I try lying down and greeting some sleep, but I can't. My mind is racing a million miles a second, and it won't shut off. Too much has gone wrong today for me to settle down enough to sleep.
I hear rustling in the bed I share with Crutchie and one of the little boys here. There wasn't nearly enough space for us to have our own beds, and we were all cuddled together for warmth. I could feel Crutchie moving behind me as he prepares to write a letter. He starts whispering what he is writing to himself. I listen to him talk.
"Dear Jack, greetings from the refuge. How are you? I'm okay. Guess I wasn't much help yesterday. Snyder soaked me real good with my crutch. Oh yeah, Jack? This is Crutchie, by the way. These here guards, they is rude. They say, "jump boy, you jump, or you're screwed!" But the food ain't so bad least so far, cause so far, they ain't brung us no food! Ha, ha. I miss the rooftop. Sleeping right out in the open, in your penthouse in the sky. There's a cool breeze blowin' even in July. Anyway, so guess what! There's this secret escape plan I've got! Tie a sheet to the bed, toss the end out the window, climb down and take off like a shot! Maybe though, not tonight. I ain't slept yet, and Madie's leg, well it ain't right! But hey, Pulitzer! He's goin' down! Then, Jack, I was thinking we might just go like you was sayin'. Where it's clean and green and pretty, with no buildings in your way, and your riding Palominos every day! I'll be fine. Good as new, but there's one thing I need ya to do; on the rooftop, you told me a family looks out for each other, so ya tell all the fellas from me, to protect one another! I'll protect Madie in here for ya.
The end, Your friend, Your best friend,
Your brother,
Crutchie"
I tear up a bit knowing how much Jack means to Crutchie and how no one will think of me that way. "Crutchie, try to get some sleep," I whisper to him, closing my eyes, trying to get some sleep myself.
"Night, Mads," he whispers to me, gently placing his hand on my back in comfort.
I smile and try to fall asleep. I end up getting a little sleep, and I fall into a dreamless, short sleep.
YOU ARE READING
The Only Girl Newsie
FanfictionNewsies are usually boys. It's always been that way. No matter where you go, you will only see boy newsies unless you go to Manhattan. There you will find the only girl Newsie, Madie. Madie is a tough girl who isn't afraid to speak her mind. She liv...
