Chapter 5: Fun…laughs…good time

Now that Jack and Red were back together, everything was once again normal. Well Newsies normal. Jack kept his promise and talked to Medda about allowing Red to sing with her. She was all for it. Medda and Red worked together for weeks discussing what song they were going to do and the whole dance routine. Medda had matching costumes ordered… the whole bit. Red was ecstatic. She was actually going to be on stage, in front of a live audience. Tonight was Opening Night for the big show. All of the Newsies, not to mention half the town was going to be there.

“Ooh I am so nervous.” Red said reapplying her lipstick for the second time.

“Don’t be noirvous, Red. You’ll be great.” Jack assured her. He leaned forward and kissed her lips, gently.

“Would you stop doing that? You’re going to rub my lipstick off again.” Red said laughing. Her red hair was loosely piled on her head and secured with a silver barrette. Red curls hung down in various places.

“You nervous?” Medda asked walking over to her. Her hair was done up in the same way as Red’s as well as her costume. They wore a slim body conscious column of silver satin that fell gracefully over the body. It was sleeveless and flared from the waist to the floor. Over the gown was a long jacket of blue Chiffon that was customized with 3 pearly buttons, with sleeves that flared out over the hands.

“No. Not at all.” Red replied. “Well maybe just a little.” She let out a sigh. “Yes. I mean what if I mess up? What if I break my leg and fall off the stage?” Medda laughed.

“You’re not going to do any of that. Everything will work out exactly the way we planned it. I only want you to remember one thing.”

“What is that?”

“Have fun.” She smiled and looked at Jack. “It’s almost show time, Kelly you better get out there.”

“I’m going. Wouldn’t wanna miss my two favorite goirls.” He smiled and left the backstage area.

“It’s time.” Medda told Red as the announcer took his place on stage. Medda and Red stood behind the curtain on stage and got into position.

“I’d like to thank you all for coming here tonight! Have I got a show for you! Here they are folks, Miss Medda Larkson and a pretty young lady who goes by the name of Red!” The crowd began to cheer as the announcer left the stage and the curtain was lifted up to reveal Medda and Red with their backs to the audience. Some real jazzy music began to play and they elegantly turned to face the audience doing a somewhat seductive dance that continued throughout the performance. Medda began to sing…

“The minute you walked in the joint…I could tell you were a man of distinction….”

“A real big spender…” Red joined in.

“Good lookin.”

“ So refined…”

“Say wouldn’t you like to know what’s going on in my mind?” They sang in unison.

“So let me get right to the point. I don’t pop my cork for every guy I see….” Red said pointing to the audience.

“Hey big spender! Spend…a little time with me.”

There was a brief pause as they danced to the music.

“Would ya like to have fun…” Medda asked.

“Fun?” Red said looking at her.

“Fun.” Medda nodded.

“How’s about a few laughs?” Red smiled.

“I can show you a…good time”

“Let me show you a…good time…”

Another brief pause before Medda began again.

“The minute you walked in the joint. I could tell you were a man of distinction. A real big spender.”

“ Good lookin.”

“So refined.”

“Say wouldn’t you like to know what’s going on in my mind?” They asked. The crowd whistled.

“So let me get right the point. I don’t pop my cork for every guy I see.” Medda sang.

“Hey Big spender! Hey big spender! Hey big spender…. spend…a little time with me.” They both sang enticingly.

“Fun…laughs…good time.”

“ Fun…laughs…good time.”

“Fun…laughs…good time.” They put their hands on their hips and stood back to back. The crowd went wild. Medda and Red joined hands and bowed, grinning from ear to ear as the curtain went down in front of them.

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After that night on stage with Medda, Red did a few more shows with her, but soon got over her desire to become an actress. Not because she didn’t enjoy, it just that she got tired of it. She wanted to try it and now that she had, it no longer appealed to her. Though, it was fun being known for something other then, just being Jack Kelly’s girl.

No matter what she did or how much fun she had, her thoughts still remained on Felicity, her best friend. She wondered what was going on in Felicity’s life. When she first settled down in New York, she wrote Felicity a letter, telling her of her current situation. She received a letter in return and they continued sending letters through mail. Felicity had taking a liking to a new boy in school. His name was William. She too fascinated him and they began to court. Felicity’s father was the sheriff in town. Not long ago, there was a ruckus in town. Some outlaws, Felicity said. Her father was wounded, but not badly. He was a brave fellow, which is why the town elected him sheriff. Her mother had just had a miscarriage and was grieving for the child she had never seen. That saddened not only the whole family but also the whole town. Sunny Dale was a friendly place where everyone was kind to everyone. Not like New York, where everyone had to fend for themselves. That was the last she had heard from Felicity. The letters stopped coming. At first Red wasn’t worried. Felicity was a busy body. She always took on many activities at once, she was perhaps to busy to write. But, recently Red began to grow concerned. Felicity wouldn’t have gone this long without contacting her unless something was wrong. Red shook the thoughts out of her head.

“Why must I think the worse?” She asked herself. “Maybe she replied, but her letter was lost in the mail.” She convinced herself that was the reason and set down on her bed to write Felicity a letter.

Midway through the letter Red was interrupted by Jack. The Newsies had gone to Brooklyn that day for a so-called important meeting, which usually meant they were going to plan the dates and locations of their next poker game. However Jack had returned, much earlier then the rest.

“Jack, you’re back early.” Red said placing the letter under her pillow. “Where is every-” She was cut off. Without saying a word, Jack joined her on the bed and began to kiss her. At first it was gentle but then became more forceful. He gently lay her on the bed, positioning his body on hers and continued to kiss her tenderly. Red made no move to stop him and they both got carried away in the moment.

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Chapter 6: A Surprise Visitor

Weeks passed and the Newsies went on as usual. Jack and Red grew closer together and she finally learned to tolerate Sarah. About 2 days ago Les celebrated his eleventh birthday. Among the gifts that were given was an old black cowboy hat that was similar to Jacks. Les was thrilled, he put it on that day and hasn’t taken it off since.

Everyone had finished selling for the day and now filled up the booths at Tibby’s. Racetrack was going on and on about all the money he had collected during the week. He had taken Red’s advice. She told him to save the profit he makes daily and he’ll have more to bet with by the end of the week. He acted as if he never saw that much money before. Of coarse he was a Newsie, so he probably hadn’t. Mush was chattering about some girl he met the night before and Boots was telling Red about the month he spent in Brooklyn one night. In the middle of Boot’s story a Newsie from Queens walked in and approached Red. As soon as Boots saw him he tapped Blink who in turn tapped Mush. The guy’s stood up around her and gave him an evil look.

“I have a message for Red.” The Newsie said softly. The guy’s backed down.

“Me? What kind of message?” Red asked curiously.

“We tink some goirl is lookin for you. She says a friend of hers moved out here and gave us your description.”

“Did she give ya her name?”

“No.” The Newsie said. Red nodded.

“Thank you.” The Newsie nodded and left the restaurant.

“Do ya know who da goirl is?” Jack asked.

“I’m not sure.” Red said trying to figure out who would be looking for her.

“Whoever it is, must really need to see ya if dey came all da way out here.” Skittery said.

“What do you mean?” Red asked. “All the way here?”

“Well I’s figured since dey said da goirl’s friend moved out here, then it must be a friend of yours from Virginia.”

“Skittery, you are a lot smarter than everyone gives you credit for.” Red said smiling.

“Thank you.” He smiled a dumb smile. “I think.”

“Come on let’s get back to the Lodging House.” Red told everyone. They all agreed and went on home.

Since it was Friday night, all the Newsies got together, including Spot for a good clean poker game. Red stood around and watched as the guys won and lost their money. She never played poker. Not because she didn’t like it, but because she didn’t know how—and she didn’t care to.

Jack threw his cards down on the table in frustration. He hadn’t won a game all night. Red smiled and walked over to him, tracing the back of his neck with her fingernail. Jack shuttered.

“Hey, I lost too. Could I get a little comforting?” Mush asked, grinning. Red laughed as Jack playfully threw some poker chips at Mush. Mush was about to throw them back when someone was heard coming up the stairs. Everyone turned and watched as Kloppman made his way into the room.

“Hey Klopp! You here to lose some of that money of yours?” Racetrack asked lighting his cigar. Kloppman ignored him and went straight to Red.

“There is a young lady downstairs, who insists she knows you. She wont leave until she sees you.” Red nodded and followed Kloppman out of the room and down the stairs. The others started to follow but Jack stopped them.

“It’s not your business, fellas.” He said quickly.

As soon as she entered the downstairs area she saw a girl with long blond hair, pulled back into two braids that hang loosely over her shoulders. Her face was tearstained and red from crying. She wore a long rose colored dress that was ripped at various places and covered in dirt. Her right cheek was a bluish purple, because of a bruise that was forming. Red gasped at the sight.

“Felicity?” She whispered. The girl ran to her and embraced her, holding her tightly.

“I knew it! I knew it had to be you! I knew it!” She kept saying over and over. Red pushed her away gently.

“What happened? What are you doing here?” Felicity began to cry as she told the reason for her visit. The outlaws had come back—this time with reinforcements. She was lucky she got out of the town alive.

“Momma, Poppa, everyone was killed. I was there, I saw them kill my father in cold blood, then…” Her eyes grew cold. “They raped my mother…they made me watch and then they killed her!” She started to cry.

“Oh God, Felicity.” Red said holding her. “How did you get away?”

“I kicked and clawed away from them and ran. I ran until I couldn’t run anymore. Then I stowed away on a train leading to Manhattan. You were the only one I had left, Des. I had to come find you.”

“Des?” Racetrack said coming down the stairs followed by the rest. Felicity looked at Red and then back at him.

“Well you found me.” She smiled. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” Felicity nodded and they walked up the stairs.