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Post by Blondie on Oct 5, 2017 11:01:35 GMT -5
Blondie had wandered off after selling the evening edition, not really paying much mind to where he was going. It wasn’t until he was on the bridge that he realized where he was exactly. He was almost into Harlem territory, the last place he wanted to be right now.
Harlem... it was the root of all his problems now wasn’t it? He scowled and turned back towards Bronx, his borough, his real home.
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Post by Sand on Oct 5, 2017 11:15:05 GMT -5
Sand had started walking around not sure what to do. After talking with Smolder, she really wished Blondie were here. She always felt better when he was around. Sand sighed as she headed for the bridge. She liked watching the water. It made her think of home for some reason. Things would work out with Blondie. It had too.
She sighed as she looked up. Sand stopped though seeing Blondie. Why was he at the bridge to Harlem? No. She couldn't think that. Sand moved over to him a bit cautiously. "Hiya..." She said softly as she approached him.
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Post by Blondie on Oct 5, 2017 11:22:20 GMT -5
”Hiya...”
Blondie looked up in surprise. He didn’t expect to see or hear anyone familiar. No one really visited the bridge during the evening. He was about to reply when a carriage stopped right beside them.
“Lewis? Is that you?” a young lady’s voice called out.
Blondie paled considerably. He recognized that voice... it might have been a couple of years but there was no mistaking that voice. What should he do? Run? That didn’t sound half bad. But sadly he didn’t get very far, for the carriage door swung open and out stepped a young lady, blocking Blondie from Sand’s view.
“Why! It is you!” the girl squealed happily. “We’ve been looking goodness everywhere for you! Where have you been?” she demanded. “And why are you dressed so awfully?”
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Post by Sand on Oct 5, 2017 12:08:20 GMT -5
Sand couldn't help but smile a bit when she saw him and he didn't seem mad. Maybe things could be alright.
Lewis? Is that you?
Her face scrunched a bit. Lewis? Who was that? She looked at Blondie and he seemed pale. He started to run when a carriage pulled in between them. Sand moved around the carriage to see Blondie. What was going on?
Why! It is you! We’ve been looking goodness everywhere for you! Where have you been? And why are you dressed so awfully?
Sand's face looked even more confused. Did Blondie know this girl? She chewed the inside of her lip a bit finally seeing the girl. She was dressed so nicely. Sand hadn't worn a dress like that since she left Spain. She hadn't felt that pretty in a while.
She found her voice when the girl said he was dressed awfully. "He ain't dressed bad. He's the best dressed guy in Bronx."
Following the girl was a taller blonde woman. Sand looked at Blondie. "Lewis sweetie!" The woman hugged Blondie. "Come on sweetie. We need to get you out of here. This place is filthy."
Sand couldn't help the tears pulling up in her eyes. What was going on? Blondie couldn't leave. He couldn't leave. She moved closer to Blondie. "Blondie..." Sand said quietly.
From one of the carriage windows and man looked out. Sand was surprised with how much he looked like Blondie. Were these his parents? "Lewis, son, we need to go. You look pale. We need to get you home so we can make sure you're alright." The man looked to towards Sand with a not pleasant look. "You know how sickly you can get in places like this."
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Post by Blondie on Oct 5, 2017 12:16:33 GMT -5
Blondie made a slight face at the young girl. There was no running now... “Hi, Mabel,” he mumbled, shifting from side to side.
”He ain’t dressed bad. He’s the best dressed guy in Bronx.”
Mabel turned towards Sand, not noticing her until now. “And who might you be?” she asked in a disgusted tone. “I should hope you aren’t acquainted with this... this girl, Lewis.”
Blondie was about to reply when a woman suddenly embraced him.
”Lewis sweetie! Come on sweetie. We need to get you out of here. This place is filthy.”
“Mother, I-“ He was interrupted by another hug from her.
”Blondie...”
He squirmed trying to face his friend, but to no avail.
”Lewis, son, we need to go. You look pale. We need to get you home so we can make sure you’re alright.”
Mabel nodded. “Your father’s right, Lewis. This place is awful.”
Blondie’s ears turned pink in anger as he managed to push his mother away. “Oh so now you care?” he asked angrily. “How long have I been gone? Hmmm?”
”You know how sickly you can get in places like this.”
He straightened himself and looked his father dead in the eye. “Do I look sickly to you? I’m fine! Just fine and without you,” he turned towards his mother and then to Mabel. “Or you... or you. Just, just leave me alone!”
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Post by Sand on Oct 5, 2017 12:43:50 GMT -5
And who might you be?
"Name's Sand." She said trying to look more confident then she actually felt.
I should hope you aren’t acquainted with this... this girl, Lewis.
Sand didn't know if she should be mad or hurt that this girl was treating her so badly. These people didn't know her. They had no right to judge her this way.
Mother, I
Sand saw him try to face her but his mother kept hugging him.
Oh so now you care? How long have I been gone? Hmmm?”
"Far to long." His mother said sadly as she took his hands and pulled him towards the carriage. "Let's go home and we can discuss this later." She then brushes his hair back some. "We'll get you cleaned up and we'll be back to normal."
Your father’s right, Lewis. This place is awful.”
"Bronx ain't awful. This is a nice place." Sand said defending her borough. This was her home. She was not having people treat it badly.
Do I look sickly to you? I’m fine! Just fine and without you, Or you... or you. Just, just leave me alone!
His father looked a little frustrated that Blondie was being so difficult. "Yes. You look pale and that tends to mean you're getting ill. Now get in the carriage. We are going home. Now."
His mother only teared up. "You aren't well." She moved to hold his face. "Sweetie we need to get you home. You're delusional. We'll get you home and everything will be better."
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Post by Blondie on Oct 5, 2017 14:04:24 GMT -5
”Name’s Sand.”
Mabel gave her a look over. “Sand... what kind of name is that?” She turned away from her, swishing her skirts as she did.
”Far too long.”
Blondie pulled his hands away firmly. “Far too long? You don’t even remember how long it was do you?” He glared at his parents. “I bet you didn’t even notice I was gone at first.”
Mabel frowned at her friend. “Don’t be talking like that about your parents! They were worried sick. They called the police and everything!”
”Let’s go home and we can discuss this later.”
Blondie scrunched up his face as his mother arranged his hair. “There is nothing to discuss!” he protested.
”We’ll get you cleaned up and we’ll be back to normal.”
He was glaring again. “Things can never go back to normal! And you really just ruined it now.”
He was happy with his new “normal” and now his parents came and messed it all up. Sand knew the truth about him... and now the rest of the borough would know. If he was able to come back as a newsie, they would treat him differently.
Bronx ain’t awful. This is a nice place.”
Mabel sniffed. “You mean it ‘isn’t’ awful, but then you are wrong there too. Bronx is a small borough with a bunch of poor folk.”
Blondie bristled. “Bronx is home! You don’t know anything, Mabel.”
”Yes. You look pale and that tends to mean you’re getting ill. Now get in the carriage. We are going home. Now.”
He dug in his heels and looked up at his father with a determined look. “I am fine. Never been better. And I am not going home.”
Mabel gasped. “You can’t be serious! Something must be awfully wrong with you. A touch of the sun perhaps?” She reached into the carriage and brought out her parasol, pulling it over Blondie, blocking him completely from Sand. It was most definitely on purpose as well as to shield her friend from the sun.
”You aren’t well. Sweetie we need to get you home. You’re delusional. We’ll get you home and everything will be better.”
Blondie pulled away, pushing Mabel off balance. “I am fine!” he snapped. “I am not delusional and like I said before, I’m not going hom!”
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Post by Sand on Oct 5, 2017 15:00:46 GMT -5
Sand... what kind of name is that?
"It's mine." Sand said as Mabel swished away. Sand had never felt so small and she had gotten off a boat in a new city full of people.
Far too long? You don’t even remember how long it was do you? I bet you didn’t even notice I was gone at first.
Don’t be talking like that about your parents! They were worried sick. They called the police and everything!
His mother frowned. "We did notice...Mabel it's fine. He's just not himself." She put an arm around him and pulled him closer to the carriage.
There is nothing to discuss! Things can never go back to normal! And you really just ruined it now.
His father rolled his eyes. "Get in the carriage and we can fix everything."
Sand looked worried about Blondie. Nothing was ruined was it? Would he leave? "Blondie..." They could make things right. They just had to stick together.
You mean it ‘isn’t’ awful, but then you are wrong there too. Bronx is a small borough with a bunch of poor folk.
Bronx is home! You don’t know anything, Mabel.
Sand made her face stern. "Bronx may be small but it's home. Maybe not ta a person like ya but ta me and Blondie it is so if ya don't like it get out!"
I am fine. Never been better. And I am not going home.
You can’t be serious! Something must be awfully wrong with you. A touch of the sun perhaps?
His mother quickly felt his head as he was covered in the shade of the parasol. "He doesn't seem to be running a temperature....We'll call for a doctor as soon as were home."
Sand moved quickly to move the parasol and she quickly took Blondie's hand. He couldn't leave. Not like this. "Blondie...I..." Her words failed her but her eyes showed all the worry and panic of him leaving.
“I am fine! I am not delusional and like I said before, I’m not going hom!
His father finally came out of the carriage catching Mabel and putting her back on balance. "Lewis. We need to get you home. This place is filthy. You are not yourself and you're ill." He came over and took Blondie's arm. He glared at Sand. "And it's people like her that are making you sick. Now we need to get you home."
Sand just stared shocked. He was blaming her for Blondie running away? She tried to stay calm. She had to stay calm. She had to control her emotions... but how could she be blamed for something when she didn't even know him at the time. She just had to keep her emotions in check. Sand just wasn't sure how much longer she could keep it up.
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Post by Blondie on Oct 5, 2017 19:14:16 GMT -5
”It’s mine.”
Mabel turned up her nose. “A strange one at that.”
”We did notice...”
Blondie just shook his head. He could sense her hesitation. Even if they wouldn’t admit, he knew. He knew they had called the police and such long after he first left.
”Mabel it’s fine. He’s just not himself.”
Mabel swishes her skirts some. “I should say not! We are so lucky we found him!”
”Get in the carriage and we can fix everything.”
“That’s where you are wrong!” Blondie took a step away from everyone. “You can’t fix anything!”
”Blondie...”
He wanted to talk to Sand, explain himself. But there was too much going on. His secret was out in the open... and he didn’t want to talk with Sand when his parents were there.
”Bronx may be small but it’s home. Maybe not ta a person like ya but ta me and Blondie it is so if ya don’t like it get out!”
Mabel frowned at Sand. “How dare you speak to me like that!” She turned towards Blondie’s parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Bruner, we should just take Blondie right now.”
”He doesn’t seem to be running a temperature... We’ll call for a doctor as a soon as we’re home.”
Blondie opened his mouth to reply but Mabel cut him off. “Yes, that is an excellent plan, Mrs. Bruner.”
”Blondie... I...”
“Lewis. We need to get you home. This place is filthy. You are not yourself and you’re ill.”
Blondie continued to glare at his father. “You don’t even know what me being ‘myself’ really is! You and Mother were never home! You never cared about what I was doing!”
”And it’s people like her that are making you sick. Now we need to get you home.”
He had had enough of this... He jerked his arm away from his father. “It’s people like you who make me sick! I don’t ever want to see you again!”
And before anyone could recover from his outburst, he ducked under the parasol and took off towards Bronx. Being a newsie for several years had paid off. He could run. They would never catch him. He knew all the alleyways and shortcuts in Bronx. They wouldn’t be able to catch him again. But... he couldn’t stay in Bronx anymore. He needed to get to the lodge, grab his stuff, scribble out his name, and get out of there before his parents could track him down.
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Post by Sand on Oct 5, 2017 21:25:30 GMT -5
A strange one at that
Sand ground her teeth some. "Prettier then Mabel." She grumbled.
I should say not! We are so lucky we found him!
His mother nodded. "So very lucky."
That’s where you are wrong! You can’t fix anything
His father sighed. "Lewis. we can fix things just come in the carriage."
"Yes sweetie, lets go home and we'll make everything alright." His mother added quickly.
Sand watched Blondie. He was uncomfortable. She could tell. Sand wished they could just get away from them.
How dare you speak to me like that! Mr. and Mrs. Bruner, we should just take Blondie right now.
"Ya have been treatin me like dirt so yeah I can talk ta ya that way." Sand snapped back.
His mother nodded some quickly. "Let's get him home."
Yes, that is an excellent plan, Mrs. Bruner.
"Thank you Mabel." His mother said as she pulled him towards the carriage.
You don’t even know what me being ‘myself’ really is! You and Mother were never home! You never cared about what I was doing!
"Lewis," His mother gasped. "How could you say such a hurtful thing?"
His father was agitated. "We were away making sure you had a good life."
It’s people like you who make me sick! I don’t ever want to see you again!
Sand watched Blondie as he rushed off. She knocked the parasol away from her path and ran after him hoping to catch him. "Blondie!" She yelled hoping to catch him.
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Post by Blondie on Oct 5, 2017 21:36:26 GMT -5
”Prettier than Mabel.”
The young lady bristled in anger. “Prettier? I should say not!”
”So very lucky.”
Blondie thought the opposite. This was as unlucky as it could get.
”Lewis, we can fix things just come in the carriage.”
“Yes, sweetie, let’s go home and we’ll make everything alright.”
He rolled his eyes. “Make everything alright? You’re going to go back to the same way things were before I left! I don’t want that.”
”Ya have been treatin’ me like dirt so yeah I can talk ta ya that way.”
Mabel looked at her shocked. “You simply have no manners!”
”Let’s get him home.”
Mabel nodded eagerly. She couldn’t wait to get away from this girl. “The sooner the better.”
”Thank you, Mabel.”
She beamed. “But of course Mrs. Bruner.”
”Lewis. How could you say such a hurtful thing?”
“The truth hurts doesn’t?” Blondie stated flatly.
”We were away making sure you had a good life.”
Blondie had to force himself to stay calm. His palms were sweaty and his hands were shaking. “A good life? A good life?!” He laughed bitterly. “Have you ever thought for once that maybe making a good life for me was just being there for me? But no, you wouldn’t think about it, would you?”
”Blondie!”
He hesitated hearing, Sand’s voice behind him. But he couldn’t even risk her catching up with him. Right now, he needed to get to the lodge and get out. It was time to leave the place he had once called home.
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Post by Sand on Oct 5, 2017 22:08:14 GMT -5
Prettier? I should say not!”
“Any name is prettier then Mabel.” Sand numbered softly.
Make everything alright? You’re going to go back to the same way things were before I left! I don’t want that
His father kept his voice drily calm. “We’ll go home And then get you in you’re right mind.”
You simply have no manners!
“I have plenty of manners. Ya do not.” Sand said in a huff.
But of course Mrs. Bruner.
The truth hurts doesn’t?
His mother nodded a bit hearing Mabel. “Lewis don’t be difficult...”
A good life? A good life?! Have you ever thought for once that maybe making a good life for me was just being there for me? But no, you wouldn’t think about it, would you?
Both his parents just watched in shock at the ourburst.
Sand kept trying to catch up with him. They had to talk. “Please Blondie!” She said running as quickly as she could but she wasn’t fast like Blondie.
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Post by Blondie on Oct 5, 2017 22:15:37 GMT -5
”Any name is prettier than Mabel.”
Mabel was insulted. How dare this girl say such a thing. No matter, this girl was beneath her. She would just ignore her.
”We’ll go home and then get you in your right mind.”
Blondie’s face was stony. Oh like his father could do that.
”I have plenty of manners. Ya do not.”
Mabel laughed. “Oh I’m sure you do. Manners fit for those of your status.”
”Lewis don’t be difficult.”
Blondie shook his head. “No, I’ve had enough of this. I’m old enough to take care of myself so just leave me be!”
”Please Blondie!”
He wanted to turn around. He truly did! But he couldn’t... there was too much going on. He just needed to keep running.
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Post by Sand on Oct 5, 2017 22:30:57 GMT -5
Oh I’m sure you do. Manners fit for those of your status.
“I have manners for people that deserve ‘em. Ya do not deserve anythin.” She snapped back at the girl. No one was going to treat her like that. Or treat any of her newsies like that.
No, I’ve had enough of this. I’m old enough to take care of myself so just leave me be!”
“No you can’t! You are not well!” His mother said in a short outburst. “We need to get you home.”
Sand’s eyes were tearing up. Not like this. He couldn’t leave like this. He wouldn’t leave like this. Her vision became and she didn’t notice one of the stones sticking up farther then the other and it caught her foot sending her hard into the street she was trying to catch her friend on. Her hands were shaking and scrapped as blood slowly surfaced. Sand’s Shoulder throbbed from where she fell and she stood up hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but he was gone. “Blondie please don’t leave like this...” she made her way to the lodge a little slower th usual. He had to get his things. He’d be there...
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Post by Blondie on Oct 5, 2017 22:41:10 GMT -5
”I have manners for people that deserve ‘em. Ya do not deserve anything’.”
Mabel was taken aback at her words. She looked at Blondie’s parents in shock. How could she say such awful things?!
”No you can’t! You are not well! We need to get you home.”
But it was too late. Blondie was well out of her earshot. He was never going back to them, ever.
“Lewis!” Mabel called out after him. “Lewis, come back!!!”
”Blondie please don’t leave like this...”
He couldn’t quite catch what she said. He was dreadfully curious though. But there was no time. He was almost to the lodge. He didn’t even bother to greet Mr. Reeds as he rushed up to grab his things. He only grabbed the things he needed. As much as he hated to, he had to leave behind his new telescope. He couldn’t travel well with that.
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Post by Sand on Oct 5, 2017 22:51:07 GMT -5
Sand was crying as she climbed the stairs of the boys lodge. Please be here. Please be here. She rubbed her arm slightly not really caring of the blood on her shirt. He wouldn’t leave like this. Not without saying goodbye at least. Her face scrunched up more seeing his things were gone. All except the telescope he had just purchased. Sand picked it up trying hard to keep her emotions in check, but it was already a lost cause. She hugged the telescope as she slid down the wall of the lodge and cried. Sand didn’t care if any newsies saw their leader crying. Not after this. All she could think of was Blondie had left and they weren’t even on good terms when he left. What if he hated her? What if she never saw him again?
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