Si Yo Soy

by Blaze

Chapter 1
“Ya don’t really think that pic got in da pape do ya?” Blaze asked Bumlets with obvious worry on her face. Last week was that little run in with the photographer. Now it was the afternoon of February 13th. Blaze had been thinking about this everyday since he took that photo. Who knows what endless teasing would happen if every Newsie in the lodging house went to the distribution center only to see Blaze and Bumlets kissing on the front page of their newspaper. “Or maybe he was entering it for another pape. It couldn’t be for da Woild. Yeah, it was for another pape,” she convinced herself.

Bumlets had to chuckle. “Will ya calm down already? So what if it gets in da pape. Dey probably won’t be able to tell who da two are dat are kissin’. It ain’t like he got our names or nothin’. Just take it easy.”

“And ya still owe me dat twenty-five cents,” Blaze smirked. The night of their little discovery, Bumlets took Blaze for a long walk around Central Park. The money wasn’t brought up again that evening. The two were way more interested in finding out how they felt about each other. And Blaze actually went a whole night without stealing Bumlets’ cap or walking stick.

Rolling his eyes, Bumlets reached into his pocket where he kept his earnings, along with what the photographer had given them for the photo op. “Heah ya go,” he said as he handed over the money.

“Nah, keep it,” Blaze closed his open hand and pushed it back towards him. “Ya can use it to take me out to dinnah tonight,” she smiled.

“Oh, I can, can I?” Bumlets raised a brow as he shoved the money back in his pocket. “And wheah would Miss Lanigan like to go dis evening?” he asked as he bowed and extended his arm.

After taking his arm, Blaze poked him in the side. “I would like to go for a lovely outing in da park, followed by nice dinnah for two…someplace other then Tibby’s,” she stated sternly. “If dat’s okay with ya of course.” Not only was she worrying about seeing her face on the newspaper in the morning, but tomorrow was yet another birthday, and another day to remember what happened two years ago.

A smile crossed Bumlets’ lips. “Shoah. We’se off to da park den,” he announced with his walking stick high in the air. He had been guarding that walking stick even more now that Blaze was his girl. He knew there was going to come a time when he was caught off guard, and that would be the exact moment she would take off with it. Not to mention how many times she had already run off with his hat.

The two walked to the park without their normal reverie. Bumlets could tell Blaze was off in deep thought. She walked at an accelerated pace, and paid almost no attention to anything Bumlets had pointed out along the way. Though he was terribly afraid to pry, he thought that with the new standing of their relationship, he could at least try to help with whatever was bothering her.

“So, tomorrah bein’ your boithday and all. Got anythin’ in mind dat ya wanted to do?” Bumlets inquired.

Blaze had hardly recognized that he had spoken to her. She looked over to him, her deep state of thought still evident on her face. “Huh? Oh, right. Tomorrah. Um, well it’s just another day. No need to make a fuss or nothin’.”

Bumlets frowned. “Just another day? It ain’t just another day. Come on Blaze. Dis is going to be da foist time since ya came heah dat I get to celebrate it with you. It’s your day,” he protested, though his words came gentle, in case there was a hidden reason of why she didn’t want to celebrate it. He was almost certain there was.

The walk to the park seemed to stretch endlessly for Blaze had no intention of telling him the reason she didn’t want to celebrate her birthday. There was no good reason to celebrate it. This was going to be the second year that she was now without her mother and brother. She was the one who stood there in the doorway, watching as her father continued his bloody rampage. She was the one who did nothing as he killed both her mother and Viktor. He was only ten. That wasn’t supposed to happen. It wasn’t supposed to end up like this at all.

“Blaze? Hey Blaze?” Bumlets asked. She was off in her own train of thought again. He was asking her about her birthday and she hadn’t heard a word that he had said. “Blaze are ya alright?” he asked as he lightly squeezed her hand.

Her thought process was interrupted once she felt Bumlets’ hand tighten around her own. Her eyes were about to tear from thinking about all this. She answered him without looking over. “Yeah, fine. Just thinkin’ about….about dat pape tomorrah,” she lied.

As they neared the park, Bumlets led her to bench and motioned for her to sit down. There was something there that she was not telling him. He wanted to find out why she looked so distraught. “Ya can’t be dis upset ovah dat pape. What else ya thinking ‘bout?” he furthered.

Keeping her eyes on the cobblestones beneath them, Blaze defended what she had answered previously. “No, dat’s about it. Just worried what da Newsies will think.” She couldn’t tell him what had happened. It was none of his concern. She was going to have to deal with it herself, like she had for two years. This year wasn’t going to be any different.

Bumlets scooted closer to her as he slid his arm around her shoulder. “If it was only dat, den why are ya so upset? Ya haven’t hoid one thing I said on da way ovah heah, and now ya look…well ya look like something terrible happened.” He wasn’t sure if she would ever open up to him. He knew there was something else there that she wouldn’t disclose.

Blaze sighed. “I’se just tired. Dat’s why I look so bad. Really. I’se just exhausted.” He wouldn’t want to heah what really happened. There’s no way I wanna subject him to listening to the real reason I came up to New York. Blaze pulled away from Bumlets and stood up. “I think I should be gittin’ back to the lodging house now. Um, Jade wanted me to meet her dere for something and I forgot.” Blaze hoped Jade would be at that lodging house when she got there. It was the only thing she could come up with as a good excuse to get out of talking about what was bothering her.

This wasn’t like Blaze at all, and Bumlets knew it. She had never pulled away from him like that before. What was going on? What was she hiding from me? He could see that pain in her eyes again. Its presence had increased over this past week. “Oh. Well I wouldn’t want ya to be late den. I’ll walk ya back.” Would she let me go with her? He didn’t want to leave her alone now. She looked so fragile.

He couldn’t go with her. What if Jade wasn’t really home? Then she would be caught in a lie. She hated lying to him, but she didn’t know how to express just what was eating at her. “Oh ya don’t gotta do dat. I can make it back alright. Besides Jade and I are gonna be so busy. Ya should go ovah to Tibby’s and hang out wit da fellas.” She smiled encouragingly. “Go have some fun, and I’ll see ya latah tonight.”

Bumlets stood up and took her hands. “Only if your shoah about dis. I’d much rathah walk ya home,” he stated and looked her straight in the eye. He squeezed her hands lightly. Something wasn’t right. He could feel it, but how could he get her to tell him?

“Yeah I’se shoah. I’ll be just fine. I bettah get goin’. Jade will be waiting for me.” Blaze really didn’t want to leave him. She wanted to tell him what had happened, but something inside her insisted that she not divulge anything - that he didn’t deserve to hear such a horrible story. She wished she could just hide in his arms for awhile. If only that would make this all go away.

Bumlets could tell she didn’t fully want to leave. He pulled her closer to himself and wrapped his arms around her. “Alright. I’ll go to Tibby’s for awhile, but den I’se comin’ straight back to dat lodging house to see ya,” he insisted. He kissed her forehead and slowly let her go.

Blaze nodded. “Yeah, see ya latah den,” she smiled. “Bye.” Blaze took off for the lodging house as quick as she could. She didn’t want to seem anxious to leave Bumlets, for she was quite the opposite, but she had to make sure Jade was home. She hoped Jade hadn’t gone to Tibby’s. The thought only pressed her to walk faster.


****
“Heya Bums!” Dutchy greeted. “We wasn’t shoah if ya was coming to Tibby’s today. Or at least not without your tagalong,” he teased. “Speakin’ a which, wheah’s Blaze?”

Bumlets grabbed a seat and frowned at Dutchy. “Ya still won’t let up about dis whole Valentine’s date thing will ya? Dat was two years ago.” He shook his head and lowered his voice. “Besides I don’t spend all me time wit her. I’se heah ain’t I?” he asked. He nudged Dutchy in the side. “Just cause she’s way bettah company den you doesn’t mean ya gotta tease me ‘bout spendin’ time wit her. Ya do dat sorta thing when you’se got a goil. Not like ya would undahstand dat,” Bumlets smirked. Dutchy was forever teasing him. He couldn’t begin to imagine how much teasing would come out of that paper tomorrow if their picture were on the front page.

Abruptly Dutchy changed the subject. “Aw don’t be so sore bout it. Anyway, ya goin’ out wit us tomorrah night like we planned? Medda said it’s gonna be a great dance.” He nudged Bumlets in the side.

“Well, yeah I think I’se goin’. I ain’t exactly asked Blaze yet,” Bumlets sighed. They were too busy thinking about tomorrow’s edition of the paper to even consider going to the dance. “I’ll ask her tonight. Let’s eat. I’se starvin’.”


****
A light snow began to flutter down through the streets as Blaze headed up the stairs of the lodging house. Please be heah Jade. She opened the door and took a quick look around the lobby with no luck. “Jade?” she called. “Jade ya heah?” Blaze walked up the creaking steps and entered the bunkroom. “Jade?” Still no word. Just where was she? She always comes back heah instead of going to Tibby’s. Dat is, if Jack don’t ask her to go. Oh no. Not Tibby’s. Bumlets will be there.

“Kloppman! Hey Klopp!” Blaze yelled as she raced back down the steps.

“Blaze? What is it? Wheah’s da fire?” Kloppman asked as he popped his head into the lobby from the kitchen.

“Have ya seen Jade lately?” Blaze asked hurriedly.

“Shoah. She came back heah ‘bout half an hour ago, but Jack showed up and took her out. I think dey said dey was goin’ to Tibby’s,” he answered.

“Crap,” Blaze frowned. “Dis can’t be happening. Oh what is he gonna think,” she mumbled as she headed back up the stairs, her head down. I lied to him. Dis is horrible. But…how can I tell him what happened to me? How? What is he gonna think?

Kloppman shook his head and returned to the kitchen. “Goils dese days,” he chuckled.


****
“Jack this better be important. Tibby’s isn’t my best idea of a cheerful afternoon. Let’s go to the park or something huh?” Jade begged. Why did she always say yes to Jack? It was one of her few weaknesses. He must have some hidden charm she hadn’t figured out yet.

“Aw please Jade?” Jack pouted. “We’se goin’ to da park…right aftah we eat,” he grinned. His stomach growled in agreement. “I’se hungry and I ain’t had nothin’ all day. Please?” He kneeled in the snow and used his puppy dog eyes.

Jade rolled her eyes. “Oh for the love of…get up off that ground and stop making a fool out of yourself,” she demanded.

“Please?” Jack pleaded in a whining tone. He didn’t budge from the snow.

“Okay, okay! Anything to get you to stop bringing attention to us. Gosh this is embarrassing. Get up already.” She couldn’t help but giggle slightly. It wasn’t just any day that you witnessed Jack Kelly on his knees begging. She should complain more often.

Jack grinned and stood up as he brushed the snow from his pants. “Great let’s go den.” He extended his arm to her and strode down the street.

The bells atop the door at Tibby’s alerted the customers to a new set of hungry stomachs. Jade walked in first, followed by Jack. Bumlets glanced up to see who had entered and dropped his fork to the table. Wheah’s Blaze? He couldn’t let this go. He stood up and approached Jade quickly.

Jade smiled as she saw Bumlets. “Heya,” she greeted.

“Hey. Um, wheah’s Blaze?” he asked immediately.

Jade raised a brow. “Blaze? I don’t know. I thought she’d be with you. Isn’t she here?”

“No, she said she had to do somethin’ wit ya. She said she was goin’ back to da lodgin’ house,” he frowned. Why would she lie to me?

Jade sighed and pulled Bumlets off to a corner, leaving Jack to find a table for the two. “Bums, look I don’t know how to tell ya this, or rather I can’t tell you…” Bumlets cut her off.

“Can’t tell me what? What’s goin’ on?” he asked. What is she hiding from me?

“Just listen for a sec. Bums, I’m the only one that knows what really happened, and why Blaze is here, and that took a great deal of trust on her part. It has something to do with tomorrow, and it’s probably the reason she took off today,” Jade explained. She didn’t want to break her cousin’s trust, but Jade cared so much for both Blaze and Bumlets and she knew eventually either Bumlets would find out about her past, or the two would go their separate ways if she continued to hide this from him.

Bumlets frowned deeply. “Why won’t she tell me? We’se best friends, yet still I can’t get her to tawk to me. I care so much for her, and I just wanna see dat she’s safe. How can I get her to tawk to me?” He asked with pleading eyes.

“Stay by her side. Don’t leave her alone too much. Try not to get upset when she closes you off. I know she’ll open up at some point. I just can’t be sure when that will come. Whatever you do, if you truly care for her, like I am sure you do, don’t give up on her, ya hear?” Jade said sincerely.

“I ain’t gonna leave her Jade. Dat I can promise ya.” He spoke earnestly. He ran a hand through his dark hair and glanced out the door.

Jade saw the eagerness in his face. She knew he wanted to find her. She gave a slight nod of her head and smiled. “Den what are ya doing standing in this restaurant? Go find her.” Before she could slide into the booth Jack had picked out, she heard the jingle of the bells above the door signaling Bumlets’ hastened exit from Tibby’s.


****
I left ‘em dere. Why didn’t I do somethin’ about it? Blaze didn’t care that the weather had grown increasingly worse. She sat on the roof of the lodging house immersed in thought. The cold seemed to escape her mind. She ran her frigid fingers over the scar on her wrist. Why did dat barkeep stop me anyway… What good am I now? I can’t even tell Bums what is wrong wit me. I’se just wastin’ away heah. Ain’t no good comin’ out of dis is dere? What’s bein’ a newsie gonna get me for da rest of me life?

The snow had evolved from a slight flurry to an encompassing white blanket, covering the city in a calm, white splendor. Blaze didn’t care that she was about to become a snow-covered statue. She sat in still silence, detached from her surroundings. She didn’t see the snow, the roof of the lodging house, or the city. She saw her father, raging with anger. She saw her mother trying to protect her only son in vain. She saw herself, motionless in the doorway, watching it happen again. Hot tears trickled down her face, burning a path of slight warmth on her icy cheeks.

Shivering, Bumlets entered the lodging house and brushed the snow from his threadbare coat. His brown eyes glanced around the lobby only to find it inhabited by a few of the younger newsies. In the kitchen he saw Kloppman hard at work. “Hey Klopp, ya seen Blaze around heah?” His teeth chattered as he spoke.

Kloppman looked up from the table and nodded. “She came back a little bit ago. Must be upstairs still. Honestly I think I need to get a secretary for you news…” Before he could finish he heard Bumlets pounding up the steps. He sighed and cleaned his spectacles with his shirt, remembering the days when he had that amount of energy. A smile crept on his wrinkled face as he leaned back in the wooden chair, memories overcoming his thoughts.

The door to the bunkroom revealed no sign of Blaze inside. Bumlets towards the washroom only to find that she was not in any of the stalls either. Wheah is she? Did she go out again? But Kloppman would’ve seen her go…well he might of. Oh God I hope she ain’t out in dis weather.

As he turned to exit the washroom, a slight breeze caught his attention. His head cocked in the direction of the window. It was open an inch or so, inviting in wayward snowflakes. She wouldn’t be up dere…would she? No one in dere right mind would be up on da roof in dis weather. “Oh no, Blaze.”

Immediately he darted over to the window and thrust it open. The wind greeted him with powerful force. His eyesight was hindered by the amount of falling snow. Surely this winter storm had turned into a blizzard. Carefully he climbed the icy rails of the fire escape. Though he wanted to get to the roof as quickly as possible, the condition of the escape warned him it would be best to take his time. His boots struggled to keep their hold on the iron steps.

Once he conquered the fire escape, Bumlets peered out around the roof. The snow made it almost impossible to see farther than a few feet. He called out as loud as his throat would allow. “Blaze?! Blaze ya out heah?!”

Blaze was frozen stiff against the wall. She trembled out of fear and the cold. Her father’s voice rang through her head, jolting her body each time she heard it. He kept calling her newsie name. How does he know me name? Is he heah in da city? Does he know where I am?

“Blaze!” Bumlets collapsed beside her and took hold of her shoulders. She was covered in snow. Good Lord, how long has she been up heah?

“Let me go!” she shrieked and wriggled from the tight grasp she was under. Her eyes remained closed. “Ya killed ‘em! Lemme go!”

“Blaze! Blaze, it’s me, Bumlets! It’s okay. I’se heah.” His words came soothingly as he tried to calm her down. Who is she tawkin’ bout? Killed who?

Blaze cowered against the wall, throwing her hands around her head. “No! Leave me alone!” He found me…he found me…

“It’s okay now. It’s Bumlets. No one’s gonna hoit ya. It’s me Bumlets.” He was afraid to touch her again. He kneeled next to her, feeling so helpless. He moved his hands towards her again, but each time he got close to her, she pulled away. It was if his touch seared her skin.

He found me…he found me, but how? How would he…Bumlets? “Bumlets?” Blaze’s eyes peered out from beneath her arms. “Dat - dat you?”

“Yeah, it’s me. I’se heah. It’s okay.” His arms encased her as Bumlets pulled Blaze towards him. “You’se freezin’ to death out heah. Come on, let’s get ya inside.” He looked up only to see that the fire escape was no longer in view. The blizzard was getting worse. Blaze clutched onto him as he pulled her up.

“Da storm’s gettin’ woise! We gotta get down dat escape before we get stuck up heah!” Bumlets yelled over the howling of the wind. He shielded Blaze from as much of the storm as he could. Cautiously, the pair walked towards where they remembered the fire escape to be, for the snow had completely covered it up. Once Bumlets was certain they had found it, he helped Blaze back down to the bunkroom.

Though he wanted to question her sanity right now, he was more concerned for her health. He had no idea how long Blaze was up on that roof. He helped her brush as much snow off as possible in the washroom and accompanied Blaze to her bunk. Looking her over, he sighed, “I think ya gotta change. Your gonna freeze in dose wet clothes.”

Shivering, Blaze nodded her head. She grabbed the only other pair of clothes she owned and walked back to the washroom.

Bumlets set his coat down and retrieved two extra blankets from the closet. He sat on her bunk and awaited Blaze’s return. Who could she have been tawkin’ bout? Who killed whom? Her family maybe? Why won’t she just tell me? He looked up to see Blaze, her eyes wide with fear and her body trembling. Bumlets unfolded a blanket and wrapped it around her once she had sat down on the bed. He took the other blanket and wrapped it around them both. “Bettah?” he asked softly.

Blaze gave a slight nod and leaned her head on his shoulder. I hope he don’t ask me what happened – not yet. I can’t tell him. Won’t help none anyway. She tried to shut her eyes, but the painful memories were waiting for just that opportunity to remind her of what happened.

“Ya should warm up soon,” Bumlets whispered as he leaned his head on hers. Maybe askin’ now ain’t such a good idea. I’ll wait ‘til she’s rested up. A yawn escaped his mouth. “Hey maybe we should rest awhile,” he suggested.

“Okay,” came her meek reply. She hadn’t the strength to argue, knowing if she merely hinted that the reason she couldn’t sleep was because of what bothered her, he would want to discuss it. I can pretend to sleep. ‘Sides, if he closes his eyes, he won’t know if I’se actually sleepin’.

Without leaving his arms, Blaze lay down beside Bumlets and rested her head on his chest. Dis way he won’t be able to tell if I’se asleep. She felt his soothing hand stroke through her hair, and fought to keep her eyelids open. Her eyes slowly closed, only to reveal the sight of her father coming towards her again. Abruptly her eyes opened, disclosing the calm surroundings of an empty bunkroom.

Bumlets sensed that Blaze had tensed up in his arms. He continued stroking her hair, wanting her to know that he was right there for her. “Shh, it’s okay. Whoevah hoit ya ain’t heah now. You’se safe right heah,” he whispered. He felt her muscles relax again, but Bumlets thought she would need more to reach a sleeping state. Softly he began humming one of the tunes his mother used to use to settle him into sleep. As he reached the end of the song, they both had drifted towards slumber.
 

---------

Chapter 2

After the storm had died down, Kloppman opened the door to find three men, all dressed to the nines in rather expensive suits. He recognized them as members of the children’s board, which oversaw the direction of each lodging house in the city.

“We need someone to run it, and you sir have spent most of your life tending after these sort of…children. It seems only just that you have a part in the upkeep of Carnegie Hill."

Kloppman sighed and examined his spectacles, his mind deep in thought. “My work is here, in Lower Manhattan. I can’t up and leave dese kids.” As he drew in another breath, while thoroughly contemplating the situation he was being forced into, Bailey stormed in the door, his jacket covered in snow and his face crimson in color.

“Dose boys! I tell ya! I tell ‘em to get back in out of da cold and dey pelt me wit snowballs! Klopp! Klopp ya heah…” he trailed off as he noticed the four sitting at the kitchen table. “Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt.” He turned to leave when Kloppman spoke up.

“Wait just a minute dere son.”

Bailey winced and turned around, thinking he had surely interrupted something important, and was now in for a scolding. “Yeah?”

“Congratulations son. You’ve just given me an idea,” Kloppman grinned. “Gentleman, I’d like you to meet Mr. Logan Hayworth. He’ll be turning twenty years old dis April, and I’ve been training him to run da lodging house.” Kloppman turned to the gentleman and spoke earnestly. “I can’t just leave my work here. What if I helped in getting things in order, but sent Bailey up dere to stay wit da kids. Dis boy’s done a fine job wit da kids here, and I’m sure he will be more den able to oversee Carnegie Hill.”

Inwardly kicking himself for his entrance, Bailey took off his hat and brushed some snow from his shoulders before approaching the gentleman.

Kloppman’s expression grew worrisome as the gentlemen quietly discussed the matter, each man wearing a disconcerting face. “And I am getting up dere in years, gentleman. It would help me greatly to have a younger man around to help out with the process of opening a whole new lodging house. I have faith in dis young man, and believe he will prove to be an excellent choice for Carnegie Hill.”

Once again the three huddled to discuss this bit of information. Their facial expressions unreadable, Kloppman wasn’t sure if they hated the idea all together, or if they might go for it.

Finally they turned to Kloppman. “Alright. You do have a point. We’ll set up a trial period. Send the boy over to help open up, along with some of your older Newsies. Coax him however you need to, and once everything is in order, we’ll set up weekly inspections until the boy turns twenty-one. If he succeeds in the upkeep of Carnegie Hill, we’ll let him run it by his self at that age. But until then, we rest full responsibility on you sir. Make sure that he keeps on top of his duties, for I assure you the inspections will not be lenient. Agreed?”

Bailey tried to hide the excitement as much as humanly possible. A new lodging house, and Kloppman suggested that he run it. He felt like clicking his heels right then and there, but instead chose to keep his thrilled being controlled until the gentlemen had left. He stood by Kloppman and listened as they wrapped up business. The three men then stood and shook hands with Kloppman and Bailey. Though he stood tall and tried to look as confident as possible, Bailey felt uneasy under the suspicious eyes of the men. He was relieved once they had left.

“So I’se really gonna run dis place?” he asked only a second after the door had closed behind the gentlemen.

Kloppman chuckled. “Yes ya are.” He patted Bailey on the shoulder. “You’ve more than proven yourself heah, and I am shoah you’ll do a fine job up dere. We bettah start planning this evening. We’ll need to discuss which newsies you feel would do well as leadahs up dere, and we’ll be scheduling a trip up to see Carnegie Hill tomorrah.”

Bailey retrieved two glasses from the cupboard and poured water for both of them. He sat by Kloppman, a grin still wide on his face, and took a sip. Over the course of the next hour, Kloppman had explained what Bailey would need to do, and together they discussed which newsies were best suited for the lodging house. Kloppman had suggested Blaze and Jade as members for Carnegie Hill. Bailey noted that Blaze spent much of her free time helping around the lodging house, and Jade was not only a candidate for her bookkeeping skills, but also for her diligence in completing tasks around the lodging house. The two already took it upon themselves to welcome new members to Lower Manhattan, and surely if elected to go to Carnegie Hill, they would continue to do so.

Bailey polished off the glass of water and sighed happily. “Now all we gotta do is ask da goils. Ya think dey’ll agree to go?” he asked Kloppman.

“I guess we’re about to find out,” he replied.


****
“Carnegie Hill? All da way on da Uppah East Side?” Blaze asked. She threw a sideways glance at Bumlets who was sporting his own confused expression. Jade didn’t seem all that convinced either. She happened to glance over at Jack momentarily before the cousins met eyes again.

“So let me get this straight. We leave this lodging house, and we go up there and help Bailey as leaders?” Jade asked. Being a leader didn’t seem like such a bad idea. Jade wasn’t sure about leaving behind Jack in particular. Then again, it’s not like we’re going out. She was beginning to welcome this opportunity to lead at Carnegie.

Bailey nodded. “Yeah. Ya both would be leadahs, and you’d help me keep da place in ordah. We’se askin’ you goils cause we’se confident you’ll do a great job. So what do ya say?” he asked with hope in his voice.

Blaze motioned to Bailey to hold on a moment and she pulled Jade over to the side. ‘Ya shoah ya wanna leave all dis and move up dere? What about our life heah?” she asked. “I don’t wanna leave behind all da people heah. And what ‘bout me and Bums?”

Jade nodded. “True, but we wouldn’t be that far away from them, and like Bailey said, Carnegie will be under the care of Kloppman too, so I’m sure we’ll see him often. As for the guys…” she sighed. “I’m not sure what we can do.”

Both boys approached the girls with worried looks. “Ya gonna go wit him?” Jack asked.

“Yeah are ya?” Bumlets furthered.

Blaze looked at Jade, and both girls shrugged. They weren’t convinced yet.

Jade turned to Bailey. “Um, we got a lot of thinking to do. When do we have to decide all this?” she asked.

“Well, pretty soon I would imagine. Klopp wants to go up dere tomorrah and take a look around. Why don’t ya both come wit us,” he suggested.

Blaze nodded to her cousin, who in turn nodded to Bailey. “Okay, we’ll go see what it looks like.”

“Good. I’ll tell Kloppman the news.” Bailey turned on his heel and walked out of the bunkroom. There was still much planning to be done, and a short amount of time to accomplish it in.

Jack ran an uneasy hand through his hair. In light of the new developments, perhaps it was time to tell Jade exactly how he felt about her. He cleared his throat. “Uh, Jade, can I tawk to ya for a minute?”


****
Bumlets sighed. He thought he would have an opportunity to ask Blaze what was bothering her once Jack had led Jade downstairs, but as the two left, the newsies started filtering into the bunkroom. It was much too cold to venture up onto the roof to talk, and he knew she wouldn’t feel comfortable talking in front of the rowdy crowd. And what about Carnegie? I don’t want her to stay heah just for me. Could I go wit her? What about da fellas heah? I gotta find some time to tawk to her tomorrah. He watched Blaze from across the room and it dawned on him that he had yet to ask her to the dance tomorrow night. He slipped past the newsies and sat down next to her.

Prying her eyes from the notch in the floor, Blaze turned and smiled slightly at Bumlets. “Hey.” I hope he don’t ask ‘bout earlier, but I don’t want him to leave eiddah. Why does dis gotta be so difficult?

“Hey. Thinking ‘bout Carnegie?” he asked, sliding a comforting arm around her shoulder.

Blaze sighed and leaned her head Bumlets’ shoulder. “Yeah, but I won’t make up me mind ‘til I see da place.”

“So ya gonna go up dere in da mornin’, den come back in da aftahnoon right?” Bumlets asked, thinking the best way to ask her to the dance was to ease the question into the conversation. He kissed her forehead and brought her closer to himself.

“Yeah, dat’s what Bailey told us. We’ll be back before dark,” she answered.

“So in dat case, ya wanna go wit me ovah to dat dance tomorrah night?” he asked, holding his breath.

Crap. The dance. Blaze sat still, heavily tempted to say no. She was already dreading tomorrow as it was. Another birthday – another day to remember. Maybe I should go. Maybe it’ll take me mind off it for a little while. “Yeah. Shoah,” she replied, hoping her answer came quick enough as to not arise suspicion that she had not wanted to go.

Bumlets smiled. He was going to everything in his power to make sure she had a good time. For whatever reason, he knew tomorrow was not going to be easy for Blaze to endure, and maybe she would disclose something to him tomorrow night about what was bothering her. His smile grew wider as he felt her arm go around his waist, and he sat with her in silence, content just to hold her in his arms.


****
Jade had followed Jack down to the lobby and eyed him suspiciously as one by one the newsies took off for the bunkroom after Jack talked with them briefly. Jack took a seat next to her on the couch and inhaled deeply. This only furthered Jade’s suspicions. “Jack, just what is going on?”

“Well,” he started as he shifted in the couch to face her. “As ya know dere’s a Valentine’s dance tomorrah, and I was thinkin’ we could go togethah.”

Jade nodded. “I figured we would, since we went last year as friends. Is that all ya wanted to ask me?”

Jack sighed. That wasn’t exactly how he wanted to ask her. “Well yeah we went last year as friends, and I was thinkin’, ya know, dat dis year we could go as a couple, on a date.” He watched for her reaction very carefully in both hope and anguish. What is she gonna think about dis? A grin spread across his face as he watched Jade smile and blush slightly.

“Okay. I’d like that,” Jade replied softly. The two sat in an awkward silence that was finally sliced through by the sound of Snipeshooter and Boots bounding down the stairs in a playful fight. Jade and Jack both shook their heads and laughed.

“So, da storm died down. Wanna take a walk?” Jack asked.

“Sure,” Jade smiled. After throwing on their coats, the two disappeared outside.


------------

Chapter 3



“We’re almost dere,” Kloppman called to the girls riding in the back of the cart.
Blaze sighed. “Dis takes way too long. It’s too far away from Lowah Manhattan.”

Jade laughed. “It is not. We got up here in no time at all,” she replied cheerfully.

Blaze eyed her suspiciously. “We’se been ridin’ in dis cart for…well for a long time,” she grumbled. Just what was up with Jade and that grin on her face? She’s been in a really good mood all mornin’. God, how I do not want to go back to the lodging house dis aftahnoon. I nevah got to see a pape before we left. I don’t even know what picture is on da front. Please let it be somethin’ else besides me and Bums.

The cart came to a halt at a corner. Blaze looked around the streets and sighed. It is kinda nice up heah. Wondah wheah da lodgin’ house is.

“Hey Blaze. Ya coming sometime today?” Bailey nudged her shoulder.

“Huh? Wheah’s da lodgin’ house?” she asked. None of the buildings seemed small enough to be a lodging house.

“It’s right dere,” Bailey pointed to the building in front of them. “What do ya think?” he grinned.

“Dat’s it? What, do we share it wit somebody or somethin’?” she asked in bewilderment. Her eyes had to be deceiving her. Instead of a two-story building like she expected to see, it was five stories high and looked as if it had been kept up very well. She’d never seen a lodging house this big before.

Bailey shook his head. “Nah. Dat’s Carnegie Hill – da whole buildin’. Now will ya come on already?” He helped her down from the cart and walked up the steps to the small porch. Beaming, he opened the door for Kloppman and the girls, and walked in behind them.

“Good lord would ya look at the size of this place!” Jade called as she walked up the steps to the second floor.

Bailey and Kloppman proceeded to the kitchen and examined it thoroughly. Though small, it would serve the newsies well. There was plenty of room to store groceries, and the stove appeared to be in wonderful condition.

Blaze walked into the lobby and plopped down on the couch. To her amazement, it was rather comfortable. The room was rather appealing. There was an abundance of windows, all which let a sizeable amount of light into the room. It was not only furnished with a couch, but several wooden chairs, and a nicely-sized table where Blaze was sure nightly poker games would be executed.

“Blaze! Get up off your butt and come see this place!” Jade yelled, her voice echoing down the stairs.

Why da heck is she so happy anyway? Blaze sighed and pried herself from the couch. She trudged over to the steps and climbed them to the second floor. “Jade wheah are ya?”

“Over here! Look at all this room!” Jade called and popped her head out from behind a door. “Come here,” she said excitedly.

Blaze entered a well-lit, yet empty room. Though it was completely bare, She secretly admired the window seat on the other side of the room. “Dis is too small for da bunks. Dere’s no way we could fit ‘em in heah…” She was cut off quickly by Jade.

“This room is not for the bunks,” she grinned.

Growing impatient, Blaze placed her hands on her hips. “Den what is it for,” she said in an almost mocking tone.

Jade paid no attention to Blaze’s foul mood and kept her wide smile. I know she’s hurting today. The only thing I can think of to keep her spirits somewhat high is to take her mind off it. “I am not sure, but whatever it will be, I’m sure we have a say in the matter. Now come here.” With that she grabbed Blaze’s hand and pulled her across the hall to the other room. “This, my dear, is our new library.”

Blaze entered a room identical in size to the other, though this one was lined with shelves, seemingly wide enough for a rather extensive collection of books. Some of the shelves were already filled with battered books. “Well I’ll be. We’d even have a library,” she stated quietly as she admired the room. It was finished off with another couch, though smaller than the one downstairs, and two chairs separated by a table complete with a lamp. In one corner stood a desk and chair. Blaze walked over to it only to find stationary atop the desk. She recognized the name inscribed on the top of each paper. “Hey, Andrew Carnegie. As in Carnegie Hall Andrew Carnegie I s’pose,” she remarked and sighed. How can I help run a lodgin’ house when all it’s gonna remind me of is Carnegie Hall, and me family…

Before Blaze could dwell on the thought any longer, Jade had grabbed her hand, and the two climbed the stairs to the third floor. Jade opened the door and gently pushed Blaze into the room. “Dis room is for da boys’ bunks,” she stated and pulled Blaze around the room. “It’s even got a window seat for them. And it’s rather large don’t ya think?”

“Yeah, I guess it is,” Blaze sighed. It was pretty big. She was beginning to like the idea of Carnegie Hill, and that scared her.

And take a look over here,” Jade said as she pulled Blaze along. “Here’s the washroom. It’s a little bigger than the one we’re used to. The boys should have plenty of room. Let’s go look at the girls’ bunks!”

Before Blaze could utter a word she was being dragged up the stairs to the fourth floor. “We’se gonna have to walk up dese stairs everyday,” she frowned. “I don’t like dat idea.”

Jade shook her head and opened the door to what would be the girls’ room. “This will be our room. Same size as the boys, and its got the same kind of washroom in it too. The only difference is…”

“No window seat,” Blaze huffed. “How come we don’t take the thoid floor?” she asked.

Jade grinned. “Because whatever we put in that other room on the second floor will surely be heard on the third floor. This way, we’ll be farther away from any noise, like the guys fussing over a bad poker game,” she said slyly.

“Oh you are good,” Blaze admitted with a slight grin. “Now I know why we are related.” She slid her arm around Jade’s shoulder and looked around the room. “So what’s on the fifth floor. Just an attic?”

Shrugging, Jade took Blaze’s hand once again and darted out of the room. “Let’s find out.”


****
“Why hello again, son,” greeted a gray-haired woman in late fifties. “I was wondering if I would see ya today,” she smiled and set the piece of jewelry she was handling into one of the glass cases. “What can I help ya with?”

Bumlets took off his hat as he approached the lady. “Aftahnoon Mrs. Boyle. I was wonderin’ if ya still had dat necklace I had asked about da uddah week. I didn’t see it out in da windah.”

“Ah, I thought ya might be asking about it. I kept it aside, just in case ya happened to come back before Valentine’s was over.” She motioned for Bumlets to wait out front as she made her way to the back of the small shop.

Grinning in anticipation, Bumlets rummaged through his pockets and withdrew his savings. Carefully he counted the right amount and deposited the remainder into his pocket.

“Ah here we are,” she said, holding it out in her hand for Bumlets to examine thoroughly. “I must say you’ve got good taste.” She set the necklace in Bumlets hand and turned to grab a small box.

Bumlets held up the necklace, watching the silver heart glisten in the afternoon sun. Though to the ordinary eye it appeared as nothing fancy, through Bumlets’ eyes it was a masterpiece, and something he had worked to afford especially for Blaze’s birthday.

“She’ll love it,” Mrs. Boyle grinned. “Here, let me wrap it up for you.” She took the necklace from Bumlets and gently wrapped it up before placing it in the box.

Bumlets handed over the coins once she was done. The frown on her face alarmed him. “Is it da wrong amount?”

“I’m afraid so. Ya see, it went on special yesterday.” She handed back several coins along with the box. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” she smiled.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Bumlets grinned before exiting the shop.

Reluctantly he made his way towards the lodging house. Forgoing selling, Bumlets had decided rather to spend his day in the park, making sure to stay away from newsies. Bumlets slid the small box into his pocket, in turn taking out a crumpled front page of the World that he had found lingering in the streets. There, right smack dab in the middle of the page, was the picture the photographer had taken of Bumlets and Blaze in the park. Bumlets sighed, knowing this was exactly what Blaze did not need to deal with on this particular day. And what if she goes to Carnegie now? Can I stand to be away from her like dis? Or should I go too? What about all da newsies doah? How can I just leave ‘em? Dey’s da only family I got, but I wouldn’t be dat far away from ‘em. I could visit all da time. ‘Sides, I love spendin’ time wit Blaze, and if Jade goes up to Carnegie, Blaze will go to. And I don’t want dem to be split up. Jade’s all da family Blaze has.


****
“Blaze! Jade! Wheah are you two?!” Bailey called up the steps. “Come down heah!”

“We’re coming!” Jade called from the fifth floor.

Bailey shook his head in amusement as he heard the girls’ footsteps racing down the stairs. ‘So? What do ya think?” he asked, unable to contain his own excitement.

“It’s certainly bigger than any lodging house I’ve ever seen, but…” Jade trailed off, turning to Blaze with an uncertain look about her face. “I think we need to talk it over with some people first. How long do we have to make a decision?”

Bailey sighed. “Well, not much time at all. We’re opening Carnegie as soon as we can. Tomorrah a shipment of wood is comin’ heah so we can start makin’ da bunks. So I s’pose dat means we need a decision by tomorrah mornin’.”

The girls nodded. They both had a lot to discuss, and very little time to do it in.

On the way back to Lower Manhattan, both Blaze and Jade remained silent. Jade wanted to take Bailey up on the offer, but now she had Jack to think about. Being his girl brought more to think about than before. Blaze wasn’t sure she could deal with leaving Bumlets at one lodging house and living at another, but she couldn’t very well let her cousin go without her. In both instances she felt as if she would lose a close friend, and she didn’t think she could handle that.


****
Upon their return to Lower Manhattan, Jade jumped down from the cart and proceeded to the front door only to stop at the sound coming from inside. She had never heard so much commotion before in the lodging house. What are they carrying on about? She opened the door only to see most of the newsies in the lobby, passing around the newspaper. She walked over to them, tapping Pie Eater on the shoulder. “What are you guys doing?”

Pie Eater turned, hiding his laughter once he saw who had gotten his attention. “Oh heya Jade. We were just…um, just…”

“Laughin’ our asses off at what we had to sell today!” Skittery cut in, oblivious to whomever the question had oriented from.

He threw the newspaper towards Pie Eater and Jade snatched it from his hands. Her eyes widened. Oh no – not today. Of all the days to have this happen, why today? She glared at the group, who one by one controlled their laughter. “Ya guys better shut your traps before Blaze comes in here and…”

“And what?”

Jade whipped around, craftily hiding the newspaper behind her back. “Um, well, before you came in and saw how rowdy the boys were being of course.”

Skittery was in stitches over the whole event. He couldn’t suppress any laughter whatsoever. “What are ya tawkin’ bout Jade? A coise we’se laughin’ cause da pape…”

“Shh!” came the combined voices of the other newsies in the room.

“What are ya hidin’ behind your back Jade?” Blaze asked, moving towards her. Please don’t be dat damn pape.

Jade smiled innocently. “Oh nothing - nothing at all. We should get upstairs. The boys are all waiting for their girls to come down. We should get ready to go.” Jade dropped the paper into Pie Eater’s lap, hoping Pie had enough sense to hide it immediately.

Blaze raised a brow. “Somethin’ was behind your back. And it ain’t nothin’ dat would make Skittery laugh dat hard. It’s gotta be somethin’,” she deducted.

“Come one Blaze. Let’s get upstairs. We have to get ready to go.” Jade took Blaze’s hand and started pulling her up the stairs. Just as Jade thought they had escaped any humiliation for Blaze, she heard a barrage of kissing noises coming from the lobby.

Blaze stopped at the top of the stairs and turned to Jade. “Alright spill. Dey’s laughin’ bout da pape aren’t dey.”

Jade’s sighed. “Ya didn’t tell me about that picture. Why’d ya pose for it in the first place?” she asked, baffled as to how this all got started.

Blaze’s eyes cast downward towards the floor. “It wasn’t somethin’ ya just plan, Jade. We didn’t know we was gonna have to kiss. Da guy didn’t tell us ‘til we had our arms around each uddah, plus he offered us fifty cents. We didn’t think dat it had a chance of winnin’ a spot on da front of da World.” Did Bumlets sell today? How could he sell? He wasn’t downstairs. I hope he didn’t have to go through all dis teasin’.

“Well there ain’t much we can do about it now. Come on. You and I have a dance to go to.” Jade pulled Blaze along to the bunkroom door. As they entered, the other girls were frantically trying to get ready. The room was a complete disaster with clothes scattered about the floor.

“I don’t wanna go. I bet dere all gonna have a copy of dat pape and shove it in me face when I get dere. I’se stayin’ heah,” Blaze stated and plopped down on her bunk. At least da goils are more concerned about dere looks den da pape, or I bet I’d be hearin’ it from dem too.

Jade sighed. “I am not leaving you here again. You stayed home last year, and Bumlets was kind enough to stay with you. If he wants to go, then you should go to. I’m sure he isn’t happy about the paper either, but at least give it a shot will ya?” She tossed a dress at Blaze and awaited her answer.

Blaze pulled the dress from her head and frowned. “Oh alright. But I ain’t doin’ dis for me. I’se doin’ it for Bums,” she announced.

“Good. Now get in a stall and change before I shove ya in one,” Jade smiled. She was glad Blaze was at least going to attempt to go. She knew this day was hard on her, but sitting around sulking about it was not going to help.


****
Slowly the girls made their way downstairs, each pairing up with one of the newsboys before heading outside. Blaze and Jade both took their time getting ready. It had already been a long day, and now neither of them were sure what would happen once they arrived at the dance.

“You goils ready yet?” Jack called from the hall. He glanced over towards Bumlets and whispered, “How do I look?”

Bumlets rolled his eyes. “Fine Jack. Gosh ya wasn’t dis uptight last year when ya went with Jade. What’s so different ‘bout dis year?” he asked. He himself was a nervous wreck, but wasn’t about to admit to it unless Jack said something.

“Me? What about…”

“All set,” Jade interrupted.

Jack took her hand, pulling her towards him. “Ya look beautiful,” he marveled. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, driving both Blaze and Bumlets to stare at them.

“Looks like I ain’t da only one keepin’ secrets. How long you two been datin’?” Blaze asked.

Jack squeezed Jade’s hand and smiled. “Since last night,” he grinned. “Now we bettah get goin’ or we’re gonna miss all da fun.” He whisked Jade down the stairs, leaving Blaze and Bumlets in the hall.

“Um, Blaze? Come heah for a minute,” Bumlets smiled and took her hand.

“Okay, what is it?” Blaze questioned as she followed Bumlets into the bunkroom. She followed him to her bunk and they both sat down.

“I know dat today ain’t one of your favorite days, and I know ya might not be happy dat I did dis, but I wanted to.” Bumlets withdrew the small box from his pocket and placed it in her hands. “Happy Boithday.”

Blaze looked up at him, her eyes on the verge of tears. All dis stuff ‘bout dat pape and Carnegie, and I nearly forgot what today is. And what happened… “Bums…I-I don’t know what to say.”

“Wait ‘til ya open it,” Bumlets smiled, scooting closer to her. I wish she’d open up to me. Dat pain in her eyes is almost too much to bear sometimes.

Carefully Blaze slid her finger under the top of the box to open it. She slowly separated the paper inside to reveal the silver necklace. Silver… She felt her eyes spill over with tears. She remembered her grandmother’s silver clock that she so diligently watched each night, waiting for her father to return from work. “Thank-you,” she whispered.

Bumlets lifted the necklace from its place in the box and gently fastened it around Blaze’s neck. He saw the tears running down her cheeks and used his thumbs to brush as many away as possible. I don’t know how much longah I can stand not knowin’ what happened. “Blaze? What’s wrong?” he asked softly.

“Nothin’. Nothin’s wrong. Let’s go to da dance,” Blaze whispered. She started to pull away from Bumlets to stand up, but he took her hands and pulled her closer to himself.

Bumlets met her eyes with his and sighed. “I know dat ain’t true. I know it ain’t. I just…well I just can’t sit by and watch ya like dis when I know somethin’s botherin’ ya.”

Blaze couldn’t stand to look him straight in the eyes. She felt her mouth open to reveal something and quickly turned her head towards the floor. “Guess I just don’t like boithdays, dat’s all,” she muttered. Please stop askin’ Bums. Ya don’t wanna heah dis. Ya don’t wanna heah what an idiot I was for not savin’ me family. She wiped her eyes and frowned. Damn it, stop cryin’.

Why won’t she just tell me? Bumlets cupped her chin in his hands and slowly brought her eyes to his again. “Dere’s gotta be a reason for dat, and I know it has to be somethin’ dat happened on your boithday before. Two years ago I found ya a couple days aftah your boithday. Did somethin’ happen den?”

Blaze just wanted to close her eyes and remain silent. She didn’t understand why this was so important to him. What if I tell him, and he hates me for not doin’ nothin’ to save ‘em? Maybe if I just tell him somethin’ he’ll leave it at dat for now. “I ran away from me home in Joisey on da night ‘a me boithday. I used to live in Red Bank, wit me parents and me bruddah.”

“Ya walked from Red Bank all da way to da city?” Bumlets asked in shock. He withdrew his hands from her chin and slid his arms around her, pulling Blaze towards him. “I didn’t find ya ‘til three days latah. Were ya walkin’ all dat time?”

Part of Blaze wanted to pull away and run out the door, but then there was that part that wanted Bumlets to never leave her. She felt as if she could hide right there in his arms, like as long as he was there the world outside of them didn’t exist – nothing could hurt her at that moment. Her arms found their way around Bumlets’ waist. “For da most part I was walkin’. I stopped at night to sleep a little, and da foist night a barkeep let me sleep in one of his booths, but da uddah nights I was in alleys.” Blaze pulled her head from his chest and smiled slightly at him. “I don’t think I even knew I was in da city ‘til ya told me,” she whispered.

Bumlets lightly brushed her tear-soaked hair behind her ears and gazed into her eyes. “I’se so glad I found ya,” he whispered, his smile matching hers. His heart ached to think what would have happened had he not brought her back to the lodging house that day. I’se afraid to ask her what happened dat would force her to run away. I know she don’t wanna talk about it. Maybe if I ask her a little bit at a time it will be bettah.

“I’se glad ya found me too. I don’t think I’ll have evah thanked ya enough.” Blaze pulled an arm from his waist to dry her eyes, but Bumlets’ hand beat her to them. She gazed at him intensely, nearly in awe of his actions. I know he cares ‘bout me, I just don’t know how to show him how much I care ‘bout him.

Bumlets took her arms and wrapped them around his neck. “Ya’ve thanked me plenty. Ya thank me everyday. Ya don’t gotta come out and say it. Just watchin’ ya smile is enough of a thank-you. I just wish I could help ya wit whatevah happened dat night.”

“But ya do help,” Blaze whispered, inching closer to him. “You’se heah ain’t ya?” She pulled herself close enough to nuzzle noses with him. “Dat helps a great deal,” she admitted.

“I ain’t gonna leave ya alone wit dis Blaze. I’se right heah when ya wanna talk,” Bumlets whispered, his lips brushing across hers as he spoke. “I hope ya know dat.”

“I know.”

Bumlets’ arms tightened their grip around her waist as their lips met in a deep kiss. Once they parted, Blaze ran her fingers through his hair. Will he still wanna go to dis dance? I ain’t even asked him ‘bout da pape. “Did ya wanna go now?” she asked, hoping she her voice hadn’t given away the uncertainty she felt about going.

“Do you wanna go?” Bumlets asked. “Or would ya rather take a walk or somethin’.” He kissed her forehead. “Me only request is dat I spend dis night wit you,” he smiled.

“Could we take a walk?” Blaze smiled at the idea. There wouldn’t be anyone to taunt them about the paper that way.

“We coitenly can,” Bumlets answered. The two put their coats on and headed outside.


****
“Dang it where are those two?” Jade asked, worried that this was yet another year she was going to come home to find that Blaze and Bumlets had never left the lodging house.

Jack took her hand and squeezed it. “Don’t worry. I’se shoah dey’s on dere way. And even if dey ain’t, ya know Bums will take good care of her.” He tried to be as supportive as possible, but something was nagging at his conscious. I don’t know if I wanna watch Jade go up to Carnegie while I’se in Lowah Manhattan. I wanna spend time wit her, but she’s gonna have so much to do…how is dis gonna woik? I’se da leadah. I can’t just up and leave everything heah. “Jade, I think we should tawk ‘bout Carnegie.” He led her over to a corner table and sat down next to her.

Jade sighed. “I haven’t made up my mind. Blaze doesn’t seem that fond of the idea, but this is a wonderful opportunity for us both, and ya should’ve seen that lodging house. It’s huge. Much bigger than the one we’re at now. But she has Bumlets, and now, now I have you.” She couldn’t mask the confusion in her eyes. What’s to become of us now?

Jack took both her hands into his. “I think ya should go and see how things toin out. Maybe dis will help Blaze by takin’ her mind off of whatevah’s botherin’ her. I guess it ain’t too far away. I can leave someone in charge for me and go up dere wit ya for a week or so, den we can see how things go. I’se shoah Bumlets will come too. What do ya say?”

I knew there was a reason I agreed to go out with him. Jade smiled. “I like the way you think. I’ll go.”

“In dat case,” Jack beamed and stood up, extending an arm for her, “may I have dis dance me lady?”

“Indeed you may kind sir.” Jade took his arm as she stood up and they both returned to the dance floor.


****
“So what did ya think of Carnegie?” Bumlets questioned on their way to Central Park. “Was it nice?”

“It was grand and so big. Dere’s five floors all together, and a library too dat’s already got some books on it.” Blaze cursed herself for marveling over it. “But a ‘coise I like wheah I’se at now too. It’s got everythin’ I need.” Including you, she finished mentally.

“Well den. If it’s as wondahful as ya say it is, I should take a peek at it sometime soon. See what kind of competition it’ll give Lowah Manhattan.” Bumlets took Blaze’s hand in his and smiled.

Blaze sighed. “I ain’t shoah if I wanna go. What would happen wit…” she trailed off and focused her attention on the snow-covered street.

“Us?” Bumlets finished, unsure if that was indeed what she meant to say. He watched her closely, pulling her closer as he saw her head slightly move in a nod. “Come heah.” He walked her over to a bench and sat beside her.

“Somethin’ like dis don’t come along everyday. Kloppman and Bailey made a good choice when dey picked you and Jade. And I know dey’s as confident as I am dat ya can help run dat lodgin’ house. “ His eyes met hers deeply, as he was set on showing her how serious he was. “Dey’ll be plenty of time for us, and I’ll come up wit ya tomorrah to help out.”

“But, it’s just, we won’t be in da same lodgin’ house no more,” Blaze frowned. “Yeah so it’s still in Manhattan, but it’s still far. And who knows when we’ll have time to visit each uddah and…” Bumlets pressed his finger to her lips gently and shook his head.

“We’se gonna woik dis out. I promise. I’ll come up wit ya for awhile, and if dis lodgin’ house is as wondahful as ya say it is, maybe we’ll have both found a new home.” His fingers traced a pattern of slight warmth on her cheek before his arms encased her.

Blaze rested her head against his chest. “But, ya got a family heah in da lodgin’ house you’se at. I can’t ask ya to leave ‘em just for me. Ain’t right,” she sighed heavily. I already know how hard it is to lose one family. I don’t wanna inflict dat on Bums. I don’t even know what happened dat made him become a Newsie.

“And I’ll still have a family even if I’se up at Carnegie. I won’t be leavin’ ‘em behind. ‘Sides, I bet once dey see dis newfangled lodgin’ house, I bet dey’ll be racin’ to move up dere as well,” he chuckled. The chilly night air breezed past the two, sending both into slight shivers. “Maybe we should get walkin’ back to da lodgin’ house now.”

“Okay,” she whispered and stood up with him. “Say Bums, did ya sell today?” she asked.

Bumlets cleared his throat. “Um, nah, I didn’t. I walked around da park all mornin’, ya know, practicin’ fencin’ and all.” Has she seen the pape? He remembered the copy of the front page that he had in his pocket.

“So den, um, have ya seen da pape today?” Blaze furthered.

“Um, well, I uh,” Bumlets stumbled over his words. If she hasn’t seen it, maybe it’s best not to tell her right now, aftah all dis day has brought on her already.

“I already know we’se on da front page Bums. I haven’t actually seen it, but da boys were jokin’ about it in da lobby when we got back from Carnegie,” she frowned.

“Well in dat case.” Bumlets pulled the crumpled newspaper from his pocket and presented it to her. “Dere we are. Guess I lied. Ya can tell it’s us alright.”

“Yeah, ya can. At least you’se photogenic,” Blaze smiled at him. “I guess it’s good we’ll be at Carnegie tomorrah, so dey can’t poke fun at dis.” Blaze folded up the newspaper and handed it to him. “We should keep dat. Ain’t dat often dat we get in da papes.”

Bumlets gripped the paper, setting it back in his pocket. “Alright. We’ll keep it. But not cause I’se photogenic, cause I ain’t. We’ll save it cause it’s a picture of you, da photogenic one of dis couple,” he grinned. He took her hand in his and squeezed it. Before she could reject what he said, he pulled her along towards the lodging house. “Come on. It’s freezin’ out heah.”

I wish he wouldn’t do dat. Why does he gotta use compliments dat ain’t true? Blaze shut her mouth quickly, having wanted to retort that he was incorrect, but he was right about the cold. She in turn pulled on his hand. “Race ya!” she yelled and took off.

“Wait up!” Bumlets called after her. “Dang it goil!” After slipping in the snow, Bumlets darted after her. As they turned the corner for the lodging house, Bumlets saw his opportunity to catch up. He quickened his pace, and as he neared her, threw his arms around her waist, thrusting them both down into a pile of snow. “Gotcha!”

“Aw gee thanks,” Blaze muttered. “What I always wanted. A pile ‘a snow in me mouth.” Taking a large amount of snow in her palm, she plastered it on Bumlets cheek. “Looks nice on ya,” she grinned.

“And I bet it would look even nicer on dat face ‘a yours,” Bumlets grinned mischievously as he planted an enormous amount of snow on Blaze’s cheek.

“You’re in for it now.” Blaze wriggled herself from his grasp and sat up. Taking a well-compacted snowball in her hand, she threw it at him before darting up the steps into the lodging house.

“Hey!” Bumlets called. He pulled himself from the snow bank and brushed as much snow off his coat as possible. Before entering the lodging house, he compounded his own snowball, and walked inside.

Inside the lodging house, Bumlets could hear the faint sound of footsteps walking their way across the bunkroom floor. Since the rest of the newsies were still at the dance, Bumlets deducted that Blaze was the only one upstairs. As silently as possible, he climbed the stairwell to the second floor and peered into the bunkroom. He noticed Blaze’s snow-covered coat in the washroom and wondered just how well she had hidden herself.

Quickly he tiptoed into the washroom, hoping to find her in one of the stalls. He noted that he didn’t have much time before the snowball in his hand fully melted. Just as he was about to open the first stall door, he heard a muffled noise from the bunkroom. Grinning widely, he walked back out to the bunkroom and headed for the closet.

Blaze knew she was caught. Surely he had heard her try to muffle her pain as her knee had banged into the side of the closet. Any minute now she would be uncovered and probably pelted with another snowball. She poised herself so that she would be ready for that door to open. As soon as it did, she was going to make a mad dash for the stairs.

Bumlets decided to draw out the torture. He had another good minute or so before the snowball would be a pile of mush. He stood outside the closet door and whistled to himself. This was too much to handle for Blaze. She knew he was just doing this to antagonize her. I can’t just sit in heah and wait. Without giving it another thought she bolted out of the closet and rammed right into Bumlets. He stumbled backwards as Blaze fell on top of him.

His mission had backfired on him, and instead of Blaze with another face full of snow, Bumlets was wearing the remnants. “Well soives ya right for getin’ cocky,” Blaze giggled as she watched Bumlets wipe off the snow. “Ya okay?”

“Oh yeah, fine,” Bumlets grumbled.

“I’se sorry,” Blaze pouted. She brushed a few unruly strands of hair from his face and sighed. “I just didn’t wanna get pelted wit anymore snow,” she whispered. “How can I evah make it up to ya?”

Bumlets tried to hold a frown, but his mouth defied him, sending his lips into a smile instead. “I s’pose dere’s only one way.” He slid his arms around her waist and in turn Blaze positioned her arms around his neck.

“And what is dat?” she asked as her eyes locked on his.

“You’ll find out,” Bumlets replied softly before he leaned towards her, bringing his lips to meet hers.

“There you are,” Jade cleared her throat. She leaned against the doorway and crossed her arms.

Blaze rolled her eyes and sighed. She mouthed ‘here we go’ to Bumlets as he helped her to her feet.

“I’ve been worried sick. Ya never showed up at the dance. Ya promised me you would go. Poor Bumlets never gets to have any fun…”

“Well if someone hadn’t been so worried and spent some quality time with Jack den maybe Bumlets would have had some fun,” Blaze retorted and crossed her own arms.

Bumlets knew it was time to make a quick exit. He kissed Blaze’s cheek. “You two have a lot to tawk about. I’ll be downstairs in da lobby.”

Jade motioned for Blaze to follow her over to Jade’s bunk. Once the two were seated Jade explained how going to Carnegie could benefit the two, and how she thought it was a good idea. “It’ll give us some real responsibility, and I don’t want to let down Bailey or Kloppman. They did ask us first. What do ya say?”

Blaze nodded. “I undahstand dat. I’ll give it a shot.”

“Just that easy? I don’t have to argue the point with you?” Jade asked, extremely confused.

Blaze frowned. “I don’t argue everythin’. I already thought about it and decided it would be a good idea. Is dat so hard to believe?” she asked.

“Frankly, yes it is,” Jade smirked.

“Oh fine, so Bumlets and I discussed it. Happy now?” Blaze sighed.

“Yes, that was the answer I was looking for,” Jade laughed and nudged her cousin. “I’ll go tell Bailey our decision,” she smiled and hugged Blaze before departing the bunkroom.

----------

Chapter 4




“Blaze. Hey Blaze wake up. Blaze!”

“Huh what?” Blaze struggled to open her eyes. It was still dark outside. Dere’s gotta be at least another hour or so of sleep I can get in. Who’s wakin’ me up so early?

“Blaze, we gotta get goin’!” Jade sat down heavily on Blaze’s bunk, hoping the shock would send her jolting from the bed.

“Go wheah? At dis hour…more sleep,” she mumbled, hardly noticing Jade’s attempt to wake her up.

“It’s time to get up, get dressed, and get over to Carnegie. Move it,” Jade said sternly as she pulled Blaze’s covers away.

“Okay, I think we already know who’s gonna do wake-up duty at Carnegie,” she growled and sat up. After sliding out of her bunk, she stumbled into the washroom and grabbed a sink next to Jade. “Did ya wake up da boys yet? Who else is goin’?” she asked.

“Bumlets, Jack, and Bailey are already downstairs helping load some things into the wagon. They got some of the other newsies to come along too. Skittery, April, Blink, Bubbles, and Dutchy are coming.”

“Well why didn’t ya wake me up sooner so I could help load stuff too,” she mumbled, still half asleep.

“Did you not just notice how long it took me to get you up now? Ha, getting you up earlier would have been impossible,” Jade scoffed and shook her head. “Hurry up. They’re waiting.” She patted Blaze on the back and headed downstairs.


****
The ride up to Carnegie was filled with eager chatter. Bailey, Kloppman, and Dutchy rode up front, eagerly discussing what was in store for them during the day. Skittery and his girlfriend April, who had green eyes and auburn hair and was famed for her sarcasm, sat on one side of the cart, both too entranced by each other’s company to notice anything else.

Bubbles and her boyfriend Kid Blink sat directly opposite Skittery and April. Bubbles was one of the taller newsgirls. She had blonde hair, and one of the most infectious grins a newsie ever saw. Her cheery mood always carried with her wherever she went, sending some of the most dismal atmospheres into ones of mirth.

Jack, Bumlets, Jade, and Blaze sat with their legs dangling over the back of the cart. Bumlets had his arms around Blaze, preventing her from falling off the cart, for she was still drifting in and out of sleep.

Jade tapped her on the shoulder. “Blaze it isn’t that early. Ya would’ve had to get up soon anyway. Wake up already. We’re almost there.”

“More sleep,” came a muffled reply.

Bumlets shrugged his shoulders at Jade and smiled. “Don’t worry, if she ain’t up by da time we get dere, we always got watah we can throw on her,” he winked.

Almost immediately, Blaze sat up. “Oh no, dat’s really alright. I’se up okay?”

“We’re here!” Bailey grinned excitedly.

As Kloppman unlocked the door, Bailey, Jack, Blink, Skittery, Dutchy, and Bumlets began carrying the heavier supplies out towards the backyard. Bubbles, April, Blaze, and Jade carted some of the lighter items inside and awaited instructions from Kloppman.

“We’ll need to make a run to da market. Why don’t you goils do that while da boys start on da bunks. Once we get da food underway, we can start on da clean-up of da place, and we’ll be all set,” Kloppman smiled. He handed a list of grocery items to Jade and explained to the girls where the market was located.

“Damn Blaze, why didn’t ya tell us ‘bout dis place?” April asked as the girls headed out the door. “It’s huge.”

Blaze shrugged. “It’s just a lodgin’ house. Ain’t really dat grand is it?”

Bubbles laughed. “Dat’s an understatement if I evah hoid one.”

The four walked down the street towards the Madison Avenue Market. Even though Blaze hesitated to admit it, she did admire the new town that surrounded her.


****
“Wood’s heah!” Bailey called throughout the lodging house. “Come on guys! Hurry up!”

“Simmah down Bailey, we’se comin’,” Jack teased. Bailey’s mood was contagious. All the boys wore smiles on their faces, excited to be helping with the opening of Carnegie Hill. Carefully Jack, Bailey, Bumlets, Skittery, Dutchy, and Blink carried the wood to the backyard and started constructing the very first set of bunks that would grace Carnegie’s presence.


****
“Wheah are dose goils?” Bailey asked as he paced the kitchen floor. The boys had taken a break after an hour of strenuous work, and now sat around the table, except for Bailey, who couldn’t stop pacing.

Blink wiped his brow and shook his head. “Bailey, ya mean to tell me aftah an hour of woikin’ out in dat yard ya ain’t da least bit tired? Take a load off already!” he chuckled.

Just as Bailey was going to protest, the four girls walked through the kitchen door.

“Food’s heah!” Bubbles announced cheerfully. Each girl carried two bags, once in each arm. They set them down on the counter, though Blaze was rather hesitant to give up the grocery bags from her arms.

“What took you goils so long?” Bailey asked, his voice straining to remain calm. Me foist day on da job and already we’re behind schedule.

Jade sighed. “Well, if you must know, since you’re gonna find out anyway…” She eyed Blaze and took the bags from her tight grasp, setting them down besides the others. “Blaze had a little run-in with a kid on the way home.”

Glaring at Jade, Blaze tried to explain her tomato-covered shirt. “Well it’s not me fault dat he just happened to be whistlin’ in our direction and I just happened to have a nice tomato on top of one of me bags and it just happened to land on his face when I accidentally tossed it in his direction and he just happened to…” Bailey cut her off before she could utter another word.

“Nevermind. I don’t wanna know,” he sighed and looked at the boys who were trying desperately to hide their laughter. “Back to woik. We got more bunks to build.” Groaning, the boys resumed their work in the backyard.

Jade thrust her hands on her hips and frowned at Blaze. “You really do live up to that name of yours. Always blazing into something. Just be glad that kid didn’t keep following after we got ourselves lost, and be glad we could find our way back. Not to mention the fact that he might live up here and you might run into him again. I hope that tomato hindered his vision enough so he won’t recognize us.”

Kloppman entered the kitchen and smiled at the girls. “Good, your home. Once we get the groceries put away, I’se got a list of chores we need to accomplish and a ledger to show Jade and Blaze how to run.”

As soon as the bags of groceries were emptied, Bubbles and April were sent to sweep out the bunkrooms before any of the bunks were carted up the stairs. Kloppman took Blaze and Jade to the front desk and explained some of the bookkeeping procedures. Once he was finished, the cousins climbed the steps to the second floor to clean the library and the empty room.

Morning passed quickly, and as the afternoon stretched on, Carnegie Hill was nearly ready to officially open. The boys had carried the first set of bunks up to both bunkrooms, and the girls had finished cleaning the lodging house.

“Hey, what’s dis room gonna be?” Bubbles asked as she poked her head in a small room on the first floor.

“Ah, that’s Bailey’s room,” Kloppman smiled. “Only right that da caretaker of dis lodgin’ house have his own room,” he explained.

Bailey overheard the conversation from the kitchen and walked into the hall. “So I even get me own room,” he marveled as he entered his new bedroom.

“That ya do, Bailey,” Kloppman patted his shoulder. “So what say we open dis place?” he asked, gesturing to the wooden sign that lay on the lobby’s front desk.

Grinning excitedly, Bailey grabbed his hammer and nails. Blink and Dutchy carried the sign outside and held it up as Bailey nailed it into place, signifying the official opening of the Carnegie Hill Lodging House.


****
Later that evening Kloppman and Dutchy returned to the Lower Manhattan Lodging House while the rest of the newsies decided to stay, being intrigued by their new surroundings. The main consensus was that tomorrow morning they could try out the closer distribution center and see how selling went in this part of town. Once the newsies cleaned up after their small dinner, they all went their separate ways in the lodging house. Kid Blink and Bubbles decided to relax on the back porch, April and Skittery were up in the boys’ bunkroom, sitting in the window seat, Jade and Jack were in the lobby, partaking in the rather comfortable couch, Blaze and Bumlets were sitting outside on the front porch, and Bailey was moving around what little furniture occupied his new room.

“Ya know, red is a lovely color on ya,” Bumlets teased, noting the prominent tomato stain on Blaze’s blue shirt.

“Aw gee Bum, thanks a lot. “ Her reply dripping with sarcasm. Blaze nestled herself in between Bumlets’ knees on the step below him and rested her back against his chest. “So what do ya think of Carnegie?” she asked.

Bumlets slid his arms around Blaze’s waist and smiled. “It definitely ain’t like any lodgin’ house I’se seen before. I’se glad your gonna help run it,” he answered and kissed the top of her head.

“Well I’ll be dammed…” A voice from the bottom step announced. “It’s you!”

Blaze looked up and instantly slid back towards Bumlets more. “Uh oh…”

“What?” Bumlets asked her. “Who is dat?”

“Tomato boy,” she whispered.

The boy tugged at his friend and grinned. “Can ya believe she was heah da whole time?” he asked and pointed at Blaze. “Someone needs to be taught a lesson,” the boy stated, pulling his friend with him up the steps.

“Woah, wait just a minute,” Bumlets interjected as he stood up, pulling Blaze behind him.

“Oh and what are you gonna do? Protect dis little goily from gettin’ hoit?” he scoffed.

“Damn it Dash just leave ‘em alone,” his friend growled as he tried in vain to pull Dash from the steps.

“Pitch, either help or leave me alone!” Dash yelled.

Pitch rolled his eyes letting the other boy go. He was tired of protecting Dash from these idiotic pesky fights. If Dash wanted trouble, fine. Pitch knew Dash would get beat to a pulp anyhow. Maybe that would teach him a lesson.

“Bums he was whistlin’ at us like I told ya. All I did was throw da tomato at him,” Blaze mumbled into Bumlets’ ear.

“Go inside and get Bailey,” Bumlets told Blaze as he stood in front of her.

Blaze darted inside the lodging house and headed straight for Bailey’s room. Sure enough, there he was attending to the furniture. “Bailey!”

“Ouch!” Bailey cried. He had been in the process of moving a trunk full of his belongings when she called. He had dropped it right onto his foot. “Yes Blaze?” he asked as a wince flooded his features.

“Oh, sorry,” Blaze muttered. “Um, da guy I hit wit da tomato is outside and uh, he ain’t happy. Bumlets told me to come get you.”

Bailey shook his head and sighed. Dis day ain’t lookin’ so great. “Alright, I’m comin’.” Slowly he limped out of his room and towards the front door. Blaze followed right behind him, eager to see what was going to happen.

As he opened the door, Bailey spun back on his heel, raising a finger at Blaze. “You stay here.”

“Oh fine,” Blaze mumbled and kept the door open a crack so she could at least witness the commotion.

“What seems to be da trouble?” Bailey asked as he stood next to Bumlets. He tried not to think about the throbbing pain coming from his toes.

Dash walked up the steps towards him. “Well I believe one of your newsies owes me an apology,” he said with as much attitude as he could.

“Dash is that you?” Bailey asked, his tone filled with bewilderment.

“How’d ya know me name?” Dash asked, taking a step back.

Bailey didn’t answer his question, instead turning to the black boy in the street. “Pitch!”

Pitch turned around and grinned. “Well I’ll be… Bailey! How ya been?”

“Bailey?” Dash asked, his tone rid of its attitude within a second. “Damn I haven’t seen ya in years!” Dash lunged forward, embracing Bailey in a big hug. Pitch walked up the stairs, following suit once Dash let go.

Bumlets stood back, watching the scene in front of him. Well it don’t seem like dey’se gonna fight. Thank goodness.

“Boys I’d like ya to meet Bumlets. Dat goil who you are looking for is Blaze. Don’t mind her. She likes to get herself in trouble. Come on in! We have so much to catch up on.”

Bumlets shook hands with Dash and Pitch before the four boys entered the lodging house.

Bailey led them into the kitchen before Dash could have another encounter with Blaze who was sitting on the couch in the lobby.

After Pitch, Dash, and Bailey had sat down at the kitchen table, each with a glass of water in tow, the three discussed what had happened once they had lost touch.

“You two didn’t last as newsies for very long,” Bailey chuckled as he leaned back in his chair.

Dash frowned. “You try gettin’ up at the crack of dawn. Dat ain’t me style. I needed somethin’ latah in the day, so I could go out at night,” he smirked.

Both Pitch and Bailey rolled their eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I remembah how sweet ya was on all the ladies,” Bailey mumbled. He had hoped Dash had outgrown that phase of his life. But no, Dash was still short for ‘dashing’. What a piece of work he was.

Pitch brought Dash back to reality and fast. “He still thinks he’s one hot guy. Just can’t get it out of his system. Doah he ain’t been wit a lady in…”

“So anyway Bailey,” Dash interjected. “ya run dis joint or somethin’?” he asked.

Bailey grinned, nodding his head with pride. “Yep, shoah do. Well I don’t officially run it yet. I ain’t old enough. But I will when I’se twenty-one. Right now Kloppman from is da real person who runs it, but he just comes up and checks on me from time to time. Dat’s how we’se woikin’ it.”

Pitch patted Bailey on his back. “Well congratulations. We both woik up in dis area. We should go out tonight, catch up on things.”

“Yeah, great idea Pitch,” Dash smiled. “Let’s pay a visit to Annie’s down da street. Dat bar has some of da best brew in town, not to mention da scenery.”

Jade walked in the room and cleared her throat, having heard the last line from Dash. “Bailey, are we accepting lodgers now?” she asked.

Raising a brow, Bailey nodded. “Yeah, why? We got a newsie already?”

“Yes, I believe we do. Two in fact.” Jade fully opened the kitchen door, showing two small boys standing nervously in the lobby. “Some help here?” she asked.

Bailey pulled out his chair and stood up. He exited the kitchen, making sure to plaster a nice smile on his face. He figured the boys would be timid of their surroundings and the last thing he wanted to do was scare away the lodgers on his first day in business.

Dash took a minute to check out Jade. Damn, it’s gonna be good knowin’ da boss around heah. He smiled in Jade’s direction, though once Jade caught him she took off for the lobby.

Why does Bailey have to be friends with such a creep? Jade shuddered, tossing the image of Dash smiling at her out of her mind. It was time to welcome these new kids.

“Hey dere. Me name’s Bailey. I run dis lodgin’ house,” he spoke softly, seeing the shy faces of the two boys. “And who might you be?”

The taller boy spoke first. “I’se Conner, Conner O’Brien. And dis kid is Gavin. We hoid somethin’ ‘bout a lodgin’ house openin’ up ovah dis way,” he replied, then his mouth slid into a grin. “We wanna be newsies,” he stated proudly.

Gavin nodded enthusiastically at the statement, his eyes shining at the thought of a new home and the possibility of new friends.

Jade observed the boys from behind Bailey. Conner had scruffy brown hair and light green eyes. He was wearing a blue shirt, black pants with several small holes in the knees, and a dark gray cap. He looked to be just over five feet tall. Meanwhile Gavin was much smaller. He had dark brown eyes and unruly brown hair. Even under all the soot his face was covered in he was quite a cute kid.

“Ah so ya wanna be newsies huh?” Bailey grinned, kneeling down to their level.

“Yeah, we shoah do,” Gavin piped up.

Bailey gestured towards the front desk and went over a few things with them before they signed in. “Oh Blaze. I believe dis part is for you,” he called to her.

Blaze pulled herself from the couch and wandered over to the front desk. “Yeah Bailey?” she asked.

“Blaze, dis is Gavin and Conner. Why don’t ya show ‘em around da place?”

“Shoah,” Blaze smiled. She waited for the two boys to grab their few belongings and then headed up the steps towards the second floor.

--------

Chapter 5




The next week:

News of Carnegie’s opening had spread around the Upper East Side of Manhattan, keeping Bailey, Jade, and Blaze extremely busy with all the new lodgers pouring in. Not only did they have to keep up with all the new members, but with the strict weekly inspections of Carnegie Hill. Within that first week April, Skittery, Kid Blink, and Bubbles had decided to stay at Carnegie instead of heading back to Lower Manhattan, and Dutchy soon followed suit towards the end of the week. Both Bumlets and Jack had returned to Lower Manhattan, though they visited Blaze and Jade almost everyday.

Both Gavin and Conner had struck up a good relationship with Bumlets and Bailey, and soon Gavin was going by the nickname of Little Man and Conner had adopted the name Jax. It turned out that he never went anywhere without his prized possession: a set of jacks.

As the second week progressed, more and more lodgers came to Carnegie, seeking a new home. Within that week Smiles, Sketches, Pickpocket, Dynamite, Storm, Shimmer and her brother Ian, Jake, Dublina, Tails, Ally Kat, Hunter, and Sunshine had joined.

Smiles was brought to the lodging house by some of the other newsies. She stood at about five feet five inches tall with straight, dark brown hair that fell to her shoulders and light blue-gray eyes. As one of the more down to earth newsies, she quickly befriended both April and Blaze.

Mush had brought Sketches to the lodging house. She was rather tall, at five feet eleven and a quarter inches. She made a point that Bailey add that quarter to her file when she joined and he had gladly obliged. She had curly brown hair and eyes that seemed to be greenish blue and was sixteen years old. Pickpocket, Sketches boyfriend, was near sixteen years old. He had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes that Sketches liked to call a crystal color. He had come to the lodging house after an interesting episode of picking Jack and Spot’s pockets.

Ally Kat was Sketches best friend. Like Sketches she was also sixteen. Those two girls seemed like they had been through a lot together. She was around the same height as Sketches, and had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. Her boyfriend Hunter had been caught dreaming over her eyes several times, calling them a bedazzling ocean color. Unfortunately for him the other newsboys had heard him one day, and they still tease him about it. Hunter was a tall boy, at about six feet four inches. He had black hair and a rather muscular figure at age sixteen.

Dynamite Jackson was fifteen years old. All the newsies agreed that she had certainly earned the nickname Dynamite. Even Dash was mildly intimidated to hit on her and she knew it, which only made her tease him more. Though she was only about five feet two inches tall, she handled herself extraordinarily, her size not being a factor on her attitude. She had almond-colored eyes and shoulder-length dark brown, curly hair.

Storm joined shortly after Dyna. Nicknamed for her love of thunder, it was common to find her outside on the porch when a storm hit, gazing up at the sky. She had light brown hair that fell to her shoulders and hazel eyes.

Ian and Shimmer were brother and sister. Both siblings arrived in the states from Belfast, Ireland. Shimmer was about fourteen years old and five foot six in height. With big brown eyes and curly brown hair to compliment her smile, it was no wonder the newsies had an upbeat attitude around her. Ian was her younger brother, at ten years old. It was obvious that he and Shimmer were siblings by the resemblance in their features. He stood at five feet three inches and had blue eyes, instead of brown like his sister. As Shimmer was rather outgoing, Ian tended to be the shy one, and usually he tried not to be the center of attention. Ian befriended Little Man rather quickly, and along with Jax, the boys would regularly be seen playing together. Jake and Pie Eater had found Ian and Shimmer one day and brought them to the lodging house, and not long after that Jake and Shimmer started dating. Shimmer was happy to find someone to share her love of cheese with.

Dublina hailed from Dublin, Ireland. Her icy-blue eyes reminded some of the newsies of Brooklyn’s own Spot Conlon. She was six feet tall and had blonde hair that came to about her shoulders. At seventeen Dublina had already been through some tough times with her former partners as a pickpocket. These days she called hawking headlines her profession. Blaze had found her on the street after Dublina had encountered some trouble with Spot.

Given her name because her way of making decisions, Tails had decided on the lodging house after flipping a coin. She worked incredibly hard as a newsie to help support the remaining members of her family. She had long brown hair and was rarely seen lurking around the lodging house, choosing instead to spend time with her siblings that lived not to far away.

The other newsgirls in the lodging house had brought in a girl named Sunshine. She was of average height for her age of fifteen, and had brown hair and deep brown eyes. Though the girls teased her in the morning for her lack of spunk during that time of the day, Sunshine was well liked by all the newsies. Her upbeat attitude helped some of the girls forget about their past experiences and concentrate on making their new lives better for themselves.

Towards the end of the week everyone’s nerves were strained to their limits. It was inspection time again, and things were not as spick-and-span as Bailey would have liked them to be.

“No no no, dat won’t do Dublina. We can’t just hide da dust under one of those chairs, we gotta pick it up before we mop da place.” Bailey grabbed a stray dustpan and shoved it impatiently into Dublina’s hand.

Dublina glared at him, slightly confused as to why Bailey was so uptight. To her things at Carnegie seemed cleaner than any other lodging house she had seen, and Bailey was not one to be such a grouch, especially when he knew of Dublina’s temper. “Thanks Bailey,” she growled and shoved the dustpan under the chair, sweeping the grit up hastily. If he evah tawks to me again like dat he ain’t gonna like da fist sandwich I give him for lunch.

“Dyna! No not yet!” Bailey screeched just in time.

“What?!” Dynamite grunted.

“We can’t mop da place until we sweep da place,” Bailey explained and gently eased the bucket of soapy water out of her hands before she had a chance to throw it over his head.

“Den you do it!” she yelled and stormed up the stairs. “Honestly da things I put up wit around heah,” she mumbled, knowingly loud enough for others to hear her.

“I can’t woik wit dese kids,” Bailey muttered, utterly disappointed in his behavior towards his own lodgers. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Jade standing beside him, a small smile on her face.

“Kloppman picked ya because he knew you could handle this, and I am not going to let you give up now.” Jade took the bucket from his hands and motioned towards Sunshine, Sketches, and Ally Kat who were washing windows. “Go get them some new rags. The ones they are using are too filthy. I’ll take care of the floor. Blaze and Smiles are almost done in the kitchen, and Pickpocket, Jake, and Hunter have already dusted throughout the place. Shimmer and Ian are making sure the library is nice and tidy, April and Bubbles took care of the girls’ bunkroom, and the boys’ bunkroom was finished this morning by Dutchy, Blink, and Skittery.” She took a slight breath. “Now go.”

“Yes ma’am,” Bailey replied, his attitude slightly changing after the support Jade had shown him.


****
No sooner had the last corner of the lobby been mopped, then two gentlemen rapped against Carnegie’s front door. As if on cue the newsies disappeared to their respective bunkrooms, each choosing rather to listen in from upstairs than witness the whole spectacle from the lobby.

Opening the door, Bailey’s composure stiffened. He felt as he did the night he had rushed into the lobby, only to be greeted by the skeptical looks of the three gentlemen sent to tell Kloppman the news of Carnegie Hill’s opening. “Good afternoon,” he greeted, losing as much of his accent as he could.

“Mr. Hayworth,” one man answered. “I’m sure you already know why we are here, so let’s get started.” Without waiting for an answer, the two men swiftly made their way inside. One man started in the kitchen, while the other ascended to the second floor, starting his part of the inspection in the library.

Bailey took a seat behind the front desk. He was not allowed to watch the men inspect his lodging house, instead being forced to sit and await a verdict. Then if anything were out of order, he would be notified once the inspection had been concluded.

A few minutes later a rustling noise was brought to Bailey’s attention. Looking over the front of the desk, he caught the blur of what appeared to be a kitten’s tail, scrambling into the kitchen. Oh no, not now.

After debating whether or not to find an excuse to enter the kitchen, his ears perked up at the sound of a pot dropping on the floor. Within seconds Bailey was in the doorway of the kitchen, wincing at the scene before him.

“Mr. Hayworth, you do know pets are not allowed in a lodging house, correct?” asked an agitated voice. He was standing with a stew pot draped across his shoes and his arms crossed.

“Of course sir, I’ve read the over the rules many times,” Bailey insisted.

“Then why, pray tell, is there a kitten running rampant in an area in which these children take their meals?” he asked as he removed the pot from his feet, setting it back onto the counter.

“I haven’t seen this kitten until just now sir. I had no idea there was one in the lodging house. Perhaps a mouse caught its attention and it wound up in here,” Bailey explained, hoping that cat had enough sense to make a quick exit.

“Perhaps. Or perhaps these children brought this heathen in with them from the streets,” he replied, gesturing to the brown and orange kitten in the corner. “You mustn’t allow this sort of thing to continue. As their guardian, you are responsible for each and every action in this house.”

Bailey nodded his head. “Yes sir. I understand completely. I’ll make sure that it doesn’t set foot in here again.” Quickly Bailey approached the kitten, who was much more fascinated with the mouse hiding under the stove then the two men in the room. He scooped it up into his arms and made for the doorway.

“Consider that your first warning,” muttered the inspector before resuming his job.

“Yes sir,” Bailey replied solemnly before exiting the kitchen.


****
“So, how’d it go?” Blaze asked first before the other newsies were able to utter the same words.

“We barely passed dis time,” Bailey announced to the crowd. “Thanks to a four-legged intruder,” he sighed.

“What are ya tawkin’ about?” Shimmer asked.

“Well, a kitten decided to make its presence known by storming in the kitchen after a mouse when one of the inspectors was in dere. He let me off wit a warnin’,” Bailey explained. “Ya newsies gotta make shoah ya ain’t bringing any animals home wit ya. We can’t risk goin’ through dat again.”

A chorus of ‘aw’s’ came from the girls’ side of the lobby while the boys just shook their heads.

“Why can’t we have a cat?” Bubbles asked. She herself had been hiding a dog from the lodgers. It seemed to have followed her home one afternoon, and she let it into the backyard of the lodging house at night sometimes.

“Because dose are the rules, and I have to stick to them,” Bailey replied.

“Well dere rules stink,” Jake stated before putting an arm around Shimmer.

“Dey may, but we gotta follow ‘em. Besides dat da inspection was alright. Thanks for all your help guys. Oh, and sorry I was a bit of a pain today,” Bailey stated.

“Pain?” Dublina chimed in. “More like a…”

“We get the point,” Jade interrupted. “There’s still several hours before curfew. Bailey, why aren’t you going out with Dash and Pitch tonight?”

“Lots of woik to do tonight, no time for anythin’ else,” Bailey replied.

At the mere mention of work the newsies split up, some heading upstairs to the bunkroom, while others to the lobby to play a game of poker. Jade joined Bailey in the paperwork since Jack was unable to visit tonight, and Blaze headed for the back porch steps.

Blaze rested her chin in her hands. Bumlets hadn’t been able to visit in several days and there was this awful feeling of emptiness inside her. She hated this feeling of missing Bumlets. She already missed her family, and now him as well. Maybe coming to Carnegie was a big mistake. Well it’s too late now to back out. You’se stuck. If only Bumlets were heah. Blaze sighed and watched the sky grow dim as the sun began its descent.

As Blaze drifted into her own world on the back porch, her daydreaming was cut short by a sudden weight in her lap. Quickly she pulled back only to see a small kitten licking its paw.

“Well I’ll be. Are you da fella dat caused all da trouble today?” she whispered as she drew her hand towards the kitten, interested to see if she could pet it. The kitten stretched its legs, eager for attention from Blaze as it arched it’s back while she stroked the matted fur.

“Ya don’t seem to be da pain dat Bailey made ya out to be,” she remarked, and as if on cue, the kitten purred loudly in agreement. “I bet you’se hungry,” she whispered. “And ya look like ya could use a good bath.” Slowly Blaze scooped the kitten up into her arms and turned towards the door. If I can make it through da lobby without Bailey seein’ me, den I gots a good chance of gettin da cat upstairs. Holding the cat close against her chest, Blaze cautiously entered the lodging house. A few newsies were lingering around the couch in the lobby, but she noticed Bailey was not part of the crowd. Quickly she darted for the stairs and ran up to the fourth floor.

“Blaze what are ya carryin’ in your arms?” Sunshine asked once Blaze had safely shut the door behind her.

Blaze walked towards the group of girls that had gathered and smiled. “Da cat dat I think Bailey was tawkin’ about. It was outside, and just jumped into me lap.”

“Bailey ain’t gonna be thrilled once he finds out,” Dynamite mumbled from her bunk.

Blaze frowned. “I don’t care. Look at da poor little thing. It hopped into me lap for a reason. I’se gonna keep it.”

Shimmer laughed. “And how are ya gonna do that?”

“Easy. Keep it up heah. Bailey hardly comes in heah as it is,” Blaze explained. “I’ll just sneak some milk for it everyday, dat will be easy enough.”

“And what if it gets out? Newsies go in and outta heah non stop, and we don’t always keep da door closed,” Storm pointed out.

“I’ll just hafta kindly remind people to keep da door closed,” Blaze stated simply.

“Yeah let’s see how long dis lasts,” April remarked. “Dat cat’s gonna be out of heah in no time.”


****
As the next week progressed Carnegie was filling up fast. Bailey and Jade had their hands full with keeping the files straight and Blaze was busy giving tours of the place to the new members and keeping the cat a secret from Bailey.

Sorrow was the next to join. Through an invitation by Blaze she came to find a new home at Carnegie. Standing at about five feet six inches tall, complete with big brown eyes and red-brown hair that fell to her waist, Sorrow was hooked on Oscar Delancey which created some heated discussions with the other newsies, especially Jack. Though Oscar tried to show his toughened outer exterior, more and more newsies were beginning to see that he really wasn’t all his bad reputation had them believe.

After Sorrow joined, Peppermint was soon to follow. Pep was like a little sister to Sorrow. They shared everything with each other. Peppermint had long think brown hair and blue eyes. At only fourteen she already stood at five foot seven inches tall. Though rather shy she had become quick friends with Racetrack and soon they were dating.

Dutchy brought in Pixie within that week as well. Pixie had first learned about the lodging house from Medda and Dutchy had been kind enough to show here where it was located. Bumlets was quick to tease him that he had been searching for a date, just as Dutchy had teased him two years ago. Pixie had strawberry blonde hair and green eyes. Sure enough, Dutchy asked Pixie out shortly thereafter.

Towards the middle of the week Bailey, Jade, April, Shimmer, and Sunshine had gone to the supermarket to stock up on food. Their trips had become more frequent as the new members had been pouring in. Blaze was left in charge of the lodging house for the afternoon. She spent most of the time looking in on the kitten, which still did not have a name. She sat on her bunk, watching the kitten roam around the room, poking its head in anything it found.

“What kinda place is dis? Ain’t no one runnin’ da joint?!” shouted a rather perturbed voice from downstairs.

Blaze jumped off the bed and ran out of the room, making sure to close the door behind her as she did. Once she reached the lobby she noticed a girl of about five foot four, with short jet-black hair and green eyes. She was accompanied by a lanky, taller boy, with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes.

“Can I help ya?” Blaze asked as she stepped behind the counter.

“Got any bunks?” the girl asked plainly.

“Yeah we got plenty of ‘em. Ya interested?” Blaze inquired, her tone mimicking that of the girl’s. Something told her it would be best not to get on either one of their bad sides.

“Good, well we wanna sign up den, or whatevah we gotta do,” she muttered and turned to the boy who nodded his head slightly.

“Awright, well da guy who runs da place is out shoppin’, so I can go ovah da rules wit ya and write down all your information and den when he gets back he’ll tell ya anythin’ I missed. What’s your name?”

“Name’s Mayhem,” the girl answered proudly.

“And you?” Blaze asked once she had jotted that down.

“His name’s Leadpipe,” Mayhem cut in. The boy nodded again.

Blaze continued with the interview, making sure to remember all the questions Bailey and Kloppman had told her to ask. Her facial expression was rather puzzled as after each question she asked Leadpipe, Mayhem answered for him.

“So is dere anythin’ else ya wanna add?” Blaze asked.

Mayhem gave Blaze a hard look before answering. “Yup dere is. He ain't mute, he jist don't talk, an' he sure as hell ain't stupid er sumpthin'. If I evah catch ya makin' fun ‘a him I'll nail ya ass ta de next wall!”

Blaze decided she would just write that he prefers not to talk, and perhaps a warning that no one should harp on it. “Uh, okay. Sounds fair enough.”

Blaze turned the ledger towards them and handed Mayhem a pencil. “Sign your names in dere and I’ll show ya around da place.”

“I think I can find me way around. Leads why don’t ya take da tour?” Mayhem grinned and grabbed her bag before heading up the stairs.

“Right dis way,” Blaze smiled and took Leadpipe on a tour of the place. She had to admit Leadpipe was rather intriguing. She did her best to remember that questions she asked him would not be vocally answered, and she would make sure she was looking at him when she asked him something, therefore allowing him to nod or shake his head as an answer.

After Mayhem and Leadpipe joined Slick McGee was the next to call Carnegie her residence. A drifter at heart, Slick made sure Bailey understood that she wouldn’t always be around. Slick was a messenger for Brooklyn. Whenever Spot needed something delivered to another lodging house, he called upon Slick, or ‘coily top’ as he called her, to deliver the message. Slick stood five feet two inches tall with curly brown hair, green eyes, and a few scattered freckles on her nose. Her best friend was Spot Conlon, or ‘boney butt’, as she affectionately called him.

“And if ya see Spot around, I ain’t heah, and I nevah was heah,” Slick offered as information for her file.

Bailey raised a brow. “Is he givin’ ya guff or somethin’?” he asked.

Slick rolled her eyes. “It nevah ends. He’s always lookin’ out for me. Dat fella needs to get a life.”

Bailey chuckled. “Alright, well I’ll do me best not to let it slip dat ya live heah…”

“Slick McGee just what do ya think you’re doin’?”

Bailey and Slick turned to see Spot at the door, walking towards them rather quickly.

“Conlon what do ya want now?” Slick whined. I nevah get a break from him.

“What are ya doin’ at Carnegie? Ya got a home at Brooklyn,” Spot stated.

“Boney butt give it a rest and go bothah someone else,” Slick replied. She grabbed her bag and headed up towards the girls’ room.

Spot frowned. He walked up to the counter and whispered to Bailey. “So how big is dis place? Got any spare bunks if I come and stay sometimes?” he asked.

“Shoah Spot,” Bailey chuckled. Now dis is gonna be fun watchin’ dese two interact.

Grinning, Spot proceeded to fill out the necessary paperwork and sign in for the night. Maybe one day Slick will see I like her more den friends. Can’t hoit to be livin’ by her, even if it is only sometimes. After he was done providing his information Spot made his way towards the boys’ bunkroom.


****
The next day was filled with new members joining. Lightning, Tiger, Damsel, Jinx, Dicky, Backfire, Glory, Numbers, and Mush joined.

Lightning was given her name for her quick reflexes. With pale green eyes and long black hair she was five feet nine inches tall and quite skinny for her height.

Tiger was given her name for the fact that in school she used to fight frequently with the other children. She had green eyes and short red hair.

Numbers was obviously given his name for his strength in just that, numbers. With green eyes and light brown hair, he stood at about six feet even. His friends Sketches, Ally Kat, Pickpocket, and Hunter had suggested that he become a newsie, and soon he found a new home at Carnegie Hill.

One of the younger girls to join was Damsel. Though she was young, she stood at five feet nine inches tall and had curly red hair and brown eyes. Along with Damsel came Jinx. They’re mutual attraction was obvious, but both parties were too shy to do anything about it.

Dicky and Backfire also joined together. Dicky was best friends with Slick and the two could be found practicing spitting atop the roof. A favorite target of them both was Spot, though he was a rather risky target, Slick and Dicky found it quite amusing to watch Spot Conlon throw a fit. Dicky’s complexion was slightly pale, and she had short blonde hair and blue eyes. Backfire was five feet ten inches tall with brown eyes and hair. He was name because many of the schemes he came up with when he was younger always seemed to backfire on him. Backfire and Dicky were both attracted to each other, but a first move had yet to be accomplished by either side.

Glory was brought to the lodging house by Jade. He had survived on the streets for many years, having run away from an orphanage after a few months of living there. A street vendor had accused him of stealing some food and though his accusations were false, a police officer was soon brought on the scene. Jade witnessed the whole event, and managed to persuade the officers that Glory was telling the truth. At six foot one Glory had dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes. Many of the boys teased him for he was always quiet and very skinny. What they didn’t know was Glory was suffering from a disease that even he was unaware of.

As inspection day was coming near, Bailey saw his lodging house grow once again. Hex, Firecracker, Pie Eater, Chapter, Portly, and Brass all became members of Carnegie Hill.

Hex was named by her father, who was a magician. She had white blonde hair and green eyes. After she had come to Carnegie she met Pie Eater on the streets and soon he came to live at Carnegie Hill as well, finding not only friends here, but a girl - Hex.

Named after her curly red hair, Firecracker was next to join the lodging house. She had brown eyes and stood five feet ten inches tall. Mush took a great interest in her and later they began dating.

Chapter joined after Fire. She was one of the newsies that kept to herself most of the time. She was fourteen years old, and had blue eyes and brown hair. She was always writing - didn’t matter what time of day it was, and the newsies knew to leave her be when she was thoroughly immersed in a story.

Portly and Brass were next to join. While Portly was shy and reserved, he was a great asset to the lodging house. He loved to help out Bailey with any chores and was one of the few newsboys Blaze trusted with the kitten. Portly was fifteen years old and slightly chubby which is how he got his name.

Brass followed in the obnoxious footsteps of Dash. With green eyes and brown hair, Brass stood at about five foot nine inches tall. Though Brass states he received his name because he’s a ‘whiz wit da brass knuckles’, everyone knew it was for his love of the brass instruments.


****
“Come on everyone! Hurry up! Dat inspector’s gonna be heah any minute!” Bailey called throughout the lodging house. He was a nervous wreck these past few days. Something seemed to always go wrong and the lodging house had so many new members that it was hard to keep track of who was who. Jade had just finished organizing the ledger, which had definitely seen better days, and Blaze was busy trying to figure out just where to hide the cat.

“Okay everyone get to your bunkrooms! Dis place is as clean as its gonna be!” Bailey yelled.

The newsies hurriedly clamored up the steps to the third and fourth floors. Just as the last newsie darted in the bunkroom, the inspectors knocked on the front door.

Without exchanging many words, they went right to work. Bailey was rather disappointed to see the same two men as before. He had hoped there would be different inspectors, for surely he could start afresh with the other men, or at least he hoped it would work that way. Silently he sat at the front desk as the men continued their review.

“Blaze, wheah are ya hidin’ da cat?” Fire asked.

“I dunno, and its too late to go downstairs and let it out back,” Blaze replied, looking around for some place to hide the feline. “Dis is bad, what am I gonna do? Bailey’s gonna kill me.”

Before Blaze could find a hiding place, one of the inspectors walked into the bunkroom. She did her best to hide the kitten in her arms and under a blanket, but it would frequently meow.

“What is that?” the man asked.

“What’s what?” Shimmer, Hex, April, and Sunshine all chimed in.

The inspector frowned. “Don’t play games. That cat is in here isn’t it?” He didn’t let them answer. Instead he turned towards the door. “Mr. Hayworth! Fourth floor please!”

Bailey gulped. He hadn’t been called up to any floor during the last inspection. This couldn’t be a good sign. Quickly he headed up the stairs and entered the girls’ bunkroom. His mouth dropped as he saw the inspector standing by Blaze and the kitten in her arms.

“I believe you were told to get rid of this thing,” the man scoffed.

“I did sir. I had no idea it was up here,” Bailey insisted.

“The owner of the lodging house had no idea? I find that hard to believe. Either you are not doing your job very well or you’re lying to me. Which is it?”

On a nearby bunk Mayhem turned over rather loudly and groaned, the situation in itself being extremely bothersome to her. Bailey turned to Mayhem momentarily, and Mayhem looked up at him. Something flashed inside Bailey, making him stand taller. With that one gleam in Mayhem’s eyes Bailey felt a twinge of defiance flow through him. He turned to the inspector.

“Actually sir, I didn’t know that dis kitten had returned, but I feel we should be allowed to keep it.”

The man crossed his arms. “Oh really? And why is that?” he asked, annoyance prevalent in his tone.

“For one it gives dese children something to be responsible over. Also the cat would be able to catch the rats and mice that wander inside Carnegie. We’ve done our best to keep the creature population down, but a cat would help us in this matter, and help make things more sanitary. It would be to their benefit and the lodging house’s if we were able to keep it.” Bailey took a deep breath, awaiting the inspector’s answer.

“I don’t like the way this issue was handled at all, but, I see your point. I’ll allow the kitten to stay, on one condition. From now on, you bring these matters to my attention directly and no more sneaky business,” he said sternly.

“Yes sir, I understand completely,” Bailey insisted.

“Alright then. I am done in here. Please follow me downstairs for your results on the inspection.”

Bailey let out a breath he did not know he was holding. He nodded, and followed the man to the door, though he turned and gave Blaze a wary look before exiting and closing the door behind him.

“Yay!” Shimmer giggled. “You’se one lucky goil Blaze.”

Jade shook her head. “Blaze that was way too close. How bout we don’t start doing this on a regular basis huh? One cat is enough,” she remarked and smiled slightly. Jade was glad to have the kitten around.

Lightning hopped off her bunk. “Did ya see da look Bailey gave Mayhem!”

Mayhem rolled her eyes and turned over again, not wanting to discuss this. “Shuddup Dyna. Ya lose yer marbles or sumptin? Dere was no look, and I don’t wanna heah anuddah woid!” she snapped.

The girls all went back to the kitten, choosing to overlook May’s statement and concentrate on their new pet.

“What are we gonna call it?” Sketches asked.

“How bout Paws?” Ally Kat suggested.

“Nah, how bout Whiskers?” Bubbles called out.

“Lucky?” Sorrow asked.

“Cody?” asked Hex.

“I got one. Sebastian,” Slick offered.

“Dat’s got a good ring to it,” Pixie smiled.

Blaze grinned. “Sebastian’s good,” she replied and looked at the kitten. “Hey how would ya like to be called Sebastian?”

The kitten purred softly and looked up at Blaze.

“Sebastian it is,” she smiled.


****
The next few weeks went by rather fast. Members were still pouring in, and soon there weren’t enough bunks to furnish all the newcomers. Jack and Bumlets had come up that day to assist the boys at Carnegie Hill with the bunks. As the boys began work, Jade and Blaze had more members to get paperwork straight on.

Virtue, Butterfingers, Brooky, Fear, Sugar, Gypsy, Turtle, James, Nod, Specs, Cinder and Ash had recently joined.

A waitress at The Spoon, Virtue was seventeen years old, with long, straight brown hair and stood at about five foot seven. She was not one to be messed with, and the newsies understood that. Her moods often led to violence, something the others tried to avoid, though with the different backgrounds of the newsies, some conflict was inevitable.

Butterfingers was named for her clumsiness. She was slightly chubby and stood at five foot four inches tall. Her eyes were said to be chocolate in color and she had short brown hair. She was a very talkative girl, and was great with children. The younger newsies loved the attention she gave them when they showed off a new toy or told her a story about something that recently happened to them.

Brooky was originally named Brooklyn, but it was shortened later by the lazy boys of the Brooklyn Lodging House. At five foot four, Brooky had long black hair and big green eyes. Though she was skinny, she had a fighting aura about her, and it was well known that messing with Brooky was not a good idea.

Brooky’s best friend was James. He had blonde hair and brown eyes and was extremely tired of being compared to Dutchy. It seemed most of the newsies mistook him for Dutchy from the back. Many of the newsies enjoyed watching the playful fights between Brooky and James. It reminded them of how a brother and sister might fight, and many missed their own siblings, but were glad they had something to remember their family by.

At five feet nine inches, Fear didn’t seem the type that would be timid around mostly everything, but she was terribly afraid of most situations, or anything she came in contact with for that matter. She was fifteen years old and had light red hair and blue eyes.

Sugar was the only newsie that strictly sold the afternoon edition. She served at the harbor five nights a week as well. Many of the girls saw her as a direct threat to their turf. With dark blonde hair and bright blue-gray eyes, Sugar was always found flirting with the newsboys, no matter if they were single or taken.

Gypsy, or Gip as many called her, hailed from Kentucky and found her way to the streets of New York City. With long, dirty blonde hair and icy blue eyes Gypsy stood at five feet nine inches tall. Around her waist she always wore a navy blue sash that was her mother’s. Specs and Gypsy had an obvious attraction, but neither had made a move to further their relationship.

Turtle was named because of an unfortunate incident that left his right leg sliced. He walked with a limp, and was slow to get around, but he could still soak someone with the best of them. At five feet eleven inches, Turtle had dark hair and dark green eyes. It was said that his eyes made him seem as if he was looking right onto a person’s soul. Turtle was seventeen years old and another one of the few newsies that Blaze trusted to handle the kitten.

Because he was afraid of the dark and hardly slept at night, the nine-year old was named Nod. He was constantly seen ‘nodding’ off during the daytime. Nod had curly orange hair, green eyes, and many freckles. Nod could usually be found with Jinx, as he was teaching Nod how to tumble.

Cinder and Ash were twins. Both had dark eyes and hair and used to be chimney sweeps. The two even had matching outfits because the Children’s Aid Society thought it cute to dress the pair alike. Ash was older by several minutes and both had shown that their personalities were quite different. While Cinder was loud, Ash tended to be the quieter one of the two.


****
Not only did the new work prove strenuous for Jade, but her relationship with Jack also was taking its toll. She hardly had time to see him, even when he spent two or three days at Carnegie in a row. Jack would always volunteer to help out with the bunks and Jade was up to her neck in paperwork. She knew the inevitable question was going to come up soon. Would Jack hand his leadership to another newsie and come stay at Carnegie? Or would he decide that he would rather be at Lower Manhattan?

“Dere ya are Jade,” Jack smiled and slipped his arms around her waist.

“And where did ya think I would be? Behind the counter as usual, doing paperwork,” she sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder.

“Well it’s high time ya stopped doin’ paperwoik and spent some time wit me,” Jack asserted before kissing the top of her head. I think it’s time I brought up da subject of wheah I’se gonna live.

“Alright, I’ll take a break from this paperwork,” she teased and turned her head up towards him.

“Ha, very funny. We can’t all have poifect grammah like you, ya know,” Jack smirked. He bent down and kissed her lightly. After he broke the kiss Jack took her hand and pulled Jade towards the door. “Now you are takin’ a break and dat’s final,” he grinned.

“Well… If I don’t have any say in the matter… Alright,” Jade smiled.

The two walked outside and headed down Madison Avenue. Jack kept his eyes on Jade, trying to pick out the exact moment to start their discussion.

Jade could sense that Jack was holding his tongue. Finally she turned to him. “Jack, we ought to talk,” she sighed.

Jack nodded his head. “Ya took da woids right outta me mouth. Um, I’ve been thinkin’ about Lower Manhattan and Carnegie Hill, and wheah I should stay…” he trailed off and stopped. Taking Jade’s hands, Jack pulled her closer to him.

“It drives me nuts not to be at da same lodgin’ house as ya. It really does, but Kloppman’s getting on in age, and the kids seem to be getting younger each time we admit someone. I ain’t quite shoah who to leave in charge if I did leave,” Jack sighed.

Jade looked him deep in the eyes. “I understand, really I do. I hardly have any time for myself right now as it is, but I was thinking you would come to that conclusion. I hate being away from you, but I understand you have obligations at Lower Manhattan. I just…”

Pulling Jade so his forehead met hers, Jack ran his fingers down her cheek. “I ain’t givin’ up on us. I nevah will. I’ll find someone to lead. Just, just gimme some more time okay?” he whispered.

Jade nodded. “Okay,” she replied softly.

Jack met her lips in a deep kiss. He was determined to find someone to lead at Lower Manhattan. If only he knew who that someone was going to be.


****
Elf, Vision, Canarie, Two Bit, Isis, Luna, Songbird, Tinkerbell, Crew, Mark, and Rudder were the most recent members at Carnegie Hill.

Elf stood at five feet two inches tall. She had long, straight brown hair and brown eyes. She had received her nickname at a young age, and when she became a newsie, the name stuck.

Originally from Greece, Vision traveled to New York by herself. Vision had blue-gray eyes and blonde hair that flowed just past her shoulders. She was fifteen years old and harbored a crush for a Bronx newsie named Crew who soon became a member of Carnegie Hill. Crew was named because he usually had a crowd of people around him. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and had a crush on Vision, but hadn’t mustered up the courage to ask her out yet.

At fifteen years old, Canarie was five feet tall, with brown hair and large brown eyes. Canarie was one of the more athletic newsgirls who was usually found out playing games.

Given for her abundance in opinions, not to mention her skill in arguing, Two Bit always had to add her ‘two bits’ to the conversation. She wore her brown hair in a long braid and had blue eyes. Two Bit was known never to go anywhere without her lucky pair of blue suspenders.

Isis was fifteen years old. She had blonde hair that stretched halfway down her back and eyes that were grayish blue or green one day and hazel the next. Jack had sent Isis to Brooklyn, but she eventually wound up at Carnegie Hill.

Nicknamed Luna for her pale skin, she stood five feet six inches tall. Luna had jet-black hair that she sometimes tucked under her gray cap and auburn, brown eyes. She always sported her slingshot in her back pocket and only a fool would try to take that from her. Luna was very protective over her friends, something that many thought of as a bad habit, but her friends knew just how lucky there were to have someone looking out for them, even if they acted as if it were a bother to them.

Songbird was nicknamed by Spot and Racetrack because every morning she awoke the others with a song. At five foot four inches tall Songbird had shoulder length reddish, brown hair and blue gray eyes. If Songbird wasn’t around the lodging house, she was almost always found at Medda’s, singing.

Tinkerbell’s prized possession was a tattered copy of Peter Pan that her sister Leila had given her. It was said that she looked like one of the fairies in the book, so the newsie bestowed upon her the name of Tinkerbell, or Tink for short. Tink was nine years old and had long, wavy blonde hair and big blue eyes.

Tiger brought in a boy named Mark. She said she was still searching for the right nickname for him, and so he chose to use his given name until a new one was found. Mark was of an average build, with brownish blonde hair and green eyes. He spent a great deal of time with Tiger, though he hadn’t told her yet, he did have a crush on her.

Rudder found out about Carnegie Hill from his friend Lightning. At six feet two inches tall, he had midnight blue eyes and auburn hair. It was apparent that he and Lightning had gone through a lot together and was common to see the pair out talking about things privately. Rudder hoped to one day be more than just friends with Lightning, but so far they remained great pals.

After Rudder joined, Bailey declared the lodging house full for the time being. With the plethora of new members, he decided it would be best to get all the paperwork in order before admitting any more newsies. Both Blaze and Jade were very grateful for Bailey’s decision, for the work was almost too much to bear.