Mush kept his eyes on the ground as he shuffled his way to Tibby's. He knew he would be early, but maybe it would give him some time to think. He was the one that everybody expected to be full of good cheer. Sometimes, though, he just felt as though one more minute of pretending to be unceasingly happy would send him right down the road to the insane asylum.

He entered the restaurant and the owner greeted him with a nod and a smile. Mush returned the greeting, then sat at a booth to wait for the others. He was letting his eyes wander over the restaurant when they came to rest on a girl who was seated all alone at a booth in a distant corner of the restaurant. She seemed to be staring out of the front window as she slowly sipped her coffee that curled steam in front of her face. Mush could see her dark brown eyes staring off into space and he noticed that her chesnut colored hair hung loose except for small pieces on each side that had been pulled back with pearl combs. The ends of her hair curled when they reached the middle of her back and her dress was a dark plaid fabric, fitted around her impossibly slim waist with a large bow. Her hands, with their long, tapered fingers, held her cup as though it was fine china instead of the true porcelin it was.

Deciding that this was one girl whom he just couldn't look away from without having met her, Mush stood and walked to her booth. She looked towards him briefly as he approached her table, then dropped her eyes back to her coffee. Mush observed that she must be shy.

"Hi," he said, wanting to kick himself for not being able to think up a better opening sentence than that.

"Hello," she replied and her voice was filled with musical notes and chords Mush had never before heard in any song.

"I was jus' wonderin' if you'd like some company," he said.

"I wouldn't mind at all," she said, still not meeting his gaze, but holding out one of her hands to shake his. He had other plans, however, and bent to kiss the offered hand. She blushed and he slid in the booth, sitting on the bench opposite her. As he released her hand, she put it to her face for a moment, and looked curious. "Are you...a newsboy?" she asked, with a slight smile playing at her lips. Mush looked surprised. He wasn't carrying any of his papers, having sold them all, and he was usually taken for a factory worker or an unloader from the docks.

"Yeah," he finally answered. "How'd ya know?"

She held out her hand which was smudged slightly with black ink. "Newprint," she replied and he looked shocked.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, wiping his own hands off on his shirt.

"Don't worry," she said, taking up her napkin and cleaning her own hand. "It's not a tragedy."

A waiter came over then and asked if she was ready to order. Mush saw her hesitate. Then she answered. "What would you recommend?" she asked the man, glancing up at him and smiling.

"The roast beef's pretty good," Mush answered, before the waiter could, and she looked briefly at him before looking back at the waiter and nodding.

"Then I'll try the roast beef."

The waiter looked toward Mush and he rattled off his usual order. With a short nod, the waiter scurried off towards the kitchen.

"Well, ya know I sell papes," Mush said. "Do ya do anything?"

"I play the piano a little," she answered, but I'm afraid I---well, I haven't been in town long enough to find a job."

"Hey, I know the owner of a sorta big theatre on Broome Street. If you're interested, I could see if she'd give ya an audition."

The girl's brown eyes lit up. "Do you think she would? I sing a little too."

"I'm sure she'd at least try ya out. She's real nice."

"Well, thank you!" she exclaimed. "I do appreciate it."

"Don't mention it."

A silence descended then and Mush noticed that the girl seemed to be staring fixidly at the air over his right shoulder. "Uh, Miss," he began, but she cut him off.

"Please, call me Lillian," she said. "What's your name?"

"Mush," he answered, "but I was gonna ask if there was somethin' really interestin' out dat window behind me dat I was missin'."

Lillian sat up a little straighter and dropped her gaze into her coffee again. "Why do you ask?"

"'Cause dat's the only place ya've been lookin' since I sat down," he replied with a laugh.

"Well, to be quite honest with you, Mush, I really wouldn't know if there was something interesting, unless you told me there was."

"Huh?" Now he was more confused than ever.

She looked back up, though once again, her gaze was off. "I can't see out that window," she said. "As a matter of fact, I can't see the window, or you, or the restaurant I'm sitting in. I'm blind."

"You're kiddin'!"

"It's hardly something I would kid you about," she said with a rather nervous laugh. "You really hadn't noticed?"

Mush shook his head, then remembered that she wouldn't have been able to see him. "No," he said. "I thought it was sorta weird dat ya hadn't really looked at anybody, but I jus' thought ya were shy."

Lillian laughed again and Mush found himself laughing with her.

"Ya mean, it doesn't bother ya?" he asked.

"Being blind, you mean?"

"Yeah."

"I'm fairly used to it," she said. "I've been blind since I was three."

"What 'appened when ya were three?" Mush asked.

"I fell from the roof of the shed in the backyard and hit my head," she answered, unemotionally. "When I woke up, I couldn't see anything. They told me I might get my sight back some day, but that there wasn't much chance of that at all."

"Dat's awful," Mush said quietly. He couldn't imagine not being able to see anything around him. He had lived in New York all his life and found the city facinating. He shuddered to think what it would be like were he not able to see it.

"For awhile, but I've always had people around me who could be my eyes for me. People who would describe every sight to me. Colors, shapes, everything," Lillian said.

"Your parents?" Mush guessed and she shook her head sadly.

"After I went blind, my parents put me into a blind school. They haven't seen me since."

"Dey neva visited?"

Lillian smiled wryly. "They didn't want a blind daughter," she said. "Basically, they left me on the steps of the school. Luckily it was run by very kind people, who raised me along with the other students who had been left in the same way."

"Yeah, well, I know what it's like not ta be wanted by your own family," he said bitterly, and Lillian's hand found his and closed around it.

"Just always remember that they don't know what they've missed," she said to him with a bright smile. "It helps and most of the time I've found it to be true."

Mush started to nod, then caught himself. "I'll keep dat in mind."

Their food came then, and they continued to talk. Mush barely even noticed when the other newsies came in, loud and obnoxious as usual. He was so involved in talking with Lillian that he didn't see Racetrack approaching until he sat down in a chair at the end of the table. Lillian turned her ear towards the sound and Mush saw Race raise an eyebrow, though he said nothing.

"Who's your date?" Race asked him, with a grin and Mush glared at him.

"Dis is Lillian an' she ain't my date," he answered.

Race took Lillian's hand and kissed it. "Nice ta meet ya, doll," he said.

Lillian smiled. "Careful," she said. "I have yet to decide whether or not newsprint is fashionable."

Mush laughed as he watched her wipe black ink from her hand, but Race looked puzzled and a little flustered. He had noticed that Lillian had not once looked at her hand before beginning to rub ink off of it. How had she known about the newsprint if she hadn't seen it? In fact, her whole perception seemed to be off by about a foot.

"I'm Lillian Crane," she said. "And you are...?"

"Racetrack Higgens," Race answered. "Ya know, Lillian, ya aren't really lookin'---"

Mush cut him off. "Where are ya stayin', Lillian?"

"Well, actually, I just arrived in the city today. I haven't yet had a chance to look for a place to stay. I have to find somewhere that would be easy for me to memorize my way to."

"Why don't I take ya ta Medda, dat lady I told ya 'bout earlier," he suggested. "If she hires ya, she might know of a place close ta the theatre."

Lillian looked hopeful. "Do you think she could?"

"We can always try," he said, standing. "See ya later, Race."

He took Lillian's arm and led her out of Tibby's, while the other newsies watched them disappear around the corner before they exchanged glances with each other.

While they were still walking to Medda's, Lillian spoke up. "I don't want her to know that I'm blind," she said. "At least not until after she's heard me play."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to be hired for pity," Lillian said. "From what you've told me, Miss Larkson is a very kind person who would feel sorry for me, despite what I asked."

"Okay, I won't tell 'er. How do ya play the piano, anyway, if ya can't read the music?"

"Oh, it's easy, most of the time. I play by listening. Once I hear a piece a few times, I can usually work on it a while, then play it. Some pieces aren't as easy as others, of course, but that technique usually works."

"Dat's amazin'," Mush said, awed.

Lillian shrugged. "To me, it's just everyday life."

Medda was not on the stage when Mush and Lillian entered, but there was a piano off in the corner and Mush led Lillian to it, and she began to run her fingers lightly over the keys.

"While I acquaint myself with the piano, why don't you go find Miss Larkson," she told him.

He did as she asked. He found Medda backstage and explained that he had someone who wanted to audition for her. Medda came out front with him and looked puzzled as she saw that the girl sitting at the piano had no sheet music in front of her.

"All right, Lillian," Mush said. "Go ahead an' play."

For the next few minutes, both he and Medda sat, entranced, by both Lillian's flawless playing and her lilting voice. When she finished, they sat in stunned silence for a moment before bursting into applause. Medda stood and walked across the stage, taking Lillian by her shoulders.

"That was magnificent!" she told the anxious girl. "Listen, if you want a job, I'll find a place for you, believe me! You were wonderful! Where did you learn to play like that?"

"I taught myself, mostly," Lillian answered, proudly.

That's when Medda noticed that Lillian's ear and not Lillian's gaze was turned toward her. She released Lillian's arms and slowly sat on the piano bench next to her. "Can you---can you...see me?" she asked hesitantly and Lillian looked a little nervous and intimidated before slowly shaking her head.

"I can't see you---or anything else," Lillian answered softly and Mush held himself back, not giving into his impulse, which was to run up and hold her protectively.

"Then how can you play?" Medda asked.

"If I hear a piece a few times then usually I can learn to play it by sound," Lillian answered.

"Truly? That's facinating!" Medda said.

"Do you---do you still want to hire me?" Lillian asked, unsure.

"Of course! You have more talent than I ever imagined! There are several unused rooms above the theatre, if you'd like to rent one of those. I can take the rent out of your pay, if that would be easier," Medda offered.

"It would be easier for me. Thank you, thank you so much!" Lillian exclaimed and Mush couldn't help but grin as he watched her entire face light up. She positively glowed. He could see that Medda had noticed too.

"I'll give you today to get settled and then we'll find some costumes for you and you can open tomorrow night," Medda said to Lillian. Then she turned to Mush. "I have to go arrange some things for tonight. Take Lillian upstairs for me. She can have...let's see...the third door on the right. It's a small apartment, but it should be nice, at least to start her off with."

Medda fiddled with her key ring for a moment before handing it to Mush, one of the keys separated from the rest. Then she hurried off to attend to the opening of her newest preformer. Mush took Lillian's arm again and they slowly made their way up the narrow back staircase, Lillian feeling the walls the whole way, and talking excitedly.

"I can hardly believe it! My first day---my first few hours---in New York and already I have a job doing what I love most and an apartment and friends! When I left school, they, as well as I, worried whether or not I would do well on my own, but I certainly have, haven't I?" she asked.

"Ya bet ya 'ave! Ya play the piano betta than anybody I've ever heard," Mush complemented and Lillian blushed. "Ya sing so pretty too."

"Thank you, Mush," she said quietly.

They reached the third door on the right and Mush opened the door with the key. He looked around as Lillian let go of his arm and began to walk slowly around the room, feeling every wall and every tabletop. She bit her lower lip in anticipation.

"Oh what does it look like?" she asked. "Please. Tell me, Mush. What does my apartment look like?"

"Well, ya've got a window right across from the door," he said, leading her to it. "An' it's got a view out onta Broome Street, right over the theatre entrance. Ya can see across the street ta a bunch of offices."

"What else is inside?"

"There's a sofa under the window an' a low table in front of it, an' a chair over to the left."

"What colors are they?" she asked, prompting him with questions.

"Dey're dis really dark wood wid flowered cushions."

"What colors are the flowers?"

They proceeded like this for the next twenty minutes, until someone knocked on the door. Lillian waited patiently in the center of the room while Mush answered it for her. Medda stood out in the hall and she looked surprised to see Mush.

"I didn't realize you were still here," she told him.

"He was telling me what everything looked like," Lillian spoke up as Medda entered.

"Does it sound all right?" Medda asked and Lillian nodded enthusiastically.

"It sounds lovely! Every bit of it!"

"Listen, I've gotta get back or ev'rybody's gonna wonder where I am," Mush said. "Hey, Medda, is it okay if we all come tomorra night ta hear Lillian play?"

"Isn't it always okay?" Medda teased and Mush shrugged as he grinned.

"Maybe I'll stop by before or afta the show, 'kay, Lillian?" he asked her and she nodded slightly.

"Thank you for everything!" he heard her call as he thundered down the stairs.

Mush entered the Lodging House and found everyone else already there. They stopped talking when he entered the bunkroom, but he had heard the beginning of Race's sentence.

"It was real weird. I mean, she was real pretty an' nice an' ev'rything, but it was like she wasn't seein' me. She even made a crack 'bout the ink widout lookin' at 'er---" he stopped short when Mush entered and the others suddenly found much more interesting things to do such as relacing their shoes or picking lint off of their blankets.

"She wasn't lookin' at ya, 'cause she can't Race," Mush said. "Lillian hasn't been able ta see since she was three."

"But she was auditionin' for Medda!" Race protested, not believing his friend.

"Yeah, she plays the piano by hearin' songs a few times, then figurin' 'em out," Mush answered. "She's betta than anybody WID sight an' she sings like an angel on top of dat." Mush had sat on his bunk as he said this and was taking off his shoes. "She's openin' tomorra at Medda's an' I said we'd all come."

"Sure we will," Jack answered.

"Meantime, I think somebody's got a crush," Skittery teased and Mush sent him a glare across the room.

"I do not," he shot back. Yet, he thought to himself.

After a few more minutes of teasing him, they let up and became lost in a dice game that Race, of course, initiated. Mush, however, chose not to join and as he was trying to go to sleep later that night, all he could think of was Lillian's face and all of his dreams were to the tune of the song she had played for he and Medda.

Lillian as well, lay awake, long after the theatre lights had been dimmed, and Mush's voice repeated itself in her head. She tried to push it away with her own thoughts. "He'll be just like all the others," she protested to herself in a whisper. "He'll just end up feeling sorry for me like everyone else does." Except I don't WANT him to be like everyone else, she thought to herself, without even meaning to.

Mush arrived at Irving Hall a little before everyone else, but Medda told him, while hiding a grin, that Lillian was dressing. He found his seat instead and soon afterward, the theatre began to fill. Most of the Manhattan newsies, as well as Spot and a few from Brooklyn, joined him at the tables on the floor level and they watched the show.

Medda came out to start with and sang a few numbers. Then she very proudly introduced her newest preformer, Lillian Crane. Mush noticed that Medda made no mention of the fact that Lillian was blind and he relaxed. Now Lillian would have the chance to see what people thought of her talent, without them feeling pity.

He had all of these reasonable and intellegent thoughts, however, before Lillian stepped out onto the stage. Once he saw her, every reasonable and intellegent thought that had ever been in his head went right down the drain. He was too stunned and motionless to do anything except watch her, awed.

Lillian's newest costume was a white silk dress that had a short train and was off the shoulder. It's ruffled sleeves were short, about four inches, and she wore white gloves that ended halfway between her elbows and her sleeves. A pearl necklace wound it's way around her slender neck three times and her hair had been piled high on her head in coils and ringlets, tiny white flowers arranged all over. Not only did she sing and play like an angel that night, but she looked like one as well, and it took Mush half a second or less to decide that the crush Skittery had accused him of, was now firm and solid fact.

The applause that filled the theatre after Lillian's preformance that night were thunderous and Mush could see her glow even from his seat as she took a bow and moved carefully off stage.

"Damn, ya were right, Mush," Itey said, "she does play terrific."

"Yeah an' sings terrific too," someone else added, but Mush didn't hear either comment. The show continued with just Medda, but he crept out and around the theatre to the side entrance. From there he went to the second floor and knocked softly on Lillian's door.

"Who is it?" he heard her ask from inside.

"It's me, Mush," he replied and a moment later he heard the chain slide and the door swung inward. Lillian stood there, smiling.

"Was it really good?" she asked.

"Ya heard all those applause, didn't ya?" he asked.

"Well, yes, but I wanted your opinion."

"Why?"

"Because you're my friend---really my first friend in New York---and I want your honest opinion," she replied.

"Then I'll give it ta ya," he said. "Ya played an' sang like an absolute angel," he told her, glad she could not see his slight embarassment. "Ya looked like one too. Ya still do," he added.

Lillian blushed, but never stopped looking pleased.

"Hey," Mush said, suddenly getting an idea. "Ya want a tour of New York tomorra?" he asked.

"I would!" Lillian exclaimed. "I'll teach you all about being 'my eyes'," she said.

"Deal. Can I meet ya 'ere 'round noon?"

"Of course. I'll see you at noon."

"G'night." He started to turn away, but she pulled him back.

"Thank you again. For everything. You've done so much more than anyone's ever done for me before. I'm so grateful to you," she said softly and without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

Mush, however, flushed. "Anytime," he said, then left.

The next day, he found Lillian ready and waiting on the stage when he arrived at exactly noon. She wore a different dress than the one she had been wearing the day he met her in Tibby's and he liked this one even more. It was a dark blue dress that was trimmed with white lace on every edge and it brought out the sparkle that had been in her eyes ever since the applause the night before. She looked up and turned her ear in his direction when his foot creaked on the stage.

"Nobody could ever sneak up on ya, could dey?" he asked with a chuckle as she grinned.

"They haven't yet," she replied.

The day was filled with the sights and sounds of the bustling city as Lillian tutored Mush in his attempts at 'seeing' for her. By that evening, as they stood on the Brooklyn Bridge, she felt that he was competant enough to describe the sunset for her. She had to ask him several times, however. For Mush, it was one thing to describe to someone a building, or a passer-by, but it was quite another to describe such an awesome spectacle of Mother Nature's creation.

"Please?" she asked for the forth time.

"All right," he said, with a sigh. He leaned against the railing next to her and stared down the East River, trying to conjour up words that would be adequate enough. "The river's the same green it always is, except for a little bit, right at the...horizon," he said, coming up with the word quickly. "Right there, it's orange. A really bright orange, jus' like the sky above it. There's a lot of colors in the sky, in layers, almost. At the river, it's orange, then pink, then a light purple, then blue. There's only a few clouds out, but dey're all the colors the sky is an' dey're all wispy."

He started to go on and describe more, but she stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Shh. No more. Just let me imagine what that much must look like."

She closed her eyes, as though to more fully let the golden sunlight soak into her, and Mush watched her, without saying a word. He had wondered a great many things since he had met her, the day before yesterday and now he found himself wondering a great many more. He wondered if it was quite fair, that he should be able to see her, but that she was not able to know any more about him than the sound of his voice. He wondered if she thought it was fair. He knew that he would be quite angry, if he could not see this vision before him. And he certainly wasn't thinking about the sunset. Finally, he wondered why she, who had hardly had more than a glimpse at the world she lived in, could make it all seem like new to him. That day, he had seen New York as though he was as new to it as she was, and he wondered why.

For the next two weeks, Mush took Lillian somewhere different everyday. And everyday, she made him see it in a different light. He was quite accomplished at being 'her eyes' by now, and everyday, he got better at it.

It was two and half weeks since he had first met her and they were walking along the thin strip of beach that was the Bronx shore. Both he and Lillian had taken off their shoes and were wading along the edge of the water. She had been chattering about a new song Medda had been playing for her, but, to be quite honest, he hadn't really been listening. Finally she stopped talking and turned her head towards him. By now he was used to her not looking directly at him and he no longer even noticed.

"Is something wrong, Mush?" she asked and he stopped walking and turned her to face him, the cool river water still lapping over their feet and ankles.

"It's jus' dat, for two weeks, we've been goin' all over New York," he began and she listened patiently. "I've lived 'ere all my life, but in those two weeks, I've seen it like I've neva seen it 'fore. I don't know why, either, an' it's drivin' me crazy!"

"Things are different when you say them out loud," she explained. "When you look at something long enough to find the words to describe it to someone, you DO see it as though you've never seen it before."

"Dat's not it," he said. "I would've realized dat a long time ago, if dat was it."

"Then take your best guess."

Mush paused for what seemed like an eternity. Then everything suddenly made sense. A light flickered on somewhere. He looked at Lillian and wondered if she could sense his amazement. Then he finally spoke. "It's 'cause I've been wid you," he said quietly and she smiled slightly, biting her lip as she always did when she was nervous or excited.

"No one has ever described the world to me, like you have," she said, "but there's still one thing that I haven't seen that I want to see, more than anything on earth."

"What?" he asked, puzzled. His tours had covered all of Manhattan, or so he had thought. They'd even journeyed into Brooklyn and the Bronx some. "What is it ya haven't seen?"

"You."

Her answer was quick and right to the point. There had been no flowery speeches, or sunbursts, or moments of revelation. Just one simple word. But that one simple word contained enough speeches, sunbursts, and revelations to last Mush the rest of his life.

Lillian spoke again, just as softly as she had the first time. "I want to see you."

Before Mush could ask her how she intended to do that, Lillian had dropped the hem of her skirt, which she had been holding above the water, and the bottom four or five inches floated out around her. She lifted her hands slowly and moved closer to Mush. He watched her expression, entranced, as her fingers ran lightly over his face---across his cheeks, over his nose, and around his jaw. Like the touch of butterflies, she felt every line and crease, every eyelash, and she was able to see him.

As her hands moved back, her arms encircled his neck as his arms went around her waist. Ever so slowly, his head bent to hers and their lips met in the sweetest kiss either of them had experienced. Lillian searched the kiss for any pity, but her net came up empty. Finally she had found someone who cared not what she could see, but only what she felt. And the feelings she felt with that kiss was greater than any feelings a roomful of applause could ever give her.

Mush and Lillian continued their walks every afternoon and one afternoon in particular, about a month after Lillian had first come to New York, Mush was taking her to the Lodging House to spend the evening with everyone else. They planned to arrive early so that Lillian could get to know her surroundings before she had to meet everyone. When they walked in, Mush saw a note from Kloppman on the desk, saying that he had to run out for a minute, but would be back shortly.

"While we're waitin', ya can sorta get ta know where ev'rything is, if ya want," Mush said and Lillian smiled and nodded as she began to walk slowly around the room, gliding her fingers along every wall and surface. She had barely begun when they both heard a thump from the office.

"What was that?" Lillian asked, pausing.

"I don't know. Stay 'ere an' I'll go find out," he said, but she followed him anyway.

Mush entered the office cautiously, but wasn't very quiet and startled the unfamiliar man behind Kloppman's desk. The man's head jerked up and his hand immediately flew to his jacket pocket. Mush moved back a step, reaching back to push Lillian behind him.

"Who are ya an' whadda think you're doin' 'ere?" Mush asked the man as Lillian listened, desperately wanting to be able to see what was going on. Then maybe she wouldn't be so afraid.

"I think I'm 'bout ta take the money in dis desk," Lillian heard the man reply. She felt Mush start to reply, then tense up as he backed away another step. The man spoke again. "Ya gotta problem wid it?"

Now Lillian heard what Mush had already seen. The click of a revolver. "Lillian," Mush said, his voice frighteningly calm. "Go in the kitchen, 'kay? Jus' stay there, 'till I tell ya ta move."

"Wait a minute. Nobody's goin' anywhere," the man snapped. "I don't 'appen ta 'ave an affection for witnesses."

"She couldn't ever know what ya look like," Mush replied. "She can't see."

He watched as the man stared critically at Lillian for a long moment and he felt her hold her breath. Finally the man spoke again. "Fine, she can leave, but you're stayin' right where ya are."

"Go on," Mush said to Lillian, but she hesitated. "Go!" he said, more insistantly and she fled as quickly as she could, stumbling over a chair and footstool on her way.

Once in the kitchen, Lillian pressed a desperate ear to the door, but could hear nothing more than low mumbling from the other room. She clutched her skirt in her fists, wishing desperately she could see to peek through the crack in the door. The voice of that man had been chillingly cold. He wouldn't think twice about firing that gun.

Almost as though her thoughts had been voiced, Lillian heard a crash, then feet running toward the door, followed by another pair. She heard the front door being wrenched open and the sound of it banging against the wall behind it as it flew open. The last sound that echoed, however, was a gunshot.

Lillian bolted from the kitchen and once again stumbled her way into the main room. "Mush!" she cried, not knowing where to turn or where to find him. Then she heard a small noise from behind the counter. She felt her way to it and then dropped to her knees. She reached out into nothing but air for a moment before her hand connected with Mush's arm. She grasped it tightly and crawled closer. "Mush, what's wrong? Are you all right?"

Her fingers ran over him, searching for wounds, for he was still not responding to her. Cursing the darkness that was her only sight, she searched frantically for a pulse, finding only a faint one. "Oh God, answer me, Mush!" she cried again, tears filling her eyes. "Don't leave me, please!" Once again her hands began to search for the source of the wound that she knew existed. As her fingers brushed over the left side of his chest, they suddenly made contact with warm, sticky liquid. Gasping, Lillian drew back her hands and crawled to the still open door, using the doorframe to help herself up.

What was she supposed to do now? The area was unfamiliar to her and she knew of no one around. If she waited for Kloppman, it might be too late. At the thought of Mush dying, the tears she had been holding back overflowed and she tried to stop herself before she began to sob. If she did that, she'd be of even smaller use to him than she was now.

As Lillian pulled herself back together, she heard the familiar sound of Racetrack's voice from around the corner. Then she heard Jack laugh. "Jack! Racetrack!" she called out, turning to where she thought they were walking. "Help me! Hurry!"

Jack, Racetrack and Crutchy heard what sounded like Lillian's voice, panicked and shrill, coming from the direction of the Lodging House. They all exchanged glances, then dashed off toward her voice. They nearly stopped short when they saw her on the steps of the Lodging House, her hands red and blood streaked across her blouse.

"My God, where are ya hurt?" Crutchy asked.

Lillian shook her head. "It's Mush," she said. "Somebody shot him when he tried to stop them from taking Kloppman's money!" she explained between sobs.

"Crutchy, take care of Lillian," she heard Jack say as he and Race dashed inside.

Lillian sank slowly to the ground, letting the sobs overtake her. Not knowing what else to do and not knowing whether or not he could speak without tears of his own, Crutchy sat beside her and she cried onto his shoulder.

An ambulance whisked Mush off to the hospital and the others followed behind, all perfectly silent. When they arrived, there was still no news on Mush's condition and Jack helped Lillian clean herself up as best she could. Then she sat with him and about twenty of the other newsies and Kloppman as they waited in the lobby. For the next two hours, no one uttered a single word aloud, though inside, their minds were racing.

When a doctor finally stepped into the lobby and everyone looked up, not sure if they wanted to hear what he had to say. He spoke anyway.

"I'd say that your friend is extremely lucky," he said and everyone began to look a little hopeful. "The bullet didn't go very far and the only things it hit were a few minor arteries. He's lost quite a bit of blood, and there's still the chance of infection, but he should be okay, as long as everything heals properly. He's being transferred to his room right now and once he's settled you can all go in a few at a time, but he probably won't awaken for a couple more hours."

Everyone filed in to see him and once they were assured that he was really okay, they left. The only ones who stayed were Jack, Blink, Race, and Lillian. Lillian sat in a chair beside his bed, her eyes now dry, but her expression unchanged. She kept her hand holding tight to Mush's and rested the fingers of her other hand on the side of his face, at the corner of his eye. When he awoke, it would be the only way for her to tell. Jack, Race and Blink sat in chairs around the room, watching and waiting impatiently.

It was three hours later when Lillian felt Mush's eyes flutter open and she sat up more, squeezing his hand. "Mush?" she asked. The three newsies came from their chairs to see their friend.

He opened his eyes and saw Lillian first. "Hey Lily," he said in a hoarse whisper. "Thought I told ya ta stay in the kitchen." He grinned.

Lillian gasped, then smiled, holding back a giggle. "And leave you out there all alone?" she asked him. "Never."

Then Mush saw his friends on the other side of the bed.

"Hey guys," he said.

"Heya Mush. Ya feelin' betta?" Race asked.

"Yeah, ya sure gave ev'rybody a scare," Blink added with his usual grin.

"Sorry, I guess I shouldn't 'ave run afta 'im..." Mush trailed off. Then he shrugged, but the movement was halted as quickly as it had come. He managed a strangled gasp as pain spread like fire through his chest and left arm. "What the hell---Sorry," he said quickly to Lillian, who only flushed and nodded, immediately becoming concerned again.

"Are you all right?" she asked him, worridly.

"Yeah," he said as the pain ebbed away. "Jus' shouldn't 'ave shrugged either," he said with a wry laugh.

"Hey, listen, if you're okay, we'll go on back to the Lodgin' House an' let the others know," Jack said to Mush and Mush nodded.

"Sure. Tell 'em I'm fine."

The three newsies nodded and said goodbye as they left. Lillian did her best to turn her gaze to Mush's. "You called me Lily a minute ago," she said and Mush flushed slightly.

"Yeah, sorry, if ya don't like it---"

"No!" she cut in quickly. "I liked---I liked hearing---you say it," she stumbled and he watched as she looked away, embarrassed.

Lillian tried to keep from letting her tears escape again. She loved him more than she felt she could ever love anyone again. When she thought that he might die---she wished that she, too, had been within range of that man's gun. She loved him, but how could he ever love her? She couldn't see him now and possibly never would. If they married---if they had children, she would never see their bright faces. It was easier for someone who was blind to marry someone else who was also blind. That way they could be help to each other. Mush could see perfectly the world she had been missing for fifteen years and he deserved to be loved by someone who could share that world. Of all the things she could do and all the things she could accomplish, there was still one thing that eluded her grasp. And that one thing was the ability to see.

"What's wrong?" she heard Mush ask. "Lily, what is it?"

She turned back to him. "Nothing," she whispered softly. "I should go. Medda will be worried."

Lillian stood and let his hand fall back onto the bed as she hurried from the room, wanting to leave his sight before the tears fell. Mush stared at the empty doorway she had just disappeared through. So she had just been there to make sure he'd be all right. She hadn't been holding his hand for any other reason. Mush slowly became aware of a different kind of ache in his chest. This on, though, couldn't be relieved with the painkillers the hospital provided. This ache ran deeper than that. He had finally found someone whom he loved more than anyone else on the face of the earth, and the kind of love that she returned was only that between friends.

Mush was allowed to return to the Lodging House a week later, after the threat of infection had passed. He was still, however, confined to bed for another two weeks. His friends noticed, that while he was glad to be home, he hardly smiled at all and not once since that first day in the hospital, had he laughed. The reason, that they soon figured out, was that Lillian had not come by at all when he was awake. She had come by twice, but both times were when Mush was convientiently resting.

Finally, Jack went to Medda's. Medda let him in and when he explained, she shook her head sadly.

"Lillian's been actin' the same way," she told him. "They both love each other, but think the other person doesn't care. I know Lillian's upset mostly over the fact that she can't see."

"But Mush doesn't care 'bout dat!" Jack protested. "Ta 'im, she ain't any different than anybody who CAN see."

"I know that, and ya know that and Mush knows that, but Lillian doesn't. He's gonna have to tell her before she'll believe it, I'm afraid," Medda said.

"Ya think she'll come back ta the Lodgin' House wid me?" he asked.

"We can try."

Lillian agreed to come back with Jack and so he led her to the Lodging House. Everyone but Mush knew that he was trying to get Lillian to come back with him, so when he led her into the bunk room, everyone else scattered.

"Go on," Jack said, giving her a gently nudge towards Mush's bunk. "Talk ta 'im."

Jack was the last to step out and he closed the door behind him. Lillian carefully crossed the floor and Mush held out his hand to help her the rest of the way. She sat on the edge of his bed and kept her gaze down in her lap, looking very nervous and wary.

"Jack said that you wanted to talk to me," she finally said, softly.

"Yeah, well, he said dat ya wanted ta talk ta ME," Mush replied. A faint smile appeared on Lillian's face.

"I'd say we both just got fooled pretty well," she said.

"Guess so."

"So why did he get me to come here?" she asked. "You're doing better, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I'm doin' fine," he reassured her.

"Well, then maybe I should go. We obviously have nothing to talk about," she said, standing, but Mush reached out his arm and took her's.

"No wait. We do 'ave somethin' ta talk 'bout," he said.

"What?" But she sat back down.

"'Bout---'bout why ya stayed at the hospital 'till I woke up," he finally said. She looked more nervous, if such a thing were possible.

"I-I was only making sure you were all right," she said. "I wanted to know if you would be okay."

"Dat's the only reason?"

"Yes," she said.

"Oh." Lillian heard the deep note of disappointment in his voice and she took a deep breath.

"No, it's not the only reason," she admitted with a sigh.

"It isn't?"

"No, I-I stayed because---I, if something had happened to you---oh Mush, I was so scared when I first heard that shot---" Lillian broke off into tears and Mush used his right arm to pull her close and she tried to speak as she wept on his shoulder. "I was so---angry! For the first time since I went blind---I actually got angry because I couldn't see. I didn't know where you were or how to find you. I knew something had happened because you weren't answering me, but I didn't know how to help you. I couldn't help you---"

"But ya DID help me," he protested.

"I didn't know if I had found you in time. And if Jack and Race and Crutchy hadn't come along then---"

"Wait a minute," Mush said. "Are ya blamin' yourself for this?"

It was a long moment before Lillian replied. "If I had just been able to see, I could have---"

"Don't do dat ta yourself!" he said harshly. "It ain't your fault. There wasn't anything else ya could've done!"

Lillian moved and turned her face away from him. Mush watched her shoulders tremble and knew that he had to tell her how he felt. Even if she didn't return his feelings, he had to let her know. He couldn't keep feelings like these to himself any longer. He took a deep breath and mustered his courage. Even facing that robber hadn't been this tough.

"I love ya, Lily," he said quietly.

Lillian didn't move for a second, then she buried her face in her hands and shook her head. "Don't say that!" she demanded. "Don't!"

"I hafta say it, 'cause it's true!" Mush shot back. "I know dat ta ya, I'm jus' a friend, but I had ta say---"

"I love you too," she said softly, interrupting him.

He stared at her in shock for a long moment. "Then why didn't ya want me ta say it?" he asked, once he had recovered and the shock had worn off.

"Because you aren't thinking clearly!" she insisted, turning enough so that he could see her profile. "You don't understand what it would be like! I. Can't. See," she said slowly, as though he hadn't understood her the dozen or so other times she had said it. "You can see everything and I can see nothing. My world's completely dark. I can't see light, shadows, streets, people or sunsets---" she broke off as she remembered the evening he had described the sunset for her. It opened a fresh wound and she struggled to keep from crying again.

"I've spent the past month seein' for ya," he said calmly. "What more could I be doin'? What more could anybody be doin'?"

"If I---if someone---loved me, who---who was also blind, then we could help each other! I-I don't want to be dependant on anyone."

"Wait, Lily, is---is there someone else?" he asked haltingly.

She slowly shook her head and his heart lifted with relief.

"Then what's the problem. Ya couldn't ever become dependant on anyone. You're too strong for dat an' ya know it."

"Do I?" she asked. "Do I really know that?"

"Well ya would if ya'd let yourself!" Mush replied loudly.

"You don't know what it's like to be me! Don't tell me what I know and what I don't know!" she shouted back.

*******

Downstairs, Jack and some of the other newsies, along with Kloppman, listened to the argument that was going on upstairs. Only recently had it become loud enough for them to hear.

"God, dey're gonna kill each other!" Race exclaimed.

"Who knows? Maybe it'll do 'em some good," Kloppman muttered, shaking his head slightly as the argument continued.

*******

"See?!" Mush exclaimed. "Ya ain't dependant on anybody, ya jus' proved it yourself!"

"Well, I---" Lillian broke off, realizing that he was right. "I-I, well...."

Suddenly Mush began to chuckle. After a moment of trying to refrain, Lillian too, burst into giggles.

"I'm sorry," she said.

They each calmed down enough to speak normally once again and Mush took one of Lillian's hands in one of his and brushed his other hand over her cheek.

"I love ya, Lily," he said. "It doesn't matta ta me whether or not ya can see. It neva has. I love ya for who ya are, not what ya can see. Sure, it'll neva be easy, but---but I love ya an' we'll jus' deal wid ev'rything as it comes along. Is dat---dat okay wid ya?" he asked.

Lillian waited a long moment while she thought over what he had just said. Then she slowly nodded. "It's okay with me."

Mush grinned and Lillian smiled somewhat. Then she leaned forward to lay her head on his shoulder and he wrapped an arm around her back.

"We'll do jus' fine, I promise," he whispered in her ear.

A long moment passed, then, "I trust you."