Author: Raeghann
Chapter Four: A Problem with Authority
Angry voices woke me the next morning, groggily I opened one eye to find an older man peering at me with an irritated look on his face. I smiled as sweetly as possible and pulled the blankets up around me in a gesture of modesty. Sunlight hit me from behind warming my back from the small window in the little room Crutchy had told me was mine.
"I don't care she ain't stayin." The old man yelled, after staring at me for a moment. His voice ringing out across the room making me jump.
"Gee Mr. Kloppman, we didn't know where else she could go." Crutchy was saying in a calm voice.
"She can go anywhere, but here." Kloppman told him, from the way the boys were looking at him and the laugh creases around his eyes he didn't get angry often.
"Kloppman." Jack said throwing his arm around Kloppman's shoulder. " Tell me really where else she can go. She ain't got any family, she ain't got a home, just like the rest of us. She's too old for the orphanage and I wouldn't wish Morris or Oscar into the poor house. So you tell me where we gonna send her? I know ya ain't gonna send her out on the streets."
Jack flashed me a look and I took the hint giving Kloppman my best set of puppy eyes. I could see him fighting against his better judgment, but eventually I saw the look of acceptance in his eyes.
"Okay, she can stay." Kloppman relented "But you better believe I'll be up here makin sure there's no funny business. I don't like her sleepin in the same room as ya louts. I want that door to remain closed if ya sleepin or if ya changing missy. I'll be opening it at night to make sure no one's lost their way and ended up in here."
"I have better morals than that." I said trying not to sound too offended. " Just because I don't have a home doesn't mean I don't have any morals."
"I'm just makin sure." Kloppman told me his face softening a little. "Get dressed I wanna see you down stairs before the boys leave to go over the rules with ya."
I nodded and slammed the door shut, quickly I pulled on my clothes, switching out yesterdays shirt for one Mush had donated to me. One of the younger boys had offered an extra pair of trousers that I opted for as well. There had been some argument about me dressing like a man, but I had quelled those arguments with logical reasons. The one that had won the argument was that I was less likely to be accosted if I looked like a boy than if I looked like a girl. With grumbles the boys had relented at least those with any authority. Jack had held on until the last moment and finally gave in non-to gracefully. I opened the door to find a sleepy Jack slap boxing with an overly energetic Mush.
I hate morning people I thought grumpily watching the two, from the look Jack gave me as I passed them he was in agreement. It was an odd feeling, we had disagreed on nearly everything since I had woken up and found myself at the Lodging House. The door to the washroom slammed shut as I passed. I grinned and continued out the door and down the rickety set of stairs to where Kloppman waited in his office.
" Shut the door." Kloppman ordered, I did as he asked and sat in the chair he gestured to. " Look I'm sorry if I offended you in there, but what I said was as much for the boys as it were for you. Theys boys with healthy appetites in all areas, I ain't gonna pretend differently, but I don't run a cat house. The boys is right as of right now I ain't got a better place to send ya. I don't know nothin about you. I'm gonna assume until you prove otherwise that you is a good girl and ya ain't gonna let the boys into ya bed. If I find any hanky panky goin on ya out, ya got it?"
I nodded pushing down the irritation that welled up inside of me. He nodded and opened the door.
"Well with that bein said I guess we better get ya signed in." He said as he waived his hand for me to follow him out of the room. He opened up a book that lay on the counter. "Sign in, rents five cents a week, I'll let ya pass this week, but I expect my five cents next week."
I signed my name and gave all the appropriate information finishing just as Mush and Blink clattered down the stairs.
"Hey Cameo." Mush called, I rolled my eyes. Crutchy must have already told them the nickname he had given me the night before.
"Briar, Mush." I said turning, "My name is Briar."
"Crutchy told us he named ya Cameo so ya stuck with it." Blink told me handing me the hat I had left upstairs. "Anyways, we wanted to talk with ya before Jack did."
I raised one eyebrow and leaned against the counter, my arms akimbo.
"We was wonderin if ya wanted to sell with us today." Mush rushed on, searching my face as he said it. "We wanted to get to ya before Jack did, it ain't fair him getting Les and you."
"Only if we split equally." I replied " Jack took a seventy percent cut of my earnings yesterday. He said it was because he had let me observe him free of charge, but I didn't need to observe anything."
"That's Jack." Blink chuckled "So we split our takes equally an ya gonna come with us?"
I nodded, Blink spit on his hand and held it out as if he expected me to shake it.
"Do you know how many germs that spreads?" I asked wrinkling my nose in disgust. "It's a wonder you aren't all sick."
Mush laughed and threw his arm around my shoulders pulling me out the door before Jack could come down the stairs. I pulled my hair on top of my head in a messy bun and threw my hat over it. We made it to the distribution center long before Jack and waited next to a bronze statue for the gates to open. Jack sauntered up as Blink and Mush were telling me the story of strike they had been involved in. They told it in a way that made me laugh and feel the emotions they had gone through. So that was what Jack had meant by women had been the only people they had let sell newspapers.
"Have you two ever thought about making a book out of your story?" I asked, they both looked at me blankly " You really have the story telling knack. You have a gift, both of you."
"Yeah, well gift or not I wanna know why my sellin partner is with these two bums." Jack said, his voice telling us all he was irritated.
"You have a selling partner." I responded my tone casual " You have two selling partners, Jack."
"Yeah well, I wants to keep an eye on ya again today."
" You mean you want to make more money today." I said my tone sardonic. "If you're that worried about who I am, then I'm sure Blink and Mush wouldn't mind spying on me today."
"I claimed ya as my sellin partner first." Jack snapped.
"Jacky-boy, " I chuckled patting his cheek and smiling sweetly at him. " Ya gotta share the wealth."
He didn't look happy about the way I mimicked his accent, nor the way I had evaded his wishes. He knew he didn't have much of a choice other than letting me go. I had shot down all of his excuses and he couldn't say anything else without giving Mush and Blink the wrong idea.
"You two keep a close eye on her." He growled and stalked off into the opening gates. I watched as he ignored two punks who stood at the gates waiting for him taunting him.
"I ain't never seen him ignore a chance to go at the DeLanceys." Mush said a little awe in his voice.
" I ain't never seen him back down when he's wanted somethin." Blink added. They both looked at me with more than a little respect. "That's the second time ya won an argument with him. First wearin mens clothes now sellin with us."
"He can't win them all." I replied with a shrug of my shoulders. "I guess he'll have to work on his arguing skills. I've been arguing my whole life to get where I want. I hadn't my father would have run all over me."
"Amen to that." Mush said "We's all been fightin since we was born. Some of us fight with words, some with fists, most with both."
"And where does Jack fall?" I asked as we made our way to the line that was forming in front of the window where an older gentleman stood taking down a tally of the newspapers as he sold them.
"He wouldn't be the leader if he wasn't good at both." Blink told me as we bypassed the younger kids and cut into line next to Race. Crutchy waved from further up ahead. " Ya lucky, yous a girl. Jack don't take it too well when someone gives him lip."
I chewed on that for a while, until Mush broke into my thoughts for some money to split the newspapers we had bought. Crutchy was waiting at the end of the stairs for us as I followed Mush and Blink down.
"Hey Crutchy, I could sell with you tomorrow." I said my face brightening as I saw his goofy grin. He looked down for a moment then looked back up his face serious and almost pained.
" I don't think that would be a good idea Cameo." He said so softly I almost didn't' catch his words.
"Why not?" I asked my face showing my confusion. I had thought we were good friends, why wouldn't he want me to sell with him?
"I think you should stick with the stronger boys." He said reluctantly, his cheeks were a little pink and I knew what ever he was going to say next would be something that was hard for him. "If we got into trouble I wouldn't be able to protect you."
"Crutchy, I'm not a weak woman, who's going to stand around crying for help if I get into trouble." I told him " I know how to take care of myself, I may not have grown up on the streets, but I'm no stranger to trouble."
"I still think it would be best if ya sold with the other boys." Crutchy insisted. I let the matter drop, knowing how difficult this conversation was for him. He gave me half a grin and hobbled away before I could say anything else. I felt horrible; I hadn't realized when I asked him how insecure about his leg he was. He had such a great outlook on life I hadn't even stopped to consider the fact that he might not be comfortable with his disability.
"Don't let it bother you." Mush said reading my expression, angrily I clamped down on my emotions and felt the familiar mask settle on my face that would keep him from reading any more. "he gets this way sometimes."
"He's right though." Blink added. " Ya may be able to protect yaself, but between you and Crutchy ya'd get yaself hurt tryin to protect each other."
I gave them a glare and snatched my share of the papers from Mush's outstretched hand. I started out the gates, but stopped sheepishly when I realized I had no idea where we were going. Blink laughed and Mush looked at me with twinkling eyes. I just seethed, they let me walk ahead for a few blocks until my temper had cooled a bit and my bruised pride had settled down. It was a repeat of the day before, Mush or Blink were always there, one never very far away. I knew they were keeping an eye on me to make sure I didn't get myself into some trouble. I didn't know whether to be irritated at their protectiveness, or be glad they cared. We split our earnings and headed off for Tibbys for lunch. Crutchy met us there, he seemed to have forgotten our earlier conversation and I let it go. If he was afraid to sell with me then I would have to deal with it. It wasn't worth arguing with him. I knew it made him uncomfortable. I looked over at Jack and smiled, now if it had been Jack I wouldn't have been able to resist arguing. He had this arrogance about him that just made me want to take him down a peg or two. He was a good-looking guy I had to admit that, but still there was that damn I am right aura that made me want to smack him.
"Don't tell me, you're another girl to add to the Jack's swoon of fame." I heard Blink say in a teasing voice. I realized I had been studying Jack, just long enough for them to notice.
"Yeah , they always do that." Crutchy joined in.
"I have never swooned over a guy." I told him indifferently " I'm not about to start with your holier than thou leader."
" Did you hear what she said guys?" Mush laughed " She just called Jack holier than thou."
I hid my grin behind my glass of root beer and gave Blink a steady look.
"Besides he's not my type." I said offhandedly, making Mush break into laughter all over again. Blink just shrugged as if he didn't buy it, his expression telling me he would believe it when he saw it.
"You ain't seen Jack turn on the charm." He responded his tone matching mine.
"You ain't seem me turn on the charm either." I replied winking at Mush who looked like he was going to pass out from lack of oxygen. Tears were streaming from his eyes as he gasped for air between laughs.
"So what's so funny over here?" I heard Jack say looking up into those hazel eyes I gave him the same sweet smile I had given him earlier and shrugged.
"I don't buy it, that smile means ya up to something." He said looking at me warily.
"I'm perfectly innocent." I told him batting my eyelashes at him sweetly, he rolled his eyes and turned away.
"Innocent my ass." I heard him mumble as he sauntered from Tibby's Les and Davy following in his wake.
" I sure hope it's innocent." I couldn't help calling after him. The boys all gave me an odd look and I remembered where I was. I couldn't help slipping sometimes, especially with all that Renaissance Festival influence. I shrugged and finished my meal in silence. I followed Mush and Blink out and to the next selling spot, not much changing from that morning. We split our money again and headed back to the Lodging House. It was dark by the time we finally reached it and I heard a vaguely familiar voice boasting as we reached the top of the steps. I entered and immediately found my eyes drawn to the beautiful pair of blue eyes that had captured my attention the morning before. Which had been a feat considering my attention had not been on the boys so much as wondering how I had gotten there and the horrible nausea that I had been inflicted with.
"So ya still here." Spot drawled, a lazy grin on his face. " I woulda thought you woulda cleared out by now."
That smoldering look he was giving me made my legs weak and I could feel that tingling feeling that you always get just as a crush is ready to set in.
Get a hold of yourself. I snapped at myself trying to keep my face cool and expressionless. So I fought at the crush with the only way I knew how, I spoke.
"What makes you think that?" I asked " What's it to ya anyway? Isn't your territory Brooklyn?"
"What happens in Jacky-boys' territory is my business." He told me the grin vanishing from his face.
"Really is the almighty Jack unable to take his own territory?" I knew Jack was just coming out of the washroom I knew he would be able to hear me and I couldn't resist giving him a little dig.
"I can handle my territory just fine." I heard him say his voice taking on an edge that I knew meant he would show who ever questioned him just how well he could handle it.
"I'm not the one questioning." I replied a small smile playing at the corners of my mouth.
"I'm not questioning." Spot said his eyes never leaving mine telling me just how much my comments were getting under his skin. " Jacky-boy can take more than any of these bums, but we's got an alliance and I likes to know what my fellow leaders, got goin on."
"Oh you don't have to explain yourself to me." I was enjoying every minute of this and I knew that he knew. He stood slowly walking towards me like a stalking tiger, his eyes telling me he was just as deadly. Damn there isn't anything that is as attractive as a bad boy and I had no doubts Spot was exactly that.
"I don't explain myself to anyone." He responded stopping just a few inches shy of me. I gave in a devil may care smile trying to ignore the effect those eyes had on me. He knew the bastard, I could tell by the smirk on his face.
"Fancy that." I said glaring up at him. " I think you just did."
"I graced you with that answer."
"Really?" my voice dripped with sarcasm " Well I'll consider myself privileged."
" You should." He said in a tone that told me that he meant it. His hand brushed my cheek and I jerked back.
"I don't know who the hell you think I am." I hissed " but you keep your dirty crumb snatchers off of me."
I whirled and stormed into my little room making the walls shake with the force of the door slamming as I did. I fumed just who did he think he was God's gift to women. I bet he really believed that. I paced in the pathetically small room turning practically every four steps. Mush opened the door tentatively, I looked at him and from his expression I knew I looked pretty angry.
"Sorry Mush." I said as he turned to go. " I'm not angry with you, actually I don't know why I got so angry."
Mush turned back I saw the deck of cards in his hand.
" Spot and Jack went downstairs I thought you might like to play with us again." He said softly. " Ya know, one word of advise for all of our pieces of mind, please don't taunt Spot. Jack's one thing, but Spot he's got a temper, if ya push him too far I don't wanta have to jump in."
"I'm sorry Mush, " I whispered hanging my head, I didn't even think about how my reaction would have affected the few friends I had made.
"No problem, it was great to see someone finally give Spot the run around for a change." He smiled at me and I saw Blink and Crutchy waiting for me at Crutchy's bunk. Blink glared at me for a moment, but Crutchy just gave me his signature grin and I tried to ignore Blink's wrath. It didn't take him long to forget though as I kicked butt at poker.
"Look kid, don't do that again." Blink said softly as I started to my room when Kloppman came up and told us it was lights out. " Yeah could have gotten yaself hurt."
"I'm not afraid of him." I told him " But I'll try not to."
He nodded giving me a worried look before he headed off to his own bunk. Jack just gave me a look as he passed that told me exactly how pissed he was. I shrugged trying to brush it off. Getting people angry seemed to be my gift, but it wasn't a gift I usually enjoyed. I sighed and shut me door softly praying I hadn't done too much damage.
Title: Through the Hourglass
Author: Raeghann
Chapter Five: Earning A Place
I lay awake that night staring at the ceiling for a little while, then I tried staring out the window, finally I tried pacing. Nothing was working, where are the damn sheep when you need them? I needed to sleep I knew it, but I couldn't force myself. A small whimpering made me stop in mid- pacing, cocking my head toward the door I heard it again. It sounded like a distressed child. My hand immediately flew to the doorknob. Kloppman's warning flew through my mind.
"Screw it." I whispered to myself as I heard the whimper again, it sounded even more distressed. I opened the door and peered into the moonlit room trying to discern where the noise had come from. It came again only this time it had gone from a whimper to a soft wail. Call it motherly instinct, but I made a beeline straight for the noise. A few of the boys lifted their heads groggily as the wail came again followed by a choking sob. My heart contracted in my chest at the noise, I dropped to my knees at the bunk holding a small boy of about six. His face was twisted in a grimace, I could see the tears streaming down his face, he was fast asleep caught in a nightmare. Softly I ran a hand over his hair gently in a comforting gesture. He screamed and bolted upright, I did the only thing I knew to do and that was pull him into my arms. He was trembling and I felt my heart melt at the terrified look in his bright green eyes. He fought me for a moment trying to break free still caught between consciousness and sleep.
"Mama." He cried. " NO Mama."
"It's alright." I whispered soothingly, not wanting to let go yet. "You're in the Lodging House, it was only a dream."
Slowly he calmed and allowed me to hold him. I knew that right now this kid needed a little bit of a motherly figure.
"You the new girl." He said softly his eyes looking at me questioningly. "Cameo."
"You know my name, but what's yours?" I asked a small smile of encouragement on my lips.
"Mimic." He told me his eyes watching me. I looked in them and saw the wary gleam as if he were a wild animal waiting the next break so he could run.
"Is he okay?" Mimic jumped causing me to jump. My heart thumping in my chest I turned to see Jack standing above us a worried look on his face.
"He's fine." I replied. I gathered the boy in my arms and stood ignoring the stares of the other newsboys. Mimic hung on, not really ready to let go and be the tough boy he undoubtedly was. For the moment he it seemed he was a lost little boy, who desperately needed a mother. I carried him to my room and closed the door, leaving it cracked. I knew that he would be embarrassed in a few minutes both by his reaction to the nightmare and allowing me to comfort him.
"You want to talk about it?" I whispered listening to the other boys' beds creaking as they got into a better position. He looked out the window and shook his head, already receding into himself. " I won't tell the other boys I promise."
He searched my face his eyes telling me he was looking to see if I meant what I said. I reached out my hand and felt him slide his into mine.
"It was me mum." He whispered looking away, the pain in his eyes made my heart ache for him. "She... Well, she was a whore."
I flinched at the word, it was not one I would have expected to be part of a six year olds vocabulary. At least not one that he would be allowed to use, I nodded in a way I hoped was encouraging.
"She wasn't a bad lady, just tryin to make a livin for me and her." He continued his words tumbling over each other as he rushed to get it out. It was as if he had wanted to tell someone, but hadn't had anyone to tell. He was defensive mistaking my flinch for disgust at his mothers profession. "She didn't know any other way. I was downstairs that night waitin until her last customer was gone, and I heard her screamin. I went upstairs, but Madame Lucy, just held me back. When the man finally came out he was covered in.... in blood. Madame Lucy let go of me and went inside the room then she started yellin. She was sayin she hadn't been paid for his tastes; she hadn't been paid for him to torture her girl to death. A little pain was okay, but not killin 'em. When I got to the door.... when I got there.... she..."
Tears were streaming down his face; gently as I could I pulled him into my arms and cradled him as if I could take his pain away. I knew all these boys had come here for a reason, I knew they all had pasts that were painful. Some probably more than others, but I felt sick knowing what this child had seen. He had lived knowing things he shouldn't know about yet. Seeing things that if we are lucky we never see. He let me hold him, let me rock him back and forth his eyes staring straight out the window, his little body trembling with emotion. Finally it was as if he could take it no more. He turned his head into my shoulder and sobbed. I felt tears of my own; I ached for this boy in every part of my being. I wished I could have done more, but I did what I could, I held him and let him cry it out in heart wrenching sobs. Finally he lifted his head wearily, his eyes puffy from the tears he had shed.
"I sorry." He lisped, I could see the blush in his chubby little cheeks even in the moonlight.
"Don't be." I told him still rocking him. He gave me a tentative smile and I smiled back. " I don't care what it is, if you need someone to talk to you just come and see me."
He nodded thoughtfully settling back against me letting me stroke his hair.
"Me mam used to do that." He whispered "She used to sing to me too."
"Did she?" I whispered back.
"Would you sing to me too?" When he glanced up at me a saw the uncertainty in his eyes as if he were afraid he was asking for too much. I took an unsteady breathe an searched my mind for any songs I knew that would serve as a lullaby. One came to mind immediately. 'My Favorite Things' had been the song my own mother had sang to me as a child while she ran her fingers through my hair. I had often fallen asleep listening to her beautiful voice. Softly I sang switching to 'The Rose', then moving on to every slow song I remembered from any musical I had stored in my brain. Finally I felt his body grow limp, his breathing evening out. Soft sobs that always follow a good cry were fading. I picked him up to carry him to his bunk, when his eyes flew open.
"Don't leave me." He cried his eyes wild with fear, his little hand clutching at my chemise with a strength I knew would take tearing the fabric to get him to let go. I nodded and sat on my little makeshift bed, rocking him until he fell back asleep. I pulled the blanket over us both and I stared out the window, kissing any sleep I might have gotten goodbye.
"That was real kind of ya." I jumped startled at the voice that broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see Jack sitting in the doorway, just on the other side of the threshold of my room.
"Will you stop sneaking up on me?" I snapped, remembering to keep my voice down.
"Sorry." He replied a small grin playing on his lips. "He's lucky, most of us just gotta take the nightmares and move on until hopefully they fade."
"You heard?"
He nodded his face taking on the grim look of a man who isn't about to show pity for a fellow sufferer. Who's too macho and manly to let that little bit of weakness show.
"I've heard worse stories, but not many." Jack sighed his arms wrapping around his knees as he studied me.
"No one should have a story like that." I hissed angrily. "No one should have to live through that."
"Wake up sweetheart." Jack responded his expression grim. "We's all got stories like that. We's all lived through things most people should never live through, but we do, we make it, we move on. Some of us is just lucky to find a kind heart to help us through."
I felt the blush that flooded my cheeks as I realized the compliment he had just given me.
" I didn't to anything that a normal person ought to have done." I said ducking my head for a moment then returning his look directly.
"Funny, 'cause you ain't a normal person." He told him his face splitting into a grin. "Ya the craziest woman I'se ever met."
"Thanks." I said dryly rolling my eyes. Typical guy, they give you a compliment and then follow it by a remark that negates that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you're complimented. "So much for warm fuzzys."
"That's what I'm talkin about." Jack went on. " Ya say such queer things and ya don't act like any girl I've ever known. Ya say things about stuff girls don't talk about even if they's married. Ya act more like one of they boys."
"Then treat me like one of the boys." I said. " And as for what women talk about, you'd be surprised what they say when you're not around. Especially if they are married."
I knew that even in the age I was in, woman talked about things trying to make each other blush. The newly married women were usually the worst targeted, mostly because they were new to the idea of well, in good old twenty first century terms, sex. Jack just shook his head and looked away for a minute.
" I was thinkin about kickin ya out." He said after a moment of silence, I felt my pride well up and anger flash through me. " Spot's one of me bestfriends and well.. I don't know how to deal with the way ya act."
" I'll find my way." I told him proudly. " I'll be out of your hair come morning."
"Awe, cheese it." he said a little irritation seeping into his words. " I ain't gonna kick ya out. Ya gotta touch with the kids an I could use that. They ain't always the easiest to deal with especially when they ain't got someone tuckin them in at night. They all needs a little bit of a mother an I think ya can do it. Ya just earned ya place here. If ya gotta better place then I ain't gonna stop you, but we both know ya don't. If ya wanna go then ya can, but I think ya like working with kids. I think ya can help them like none of us boys can."
Damn I always have been a sucker for those who were hurting and I had a feeling he knew that. He knew I'd stay, he knew I'd help with the younger kids in a way he never could. He knew he had me.
"Now all I'm asking is that ya stop tryin to get under my skin. It ain't sittin to well with me boys, they's startin to mimic you and testin my authority."
"I'm sorry." I replied softly swallowing my pride, man did I hate apologizing. I barely had been able to get the words out of my mouth. He searched my face as if trying to see if I had meant it. The look he gave me next told me he understood, and I had the feeling it was just as hard for him to apologize.
"'S all right." He told me " I don't suppose ya gonna tell me anymore about yaself than ya told Crutchy are ya?"
I looked at him in surprise feeling a little betrayed it wasn't as if it were anything that had to stay confidential, but no one likes it when their closest friend starts talking about your past as if it were gossip to be spread. I shook my head, Crutchy wouldn't gossip about me. I hadn't told him to keep any of what I said to himself, he would have I had said something I was sure.
"Crutchy told you?"
"There weren't nothin to really tell." Jack said his face serious. " Normally I don't pry, I don't care, as long as ya do as I say and follow my lead I ignore it. But it ain't everyday that a good lookin girl shows up in an alley way. It was odd, one minute there's nothing there the next me boys is stumbilin over something. An that somthin was you. There was this weird light shinin all around you then it went away. So what happened?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I did tell you." I sighed wishing that I could explain it. I ignored his comments about my looks. He was probably trying to butter me up to tell him more. Well I wasn't some calf eyed girl that was going to spill my guts the minute a good looking boy complimented me.
"Ya ain't some kinda witch or somethin are ya?" he asked his voice telling me he was serious. What was it with people? They see something odd and they immediately think the person is a witch. I would have thought they were over that thought pattern by now.
"Do you think if I was that I would still be here?" I queried in an irritated tone. " I'm thinking I would be living in a mansion right now, with servants and good food instead of half starving with a bunch of newsboys."
He took that in and nodded in agreement his face flushing a little at his question.
"So we's callin a truce?"
I nodded, he spit and held out his hand, I looked at it as if it were a snake, a poisonous one at that.
"Do you know how many germs your saliva has?" I asked unable to keep the revulsion from my voice. He just chuckled and wiped his hand on his pants before offering it back to me. I looked at it a moment before finally shaking his hand. Silently he stood and turned back to the bunkroom heading for his bed.
"Hey Cameo?" he called softly turning back before I could shut my door.
"Yeah?" I called back.
"I don't mind ya pushin Spot's buttons, " he said "it's nice to see a girl who ain't all fluttery around him, but could ya try not to start a war between us? We've had a truce with Brooklyn for a while now and I ain't too anxious to start something."
"I'm not making any promises." I told him trying to ignore the fluttery feeling I did get when I thought of those baby blues. " You tell him to keep his hands off and I'll do what I can."
He grunted which I took for an agreement and a moment later I heard a bed creak signaling he had settled into his bunk. I shut the door and settled back me leaning against the wall. I felt my eyes becoming heavy and gladly allowed sleep to come.
"Wake up." Kloppman's voice echoed through the bunkroom and I heard the groans of the boys as they tried to wake up. I heard Mush's usually cheerful voice and heard thumps that followed it telling me that a few of the boys had throw whatever came to hand at him. I closed my eyes hoping I'd get a few more minutes.
"Where's Mimic?" I heard him ask. So much for that idea, looks like I was going to have to wake up before Kloppman chewed my butt for letting the kid sleep with me.
"He had a nightmare." I heard Jack say.
Bless him. I thought as I fuzzily pushed the blanket away from both of us and started trying to wake the kid who was sleeping like the dead. A night of crying has a tendency to do that though.
"So that still don't tell me where he is." I heard Kloppman retort.
"Cameo took him into her room so the rest of us could get some sleep." Jack explained his voice sounding as persuasive as I had ever heard it. I heard Kloppman grumbling and heard his footsteps as they reached my door. It flew open and I found myself smiling at him, grabbing for the blanket I had just pushed off.
"The kid okay?" He asked worry in his eyes as he looked at the sleeping boy.
"He's fine, just needed someone to talk to." I replied as I wrapped the blanket around me like a shawl. Mimic sleepily opened one eye and glared at both of us for the infraction of disturbing his slumber.
" Morning sleepy head." I teased tickling him and earning a giggle that he immediately tried to hide behind a glare. I heard Kloppman chuckle, we both looked at him smiling.
"Get goin shorty." He told Mimic. He scampered off leaving Kloppman's attention on me. " Thanks for calmin him down, I ain't gonna yell at ya. I guess ya ain't in trouble since Mimic's a little young for ya."
"A little?" I asked the disgust, even the thought made me want to vomit. " How could you even....... Oh never mind."
Kloppman shrugged and meandered off to wake the boys who weren't sleepily filing into the washroom. Sighing I shut my door and started to get ready for another day. I heard a soft knock on my door as I pulled up my suspenders and looked around for my hat.
"Come in." I called cursing as I pushed around my meager belongings wondering how I could have lost it in a room the size of a linen closet. Glancing up I saw Mimic standing in the doorway looking at me shyly.
"Can I help you?" I asked stopping my search for a moment and turning my attention on the cute little kid with strawberry blonde hair and vivid green eyes.
"Can I sell with you today?" his voice was soft and he had a look on his face that told me it had been hard for him to get up the courage to ask. After all this kid had been through I had a feeling that he was afraid to let anyone close.
"Of course you can." I told him ruffling his hair. "As soon as I find my hat."
He grinned impishly and darted into my room pulling my hat from under the pillow it had been half hidden under.
"Go figure." I groaned " Right under my nose."
"What was?" Mush asked from the doorway.
"My hat." I replied as I pulled my hair under the cap.
"So we got ourselves another new sellin partner?" Blink asked.
"Yup," I responded giving Mimic a grin. " With this kids mug how could I refuse."
"Yeah, he is kinda cute." Mush agreed, pushing Mimic's hat down in a gesture that was much like an older brothers.
Mimic latched onto my hand and I didn't let go until we reached to distribution center. I handed Mush enough money for my share of the papers and waited patiently while he got them. Life was becoming a routine now, wake up sell papers, go to Tibby's, sell more papers, go home, play some poker, go to bed. So as soon as lunch came around can you guess where we headed?
I heard Spot's voice just as we entered the restaurant and groaned. Why couldn't dog boy just stay in Brooklyn?
"So Jacky-boy we's hostin a little get together tonight in Brooklyn," I heard him say "Thought I'd pop over and give ya a little invitation."
I heard the murmurs of excitement that rippled through the crowd.
"Ya can count on us to be there." Jack replied doing that disgusting spit thing. Damn they would have to have a party in Brooklyn. I could hear everyone talking about it excitedly, I guess Brooklyn must have thrown quiet the bash previously.
"Ya gonna come?" I looked up and saw those blue eyes that I wasn't sure whether to hate or fall into. His look was challenging and I knew I would be there, there wasn't anything on this earth that would stop me. I would answer his challenge and beat him at his own game if it killed me.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." I replied sweetly. Mush and Blink just shook their heads.
"Well this should be interestin." Blink muttered. I just gave them a sweet smile as well and ordered lunch.