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The next morning, Maggie awoke with the sun at six. She stretched and swung her feet over to the floor. She pushed the sheets away and stood up, stretching again. She wasn't used to sleeping in a bed. She walked over to the washroom and cleaned herself up for the day. She changed into her own clothes, which Antonio had gotten cleaned for her. She tied her curly hair back and slipped her shoes on.
Maggie left the room and went down to the kitchen. She found the maid, butler, cook, and a few other servants in the room. She approached the butler. "Excuse me, Mistah," she began.
"What may I do for you, Miss?" the butler responded, turning to her and not meeting her eyes.
"D'ya got some papah dat I'se kin write on?"
"Yes, Miss," he replied and went to fetch her some paper.
"Would you like some breakfast, Miss?" the cook asked.
Maggie smiled. "Yeah, dat'd be great. Thanks," she answered.
"What would you like?"
"Uh, how's 'bout some toast wit' a bit a buttah 'n' some coffee wit' a bit a sugah."
"Yes, Miss. It'll be ready in a few minutes. Have a seat until then."
Maggie nodded and sat down at the counter. The butler returned with a sheet of paper and a pen. He handed them to Maggie. "Thanks, Mistah," Maggie said and took the pen in her hand carefully. She began to write carefully. She had no schooling and very little opportunity to write, so her spelling and handwriting were anything but exemplary.
Tony-
Thanks for da place ta sleep. I really priciate it. I aint nevah
had nowhere ta sleep dis nice before. Thanks. You been real nice
to me. Thanks for dat too. I had a nice time las night. Dinner was real
good. I wish wese could do it gin. Sorry I had ta leave. I gotta git ta woik.
I cant lose no more money. I really need it. It was real nice meetin ya.
Thanks.
Margaret Halpern, Maggie
Maggie folded the paper carefully. She wrote Antonio's name on the outside and handed it to the butler, along with the closed pen. "Could ya make shoah dat Antonio gits dis?" she asked.
"Yes, Miss, I'll give it to him myself," he answered with a smile.
"Thanks," she said as the cook placed a plate of food in front of her. She nodded to the cook and began eating her breakfast. When she was finished eating, she left. She ran quickly to the circulation center. She was almost late. She had to be there while the rest of the newsies were. The string nearly fell out of her hair as she ran. She yanked it out and tied it around her wrist once she got closer to the square. She was greeted by some very curious and stunned boys.
"Mornin', Maggie," Frankie greeted first.
"Frankie," she answered, catching her breath.
"What's wit' yer hair?" he asked.
Maggie took the string off her wrist and pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail. "What? Ya nevah seen coily hair before?" she retorted.
"It looks good on ya," another newsie commented.
Maggie looked down to the ground. She didn't say anything. She just looked up to see all the boys watching her. She tried to avoid their eyes. As she did so, she noticed Knox on the edge of the crowd. He was trying not to be seen, but she saw him. She watched him carefully and slunk over to him slowly. She stepped up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped and spun around.
"Maggie, we din't mean nuthin' las' night!" he exclaimed quickly.
"I'se watchin' ya, Knoxie. Ya bettah be careful who ya try ta rob nex' time," she warned.
"If we'd a known it was you, we nevah would a touched ya."
Maggie grabbed his collar and yanked him closer to her. "Ya should be real glad it was me las' night. Ya should be real glad I let ya live, too. I ain't gonna be so fergivin' nex' time," she threatened.
Knox gulped. "I swear, I ain't never gonna bother ya no more," he pleaded, terrified.
Maggie shoved him away, disgusted. She spit at his feet and walked to get her papers. The newsies stepped out of her way. She bought one hundred papers and stepped aside to read the headlines. The rest of the newsies bought their papers, and they all went to sell them, including Maggie, who returned to her own corner.
Spot Conlon sat on the curb at Maggie's corner. He was waiting for her to arrive for the day. As Maggie strode over to her corner, smoking a cigarette, Spot stood. Maggie stopped in her tracks when she noticed Spot standing at her corner. She sighed irritably and continued down the street. She walked up to Spot.
"Whatta ya want, Conlon?" she inquired, slightly annoyed.
"I been waitin' fer ya," he answered.
"So I see. Whatta ya want?"
"Who was dis fella ya was wit' las' night?"
"None a yer business."
"Maggie, yer gonna tell me. I gotta look out fer ya."
"Why? I din't ask ya ta. I kin look out fer meself jist fine, Conlon."
"Come on, Maggie. I worry 'bout ya-"
"Why?"
"Cause ya's like a sistah ta me. We grown up tageddah on da streets a Brooklyn. Ya came ta live heh' cause ya likes it. I love ya like me own sistah, Maggie Halpern. Dat's 'portant ta a newsie; ya knows dat." He put a hand on her shoulder. "I gotta look out fer ya cuz, if ya got hoit, I wouldn't be da same. I'd be crazy if ya got hoit er woise. I jist wanna make shoah you'se awright," he explained.
Maggie sighed. "His name's Antonio Papperelli," she answered quietly.
"Papperelli?"
"Yeah."
"Ya done good, Maggie. Da Papperellis is real rich 'n' powahful. Dey kin do wondahs fer ya. All I want's ya ta be happy," he said and brushed little wisps of hair away from her face.
Maggie looked down at her feet. "Thanks, Spot. I awways thought a ya, kinda, as me own little bruddah. Thanks fer lookin' out fer me," she replied, giving him a hug. They pulled apart quickly.
"Say, Maggie, did ja coil yer hair las' night er somethin'?"
"Naw. It toins out dat I actually gots coily hair. I took a bath 'n' washed it real good yestahday. When it dried, it got all coily."
"It looks good on ya."
"Aw, shuddup."
"I'se serious. It suits ya," he commented sincerely.
Maggie was uncomfortable. She wasn't used to being complemented. People did so frequently, but she still wasn't used to it. "I gotta git ta woik. I'se shoah ya gotta git back ta Brooklyn, too. I'd really like ta eat tanight, so see ya latah, Conlon," she said and set her papers down on the ground, putting one foot on them to keep them in place.
"See ya latah, Maggie. Dere's awways a bunk open fer ya in Brooklyn if ya want it. Stop by 'n' sleep in it some time. Da boys actually miss ya. Dey ain't seen ya in a while. I'se shoah dey'd like ta, too."
She shrugged. "Maybe. I see ya latah, Conlon," she replied and turned away from him. She began yelling out headlines as Spot walked away.
Later that day, about seven o'clock that evening, Maggie's stack of papers had thinned to less than twenty. She sold the last few to night watchmen, whores, pimps, and drunks entering the streets for the first time that day. Once all her papers were gone, she gathered her things and started off for her favorite restaurant. She entered and was greeted nicely by Joey.
"Evenin', Maggie," Joey said as he walked over to her.
"Heya, Joey. I don't s'pose I kin ordah now," she replied.
"Shoah can."
"Gimme da usual, Joey."
"Got it, roast beef, mashed potatoes, 'n' coffee," he mumbled and scribbled it down in his notepad. He walked back to the kitchen.
Maggie took a seat at her table. She fiddled with one of the coins she'd set on the table while she waited. Joey returned with her meal after a few minutes. He set the plate and cup before her and turned to leave.
"Hey, Joey," Maggie called. Joey turned back. "I got anuddah payment fer ya." She gestured to the coins strewn on the table.
"It's been paid," he stated.
"What?" she asked, visibly shocked.
"Yer tab's been paid," he repeated.
"Who?"
"Dat fella ya was with the oddah night. The Italian fella," he answered and returned to his duties.
"Tony," she mumbled. "He's such a nice fella," she thought. "It's like Conlon says; he's good fer me. I really likes 'im, too. He's real handsome, 'n' 'e really likes me back. He brought me ta dinnah 'n' let me wear such a nice dress. He even paid me tab! He's a real great fella, rich, too. I'd nevah hafta woik no more. But.. I'd pro'ally nevah see Conlon er Frankie agin." She sighed. "What's I gonna do?" she asked herself as she ate.
"Maggie?"
Maggie looked up. "Tony!" she greeted with a warm and happy smile.
Antonio sat down across from her. "I don't suppose you'd like to go for a walk after dinner," he invited with a sparkle in his eyes.
Maggie smiled. "I'd love ta, Tony; thanks," she answered with an ecstatic smile. Antonio smiled back. "Hey, Joey," she called as she finished her dinner.
"Yeah, Maggie, sir?" he asked as he sauntered over to her table.
"How much d'I owe ya?" she inquired.
"Ya don't know by now?"
"Naw, usually I ask ya ta jist put it on me tab, but I gots some money tanight. I don't wanna stawt a new tab. I wanna pay ya good money, Joey. How much?" she explained.
"Twenty'll cover it."
Maggie sorted out twenty cents and handed them to Joey. She tucked the rest of her money away and stood. She and Antonio left the restaurant arm in arm. They walked the streets in silence for a little while, basking in each otherıs company. When they reached The Pond in Central Park, Antonio stopped. Maggie stopped alongside him and turned to face him. He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. He held it out to Maggie. She took it reluctantly and opened it slowly.
"Margaret Halpern, will you marry me?" Antonio asked.
Maggie nearly fainted when she saw the ring and heard the words. Time seemed to stop while she looked at the ring. It was magnificent. The gold band was small and thin. The diamond was no more than a quarter caret, but it was beautiful. The moonlight sparkled off the water and the diamond. It sparkled like nothing Maggie had ever seen before. It sparkled more brilliantly than every star in the sky. She took it out of the box slowly and slid it onto her left ring finger. It fit perfectly. She looked up at Antonio.
"Antonio Papperelli," she began. Antonio stared into her eyes. "I'll marry ya," she whispered slowly.
Antonio smiled a smile that could light up the sky in an instant. He picked Maggie up in his arms and spun her around. He held her as tightly as he possibly could. Maggie laughed with incredible glee. She held onto Antonio almost as hard as he held onto her. Antonio finally set her back on her feet. He brushed some of her hair away from her face and let his hand linger on her jaw bone.
"I love you, Maggie," he whispered and kissed her sweetly.
Maggie pulled away for a second. "I love ya, too, Tony," she whispered and kissed him again.
They began walking again a few minutes later. Antonio looked over at her. "Pick a date," he said.
"Well, taday's da twelfth a Novembah. How's 'bout da.. fifteenth a Janu'ry."
"Why then?"
"Two months from now, ain't it?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I figure that's a good 'nuff 'mount a time ta git it all ready."
Antonio nodded. "You're welcome to stay in one of the guest rooms until then, you know," he mentioned.
"Not yet, Tony." He looked at her. "I gotta tie up some loose ends foist. Dere's people I gotta see, 'n' things I gotta do. It ain't gonna take more 'an a few days. Aftah dat, I'll live wit' cha in dat nice guest room a yers," she explained. Antonio nodded. ³Speakinı a dat, I gotta git ta Brooklyn. I see ya tamorrah,² she added, kissed his cheek, and ran off toward Brooklyn.
Antonio watched her until she was out of sight. He sighed with pleasure and started home. He was finally content.
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