I took in a deep breath and hunched myself further against the wall, my eyes darting around the area on the hunt for a certain Newsie. I didn't see him or any of the others so I took that as a clear sign for me to make my move.
I slunk through the crowd of people hunting for a scrap of bread or a small bowl of watered down broth and let out a small sigh. I was just like them, struggling just to make it through to the end of the day and yet I wanted more. So much more. But honestly, who didn't?
Even the men and women at da top, the people who got da very best in everything always wanted more.More money, more land, more, more, more.
Whoever said less is more was a fool. More will always be more and only a rich man could say such an idiotic thing.
"Excuse me sir, I didn't mean ta bump into ya there... Pardon me, if ya would just let me get by..."
I muttered a few more apologies and excuses before I finally made it to the door that led into the restaurant's kitchen.
Finally. I thought.
Took long enough.
I opened the door just enough so I could squeeze through and I smiled at the small greeting I received. At lease the people here knew me as something more than just 'boy' or 'that cripple'. It was nice, almost like having a family. It was the closest thing I was gonna get so I would gladly take it.
I gave them a respectful nod and hurried my way over to the old basin that had a mountain of dirty cups, plates, silverware, and cutlery of every kind piled beside it, rolling up my sleeves before grabbing and starting to scrub at the nearest plate to me.
I didn't mind this type of work, although my fingers always wrinkled from being submerged in water for so long and the cuts on my hands stung from the grease in the water attacking them. It was okay though, at least I didn't feel like a smile once and awhile would earn me a slap across the head.
I cast my sight to my left, my eyes looking past the other working bodies who moved about the kitchen with practiced ease as they prepared food for customers who actually had enough money to pay to eat inside and be served. My eyes flicked to the dirty window and I studied the sea of people moving outside. My line of sight fell onto the top of a familiar grey tweed cap. I could recognize that confounded scrap of grey fabric anywhere.
Jack Kelly.
Of course.
Well, at least he's out there and i'm in here.
A small chuckle bubbled up and past my throat as a smile tugged at the side of my lips. Well, more like a puff of air blowing through my nose and mouth in a hurried fashion than a chuckle but, I hadn't had much practice in laughing so i'm gonna call it a chuckle.
He was still probably looking for me, I don't know why he couldn't just give up already. It would make my life a whole lot easier if he just did. But... I know in the deepest, darkest part of my heart that I didn't really want him too.
I still wanted to be that one special person who people wanted to help, or save, to just be their friend. Stupid right? Right. Yeah well... that's just my idiotic brain still trying to be optimistic after all these years no matter how much I tell it to shut up. It's incorrigible, completely and utterly incorrigible. Yep, I think that just about sums it up.
I got lost in my thoughts as I scrubbed madly at the stubborn grease stains on the dishes with suds climbing up to my elbows. I reached a hand over to where the endless stack of dirty dishes sat awaiting their turn to be cleaned, my right hand reaching around blindly as it came in contact with only counter.
My head snapped to my right and a small, surprised noise slipped past my lips. There were no more dishes on the wooden counter beside me and my aching arms and back proved that point.
"Well boyo! You did a nice job'ere. See ya tomorrow, bright an'early."
I held in the squeak of surprise that threatened to escape as Mr. Jacobi's hand slapped down onto my shoulder, making me wince just a little bit at the force he had accidentally used.
"Yes sir." Is all I said as a reply, drawing my hands out of the lukewarm and dirty washing water before drying them on the towel that I had slung over my shoulder.
I listened to Mr. Jacobi's footsteps walk away and I sighed, the lights above me flickering until they clicked off, signifying that Mr. Jacobi was about to lock up. I turned and grabbed the small scrap of fabric on the scrubbed wooden counter behind me, knowing that it held a piece of bread with a thin scraping on of butter on it-my portion of food for the night-and smiled to myself at Mr. Jacobi's kindness.
I made haste to the back door and I received a nod and a pat on the head from Mr. Jacobi before he climbed the ladder up to the flat above the restaurant that he lived in. I gave him a smile and sighed as I saw his lamp flicker out.
My shoulders sagged and I groaned quietly, my left hand going to my right shoulder to massage it gently. Spending your days hunched over either spinning straw into twine or scrubbing at dishes tended to do a number on the back, neck, and shoulders. Then with only a bed of cobblestones to look forward to one didn't really ever get a reprieve. I took a small bite of the bread and licked my lips, sighing quietly in happiness. That tasted so good. I took another bite and then wrapped the bread back up with the piece of simple linen it came with, carefully putting it in my pocket after I was satisfied that it was wrapped up adequately.
"Finally, I'd thought dat he'd never leave."
I whirled around and hurriedly grabbed a brick from the ground beside the wall, the piece that I grabbed being broken and well on its way to turning to dust but still firm enough to deliver a nice hard hit.
The man in the shadows backed up quickly, I could hear his shoes scuffing on the uneven stones beneath our feet.
"Hey hey hey, non a'dat know. S'just me Crutchie, I've been look'in for ya everywhere."
The brick fell from my fingers and I stumbled backwards a few paces, only three people knew that name. Me, Smalls, and Jack Kelly. And it definitely wasn't Smalls who was talking to me right now.
I didn't know what he wanted but I was alone, it was dark, an there was no way that I was stronger than him. Maybe he was worried (not likely) or maybe he was furious at me for running away. All of those odds only equaled out to one thing.
This was not a good situation.
"S-Stay away!" I shouted shakily, my hand darting back down to pick up the brick that I had dropped. I slowly started to back away with my arm wound back, just in case he decided to try anything.
"Wait!" He said hastily, walking forward the two paces that I had retreated, still idiotically holding his hands on either side of his head in a sign of surrender.
My breathing quickened and my eyes widened a fraction. "N-No!" I snapped back to him, stumbling a few more paces backwards. I knew I sounded like a petulant child yelling 'no' at him but my brain was having a hard time processing the last few days and I was still trying to curb my... *ahem... urges that had to do with broken shaving blades.
"Please Crutchie, I just wanna talk. I-I don't know what happend. You was there and den... And den you were gone..."
That made me stop. What did me mean 'you was there and den you was gone'? Didn't he know what his 'boys' had said to me? All the things they threatened to do?
Well... Apparently not I guess.
"Please Crutchie, jus let me explain. Or just... tell me what happened, please."
I slowly un-clenched my fingers and the brick once again fell back to the ground. I bit my lip nervously and managed to nod jerkily.
"Okay." I whispered, not really sure how to take in this new information.
Jack's shoulders heaved with relief and he let out a deep breath. "Good." He breathed.
"But, if I think for one second..." I warned, letting my sentence hang and my eyes drifted back to the brick.
He nodded enthusiastically and started grinning like an idiot.
"Of course, I understand." I nodded once.
"Good."
We both didn't move for a few moments, me not wanting to make the first move and him... well, I don't know. I decided to not let this get any more awkward than it already was and crossed my arms over my chest, putting a convincing, no nonsense scowl on my face before I spoke.
"Well, start talk'in."
"I need ta know why you left da o'da day."
I was taken aback by his answer, I didn't really know what to say to that. I mean, it was a bit obvious why I left but... I guess that just underlines the point that I was suspecting earlier. That he really didn't know what happened.
"W-Well..." I said softly, my eyes drifting down to the ground as I thought. I never liked talking about things like this, it always made me uncomfortable.
"Y-You know. I-I left because of... W-What the others said... T-To me."
I got progressively quieter and quieter the more I spoke, my eyes boring holes into the tops of my worn shoes. I felt so useless... helpless admitting to him out loud that a few words were the reason why I ran away like a coward.
"Oh no... I didn't want to believe it was true." I chanced a look back up at Jack at this, he was speaking so quietly that I needed to make sure it was him who was actually talking.
"W-What?" I asked cautiously, leaning forward a bit to make sure I caught everything he said.
I-I... I didn't want to believe it was true. I'm so sorry Crutchie, so very sorry. I talked with them and they said that... I-I didn't want ta believe that but... A-And, they feel really bad for what dey did. Please come back and just listen to what they have to say, they are very sorry. Please jus-"
I laughed quietly and held up my hand to stop his babbling.
"Okay." I said, giving Jack a small, confident smile that was far from what I was feeling.
"Wha-okay? Okay! Yes! Thank you Crutchie!"
Before I knew it Jack had his arms around me and I was stumbling backward from the shock.
"Whoa!"
"Thank you." He whispered into my ear, hugging me close to him and then pulling away with a wide smile.
"Yeah." I said, smiling shyly at him as I backed up slightly. To be honest, no one had hugged me since... Aunt Harriet, my mind said to me and I had to fight back tears at the thought. I turned my face away and rubbed at my eyes, making sure no tears escaped before I turned my attention back to Jack.
"Okay, let's go see what they have to say."
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