Rebuilt

Chapter 12

"WAKE UP!" Jack shouts.

    I awake from my light sleep with a jump.  Elmer sits up and smiles lightly.  He scratches his head and attempted to smooth down his unruly bed-head. 

    We stare at each other for a second, unaware of the others around us milling about tossing on shirts and readjusting suspenders.

    Albert hits the supporting metal bar, "alright love birds get up."  He was leaning against the metal bar with both hands.  Albert raises an eyebrow.  "If I tear off that sheet, will I'se see somethin' I'se don't want to see?"

    Elmer tears off the thin sheet and throws it at Albert.  Scoffing, Albert tosses it to the side and saunters off.  Elmer grabs his shirt and throws it on over his head.  He offers a hand, I take it and groggily slide out of bed.

    "What was that 'bout movin' fast Elmer?" Jack teases.  I roll my eyes and slide on my socks and shoes. 

    "We didn't do nothin'," I say standing.  Jack looked surprised to hear my voice.  "Yeah, I have a voice.  Keep annoyin' me and I be usin' it to cuss you'se out."

    "You'se could be usin' that mouth for a lot more," Race croons coming around from behind Jack.  I scoff and walk towards the exit.

    "Race! What the hell?" Elmer asks.  Race continues to talk until I slam the front door shut, cutting off all of the voices from inside the Lodge House.

    I walk down the street, trying to recall the way Elmer had walked the day before.

    The Refuge was not a kind place, and a life sentence was no kinder.  Race's joke was one I had heard before.  Which was just at disturbing and offending.  I doubt Race had those type of intentions, though I still reacted as if he meant it.

    It was strange being out of the place I had spent most of my life in.  It was like being introduced into a new world.  The streets of New York changed a lot compared to ten years ago.  There were definitely more people.  Every time you turned a corner you came face to face with a stranger in a hurry.

    I was not in Newsies Square, maybe I was close?  I lost track of where I was going, I do a full circle and look around.  It all looked the same.  I sit in the entrance of the alley, hugging my knees to my chest.

    I wipe away the light sweat that had started to run down my cheek.  It wasn't sweat.  I was crying.  I groan and bury my head in my arms.

    I hate crying.  I do it to often and it makes me feel weak.  Broken

    I hear a laugh, I look up and see a boy staring down at me.  He had his sleeveless arms crossed and was glaring at me.  "Now, now," the boys says.  "What is a goil dressed in Newsie clothes, doin' 'ere, before da headline's released, cryin' in a dirty Brooklyn alley?"

    Shit, I scald internally.  I wandered inta Brooklyn.

    I stand up and brush my tears away from my face, and the dirt from my clothes.  "I'se just need to get to Newsies Square."  My accent and his sounded very similar.

    "Ah, so you'se from 'hatten.  You'se know the rules.  'Hatten newsies ain't allowed in Brooklyn without a real good cause."  He was backing me against the wall, now that I was standing I was towering over the boy by a good couple inches.

    I manage to wheeze our the word "lost."

    "Sure," the boy says.

    "Aye! Spot leave the girle alone."

    We both turn to see JoJo out of breath slowing to a walk coming out of an alley.

    "JoJo," Spot says taking a step away from me.  "What you'se doin' in Brooklyn?  You'se know the rules."

    JoJo pointed at me, "I'se came to get Blades, she's new and got lost.  We'se going to leave, no trouble."

    "That's not how it works," Spot says.  "You'se come to Brooklyn unannounced, you'se get a Brooklyn beatin'."

    "We ain't do nothin' wrong Spot," JoJo said backing away from Spot's approach.  JoJo reached for my hand and gripped it tight.  "Spot, we'se don't want no trouble, but. . ."

    JoJo bolted, dragging me along with him.  Spot chased after the both of us, cussing and yelling at us to stop.  JoJo kept sprinting down the street, me trying my best to keep up to his long-legged pace.

    JoJo slowed to a jog, tossing a glance behind his shoulder to make sure Spot still wasn't still running after us.  After catching our breath JoJo let go of my hand and we began to walk.  I followed JoJo as he twisted down the streets and alleys.

    JoJo jumps in front of me when he hears a set of approaching feet.  We both whirl around to see Elmer jogging down the street.  He waves us down, "Blades! I was lookin' for you'se. I saw you wander off into Brooklyn.  Are you'se okay?"  He steps up and puts a protective hand on my cheek.

    "Yeah," I say quietly.  "JoJo helped me."  I toss a glance behind me and look at JoJo and smile.

    "We'se had a run in with Spot," JoJo admits.  "We ran, which now that I think about it wasn't the smartest idea, now him and all 'is croonies will be comin' afta us.  Specially Blades.  He was showing much interest in 'er."

    Elmer drew back his hand, "I'll protect you'se."  He said.  "Headline's goin' to be up soon.  Lets go."

    JoJo and I follow Elmer down the street, we turn the corner and walk into Newsies Square just in time to meet the rest of the guys walking to get there papers.

    We are greated with claps on the back as we get into line.  Race walks up to my side.  "Sorry, 'bout the joke.  I'se know you ain't had the best years."

    I smile and wrap my arms around him giving him a hug.  "It's okay."

    I feel him smile.