The Unknown Soldier (N.R)

Chapter 1

I'm layed in my bed trying to sleep peacefully when I hear a voice, but I choose to ignore it.

Kloppman: Hey, cowboy. Hey, cowboy. Come on. You're dreaming about selling papers?

The person trying to wake me up starts to tap on my shoulder.

Kloppman: Hey, hey, hey.

I roll over annoyed at somebody disturbing my peaceful sleep.

Jack: Don't want to. What's the matta with you?

I open my eyes and realize it's the old geezer who runs the joint.

Kloppman: What's the matter with me?

Jack: What's the matta with you?

I turn on my side facing him trying to fall back asleep.

Jack: I ain't selling any of your- get off my back.

Out of nowhere Kloppman shoves me, continuing to try to wake me up.

Jack: Get away from me, you're mad!

Kloppman:  Haha. Get up boy! Come on. Alright! Carry the banner! Sell the papers!

I finally get up after he walks away from me. I get out of my bed grabbing a pair of pants. I lean on the wall as I put em on when Mush walks up to me.

Mush: So, how'd you sleep Jack?

Jack: On me back Mush.

Mush starts to fake laugh. As he's laughing he starts to throw friendly punches at me.

Mush: Ha ha. Hear that fellas? Hear what Jack said?
I asked Jack how he slept and he said 'On me back Mush'

I finally push him away, then crutchy comes up to me.

Crutchy: Jack, when I walk, does it look like I'm faking it?

I button my pants the rest of the way and put my arm around crutchy as we walk towards the bathroom area.

Jack: No. Who says you're faking it?

Crutchy: I dunno. It's just there's so many fake crips on the street today, a real crip ain't got a chance. I gotta find me a new selling spot where they ain't used to seeing me.

As he tells me I start to put shaving cream on my face.

Mush:Try Bottle Alley or the harbour.

He says as he puts deodorant on.

Racetrack: Try Central Park, it's guaranteed.

I take a bit of the shaving cream and fling it at mush, then walk over to the other side of the wash area with the mirrors so I can shave.

Jack: Try any baker, bum, or barber.

I continue to shave until I'm as smooth as a baby's bum. When I'm done shaving I put on the rest of my clothes for the day.

I grab my hat off the side of my bed as I follow the rest of the boys out of the room. We all flow down the steps leaving the house, entering the street.

As we run down the street we hop over barrels in the alley. I jump onto a truck bed and then jump off when the men in it get mad.

While we continue down the street, messing around, we find ourselves stopped at a cart full of Nuns. The nuns sing the song they sing every morning as they give us bread and cups of water.

Nuns: Blessed children.

I take off my hat in respect to the women of God before us.

Nuns: Though you wander lost and depraved, Jesus loves you, you shall be saved.