“Moonshine,” the boy said, releasing his grip on her.

“Jake! Whatta ya doin’ here?! Scurelli’ll whip ya when ‘e finds out yer in Manhattan,” she whispered, worried for her friend.

“Da hell wit’ me! When ‘e finds out ya skipped town agin, he’s gonna kill ya—“

“More reason fer me ta keep away from ‘im.”

“Ya run away too much ‘Shine. Dat’s da reason Scurelli put dat mawk on ye. He’s got rewards out fer ya. If I found ja dis easily, he’ll find ja even easiah. Dis disguise a yers ain’t gonna save ya.”

“It ain’t a disguise, Jake. I’m only wearin’ it cuz I ran inta one a Scurelli’s buyahs, ‘n’ ‘e ripped mine.”

“See dat? People’re awready out ta git ya, ‘Shine. Ya can’t hide ferevah.”

“I don’t aim ta. I’m stayin’ in Manhattan dis time,” she vowed.

“Honey says dat she hoid dat ya got mixed up wit’ dat Conlon fella. Dat true?” he asked.

“How’d she hear dat?” she wondered, curious.

“All she tol’ me was dat satisfied men tawk. Ta da best I kin figure, she got one a his newsies las’ night,” he answered.

Moonshine smirked. “Yeah, I’m stuck wit’ ‘im. One a ‘is goons caught me workin’. He dragged me ta dis place. I won’t say I ain’t glad. Bettah I’m here where Scurelli won’t think a lookin’ too soon,” she replied.

Jake smiled. “G’luck ta ya, ‘Shine,” he said, holding out a scarred hand to her. They shook hands and kissed each other lightly on the lips. “I’ll stop by when I can; I promise,” he said and walked out of the alley, right past Race. He nodded politely and headed back to Brooklyn.

Moonshine sighed when she saw Race at the end of the alley. She walked up to him slowly. “Heya, Race,” she greeted.

“Ya like tawkin’ in alleys?” he accused.

“Bettah ‘an da streets at times,” she shrugged.

“Who was dat?” he demanded to know.

“No one a consequence,” she answered, heading out into the street.

Race grabbed her arm and stopped her movements. “Moonshine, ya kissed ‘im,” he pointed out.

She sighed again. “He’s an ol’ friend, nothin’ more, Race,” she said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He seemed to accept that answer, and they went to sell their papers.

Across town, Spot ran up to Jack. “Hey, Jackey-boy!” he yelled when he saw him up the street.

“Heya, Spot,” Jack yelled back.

Spot finally reached him. “Ya seen Moonshine? I lost track a ‘er,” he asked.

Jack looked at him oddly. “She ain’t wit’ Race?” he answered.

“Race? Why’d she be wit’ Race?”

“Race wanted ta show ‘er how ta sell. I tol’ ‘im ta tawk wit’ you ‘bout it.”

“I nevah saw ‘im. It ain’t like Race ta jist take off like dat,” Spot pointed out. “Besides, she’s ma goyl,” he added in his head.

Jack sighed. “Why don’t ya give ‘er time ta breathe, Spot. She really don’t seem ta like ya much. Give ‘er a break. She ‘n’ Race seem good tageddah,” he noted.

“Dat’s what I’se afraid a,” Spot mumbled.

“What?” Jack said, not fully hearing what Spot had said.

“As much’s I hate ta admit it, Jack, but yer right. I’ll keep clear a ‘er till we all gits back ta da lodgin’ house tanight,” he decided, meandering off down the street.

Later that day, Race and Moonshine walked into the lodging house together, laughing. The others were a bit surprised by the sudden change in her personality. She and Race suddenly seemed to be the best of friends. When she looked at Spot, however, her eyes darkened a little.

“Where ya been, Moonshine?” Spot asked, trying not to sound threatening.

Moonshine walked over to him, a sly look on her face as her arms swung loosely at her sides. “Well, Spot,” she began. He nearly melted; it was the first time she had ever said his name. “I been out earnin’ ma own money. In case ya fergot, ya said I had ta,” she continued. She smiled, satisfied with showing him up even a little, and headed up the stairs. She hesitated and turned back to the room.

“What?” Spot asked as her eyes rested on him.

“I fergot somethin’,” she answered and turned to look at Race. She walked right over to him and kissed him affectionately. He was quite startled, but he took her into his arms anyway. Most of the newsies whooped and hollered, but not Spot. She released Race and stepped away, heading back up the stairs. She shot a final smirk at Race and disappeared into the bunk room.

Several of the boys turned to Race, wondering what had gone on that day. Race refused to say anything; they’d all seen what had just happened, and he didn’t see a point in letting them in on anything else. They persisted anyway. Race was just about to break down and tell them when a badly beaten boy stumbled into the building. Several of the boys grabbed him before he fell over.

“Moonshine… where… where is she?” he gasped, trying to stay on his feet.

“Why d’ya want ‘er?” Spot demanded.

“Who awe ya?” Jack wondered.

“Jake,” he breathed. “She’s… in trouble. I gotta… gotta tawk wit’ ‘er.”

Race ran up the stairs. “Moonshine!” he yelled.

“What?” she asked, turning and seeing him running into the room.

“Dere’s a guy named Jake heah ta see ya,” he answered.

She smiled and walked out of the room. When she saw Jake fighting for consciousness in the lobby, she ran down the stairs as fast as she could. “Jake!” she exclaimed, taking his face in her hands. “I tol’ ja dis’d happen. Ya nevah listen,” she soothed, standing very close to him and brushing his blood-soaked hair away from his face.

“ ‘Shine, ya gotta git outta heh’. He’s aftah ya. He knows where ya are,” Jake whispered, desperately trying to stay awake long enough to tell her everything.

She ran her fingers down his face softly. “Don’t worry ‘bout me, Jakey. He won’t kill me; I’m too good,” she assured quietly. She turned to Jack. “Jack, I want ya ta look aftah ‘im till ‘e gits bettah,” she ordered.

Jack nodded and took hold of Jake. “Shoah, Moonshine,” he agreed, starting toward the stairs.

Moonshine grabbed his arm. “Hide him,” she said seriously. Jack nodded. “I’ll be back fer ya, Jakey.” She watched them go up the stairs, Jake quickly loosing consciousness and falling limp in Jack’s arms.

“Moonshine!” a man bellowed as he walked through the door of the lodging house. She froze at the sound of his voice. She straightened her shoulders boldly and turned around slowly.

In the doorway stood a large man, most decidedly taller than six feet. He was dressed in black slacks, a gray shirt, and black suspenders. Over these he wore a long black jacket. In one hand was a black gentleman’s cane with a white serpentine head. The other hand rested on his waist where his whip hung. His black shoes were freshly shined, and his black hat sat firmly on his head. His eyes were cold, and his goatee was neatly shaven. His dark brown hair had been slicked back no more than an hour previous. He gave more of a commanding presence than anyone the newsies had ever met before.

“Moonshine,” he began softly, approaching her and running his fingers through her hair. “I must say, lovely hidin’ place, but ya stand out too well, me dear,” he added softly as if the two of them had once been intimate, ridiculing her.

“So nice ta see ya ‘gin, Marc,” she greeted, not wavering in the slightest at his touch.

“Where’s Jake?” he demanded, stepping away from her and walking around the room, looking at each of the boys.

“I ain’t seen ‘im since I left,” she answered, keeping her eyes forward and standing up straight.

“Don’t lie ta me, girl,” he stated, stepping back in front of her with a menacing look on his face.

“I wouldn’t lie ta ya… sir,” she answered, gulping at the look on his face but holding her head high.

He grabbed her arms firmly and shook her once. She gasped in surprise but kept herself from either screaming or crying. “Watch yerself, girl. Hidin’ ‘im won’t save eithah a ya any,” he scowled.

“I ain’t seen ‘im!” she yelled back, her knees going weak.

Scurelli picked her up off the ground easily. “Ya’d tell me where ‘e was if ya knew, wouldn’t cha, baby?” he confirmed, shaking her in the air.

“Yessir,” she answered quickly, keeping her tears and fear as far from her eyes as possible.

“Dammit! I said don’t lie ta me!” he roared, throwing her across the room with all his strength. She slammed into the wall like a rag doll and fell to the floor, completely lifeless. “Pick ‘er up, boys,” he said to the trio behind him. They ran across the room and picked her up as fast as they could, not wanting to incur the wrath of their master, and left the building, hurrying back to Brooklyn. Scurelli walked over to Spot. “If I find that Jake’s been here, I’ll take it outta all a yer hides,” he threatened, turning and disappearing out the door.

Race started out the door after them. Spot grabbed his shoulder. “Race, don’t,” he ordered.

Race turned and shoved Spot’s hand off his shoulder. “Ya know, Spot, yer a joik. Jist cuz ya hates ‘er don’t mean she desoives what dat guy’s doin’ to ‘er,” he retorted,

“Race, I’se serious. Dat’s Mawc Scurelli. Dat guy’s downright dangerous. Even da bulls’re ‘fraid a him. She woiks fer ‘im. Dere’s nuthin’ we kin do now. She’s ‘is ta deal wit’,” Spot explained as quickly and as seriously as he could. Race said nothing.

Back in Brooklyn, Scurelli and the trio returned to Scurelli’s Place. The tallest of the trio carried Moonshine. She was still unconscious. Scurelli led them into a dark room with only one piece of furniture, a tall wooden stake in the middle of the room, and a central lamp hanging from the ceiling to the right of the stake.

“Daniel, put ‘er on it,” Scurelli ordered. Daniel tied Moonshine’s hands to the stake diligently as she regained consciousness. Her hands were tied to a pin on the opposite side of the stake, far above her head so she would remain standing. “Bartholomew, Andrew, fetch the others.” The two boys ran out of the room. Scurelli removed his hat and jacket, taking the whip from his hip. He dropped the barbed end to the ground and pulled out a cigar, lighting it after a few seconds. He puffed on it slowly.

A few minutes later, about forty children of various ages entered the room. Several of the older girls, those about Moonshine’s age, gasped when they saw her tied to the stake and began shaking, scared for her also. The younger children didn’t yet understand what was about to happen. Most of the older boys held onto either one or more of the younger children or one of the older girls. They were scared also. Everyone loved Moonshine.

“Daniel,” Scurelli stated. Daniel appeared at his side, terrified. Scurelli handed him a knife. Daniel stared at it for a moment before plucking it from his master’s hand. He crept up to Moonshine.

“I’se sorry, Moonshine,” he whispered as he raised the blade to the collar of her shirt. He ripped the shirt and brazier with the silver blade. He stepped away from her and handed the knife back to his master.

Scurelli cracked the whip once, making Moonshine twitch. He then proceeded to give her thirty sound lashings, taking a drag on his cigar between each to wait for the old sting to dull down. Daniel counted each one per his master’s request. For the first few, she managed to keep her cries to a few pained gasps and some bloodied palms. When the barbed end of the whip sliced her back for the fifth time, she screamed in complete and utter pain. Everyone else in the room cringed at the sound. Scurelli kept at it, his eyes growing colder each time he cracked the whip. Moonshine’s screams got louder and louder each time the whip grazed her back, causing the blood to flow more rapidly. The younger children began crying. Many of the older girls had turned into a shoulder of one of the older boys. They couldn’t look much after the blood-curdling screams began. The boys even turned away. Scurelli finally stopped at the sound of thirty. He turned to his minions.

“Dis’s what happens if ya run away more ‘an twice,” he stated harshly, brandishing the whip at all of them. They cowered in fear at it, a few of the gasping and whimpering. He turned back to Moonshine who was, by now, sweating profusely and slipping in and out of consciousness from the agony, and spoke to her. “If ya evah dare run out on me again, Evelyn, you will die,” he stated. She just whimpered in pain, hanging by her wrists against the stake. He left the room, coiling his whip and replacing it on his hip.

Daniel rushed to her side and untied her as fast as he could. She fell to the floor and into his arms. He wiped her damp hair away from her face. “I’se so sorry, Moonshine,” he whispered, tears running down his face. She just stared at his face, not able to focus and shaking uncontrollably. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she lost all consciousness. He picked her up carefully and carried her into the room where all the girls slept. A few of the older girls followed. He lay her down on the closest bed he could find.

“Lily, go git some hot watah ‘n’ a cloth, some alcohol if ya kin find it, too,” a thin girl wearing too much makeup ordered, standing in the doorway. The other girl, also wearing too much makeup, hurried and did as she was told. The first girl walked over to Moonshine and Daniel.

“Jake’s got some a dat stuff she makes undah ‘is bed,” Daniel noted, staring at the lacerations on his friend’s once beautiful back.

The first girl looked over her shoulder at another girl. The girl understood and hurried across the hall to the boys’ room and to Jake’s bed. She returned a minute later and handed the first girl the bottle. “Dere ya go, Honey,” she said quietly.

Honey took the bottle and read the faded label. “Moonshine,” she read out loud, running her fingers along the hand-written lettering. She looked at her friend, tears welling in her eyes and a few running down her already tear-stained cheeks.

Just then, Lily ran back into the room. She handed Honey the water and rag. “I couldn’t find no alcohol. Scurelli’s got da cabinet locked up bettah ‘an Fort Knox,” she apologized.

“Dat’s awright, Lily. Jake had some a ‘er Moonshine,” Honey answered, walking up to the bed. She set everything down on the floor and began to clean the blood away. Moonshine was still unconscious, so she felt no more pain.

After several minutes, Daniel spoke up. “We gotta git ‘er outta here,” he decided, his eyes hardening.

“But… Scurelli!” Honey protested, terrified of what he’d do to anyone helping Moonshine to get away. again.

“Don’t worry ‘bout him, Honey,” he said as he brushed her honey-colored ringlets away from her face. “No one’ll hafta worry ‘bout Scurelli. Leave ‘im ta me. I want da t’ree a ya ta git ‘er stuff packed. I’ll be back in half an hour. If I ain’t back, run away from dis place’s fast as ya can. Go ta Manhattan,” he instructed.

“Daniel,” Honey protested, crying and holding onto his sleeve tightly.

“I’ll be back, Honey,” he promised, kissing her lovingly. He looked at her once more and left the room.

“Honey?” one of the girls whimpered.

“Lily, Daisy, do what ‘e says,” she answered. The two girls nodded and hurried over to Moonshine’s bunk and began packing her things into the small carpetbag. Moonshine and Honey were the eldest girls, both twenty, and were role models to most everyone in the group. Moonshine had been the only pickpocket among the older girls; she was the only one good enough to continue with it. Since they were fourteen, the others had become play-toys for men who needed a little action now and then.

True to his word, Daniel returned half an hour later with a fat lip and blood trickling down his arm. Honey jumped up and ran to his side, there being little more she could do for Moonshine.

“Daniel, what happened?” she asked nervously.

“We don’t gotta worry ‘bout Scurelli no more. I own da Joint now,” he answered, placing his clean hand on her shoulder. Honey smiled. “C’mon, We gotta git her back ta Manhattan,” he said, nodding toward the still unconscious Moonshine.

“But, why? If Scurelli’s not a problem no more, why can’t she jist stay heh’?” she wondered.

“I got me a feelin’ she belongs back wit’ dose boys in Manhattan,” he answered, staring at the lifeless girl laying on the bed. “I’ll carry ‘er. Honey, ya bring ‘er things.”

Honey retrieved the bag as Daniel picked Moonshine up carefully, wrapping her in one of the blankets. The three of them left the building and headed back to Manhattan. They walked slowly so not to jostle Moonshine too much. They finally got to the lodging house. Honey walked in first. The boys stood when they saw her, most of them fixing their hair. Only Spot recognized her but just barely. Daniel walked in a moment later.

Since Moonshine’s head was shrouded, no one knew who any of them were. They didn’t even recognize Daniel from earlier that evening. Daniel wasn’t aware that they didn’t recognize him, so he looked at Honey to do the talking.

Honey cleared her throat. “Uh, can we set ‘er down somewhere?” she began, thinking that they all knew that the girl Daniel carried was Moonshine.

“Ya thinkin’ ‘bout movin’ in?” Spot inquired as he approached Honey.

“It’s not mine. It’s Moon—“

“Moonshine!” Race exclaimed, rushing over at the slightest mention of her name. “Is dat ‘er?” he asked hurriedly.

“Yeah,” Daniel began, “dere somewhere I kin put ‘er?”

“Yeah,” Race nodded and led the three of them up to the bunkroom. Jack and Jake were talking in the far corner.

“Jake!” Honey exclaimed from across the room. She dropped the bag and ran over to him.

Jake looked up. “Honey!” he said as he stood, surprised to see her. He picked her up in his arms. “What’re ya doin’ heh’?” he asked as he set her back on her feet.

“Moonshine,” she answered, looking back over to where Daniel had set her down on her belly.

Jake’s eyes grew wide as Daniel pulled the blanket off her blood-soaked back carefully. The boys gasped when they saw her back. Several of them nearly turned green. Most of them dropped to the floor. Jake just stepped up to her bunk, brushing the wet hair away from her face.

“Somebody git a doctah!” Jack ordered. A few of the boys ran out of the room. Race could barely breathe. Spot just stared at her in disbelief.

“I’se gonna git da guy dat did dis,” Spot vowed, scowling.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it,” Daniel interrupted, turning toward Spot. “He’s awready dead.” Honey dropped the glass of water she’d been given, throwing her hands over her mouth. Spot just stared at him.

Moonshine moaned, opening her eyes a little. Nobody breathed. For a moment, all she could see was a bright light, nothing else, not even the shape of the bed table beside her. Jake knelt down beside her, taking hold of her hand. Moonshine forced a smile through the pain.

“Sorry ‘bout yer shirt, Race. I’ll buy ya a new one,” she rasped. The tension in the room broke a little, small spurts of laughter from everyone. Jake looked for the boy called Race. He walked over and took Jake’s place at her side.

“It’s awright, Moonshine. I gots anuddah one,” he said, smoothing her hair and letting a few tears roll down his cheeks.

Her vision cleared, and she smiled even more. She tried to sit up, but winced in pain and decided to lay back down. She moved one of her hands under her chest and rested her cheek on it. “I didn’t dream it, did I?” she whispered, beginning to shake again.

It was Daniel’s turn to kneel down beside her. “Ya didn’t dream it, Moonshine,” he replied quietly. “Scurelli made us all watch. I ‘ad ta count.”

“How many?” she whispered, staring through Race.

“Thoity.”

She made a sound as if she were going to cry, but the tears never left her eyes. She closed her eyes to keep them away. “Dat explains da… pain I’m in,” she mumbled, wincing again. “Why couldn’t ‘e jist kill me?”

“Moonshine…” Race tried, but he didn’t know what to say.

“Evelyn.” Everyone turned to Jake. Moonshine didn’t move. Jake took Race’s place, but he didn’t touch her hand. Instead, she brought her hand up to her mouth, almost biting on her nails. “Ya don’t wanna be dead. It’s only a little pain—“

“Yeah, well, you try it!” she spit back, still shaking.

“Evelyn,” he began again.

“Where is she?” an old, white-haired man asked as he walked into the room, followed by the boys who’d left earlier. He saw the group clustered around one of the bunks. He walked over to her. The boys moved out of his way and stepped away from the bunk to give them room.

Moonshine looked at him. “Who’re you?” she asked, shaking more now.

“They call me Doc Robertson,” he answered, setting his little black bag on the floor next to the bunk. “What’s your name?” he asked with a warm smile, noticing the series of injuries on her back.

“Moonshine,” she answered quietly.

“Yer name’s Moonshine?” he asked curiously as he took several glass bottles out of his bag. He wondered where she could get such a name but decided not to ask considering the circumstances.

“Evelyn,” she corrected, taking a deep breath.

“Well, Moonshine,” she smiled, “it looks like you got into a bit a trouble. Mind tellin’ me what happened?” he asked pleasantly as he moved to take a closer look at her back.

“I ran away too many times,” was all she said. The doctor was about to inquire further when Daniel cut him off.

“She wasn’t coherent most a da time, Doc,” he commented. Everyone looked at him.

“Ya could hear ‘er screams all across Brooklyn,” Honey whimpered.

Daniel pulled her close to him, smoothing her hair soothingly and quieting her sobs. “We all woiked fer Marc Scurelli. Moonshine had a habit a runnin’ away all to frequently, ‘n’ ya know ‘ow Scurelli is. We got ‘er ‘n’ brought ‘er back ta da Joint. I tied ‘er ta da stake,” he explained, remembering it vividly. The others just stared at him, not believing what they were hearing. “Scurelli took ‘is time whippin’ ‘er, thoity lashes. He enjoyed hearin’ ‘er screams. She was screamin’ so loud I swore half da glass in da place was broke. He wouldn’t stop till I counted thoity. She was ‘is example.” He stopped at that, burying his face in Honey’s hair.

Doc Robertson continued dressing her injuries, barely noticing the shocked expressions on the faces of everyone in the room. Even Moonshine was surprised by the description of what had happened. He began humming a gentle tune to soothe them all. Moonshine still cringed in pain every time something touched any of the wounds, but she had loosened up considerably. He dressed each of them carefully and told her to try not to move around too much and that he’d be back to following afternoon.

Moonshine fell asleep shortly after Doc Robertson had left. He had rubbed a soothing cream onto the injuries, and it felt good. She was far more comfortable than she had been before he’d come. Her dreams were filled with images of Race.

Daniel and Honey decided that it was best if they went back to Brooklyn. Spot decided to join them on their walk back, realizing that nothing was keeping him in Manhattan any longer; Moonshine had Race. The rest of the boys followed Moonshine’s example and got ready for bed. Jake and Race shared the bed next to Moonshine’s in case she needed anything during the night. Everyone slept peacefully that night, as peacefully as anyone can, that is.

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© 1997 Birdie Kelley

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