Medda was listening to Lillian practice a new song when the theatre's main doors opened and a well-dressed older woman entered them. Lillian heard the sound and ceased playing, turning slightly on the piano bench to face her ear to the door. Medda stood and greeted the visitor.

"Can I help you?" she asked, holding out her hand to greet the woman.

The woman smiled kindly and shook Medda's hand. "I think I see who I came for right on the stage," she said, puzzling Medda, but causing Lillian's eyes to widen.

"Mrs. Claggert?" she asked excitedly, a smile lighting her entire face.

The woman stepped up onto the stage and Lillian greeted her with a tight hug. "We've all enjoyed your letters so much, dear," Mrs. Claggert told her, stepping back and holding her at arm's length, seeming satisfied that Lillian was getting along all right.

"I'm so glad. I've enjoyed hearing about all of you, too," Lillian answered, then heard Medda step up onto the stage to join them. "Oh, please forgive me," she said. "Mrs. Claggert, this is Medda Larkson, who was kind enough to give me a job and an apartment here at her theatre. Medda, this is Minnie Claggert. She and her husband own the school where I was raised."

Medda's face cleared with recognition and she smiled broadly. "Well, it's very nice to meet you. Lillian's told us all about everyone she knew at her school."

"Us?" Mrs. Claggert questioned.

"Medda knows all of my other friends that I've told you about," Lillian explained. "They are the reason I was introduced to her in the first place."

"Ah, I see. Will I have a chance to meet these friends of yours?" the older woman asked.

"I meet them for lunch every afternoon," Lillian said. "I believe it's still a little early, but we could have a chance to talk before they arrive. Are you coming, Medda?"

"If Mrs. Claggert will be with you, I think I'll stay here. I have some things to do to get ready for the show tonight," Medda answered.

"All right, I'll be back later."

"Take your time. Invite all the boys to the new show tonight. No charge, as usual."

"Right, Medda. Thank you." Lillian waved, then Mrs. Claggert took her arm to guide her down the steps.

Lillian pulled gently away. "I know my way around this building, Mrs. Claggert," she said. "I made sure to learn."

"Nonsense," the woman said, "I can certainly help you down the street. New York is a much bigger place than the school, Lillian. Now give me your arm."

Lillian hesitated, then sighed softly, holding out her arm, reliquishing it for Mrs. Claggert to take. They exited in this fashion, Lillian looking slightly less thrilled than she had a few moments before. Medda only watched them leave, curious and somewhat worried by a nagging feeling that she was going to have to soon replace a preformer.

*************

Lillian gave directions to Mrs. Claggert all the way to Tibby's but the woman asked repeatedly if she was sure they were going in the right direction. Could they be lost? It would be a terrible thing to be lost in New York, you're sure you know where you're going?

Lillian was glad indeed when they entered the restaurant and took a table near the center.

"Are you sure we shouldn't be in a booth?" Mrs. Claggert asked worridly as she settled herself uneasily in her chair. "Being out in the middle of the restaurant---that can't be very safe."

"I eat here every day, Mrs. Claggert," Lillian reassured. "We're in a fine place. My friends should all be here within a few minutes."

"Well...all right," she said, finally agreeing, though hesitant still.

A waiter came by and asked for their order. Before Lillian could reply, Mrs. Claggert, who had been looking at a menu, spoke up.

"We'll each have a bowl of your soup of the day," she said and he nodded, starting to walk away.

"No, Charlie, wait," Lillian said and he turned again. "I'd prefer to have a club sandwich."

"Sure thing, Lil. I'll have 'em both ready in a few minutes," Charlie replied.

Lillian smiled and nodded, then turned to face Mrs. Claggert again once he had walked away. The smile was gone in an instant.

"I can order my own lunch," she said, trying to be firm, but not succeeding very well. "As I said before, I eat here all the time and I know everything on the menu."

Mrs. Claggert looked slightly taken aback, but not completely pacified. "Very well," was all she had the chance to say before the front door flew open and the newsies began pouring in.

Racetrack headed up the group, loudly recounting his win at the track that morning.

"I couldn't believe it!" he exclaimed. "Fifteen bucks! Dat's more'n I usually make in three months!"

"Yeah, but usually ya lose more'n dat in three months too."

"I'm in such a good mood dat I'm gonna ignore dat comment, Cowboy," Race shot back, pausing only briefly to glare back at a grinning Jack. When he turned around again, he saw Lillian, but didn't notice that she had someone else with her.

"Heya Lil!" he exclaimed. Her name had been shortened to that single syllable by nearly all of the newsies (and a few waiters). Mush still preferred Lily, however.

"Hi Race," she said, much to the surprise of Mrs. Claggert, who seemed to be a bit overwhelmed by the sudden noise and racket the newsies had brought with them. She had known Lillian's new friends were newsboys, but she had never expected this.

Race took Lillian's hands, pulling her to her feet, and they began to waltz across the restaurant, Race stumbling over both his own feet and Lillian's until they, and all the other newsies, were nearly in hysterics. After a moment, Mush came to Lillian's rescue and 'cut in' on her and Race.

"May I 'ave dis dance?" he asked with a bow, though his accent, tacked on the formal sentence, was amusing.

Lillian tried to refrain from giggling, but couldn't help her bright smile. "You certainly may," she said and they began to dance, better than Race and she had, though not by much.

That dance ended as Lillian bumped against her own chair and Mrs. Claggert stood swiftly, as though to save her from certain death.

Mush and all the other newsies looked startled---and Mush released Lillian---as a woman with whom they were unfamiliar, seized Lillian's arm to steady her.

Lillian's laughter and smile died as her cheeks grew hot. "I'm fine, Mrs. Claggert," she said, for she had already steadied herself.

"I don't call falling over a chair being 'fine'," Mrs. Claggert reproached. She looked towards Mush, disapprovingly. "You should be more careful," she said sharply. "Don't you know that she can't see where she's being led?"

"Yes ma'am," he said quickly. He had been slightly stunned, but now felt guilty. "Are ya really okay, Lily?" he asked worridly, helping her down onto her chair and pulling one for himself over beside her's. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Lillian said, her voice sounding the slightest bit wavery. "Don't worry, Mush, I hardly even bumped it."

Slowly he sat back, still watching her and Mrs. Claggert warily. "All right," he said after a long moment.

All of the other newsies suddenly realized they were staring and found their way to chairs, silently.

After a deep breath, Lillian had calmed her voice and she introduced Mrs. Claggert to everyone. They all greeted her polietly, but were not nearly as rambuncious during the meal as they usually were. Lillian knew that Mrs. Claggert's outburst had made them all uncomfortable and she was deeply embarassed because of it. Yet this woman was the only reason she hadn't been left somewhere to die or grow up in an orphanage as an outcast. Mrs. Claggert had taught her Braille, both how to read and write with it. She had gone to school and learned to do things for herself and Lillian knew that she could never hurt her. New York WAS a bit frightening for someone who had never before been there and Lillian reasoned that Mrs. Claggert was only nervous due to the strange city.

**************

It soon became apparent to everyone, though, that Mrs. Claggert fully intended to return to the school---Lillian along with her.

Before coming to New York, Lillian had never made many of her own decisions. Much of what she did was decided for her by someone else, oftentimes Mrs. Claggert. Until she found her freedom, Lillian didn't realize what else was out there for her. Now that her former teacher was in town, however, Lillian began to retreat more and more into what she had been before. Mush noticed, but was only puzzled, having not met her when she was still in school. When they would take walks or go to dinner, she seemed ask his opinion on everything under the sun, even things he would know nothing about in the first place or things that were really for her to decide. When he questioned her about it, though, she truly didn't understand what he was talking about. She hadn't noticed the change in herself.

As each day passed, Mrs. Claggert continued to impress her own ideas and opinions onto Lillian and slowly, Lillian began to accept them.

**************

Mush and Lillian were walking in Central Park one afternoon, as the sun was beginning to set and when everything held a golden glow. They stopped at a shaded bench and took seats, Mush's arm going around Lillian's shoulders automatically. This time, though, she shrugged it off and shifted slightly away on the bench.

"What's wrong Lily?" he asked, worried as she wasn't even trying to turn her face towards his.

She closed her eyes briefly as she shook her head. "It's nothing---no, it IS something, I---it's only that I don't know how to say it to you, Mush," she finally said, still not turning towards him.

"What is it? Ya can tell me anything, Lily," he reassured, moving closer to her, though he didn't try to put his arm around her again.

"I-I don't think it's a good idea---the two of us, I mean," she began, then her voice choked her. As she cleared her throat, Mush stared at her in disbelief. Where was this coming from?

"Lily, ya aren't thinkin'---what are ya---think 'bout what you're sayin'!" he exclaimed, stunned. He was also vaguely aware of the fact that his heart felt as though someone had just stabbed a dull knife into it.

"I have been!" she replied, just as loudly as he had. "I haven't been able to think of anything else! You'd be better off---everyone would be...I'm going back to the school, Mush," she finished, rushed.

"Ya mean Mrs. Claggert's makin' ya go back an'---"

"No," she said firmly. "She isn't making me go anywhere. She's just pointed out some very good reasons why I shouldn't stay here with---with you."

"What reasons?" he asked, sitting back in defeat and closing his eyes. He couldn't stand to look at her and watch her as she told him. He couldn't stand to see her as he felt his heart breaking. He didn't want to listen either, but he made himself do that, at least.

"I don't think I'm ready for such a big place as this, no matter who I have with me," she started. "I'm used to being in a small town, very protected and out of the way and I just don't know what to do with myself here. And I could help teach the children---the ones who are like I used to be. Then there's my future...we're too different." She said this with difficulty and although Mush heard it, it didn't make it any easier to bear. "We're from two completely different worlds and I can't see how yours works to know how to even begin to fit in."

"Is dat all?"

She paused for a long time. "Yes," she answered. "There are hundreds more, but I can't even begin to sort them all out now. I'm sorry."

"Are ya?" he asked, then didn't give her a chance to reply. He stood quickly and took her hand, only glad that she couldn't see as he blinked back water that he refused to acknowledge as tears. "C'mon, I'll take ya back ta Medda's."

"I'm at the hotel with Mrs. Claggert," she replied. "We moved my things this morning."

That halted him another minute, then he recovered. "Fine," he said, trying to be as cold and indifferent as possible. "Fine, I'll take ya ta the hotel. I wouldn't want ya ta hafta stay wid me any longer than necessary."

She accepted his hand, but made hers as limp as possible. She knew that what she was doing was for his own good, even if he didn't see it now---he would later. He would when he met someone else. Someone with sight who could share with him everything that she couldn't. Someone who would be able to see her wedding dress and decorate her own apartment and see her children...children with Mush's kindness and sensitivity and his---Lillian choked back a sob, only hoping that Mush hadn't noticed. She knew that it was for the best, but she also knew that she'd never get over wanting those children for her own.

**************

After leaving Lillian in the hotel lobby, without even a goodbye, Mush wandered for hours. He returned to the Lodging House well past eleven and found everyone worried about him. He seemed not to hear any of the comments, though, and went directly upstairs to the bunkroom, undressing down to his long underwear, then climbing into bed. Everyone left him alone except for Kloppman, who knew all of the newsies only as the sons he never had. Then he heard a very shortened version of the story, wisely chose not to say anything, and left Mush alone. He told all of the other newsies an even more condensed version and they all went to bed soon after, saying nothing to Mush. They knew that he just wanted time to alone, to think.

Long after they were asleep, however, he was still awake, staring out of the window over his bunk, silently asking the stars why Lillian had done this. Had he done something wrong? Yet he didn't know what it could have possibly been. No matter what he felt, though, he wanted whatever made Lillian happiest and if returning to the school did that for her, then she should go. He would stay away from her and make the departure all the easier. This was the only thought that sustained him the next three days.

**************

Lillian entered the Lodging House quietly and cautiously, wishing that she had a notion of who was in the room.

"Lil?"

She turned towards Snoddy's voice and tried to smile.

"Is Mush here?" she asked meekly.

"Sure, he's upstairs, but I don't know if he's gonna wanna see ya," Jack warned gently.

"Please," Lillian pleaded, tears already filling her eyes. "Mrs. Claggert doesn't yet know I'm gone."

"C'mon," Race said, taking her arm. "He may SAY he doesn't wanna see ya, but we all see through dat. He wants ta see ya more'n anything."

Lillian gave him a quick hug. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked.

"Sure," he said, leading her up the stairs. "We all know how miserable he's been."

"I never wanted to hurt him," she said. "Please believe me, I would never hurt him. I love him."

"Don't worry," he said. "We already knew dat. So does he."

Lillian nodded and they entered the bunkroom.

"He's sittin' over dere on his bunk," Race whispered. Then he turned her in the right direction. "Hey Mush, somebody wants ta talk wid ya," he said, to the back of Mush's head.

"I don't really wanna see anybody, Race," he replied, dully, and Lillian closed her eyes briefly to keep her tears in. She had hurt him much more than she had realized before.

"Mush, please hear me out," she said in a very small voice.

"Lily?!" She heard him turn and look towards her.

Race gave Lillian a gently nudge in the right direction and she walked slowly before Mush took her hand, leading her the rest of the way. Then she sat beside him and she heard Race leave, closing the door behind him.

"I can't believe Mrs. Claggert let ya come," Mush said, interrupting the silence.

He still held her hand, but had not dared to hold her in any other way. When she left, it would only cause the pain to flare up again. And it would be so much worse this time, he already knew.

"She doesn't know yet that I've gone," Lillian confessed. "When she does, she'll know just where to find me, though."

"Why'd ya come?" he asked. "I thought---ya said a couple of days ago dat it was all said an' dat dere wasn't anything else ta say."

"I was wrong that day," she said. "I've been wrong all along."

His breath caught. "What are ya sayin', Lily?" he asked, as normally as was possible.

"I'm saying that I'm not leaving," she stated firmly.

"But what---what 'bout ev'rything Mrs. Claggert was sayin'?" he asked. "She made a couple of good points an'---"

"Hush!" Lillian cut in. He hushed. "Why do I need the school anymore? What more can they teach me? I already have everything I could ever need---or want! I have a job, friends, and---" She lowered her voice slightly. "---and I have you."

She reached out her hand and ran her fingers across his cheek. Mush caught her hand and kissed her palm.

"Ya sure ya wanna stay?" he asked, pausing all movement.

Lillian nodded. "Positive."

"Oh Lily." His voice was no more than a choked whisper as he pulled her closer and hugged her tightly. She was nearly suffocating, but at that moment, there was no where else she wanted to be. He kissed her deeply, then hugged her close again. Lillian closed her eyes and brought her feet up onto the bed as well, laying her cheek against his chest as he smoothed her windblown hair.

Then she felt Mush tense just before she heard Mrs. Claggert's shocked tone. "Lillian Crane! What on earth do you think you're doing?"

Lillian pulled away from Mush quickly and sat back up, but kept her hand in his. Mush hurried to sit up as well, and looked back and forth between teacher and former student. "Staying in New York," she said. "That, Mrs. Claggert, is exactly what I'm doing."

"Have you lost your mind, Lillian? Dear, surely you realize how dangerous it might be for you in this city!"

"Mrs. Claggert, I will be forever grateful to you," Lillian said gently, "but I have everything that I want HERE! In New York! I have a job, friends and---" she broke off swiftly, not sure how to explain Mush to Mrs. Claggert.

"An' somebody who loves 'er more'n anything," he cut in, supplying the words for her.

Lillian blushed, but nodded. "And that," she added softly, forgetting Mrs. Claggert for an instant or two as Much tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Lillian, be reasonable!" Mrs. Claggert pleaded and Lillian lifted her head again. "Your job is in a dance hall and your friends are all either newsboys or waiters. You're an educated lady and you deserve to be associated with a higher class!"

Lillian felt Mush's hand tense around hers and her own blood was near to boiling. "A higher class where I can be pitied for my lack of sight?" she asked the older woman. "Where I can sit inside the entire day, as thought I'd melt if I stepped into the sunlight?"

"Lillian, that isn't what I meant---"

"But it IS!" Lillian interjected. "That's exactly what you meant! The school taught me a great many things that I am grateful for, but I've learned more in the past few months than I've learned in the past fifteen years---and all of them are things I've learned about myself!"

Lillian had stood, moving away from Mush as she said this.

"Lillian please!" Mrs. Claggert reached out, but the instant her hand touched Lillian's arm, Lillian jerked away.

"No! Stop it!" she cried, then bolted for the door.

Mush started after her and had just reached the door when a piercing scream echoed from down the hall. Then he raced out, Mrs. Claggert close on his heels.

Dread halted Mush at the top of the stairs. Below, having fallen and then rolled the rest of the way down, was Lillian, sprawled on the floor, unmoving, her eyes shut.

By the time Mush's feet decided to propell him down the stairs, the newsies had already begun to gather around her. He pushed his way through and knelt at her side, cradling her head in one hand and holding her limp hand with the other. Mrs. Claggert could only stand at the top of the stairs, shocked beyond any movement.

Kloppman knelt on Lillian's other side, checking vital signs. Everyone watched anxiously, but Mush watched petrified. He felt quite responsible for her fall.

"I think she's only bumped 'er head," Kloppman said at last. "Why don't ya take 'er upstairs an' lay 'er on one of the bunks?"

Mush hesitated, then decided that Kloppman would never ask him to do anything that could possibly hurt Lillian more and also that he probably knew what he was instructing. Mush scooped Lillian up, nearly effortlessly, and carried her up the narrow staircase to the bunkroom, where he lay her gently down on his bunk.

Mrs. Claggert had watched the proceedings silently until now. As everyone else, with the exception of Kloppman, filed into the room after Mush, taking their seats around the room, but keeping their eyes on their 'Lil', Mrs. Claggert suddenly moved.

"Someone needs to call a physician!" she cried.

Kloppman entered behind her, holding a large bowl of cool water and a clean washrag.

"Not yet," he corrected and Mrs. Claggert whirled around to face him, furious.

"Who are you to know what Lillian needs?" she asked angrily. "Are you a doctor?"

"No," Kloppman said calmly. Everyone else watched the exchange, interested. They were more than ready to see someone finally give Mrs. Claggert what was coming to her. "No," he repeated, "but I 'ave been takin' care of this lodgin' house an' the boys in it for more'n forty years. Do ya think people 'aven't fallen down those stairs before?"

"But Lillian's---"

"Lillian isn't any different than anyone else," Kloppman interrupted. "In fact, I 'appen ta think she's a lot stronger than most people. I'd argue wid ya more, but Lillian needs ta be taken care of."

Leaving Mrs. Claggert with her jaw dropped, he crossed over to where Mush sat, on the edge of his bed, holding Lillian's hand. He handed Mush the bowl and the rag and instructed him to lay the soaked rag on her forehead. Mrs. Claggert recovered and sat down hard in a chair beside the doorway, her mouth set in a thin, angry line.

For ten minutes, Mush continued to apply the soaked, cool rags to Lillian's forehead, watching anxiously for any signs that she was awakening. While he did this, Kloppman felt through Lillian's hair, searching for the bump she had received from the banister. He found it, but as his fingers touched the bruise, Lillian winced, her brow creasing deeply.

"Lily?" Mush asked, leaning forward a bit and setting aside the rag. "Lily, are ya awake?"

Her eyelids fluttered once, then twice before they opened. Mush reached out his hand and brushed her damp hair back from her forehead. "Hey Lily, how ya feelin'?" he asked.

Lillian didn't reply, though, and her eyes grew enormous. She reached out one hand and reached directly for Mush's arm.

"Oh my God," she whispered.

By now everyone's attention had been once again turned toward her.

"What is it?" Mush asked, worridly.

For several long seconds, she did not respond. Then, "I---I can see you!"

The silence erupted into comments, questions, and exclamations. Mush quieted them all, however, before turning to Lillian again.

"Ya can really see me?" he asked, wary, but desperately hoping she would reply to the affirmative.

"I---I can see shadows," she replied, "and---and light, but that's all. I can't see specifics, nothing's clear...it's all fuzzy, but..."

"'Ave ya ever been able ta see shadows an' light?" Mush asked.

Lillian shook her head. "No, not since I was three, at least."

She started to sit up, but Kloppman stopped her. "Jus' lay back, Lil. Rest, okay?"

Lillian nodded and did as she was told. Kloppman turned to an astonished Mrs. Claggert.

"NOW it's time to call a doctor," he said.

**************

As Mush watched, the doctor examined Lillian's eyes with mirrors and other instruments Mush couldn't even begin to identify. He held her hand tightly to give as much support as possible, but she seemed to be completely calm. He rationalized after a few minutes that she was probably used to all of the different procedures, and he relaxed. Slightly.

After nearly thirty minutes, the doctor returned all of his equipment to his black bag and latched it.

"Well, Miss Crane," he began. "If I were to assume, I'd assume that the cause of your blindness was due to a bump on the head, like this one. Am I correct?"

"Yes," Lillian said, nodding. "I fell off of a shed in the back yard when I was three."

"At the time, did anyone tell you or your parents that if that process were repeated, you might regain your sight?"

"I don't know. My parents sent me to a blind school and I haven't heard from them since," she said, "but someone at the school once told me that. I had forgotton."

"Well, it's too soon to be positive, but I believe that this fall may have triggered your eyesight."

Lillian bit her lower lip in hopeful anticipation and the doctor was quick to speak again. "Now, Miss Crane, while you can see light and shadows that you were unable to see before, it doesn't mean that it will continue to improve and it doesn't mean that it won't get worse. Please understand that," he said.

Lillian took a calming breath, letting it out slowly. "I'll try, but I'll always continue to hope."

The doctor smiled kindly and patted her arm. "Yes. Continue to hope," he said as he stood to leave. "Who knows? It might help."

**************

Apparently hoping had its benefits. After hoping for two days, with no sign of improvement, Lillian was still optimistic.

"Just because nothing has happened yet, doesn't mean that it won't," she was heard saying, quite stubbornly.

Mrs. Claggert, in the meantime, was still at a hotel in Manhattan, waiting along with everyone else for any change in Lillian.

Lillian awoke the third morning to the light she expected to see, but as her sleep fell away, she saw first her hair on the pillow and as she raised her gaze she saw the outlines of bunks, then the bunks themselves...clear as anything. Not able to speak, Lillian swung her legs over the side of the bunk, sitting there, stunned. One of the newsies came into the room, whistling an aimless tune, and she looked towards him.

"Hey Lil, how ya doin' dis mornin'?" he asked, not really even looking at her as he asked the question. He was too busy rummaging around for his vest.

That voice! She knew it immediately, but it took her a moment to answer. She had guessed at what he might look like, but still---seeing him was an entirely different story.

"Racetrack?" she asked uncertainly.

Race paused and looked over his shoulder at her, puzzled. "Yeah," he replied. "Ya need somethin'?"

"Oh my God..." Lillian said slowly, her eyes still wide. Concerned, Race stepped over to her bunk.

"Ya sure you're okay, Lil?" he asked.

She started to reach out, then pulled her hand back, covering her heart with it. "I-it's not just shadows anymore," she whispered. "I can see you perfectly!"

He quickly took her by her shoulders. "Really? You're positive?"

Finally Lillian laughed shakily. "Yes!" she answered. "I---I---" But she couldn't find the words. That and the fact that Race didn't give her a chance. He took off for the washroom.

"Mush! Hey Mush! Lil ain't jus' seein' shadows anymore!" he shouted. "She's seein' ev'rything!"

It took about five seconds for Mush to be at her side. "Can ya really see ev'rything Lily?"

She nodded, unable to take her gaze away from his face. Race stepped out into the hall, closing the door behind him, leaving Mush and Lillian alone.

Lillian reached out and ran her fingers over his cheek as he knelt in front of her. "I tried to imagine what you looked like," she said softly, "and I thought I was close, but...it's so different to actually see you!"

"I've wanted ya to," he said. "It wasn't fair for me ta see you, but for you ta not be able ta see me."

Lillian nodded, still unable to take her eyes from his face as her gaze studied every part of it.

"I love you," she finally said softly and was delighted to see Mush grin. And there seemed to be more feeling in his reply now that she could SEE the words, 'I love ya too', instead of just hearing them.

"There's still something I have to do," she said. "This wasn't the last length of the race, even though it was the longest one."

"What's dat?" he asked, a little confused.

"Tell Mrs. Claggert thank you," Lillian replied. Then she slowly smiled. "And send her packing," she added.

"Can I do somethin' first?" Mush asked, smiling back.

"What?"

He didn't answer, but kissed her gently. When he broke away, he tucked her hair behind her ear. "Get dressed an' I'll take ya ta the hotel. I might even give ya a tour of Manhattan on the way."

Lillian's face broke into a smile again and she nodded, kissing him again, though quickly this time. "You'll tell me about it again?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "But this time ya can do your own descriptions."

*************

Mrs. Claggert was glad for Lillian's health's sake, but still disappointed that Lillian was going to remain in New York. She tried her best to convince her to return to the school and teach, but Lillian stayed firm in her resolution to stay.

"I'll visit," she said. "And maybe someday I'll teach, but now I have my life to live and I fully intend to do that."

Mrs. Claggert sighed, clearly disappointed. But she said nothing further excepting the goodbye she gave Lillian and even Mush at the train station.

As Mush and Lillian stood on the platform, watching the train disappear, Lillian leaned her head on his arm and he hugged her close.

"Ya okay?" he asked and she nodded.

"She has just been my life until now," she replied. "What do I do from here?"

"Love me?" he teased and she poked him in the side.

"I meant besides that."

Mush took his time in answering. "Then how 'bout marryin' me?"

Lillian pulled away and whirled to face him, shocked. Before she could recover enough to speak, he quickly explained.

"Not for awhile yet, jus' someday. I was gonna ask ya a long time ago, but I didn't want ya ta think I was askin' jus' ta keep ya from goin' back ta the school," he said hurridly.

Finally she came round, but still stared. "I wish you HAD asked a long time ago," she said. "I would've said yes no matter why you had asked it."

"So ya will?"

She nodded, then hugged him tightly, mostly to hide her flushed face. "Whenever you want," she answered.

"Not long," he said. "Jus' long enough for me ta convince myself dat I can really leave all dis freedom behind."

She looked up to see that he was teasing her again and she tried to look unamused, failing. "Just hush and kiss me," she finally said. Those were orders he was happy to accommodate.

*************

It was several days after Lillian had 'sent Mrs. Claggert packing', and she and Mush were alone in the Lodging House. They had elected not to go to Tibby's with the other newsies and had been watching the rain from the window above the bunk they were sitting on as they talked. Now talking had been abandoned in favor of kissing.

"Uh...Lily?" Mush asked, pulling reluctantly away.

"Yes?" she asked, opening her eyes and looking up at him.

"Is it jus' me or are we gettin' rained on?"

Lillian's eyes opened a little wider and she looked out of the window to where it was raining softly, but steadily. Rain came in through the open window as well, seeping into their clothes as well as the sheets of the bunk they were sitting on. Lillian grinned at him.

"I didn't even notice," she admitted with a laugh as she blushed slightly.

Mush grinned back. "Neither did I."

He reached up and started to close it, but Lillian stopped him.

"What?" he asked, puzzled.

"I've never seen the rain before," she said quietly and seriously, though a hint of another smile played at the corners of her lips.

Before he could reply to that, she had scampered out of the window and was heading down the fire escape.

"Lily!" he exclaimed, climbing down after her. "What are ya doin'?" He wondered if she had gone insane.

"Seeing the rain!" she answered, hitting the sidewalk only a moment before him. He stood there, getting soaked to the bone, and watching as she whirled around in the middle of the street. It was empy---the rain had driven everyone inside---and her delighted laughter echoed off of the sides of the tall buildings, ringing in the narrow alleys. Her skirt, now as soaked as the rest of her, spun out for only a second before tangling around her legs, and she tilted her face up to meet the rain, catching drops in her mouth as she laughed.

As he watched her, the feeling that she was crazy slowly left him. Realization hit him like a jolt and once it had soaken in along with the rain, he stepped out, catching her in mid-spin and halting her surprised words with a deep kiss. He knew that for anyone looking out of their windows, he and Lillian must look like the biggest fools in Manhattan, but at that moment he didn't care. He had realized so many things about the differences in people ever since he had met her, but the simple realization he had had a moment before was the most revolutionary of all. He had never seen the rain before---he had never seen life either.....not like this.