Just a Thought

“Hey! Leave ‘er alone!” he yelled as he hurried into the alley.

The two men looked up. “Cowboy! Git outta heah!” the taller of the two retorted angrily.

“Ya don’t think I’d evah let ya git away wit’ soakin’ a girl, do ya, Morris?” Jack shot back.

The taller boy headed toward Jack while his brother continued doing what he was doing to the girl. Jack and Morris fought for a few minutes, but Jack got a lucky punch and sent Morris into a pile of wooden crates, making him too sore to stand up again. Jack turned on the other boy. Oscar threw the girl against the wall, knocking her out instantly, and turned to Jack. The two of them fought until Oscar decided it was time to run. He ran without his brother. Morris followed a few minutes later. Jack turned to the girl.

“Hey, you’se awright?” he asked, not realizing that she was unconscious. He knelt down beside her and noticed that she was out cold. He looked her over. She was a mess, most definitely because of what had just happened. All the buttons on her shirt had been broken, and her skirt had been ripped almost all the way up to her waist. Her auburn curls, which had once been pulled back neatly, were now disheveled and could use some fixing up. Jack fixed her shirt so that it covered her chest completely. He also removed the ribbon from her hair and tried to straighten it. He then picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. He carried her and her bag back to the lodging house carefully.

When he walked in, the old man walked up to him. “Who ya bringin’ in now, Cowboy?” he asked, laughing a little.

“Jist a girl da Delanceys was roughin’ up, tryin’ ta force ‘er,” Jack answered, heading up the stairs.

“Put ‘er in da girls’ room. Most a dem’s in yer room,” the old man yelled after him.

“Shoah, Kloppman,” Jack called back as he reached the landing. Kloppman laughed and went back to his work. Jack walked into the girls’ room and set her down carefully on one of the empty bunks. He’d managed to slip in without anyone in the other room noticing his presence. He left her laying there and went into the other room. “Patches, kin I tawk wit’ cha?” he asked, looking over to a girl wearing a shirt that had been patched so many times there wasn’t much of the original shirt left.

Patches walked up to Jack. “Shoah, Cowboy. What kin I do fer ya?” she asked, looking up from her poker game.

“In da oddah room,” he added, heading out of the room. Patches grinned. She’d had a secret crush on Jack almost since she’d arrived.

“G’luck, Patches,” Raven called after her as she hurried after Jack.

Jack stood in the girls’ room next to the unconscious girl. Patches walked in, a smile on her face, but her expression faded when she saw the girl on the bed. She walked up to Jack cautiously.

“Who’s da girl?” she asked, gulping and hoping Jack wasn’t in love with her.

“Dunno,” Jack answered, turning to the girl. Patches sighed in relief. “Oscah ‘n’ Morris was roughin’ ‘er up a bit, so I brung ‘er heah.” He shrugged.

“Whatta ya want me ta do?” Patches wondered, not particularly fond of this girl already.

“Well, da Delanceys, dey was kinda, uh, forcein’ ‘er,” he answered, clearly uncomfortable telling this information to a girl, let alone Patches. “Could ja fix ‘er up?” He didn’t like asking Patches to do this, but he didn’t know who else to ask.

“Shoah,” she nodded, “uh, send Wine in.” She knelt down next to the girl as Jack ducked out of the room.

A tiny little girl with hair that was more red than brown but still brown walked into the room. Her name was Cranberry Wine on account of her unusual hair color that had once been a little more purple. She wasn’t a little kid, just short. “Patches, Jack tol’ me ya wanned ta tawk wit’ me. What ‘bout?” she asked as she walked through the doorway.

“Wine, c’mere,” Patches hissed.

Cranberry Wine walked over to her and, noticing the girl on the bed, looked at Patches oddly. “Who’s dat?” she asked, approaching cautiously.

“Dunno. Jack brought ‘er in, says da Delanceys was tryin’ ta rape ‘er,” Patches replied.

“Dat’s too bad. She’s kinda pretty,” Cranberry Wine answered, looking at the girl’s soft curls.

“Ya think Jack likes ‘er?” Patches asked, looking over at her friend.

Cranberry Wine put a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Don’t worry none, Patches. No one’s perdier ‘an you ta Jack,” she consoled her stringy-haired friend.

Patches smiled. “We better get ‘er some clothes. Go see if dere’s anymore in da closet,” she instructed.

Cranberry Wine hurried over to the closet and riffled through the chest in the back. She returned a few minutes later with several articles of clothing. She set them on the bunk across from the girl. Patches had put a wet cloth on the girl’s forehead by the time Cranberry Wine returned.

“We don’t got no skoits, but I figure she wouldn’t mind none,” she explained.

“Wine, why don’t cha go git Jade ‘n’ Raven,” Patches said when she noticed the girl’s fingers moving. Cranberry Wine nodded and left the room. The girl moaned and opened her eyes.

“Where…?” she breathed.

“Shhh,” Patches soothed, “yer safe, kid. Yer in da newsies’ lodgin’ house. Me name’s Patches.”

“Eliza,” she whispered, moving her hand to her head and trying to sit up.

“Careful, ‘Liza,” Patches warned. “Ya gots a nasty bump dere.”

“What happened?” Eliza wondered, finally noticing why Patches had that name.

“Well, da Delanceys was soakin’ ya, tryin’ ta force demselves on ya, but Jack saved ja ‘n’ brought ya back heah. He’d figured ya’d raddah see goyls when ya woke up,” she explained, shrugging at the end.

Eliza smiled. “I should thank him,” she mumbled, looking at Patches. She noticed Patches become a little uncomfortable at the comment. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you liked him,” she apologized.

Patches stared at the girl, wide-eyed. “How’d ja know dat!?” she exclaimed, stunned that this new girl knew her secret.

Eliza looked down at the floor. “Sorry. I’ve always been able to pick up people’s thoughts and emotions easily,” she divulged. “I won’t steal him from ya; I promise.” She then noticed three more girls walking into the room. “Will ya keep my secret?” she asked quietly, hoping she would answer in the affirmative. She was usually better about keeping it hidden, but she had slipped for the first time in a very long time.

Patches smiled. “Shoah, ya got me woid on it,” she answered.

“I see she’s awake,” Cranberry Wine noted as she walked toward them.

Patches stood to introduce them all. “Raven, Jade, ‘n’ Cranberry Wine,” she began, pointing to each, “dis’s Eliza.” The three girls nodded politely.

“Lovely ta meet you,” Eliza greeted, offering her hand to Raven, the closest girl to her. Raven shook her hand, smiling. A few images flashed before Eliza’s mind’s eye. She shook the hands of the other girls with the same reaction.

Patches turned back to Eliza. “We got ya some clothes. Ya wanna change inta ‘em ‘n’ den meet da guys?” she asked, hoping she was up for it but still a little nervous.

Eliza smiled. “Sure, thanks,” she answered, standing.

“Great! Hey, Raven, why don’t cha go fetch ‘er a brush fer dat straggly hair dere,” Cranberry Wine said to her tall, black-haired friend. Raven hurried out of the room and returned a moment later with a brush and a ribbon. Jade shut the door as Eliza began removing her ripped clothing.

“Dey’s pants; I hope ya don’t mind,” Patches noted as she handed Eliza the new shirt.

Eliza paused for a moment before accepting the shirt. “That’s fine,” she finally answered. Patches nodded and gave her the pants. She left her alone to finish dressing.

“She awright, Patches? She seems kinda… well, weird,” Jade commented, still trying to be polite.

“Give ‘er a break, Jade. Da Delanceys was tryin’ ta rape ‘er,” Patches hissed, defending the new girl.

Eliza stepped up the them, dressed in the brown pants and gray shirt. The shirt hung off her thin body. It was almost a dress in itself. The pants were a bit baggy, too, but the belt she’d worn kept them from falling off her hips She’d brushed her curls and tied the ribbon around all of them in a sort of ponytail from the nape of her neck. She still wore her own pumps, however. She cleared her throat.

Patches turned and chuckled. “Well, dat shoit seems ta be a bit big. Was dat da only shoit we got, Wine?” she asked, turning to the red-head.

“It’s da only one I found,” she answered, shrugging.

“It’s fine, Patches, really. I’d rather have a shirt that’s too big than none at all,” she replied, smiling a little. The others smiled, too.

“Ya up ta meetin’ ‘bout thirty guys?” Raven wondered with a smirk.

Eliza looked at her for a moment with a different look on her face, almost as if she were deciding something she’d already decided but re-thinking it a bit. “Sure,” she answered.

Patches smiled and took hold of Eliza’s hand, pulling her into the other bunk room. Most everyone looked up when they entered. Eliza smiled and walked over to Jack. She offered her hand.

“Thanks fer helpin’ me, Jack,” she said as he placed his hand in hers.

“How— How’d ja know who I was?” he asked, very confused.

Eliza opened her mouth to speak but shut it again when she realized that she couldn’t explain the real reason. “Uh, Patches. She described ya quite well,” she finally answered. Patches blushed and looked at the floor. Jack nodded.

“Well, dose Delanceys don’t got no class. I couldn’t let ‘em hoit cha none,” he answered, shrugging.

“Well, thanks again,” she said, still smiling a beautiful smile. She turned to the rest of the room. “I didn’t mean to interrupt yer games. My name’s Eliza O’Dell,” she added, looking at each person for a second or two.

Patches decided she’d introduce everyone in the room. “Uh, ‘Liza, ya knows Jack, me, Raven, Wine, ‘n’ Jade, but da rest a dese bummahs ya gotta meet.” She began to point to each. They nodded to her politely. “Racetrack, Crutchy, Angel, Mush, Kid Blink, Boots, Gnat, Snitch, Jake, Snipeshootah, Dragon Fly, Specs, Dutchy, Snoddy, Skittery, Bumlets, Pie Eatah, Swifty, Spidah, Apples, ‘n’ Peppah.” Eliza followed along, imprinting each face on her memory. She would have a little difficulty with the names, but she’d know the faces.

“Eliza is it?” someone asked.

Eliza turned to the sound of the Italian’s voice. She ran back through the names in her head. “Yeah… Racetrack, I believe,” she replied.

“Yup, dat’s me. Ya wanna play some cawds? We got an openin’ now dat we cleaned out Skit heah,” he commented.

The prospect of playing cards intrigued her. She very much wanted to play, but… “I’m afraid I have no money,” she apologized.

“Aw, dat’s awright. I’ll spot cha two bits ta stawt off,” he offered.

Eliza looked at him for a moment and then back at Patches, who had stuck up a conversation with Jack and Cranberry Wine. The others had pretty much gone back to what they were doing. Patches didn’t seem to notice Eliza much, so she just walked over to Race and sat down in the empty space in the circle. “Thanks,” she said with a smile.

Everyone played cards or socialized until the old man walked up the stairs to send them all to bed. “Awright, boys ‘n’ girls, off ta bed! Lights out!” he yelled, walking into the bunk room.

“Aw, Kloppman, c’mon,” several of the boys complained.

“Off ta bed, off ta bed,” Kloppman re-iterated.

Eliza followed the other girls into their room, first giving Race back the two bits he’d loaned her. She’d managed to win an extra two bits on top of it. When she was back in the girls’ room, she took off her belt and pants and just slept in the long shirt. The others went to bed quickly, but the boys remained awake for a bit longer, several of them discussing the new girl.

In the morning, the girls were very awake when Kloppman came to rouse them. He never had as much trouble waking them as he did waking the boys. Eliza had been up for about half an hour by the time the other girls had woken. She had taken a shower to clear her mind of the dream she’d had. She leaned on the sink, her wet hair curling and falling in her face, as Patches walked in.

“Hey, ‘Liza. You’se up eoily,” she greeted.

Eliza looked over. “Mornin’, Patches,” she greeted, ignoring the early morning comment.

Patches washed herself up quickly before continuing her conversation with Eliza. “So, ‘Liza, why was ya up so eoily dis mornin’?” she asked as they both walked back to their room.

Eliza looked over at her newfound friend and drew her into one of the corners of the room. “Every once in a while, I have these dreams that show me things. I had one early this morning,” she explained.

“What’d ja see?” Patches wondered, quite curious.

“It is of no importance,” she replied quickly. Then she grinned. “Ya wanna see one a the boys think ‘e’s crazy?”

Patches looked at her oddly. “How ya gonna do dat?” she wondered, very interested.

“I can move things without touching them,” she informed.

Patches grinned. “Blink,” she replied.

They both grinned mischievously and crept back to the other room. The boys were busy getting dressed, and the girls were already downstairs waiting for them. Patches pointed to Blink. Eliza concentrated a little and was able to lift several of his belongings off his night table. Blink turned and began to look for them. His brush tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around and found nothing there, not even his brush. It tapped him on the shoulder again. This continued for several minutes. Patches and Eliza couldn’t stop laughing. The other boys just looked at Blink oddly. They couldn’t see what was going on, only that Blink was spinning around constantly. He finally collapsed on his bunk. The two girls laughed hysterically as they slipped out of the room, only to be followed by a curious cowboy.

“Hey, Patches, Eliza,” he called as the two girls nearly tripped down the stairs. They paused in laughing and looked up at him. “What cha laughin’ ‘bout?” he wondered as he stepped down to them.

They both burst out laughing again. After a few minutes, Eliza turned to Jack. “You’ve got to admit, Blink looked pretty funny,” she quipped. They both laughed again and went back downstairs. Jack looked at them both oddly but followed along anyway.

The whole lot of them arrived at the distribution center Race had offered to show Eliza how to sell, but Jack had decided that since he was the leader, it was his duty to show her how to sell. Eliza didn’t mind, but she promised Patches she’d not do anything with Jack. She promised her over and over. Patches finally accepted it and let them go off on their own.

Later that day, Jack was trying to find out all he could about Eliza, but she wasn’t being cooperative. “So, Eliza, where you’se from?” he asked in between headlines.

“Somewhere other than here,” she answered, handing a paper to a young man.

“What’s dat s’posed ta mean?” he asked, stepping in front of her.

Eliza looked right at him. “It means that ya won’t be getting anything out of me,” she replied, turning to sell a few more papers to a wealthy gentleman and his coworkers.

“Eliza, why don’t cha tell me, huh? I ain’t gonna tell no one,” he protested, grabbing her arm and turning her back toward him.

“Jack, your fond of Patches. Why don’t ya ask her ta the next dance?” she asked, changing the subject.

“How— How’d ja know I liked Patches?!” he exclaimed, staring at her.

Eliza realized her error. “She likes ya, too, Jack. I know cuz I watch the both a ya. Just ask her out. You have a dance in about a week. There’s plenty of time to ask her,” she continued. She smiled and turned to a smaller child tugging at her pants. He handed her up a penny. She traded it for one of her papers.

“Tell ya what, I’ll go wit’ Patches if ya meet one a me friends ‘n’ go wit’ him ta da dance,” he offered.

She sighed. “Jack, it’s not an obligation ta go with Patches. You know ya like her very much. If the only way you’ll even ask her to the dance is for me to go with your friend, well, then, you don’t deserve to go with her,” she replied.

“I’ll ask ‘er, Eliza; I swear. It’s jist dat, well, me friend’s gittin’ ovah dis girl. He don’t like none a me girls so much. I mean, he don’t mind ‘em, but ‘e don’t really like ‘em, ya know. He might take to ya,” he explained.

Eliza looked at him. He might take to me, yes, but yer not telling me the whole truth, Jack. This fried of yers does have a broken heart, and you don’t wish him to be this way for too much longer. You’re worried about him. You want him to fall in love with me. This I cannot promise.

“I will meet him, Jack, but I cannot promise anything. I will meet him under one condition. Patches must accompany us,” she replied.

“But Spot hates Patches!” he exclaimed hurriedly.

She smiled. “She comes, or I don’t meet him,” she stated firmly. Jack said nothing in reply. She just laughed lightly and continued selling her papers to the passersby. She followed one a few feet up the street and sold him several of her papers just by her lovely smile.

Jack ran up to her. “Fine, fine, Eliza. We’ll all go aftah lunch,” he decided reluctantly. He knew it wasn’t the brightest idea to bring Patches back to Brooklyn, but he wanted to help his friend.

Eliza turned back to him. “Very well, Jack. Let’s finish up and then be on our way,” she agreed.

He nodded and hurried in finishing his selling. Once he was done, the two of them hurried back to Tibby’s for lunch and to retrieve Patches. They were greeted warmly in Tibby’s. Eliza went to join Patches and Cranberry Wine at their table. Jack sat with Crutchy, Race, and Kid Blink. They all socialized for about half an hour. Both tables knew that something was up with their newest companion. Only Patches actually asked.

“So, ‘Liza, what’s up? Ya seem a bit, well, distracted,” she noted, glancing over at Cranberry Wine.

“Jack’s taking us to meet a boy by the name of Spot,” she answered and took a sip of her sarsaparilla.

Both girls stared at her without saying a word. Patches finally spoke. “Us?” she asked.

“I can’t very well go anywhere without you, Patches. Jack would be mighty disappointed,” she answered, taking a last bite of her mashed potatoes.

Both girls were very interested in how Eliza’s day had gone. “What’d ju tell ‘im, ‘Liza?” Patches hissed.

“He likes ya, Patches. He just won’t fess up to it,” she answered simply, setting her fork down on her plate.

Cranberry Wine grinned. “I tol’ ja ‘e liked ja, Patches!” she squealed.

Patches was ecstatic for a moment, then her expression faded. “Wait, wait, wait,” she began, waving her hands in the air. “Ya said Spot, right?” She nodded. “As in Brooklyn?” She shrugged. Patches put her head in her hands. “He knows I ain’t allowed in Brooklyn,” she mumbled.

Eliza put a hand on Patches’ shoulder. “Don’t worry, Patches. Nothing’ll happen to ya,” she soothed.

“Uh, Eliza?” Eliza turned to Cranberry Wine. “Ya don’t git it. See, a couple a months ago, she was in Brooklyn. She got inta a bit a trouble, ‘n’ Spot tol’ ‘er dat if she evah stepped foot in Brooklyn agin, she’d be sawry,” she explained.

Eliza looked straight at Cranberry Wine. “Wine,” she began, “I do understand. I understand better than ya think. The meeting will go well. Ya need not worry ‘bout yer friend. She will return without a scratch.”

“How d’ya know dat? How kin ya be shoah dat ‘e won’t touch ‘er?” Cranberry Wine demanded.

To keep from answering the question, Eliza knocked over one of the trays that one of the waiters carried. He tripped and fell to the floor. Everyone turned to see what had happened. The discussion was dropped just as quickly as the tray had been. When it was decided that it wasn’t important, Jack strode over to the table.

“Uh, you’se two ready?” he asked, looking between Patches and Eliza.

Eliza nodded and took hold of Patches’ hand and pulled them both out of the booth. “Lead the way, Jack,” she said. Jack nodded and led them both out of the restaurant.

Once they were in the street, Eliza hung back a few steps and just followed both Patches and Jack. She let them talk but kept close enough so that she wouldn’t get lost. They crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, and Patches instantly became tense. Jack took hold of her hand to soothe her. She loosened up a little but was still visibly nervous. They continued until they were nearing the end of a pier. A boy not much taller than five and a half feet and wearing red suspenders approached them, scowling at Patches and ignoring the other two as if he hadn’t seen them at all.

“I thought I tol’ ja good ‘nuff las’ time dat ya wasn’t wanted in Brooklyn, Patches,” he barked, raising a hand to hit her.

Eliza grabbed his wrist before he could touch Patches. “Didn’t tyour mother evah teyoll you that it’s impolite to hit a gerl?” she asked, mimicking her mother’s words and English accent.

The boy looked over at her, stunned that anyone would dare stop him and shocked that someone had the courage to do so. “Who’re you?” he asked, letting his hand return to his side and turning to face her.

“Eliza O’Dell,” she replied, dropping the accent. “You must be Spot Conlon.” She looked at him coolly.

Spot gulped and extended his hand to shake hers. “Spot Conlon, dat’s me,” he greeted.

Eliza shook his hand, seeing many interesting images in the process. She took her hand back and ran the fingers of her opposite hand across her palm. “You’ve led an interestin’ life,” she noted.

Spot looked at her, very intrigued. “How d’ya know ‘bout me life?” he wondered.

“Your reputation precedes you,” Eliza replied, nodding to Jack.

Spot spun around and saw Jack standing there for the first time. “Kelly! Nice seein’ ya heh’, but, uh, why’d ja bring da brat?” he said, nodding toward Patches.

“Well, I… uh…”

“I’m afraid that’s my fault.” Spot spun back to her. “Jack wanted the two of us to meet, but I told him that I wouldn’t go anywhere without my good friend Patches. If anyone should be blamed for her presence here, it should be me,” she explained calmly, leaning against one of the pillars.

Spot was mystified. No one had spoken to him the way she did before. There was something about her that drew him to her. The look in her eyes, like she had him all figured out, was something he’d never seen before. “Who awe ye?” he asked, staring at her.

The corners of her mouth rose slightly. “That seems ta be the question a the hour,” she answered, glancing back at Patches. “Jack and his boys’re havin’ a party Friday evening. Would you like ta attend?” She kept her eyes on his and an indifferent look on her face.

Spot was lost in her eyes for a moment. “Shoah, da pawdy, I’ll go,” he answered, nodding a little.

Eliza closed her eyes and inclined her head politely. “Very well. We look forward ta seein’ ya there,” she replied, standing straight up and walking toward Patches. “Good day, Spot Conlon,” she said as she turned and headed up the pier with Patches.

“Uh, Jack?” Spot began as he watched this strange girl leave his pier.

“Yeah, Spot?” Jack asked, looking over at his friend.

“Where’d ja find ‘er? She’s goigious.”

“An alley a couple a blocks from da lodgin’ house.”

“What was she doin’ dere?”

“Gettin’ soaked by da Delanceys.”

Spot whipped his head around and stared at Jack. “Da Delanceys! Why dose scabbahs,” he said and continued to mumble some profanities.

Meanwhile, up the pier, Patches was trying to figure out what had just happened. “I ain’t nevah seen Spot act like dat before. What’d ja do to ‘im?” she asked.

“I can’t control ‘is mind, Patches, if that’s what cher askin’,” she replied.

“Den what ‘appened? How’s ‘e git all moony-eyed?” she wondered.

Eliza smiled a little. “It’s amazin’ what a confidant look and a smile can do for ya,” she laughed,

Patches laughed, too, and continued on back to Manhattan with her friend. Jack joined them a few minutes later. They all went back to Manhattan in a very good mood. Everyone at the lodging house was curious as to what happened in Brooklyn. Patches explained it all to the girls in the “gossip session” in their room while Jack just answered a few questions in the boys’ room.

“So, Patches, what ‘appened in Brooklyn?” the blond-haired Apples asked as she plopped down in the floor in front of Patches’ bed.

“Aw, it was amazin’. Spot was gonna hit me, but ‘Liza heah, she grabbed ‘is wrist ‘n’ tol’ ‘im… tol’ ‘im… What’d ja say agin, ‘Liza?” Patches said and turned to Eliza.

Eliza thought for a moment. “Mmm, I believe I said ‘didn’t yer mother ever tell you nevah ta hit a girl,’ “ she answered, looking up from the book she was reading. The girls laughed.

“So what ‘appened, Jack?” Race asked, a cigar between his fingers.

“Did Spot hoit Patches?” Blink wondered.

“What’d ‘e do ta Eliza?” Jake wanted to know.

Jack laughed. “Well, see, Spot was gonna hit Patches, see, but Eliza grabbed ‘is hand ‘n’ tol’ ‘im not ta hit girls. Den ‘e got all moony-eyed,” he chuckled.

“So what’d Spot do ‘bout Eliza?” the gangly girl named Spider asked as she lay down on her belly across from Patches.

“Nuttin’. When ‘e shook ‘er hand, ‘e couldn’t keep ‘is eyes off a ‘er. Ya should a seen ‘im! Spot Conlon ain’t so mighty no more,” she laughed. Everyone else laughed hysterically. Eliza just chuckled and crept out of the room.

“You’se sayin’ dat Spot Conlon was all speechless ‘n’ mushy?!” Specs exclaimed, laughing.

“Yeah! I mean, I ain’t seen ‘im dis love-struck evah,” Jack answered. They all laughed.

“Boy, I wish I could git Eliza ta like me!” Jake mentioned. “She’s so goigious.” He sighed.

“Why, thank you,” Eliza announced as she walked across the room. Jake’s face turned beet red as most of the other boys just looked shocked.

“Uh, Eliza, how long ya been in da room?” Jack inquired, stepping up to her.

Eliza glanced over at him. “Long enough to hear what Jake said,” she answered plainly. “Don’t worry, Jack. If yer conversation’s anything like theirs, yer discussing how strange Spot Conlon was acting when we met. It’s not exactly a private conversation.” She laughed. Nothing is with you boys. She chuckled again and went into the washroom to clean up a little.

Jack followed her in. “So, ya’s okay wit’ goin’ ta da dance wit’ Spot den?” he asked.

Eliza turned to him after she turned the sink on. She proceeded to wash her hands as she spoke to Jack. “Spot is a handsome boy, so I’ll go with him to the dance.” Jack grinned. “Howevah, I will not promise anythin’ more,” she said, rinsing the soap off her hands.

“Great, den I got a favah ta ask,” he said, hopeful.

She shut the sink off. “I won’t ask ‘er for ya, Jack. I’ll tell ‘er ya want to speak with ‘er, but I won’t ask ‘er for you,” she stated, turning to face him fully and putting one hand on her hip.

“Aw, c’mon, please, jist dis once,” he pleaded. Several of the boys moved to the doorway to listen.

“No, Jack,” she replied, occupying herself around the washroom. She knew the boys were outside the door, but she wanted to give them time to get the wrong idea.

“Eliza, c’mon, please. I don’t wanna go alone,” he said. The boys began whispering, but Race hushed them quickly. He sent Blink into the other room.

“No, Jack,” she said more firmly and walked out into the bunk room in time to see Blink return with Patches, a hurt expression on her face. “Ah, Patches, good, yer here,” she greeted. Patches looked as if she were about to cry. “Jack’s got somethin’ he’d like ta ask you,” Eliza continued, folding her arms over her chest and turning back to Jack. Everyone looked at Jack expectantly.

“Well… uh… I…” he stammered.

Patches bit her lip and held back the tears. “What, Jack?” she asked, not meaning to sound bitter. Eliza continued to look at him, waiting.

“I… Well, ya see…” he continued to babble. He just couldn’t seem to find the words.

Eliza concentrated on him. Jist tell ‘er, Jack. Jack jerked his head over and stared at her, wondering why he’d just heard her voice. She had a hard look on her face. He turned back to Patches. He closed his eyes and spoke as quickly as possible.

“I wanned ta know it ya wanned ta go wit’ me ta da dance nex’ Friday!” he said as if it were one word. Patches just stared at him, wide-eyed and stunned. Eliza smirked. Patches finally found her voice.

“I’d love ta,” she answered, still shocked. The rest of the boys were a mixture of surprised and expectant. They knew that Jack had liked her ever since she'd arrived, but they were confused about the whole scene between him and Eliza in the washroom.

“My work here’s done,” Eliza smiled and walked out of the room. She grabbed Patches’ arm on the way by and pulled her out of the room.

“How’d ya git ‘im ta ask me?” she asked, more loudly than she’d meant to. Jack blushed profusely.

Eliza just turned a nonchalant look to her friend. I jist surprised him, is all. Patches stared at her. It’s easiah with you, Patches. We could carry on an entire conversation like this, and I wouldn’t evah have to concentrate as hard as I do with Jack.

“But, how…”

Eliza sighed and spoke. “I’m sorry, Patches. I didn’t mean ta make ya uncomfortable,” she said quietly as they stood in the hallway between the two bunk rooms. “I won’t do it anymore if ya don’t want.”

“It’s jist a little weird. I ain’t had no one in me head befoah,” Patches shrugged.

Eliza chuckled. “I s’pose it can be a bit disconcerting if it’s never happened before. But, if ya like, I can help ya so that you can get inside my head,” she replied, keeping her voice low.

“How ya gonna do dat?” Patches whispered, curious.

“Everyone’s got the ability ta do it; it’s just more pronounced in some, like me. I’ve been able ta do all a this since I was five. Fer people with a weaker sense, ya gotta work harder. Sell with me fer a couple a days, ‘n’ we’ll start yer trainin’,” Eliza explained.

Patches grinned. “Awright, whatta we do?” she answered, eager to learn.

“Go up on the roof. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Eliza instructed. Patches nodded and hurried up to the roof. Eliza went back into the girls’ room and retrieved a necklace she’d taken off earlier.

“Hey, Eliza, what happened ta Patches?” the small blond named Angel wondered.

Eliza looked over at her. “Jack asked her ta the party,” she answered simply and headed out of the room.

“What?!?!” Pepper screeched, attracting the attention of the rest of the room.

“Jack ‘n’ Patches’re goin’ ta the party tagether,” Eliza repeated.

“Where are dey?” Cranberry Wine demanded excitedly.

“Jack’s in the other room, and Patches is up on the roof,” she replied.

“Aw, I gotta go tawk wit’ ‘er!” Cranberry Wine continued, hurrying out of the room. Eliza stepped into her path. “Whatta ya doin’?”

“She wishes ta be left alone,” Eliza explained.

“I dunno what she tol’ ju, but I’se goin’ up dere,” Cranberry Wine stated.

“No,” Eliza stated firmly. Everyone looked at her oddly. “She asked me ta fetch her journal and then leave ‘er alone, but I’m afraid I couldn’t find it.” She knew that the journal would make Cranberry Wine back off.

“Aw, yeah, she keeps it hidden. Gnat?” Cranberry Wine said, looking over her shoulder as the young girl. Gnat stuck her hand under one of the mattresses and brought a tattered book out. She handed it to Cranberry Wine. “She don’t like ta be distoibed when she’s writin’ in it.” She shrugged and handed to journal to Eliza.

“Thank you,” Eliza replied with a smile and took the journal. She left and went up to the roof.

“What took ya?” Patches asked, pacing.

“Sorry. Wine was givin’ me a hard time, so I brought yer journal,” Eliza said as she walked over to Patches.

“But, how’d ya know…”

“There aren’t any secrets I don’t know ‘bout in this house.” She smiled and sat down. Patches sat, too. Eliza handed her the necklace. “My mother gave this ta me when I was learnin’. I don’t know if it really has powers er not, but I always thought it did. You’ll wear it till yer skilled enough ta do without it.”

“Thanks,” Patches said as she took the jewel. She looked at it and then put it on. She took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Eliza held out her hands, and Patches placed her hands in Eliza’s. “Now, I’m going to make it so that you can…” She thought of the right way to put it. “…tap into my skills. Now, by doing this, ya might go a little crazy. You’ll be hearing most everyone’s thoughts. I’ll try to make it easier on you and block most of them out. We’ll start with only mine and see how yer doing. If yer fine, we’ll add a few more. This’ll continue fer a few days. Do ya have a problem with any a this?” she continued.

“I git it,” Patches answered with a nod.

“All right. Close yer eyes, concentrate, and listen,” Eliza instructed. Patches did as she was told. Eliza began to tell a story. It really had nothing to do with the situation, but it was a good way to start. Half-way through the story, she stopped speaking and just thought the words. After a while, she didn’t have to project her thoughts as much. Patches was a fast learner. By the time the story was over, Patches was reading Eliza’s words mostly. Eliza smiled and released Patches’ hands.

Patches opened her eyes and looked at Eliza. “Was dat it?” she wondered.

Eliza nodded solemnly. “Right now you’re only able ta hear my thoughts. In a day er so, we’ll add a few more. Till then, just try ta deal with hearin’ my words. I’ll keep it light till ya get used to it.” Patches nodded. “Now, why don’t ya write in yer journal. I have some boys ta tend to,” she said as she stood and headed toward the fire escape.

“Don’t tease ‘em too much, Liza,” Patches laughed.

Oh, come now, ya know me better ‘an that. Eliza laughed as she climbed over the edge of the roof and started down the fire escape. Patches laughed back and opened her journal.

“Hey, Jack, ya seen Eliza anywheres?” Jake asked.

“Not in a while. How come?” Jack answered, running his hand through his dark brown hair.

“Well, I wanned ta ask ‘er ta da dance,” he answered shyly.

“You’se too late, Jake. She’s goin’ wit’ Spot,” Jack answered, shrugging.

“Only as a favor,” Eliza commented, walking up to the two boys. Jake jumped, and Jack just looked at her in surprise.

“Now ya said ya go wit’ ‘im,” Jack reminded sternly.

“I won’t go back on my word, Jack, but the fact remains. I am neither fond of him nor do I hate him. I haven’t been here long enough to make any decisions of that sort,” she answered simply. She turned to Jake. “But I’ll save you a dance.” She smiled.

“Spot ain’t gonna be too happy ‘bout dat,” Jake mumbled.

“I don’t see why. I don’t belong to him, as he’ll soon find out if he tries to make me.” Patches, would you like Jack to come visit you?

Can ya do dat?

I’ll send him up. “On another note, Jack, Patches is on the roof writin’ in her journal, but I don’t think she’d mind if you interrupted her,” she said. She smiled again and left the room. Jack thought for a minute and then headed up to the roof. He’s all yours, Patches. She smiled and went back to the book she’d been reading earlier.

Up on the roof, Patches just sat in the center, writing in her journal. Jack came up from behind and just watched her in the moonlight. God she’s beautiful. He continued to watch her silently.

Patches looked up sharply but didn’t turn. What was dat? She wasn’t sure of what she’d just heard.

Sorry, Patches. I thought you’d like to hear that thought of Jack’s.

It’s fine, jist warn me next time! She laughed a little and turned. “Hey, Jack,” she greeted, smiling a little.

“Eliza said ya was up heah. I hope ya don’t mind me interruptin’ ya,” he answered, sauntering over to her.

Patches closed her journal and stood up, leaving the book on the ground. “I don’t mind. I was actually kinda hopin’ ya’d come up,” she answered, smiling some more.

Jack grinned when he saw her smile. “Eliza pulled ja outta dere so quick dat we didn’t have much time ta tawk,” he ventured.

Patches shrugged. “She was jist tryin’ ta help. I think she brought me up here so’s ya could come up, ‘n’ we could be alone,” she answered.

Jack looked like he was about to say something but decided against it and went with something else. “I jist wanned ta make shoah ya’s okay wit’ us goin’ ta da pawdy tageddah. I mean, dere’s still time if ya don’t wanna…” He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t particularly want to finish the sentence.

Patches was quiet for a moment, trying to come up with something to say. Eliza helped her along a little. She picked up her journal and turned to Jack. “I’ve wanned ta be wit’ ya since da day I got heah,” she said quietly. With that, she headed back downstairs into the girls’ room.

When she walked through the door, half the room jumped up to ask her questions. Eliza just raised her eyes to greet her. “Thanks, Liza,” Patches said with a grin. Eliza just inclined her head, saying nothing. The other girls proceeded to interrogate Patches about the entire situation.

A few minutes later, Jack knocked on the doorframe and poked his head in. The room looked over at him, most of them grinning broadly and giggling. Jack turned his gaze toward Eliza. “We still on fer sellin’ tageddah tamorrah?” he asked.

Eliza looked up from her book. “Oh, Patches and I’re sellin’ together tomorrah,” she answered, forgetting that he hadn’t been informed.

Jack was clearly shocked. “But… I thought we was…” He couldn’t seem to find the words.

Eliza stood slowly and walked over to him. “Patches asked fer a favor. In return, I asked ta sell with her,” she explained just as slowly.

“Oh,” Jack mumbled.

Before he could say anything further, there was a screech from the other room. “I’M GONNA KILL DAT DAMN BRUSH!! IT’S POSSESSED!!” Blink screamed, running after the floating brush, which only he seemed to be able to see, with one of the younger boy’s wooden swords. The boys in the room looked at him oddly while the girls hurried into the other room. Patches immediately looked at Eliza. She grinned wickedly and shrugged. They both joined everyone in the other room, trying not to laugh as Blink swung at the air and the bunks with the sword. The others were too shocked for words.

After about five more minutes of this, Eliza created a false image in Blink’s mind and returned the brush to his night table. She turned her eyes to Race and suggested that he look at the table. He turned to the table and picked up the old brush.

“Hey, uh, Blink?” Blink turned. “Dis what cha lookin’ fer?” Race said, holding up the brush.

Blink stared at him and at the brush. “Yeah, but…” He spun back around and still saw the brush where it floated. He looked between the two brushes, not believing what he was seeing. He rubbed his eye and looked again at the floating brush, but it had vanished.

“Maybe ya should git yer good eye checked out, Blink,” Specs suggested, touching his glasses.

“I kin see poifectly fine, Specs,” Blink retorted spitefully. He dropped the sword on the floor and stormed over to his bunk, whisking the brush out of Race’s hand on the way. He set it down on the table and then plopped down on his bunk, hiding his face in his pillow.

Everyone laughed but soon went back to what they had been doing before the insanity broke out. Blink just groaned and decided that he needed sleep, so he went to sleep quickly. Patches and Eliza were the last ones out of the room.

Yer really evil, ya know dat? Patches meant to sound condescending, but she couldn’t contain her delighted grin.

Perhaps, but, you must admit, it is funny. Don’t worry. In due time he’ll know he’s not going completely insane. Eliza was quite sure of herself. She was one of the most confidant people that Patches had ever met. It could have been because she never had to worry about what people thought of her. She already knew.

Part 2

Back to the Menu

© 1997 Birdie Kelley

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page