A Newsie Story

Chapter 23

*SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE PUBLISHING OF MY LAST CHAPTER. HERE IS THE REAL CHAPTER 23*"

"So how was ya day wit Morris,"Race asks me quietly. Davey and Morris decided to go get sandwiches for us all for supper and Race volunteered to stay here with me.

I won't look at him,"It was lovely. We just walked around the city. How was your day? Did you talk to Meaghan at all?"

I spit the word Meaghan out a little harshly but it makes my point. He needs to know that I'm not happy with him at the moment. Race taps me gently on the shoulder until I look at him. He's actually a little teary eyed.

"I'm very very sorry Liv. I don't even know what happened ta me. She ain't even that pretty. You'se is the only goil who is pretty ta me. You'se ah the only one I really see,"He says quietly and slowly.

"Race,"Is all I can say before he pushes his lips against mine softly. Morris and Davey will be home any minute with the food.

For once I don't care.

Race cares about me. He still cares about me.

A few tears of relief pool up in the corner of my eyes as my lips separate from his. He just stares at me confused,"What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything Race! I was just thinking about how wonderful you are and how I don't deserve you. I'm going to miss you,"I say not thinking about what I'm saying.

"What do you'se mean that ya gonna miss me,"Race asks narrowing his beautiful green eyes.

Before I can try to wiggle my way out of what I said a shaken Davey and Morris walk through the door with the food. Race forgets about what I said and looks at them concerned,"You'se two look like you'se saw a ghost! What happened?"

Morris and Davey exchange a quick glance and I can see Morris shake his head slightly. Davey looks at Race in his cool convincing way,"Oh nothin. We saw a goil gettin hurt by a drunk man. She was real young and someone else helped her out. She's fine."

Race seems to believe them but I don't. Some random girl getting beaten wouldn't make either of them look like that. I wonder if he found them. He told me that he wouldn't hurt them.

We eat in almost silence except for Race who seems to have unlimited stories. He doesn't even notice how we barely speak a word to him. We just nod along chewing the food that tastes and feels like paste in our mouths. Even starving kids can't eat when they have a maniac after them....except of course Racetrack Higgins.

The food seems to disappear as Davey, Morris, and I say we aren't hungry. Race eats nearly all of it. We sit around talking about random things like the headline as each of us starts to yawn. Morris is the first to say that he needs to sleep and we all get out of his room, which is also the living room.

I pull on my nightgown with the boys in the room. They stare at me but I have nothing to lose at this point. I snuggle into the center of the bed and the boys jump in only in their underwear. It seems we all feel like we have nothing to lose.

Race falls asleep first with his arm slung across my stomach. Davey falls asleep quickly after with one of his legs wrapped around my good leg. I'm starting to be able to put weight on my foot now. The doctor says I should be off the crutch by Saturday.

I lay awake for at least an hour thinking only one thing.

Day 1 is over. 29 to go.

* * *

Day 2 is just like a normal work day and I hope something interesting happens on Day 3.

* * *

Day 3 is wonderful.