The Crutch's Sister

Sanctuary

I knocked on the door three times. The twins, exhausted from our long trek, slept on mine and Driver's backs. I heard the door's lock click and it swung open.

"Kicks!" Miss Medda shrieked. I shushed her and pointed to the sleeping girls. "Where have you been? I've been so worried about you! When you didn't show up to rehearsal, I got so worried. I didn't know where you'd go or what time you'd be back! I was about to go out and look for you myself." She wrapped me in a tight hug.

"Sorry I scared you Medda." I said. "I need a favor from you."

"Yes, of course. But first. Come on in. It's too cold for you and whoever your friends are to be outside." She shooed us inside the theater. I quickly went to work and made a hammock for the girls using the stage curtains. I glanced over at the clock above the door. 12:30 a.m. Driver and I tucked them in and we went to talk to Medda.

"Medda. This is Driver and those girls are his sisters, Olive and Rosie." 

"I work with Kicks and the newsies." Driver explained. Medda nodded slowly. "Me and my sisters don't come from an...ideal home and Kicks said that she knew somewhere safe for these girls. The only thing I want is to see my sisters happy and safe."

"All siblings want to see their brothers or sisters be taken care of." Medda said. "I'll let you kids stay here, but you're gonna need to do your share if you want to stay."

"I'll do anything if it means the girls don't have to go back home." Driver said.

"You can be a stagehand and work nights like Kicks. I'll find something simple for the girls to do." Medda smiled.

"Thank you, Miss Medda! Thank you so much!" Driver exclaimed, hugging her. She chuckled and hugged him back.

"No problem, kid." she replied, releasing from the hug. I let out a quiet yawn.

"I need to head back. The boys might be worried about me." I explained, walking to the door. "Driver, you know where to find me if you need anything." He nodded and I walked out into the early morning.

I crept over the boys' sleeping bodies and up to the room Crutchie and I shared. When I walked in, he was standing in the middle of the room.

"Where have you been?!" he shouted. I sighed and sat down on my bed and took off my shoes, prosthetic, and hat. "Do you know how scared and worried I've been? You said you were walking Driver home and heading straight to work. When you didn't show up after your shift, I was so scared. I didn't know what to think. I thought something had happened to you." He hugged me tightly and I hugged back.

"Crutchie," I started. "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"I know. I know. But you're still my baby sister and my responsibility." he said, letting go of me. "Now, tell me where you were." I let out a deep sigh and proceeded to tell Crutchie everything that happened that night.

"The three of them are staying and working at Miss Medda's." I yawned, laying down on the bed.

"That's awful." Crutchie said. "But at least they're safe."

"Yeah." I murmured, falling asleep.