How To Save A Life

Chapter Two: Learning Sign Language to Make Fun if That One Bitch

Jacks POV

A mute, i thought the mute would make things easier.
Damn it.
"What are we gonna do with him Jack?" Crutchie asked.
"I don't know, if he can't sell papes he's done for."

Race and Al came back in soon after.
"Here." They tossed me the pennies.

I stood up and headed into the bunk room where Stut was sitting trying to teach Blink and Mush how to do the hand thingy.

"Hey, ise got the pennies youda made." I handed them to her and  looked down at the paper theyd been usin.

"Hey! Thats paper from my sketch book!"
Mush looked up at me
"Sorry jack, it was the only stuff he could find."
I waved him off
"It's fine."

Deim POV

These boys were fast learners. Well Mush was, but on account of the fact that Blink cant see outta one eye he was doin alright.
I pointed to to where i had written the letter u and then at Blink.

He held up two fingers separated.
I shook my head and pushed his fingers together.
Mush laughed "Blink that one was V not U."

I grunted, shaking my head. "Do do don't ma mak fu a him." I stuttered.
I winced at how bad I sounded.
At least before i could make full words.

"Hey, it's okay kid. When Mush got here he didn't have no front teeth, couldn't pronounce anything. That's why we call 'im Mush."
Mush pushed his shoulder.
I rolled my eyes and pointed to the letter j then again to Mush.

He held up his pinky, aah so close.
He went to give Blink a ha i did it look but i stoped him.
Grabbed his hand and moved it in the hook motion needed for j.
Blink laughed.

Once they had the whole alphabet down we moved onto whole words.

Races POV

All it took was a week.
A week and suddenly Mush Blink and Stut could talk to each other without the rest of us knowin.

I was getting ready one morning and couldn't find my hat.
"Hey Albert did you take my hat?"
"No, but i did nick your cigar."
I turned and grabbed it from his hand.

Stut and Blink were sitting on the edge of Blinks bunk hand talking back and forth with Mush, who had the bunk above mine.

I looked up at them only for a moment and saw Stut looking down at me.
"What?"
He chuckled and did more hand stuff to Mush and Blink who both started laughing.

"Quit foolin we got papes to sell." Jack yelled as he walked through the room.

Stut jumped from the bunk and pushed past me.
Blink and Mush followed him.
"You can live without your hat for one day cant ya?" Albert asked.
I sighed and followed the rest of the boys outta the house.

We were almost to the circulation gate when i realized.
"Hey, why does it look like Stut's wearin two hats?"
There was more snickering from Blink and Mush.

Stut turned around to face me, while still walkin but backwards.
"M..m..m..m..maybe it's.s.s.s cause i wearing yours."

I jumped at him but he ducked outta the way.
I took another swing at him and he jumped again shaking.
He pulled the second hat off and threw it at me.
Mush grabbed his arm and turned him around but not before he pointed at me brought a hand down sharply from the top of his head to his elbow and then back up to his chin. (You son of a bitch)

Blink chuckled "He didn't mean it. We woulda stopped him."
Stut just grunted.

Soon enough we made it to the circulation gate.
"Papes for the Newsies!" Weasel yelled.
I got into line in front of Stut.
"Hiya Weasel."