Jake and Tory
Victoria was wandering the streets of New York aimlessly. She had no idea where she was going, she just had to get as far away from Texas as fast as she could. Victoria wasn’t exceptionally gorgeous, she was merely pretty; the type you really wouldn’t look at twice. Her tan skin was the first tell tale sign of her Mexican heritage, as were her big, black eyes and long, thick, black hair. She knew she was more or less safe from her family in the city, they probably thought she was dead by now, but she needed to find a job if she was going to survive. That was the last coherent thought she had before she felt two strong arms pull her into an alley.
Jake was having a great selling day; it was only 11:00 and he’d sold over 150 papers. He was about to go to Tibby’s when he saw two guys walking out of an alley. They looked very suspicious, like they were trying to hide something. For his own piece of mind, Jake waited until they were out of sight, and looked in the alley. There was a figure lying on the ground, moaning. As he got closer, he saw the mysterious figure was a girl. He touched her shoulder, and was immediately horrified because his hand was now covered in blood. Before he could react, the girl screamed at him. “Get away from me, gringo!” Her cry exhausted the last of her strength and she passed out. Jake picked her up gently and carried her back to the Lodging House.
“Kloppman! Kloppy, are you here?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, what’s…” Kloppman stopped when he saw Jake. “Who’s she?” “I dunno, I just found her in an alley. She’s been hurt pretty bad and I didn’t know where else to take her.” “Put her in the sick room, I’ll be right there.”
The sick room was a special room off of Kloppman’s office where the newsies stayed if they were sick or too hurt to make it up and down the stairs. It was small; there was just enough room for a bed, but it connected to a full bathroom. Jake gingerly put the girl down on the bed. Then Kloppman came in and started to check her out. “Jake, I’m going to have to ask you to leave now. I have to take off her clothing to be able to dress her wounds.” “I’m not leaving, Kloppy, not until I know she’s alright. I’ll turn around, but I’m not leaving her.” Kloppman just shrugged as Jake turned his back. As he inspected her, Kloppman saw she’d really been through a lot. Her attackers gave her a black eye, a swollen lip, two cracked ribs, and a series of nasty knife wounds. The girl’s shoulder in particular worried him. “Jake, I’m gonna have to sew her up. Get the first aid kit from the bathroom.” Kloppman stitched her up gently and covered her with what was left of her clothes. “Do you have any extra clothes? Hers are too cut up and bloody.” “Yeah, I’ll be right back.” Under his bunk, Jake found a few old shirts and trousers that he used to wear. He also picked up another shirt that she could use for sleeping.
After dinner at Tibby’s, all the newsies wanted to get a look at the stranger Jake rescued. “How is she doing, Kloppy?” “She was still out cold when I last checked on her, but that was over an hour ago.”
Victoria slowly opened her eyes and wished she were dead. Every part of her body hurt; it even hurt to breathe, and her shoulder was smarting. She looked down and realized she was wearing someone else’s clothes. It took her a minute to remember what happened. She looked around and didn’t recognize her surroundings. Just then, the door opened and a boy walked in. He smiled at her. “Good, you’re awake. We were worried about you.” Victoria was too scared to move. All she could do was grip the sheets and pull them close to her. “Don’t be afraid, I’m not gonna hurt ya…” The boy walked toward her and extended his arm. Something inside her snapped and she started screaming. “Get away from me! Don’t touch me, gringo!” Jake stepped back, helpless.
After dinner at Tibby’s, all the newsies wanted to get a look at the stranger Jake rescued. “How is she doing, Kloppy?” “She was still out cold when I last checked on her, but that was over an hour ago.”
Victoria slowly opened her eyes and wished she were dead. Every part of her body hurt; it even hurt to breathe, and her shoulder was smarting. She looked down and realized she was wearing someone else’s clothes. It took her a minute to remember what happened. She looked around and didn’t recognize her surroundings. Just then, the door opened and a boy walked in. He smiled at her. “Good, you’re awake. We were worried about you.” Victoria was too scared to move. All she could do was grip the sheets and pull them close to her. “Don’t be afraid, I’m not gonna hurt ya…” The boy walked toward her and extended his arm. Something inside her snapped and she started screaming. “Get away from me! Don’t touch me, gringo!” Jake stepped back, helpless.
Outside, the other newsies heard her screams. Bumlets’ ears perked up when he heard her call him a gringo. ‘I haven’t heard that word since…’ He hopped off Kloppman’s desk and went inside. “Jake, let me try.” Victoria looked at the boy in the doorway and immediately felt nothing but relief. Bumlets walked toward her slowly. “It’s ok, niña, you’re safe here.” Victoria didn’t know why, but she felt instantly comfortable with him. “I’m Bumlets” he continued, “What’s your name?” She shot a nervous glance at Jake. “Victoria.” “Hi, Victoria.” He looked at Jake. “Can you leave us alone, she’s not going to talk to me while you’re here.” Jake looked like someone slapped him. “Yeah, sure.” He turned and walked away.
“Thank you.” “You’re welcome. What happened to you, Victoria?” “I’m from San Antonio. I ran away from home and just ended up here. I was just walking around the city when these two gringos grabbed me from behind and beat me up. They took everything, my money, my clothes….” “Did they uh…hurt you? I mean, did they force you to…” “No.” “Do you mind if I sit down?” She moved a little to give Bumlets room to sit. “What is this place Bumlets?” “You’re in the Newsboys Lodging House. We’re all newsies and Kloppman takes care of us. He’s like an abuelo.” "Who was that boy?" "That's Jake, he's the one who found you and brought you here. He gave you the clothes you're wearing." "What's he like? Is he nice?" "He's one of the best guys I know." “Why do they call you Bumlets?” “It’s just a nickname. My name is Pedro. My family moved here from Mexico, but I lost them at Ellis Island. I haven’t seen them since I was 10.” They stayed up almost all night talking. Bumlets was in the middle of a story when he looked over and saw that Victoria had fallen asleep. He pulled her covers up, kissed her head and went to bed.