The Crutch's Sister

Whistle

Kicks' POV

I was walking down the street, lost in thought. Miss Medda told me to take a break as a reward for all of my hard work. The boys, including my brother and Jack, told me to take a mental health day to clear my mind of what happened these past few weeks. I had received good news earlier today. Race had told me that he saw the Delancey boys and everyone else in the gang who attacked being sent to jail, so I had nothing more to worry about. I walked across the bridge and sat down on a crate next to a busy street. But, once I had gotten myself settled, I heard a struggle. I stood up and slowly followed the sound. It was coming from behind a building. I saw a familiar red shirt being pummeled by a group of large boys. He had blood coming from his nose and lip. He was trying to fight, but his body wouldn't let him. I wanted to back away, but my feet wouldn't budge."I can't just leave him."  I thought. I ran up to the boys and punched the biggest one in the gut. He doubled over and the others closed in on me. I jumped in front of Spot and kicked and punched the other boys until they ceased the fight.

"You win this round, Kitten. But not next time." the biggest one grumbled, limping away. I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to my level. 

"Kicks, not Kitten." I growled. I released him and turned around and knelt next to Spot. He didn't seemed badly injured except for a few bruises and scrapes.

"Ya didn't have ta do that, Kicks." Spot winced, sitting up.

"Yes, I did, Spot. Now be quiet and let me help you get home." I snapped, putting his arm around my shoulders. We limped to his home where he lived with the other Brooklyn newsies. They all came up to Spot and led him away to treat his injuries.

"Thanks for helping our boy." a very tall newsie said.

"I was just passing through when I found him. I owed it to Spot, too. I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for him." I explained. My mind went back to the day at the docks. I shuddered when I imagined the cold, rough waves.

"Kicks." Spot called. I looked over and Spot motioned for me to come over to him. I followed and stood next to him. "Thank you...for helpin' me. I-I don't know what I'd have done if you weren't there. To show my gratitude, whenever you're in Brooklyn wit any of ya friends and you find yourself in a bind, just whistle this." He whistled a short tune. (The very beginning of the overture, the 'now is the time to seize the day' part. Y'know what I'm talking about) "Repeat it, so I know that you know it." he said, nudging my shoulder. I copied it perfectly. He nodded. "There you go. Whistle that tune whenever you're here. We'll be your guardian angles." he grinned and gave a friendly wink. I beamed back. "Go on. Your brother and his friends might be worried about ya." I smiled at him and walked away. I hiked back to the warehouse and stopped as soon as I stepped into the door.

~Le Flashback~

Kicks' POV

I ran around the city, panting and gasping for breath. I sat down on the filthy sidewalk and sobbed. No one on the street stopped to ask me what was wrong. "Hey." a voice asked. I looked up and wiped my eyes. It was a boy, my age. He seemed small, but still large and intimidating in his red shirt. "You okay?" he whispered. I sniffed.

"I-I-I'm alone i-in th-the w-world. I-I'm ne-never gonna f-find him." I hiccuped. The boy sat next to me.

"You ain't alone. Although youse feel like that's the situation, you ain't alone." he soothed.

"You're just sayin' that." I muttered.

"I'm serious." he declared, taking my hand and standing me up. "All of these people are alone right now. But if you ask someone for help or if you feel like you can't go on, someone will come runnin' and take you home." (DEH reference) I smiled and hugged the boy. The boy hugged me back.

"Thank you." I wiped my eyes. 

"No problem." He grinned and gave a friendly wink. I walked away into the crowd and settled in my crate for the night. 

"Tomorrow." I sighed.

The next morning, the boy's words rang in my head. I had gotten up, completed my daily routine and came to a church. I approached one of the nuns who was standing outside.

"Excuse me, Sista?" I asked, tapping her shoulder. She turned around and smiled. "Have you evah seen a boy around here? Dirty blonde hair? Greenish-brown eyes? Has a limp and a crutch?" 

~Fast Forward~

~Back To The Present~

"Kicks? Kicks, you okay?" Jack asked, waving his hand in front of my eyes. Crutchie took my face in his hands and had a worried expression on his face.

"It was Spot." I mumbled. My stone expression started to break into a smile.

"What?!" Crutchie panicked. "WHAT DID SPOT DO?!" 

"He helped me to you! He kept me going all of these years!" I exclaimed, jumping up and down.

"You ain't makin' any sense right now." Jack said. Davey walked up and put his hands on my shoulders.

"What's wrong?" he asked slowly.

"Nothin' is wrong! Everything's perfect!" I squealed. I ran back out the door and back the way I came. 

"Kicks! KICKS!" Jack and Davey shouted, running after me. I just ran faster. Once I had crossed the bridge, I started whistling the tune Spot had taught me. I only stopped to catch my breath. 

"Kicks." Spot called. I looked up and saw him, standing on the opposite side of the street. I ran to him, not caring about the traffic,  and threw my arms around his neck.

"THANK YOU!" I shouted. 

"What're you thankin' me for?" he chuckled, hugging me back.

"You..." I started.

"SPOT!" an angry voice shouted. I turned around and Davey ripped Spot and I apart and pushed me behind him. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!" he demanded. He grabbed the front of Spot's shirt and pinned him against the wall.

"Davey! STOP!" I screamed. He started pummeling Spot and punching him in the face and stomach. I tried getting in between them, but Jack and Crutchie grabbed me. I broke away from them and pushed Spot away and onto the cement. Davey started punching me and I screamed. He stopped three minutes later when he noticed that it was me. He released the grip he had on my shirt and I knelt on the ground and caught my breath.

"Katie...I'm..." Davey started.

"Just shut up, Davey. Just shut up!" I shouted, waving my hand. I stood up, shakily and slowly. I started walking over to Spot.

"Kicks. Let me deal with Spot." Jack said, marching over to him. I stopped him by putting my hands on his chest.

"Y'know. It's kinda disappointing that you boys always think I'm in some sort of trouble. It's true that trouble has a way for finding me, but I don't go looking for it. You boys seem to think of me as a damsel in distress, delicate and meek. I'M NOT A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS! I CAN HANDLE MYSELF! I thought I could be myself around you guys. But you've made my mold, and I can't fit in it and I hate it." I growled. I looked at the boys, who all seemed taken aback by my outburst. I walked away from them when Davey grabbed my hand.

"Katie..." he mumbled. I ripped my hand away.

"Only people I trust call me Katie." I sighed. I ran away as fast as I could from them. 

Away from my perfect fantasy.

Away from my perfect reality.