The Fanfiction 2 or Why Does Technology Hate Me So Much?

Chapter 11

A few days after our adventure, I received a note, which, judging by the handwriting, was from Race, telling me to be at the deli at two o'clock. So, at about one thirty, I went to the deli, and at about two fifteen, I was sitting alone in a mostly empty deli. 

I took the note from my pocket, along with a stub of pencil that I had found, and began doodling. As I drew, (nothing fancy, just shapes) I heard the door open and someone come in, although it didn't sound like a usual entrance. I didn't wonder, however, but continued doodling and didn't look up. I heard the person draw nearer to me, but I didn't look up from my doodles until the person was right next to my table.

I saw a boy, about 15, who was wearing a backward newsie cap and a friendly smile. I recognized the boy; I had met him at the lodging house when I first met all of the boys, and his crutch, which gave away who he was, explained the altered sound of his entrance.

"Would you like to sit here?" I asked, gesturing to the seat across from me.  "As you can tell, I'm currently here alone."

He sat down, and looked as though he wanted to tell me something he couldn't. I decided to not stress about that, and instead, began light friendly conversation.

"So, do you have any sort of hobbies? I know that Jack likes to draw, Davey likes to read, and Race likes to play cards or watch horses." 

"I enjoy making people laugh," he responded. "What about you?"

"Well, I like writing, singing, and acting, but I've taken an interest in seeing and noticing things. I've had some free time, so I've been wandering the city." I admitted. "Although, I would love to find something else to do."

We chatted for a bit, and I realized that it was almost three o'clock, and Race had not shown up. And Crutchie seemed to be getting anxious about something, as if he knew something I didn't. He glance about the room, and out the windows. One of the twins, either Mike of Ike, ( I can't tell them apart very well) walked past, and sort of glanced through the window. About a minute later, Crutchie said he was meeting up with some guys near Medda's theatre to hang out, and that I was welcome. Sensing there was something else going on other than "hanging out," I agreed to come.

We arrived, and clearly trying to not have me notice, one of the boys out front of the theatre broke away from the group and rushed into the closed building. A few moments later, the boy returned, and told all of us that we could come in because the theatre was cleaned up.  He said it as though it was just a daily cleaning, although I was almost definite it was code for something. The others all pushed inside quickly, but I waited for the crowd to pass and walked in calmly with Crutchie.

We got inside, and I saw the boys facing me, huddled around the curtains on the stage. As I stood facing them, they parted and opened the curtains, revealing a beautiful mural. From either side of the crowd, came to paint covered figures, Race and a slightly annoyed Jack. 

I realized that the mural was of my home, and it was done in the stunning and bright style that all of the pieces of Jack's work I had seen had, but something didn't line up. Jack was covered in more paint than normal, and Race, who normally tried to avoid paint, was also covered.

"It's absolutely beautiful," I said."But, if you don't mind my asking, why are you both wearing so much paint?"

"Because that one has no art skills and what seems to be very limited coordination," Jack responded, half annoyed and half laughing. "He got more paint on the two of us than on the mural itself."