Let's All Just Blindfold The Poor, We Must Remind Them What's In Store

<3

Kathrine showed up at the park at about nine, and was greeted by... Well, no one. She thought Jack would at least be waiting for her, but to be fair they never agreed on a time.
She took in her surroundings. The park was quite beautiful, and though she didn't take the job to write about it, she enjoyed being in it. She enjoyed being almost everywhere in the town; the busy theatre, the loud restaurants, the quiet cafes, her peaceful office and humble home.
But outside of all of the diverse buildings was just as comforting in it's own way. The sidewalks were clean and the birds were singing overhead. The sun always shone down in the most beautiful way, illuminating any angel that stood under it.
But this was only one part of town. Kathrine didn't wander very far, so she still hadn't seen most of what this place really looked like. But she'd heard plenty, and is prepared to hear plenty more from this boy she's supposed to be meeting.
Kathrine sat down in the grass. The blades tickled her ankles as she brushed her long skirt to the side. The red head almost always had paper and pen on her, incase inspiration struck - as it usually did on days like these.
Propping her papers against her knees, she began to write. A warm up, if you will. She wrote of the sun, and the green grass that hadn't been trimmed, and the events of the charming boy climbing through her window, asking her to write about their revolution.
She couldn't help but smile when she saw him stroll around the bend, and pick up his pace upon seeing her.
She stood up, and brushed her skirt off, big smile was still plastered on her face.
"Good morning Jack." She said, this time sticking out her own hand for him to take.
He shook it happily, his other hand buried deeply in his pocket.
Katherine barely noticed the boy behind him, but when she did, she immediately straightened her posture.
"Oh! Hello again." She breathed.
Jack looked amusingly between the two of them. "Ah Davey? This is your girl?"
"N-no Jack." He said, rolling his eyes and playful pushing Jack with his shoulder, a signal to shut up. Jack was just glad that Davey seemingly didn't have 'a girl'. Just because, it would get in the way of his plans. That's all.
At this, Kathrine spoke up. "We met once. It was here actually, are you and Jack friends?" She asked, turning her attention to David when asking the question.
David was a bit stumped at this. Sure, he has some 'friends' at school, but that's just his study group. They don't really hang out or anything. And as sad it is to admit it, he's only really friends with Les. What even qualifies someone to be friends? Would it be bold to say that he and Jack are, even though they haven't known each other for very long? But even despite that, Jack knew more about David then even Les did, there had to be something.
Luckly, David didn't even get a chance to open his mouth before Jack swung an arm around his shoulders.
"Yeah, we's kind of like best friends now. Ain't that right Davey?"
David let out a laugh. It was technically true, for him at least. "Yeah, like soulmates." he said, getting a cute laugh out of Jack.
Kathrine sighed. They obviously know each other pretty well, that could be helpful for this whole endeavor. "Ok boys, let's get started. Do you have a well thought-out plan yet?"
Jack stilled a bit. "Well, that's why Davey's here ain't it?"
"What? We didn't talk about this!"
"I know I know ok look, Davey and I still need to work out a plan together. But we can't do it here, and I only have so much brain power." He took in Katherine's bemused look. "But for starters, the simple plan is that we rally some help, break in, and get Crutchie."
"Genius." Kathrine said sarcastically.
A few more questions, and a little more banter later, and then they decided they needed to go somewhere more private. "What about the theatre?"
"The theatre? That's the least private place in town jack." Kathrine said, hands resting on her hips.
"Nah, I got a special place in the back we can go to." Jack shrugged, finally resting his arm back by his side.
"Oh that's not suspicious.'' Davey butted in sarcastically.
"Would you rather go back to Wiesel's lodge?"
The silent exchange of looks was enough, and Jack spun around to head towards the busy street.
-
It had been a long day at the theatre. Though extremely grateful for the business, Miss Medda was exhausted. Medda owned the theatre, and she performed every night. And almost every afternoon. And every morning on the weekends. But right now, it was the Bowrey Beauties' turn.
And those girls were good. So was everyone who worked there, Medda was lucky to have found such a talented bunch.
Just as she went to sit down, she saw someone moving in the rafters.
"Hey! Who's up there?" She asked loudly, still unable to make out even an outline of whatever had broken into her theatre.
"Sorry Miss Medda!" a voice called from the black space, and her expression immediately softened up.
"Jack kelly!" Medda said, smiling at him as he made his way down the old ladder. "Where ya been keeping yourself kid?" She laughed as they embraced each other in a tight hug.
"Never far from you!" he smiled, pulling away a bit to admire her newest costume.
Seeing her confused but welcoming face peering just over his shoulder, he turned a bit and said, "Oh, this is Kath and Davey."
"Kathrine."
"David."
Medda chuckled and held out both hands for either teen to take. "It's a pleasure to meet you both." and then she turned to jack. "Are you here to show these dears your paintings?"
Jack's face flushed a bit, "no- nah- they's nothing to show off." He moved his gaze over to his friends, who were both smiling widely. Kathrine took a step closer to him.
"You paint?" she asked, a thick tone of giddy curiosity in her voice.
He shrugged. "Sometimes, it's nothing too impressive. Anyway, that's not why we's here. We just needed a sec to... Discuss some current issues." He finished matter-of-factly.
Medda laughed, "ok kids well, you have fun, Jack knows where the back rooms are."
Jack nodded, and with a quick 'thank you medda' they were off towards the back of the theatre.
The rooms were on the opposite side of the building from where they were, so they had to pass by the stage and dressing rooms before they made it to where Jack made himself at home.
The stage was beautiful, they passed behind the audience quietly, but not before pausing for a minute to see what was going on. There were two redheaded girls on stage together, along with a blonde boy who was cheerily playing piano. The boy made eye contact with Jack, and they gave a nod 'hello' to each other before Jack's hand grabbed Davey's, pulling him along. Davey locked arms with Katherine, and together they pushed behind the audience and into the hallway with the dressing rooms.
Kathrine looked over at her friend. "Did you know that boy?" she asked, noticing the look they gave each other in the other room.
Jack nodded, taking them around a turn. "Kinda, hes Anthony. I know his sister.'' Jack looked up and spoted Oscar Delancey. He was talking to one of the actresses, a tall blonde girl. Just when Jack looked up, so did he, and their eyes met. Jack sped up the pace. "I think hes workin here till theys can move on to better things."
Kathrine stopped walking. "Why haven't you?"
Jack stopped as well, and turned to face her. "Why do you keep asking questions?" he snapped back. Davey rested his hand on his shoulder, attempting to comfort him, ground him, tell him to shut up before a fight broke out, whatever he was aiming to do, it worked because Jack immediately eased at his touch. "It ain't so easy to just give up a home, and a family, all for 'better things'. Life ain't that simple for kids like me."
Kathrine shifted. "I-I'm sorry I was just wondering."
Kathrine always got in trouble at home for asking endless questions, but she was just trying to get a better grip on other's realities.
Jack shrugged and smiled at her, easing the tension immediately. Now that they've stopped again, they had a moment to take in this new room. Well, it was actually a hallway, lined with doors. Some had stars and names on them, but those rooms were all before the turn. Now, they were surrounded by doors with titles such as "scripting", "sets" and "props".
Jack took a few steps away from the other two, and turned the handle to the "sets" room.
"Home sweet home." He said, making his way into the room. The other two followed soon after. "This is the only private place I know about, so we's can work here."
David looked around the room. It was bigger than the common room where they met Medda, but still pretty small for a room with backdrops. There was a door on the other side of the room that led backstage, where most of the backdrops actually were being held.
Though, there was one against the wall, towering above the kids. "Is this your work Jack?" he asked, holding his hand up to it.
Jack looked away from Katherine, and over to David. Him and Katherine were already seated, and she was setting out her papers so they could start. "Oh uh. Yeah." He sighed.
Daid walked over to the other two as he said, "it's really good."
"Shut up." Jack said, nudging his friend who had found a seat next to him.
"Ok boys, we don't have all day. What ideas do you have?"
Jack rubbed the back of his head. "Well, we's gonna need some help."
Kathrine nodded. "Obviously. Any idea who you wanna get?"
"How many people do we already have?" David butted in, it would be helpful to know how many people they actually needed before going out to get them.
"Uh, about... 20."
"Hm. better than I thought.'' Kath said, jotting something down.
"Yeah, I thought that maybe we could go to the towns that border ours and see who wants to help." He leaned back in his chair and began counting on his fingers. "I knows that mosta them have lodges like ours, Midtown, Queens, Brooklyn-"
"Don't count Brooklyn, that'll never happen." David said, crossing his arms
"I can take everybody in brooklyn with my hands tied.'' Jack said, re-straightening himself in his chair.
David scoffed, "no you couldn't."
"Then we'll go to brooklyn, you and me. We can take a spot down together, yeah?"
"Me? No i-"
"What is the big deal about brooklyn?"
Both boys looked over at her. Has she been living under a rock?
"Kathy, Brooklyn is the biggest city in the world. And 'kid prodigy' Spot Conlon lives there."
Noting kahrines puzzled look, Jack continued. "He's kinda like the leader. Like me, but more feared. A real big name in my world."
Davey knew plenty about Brooklyn and it's intimidating size, but nothing about the 'spot' character. "And you think that he'll help you- help us?"
Jack chuckled. "No, but it's worth a shot. Worst he could do is give us a bad name, but hey, we're breaking into the refuge anyways so it aint gonna be too different any way."
Kathrine nodded. "Ok. three towns, assuming some are smaller or bigger than here in Manhattan, that will probably be about... 60 more kids? Plus us would be about 80!"
Jack shrugged. "Or more. And apparently, we ain't so original."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, apparently there's been a revolution building' outside the state."
Katherine's breath almost stopped. "That changes everything! If we can team up with them, we could actually win this whole battle!"
David noded, "yeah! That would take us up to at least 100 people right?"
Jack nodded, a smile on his face. This could actually work.
Kathrine took a deep breath. "Ok, I have an idea. My boss has been talking about going on an out of state trip with me, if we do that, I could recruit them!
Jack stood up. "Kathrine, you're really gonna trust an adult? And we's got no idea where theys are!"
She stood up too, face to face with the boy. He was taller, but she definitely seemed bigger. "He'll understand, and if he doesn't, I'll put him in his place.'' That sounded a little more aggressive than she wanted. "And anyways, he might know something! He's a reporter after all, and if word has gotten out about the revolution this quickly, then it must be close."
Jack sat down. "Fine, but that'll be a long trip. we's might not be able to afford to wait.
Kathrine nodded. "I know, and if we can't get back in time for the break in at the refuge, they'll be here to back you up for the aftermath. I promise."
It was a bold promise, but one that she had to make to justify her possible absence during this.
"Ok then. I'll have Race and Albert recruit midtown, Specs and Buttons can take queens, and Davey? You and I will take Brooklyn."
"What? No I can't I-"
"Davey, you have an older brother right? You can't be the only one responsible for Les, and it'll only be an hour or two."
David took a deep breath. "My sister's name is Sarah." Jack mumbled an apology, and David couldn't help but smile. He wasn't upset about it, and Jack's reactions to him were always pretty cute like that. I mean - in a platonic way of course. "And yeah, ok fine I'll go."
Jack perked back up. "Perfect! An' just like Kathy said, this'll change everything, so once the boys return we can work on a plan, though you might not be there for that." Jack said, aiming the last part of the sentence at Kathrine. She nodded in understanding, as the three of them stood up.
"Ok guys. Go home, get some sleep, I'll tell the boys about our plan, and Davey, I'll pick you up tomorrow."
David noded, "Kathrine, when do you think you'll be able to leave?"
"Assuming that everything goes well, I'll be out of town by noon tomorrow."