The Queen of New York

Chapter 15: Crutchie's Letter

Eventually, we all settle down and we start planning a rally for all the newsies of New York. Suddenly, the door bursts open and Specs runs over to me, "Hey, Dixie!" He calls out and I stand up.

"What's up, Specs?" I ask him, diverting myself away from the rally planning.

Specs holds up a piece of paper with writing on it, "It's from Crutchie....It's for you and Jack."

My eyes widen as I quickly grab the letter and I start to read it. It's like I can hear Crutchie's voice in my mind. 

How are you? I'm ok, guess I wasn't much help yesterday. Snyder soaked me real good with my crutch. Oh yeah! Guys, this is Crutchie, by the way.

I let out a small, shaky laugh at Crutchie's writing. God, I miss him so much.

These here guards, they is rude. They say 'jump boy', ya jump or ya screwed. But the food ain't so bad here.... cuz so far they ain't brung us no food.

My anger boils up inside of me. Crutchie is the most innocent and sweetest person I have ever met. He doesn't deserve to be in a hell hole like that. Snyder better be praying cause once I get my hands on him, he'll be wanting to go to heaven.

I miss the rooftop. Sleepin' right out in the open, in ya penthouse in the sky. There's a cool breeze blowin'.....even in July. Anyway, so guess what? There's this secret escape plan I got! Tie a sheet to the bed, toss it out the window, climb down and take off like a shot. Maybe though, not tonight. I ain't slept and my legs still ain't right!

I feel the tears fall out of my eyes and down my cheeks, I hold back a sob.

Hey, but Pulitzer he's goin' down! And then, Dixie....Jack, I was thinkin' we might just go. Like you two were sayin'. Where it's clean and green and pretty, with no building's in ya way! And ya ridin' palomino's everyday. Once that train makes.....I'll be fine, good as new. But there's one thing I need ya to do. On the rooftop ya said that a family looks out for each other. So you tell all the fellas from me, to protect one another! The end,

Ya friend......Ya best friend......Ya brother,

Crutchie.

A sob escapes my lips and I seal the letter back up before giving it to Specs, "Go find Jack and give it to him! Show him what he's doing and who he's failin'!" I snap and Specs runs out with the letter.

"Dixie, you okay?" Katherine asks me, walking away from the boys and I turn to look at her.

I shake my head and I try to stop the tears from falling. She quickly walks over to me and embraces me in a warm hug, I lean into her enjoying the comfort.

"Ya think he'll find ol Jacky boy?" Race asks me and I slowly get out of Katherine's embrace.

"I hope so...He needs to remember why we started this damn strike! When we go against Pulitzer and the bulls, it's for our friend Crutchie! For all the kids like him, and so no one has to be stuck in that damnable refuge again." I take a deep breath to calm myself down.

"He'll come back, Dixie. Jack's your brother, he loves you. I promise." Katherine smiles sadly at me and I give her a forced smile.

I hope she's right.