" Nuttin, just in a bad mood, got a problem wit dat?", grumbled Mush
" Yea as a mattah a fact I do. Your bad mood's made dis heah place annoyin ta stay at", whined Jack.
"Well sorry, i'se got my reasons, OK?" said Mush
" Listen Mush, it's been a year since you'se lost Steps, you'se gotta get back up on yer feet."
" Hah, been a year? Feels like eternity. Eternity with 'er was great, but eternity witout 'er really bites. One year to dis day Jack."
Mush fiddled with the black scarf he had in his hand. It was the one year anniversary of the death of his true love. Steps and Mush had fallen in love with eachother so quickly. There wasn't a second that he didn't think of her. There wasn't a day that went by without him rereading the note she had written him before she left. The black scarf had been the only thing she left behind.
" I'se gotta get goin. You comin wit me ta Tibby's?" asked Jack.
" Maybe lattah, i'se not feelin up ta talkin wit da uddas."
"Suit yaself " said Jack as he walked out of the room and bounded down the stairs.
Mush lied down and starred at the ceiling. He couldn't get her out of his mind. He walked out onto the rooftop and looked up at the sun. Steps' words echoed in his ear, " Eva seen a sun so beautiful?"
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around to find Clover, a newsgirl who a few weeks ago moved in with her group of girls, Moon, Newsprint, and Runaway.
" How ya doin partna?" asked Clover
" Not so good." he said
" Still hung ova Steps?"
" Yea, guess you'se could say dat."
" Not dat I knew 'er or anythin but i'se poity sure she woulda wanted you to have fun every once in a while."
" Maybe so, but not today." he mumbled
Clover grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him inside.
" What'd ya do dat fer? " he questioned.
" Just wait will ya? Lemm see dat scarf." she said
" No way, nuh uh. Dis scarf ain't leavin my hand!" he argued holding onto his prized posession.
" I ain't gonna steal it, jus hand it ova!"
" Fine but be careful wit it." he said
She placed the scarf over his eyes.
" Whadda ya think yer doin?"
" You'll see. I'm gonna take ya somewhere important."
Clover dragged Mush- blind fold and all- to her planned destination. She stopped him and took off the scarf.
" Where are we?" he asked
" An alley" she sarcastically replied
" No duh, but why?"
" Da udda day me an' da goils wre walkin through heah and we noticed something."
She pointed to a small box in the corner. Mush walkd over to it and saw it had writing on it. Mush read it out loud.
" Jena *Steps* Macmartin, 124, 43rd street. Why didn't anyone notice dis?"
" I dunno, but i think you might wanna check into it. She musta been trying to tell you somethin. I ast Blink and Race and dey said dis was da alley dey found 'er in."
Mush hugged Clover and started to run.
" Thanks Clover! You'se an angel!" he yelled before he dissapeared around the corner.
Clover smiled at his last comment. Ever since she met him, she had a crush on him. She knew that the only way she could be with him was if he got over Steps somehow. She had the key to that answer, all she had to do was unlock the box of surprises she had in her head. She had a secret to hide, and she was doing a good job of hiding it.
Mush ran to Tibby's and stormed through the door. He pulled Jack away from his conversation with Runaway.
" What was dat fer? I was busy!" argued Jack
" There's a good reason! Come wit me!"
" OK, OK, I dunno what got into you but i'se coming. Lemme say goodbye ta Runaway."
Jack walked over to Runaway, said something in her ear and then gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Jack and Mush walked into the alley where the box was.
" Why are we heah? I thought dat you'se was avoidin dis alley?"
" I was till Clover showed me dis!"
He pointed to the box with the address. Jack read it and then looked blankly at Mush.
" Yea, so? It's 'er address. What's so big bout dat?"
" Whadda ya mean , what's so big bout dat? Dat's gotta be her tellin me somethin before she went into da coma."
" I dunno Mush, I wouldn't get all excited ova dat. It could provide false hopes." said Jack.
" Jack, please! Come wit me to dat address. You an' Steps were real good friends. If you dont do it for me, do it fer her."
" OK, but I ain't doin it fer you, i'se doin it fer her!"
" Thanks Jack! How's tomorra after sellin sound?"
" Sounds fine. But Mush? If dis leads us to nothin, don't get all sad again.
" I won't, I promise." he said
Meanwhile Clover and the other girls were back at the lodging house talking about the days happenings.
" So what did ya do today Clover?" asked the girls.
" Same as always. Stirrin up things about the city" , she joked.
" What kinda stirrin up did ya do dis time?" asked Runaway
" You'll see in time." she laughed.
All the girls laughed. Clover leaned over to Runaway and whispered something in her ear. Clover was known for her mischieveous ways. Everyone knew how Clover was. She was always in everyones business and she enjoyed making situations harder then they originally were. She was known for her sarcastic remarks and vivacious yet sometimes overpowering attitude.
Clover walked off and the other girls disbanded. Runaway walked over to Jack and began talking.
" So Jack, what's dis I heah from Clover bout Mush and an address?" asked Runaway
" Ah, she showed him somethin and it was an address for Steps. He got all excited an' ast me ta come wit him ta check it out."
" How'd she find it?" she questioned
" I dunno, Mush never told me. Maybe a stroke of luck."
Runaway thought to herself. Stroke of luck alright. But it is it a good or bad stroke? She looked around and found that everyone began to head to bed. She followed.
The next morning everyone began waking. Mush woke and began getting ready for the day. He suddenly realized that this was the day him and Jack were going to investigate the address. He was on his way down the stairs when Clover stopped him.
" Mornin, why in such a hurry?" she asked
" Got my reasons."
" Dat's yer answer for everythin'." she said smirking.
" Fine, it ain't none a yer business. Happy?"
" Jeez, fine. Don't act like you'se got a stick up yer ass!" she yelled
" I didnt have a stick up my ass till you came 'round." he yelled back
" Break it up you two! Jeez, you'se actin like yer married!" said Jack breaking up the two.
" I would rather marry a rat then be married to this pig!" Clover argued.
" Yea well, oink oink to ya!"
" Shush! Mush, go on yer way, Clover leave 'em alone" said Jack trying to calm them down.
Clover walked back to her bed. Jack followed her and sat down on the bed across from hers.
" Whats gottin into ya lately?" Jack asked.
" Nuttin, I'se just hate people with attitudes and he's always givin me one."
" It's not like he does it on purpose. He's just been frusterated the past few weeks with the whole Steps thing."
" Yea well good fer him. He don't gotta take it out on me. Who cares bout Steps. Not me.." she said drifting off mid sentence
" You didn't know 'er Clover, and even if ya did, you know you'se wouldn't say dat."
" I do..." she stopped
" You do what?"
" Nuttin, forget I said anything. I'll see ya tonight Jack."
" Ok, and Clover? Just cause he's hung ova Steps doesn't mean he's got a right or an excuse ta snap. But I do know he don't mean nothing."
" Yea, sure he don't" she said scowling as she walked down the stairs.
Mush had sold his papers in record time. He figured he could go looking for Jack. Maybe, if he was lucky, Jack would be done and they could go right away. Mush was looking down when he ran into someone.
" Oof!" he said as the person and him collided. He saw the person fall to the ground
" I'se sorry! It's my fault lemme help you'se-" he froze when he saw who it was he had ran into. " Oh, it's just you". He looked at Clover.
" Yea it's jus me. Mind watchin where yer goin? I ain't got da time to be pickin myself up off grounds."
" Sorry- bout dis moinin too. But ya really made me angry."
" Yea, well you always make me angry!" Clover said picking herself and began walking away.
Mush grabbed her by the arm.
" I mean it Clover, I do. It's jus ... things have been hard on me alright? Can ya give me a break?"
" Apology accepted, but I'se still angry wit ya. Treatin me like crap ain't gonna bring Steps back, so cut it out!" she said with an attitude. " Leave 'er outta dis!" he argued
" Maybe if ya left 'er outta our friendship- or lack there of- I would", said Clover with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.
" Forget it den, forget da apology. You'se always gotta make yerself da victim. I ain't fallin for it or lettin you get by dis time!" he yelled walking away.
" I ain't need no one's permission 'bout how i'se actin! So why don't ya take da apology and run. That's what ya always do! Ya run, just like her!" yelled Clover as Mush turned the corner.
Clover ran the opposite way towards the lodging house with tears in her eyes. She new she had taken a cheap shot but he boiled her blood so much sometimes. Truth was, they did act like a married couple. She walked up the stairs to lay down on her bed but she noticed someone else was there. She couldn't make out who it was. She rubbed her eyes and then saw that it was Jack.
" Jack? Why aren't ya out sellin?"
" I'se done for da day. Got done early. The headlines were good. Why'se you heah?" he asked
" I'm exhausted, angry and frusterated. I figured dat I could jus sit an' think 'bout stuff." she replied
" Wanna talk about it?"
" I dunno, you wouldn't understand." she said hesitantly, knowing Jack would reply with a "try me".
" Maybe I do, Maybe I dont, it's worth a try." he said
" Fine. Mush and I ran into eachother and he apologized."
" Well dat's good!"
" Not really, we started arguein' again. I said some mean things about Steps and him out of anger and he walked off. He just makes me so mad!" she said clinching her fists.
Jack looked at her for a moment. She noticed how he was looking at her.
" Why'se you lookin at me like dat?" she asked, a little perturbed
" You like him don't ya?" Jack said.
" No I don't what makes ya think dat? You'se crazy. Me and Mush, Mush and me? Real funny cowboy. If I didn't know any bet-"
He cut her off midsentence.
" Don't worry I won't say nuthin. I mean why would ya get so woiked up over some goil ya didn't even know."
" You just don't understand Jack ya just don't understand!" she said with a sigh
" What's there to understand Clover?"
" I have this ... connection with Mush. It's complicated." she replied hesitantly
" What kind of connection?" he questioned
" One I can't explain right now."
Jack stood up and began walking out of the room. He turned around before going down the stairs.
" Maybe explainin it ta me won't do ya no good, but explainin it ta Mush might."
Clover sighed with relief. She had gotten herself out of it this time. She thought about what Jack had said. She knew at some point she'd have to tell Mush the truth. The question was, would he believe her.
Mush walked up the stairs to the lodging house and ran straight into Jack.
" I was lookin fer you! Where ya been?" asked Mush
" Just hangin around heah. Ready ta go?"
" Yea lemme quickly drop off me money."
Mush walked up the stairs and into the room. He glanced over to find someone laying on their bed, crying. He looked to see who it was.
" You OK?" he asked
" I- I'm fine."
" You suah?"
" Yes" Clover said turning around
Mush didn't know what to say. He always saw Clover as the hard type who never showed any emotion but anger. Instead, he was seeing her emotional side.
" Could you leave me to think?" she said with a bit of an attitude
" Yea." said Mush walking downstairs.
Mush didn't hate Clover, he just didnt seem to get along with her. That's why the day that she showed him the box with the address on it, he was extremely surprised. As much as he was worried for Clover and wondered why she was crying, he wanted to go to that address and find anything he could.
" OK, I'se ready ta go. But Jack, do you'se know why Clover was crying?"
Jack was about to say yes but decided it would be best to let her do her own biddings. " Nah, she musta had a bad day. Let's go"
Mush and Jack walked through the streets and alleyways. When they reached 43rd street, Mush stopped walking while Jack kept going not realizing he had lost his partner. Jack turned around when he realized he didn't see Mush walking with him.
" Why'd you stop?" asked Jack
" Cause, i'se preparin myself. Like you said Jack, i'se makin suah dat if dis leads to nothin, I won't let it get me down."
" Good, now let's go"
They walked down 43rd street and found house number 124. Mush and Jack looked up. The house was 2 stories and it looked like someone with money had lived there. The door was boarded up and the windows were broken. Mush and Jack looked at eachother and then proceeded to walk up the steps. They saw a window that was completely smashed.
" Help me through" said Jack
" But dat's breakin'n enterin. What if we get caught?" Mush replied
" We won't. Now help me will ya?"
Mush pushed Jack through the window and then followed. They looked around to see everything in the house still but with dust. It looked like everyone had just left without moving a single thing. The table was set and a pan was on the stove.
" Jeez, looks like everyone jus disappeared" said Mush
" Yea, lets go up da stairs." said Jack
They walked up the stairs, hearing each one creak and a bit of dust fall as they walked. They emerged to find a room that looked like it had been a girls room. It had two beds and a dresser filled with dust. Mush walked over to the dresser and blew off the dust. He looked at himself in the mirror and imagined Steps doing the same. Meanwhile Jack was bending down opening a chest that was sitting next to one of the beds. He opened it up and found tons of papers.
" Hey Mush, come ova heah" said Jack
Mush walked over to Jack and looked down. They grabbed a bunch of papers out of the chest and began looking through them. There were numerous pictures of the family. Most of them must have been from when Steps was little because the girls in the picture didn't look a day over 4 or 5. Mush noticed that there was another little girl in the picture. That was odd. Steps had never mentioned having a sister.
" Jack, look at dis, it's a picture of da family but there's two goils in the picture. Steps nevah mentioned having a sister did she?"
" No, not dat i'se remembah. Maybe she died a while ago or sumthin and Steps didn't wanna talk about it."
Mush grabbed further into the chest and realized there was a secret compartment. He opened it and found a scarf similar to the one that Steps had left for him. It was blue and was just as delicate as the one he had. He decided to put it back. He felt bad disturbing Steps things but he was so curious to find out what she left the address for.
" K, looks like dis is all we's gonna find so lets get outta heah. We can come back if we want" said Jack.
Mush nodded and the two left the same way they had came.
Mush and Jack entered the lodging house to find everyone sitting around. Some were sleeping, and others were playing cards.
" Where ya been you two?" asked Kid Blink
" Just walkin around and talking." said Mush, not wanting the others to know what him and Jack had been up to.
" Up for a game cowboy?" asked Racetrack
" Suah, how's about it Mush, you'se in too?"
" I guess" he said sitting down.
Racetrack dealt everyone their hand. Mush was never good at this but he figured it wouldn't hurt to just play a game.
Clover walked behind Mush.
" Ah fellas, I wouldn't waste yer time. Mush heah has a poity good hand. Wouldn't risk it." she said with a smile on her face
" I fold" said Kid Blink, and Cowboy.
Mush looked at his cards and was confused. What was she talking about? His hand was awful. Two pair wouldn't get him anywhere.
Race stared at Mush and then threw down his cards.
" Me too."
" What ya got? " Said Jack
Mush put down his cards and smiled " Two pair".
" What? Clover, if you'se wasn't a goil i'd soak ya!" said Racetrack who looked like he was about to explode with anger.
" Didn't they eva teach ya not to trust anybody when playin pokah?" said Clover
" You'se not playin are ya, so I figured I could trust ya!" said Kid Blink
" Oh well, life goes on." said Clover walking back over to her bed
Mush put down his cards, took his money and got up from his seat. " Thats all fer me fellas."
Mush walked over to Clover and sat down in front of her.
" Why'd ya do dat. Help me out like dat?"
" Felt like it. Plus, Race always wins, I wanted someone else ta win fer a change".
" Thanks. Can I talk to you on the roof, alone?" asked Mush
" I guess"
They walked out onto the roof and sat down.
" What ya wanna talk bout?" asked Clover
" Me an' Jack checked out dat address you showed me."
" Find anythin interestin?"
" Yea we did, we broke into the house and found some old pictuahs in dis chest next to the upstairs bedroom."
" You broke in? Why'd you do dat? I didn't think you'se was gonna break inta da damn place!" Clover said nervously.
" Calm down, we didn't disturb it or anythin! We did find this tho."
Mush pulled out the picture he had found earlier.
" Whats dat?"
" A pictuah." he said using Clovers sense of sarcasm.
Clover took the picture and looked at it. She smiled. Everyone looked so happy. It was just like a family should be.
" Dat Steps? Looks like 'er only younga" Clover remarked.
" I figured, but I don't undahstand who da udda goil is."
" Probably a cousin or somethin" said Clover.
" Yea maybe." said Mush. He accepted Clover's suggestion. He just didn't think it was right.
The next day Mush got up and saw Clover staring out the window. He came up to the window next to her.
" Mornin" said Mush.
" Mornin" replied Clover
" Why so quiet?" asked Mush
" If you'se had a secret but was afraid of what someone you'se really care about would think, would you keep it a secret or tell them?"
" I'd tell 'em. If dey can't handle it, dey aren't a true friend.
" Well den I got somethin ta tell you."