Governor's Daughter (A Mush Meyers Love Story)

Chapter 11: The Word Gets Out

At school that Monday, I knew everyone knew about Mush. No one talked to me and whenever I walked past I could hear the whispers. I should have known Grace would tell everyone. She was a big gossip and she didn’t think what I was doing was right away. After school, I sat on the stairs alone. People walked by and giggled as they walked away. Grace walked down the stairs. I stood up and grabbed her arm. She stared at me coldly.

                “I see you’ve been running your mouth,” I said.

                “Running my mouth had nothing to do with it,” she said, “It’s your fault for dating a newsie. What did you think was going to happen?”

                “I expected you to be my friend and keep your mouth shut. Guess I was wrong.”

                “I expected you to be smarter. Guess we were both wrong. Go have fun with your street trash.”

                “You’re so simple minded, Grace. You would rather go along with what everyone else says instead of thinking for yourself.”

                “You used to be like that. Thinking for yourself isn’t going to get you anywhere in life, especially not in New York. I thought you knew that.”

                “I hate you.”

                “I bet you do.”

                She walked away from me. I stared after her in hatred. I should have known better than to trust her. I was amazed I had even been friends with her. Just then, Jane came over to me. I felt like running away and ignoring her, but I knew I wouldn’t get very far.

                “What is this I hear about you dating a newsie?” she snapped, “Is that where you’ve been disappearing off to?”

                “My life is already ruined Jane,” I said, “I don’t need you giving me a lecture on how dangerous this is or how stupid it is. I already know that. Why did you think I didn’t want anyone to know? I know how bad this is going to look on Daddy. I screwed up, alright? I get it.”

                “Why didn’t you think this through? What did he do to make you agree to this?”

                “He didn’t say anything. It was me. I wanted to date him. Newsie’s aren’t as bad as we think they are. They’re kids just like us. They’re nice and Mush is nice to me and he’s sweet and he cares about me which is more than I can say about the idiots I thought were my friends.”

                “Do you love him?”

                “I think so.”

                Jane sighed. “You better be ready for what’s coming to you. No doubt this has already gotten to Daddy.”

                I nodded and took off towards town square. When I got there, the newsie lounge was surrounded by reporters and photographers. News traveled fast in New York. The newsies were trying to get out of the crowd of people. I spotted Jack trying to get the press out of the way. I yelled his name and he looked my way. He came over to me.

                “Anna, what da hell is goin’ on?” Jack said, “We all come back and dere’s all dez reporters.”

                “Looks like people found out about me and Mush,” I said, “It’s news story. ‘Governor’s Daughter dates low life orphan’.”

                “Yeah well what are ya gonna do about it? It probably has ya pops blowin’ his top off.”

                “I haven’t been home yet. I don’t know. There’s probably reporters there too. Where’s Mush?”

                “In the lounge. Ya can go through da back door.”

                I walked around the big crowd making sure they didn’t see me. I got to the back door of the newsboys lounge and opened it. Jack followed me inside. I could hear the reporters banging on the front door of the place. Jack closed the back door. All the newsies were huddled together. They turned their heads when they heard the back door close. Mush came through the circle of newises and over to me. He hugged me tightly.

                “You alright?” Mush asked me.

                “I’m fine,” I said, “I didn’t expect the news to get around so fast.”

                “I guess Grace was hard at work. What ya gonna do?”'

                “I don’t know, but whatever it is, it might involve me never seeing you again.”

                “No, dey can’t do that.”

                “I’m sorry, Mush. This is all my fault.”

                “Nah, it’s mine. Maybe if I hadn’ flirted wit you so much, we wouldn’ be in dis mess.”

                I laughed. He kissed me. “You are quite the charmer, Newsie.”