Papes and Pens

Chapter 2

Jack starts heading back to the lodge, thinking about his encounter with Katherine. A family? Kids? It all seemed too far in advance for Jack to even think about, yet he feels deep down that Katherine would be the only one he'd want to share his future with.

There is only one problem. Katherine wants to know about his past.

Jack didn't have the best childhood growing up, which is why he became a Newsie. His parents aren't around anymore, yet he still feels a hole in his heart that was supposed to be filled by their love. Thankfully now it is mostly filled with the love of the boys, but he still yearns for their support. He knew that it would be tough talking to Katherine about it and that it is the next hurdle for them to jump in their relationship.

As Jack entered the lodge, the bickering and conversations of the boys helped pull him out of his mind.

"What did ya bring us Jack?" Les asks, taking the bag from Jack's hand. "Bread, cheese, soup?" Les said, after he pulled out each item from the bag. "Did you visit Katherine again?" Les knew, if it was food, it was most likely from Katherine. Especially if it was fresh bread. The stuff he bought from the markets were always the leftovers that didn't get taken the first couple days. Les took the bread up to his nose and started inhaling the sweet scent.

"Not so fast!" Race replied, stealing the bread from Les before he had a chance to take a bite from it. "Bread from Katherine is a treasure. We have to split it evenly so everyone gets a fair amount!"

Soon everyone started to come over, Crutchie and Davey helped Jack get dinner ready for the kids. As they were setting the table and warming up the soup, Crutchie knew he had to ask Jack what his plans are for the future. "So ye going to take up Pulitzer's offer of working for The World?"

Jack put down the ladle after mixing the soup and sighed. "I don't know Crutch. He almost costs us our lives. How could I go work for the guy who wanted to starve us to death so he had one more silk pillow to sleep on?"

"Well he's also Katherine's father, so you have to compete with that as well. How does Katherine feel about it?" Crutchie asks, pouring the water.

"She thinks it would be best for us and for the kids here if I take it. I just don't know how I'll be able to work for the guy even though he tried to put me back in jail and after he jacked up the pape prices. I know that he's Katherine's father, and she said that we will get together with him sometime before I start working there to iron out the details. I want to take the job because I know we could all use a little more money around here." Jack says as he starts putting the warm food on the table. "Even the meager amount Katherine has given us has helped us get enough electricity to heat up this stove here, helping us all stay healthier and stronger over the winter. Just think of what a few more cents could do."

"I guess now would be a good time to tell ya I got a job working at the diner?" Crutchie says, limping over to Jack to help with setting the table. "It's not much, but it's more than what I'm getting paid selling papes. These kids deserve more, and I know Davey is looking for a job as well. I know once his father gets better and the two brothers go back to school, he'll only have a couple more years before he is out and can make some real money. He says he'll still help out around here whenever we can. We're his family now."

"Crutchie that's amazing!" Jack says, punching him playfully on the shoulder. Before they could carry on their conversation longer, the boys came running to the table. Everyone had their own place, and everyone ate well. For the past couple weeks the boys have all been content, no doubt due to Katherine's contributions, despite being on strike for most of the time. Davey and Les joined, since it was a Thursday. Usually their parents only allow them to spend one or two nights per week at the lodge since the boys still have responsibilities at their home with their dad being injured.

"How long until you're back at school?" Jack asked Davey while passing him the bread.

"School starts up again in January and my father should be back at his job by then, so we still have four months left. Just in time for the snow!" Davey replies. Things had just started to get cold in New York, making the newsboys miserable most days. They have a collection of old blankets and clothes that the kids use as blankets, but winters in a cold lodge will always be terrible for the boys.

Dinner went on as usual, Race has been teaching Les all of his new tricks so there's always something to talk about. With the help of a good meal, the boys always chatter and mess with each other. In years past, with nothing but a couple rolls to go around, they would eat their meals in silence except the teeth chattering from the cold. With the help of the older kids, they cleaned up and got ready for bed. It was time to start a new week, and the boys needed to rest up before the early morning tomorrow.