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Post by Three Left O'Neal on May 18, 2017 16:36:26 GMT -5
Three Left had decided long ago he didn't like this place, it was never easy for him to step through that gate.
Scout was buried here, and so were his parents, but despite his best efforts, he hadn't been succesfull in finding his parents grave.
his visits to Frank where rare and the only time he allowed himself to cry freely.
he rarely talked to his friend, he couldn't, not while those bloody tears streamed down his face. He always tried to, but mostly he just cried at Franks grave.
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Post by Hoot on Aug 2, 2017 9:25:07 GMT -5
It was Thursday. The day Hoot always tried to take some time off to visit her parents and her best friend's graves, but lately she had been visiting them at night when sleep just wouldn't come. Today, however, she had decided to make an effort to visit during the daylight hours when the cemetery was, well, less creepy.
She made her way to her usual spot, not noticing Three Left at first and knelt in front of her parents' graves. "Hello, Mum, Dad," she greeted softly. "How have you two been?"
She reached out to tidy up the graves when she heard some soft sniffling. It looked like she was not alone after all. Hoot got onto her feet and glanced around until she finally spotted Three Left. A sad, small smile graced her lips as she went over to the younger newsie.
"Here." She held out her handkerchief. "It'll be okay."
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 2, 2017 14:13:00 GMT -5
Three Left was proud of the grave stone. it read:
Frank Roberts beloved brother and friend. may he find the peace he so desired.
"Here, It'll be okay." Three Left looked up, on the cemetery grounds he didn't care who saw him cry.
"thanks miss." he said drying his eyes with the offered handkerchief. "he was my best friend and selling partner."
"my parents are supposed to be here somewhere aswel, but i haven't found them yet."
he said, trying to smile but not getting beyond a grimace.
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Post by Hoot on Aug 3, 2017 10:12:27 GMT -5
"Thanks, miss."
She smiled. "You're welcome. But you can just call me Hoot."
"He was my best friend and selling partner."
Hoot glanced down at the stone, nodding in understanding. She understood what it was like to lose your best friend.
"My parents are supposed to be here somewhere aswel, but I haven't found them yet."
She pursed her lips slightly and glanced around as she rubbed Three Left's back. "I know this cemetery very well. Perhaps I can help you?" she offered.
Hoot always liked helping other especially the younger newsies.
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 3, 2017 11:32:40 GMT -5
"You're welcome. But you can just call me Hoot."
Three Left nodded slowly.
she rubbed his back. normally he would have pulled away, now he just tensed up a little.
"I know this cemetery very well. Perhaps I can help you?"
he perked up, smiling happily for a whole second, before his face returned to serious.
"their names are Conchobar and Aindréa O'Neal." he said looking down at the ground.
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Post by Hoot on Aug 3, 2017 15:35:47 GMT -5
"Their names are Conchobar and Aindrea O'Neal."
Hoot stood up thoughtfully. "Conchobar and Aindrea O'Neal..."
Those names certainly sounded familiar. Sounded Irish, but she could always be wrong. But yes, she did see those names around here somewhere.
She brightened and held out her hand to Three Left. "Well, you're in luck today. I know where they are."
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 3, 2017 17:44:43 GMT -5
after a moment of thought she offered him her hand. Three Left was reluctant, he wasn't used to such kindness.
"Well, you're in luck today. I know where they are." the thought of finding his parents graves, he couldn't let that pass.
he accepted the hand with a million dollar smile even though he couldn't afford one.
"you want your handkerchief back? its only a bit tear filled."
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Post by Hoot on Aug 3, 2017 19:25:11 GMT -5
"You want your handkerchief back? It's only a bit tear filled."
Hoot laughed softly and shook her head. "You can keep it." She returned a smile. "I have more back at the lodge."
She didn't want him to feel bad. After all, she did have several handkerchiefs. Giving up one for a good cause was nothing. She wished she could do more though.
"Now let's see," she lead him along the rows, glancing around for Three Left's parents. She gave him a bright smile as they passed several more rows. "Here we are!" she declared triumphantly.
A few feet away were the tombstones of Conchobar and Aindrea O'Neal.
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 3, 2017 20:51:38 GMT -5
Three Left decided he liked Hoot's laugh it was a very pleasant one and it made him happy.
"You can keep it." Hoot smiled back at him. "I have more back at the lodge." he put it in his pocket.
"Now let's see," he let Hoot lead him along the rows, both of them glanced around. she gave him a bright smile neither of them could afford (newsies are poor)
"Here we are!" she declared triumphantly.
he sunk to his knees crying "i am so sorry" he said tears streaming down his face. he was suprised he had any tears left. "i found you, expect more visits from now on." a humongous burden was lifted from his shoulders.
he stood up, dried his tears, and enveloped Hoot's legs in a tight hug. "Thank you Hoot, i will not forget this"
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Post by Hoot on Aug 4, 2017 7:09:54 GMT -5
"I am so sorry. I found you, expect more visits from now on."
Hoot stood to the side, letting Three Left spend some time at his parents' graves. She understood this was a precious, private moment for him that she didn't want to disturb.
"Thank you, Hoot, I will not forget this."
She gave him another smile and patted his back. "Glad I could help." She glanced up at the sky. It was late afternoon now. She hadn't meant to stay here this long. Oh well, she got to help someone, and she finished selling early anyways. "Why don't you come with me to the lodge? Ms. King was baking cookies this morning and probably has some lemonade freshly made."
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 4, 2017 8:40:17 GMT -5
"Why don't you come with me to the lodge? Ms. King was baking cookies this morning and probably has some lemonade freshly made."
cookies? fresh lemonade? Three Left nodded eagerly. he was done selling for the day, and was more then willing to accept the rare treat.
"Wouldn't Ms King mind a boy at the girls lodge? I dont want to get you into trouble."
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Post by Hoot on Aug 4, 2017 18:20:49 GMT -5
"Wouldn't Ms. King mind a boy at the girls' lodge?"
Hoot smiled and shook her head. "Ms. King won't mind a short visit."
"I don't want to get you into trouble."
"It'll be fine," she assured Three Left. "Ms. King is real nice. Boys can't spend the night, but they can visit as long as Ms. King is at the lodge." She gave him another smile. "Ms. King is very understanding and nice so I won't get into any trouble."
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 5, 2017 8:24:57 GMT -5
"Ms. King won't mind a short visit."
Three Left looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Ms. King is very understanding and nice, so I won't get into any trouble." she assured Three Left.
Three Left nodded, accepting her answer. "you mind if i smoke?" he asked holding up his pipe.
"as long as i can get to bronx on time, i can go." Three Left didnt mean for his voice to be so cold but it was anyways.
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Post by Hoot on Aug 6, 2017 12:08:12 GMT -5
"You mind if I smoke?"
Hoot pursed her lips. She had never really approved of the boys smoking, but nothing she had said seem to deter them. It was a losing battle. She sighed to herself and shook her head. "It's fine."
"As long as I can get to Bronx on time, I can go."
She nodded, before blushing some in embarrassment. "Oh... you're from Bronx?" She gave him apologetic smile. "I was trying to remember your name because I had thought you were one of the boys from here."
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 6, 2017 15:17:29 GMT -5
Hoot sighed and shook her head "It's fine." she finally said.
he looked at her curiously squinting his eyes "you say yes, but shaking your head means no. you dont approve, do you?"
"Oh... you're from Bronx?" Hoot smiled at him.
"after Frank died i moved there. i couldn't stay in Hattan, to many bad memories." Three Left said coldly
"I was trying to remember your name because I had thought you were one of the boys from here."
"my name?" he looked at her. "i am Harrison O'Neal" quickly shoved his hand in his coat pocket. "my friends call me Three Left."
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Post by Hoot on Aug 10, 2017 10:20:53 GMT -5
"You say yes, but shaking your head means no."
Hoot looked at him, slightly surprised. "You misunderstood me shaking my head." She smiled. "I was shaking my head to show that I didn't mind."
"You don't approve, do you?"
"Not really," she admitted. "But if you want to, I'm not going to stop you."
"After Frank died, I moved there. I couldn't stay in Hattan, too many bad memories."
Hoot nodded in understanding. "Manhattan is pretty far from here though," she commented thoughtfully.
"My name? I am Harrison O'Neal. My friends call me Three Left."
She smiled. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Harrison. My name is Nancy, Nancy Kempson, but I go by Hoot."
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 10, 2017 16:27:20 GMT -5
"Not really, But if you want to, I'm not going to stop you."
Three Left put away his pipe. "Never go against a ladies wish, my dad taught me that." he said.
"Manhattan is pretty far from here though," Hoot said.
"i know, haven't been there for months." Three Left said "i sometimes wonder if the loading dock where Frank and i used to sleep still exists." he added a little saddened.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Harrison. My name is Nancy, Nancy Kempson, but I go by Hoot."
"its a pleasure" teasingly he added "miss Kempson."
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Post by Hoot on Aug 14, 2017 9:40:03 GMT -5
"Never go against a lady's wish, my dad taught me that."
Hoot nodded. She thought that was very sweet of Three Left.
"I know, haven't been there for months."
She cocked her head slightly. "I'm not too familiar with New York boroughs... but I thought you had to go through Manhattan to get to Jersey?"
"I sometimes wonder if the loading dock where Frank and I used to sleep still exists."
Her eyes widened with concern as she looked at the younger newsie. "You slept at the docks and not the lodge?"
"It's a pleasure, Miss Kempson."
Hoot blushed and laughed softly. "Please, Miss Kempson was my mom and makes me sound old." She winked at Three Left. "Miss Hoot is much better."
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 14, 2017 17:15:03 GMT -5
"I thought you had to go through Manhattan to get to Jersey?" Hoot said a little suprised.
"i always go trough queens." Three Left said. "i know it's the long way around, but i hitch rides here and there."
"You slept at the docks and not the lodge?" Hoot asked with a tone of concern.
"a loading dock at the back of some factory. Frank didn't want to lose his freedom, i guess he lost his life instead." Three Left said in a calm, almost cold voice, only his eyes showed his true feelings.
"Please, Miss Kempson was my mom, and it makes me sound old." Hoot said with a wink. "Miss Hoot is much better."
Three Left nodded. "miss Hoot it is."
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Post by Hoot on Aug 14, 2017 21:44:09 GMT -5
"I always go through Queens."
Hoot's eyes widened once more. "You go through Queens?" she asked incredulously. She had heard awful rumors about Queens. The Newsies there were a rough bunch and spared no mercy on Newsies who weren't from Queens.
"I know it's the long way around, but I hitch rides here and there."
She pursed her lips. "It's not the distance that worries me... isn't Queens dangerous?"
"A loading dock at the back of some factory. Frank didn't want to lose his freedom. I guess he lost his life instead."
Hoot looked at the younger boy sadly. She didn't know Frank, so she really couldn't understand his actions... How could staying at the lodge be losing your freedom? Oh how she wished she had known the boys before this tragedy had happened... one could only wish they could change the past.
"Miss Hoot it is."
She flashed a bright smile. "Now that's more like it! But now, we should really hurry." She gave him a teasing winks. "Wouldn't want Ms. King to run out of cookies, now do we?"
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 15, 2017 12:37:15 GMT -5
Hoot pursed her lips. "It's not the distance that worries me..." she started "isn't Queens dangerous?"
Three Left's cold eyes stared right into Hoot's " oh yeah, very dangerous. but as long as i dont carry any papes, and act like i'am someone's kid or something, i'ill be reasonably save." "besides, queens newsies don't know who i am."
Hoot smiled brightly. "Now that's more like it! But now, we should really hurry." she winked at him. "Wouldn't want Ms. King to run out of cookies, now do we?"
Three Left gave a big smile. "no miss Hoot, we want cookies." he almost giggled. almost.
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Post by Hoot on Aug 17, 2017 22:07:08 GMT -5
"Oh yeah, very dangerous. But as long as I don't carry any papes and act like I'm someone's kid or something, I'll be reasonably safe. Besides, Queens' newsies don't know who I am."
His little speech didn't lessen Hoot's worries. She had heard awful rumors and stories about Queens.
"Are you sure," she asked slowly, "that there isn't a better way to come here? Besides Queens?" She did her best to keep the worry out of her voice, but she knew she had failed. "It's not just Queens' newsies that are dangerous..."
There were gangs too. Adults were far bigger threat than some angry newsies. She would know all to well as she absentmindedly rubbed behind her ear.
"No, Miss Hoot, we want cookies."
She grinned. "That we do!" she agreed, quickening her pace. And in a few short minutes, they finally arrived at the lodge.
She gave him a wink as she led the two into the lodge. "Ms. King!" she called out cheerfully. "I brought a friend to share cookies with! We'll be in the parlor."
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 18, 2017 15:45:45 GMT -5
"Are you sure," Hoot asked slowly, "that there isn't a better way to come here? Besides Queens?" she sounded worried.
"as far as i know, only Hattan, and i feel like the world is on my shoulders everytime i am there." Three Left said readjusting his hat.
"It's not just Queens' newsies that are dangerous..."
he looked at her. "i know about the gangs. i just have to avoid the alleys, and i only visit during the day."
after a deep sigh he continued. "i know it isn't save, but i cant put myself to go into Hattan."
he looked at her with pleading eyes. "do you know another route? because i cant not go. but if miss Sand found out i go anywhere near Queens i'ill be in so much trouble."
Hoot said something he didn't catch, and started walking faster. being over a foot smaller Three Left almost had to run, in order to keep up with her.
she winked at him as they entered the lodge, "Ms. King!" Hoot called out cheerfully. "I brought a friend to share cookies with! We'll be in the parlor."
a friend? Three Left liked the sound of that. "i don't have any friends in jersey yet." he looked up smiling broadly and said. "i guess i do now."
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Post by Hoot on Aug 18, 2017 16:15:16 GMT -5
"As far as I know, only Hattan, and I feel like the world is on my shoulders every time I am there."
Hoot couldn't blame him. After all, she avoided the neighborhood she once called home. She did everything she could to go around it. The other newsies were puzzled by it, but she knew exactly how Three Left felt. Going there would bring such awful memories.
"I know about the gangs. I just have to avoid the alleys, and I only visit during the day."
She bit her lip. Sometimes being careful wasn't enough... She didn't want anything to happen to her new friend.
"I know it isn't safe, but I can't put myself to go into Hattan."
She patted his back. "I understand..."
"Do you know another route? Because I can't not go. But if Miss Sand found out I go anywhere near Queens I'll be in so much trouble."
Hoot pursed her lips thoughtfully. There had to be another route. There just had to be. "You're from Bronx right?" There might just be another way. "I'm not sure, but I think I know of another way. I might have to get a map from Ms. King to make sure."
She hoped her memory served her correctly. If so, it would be so very wonderful! Three Left wouldn't have to go through Queens, and it might possibly even be a shorter journey!
"I don't have any friends in Jersey yet. I gues I do now."
Hoot smiled at him. "Yep, and I believe you're my very first friend from Bronx."
Ms. King greeted the two newsies warmly. She provided cookies that she had just baked. The lodge owner noted they were lucky to get a fresh batch. After giving them a plate of warm cookies and two glasses of milk, she returned to the kitchen.
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Post by Three Left O'Neal on Aug 19, 2017 12:05:07 GMT -5
"You're from Bronx right?" he nodded.
"I'm not sure, but I think I know of another way. I might have to get a map from Ms. King to make sure." Hoot continued.
Three Left looked at her "would you do that for me?" he asked with a slight tone of suspicion in his voice.
the cookies looked nice and smelled even better. but a thought made Three Left cringe. he automaticly stroked the back of his head. it had happened years ago, but he had waited his turn eversince. "l..l.. ladies first." he stammered.
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