! You just wait…. I’ll kill you…you wait…you WAIT!!!!!” the man bellowed. He dropped to the ground where the motionless body lay, rocking back and forth.

“Hey girl! Where ya at? Girl!” she heard a new voice say.

“I… I’m… um…” she stammered.

“Ah, there ya are. Listen, we gotta get outta here, fast, you undastand?” he said.

“Uh huh,” she replied weakly.

“Follow me.”

The girl got up with some trouble and raced after the man who saved her. His legs were easily twice as long as hers, so she had to run doubly fast. When they were finally back on the streets, the towering man stopped outside a little restaurant. He turned and sat on the front steps, the girl did the same.

The man faced this new damsel in distress and held out his hand, “Jack Kelly.”

His partner accepted it, “Elizabeth Inman.”

Jack stared at the person still grasping his hand, for the first time getting a good look at her. Long brown hair cascaded down her back and ended in neat and natural curls, her golden highlights gleaming in the afternoon sun. Her face was perfect: her eyes were almost orange, they were so brilliant in this light and they swooped into long, black eyelashes that left a shadow on her rosy cheeks which were delicately scattered with tiny freckles and continued on across her dainty nose. Her lips were something not of this world; so full, so red, so enchanting. However, a fading blue bruise flawed the exquisite masterpiece just below her left cheekbone. She wore a slightly ragged pale yellow dress that complimented ALL of her features and put Jack into a daze. She was stunning and while he openly gazed at her, Elizabeth, too, seemed to be under a spell.

The man that had heroically saved her life was staring into her eyes. She couldn’t help but have her breath taken away by his striking looks. She first noticed his shining sandy blonde hair. It fell wildly into his face and seemed to hide his gentler side, which was in his eyes. They glinted gray-green in the sunlight and were surrounded by sparkling white. It almost hurt to look at them, yet, she couldn’t peel herself away. His defined jaw and chiseled body made her heart nearly melt in a second. His lips were so soft looking, and she thought of how pleasurable it would be to kiss them. She wondered why he wore that bandana and cowboy hat. What was his story? Elizabeth was simply mesmerized.

They both realized they had been staring at each other for a while when a newsie with a patch over his eye walked up and waved his hand in between the two.

“Hey, Cowboy! Hello?” he said in an exasperated tone.

“Huh?”

“Cowboy! Ahh…well, ya see, you two are kinda in da way a da door.” He looked at Jack and then at Elizabeth. Why do I bother? he thought to himself.

“Oh yeah, sorry bout dat, Blink. Dis here is Elizabeth,” Jack stated.

“Call me Beth.”

“Oh, well now dat we’re good friends, ya mind if I eat? Good! I’m starvin!” Blink walked quickly into Tibby’s, the newsie’s regular diner. Beth giggled at this hasty introduction.

“I wouldn’t mind a bite either, its freezing out here,” she said to Jack.

“Oh, yeah… Ise hungry, too,” Jack said at last.

The two were a sight to see as they walked into Tibby’s. Every newsie turned to see who was with that beautiful girl. Of course it was Jack. The restaurant grew quiet. They all remained motionless and silent waiting for an introduction.

“Heya fellas! Dis is Beth!” a smile growing wider and wider on his face. Beth looked over at him. It was the first time she’d seen him smile. She felt her knees go weak but caught herself. Maybe she should sit down. It was like Jack could read her mind as he gestured for her to sit in a little booth by the window. He sat down across from her and turned his back a little away from the rest of the restaurant, who watched them sit down but continued with their conversations soon thereafter.

A waiter walked over and asked Jack what he wanted.

“Da usual,” was his reply. The waiter then asked what the lady would be having.

She guessed, “The usual?”

“Ah, excellent choice ma’am. I’ll only be just a moment,” the waiter said.

“Thanks, Johnny,” called Jack. He looked at Beth, “Well, you coitainly are a risk taka.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Beth, a little nervous.

“Cause you ordered da usual, dat’s why.”

“Oh. Well, I mean, I’ve never been here before and you looked like you had and” —

“I know, I know, Ise jus messin whicha.” Jack smiled one of his famous grins and laughed. “So ah, Beth… why are you in dis part a town, huh? I aint seen ya here before.”

“Well, um…. I just…. I mean…. I had to…” she looked down at her hands and her eyes told Jack everything.

“So ya ran away? Why?” he asked in a gentle tone.

“I had to get away from him—I had to—

Just then, their food arrived. Whatever it was seemed edible and Beth was relieved. Not just because the food was identifiable, but she didn’t want to talk about her past anymore. It was over, and it should stay that way. Jack saw her discomfort as her eyes darted around the room, like she was afraid someone would find her. He changed the subject and they ate their lunch with a light conversation going. They left Tibby’s in the late afternoon. The sun was just beginning to set and Jack thought Beth looked more radiant than ever at dusk. Beth thought the same thing about Jack, who ran an enormous hand through his hair.

“Um, Beth?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you living someplace?”

“Well, not really, no,” Beth replied.

“You can stay at da Lodging House tanight, okay?” Jack said.

“Okay,” Beth answered and drew a breath. “Jack?”

He turned and looked her in the eyes.

“Thanks. For everything.” Beth breathed. Jack knew she meant it sincerely from the way she said it. It was like no one had ever been nice to her in her life. He put his arm around her and they walked all the way to the Lodging House like that. Jack felt this overpowering need to protect her. Maybe it was in the way she looked at him, so alone in the world.

By the time they reached the Lodging House, it was dark and colder than before. The two walked up to the front door and Beth took a heavy breath. Jack could see her concern.

“Listen, the guys’ll love ya and dey won’t try to do nuthin funny, a’right?”

“Yeah, I know. It’s just—

They were interrupted by three newsies that came crashing out of the Lodging House door.

“Heya Jack, Beth!” the one with an eye-patch called as they tumbled out onto the street laughing.

“Heya fellas!” Jack called back. He turned to Beth, “Now, dat theya was Race, Mush, and you already know Blink.”

“Oh that’s right. We’re good friends,” Beth giggled and Jack joined in with his boyish laughter.

They continued on into the Newboys Lodging House of Manhattan, as it read on the sign above the door, still chuckling, although the joke was well over.

“Heya, Kloppman!” Jack tapped the silver bell on the counter.

“Ah, Cowboy! Whatcha been up to huh? Oh, and who is this?” he inquired in a fatherly tone.

“Dis is Beth. I was wonderin if we could, uh, let ‘er stay in da spare bunk fer awhile.” Jack pleaded to the old man with his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, sure. There’s extra linens in the storage closet. Nice ta meet cha Beth.”

“Thanks a lot Mr. Kloppman!” she said in a grateful tone.

“Ah, call me Kloppman, hun!” he said.

It was a little strange to see how Kloppman spoke to girls, Jack was so used to him just being the father figure to him and the boys.

“Thanks, Kloppy!” Jack announced as he began to show Beth around.

When they got upstairs, they were greeted by the sound of boys rough housing, betting, and laughing loudly. Nobody even looked up when they first walked in, but in a matter of seconds from when the first guy noticed the two, everything went silent, just like it had in the restaurant. Beth could feel her face turning beet red. Jack bellowed to all the newsies.

“Hey, everybody, listen up! You all know Beth now, so she’s gonna stay he’ for awhile, a’right?”

A unanimous sound of approval was made by grunts and nods. Nobody had a problem with a beautiful girl sleeping in his room. Besides, girl newsies were becoming more common, so they would have to get used to it.

“Oh, and no funny stuff ya he’? I’ll soak ya if I eva find out one a youse did sumptin, ya bums!” Jack smiled and it eased the tension in the room. Everyone laughed and became pretty comfortable after that.

Jack escorted Beth to the empty bunk across from Race’s.

“Dis is it, home sweet home!”

“Um, Jack?” she asked.

“Yeah?” he answered and realized before she said it what she was going to say. “Ya need sumthin ta sleep in? Hold on—

“Hey guys, anybody got sumthin Beth could sleep in?”

Somebody, Beth had no clue who, maybe it was Mush, threw a bundle of clothes at Jack’s head.

“Thanks, Mush!” he yelled back at him.

Hey, I was right! Beth thought and a smile emerged on her face.

“He’ ya go! You can change in there,” Jack said and motioned towards the washroom.

“Kay. Thanks,” Beth said and she walked away into the room.

Jack retreated to a poker game going on in the corner.

“So Jacky-boy… what's da deal wit da new goil, huh?” Race asked as he dealt him into the game.

“I dunno, really, she’s a runaway I guess,” Jack replied. “I tried talkin to her dis aftanoon but she didn’t seem like she wanted ta, ya know? Ise think it was bad, whateva she ran from. She got real noivous.”

“Yeah, well if I got two bits every time I hoid dat, I’d be richa den Pulitza hisself!” exclaimed Race and everyone chuckled to themselves. It was only too true. The typical newsie’s life story was a tragic one.

Just then, Beth walked out of the washroom in her new attire, accompanied my a couple whistles and hoots.

“Yeah, yeah, pipe down!” Jack yelled over the ruckus.

Beth was really relieved Jack said something. She already felt a little uncomfortable in her new clothes. It wasn’t all that different from what she usually wore to bed, but it revealed parts of her body she didn’t want people to see. She pulled down the sleeves of her nightshirt and bent her knees really far when she walked so you could see less skin. Beth tried not to draw any attention to herself, even though she looked quite odd, as she slipped into her bunk scrunched up like an accordion. One by one, the newsies followed suit, yawning and yelling goodnights.

“Night Beth!” Jack called from his bed.

“Night Jack,” she answered.

Beth closed her eyes and thought about how she could get dressed in the morning without any questions from the guys. However, she was too tired to think anymore and fell asleep very soon.

*~*

Beth shivered incessantly, her teeth chattering. It was pitch black outside as she huddled behind the tool shed in her backyard. She could hear her mother trying to defend herself while he slapped her over and over again. Beth heard a shrill scream and glass shatter. She began rocking back and forth, clutching her knees tight to her chest. Silent tears rolled down her face, in a state of utter shock. He was gonna kill her this time... she knew it.

All of sudden, someone came crashing through the back door, storming down the back steps. “BETH!!!!” a low croaky voice growled. “BETH!!!!” She could hear him right on the other side of the tool shed. Her whole body shook in fear. --Please, God, don’t let him hurt me… please…please…-- Beth screamed inside her head. He had found her! With one hand, he lifted her out of the cringing ball she sat in by her neck and threw her against the wall of the shed. Beth hit it full force and crumpled to the ground. But he didn’t stop there. He grabbed the back of her head by her hair and flung her across the yard. She yelped in pain and her eyes went out of focus, a trickle of red agony dripped from her forehead and flung off in mid air. She landed hard on the ground and couldn’t pick herself back up. The evil assailant stomped over to her and got close enough that she could smell the liquor in his breath. –“ You and that wench of a mother won’t ever become anything. You make people like me sick to my stomach and deserve to be put out of your misery…” -- he whispered, and inch from her face. Then he stood up, and prepared to hit and kick her unconscious. He leaned back, and thrust his foot into her middle as hard as he could…

“STOP!!! NO!” Beth screamed as she bolted upright in bed. Cold sweat covered her face and she gasped for breath, tears stained on her cheeks.

“Beth! Beth! Are ya a’right? What'sa matta?” Jack whispered from two bunks over. He’d obviously heard her during the night.

“Uhhh….yeah … yeah… I’m fine …” Beth stammered, trying to get her breathing normal again. She wasn’t fine, and she knew it.

Jack sighed. He knew exactly what she was going through. The first nights when he became a newsie, he’d had nightmares just like the ones he knew Beth was having.

“Listen… it was just a dream… I had em, too, when I was foist becomin a newsie. Dey’ll go away. Don’t worry, a’right? I’ll protect cha.” Jack smiled in the darkness.

“Yeah, thanks Jack. They’ll go away…” --I hope…--

“Now get some sleep. We’s got a early mornin ahead of us. G’night, Beth.”

“Night Jack,” Beth replied. She turned over in her bed and shut her eyes tightly, trying to forget everything from her nightmare.

*~*

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead!” Jack called to Beth as he shook her awake.

“Ah…how is it morning already? Ufff…” Beth mumbled.

“I had a feeling ya was a mornin poysin!” he said with a laugh. “C’mon…today

Ise gonna teach ya how ta be a newsie!”

Beth toppled out of bed and sleepily walked into the washroom. If she wasn’t awake before, she sure was when she walked into the newsies’ dressing area.

Whoa! All that fighting and stuff did them good! Look at those muscles!

Jack had laid an outfit on her bunk for her to wear that day. When she put it on, she became extremely self-conscious. How would people react to seeing her in boy’s clothes? She didn’t have anything to tie her hair back with, so she ran her fingers through it, let in fall into place naturally, and tried to forget about the way she looked.

“Ya ready?” Jack asked when she walked out of the washroom.

“Yep, lets go!” she replied with a smile.

When they got to the newspaper distribution stand, Jack began rattling off the rules of being a newsie.

“Foist of all, ya gotta rememba—headlines don’t sell papes, newsies sell papes. Also, if da headlines are bad, all ya gotta do is improve da truth, ya know? Oh, and ya gotta be able ta fight—um…I’ll teach ya. Now how’s dat sound, huh?”

“Sounds good, where do we start?” asked Beth.

“Well, youse gonna hafta keep up wit me taday so I can show ya da ropes. Jus follow me lead,” Jack said.

After they got their newspapers, Beth tagged along behind Jack, who was a selling machine! He sold all of his hundred papes in the time it took Beth to sell her thirty, but he WAS the best. What could you expect? They went to Tibby’s for lunch and dinner and played a couple mean games of poker. Both Beth and Jack walked away with slightly heavier pockets. It was in the next week or two that Beth and Jack got really close. They also began to feel very strongly about the other person in ways words cannot describe.

*~*

The night was not particularly cold compared to what it had been lately, so Jack let his suspenders hang around his hips to let the cool air flow through his shirt. Beth, also hot from running around all over the city, did the same. The couple walking down the street together was quite a sight. They both liked each other very much, and it showed. Beth got comfortable enough with Jack to ask what his story was.

“Ise always dreamed a going to Santa Fe, riding me own horse an everythin. I just feel so…trapped he’. It feels like I won’t eva amount ta nuttin, ya know?”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Beth thought back to all the times when people said she was worthless. Her pace slowed a little.

“Don’t get me wrong, Ise love bein a newsie wit da boys…and you…” Beth blushed. He gave a heavy sigh and plopped down on the curb. Beth sat down beside him. Jack turned to her and looked her in the eye.

“Listen, Beth, I…I like ya….a lot…. I like ya more than any otha poysen on de Earth. I think…I know… dat I love ya,” Jack said. Beth sat there gaping at the man who sat next to her. He loved her. She loved him. Did he know that?

“Jack, you gotta know that I love you, too, more than life itself. You saved me from everything, but I haven’t done anything for you…” Beth answered.

“Nah, ya done everythin der is to do, Beth. Ya changed me… and me heart.”

It was like fate was drawing them together, closer and closer, inch my inch. Jack leaned in for a kiss while Beth did the same. Their lips met and locked, sealing their passion for each other so it could last forever in that moment. They embraced each other, forgetting all the troubles that once clouded the important things in life. When Jack and Beth finally unlocked themselves from each other, it seemed as though they had drawn quite a crowd. Some newsies across the street whistled and hooted but soon carried along with their business. Jack helped Beth to her feet and they continued their walk back to the Lodging House.

“Ya know, Beth, I feel like I can talk ta ya. More than any of da otha guys,” Jack said after a while.

“Yeah, me too, its like we were meant to be---“

Beth’s sentence ended there. Jack had walked ahead a little, just as they were crossing an alleyway, in order to swing around a lamppost. He did so but stopped quickly when he saw that Beth was gone. He heard someone struggling in the nearby alley. He raced to it, fear pumping through his veins.

A man was straddled over a now limp girl on the ground. He was ripping off her shirt and did, halfway, before Jack tackled him. Jack continued to punch him in the face until he ran away from the scene, bloody and shocked.

“Oh my god, Beth! Beth! Talk ta me goil! Get up!” he shouted.

Jack grabbed her shoulders and shook her to wake her up, but the only response was her closed eyes and head lolling back and forth with each shake. Jack put his head to her heart and was relieved to hear her breathing, but it was shallow. He scooped her up, covered what he could of her revealed chest by holding it close to his, and ran the rest of the way back to the Lodging House. Jack came crashing through the front door.

“Kloppman!!!” he yelled, “KLOPPMAN!!!!!”

“Yeah, Jack? What is it, kid? Oh my g—what happened? Get ‘er upstairs! I’ll get me kit! Hurry, boy!” Kloppman ordered.

Jack ran up the stairs with Beth frail and hurt in his arms. He raced towards her bunk, completely unaware of the other newsies he knocked down or that occupied the room. Kloppman ran in right after him.

Blink exclaimed, “Jack! What happened? What’s wrong with---

But Kloppman cut him off, “Everybody out!!!! Wait! Race, get a wet towel!”

“Yeah, uh, right away, Kloppy!” Race sped into the washroom.

“Beth?” Jack said. “Kloppy, is she gonna be okay? Oh my god…”

“Jack! You need to stay calm no madda what happens, ya he’ya me?” Kloppman told him.

“Yeah, what’re you doing?” he asked, still panicked.

“Checkin for broken bones while she’s still out so it won’t hoit her. Make sure her back’s okay.”

“A’right…” Jack started.

“Here’s da towel, Kloppy!” Race announced, rushing in.

“A’right, put it on her forehead,” Kloppman ordered.

“Oh my god, how the—Kloppman, look…” Jack said, almost wincing.

“Dat poor kid, turn her over, those are old bruises, Jack, whoeva gave em’ to her did it a while ago…he’s long gone,” Kloppman said quietly. “I don’t see any broken bones, I think she jus has a little bump on the head, but she’s still gonna be sore when she wakes up. All I can say is she was lucky you was there, Cowboy.” He waved something under Beth’s nose that caused her to stir. “She’ll be fine, you just watch her, boy, she’s something special, that one.” Kloppman gathered up his things and left Jack by her bedside. Race, who had watched the whole thing, followed the man out.

Jack’s mind reeled. How could someone hurt something so pure, so beautiful? Whoever gave her those bruises would pay someday, in one way or another. He stared at her for a long time, watching her sleep. Suddenly, Beth gasped and her eyes snapped wide open. It almost gave Jack a heart attack. By now, it was near midnight and the only light in the room was the moonlight coming from the window. Beth’s eyes reflected the rays of white light like mirrors. Jack could see tears welling up in them.

“Beth?”

“Jack it was so horrible. It came out of nowhere! It was like HE had found me—

Jack sat up on the edge of her bed and leaned over to hug her. She sobbed into his arms but he soon calmed her down.

“Beth?” Jack asked, his voice gentle, “I gotta know, why did ya run away from home?” Jack asked, his voice gentle.

Beth knew he deserved to know and felt horrible about not telling him from the beginning.

Sniff—“I had to get away from my father. Uhhff. He wasn’t even my father. After my dad died when I was ten, my mom married this really rich guy but his company crashed and he started to drink a lot. He beat on me all the time, my mom, too. He beat her so hard one day, she died. When Mom was gone, I was the only one left he could hurt, so he beat me, over and over. Last time he hurt me real bad. I could barely move the next day, but I hopped a train from Hartford to New York … and then I met you.” Beth inhaled deeply to steady her breathing. Jack just stared at her. He moved in closer and wrapped his arms even tighter around her. He whispered in her ear, “Beth, you’re safe now. I’ll protect you.”

*~*

The day following that night was a little tough on Beth. Kloppman was right, she WAS sore. However, the pain diminished and Jack and Beth became really serious after that. It was like they were destined to be together...

*~*

The winter that year grew worse and worse. It was an unstoppable force that every newsie despised. Today was a particularly miserable one. A bunch of them didn’t even get up to sell their papers. A fierce snowstorm was brewing overhead and it often exploded into chaos without warning. However, despite the cold, Jack still dragged himself out of bed and got ready for selling. Beth, not wanting her new beau to have to work alone, decided to sell her papes, also. She had improved a lot and could even keep up with Jack now, selling just about as many papes as him. Her relations with the newsies grew into long-term friendships and in return, they treated her like one of their own. Things were going great ever since Beth came along, everything.

“Hey there, Cowboy,” Beth said through a yawn. “You plannin on sellin today?”

“As usual,” he replied, pulling his pants on in one swift movement. “Are you?” Beth nodded yes. “How come? It’s a madhouse out they’a.”

“Yeah, I know, I jus wanna be whicha,” Beth said, trying to make him laugh with her thickest “New York accent.”

It worked and Jack laughed. He looked at her, returning her lovely feelings through his gaze. Beth could have died a happy woman right then. She absolutely LOVED the way he looked at her. They both got dressed fairly quickly and headed off into the cold. They were halfway to the distribution stand when Beth stopped and shivered.

“Oh, hey, I left my jacket at the Lodging House,” Beth said through chattering teeth.

“Ya want me to go back and get it for ya?” Jack asked. He would have done anything for her.

“Nah, its okay. I’ll be right back. Wait for me outside the stand!” she called, as she ran off looking over her shoulder at Jack. He continued his trip to buy his papers and stood outside, waiting patiently. He coughed every now and then, thinking nothing of it.

*~*

“Heya, Beth! Youse goin sellin on a day like taday? Ya nuts!” Blink said through a yawn. He had just woken up. He was one of the many who decided to “take the day off.”

“Yeah, but this nut forgot her jacket. See ya later!” Beth yelled.

Kid Blink looked out the Lodging House window to the city street below. He watched the people scurry around like lost children in the snow and was glad he’d decided not to sell.

Beth pushed her way out through the Lodging House doors. She threw on her jacket and started back to the newspaper stand. She was halfway across the street when a man stepped in front of her, causing her to fall on herself so she didn’t run straight into him.

“Excuse me,” she said in an annoyed tone.

“Oh, my deepest apologies ma’am,” a deep, hoarse voice said.

A chill went down her spine, even with her jacket on. She knew that voice only too well.

*~*

Blink watched as a man purposely walked straight in front of Beth. She looked real uncomfortable. It seemed a little suspicious, so against his curses toward the cold, he quickly pulled on some clothes and a pitiful excuse of a jacket and began to follow Beth. A fava for Jacky-boy he thought to himself.

*~*

Her heart drummed in her throat and she hoped he couldn’t see her fear. Beth’s stepfather was standing in front of her with a menacing glint in his eyes.

“Hey, dollface, we have some catching up to do,” he said in a low growl.

“No, we don’t. I don’t have any business with you. Just… just leave me alone,” Beth said in a defiant tone.

“Now why did you run away from daddy, huh?” the man made a step towards her. Beth recoiled.

“Go away, I mean it. You killed my mother, but you can’t touch me now, not anymore. Get outta here!” Beth forced out, raising her voice.

“Don’t make this a big deal,” his hand moved towards his hip and grabbed a glinting object. Oh my god! He’s got a knife! Beth screamed to herself.

“We’re just gonna take a walk over here for a while,” the man stated and guided her towards a deserted building. He shoved Beth through the doors. It was dark and dust-covered inside. Beth choked on the musty, old air that filled her lungs. The man used his one hand to make her knees buckle and fall to the ground. She looked up at him from all fours.

“Listen to me, ya little wench. I’ve watched you for a long time now. I’ve missed my bed warmer and now that I found you, there’s no way I’m lettin you go.”

*~*

Blink saw the man shove Beth into a building. Something was going on. Whatever it was, Jack would know what to do. He ran off into the storm in search of his friend. Blink raced through the square, frantically looking for the Cowboy. Freezing cold air and ice crystals swirled around him, not making his task any easier.

Jack stood leaning on the wall by the newspaper stand, clutching his papers and jacket close to him, coughing frequently…God its cold out he’ya… he thought. Jack saw Blink running around like a chicken with its head chopped off and called to him.

“Heya, Blink! Are youse a maniac or sumthin? Where’s da fire, huh?” he joked, a smile spreading across his face.

“Jack!” he yelled, “I’se looked fa ya everywhere! I think Beth might be in some trouble.”

His smile disappeared instantaneously. “What? Whatta ya mean, trouble?” Jack said, concern seeping from his words.

“Dis guy took her inta dis old buildin and—

“AND YA JUST LEFT HER?!?!” Jack bellowed, panicking. “Where are dey? BLINK! Tell me, NOW!” In one swift stride, Jack was standing three inches away from him, shaking his shoulders, trying to get him to answer.

“By da square, down a couple blocks. I’ll show ya. C’mon!” Blink set off down the treacherous street. Jack rushed behind him, scared to death of what was going on at that very second.

*~*

Inside the abandoned old warehouse, Beth’s stepfather threatened her, his eye twitching in a kind of insane way. All she could do was hope for someone to find her. She was totally helpless. Why did he have to choose now to come back and find her? She was almost so…so…free.

“Bethie, honey, did you miss daddy? Daddy missed you,” the man whispered, light reflecting off his face, coming from the broken window by the door. It was practically the only light in the entire place. The rest of the windows had been boarded up, but she could see dim sunlight through some of the gaps.

Beth shuffled backwards, raising up years of settled dust. It billowed around her and created a sort of fog. If she couldn’t see before, it was worse now. Beth could hear her stalker moving around in the shadows. She thought her heart would explode, she was so afraid. What was he going to do to her? How could she get out? She couldn’t even see the door she came in through. Suddenly, a hand clamped hard on her shoulder. It was all she could do not to shriek with unbridled fright. If she did, he’d kill her…or worse. Nevertheless, she jumped what seemed like a mile.

“Oh, why are you so jumpy? Its just me,” the sniveling excuse of a human being said in a mock loving tone. Beth could feel him standing directly behind her. The figure placed his other hand firmly on her other shoulder. He forcefully led her to the wall. It smelled of paint and wet dirt.

“Listen to me, girl. I always see you around this place with that bum of a newsboy. If you don’t come back home with me, something might happen to him….” the man drawled.

“No…you wouldn’t…. please don’t…” Beth replied in a weak voice.

“Believe me, I will. If I ever see you with him again, he’s dead. Just like that. You’re mine, and nobody can just waltz in and take ya away from me.” Beth’s back was being pushed harder into the wall with each of his words. She couldn’t just leave Jack, but he would kill him otherwise. Beth loved him too much for that to happen.

“Fine. Just promise me you won’t hurt Jack,” Beth said in a defeated tone.

“Of course, my lady,” her stepfather replied, an evil grin wiping his face clean of any human compassion.

Suddenly, someone was kicking in the door of the warehouse. Dust and wood chips flew everywhere when a tall, sandy haired newsboy came crashing in.

“Beth? Where are ya? I can’t see nuthin…” Jack said, fumbling around in the dark. Blink had gone to get help from the other newsies.

“Jack! Don’t! He found me! He’s here!” Beth shouted, although it was quickly muffled when the demonic man grabbed and covered her mouth, digging his nails into her flesh.

“Who’s he’ya? —Beth? Beth?” Jack shifted his weight and backed up against the wall so he could avoid an attack from behind.

Beth’s stepfather whispered into her ear, “Remember our little deal, doll face. Tell him to leave… forever.”

She ached inside for there to be another way, but she would rather die a thousand deaths than for her step-father to murder someone else she loved. The man removed his hand from her mouth and whispered, “You go tell him you never want to see him again, and if you don’t, I’ll kill the both of you.”

Tears streamed down her face and dripped endlessly off her quivering chin. Beth walked over to the door, where she thought Jack might still be.

“Jack?”

“Beth! What’s goin on he’ya, huh? Blink told me some guy shoved ya in he’ya—“

“No- no,” Beth interrupted, cutting him off, “I… I … got cold so I…uh…came in here to get out of the storm. Listen, Jack, I can’t see you anymore,” Beth said meekly, trying to hide her shoulders that shook with each of her suppressed sobs.

“Wha—whatdaya mean? Why, Beth? Why?” Jack stammered, his heart stopping.

Beth’s eyes were like fountains, springing forth streams of agony with every word she spoke. “I… I don’t love you, Jack. I’m sorry…but I don’t. I’m going away and please don’t try to stop me… or follow me either. From now on, I never want to see you again.”

Jack just stood in the shadows, unable to understand what Beth was telling him. The warehouse fell to awkward silence. The shock of what she just said stole the breath away from Jack. What was she saying? It’s over? It can’t just be over. They were destined to be together forever and always. Jack stood in darkness for what seemed like a century before he forced himself to walk to the door. He pulled it open and a huge gust of the raging blizzard outside flew into his face. He turned back toward the shadowy emptiness and said, “No matter what happens Beth, wherever you are, I’ll always love you,” and he walked out the door, leaving a trail of shattered memories from his broken heart.

Beth sunk to her knees and sobbed into her hands. How could she have done that? The new life she made for herself was crumbling down around her, trapping her in with the monster of a human being that now breathed on her neck.

“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” he drawled.

Beth looked up with watery, red eyes, “You can’t do anything to me… I’m already dead.”

“We’ll see about that…”

*~*

The blizzard stung like a thousand knives all over Jack’s body. He walked slowly, defeated, with his head hanging. He found his way to back to the paper stand to buy more of the news. He ached for Beth and without her, Jack felt completely powerless. The drooping man got his newspapers for the second time that day like a zombie. Automatically, he rambled off the headlines, not even knowing what he was saying. He couldn’t stay warm, no matter how hard he tried. It was getting harder and harder for him to breath. The air was so cold; it hurt him when he took a breath. Jack tried to ignore the way he felt and kept yelling out the headlines of the day. He started to think of Beth again. Why did she end what they had together like that? It was like she had to, like someone was making her leave. He knew she loved him and she knew the way he felt about her. It just didn’t make sense. Jack started breathing heavier, despite the piercing pain, his mind reeling. He needed her now. Jack started shouting a headline from the paper, but his head started spinning. Everything went in slow motion and he fell to the ground in a pile of snow, near the Newsie Square. Blackness surrounded him.

*~*

Blink ran to the Lodging House like Jack had so fiercely demanded and rounded up some help from the other newsies. Every single boy in that bunkroom bolted out of bed as soon as they heard Beth and the Cowboy were in some trouble. Throwing on only some pants and a jacket, the growing group of concerned boys rushed down the stairs, jumping over the railings, each one ready and eager to fight. They sped through the streets, paying no attention to the freezing cold or the ripping winds. However, when they reached the warehouse, they found no one there.

“Blink, dis yer idea of some joke or sumthin? Nobody ‘s he’ya,” Race questioned.

“No, Race, Ise swear some thug pushed Beth in he’ya and Jack told me to go get help!” Blink cried, “Look around, dey’s gotta be he’ya somewhaya!”

“A’right, uh… everybody spread out!” Race bellowed.

The group fanned out and searched for Jack and Beth. Some even went back as far as the newspaper stand and the square. They were all getting pretty nervous when no one could find them. Blink started thinking the worst. -- What if he hoit her? What if dat bum hoit eitha of em’?!? Dis all me own fault---

“Blink, dey ain't he’ya,” Race said in a defeated tone.

“But they gotta be!” Blink yelled, “They jus’ gotta be!”

“Hey! Guys! Da Cowboy’s ova at da square, hurry up! He don’ look so good!” a random newsie screeched. Blink thought it was Pie Eater, but he couldn’t really tell, he was running so fast. The scattered boys collected while they sprinted towards the square. Images of Jack, black, blue and bloody, dashed through all of their minds, but nothing could prepare them for what they saw when they arrived at the square where so many happy memories were made. However, what was before them was everything but a lighthearted scene.

*~*

Beth walked silently to the train station, dragging her feet in the dirty snow of the street. She knew she hurt Jack in the worst way imaginable and wished that evil man would just kill her, the pain was too much for her to bear. Every now and then, her stepfather, who was walking directly behind her, would shove her to increase her pace. They arrived at the station after quite a walk. The sight of a huge locomotive came into view, with the billowing towers of smoke beginning to collect in the air. Neither of the two had baggage, so they fought their way through the crowd and began boarding the train. Beth’s foot had just touched the first step of the stairs on the train when she turned around to take a last glimpse of the life she was leaving behind. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind flew into Beth’s face and made her stepfather break eye contact with her. This was all the time she needed to escape. While the man who called him her father tried to readjust himself quickly without Beth’s notice, she knocked past him and ran as fast as she could through the crowd. Her stepfather hastily began pushing down everyone in his way and creating quite a commotion following her. Ahead of Beth was a police officer patrolling the crowd to make sure no one got out of hand. He saw the man knocking people over and making a ruckus when Beth raced towards him.

“That man is chasing me! He has a knife! Help me, PLEASE!” she yelled, out of breath, pleading in her most desperate voice.

“You just stay here, ma’am, I’ll take care of this,” the officer replied in a masculine tone and he sprinted towards the oncoming man. He blew his whistle as he took off and three more bulls popped up out of nowhere from the crowd. The closest one tackled Beth’s stepfather as the gasping and speculating crowd drew back forming a hole in the mob of people with the dramatic scene in the center. The other officers jumped on top of him and ordered their audience to go about their business. While Beth’s stepfather struggled to escape from the policemen’s grasp, he screamed to her—

“You just wait, ya little wench! I’ll find you again and kill you!!!! Get off a meeee-----“ the last words she heard from him were muffled in his exhaustion from struggle and the bulls’ overwhelming power on him. Beth slowly backed away from the scene and disappeared into the crowd of nosy onlookers. Walking backwards, she tripped off the curb of the street but caught herself before she fell. Another fierce wind gust blew straight into her, almost making her tip over. The sky was going to explode any minute, but only one thing was on her mind. She had to find Jack and explain the whole thing. She just hoped she wasn’t too late.

*~*

The gathering mob of silent newsies grew, each stunned at what they saw. Jack, the Cowboy, their fearless leader, laid limp and unconscious on the street, covered in a growing blanket of snow. His lips were purple and the usual redness in his cheeks drained to a pale white. Frost surrounded his nose and ice crystals tipped his eyelashes. Quickly, Race ordered the newsies to get moving.

“Blink! Get his feet! I got him up he’ya!” Race blurted, “Pie Eater, Snoddy! Go tell Kloppman we’se comin! Go! As fast as ya can!” He looked around at the handful left. “Da rest a youse…uh…help Kloppman get his things ready—wait! Snipeshooter! Get his middle!” he motioned towards Jack.

Race, Blink and Snipeshooter carried Jack, huffing and puffing when they got to the Lodge. They carefully ran him up the stairs into the bunkroom and laid him on the nearest bed. Kloppman was waiting, sheer fright shone in his eyes as he looked at the boy he protected time after time hanging on by a thread.

*~*

Beth wandered around the city, looking desperately for Jack. She thought of all the things that had to be said and how he’d react to them. He just had to understand. She loved him more than anything and everything. She was dwelling on this when she arrived at the Newsie Square. Beth walked up to the statue of Horace Greeley and leaned against it, her arms folded across her chest. My god, it’s cold out here. Awww…please don’t snow…please don’t snow…. – she thought, but all the wishing in the world couldn’t stop this storm. All of a sudden, a gigantic, powerful blast of frigid air beat against her, but this time, tiny ice crystals flew with it. They stung her face and molested her clothes and hair, whipping them about wildly. She crouched down against the statue, trying to block out the wind and ice that flew in all directions. She looked down to shield her eyes when they fell upon a red bandana. Hey, this is Jack’s…what the… She stood up and looked at where she was standing. There was a big hole in the snow that was piled against the base of the statue, like someone was lying there. She turned in a complete circle and saw footprints surrounding the spot where she stood. It looked as though someone struggled in the area. What happened, Jack…no…She thought the worst as she ran as fast as she could to the Lodging House to get help from the guys to find him. It was like trudging through water in the blizzard. What if he’ lying in a ditch somewhere? What if he got arrested? What if those guys he saved me from the day we met…those awful guys…what if they…they…. A fearful tear ran down her face and froze almost instantaneously. She had to find Jack!

*~*

Trying to think of anything that he could do to help his friend, Race blurted, “I’ll get some hot wata’ and a towel, Kloppman,” remembering what he did for Beth that one time.

The newsies that filled the room flinched with every word he said, terrified for their friend. The old man grabbed his bag that lay on the floor. He groped inside and pulled out the same little bottle he’d waved under Beth’s nose that one horrible night. Race recognized it. He hoped to God that it would make Jack stir at least. Kloppman held it under his thawing nose. All the hearts in the room beat as one, praying for some sort of reaction. Jack began to twist on the bed and finally let out a hacking cough from deep within him. His eyes opened and closed slowly while he continuously shuddered from the cold, even though the room was perfectly warm. Race rushed in with the hot water and towel just then.

“Ah, here we go,” Kloppman stated in a calmer tone as he looked up to receive the water. He noticed the pained and distressed looks on all the boys’ faces.

“Don’t worry, Cowboy’ll be fine,” he assured. “It looks like he’s gotta bit of a cold and the weather took its toll on ‘im. I’m sure he’ll be fine in a couple a days. But, uh, we do need to get ‘im warm, so if any a you can spare a blanket or two, it’d help a lot.”

Automatically, six or seven newsies announced that Jack could use theirs and before they knew it, he was covered in blankets with a wet towel on his forehead. However, he still shivered and coughed a terrible deal, but soon quieted down and looked as though he had fallen asleep. Kloppman told Race to watch Jack in shifts with the other guys for a while. He followed his orders and sat down on the bunk across from where his friend slept. About an hour had passed when Blink came in to relieve him.

“Heya Race,” he said, “I’ll take ova…uh, how’s he doin?” Blink asked, concerned as Jack tossed a bit under the blankets.

“He’s doin’ fine as far as I can tell. He’s real lively company,” Race joked.

“Yeah, I bet. Go get yaself sumthin ta eat, Tibby’s is gonna close pretty soon cause a da storm,” Blink called as Race walked out of the room.

It was dull just sitting there, staring at Jack, and Blink could feel himself dozing off after about half and hour. All of a sudden, he bolted upright when he heard a loud slam of a door opening and closing.

*~*

Beth crashed through the front doors of the Lodging House, a huge trail of wind and snow following her until she threw the door shut. She was breathing heavily and her cheeks were tinted red from running.

“JACK? Jack!” Beth yelled and looking frantically around the room. Her eyes fell upon Mush, who was sitting on the edge of the sign-in counter. “Mush! Where’s Jack? Have you seen him? I HAVE to find him!” she boomed, shaking his shoulders with her outstretched hands.

“Whoa! Beth! Slow down! Slow down!” Race interrupted standing up from the poker game he got preoccupied with, still clutching his cards. “Jack’s he’ya. Now ya gotta calm down, a’right?”

“I can’t, Race, I did something terrible to him and then I found his bandana in the snow by the statue in the square and I thought—“ Beth exclaimed, extreme distress in her face.

“Listen, we found Jack layin on the ground by da statue cova’d in snow and not lookin good at all. We rushed him back he’ya so Kloppman could look at ‘im and he says he’ll be fine. He’s jus a little sick is all,” Race explained to her in a steady voice, which drastically differed from her trembling tone. “Uh, Jack’s upstairs sleepin, go see ’im if ya want.”

“Thanks, Race,” Beth replied, her voice getting a little smoother. She shot him a smile of gratitude knowing that if it weren’t for him and the boys, Jack would probably still be out there in the blizzard… all alone. She walked quickly to the stairs and was met by Blink who came down to see what all the yelling was about. Race dismissed Blink from watching Jack, as Beth would be with him for a while. She continued up the stairs and creaked open the bunkroom door. Her eyes immediately fell upon her one and only, covered in blankets and stirring uncomfortably in his sleep. Beth gracefully sat down on his bed and stared at the sleeping figure. She had so much she wanted to say but couldn’t bear to wake him. However, he woke all by himself. His eyes fluttered opened to the sight of the woman of his dreams staring deeply into his own grayish-green flecked ones. He tried to take a deep breath, but couldn’t and instead erupted in a fit of coughing, propping himself up on his elbows. Beth looked helplessly at him, wishing that at that very instant everything would be back to the way it was before this whole thing ever happened. Finally, the coughs subsided and he parted his lips to speak. Beth gently placed her finger on his dry lips, shushing him. She remained staring into his eyes while she told him what happened.

“Jack, I know I hurt you today, in the worst way I could. I told you that I didn’t love you,” Beth let out a deep breath, “That was the most terrible thing I’ve ever had to do in my entire life. It’s a complete lie,” she paused and drew a breath, “I love you, Jack, more than the air I breathe…. more than the stars… I love you more than everything,” she exhaled completely before beginning her story. “Today, when I went back to get my jacket on our way to get papes, my stepfather found me. He had a knife and shoved me into that warehouse. He…. he told me that if I ever saw you again he’d kill you,” tears began to stream down her cheeks. “When you came in, he ordered me to tell you those lies. I couldn’t say, no, I care about you too much. After you left, he took me to the train station but I got away and told the bulls he had a knife and that he was chasing me… well, he got arrested. I came looking for you and I found your bandana and--- “ Beth looked down at her hands and a tear dripped off her chin onto the blankets. Jack stretched out his arm and lifted her chin. Her glassy eyes met his once again and they merged together like something was attracting them towards each other. Beth and Jack wrapped their arms around each other and held the other close and tight for a long time. When they finally let go, Jack sat up all the way, no matter how dizzy he felt. They both realized that their relationship wasn’t just good, it was right.

“I knew it wasn’t true. Fate wants us tagetha, Beth. Theya ain’t nuthin that can break us apot. I’ll love ya fa’eva,” Jack whispered, getting closer to her with each word. They met once again in a kiss that could go down in history as the purest, sweetest union of all time.

*~*

A week after that day, Jack was feeling a great deal better and was even back to selling papes with a brighter smile on his face than ever before. He and Beth went back to the way things were, except with a new understanding of how extraordinary their relationship really was and how horrible it had been to have had that gone from their lives just for one second. It wasn’t until after they almost lost each other that they truly felt the unbridled passion that was locked up far away, deep within their hearts. Love is what you make of it. Make it worth the “air you breathe, the stars… everything.”

~Jennifer Elizabeth Pugh