Bound To Rain

Ink Supply Dwindles

"Elmer's comin' back." I told Crutchie.

"He is?" The boy looked surprised.

"I talked ta him." I nodded.

"Elmer's comin'?" Race stopped walking, he was walking past. I nodded, a smile spread across my face. "Damn."

"What?" I gasped.

"Cash upfront." Albert held his hand out. They'd made a bet.

"Ya bet on everything!" Crutchie adjusted his crutch.

"So I's bound ta win at some point." Race shrugged, putting two pennies in the palm of the ginger boy's hand.

"Maybe." Crutchie hissed in my ear.

"Probably not." I laughed. I then glanced out the window. It's about 4:30.

"Olive!" Jack came down the stairs. "Did hear I that Elmer's comin' back?"

"Uh-huh." I beamed.

"I's thinkin' he'd last longer." Jack grinned.

"At least a week." Crutchie agreed. We were in a small huddle about two yards from the door when it opened. I whipped my head around to see Elmer with his things and in his regular Manhattan attire. He probably gave the red flannel to Spot.

"Hi." He and Crutchie shared a quick hug, then he and Jack did the same. The black haired boy turned to me and gave me a longer hug. I heard Jack and Crutchie snickering.

"Ay, leave room for Jesus!" Jack pushed Elmer and I apart. Elmer shoved him jokingly. By now, the boys were coming in. They were all pretty surprised that Elmer was back. They were all hugging him, patting his shoulder, and welcoming him. We ended the night playing Dupec.

Elmer, of course, fell asleep in his seat. Jack let out a little laugh before picking up the boy and carrying him up into our room. It's our room again. Elmer did what he usually did, hugged a pillow. I placed Honeybelle next to him. She curled up by the crook of his chest. I grinned, took a pair of my clean clothes, and climbed onto the top bunk. It was there I changed and fell asleep.

The Morning Bell chimed at it's usual time. I went down to wake Elmer by shaking him gently. Without opening his eyes, he took my arm and pulled me into his bed with him. Honeybelle let out a squeak of protest, moving somewhere else.

"It's the Mornin' Bell." I yelped. At this point, I was laying beside him. His arm was draped over my stomach.

"I know." He mumbled. "I's still tired."

"Didn't ya sleep all night?" I asked, resting my own arm over his shoulder.

"Nah." Elmer shook his head the slightest bit. "I's woken up a few times."

"We's gotta fix that." I declared quietly.

"Probably." The black haired boy nodded, eyes still closed. The Morning Bell chimed the final time.

"Elmer, we's gotta go!" I pulled him into a hug, nuzzling my face into his chest. He stiffened then relaxed. Elmer then returned the hug.

"Don't wanna." The sixteen year-old murmured.

"Ya gotta." I replied. He released me and sat up, rubbing his eyes. I slid off the bed and put on my selling gear. He eventually did the same, and we left the room together.

Most of the boys were already outside, so we rushed out with them. The headline was freshly put up.

Ink Supply Dwindles, Soon To Effect Newspaper Push.

"What?" Gasps erupted throughout the boys.

"I's gonna talk to Kath." Jack promised as Oscar and Morris opened the gate.

"Ya betta do it soon." Race stared at the board anxiously. We all then went to the stand to buy our papes.

Once mine and Elmer's were bought, we went down to our usual spot. There was a little more foot traffic than usual.

"It's gonna be a good day." The boy grinned, having already sold a few on the way.

"Let's hope so." I smiled.