Rebuilt

Chapter 10

Elmer and I walk down the New York streets towards a place Elmer described as the hangout place for all the boys at lunch.  The air was brisk, and as the days passes it was getting colder and colder. Elmer was wearing a thin jacket, it was better than nothing he had said to me.

Approaching the dinner called Jacobi's, we met up with Albert, JoJo, and another Newseis outside.

"I'se tellin' you Buttons, when you'se geta look at the goil-," Albert was saying. He stoped talking when he saw Elmer and I approaching. Albert made a pointing motion with both his hands. "See."

Buttons swiftly approached me. "The names Buttons," he held out his hand. "What is the name of the beauti-" he stuttered over the word turning the color of a brick. "Beautiful goil I'se gettin' the pleasure to meet?"

I offer an awkward smile. Buttons puts down his hand then looks at me, then to Elmer, then to Albert and JoJo behind him laughing at his awkwardness. He looks at all of them- including me- as if to say why isn't she speaking?

Elmer cuts in. "Blades, the girlies name is Blades." Buttons walked away with a wink (which he failed at completly, first blinking, then realizing he messed up, attempting to wink again, but slower so he wouldn't mess it up).

I turn my head, seeing Elmerand JoJo laughing as they lean against each other for support. "The poor kid," I can hear Elmer say between laughs.

Calming their laughing fit we walk towards the entrance of Jacobi's and meet of with Buttons and Albert. Elmer opens the door, Albert, Buttons, and JoJo walk in-

Elmer stops them with a straight arm before they walk in the door. "Be gentlemen boys, let da lady go first." He gestures with his head for me to walk in the door before the boys. Rolling my eyes, I walk in the front door of the diner.

As soon as I walk into the diner all of the rowdy voices of the Newsies subside into subtle, "ohhh"'s and "there's the goil."

Race stands up from where he's sitting while the boys behind me file in. "Hey there pretty goil," Race says. He gestures to his empty booth. "Do a fella the pleasure of sittin' with me?" He asks.

Nodding my head I slide into the booth across from Race. " Aye Albert! Elmer! JoJo! Come sit wit' us!" Race calls. Elmer sides into the booth next to me, when Albert sits next to Race, and JoJo sits next to Albert.

"Try and fit one more person in the booth why don't ya," I hear JoJo mutter as he does his best not to fall off the seat. I smile at him quietly. Looking at the table, there are spoons, forks and knifes. I slide a butter knife off the table and tap it quietly against my thigh.

"So, fellas," Elmer says looking at each one of us. "I'se figured out a name for 'er."

Race looks at Elmer. "What?" Albert and JoJo say the same.

"Blades," Elmer says simply. He looks at JoJo who just smiles.

"Why Blades?" Albert asks.

"Because," Elmer drawls. "She's got true skill handlin' switchblades-" he reaches under the table grasping my hand. "And she's got a knife in her hand a lot," he says as he takes the knife from my hand and places it on the table.

"I'se get it!" Albert practically shouts. He stands from his seat-nearly knocking JoJo on the floor- and jumps on the table. He grabs my hand and pulls me next to him. "Fella's!" He shouts capturing the attention of the diner.

"Meet Blades!" Albert says pulling me into a hug. He introduces me to the guys one by one pointing them out. Finally, I knew all their names. Mike, Ike, Smalls, Finch, Kid Blink, Crutchie, Jack, Mush, Buttons, Tommy Boy, Sniper, Specs, Henry, Romeo and that was about it. Those were all the boys that stayed in the lodge house.

Two more boys walked in. Clearly related, one seemed to be about 10 years old while the other looks about 17. "Davey! Les!" Jack exclaimed. "Glad you'se swung by."

"What are we doing after this?" The younger boy asked.

"Les, we just got here, go sit down or somethin'" Davey said removing his brothers hat and ruffling his hair.

Les made his way over and sat next to Mush and Buttons in a both similar to my own. Davey looked at me. "Who's she? And why is she and Albert standin' on a table?"

Albert looked at me, "oh, this is Blades. She's the new goil."

Davey smiled brightly. "A new girl! Oh! Kathrine will be so happy that there is another girl around!" He walked over to the table and stuck his hand out. "Pleasure to meet you'se Blades."

I just nod and smile tightly.

I jump off the table and sit back in my seat next to Elmer. I feel hit scoot a little closer to me until he reaches in his back pocket and pulls out change. "This should be enough for bread," he says simply.

After ordering and receiveing the bread Elmer looks over at me while I quietly nibble. "Do you'se want to walk back to the lodge with me? We'se finished selling our papes because..." he looked at my face. Not as red as it was when I found him on the street, but still noticeable. Without him finishing his sentence I nod and scoot out of the both.

"Aye!" Jack yells. "Where you'se goin' Blades?" I ignore Jack and keep walking with Elmer.

"Thanks for the bread," I say looking at him from the side.

"Any day," he replies.

We continue to walk and exchange few words.

"Well, well, well," a voice drawls from behind us. The voice is too familiar for the both of us. Elmer takes his hand out of his pockets and grabs mine. Veering to the left we turn down and alley. We can hear footstep following us from behind.

"Word on the streets says you'se been names Blades," the voice continues. Elmer keeps walking until the figure steps out in front of us and blocks our path. "Now Elmer, you'se have never been one to get in trouble with me." Morris said cracking his knuckles. "But ever since this goil came along, oh you are just so much more fun to mess with."

"Leave 'er alone Morris," Elmer said keeping a tight grip on my hand. "We'se ain't done nothing wrong."

Morris walked toward Elmer, fist balled up ready to fight. I reached over and pulled the switch blade out of Elmer's pocket. Morris landed a punch to Elmer's jaw before I walked around to Morris's back and wraped him in a choke hold.

He stoped strugling once I placed the tip of the knife at the base of his neck.

"Don't touch him," I spit into his ear.