Carry On

Chapter 5

That afternoon, Jack was at the lodging house, and thought over the days events. He had gotten chased by the Delancies, Clara helped him out, he kissed her (YES), and then they had gone to lunch with the money Jack could scrounge up from his earnings. Jack was not a rich man, and Clara knew that, so she had ordered something cheap and simple- a sandwich. Jack was grateful.
He went on to the fire escape and smiled at the sky. He breathed in the warm air, ready to take on the rest of the day.
"JACK'S GOT A GIRLFRIEND," Davey shouted to the rest of the boys in the lodging house.
"Do not!," he said to Davey, who had joined him outside. Romeo came out as well.
"Yes you do, Jack. There's a reason they call me Romeo."
"What's her name?" Davey pressed.
Jack smiled at the ground. "Clara," he muttered happily.
"What does she look like?" Romeo continued.
"Well," he smiled, love struck, "She has brown hair with blonde highlights, bright blue eyes that can be both loving or scary. And her face... It's like blemished porcelain, white and freckled..." He could go on forever.
"Is that her?," Davey asked, pointing downward.
The three boys looked toward the street.
"Hello, boys!," she shouted up. She had the hugest smile on her face, even though the sun was in her eyes.
"Jack, have you seen the paper?"
"Today's pape? I don't read that junk!"
"But you sell it."
"That doesn't mean I read it."
"Well," she scoffed, though her face brightened. "Miss Medda went through with her promise! George Shaw is opening a show called 'Captain Brassbound's Coversion,' and he wants me to be in it!"
Jack's jaw dropped, but then closed his mouth and beamed. "Good work, Clara! I'm so proud!"
He went down the fire escape and hit the ground. He ran to her, and kissed her full on the lips.
They both pulled away, grinning their faces off.
All of the newsies cheered. Romeo and Davey must have called them once Clara showed up.
"Where is the theatre?" Jack asked.
"Brooklyn!" She screamed. "It's just across the bridge, and it would be easy to get there and... I'm just so excited!"
Jack froze. Brooklyn? Was she serious?
"Jack? Is something wrong?" Clara asked, very concerned.
"Nah, it's nothing."
Clara knew that it obviously wasn't nothing. But she let it go, just the same.
"Well, we open in two weeks, and I expect you to be there, Mister. I have rehearsal in about an hour, so I must be going. Goodbye, boys!" She shouted up. They bid their farewells, too. She kissed Jack on the cheek and walked down the street.
Jack climbed up the fire escape in a daze.
"Brooklyn? Why did it have to be Brooklyn?" He said.
"Jack, you can't go see that show!" Crutchie very strongly advised. "Spot Conlon will beat your butt!"
"I know, I know," Jack replied. "I'm gonna have to make a choice. Would I rather go see Clara perform, or play it safe."
"Let's take a vote," Davey suggested. "All in favor of Jack staying here, say 'I'."
"I," came from every single one of the boys.
Jack sat down on a crate. "That settles it then," he said, as each of the boy's faces lit up, "I'm going to her show!"
That is when all hell broke loose.
Protests came from all of the boys. "SPOT CONLON'S GONNA KICK YOU HALFWAY TO QUEENS!" "JACKIE, YOUR GONNA DIE OUT THERE!"
There were so many shouts, but Jack ignored them all. As long as he was with Clara, he knew he was safe. She may have been a girl, but he knew that she could kill a man if there was a need to.
Spot Conlon wouldn't stand a chance against that girl.
{A/N: Sorry it was so short. There will be more tomorrow.}
-C ★