Boys, Meet Twitch

Chapter 14

     That night after selling papers, everyone went back to the lodging house. Jack and Twitch laid down next to each other. "So we're really dating?" She whispered
     "Yup. What are you gonna do with the baby when it gets here?"
     "My aunt Carol is gonna raise him. Do you remember the newsie that went missing? Patrick?"
     "Yeah."
     "That was her son"
     "Oh. Your family has quite a variety." He said
     "Yeah. Good night, Jack."
     "Night, sweetheart."
     "Night, lovebirds!" Race said
     "Shut up!" Jack said
     "We can all here you!" Albert said
     "Good night!"
     The next day, Twitch noticed her stomach was growing as she got ready. She got dressed, then went down to newsies square. "Hey, Twitch. Your heads jittering all around again. You ok?" Davey asked
     "I'm fine, David, thanks. Uh- when are you and Les going back to school?" She asked
     "Probably in a few weeks. How come?"
     "Just wondering. Did your mom have Les in a hospital?"
     "No, she had him at home, but we had a midwife. Why?"
     "How old were you?"
     "Ten."
     "Did you help at all?"
     "Some, I-"
     "Papes for the newsies!"
     Everyone got their papers and went on their way. Twitch and Jack went around Broadway. "Really, Jack, I'll be fine on my own."
     "Absolutely not." He said, "A lone pregnant girl is too dangerous."
     Twitch sighed. "I'm glad you care about me." She said, "After we sell our papers, could you maybe walk with me to my aunt's apartment?"
     "Sure."
     After hours and hours of suckering and lying to sell, they successfully sold all their papes. It was now sunset. "I think about now would be a good time to go." Twitch said
     "Where does she live?"
     "Harlem."
     "Kinda far."
     "That's why you're coming with me."
     After walking for miles, they finally reached Carol's apartment. They were about to knock, but heard her saying her usual prayer for her son. "Patrick, darling, since you left me, I am undone. Your mother loves you. Goodness save my son!"
     Lindsay sighed. "She does this every day. She misses him so much."
     "I hardly remember Patrick." Jack said
     "He went missing a little while ago. You might have just started." She explained
     She knocked. "Come in."
     "Carol?"
     "Lindsay, dear! How are you? I heard about the strike- everyone has- but wasn't there some violence? Are you ok?" Carol asked
     "I'm fine."
     "And who is this?" She asked
     "My boyfriend, Jack Kelly."
     "Oh, before I forget, I finished your maternity dress." She revealed a beautiful dress on a mannequin, "Do you like it? You can sell papers in it, it ain't fancy."
     "I love it, Carol. Thank you!" The two girls took it off the mannequin, "Next week, I'll be five months. You got a kid to look forward to."
     "I'm so happy, dear. Well, long walk to Manhattan. I guess you two should go. Nice to meet you, Jack."
     "You too." He said
     They left and Twitch carried the dress. "Keep your head still, hun." Jack said
     "I don't know what it is about seeing her like that. Just works me up."
     "It's hard to see family struggle." Jack said
     Twitch stopped in her tracks. "I don't want this baby." She said, "All I want is to see Oscar corrected for what he did. I want my normal life back."
     Jack hugged her. "Honey, think of it this way, I- you- I- I don't know what to say."
     "You don't have to. Let's just go back."