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The next day went fairly well. After the spectacle with Blink and his shaving brush was over, everyone went to the circulation center, laughing heartily at Blink’s expense. Everyone got his or her papers quickly and left the center. Even though Patches and Eliza had no real reason to actually use words, they chose to speak to each other out loud. Eliza was trying to ease Patches into the voices so not to overwhelm her.
Life went on like that until the day of the dance. Both Jack and Patches were extremely nervous. Neither one could seem to come up with anything to wear. Eliza was walking between rooms half-dressed helping both of them. None of the boys seemed to be able to help him, and none of the girls knew exactly what to say to Patches. The other boys were quite pleased when she walked in wearing only her long shirt. She had gorgeous legs. Several jaws hit the floor, and most of their eyes were rolling around the floor between the jaws.
“Will ya calm down, Jack,” Eliza said as she leaned on one of the bunks, one arm resting on the top bunk and her long hair drying into its soft auburn curls. The shirt slid higher up her legs. Several of the boys gawked and sighed.
“I cain’t calm down! It’s gotta be poifect! Where’s dat shoit I like?” Jack asked frantically as he rooted through his things.
Eliza rolled her eyes. “Yer wearin’ it, Jack,” she said in a sing-song voice.
He looked down at his shirt. “Oh, yeah,” he mumbled.
“Eliza! Patches needs ja!” Pepper yelled as she ran through the door. She suddenly screeched and pulled her unbuttoned shirt closed and tried to cover up the rest of her. She ran out of the room as fast as she could.
Eliza chuckled and stood up straight. “I’m never gettin’ dressed at this rate,” she mumbled on her way out the door. She laughed again and slipped out the door and into the other room.
“I dunno how ya kin go in dere like dat,” Jade said as she fixed her hair.
“Yes, well, when both Jack and Patches need me and are in separate rooms… Besides, everythin’ essential’s covered,” Eliza remarked as she walked over to the half-dressed Patches.
“Liza, what’m I gonna wear?” she whined, sitting on her bare feet.
Eliza bent down to her friend. “What ‘bout that dress ya were tellin’ me ‘bout earlier this week?” she wondered.
“It don’t fit right,” Patches mumbled.
“We’ll jist see ‘bout that.” Eliza stood and went over to the closet where all the dresses were kept. She pulled out the one that had matched the description Patches had given her earlier. She brought it over to the bed and set it down. She pulled Patches to her feet and then began to slip the dress over Patches’ head. Patches didn’t protest as Eliza dressed her. Once the buttons were fastened and the ties were tied, Eliza turned her around to face her. “There, ya see. It fits ya fine,” she said. “Yer jist nervous. It’s normal ta be nervous.” Jack’s a very handsome boy, ‘n’ yer a lovely girl. You both like each other. Ya needn’t worry. She gave Patches a comforting look.
“Thanks,” Patches mumbled, smiling a little.
“Yer welcome. Now, let’s do somethin’ with this hair.” Both girls grinned and went over to the mirror Kloppman had placed in the room so they could get ready in peace and not fight over the washroom with the boys. She picked up the brush and was about to do her hair when there was a shout from the hallway.
“Eliza, Jack needs ja,” Dutchy called, keeping his eyes covered as he stood in the doorway.
Eliza sighed and put the brush back down. I’ll be right back, Patches. Jist brush yer hair. With that, she padded back across the hall in her bare feet, shutting the door to the girls’ room on the way. “What is it, Jack?” she asked, slightly exasperated.
“D’ya think I need ta shave?” he asked, running his hand over his face.
“Ya needed…” she yelped, putting her face in her hand. She looked back up at him. “Look, Jack, jist shave. Don’t ask me in here again,” she replied, quite annoyed. She turned on her heel and headed out of the room. “Aftahnoon, Spot,” she greeted coolly as she walked past him.
Spot’s eyes bugged out of his head as she walked past. When she was gone, he turned to the room. “Was she wearin’ what I thought she was?” he asked, wondering if he were hallucinating or not.
“Yyup,” Race answered as he straightened his bow tie and headed out the door. Blink and Mush followed with grins on their faces.
Spot blinked and walked over to Jack. “Why’s Eliza walkin’ ‘round in only ‘er shoit?” he wondered.
“She ain’t had da chance yet. Jack ‘n’ Patches won’t let ‘er,” Crutchy answered as he hobbled out of the washroom. Spot just looked at him oddly. He hobbled closer to Spot and spoke very softly so that Jack couldn’t hear. “Dey’s both noivous. Eliza ain’t had a minute’s peace since she got back from sellin’. She stawded ta git dressed, but den Patches needed ‘er. Den Jack called ‘er in. She came in jist wearin’ ‘er shoit.” He smiled at the image of it in his mind and headed out of the room.
Spot smirked and remembered the image, too. “Thanks, Crutchy,” he called, turning back to Jack.
Jack finished shaving and wiped his face clean. “Ya ready, Spot?” Jack asked as he sat down to put his shoes on.
“I been ready since I left Brooklyn,” he laughed.
Back in the girls’ room, most of the girls were fully dressed and ready to go. They all headed downstairs to the lobby to join their respective boyfriends and dates. Patches and Eliza were left alone in the room. Eliza was fixing Patches’ hair.
How’d ya know how ta do all a dis stuff? Patches wondered, looking at Eliza in the mirror.
I’ve had practice, was all Eliza said as she twisted a piece of Patches’ dirty blond hair into the bun she was making.
What? Ya gots sistahs er somethin’?
Er somethin’.
Patches gave her an odd look but said nothing. She just waited until Eliza was finished with her hair. She was after another minute. Patches’ hair was only down to her shoulders, but Eliza had pulled about half of it up and twisted it into a bun, pinning it into place. The rest of the hair she curled with her fingers. Since Patches’ hair was so stringy, it stayed curled like that easily. Patches was turned toward Eliza, and Eliza put the finishing touches onto her hair.
“There ya go, Patches,” she said with a soft smile.
“Thanks,” Patches said as she stood up and looked at herself in the mirror.
“Anytime,” Eliza smiled. “Now, you go on ahead. I’ll be along in a few minutes.”
“I’ll wait fer ya in da lobby,” Patches answered excitedly as she hurried out of the room. She was so excited that she almost forgot to close the door again.
“Fine,” Eliza said with a laugh as her friend shut the door. She removed her shirt and began to get dressed.
Patches walked down the stairs slowly, looking around for Jack. He was off in the far corner, not yet noticing her on the stairs. She just looked him over. He was wearing a light gray shirt, dark gray slacks, and his black striped vest. Of course, he also wore his red bandanna around his neck and was turning his cowboy hat over in his hands nervously. He glanced toward the stairs and nearly choked on his tongue when he saw Patches.
She was dressed in a dark blue dress that was cut along her collar bone. Her skinny waist was perfect for the type of dress. It complemented her beautifully. Her hair brushed against her shoulders slowly as she descended the stairs. The dress brought out the blue in her eyes beautifully. She still wore her black kid boots, but no one looked at her feet. Most of them were stunned just by seeing Patches in a dress. They weren’t used to it, so all they could do was blink. A few of the other girls elbowed their boyfriends to keep them from staring. The boys just chuckled and kissed their girls lightly on the cheek.
When Patches stepped off the last step, Jack walked over to her. He held out a hand to her. “Ya looks beautiful, Patches,” Jack breathed.
Patches blushed. “Thanks, so d’you,” she mumbled, looking down at the floor. Jack grinned and took hold of her hand, placing it in the crook of his elbow. He was about to lead her out the door when Patches remembered something. “Oh! Liza’s still upstaihs. I tol’ ‘er I’d wait.”
Jack nodded. “Fine, uh, da rest a ya, go on ahead. We’ll catch up,” he said, gesturing to everyone else. They nodded and headed out. Now there was only Jack, Patches, Spot, Gnat, and Jake left in the lobby. Jake wanted to wait for Eliza, and Gnat wouldn’t go anywhere without her big brother.
Eliza came down about five minutes later, pinning the rest of her hair back. She’d taken bits of hair from her temples, twisted it toward her scalp, and pinned it into place behind her head. The rest of her curls cascaded down her back and around her shoulders. Her dress was white with silver ribbing along the sweeping neckline and cuffs of the sheer sleeves. The skirt looked almost like silk, but wasn’t nearly as expensive. It hung off her hips and complemented her figure elegantly. She hadn’t tied the scarf around her waist in a bow, but a square knot and let the ends dangle down with the rest of her skirt. She looked very beautiful.
Jake and Spot both grinned. Eliza rolled her eyes and shook her head a little as she walked down the stairs. “Shall we go?” she asked no one in particular as she headed out the door. Spot hurried up to her and took her arm gentlemanly. She nodded politely and didn’t protest.
Jake took his sister’s arm, and they all headed on to Irving Hall. Eliza said nothing the entire way. She just had this odd smile on her face. She laughed from time to time, but she never said a word. Patches also laughed. Both girls were very engrossed in listening to the thoughts of the boys.
Patches looks amazin’ tanight. I hope she’ll be me goyl. That was Jack.
Eliza looks so beautiful I hope she likes dancin’. Jake.
Wow, dis goyl’s amazin’. She’s real mysterious, too, jist how I like ‘em. Wondah what she’s doin’ in Manhattan. Maybe I could git ‘er ta move ta Brooklyn. Hm. Spot.
The thoughts went on from there, but the six of them came to Irving Hall a few minutes later. Just as they approached the door, Patches collapsed. She held her head dizzily. Jack tried to help her up, but Eliza stopped him by putting a hand on his arm. She knelt down beside Patches slowly and looked at her carefully.
“It’s too much,” she declared in a soft voice. Patches nodded, still feeling extremely dizzy. “Close yer eyes ‘n’ take a deep breath,” she instructed. Patches did so. Eliza placed her hand on Patches’ forehead and breathed deeply as well. “Better now?” she asked as she removed her hand.
Patches opened her eyes. “Yeah, thanks,” she answered with a smile.
Eliza looked back up at Jack. “Now, Jack,” she directed, pushing herself to her feet.
Jack helped Patches up and put an arm around her waist to keep her steady. “Ya awright?” he whispered in her ear.
“I’m fine,” she answered back, leaning on him a bit.
Eliza looked at her. “If it gets any worse, you come see me,” she told Patches. Patches nodded. Eliza smiled and walked into the Hall. The others followed her.
Jack led everyone to an empty table down front. He pulled a chair out for Patches, and she sat down. Jake and Spot did the same for Gnat and Eliza. They sat and just watched Medda sing until they were given their drinks. After Medda’s song, she took a break and let the orchestra play dance music. Most of the boys took their girls and went to dance. Jack and Patches went to dance immediately, but the other four remained at the table.
Spot decided not to ask Eliza to dance just yet. He wanted to get to know her a little. “So, Eliza, where’d ya say you’se from?” he asked.
Eliza turned to look at him with a cool look on her face. It was a look she had mastered many years before and had perfected it to the point where no one could possibly decipher it. “I didn’t,” she answered in a soft voice, holding Spot’s eyes.
“Well, ya sounded like ya was English at me pier,” he ventured.
Eliza took a sip of her drink and answered him. “My mother,” she answered. The others waited for her to continue, but she never did. She just turned her eyes to the dance floor.
Spot followed her gaze and then stood. “Well, dis is a dance, ain’t it,” he said as he offered Eliza a hand. He smiled suavely at her. Eliza nodded politely, took his hand, and stood up. “Shall we?” He led her over to the dance floor just as the next song was beginning.
“You’re an excellent dancer, Spot,” she noticed after they had been dancing a few minutes.
Spot smirked. “I’se good at lots a things,” he noted, staring into her eyes.
Eliza nodded solomnly. “So I’ve heard,” she answered as Spot pulled her closer so they wouldn’t bump into people.
“Oh, really, who’d ja hear from?” he wondered, pulling her even closer as the next dance began.
“People talk,” was all she said.
I wondah if I’se should give ‘em sometin’ new ta tawk ‘bout.
Eliza said nothing as the song ended. She clapped politely as Spot released his firm hold on her waist. The band needed a break, so everyone had to go back to their tables. Eliza sat down next to Patches, Cranberry Wine, and Raven. They began chatting incessantly. Eliza mostly listened.
Most of the boys had gone over to talk to the owner. Medda greeted them all warmly. After a few minutes of talking, Jack and Spot went outside for a smoke and to talk by themselves, business mostly. Eliza half-listened to them from her place at the table.
“So, ya glad ya decided ta git dressed ‘n’ come, Patches?” Cranberry Wine asked, very curious.
“Oh, I’se havin’ da best time! How ‘bout da three a you’se. How’re yer boys doin’ tanight?” she answered.
“Come back heah ya damn hat!!” Blink yelled as he ran past the table, arms stretched out as if he were trying to catch something. The girls watched him for a moment before going back to their conversation. Patches rolled her eyes and shook her head but laughed anyway.
“Well, we all knows how great a dancah Mush is,” Raven laughed. The others laughed, too. “It’s been real nice dough.” She smiled genuinely.
“What ‘bout you, Wine?” The girls turned to her.
“Aw, ya knows Snitch. He ain’t dat great of a dancah, but ‘e tries real hawd,” she smiled. She looked at the half-listening Eliza. “What ‘bout you? How’s yer evenin’ wit’ Spot goin’?” Blink came running by again but in the opposite direction this time. The girls took little notice of him.
“Tolerable,” she answered simply. The three girls looked at her oddly, wondering why she wasn’t swooning over him like all the other girls who were so lucky. “He's a wonderful dancer, but he’s not much of a conversationalist,” she clarified.
The girls were speechless. “How kin ya not like ‘im?!” Jade exclaimed, overhearing their conversation. She’d had a crush on the oblivious Spot Conlon for several months now, ever since she’d met him.
The girls looked over. “He’s a delightful boy, Jade, but I do believe that you find him far more attractive than I,” Eliza pointed out. The three girls took this as a shock. Jade just blushed profusely.
“How— How’d ja know dat?” Jade asked, very worried. She was nervous enough around the Brooklyn leader. She didn’t need her secret as common knowledge.
Eliza leaned toward Jade. “Ya needn’t worry. He hasn’t heard a word from me. The others didn’t even know that you’re fond of him. I’m just more observant than most people,” she explained in a kind voice.
“I ain’t too obvious?” Jade whimpered.
Eliza scooted a little closer to the green-eyed girl. “Believe me when I tell you that I can tell when people like each other. It’s a gift I have.” She laughed. “It’s the way you look at him when he’s with me that shows more than anything, one of longing,” she added.
Jade sighed. “I really do like ‘im, but ‘e don’t like me back,” she breathed, looking down at her hands.
“Well, I can’t tell him to like you, but I’ll see if I can get you a dance with him,” Eliza offered with a nod.
Jade looked at her, wide-eyed. “Kin ya do dat?!” she asked, getting excited.
“Don’t get your hopes up. I’ll see what I can do,” she laughed.
Just then, the music started up again, and Jake approached the table slowly. He looked at Eliza. “I don’t s’pose I could git dat dance ya been savin’ fer me,” he asked, hoping she’d agree.
Eliza raised her eyes to his and smiled. “I’d luve tu,” she replied with a bit of her English accent and stood. She offered him her hand. He placed his hand in hers, and they went out to the dance floor. They danced slowly to the music. For the first time that evening, Eliza’s eyes sparkled.
“AHHHHHHHH!” Blink screamed, running around the room and trying to catch his hat. He finally flung himself on the ground, trapping the invisible hat. The girls giggled as he stood up and brushed himself off. He started to walk away, holding his ribs in extreme pain. He moaned and hobbled over to the table, holding onto his invisible hat firmly.
Gnat made her way over to the girls after her brother had left. “Hey, Patches, ya know what’s goin’ on wit’ dem?” the brown-haired fifteen-year-old asked, nodding toward her brother and Eliza.
“She didn’t tell me nuthin’,” Patches answered and took a sip of her drink.
“Well, dey bettah hope Spot don’t see ‘em, cuz she’s ‘is goyl now. He’ll be mighty angry if ‘e sees ‘em dancin’ tageddah,” Gnat continued, worried about her brother.
As if on cue, Spot and Jack walked back in. No one noticed them, so Patches spoke. “Well, she said she promised ‘im a dance, ‘n’ she don’t go back on ‘er woid,” she said, glancing up at Gnat. She then moved her eyes to the door, smiling when she saw Jack. Then she frowned when she noticed Spot’s furious expression.
Spot stormed toward the dance floor. Patches stood quickly and stepped into his path. He tried to go around her, but she got in his way again. “Not a good idea, Patches,” he growled.
“Will ya leave ‘em ‘lone, Spot. Dey’s jist dancin’,” she protested forcefully.
“I don’t care what dey’s doin’. She’s ma goyl—“
“She ain’t yer goyl, Spot,” she interrupted, her voice rising just as loud as Spot’s had.
“Git outta ma way, Patches,” he ordered.
“I ain’t movin’,” she stated firmly, determined to hold her ground. By this time, most everyone in the room had their eyes fixed on the argument.
Spot raised his hand to hit her, but Eliza intervened. Again. This time, she held Spot’s wrist strongly. “Whut is your preoccupation with hitting gurls?” she demanded in her English accent, her eyes almost cold and hard. It was becoming more and more apparent that she had inherited her mother’s accent and had long since suppressed it.
Spot turned to her, surprised that she would stop him again. “Why was ya dancin’ wit’ ‘im?” he ordered, nodding toward Jake.
Eliza released his hand, folded her own hands together, and leaned against one of the heavy chairs. Her expression cooled as she looked at him. The tension in the room grew as she waited a few minutes to answer. “I promised him a dance earlier in the week. I keep my promises, Spot Conlon,” she replied in a soft, kind voice.
“But you’se heh’ wit’ me,” he protested. He would’ve continued, but Eliza put up a hand to stop him. He did, whether is was by his own volition or not.
“Jack asked me to invite you to this party. I have done so and have agreed to entertain you. By no means am I your gurl. Now, if you don’t moynd, I’d very much luyke to get back to my dance. Why don’t you ask one of the other gurls to dance. Why not Jade. She’s a lovely gurl and hasn’t danced all evening.” She paused to judge his reaction. When she was satisfied that he wouldn’t say anything further, she continued. “Good evening, Mistah Conlon,” she finished. She inclined her head politely and smiled at him. Then she turned and showed Jake back to the dance floor. The music started up again in a few minutes.
Spot plopped down in a chair, sulking. He played with the top of his cane and pouted. Jade approached him cautiously and sat down next to him. Spot barely noticed.
“Aw, geez! Git back heah! Dat’s fer Spidah!” Blink screeched, running after something new.
At the mention of her name, Spider looked up. “What’s fer me?” she asked as Blink rushed past her. She watched him quietly with a smile on her face as Blink chased something around the room yet again. She had thought that Blink liked her, but she wasn’t entirely sure.
Spot had looked up and cracked a smile when he saw the crazy scene before him. Jade smiled. “Hey, uh, Spot?” she began nervously. He looked over at her slowly. “You’se okay?” She gave him a worried look.
He didn’t answer immediately. He just looked at her. She was fairly pretty, green eyes and light brown, almost blond, hair. “Ya wanna dance?” he asked, his heart not really into asking her.
She smirked. “Only if yer up fer it,” she answered. He looked at her oddly. She took hold of his hand and pulled him to his feet. She led him over to the dance floor and then let go of his hand. She went over to the orchestra and asked them to play a certain song she knew that Spot knew the steps to. She walked back over to him as the present song was ending. She offered her hand as the music began.
He smirked a little, recognizing the song, and drew her closer to him. “How’d ja knew I knew dis dance?” he wondered.
“I listen when ya tawk,” she answered simply, blushing a little. He smiled and led her around the dance floor. They talked a little as they danced, getting to know each other a little better.
Blink suddenly ran across the dance floor, dodging couples and jumping up high in the air in an attempt to catch what he was after. Spider watched him from her seat across the room. She was curious as to what he was actually chasing after.
Jake and Eliza went back to the table and sat down, watching Blink scurry around and Spot dance with Jade. Jack and Patches had gone back to dancing, and most of the others were having a good time at various places in the Hall. Blink finally caught what he was chasing after, and Spider appeared in front of him.
“Hey, Blink,” she greeted, smiling a little.
“Hey, Spider,” he said nervously.
“What was ya runnin’ fer?” she wondered, tucking her brown hair behind her ears.
He fidgeted. “Well, see, I got ya—“ He suddenly realized that he held nothing in his hand. “What da…?” He looked over at his table, seeing what he’d been chasing. He hurried over and retrieved it. Spider followed, curious. He turned back to her. “I, uh, got ya dis,” he said as he handed her the small wooden box.
She took it carefully. “What is it?” she wondered, looking at Blink instead of the box.
“Open it,” he said with a bit of a grin.
She looked at him oddly but opened the box anyway. It wasn’t anything too special, just a simple charm on a metal chain. She smiled, though. “Thanks, Blink,” she said and kissed his cheek.
He grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist before she could move away. He kissed her passionately. The others cheered for them, but they didn’t hear at all. They finally went off dancing.
The evening continued, and everyone had danced with someone eventually. They had laughed and cheered at Medda’s performances. But, as all evenings must, the dance came to an end. Medda had to close up, and the customers had to leave. They all headed back to the lodging house as one big group.
Most of the boys had their arms around their girls, including Jack and Patches. Spot and Jade were holding hands, and Blink had his arm around Spider’s shoulders. Jake and Eliza just walked side by side. It had been a very good night for all.
In the morning, Eliza was packing up her things. When the other girls returned to the bunk room, they noticed and asked.
“Hey, Eliza, what’s up?” Apples asked, leaning on one of the bunks as she brushed her hair.
“My work here is finished,” she answered as she folded the dress she’d worn the night before.
“How come?” Spider wondered, entering the conversation.
“There’s nothing else I can help with,” Eliza said as she tied her loose curls back at the nape of her neck.
Gnat slipped out of the room to tell her brother. “Hey, Jake,” she said quietly. He looked over at her. “Eliza’s leavin’,” she whispered in his ear.
Jake stared at his sister for a moment, not believing it. “Ya gotta be kiddin’ me!” he yelped. The others looked over to him, but Eliza entered the room before any of them could speak. Jake hurried over to her, dodging the others, swept her up in his arms and kissed her passionately before she could protest. She was certainly surprised, but she didn’t fight him. The others clapped and cheered a bit. Jake finally pulled away and just looked at her.
“What was that fer?” she asked, already knowing but asking for the benefit of the others in the room.
“Please don’t go away,” he pleaded, running his fingers along her hair.
Eliza’s expression paled. She looked away from Jake and over at Patches. Could he have… Did you tell him, Patches? Patches shook her head. She turned back to Jake, searching his mind. She glanced at Gnat briefly. She suddenly pushed him away and addressed the room, walking out into the middle of it. “I’m willin’ ta listen if any of you have a reason for me to stay.” Jake opened his mouth to speak. “I know yer reason, Jake,” she said, not turning around to see him.
“Ya got me ‘n’ Patches tageddah,” Jack announced.
“Ya got Spot ta quit sulkin’,” Race added.
“An’ ta dance wit’ me!” Jade put in. Eliza smirked at that.
Patches walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. Eliza turned. Ya wouldn’t be askin’ fer reasons ta stay if ya didn’t wanna, Liza.
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Liza, listen ta me. Ya’ve fallen fer Jake. Jake loves ya back. Ya cain’t tell me ya don’t see it cuz I know ya do since I kin hear it. “Yer pawt a da family,” she finally said out loud.
Eliza turned and looked at each person individually. They’d all gotten very fond of her. “I’ll stay,” she decided eventually. The newsies cheered. She laughed.
When the commotion died down, Jake spoke. “Sell wit’ me taday, Eliza?” he asked. She nodded solomnly once and then returned to the girls’ room. Jake grinned and went to brush his hair.
Later that afternoon, the sky was gray, and it looked like it was about to rain. Eliza and Jake had managed to finish selling their papers and get back to the lodging house before the sky opened up, but several of the newsies weren’t so luck. Race and Angel came running in just after it started, shaking themselves dry. Jack and Patches were next, but Patches was far dryer than Jack. Since Patches was considerably shorter than Jack, he’d opened his jacket over her head and managed to keep her dry. His old cowboy had didn’t help him much, though. Most everyone was drying out next to the furnace in the lobby when Gnat and Dragon Fly hurried inside. The rain had become heavier, so they were both soaked to the bone. Everyone laughed a little as the two girls went up to change.
Across the city, Jade was furiously trying to sell the last of her papers. She wasn’t having much luck since it was raining, but she was down to five. Her long brown hair stuck to her forehead and face. She brushed it away and tried to sell a paper to a retreating gentleman. He just continued running. She sighed and plopped herself down in the middle of the deserted street.
“Jade! Jade!” Spot yelled as he ran up the street toward her. She didn’t look up. “Jade?” He touched her shoulder.
She jumped and looked up at him, surprised. “Spot!” she exclaimed, surprised that he was still in Manhattan.
“C’mon. Let’s git outta dis rain,” he said and helped her to her feet.
“I ain’t finished yet,” she protested, trying to gather her sopping wet papers off the ground.
“It’s a lost cause, Jade,” he informed her, pulling her down the street. She moaned in losing that last nickel but went along with him anyway. There was a sudden bolt of lightening and a very loud crack of thunder. Spot yanked Jade into a covered doorway instantly. She clung to him, never having been outside during a thunderstorm before.
“What now? We’re still blocks away from da lodgin’ house,” she said, looking up at him and rubbing the water out of her eyes.
Spot looked down at her, searching her eyes. He leaned closer to her and rested his hand on the back of her neck. He pressed his lips to hers slowly and then drew her much closer for a tighter embrace. She wrapped her arms around him, and they stayed like that until the rain let up a little. They arrived back at the lodging house a short while later, running between the light raindrops.
“Oh, where’ve you’se two been?” Jack wondered when they ran through the front door, laughing.
They laughed some more. “We been runnin’ between da raindrops, Cowboy,” Spot laughed.
Everyone else in the lobby laughed and went back to what they’d been doing before they’d come in. Race had struck up a poker game, but Spot went to change before he joined. Eliza went back to join the game. Patches wondered if it was right to play, but Eliza assured her that she didn’t cheat. The rest of the evening was uneventful, except for the various screams from Blink as he chased after yet another invisible object.
Late that night, everyone in the building was asleep. Blink was restless because he was continually chasing after things that no one else saw, and it bothered him. He didn’t like thinking that he was going insane. He finally opened his eyes to just sit and stared at the bottom of the bunk above him, but he saw a dark figure there instead. He screamed and flailed his arms around, trying to push the figure away, but all he succeeded in doing was waking everyone in the room, all except Eliza.
Race turned on the lights and rubbed his eyes. Everyone was out of bed now, looking over at Blink. They jumped when they saw Blink’s dark figure, floating in the middle of the room. It was Snipeshooter’s stuffed bear.
Jack rubbed his eyes and headed over to Blink’s bunk. He didn’t see the chair and tripped over it, knocking both him and Eliza to the floor. She awoke with a start. The bear dropped to the floor. The boys jumped again. Then they all turned to Eliza. She had composed herself and just sat on the floor with her legs crossed, looking down at the floor in shame.
Jake knelt down beside her. “You’se okay, Eliza?” he asked, smoothing her curls.
Eliza sighed and got to her feet, showing off her long legs yet again. “I should explain,” she said, not meeting any of their eyes.
“Dere’s nuthin’ ta explain. Ya was jist sleep-walkin’,” Jake assured her.
“Liza,” Patches began.
Eliza put a hand up to stop her. “I need to explain about this,” she said, looking directly at the bear as it rose up into the air.
Blink paled. “It couldn’t be you!” he yelped, backing away from it.
She nodded. “I apologize, Blink. I didn’t mean to make you really think you were going crazy. Patches and I were just having a little bit of fun the first day I was here. It carried over. I’m sorry,” she said, still keeping her eyes on the ground. They all looked over at Patches, but she didn’t have strings in her hands or anything. They looked back at Eliza.
“But— How?” Jack asked, baffled. The rest of the newsies just stood there, silent and bewildered.
“Telepathy, telekinesis, empathy. You name it; I’ve got it,” she said, almost sorrowfully.
“What’s all dat mean?” Dutchy suddenly asked.
“I can read people’s minds, imprint my thoughts on theirs, move things with my mind, read people’s emotions…” she trailed off.
“Is dat what I heard da oddah day?” Jack asked, remembering the day he’d asked Patches to the dance.
“Yeah, it was me,” she mumbled, dropping back down to the floor slowly. She sat with her legs to the side this time.
“Yer da one dat’s been makin’ me crazy?” Blink accused, more hurt than angry.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. The others thought she was about to cry, but her eyes were dry. “I’ll leave when the sun’s up.” With that, she stood back up and headed into the girls’ room.
No one said a word until she was into the other room with the door shut.
“Jack! Ya cain’t jist let ‘er leave!” Jake protested loudly.
“Shhhh. She kin hear ya,” Jack hissed.
“Well, it ain’t like it mattahs! She knows what we’se thinkin’ anyway,” Blink said bitterly.
“Aw, shut yer yap, Blink!” Jake retorted, not liking the way he was talking about Eliza.
During all of this, Patches had slipped out and into the other bunk room. She opened and closed the door as quietly as she could. She walked over to Eliza slowly. “Liza?” she began quietly.
“I’m fine, Patches. I get this kind of reaction all the time,” she answered, not turning to greet her friend.
“Dey’s jist a li’l saprised, is all,” Patches comforted, placing a hand on Eliza’s shoulder.
Eliza turned. “Perhaps, but I will be gone when the sun rises,” she vowed.
“Liza, c’mon. We don’t want cha ta leave.”
“Patches, come now. I know what they’re thinking. I’ve been at it longer than you have.”
“Dat may be, but I know dese guys bettah. True, dey ain’t seen nothin’ like dis, but dey seen a lot a stuff on da streets. Dey’s gonna fergive ya, Liza.”
Eliza sighed and lowered herself to her bunk. “I hope yer right,” she muttered. With that, she lay down on her bunk and went to sleep. She pulled the sheet up to her shoulders and curled up into a little ball. She clutched the sheet to her chest tightly. Patches crept back out of the room.
In the other room, the newsies were arguing when Patches came back in. “Will ya all shut up!” she screamed. They silenced instantly. “Liza’s tryin’ ta sleep. If ya don’t mind, I’d like ta git back ta sleep, too!”
“Yeah, yeah, sawry,” most of them mumbled as they meandered back to bed.
In the morning, Eliza woke with the sun. She looked around and found that she was the only one in the room. She sighed and got out of bed. She dressed slowly and then went over to the mirror that still stood in the corner. She picked up the brush and proceeded to smooth her curls out a little. When they were soft and smooth again, she tied them back neatly with a scarlet ribbon. A few strands had fallen loose, but she tucked them behind her ears as she stood and walked back to her bunk. She packed the last of her things and closed her small bag. She picked it up and headed for the door.
Before she left the room, she turned back around. So long, room. She forced a smile and walked out the door and down the hall. At the door to the other bunk room, she hesitated, but, as the door was closed, she decided not to go in. She sighed again and headed down the stairs slowly.
When she reached the lobby, the lights suddenly came on. “Sahprise!” a few people yelled. A few more looked at them oddly. Eliza jumped and dropped her bag. She’d shut her mind to them the previous night and hadn’t opened it again. She was thoroughly surprised.
“What’s this?” she asked, looking around the room.
“We don’t want cha ta leave,” Jack announced as he strode over to her. Eliza just watched him, not yet opening her mind. “Ya’s a pawt a da fam’ly,” he clarified.
Eliza still said nothing. She just turned to eyes to Blink, opening her mind a little.
I didn’t mean ta be so mad. I hope she stays, fer Jake’s sake. He really likes ‘er.
She turned to each of the newsies, hearing only his or her thoughts. So far, they were genuine in their hope of her staying. Jake was last, his eyes on the floor.
I want ‘er ta stay so much, but I dunno how ta tell ‘er. I loves ‘er. Please let ‘er stay.
Are you sure?
His head snapped up when he heard her voice in his head. He blushed a little when he realized that she had heard what he was thinking. He met her brown eyes. “Yeah, I’se shoah,” he answered quietly, breaking the silence. Everyone looked at him, wondering what they’d missed.
Eliza smiled weakly and continued to look around the room. “Provided no one protests, I shall stay,” she announced. Everyone grinned. Jake picked her up and spun her around in his arms. Everyone laughed, including Eliza.
Just then, Kloppman sauntered into the lobby from his room. “What’s all this heah?” he demanded, fixing the glasses on his nose. “What you all doin’ up before I come wake ya, huh?” He smirked a little at the sight of it.
“Uh, we was jist tawkin’, Kloppman,” Jack answered.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” the old man mumbled. “Go on ‘n’ git dressed. Ya got papers ta sell.” He shooed them up the stairs. They all laughed and went to finish dressing. As Eliza was already dressed, she just put her things away and hung around the bunk room with the girls.
After a little while, they all trudged down to Newspaper Row. Jake kept an arm around Eliza’s waist as they walked. The other boys had their arms around their girls respectively. When they arrived at the World building, Oscar and Morris Delancey had just arrived. Morris had been taunting Eliza for most of the week, and he saw no reason to stop today.
“Hey, girly, get any action lately?” Morris asked with a smug smirk. Jake started toward him, but Eliza held onto his arm firmly. She smiled at Jake and then approached Morris herself.
“I could ask you the same question since your last attempt was foiled so well,” she replied, watching his eyes carefully with no distinct expression on her face.
He scowled and stormed into the office behind the bars. Weisel was sick that day, so Oscar was taking orders while Morris handed out the papers. Eliza was near the end of the line, so they all had time to cool down a bit. When she and Jake reached the counter, she greeted Oscar pleasantly.
“Good morning, Oscar. May I have fifty, please,” she asked as she slid her twenty-five cents under the counter.
“Yup,” he answered, touching her hand as he retrieved the coins. “Fifty,” he called back to Morris.
Morris sneered at Eliza and turned to get the papers, but they were gone. “What da…?” he mumbled.
“Fifty, Morris,” Oscar said harshly, turning back to his brother.
“Dey’re gone!” Morris exclaimed, looking around for the piles of newspapers, but the room was bare of them.
“Morris,” Oscar began, irritated with his brother, “will ya git da girl ‘er papes.”
“I cain’t! Dey’re ain’t none!” he retorted.
“Dey’re right in front a ya, ya bum!” Oscar spit back angrily. Everyone watched the scene behind the bars, wondering what Morris was whining about since the papers were clearly visible to them. Eliza smirked mischievously at Jake. He broke out laughing.
“Ahh!” Morris yelped as one of the books began attacking him. He ran around the office, trying to get away from it, but it just kept after him. “AHHHHH! GIT IT AWAY FROM ME!” The newsies couldn’t contain themselves anymore. About half of them were down on the ground, laughing so hard that they were crying.
Eliza just smirked and leaned on the counter. “Will I be getting my papers anytime soon?” she asked as if nothing were happening behind the bars. This just made the newsies laugh harder.
© 1997 Birdie Kelley
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