Chapter 7

	We arrived at Medda’s the place was litteraly crawling with boys. The were everywhere.
	Blink led me farther inside. He led me to a table that he had reserved for us. The table
was near the stage.
	“I reserved it for us I hope you like where  I put us.” he said with his usual sweet smile. He
then pulled out a chair for me and I sat down. “You want something to drink?” he aked still
standing.
	“No,  I’m fine.” I said and so he sat down.
	We talked  for awhile about everything from our lives before being newsies to the
weather.
	“Do you wanna dance?’ I asked hoping very much for a yes.
	“Sure, I’d love to!” he said standing up and holding out his hand. I put my hand in his and
he led me out to the dance floor.
	Just then a slow song came on and he put his arms around my waist. Then I draped my
arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulders. This had to be one of the best
moments in my life. I closed my eyes, took a breathe and just took it all in. I wanted to savor ever
minute.
	Then I opened my eyes to see Dutchy looking at us from his table on the edge of the
dance floor. He looked like he was going to cry. The happy feeling I had just had sank along with
my heart.
	After awhile we went back to our table.  Then Jack, Davey, Spot, along with newsie leaders
from all over New York got on stage. They talked about the strile a little and then the music
came back on and the party resumed.
	Dutchy came over to my table. “Teal,  I need to talk to you, so would come and dance with
me?”
	I glanced over to see if he cared, and he didn’t. “Sure.” I said as I stood up  and took his
hand.
	It was another slow song but I didn’t dance quite as close with Dutchy as I did with Blink.
	“I am sorry about the other day, I don’t want to lose you as a friend” he said right away.
	“Really!” I said not even trying to hide my excitment, “You wanna be friends again?!”
	“Yeah, I really miss talking to you and besides I could never say no to you. So will you be
friends with me?”
	“Yes, I would love to be your friend,” I said almost ready to cry, from being so happy.
	“Don’t worry I am not mad at you anymore, or not as mad as I was. I understand why you
did it, I shouldn’t wreck that for you. I was selfish, so I am REALLY SORRY!” Dutchy said sounding
way to mature for Dutchy.
	“I accept your appology, that was very sweet and mature.” I said as I hugged him. 
	He lead me back to my table where Blink was now sitting with Spot.
	“Hey Teal!” Spot said standing to grab another chair so we could all sit at the table.
	“Thanks, so what have you guys been talking about.” I said as I was sitting down, hoping
that it wasn’t about me.
	“We’ve benn talking about you.” Blink said with his now famous smirk.
	I turned to Spot, “What did you say?”
	“Nothing bad, I just threatened Blink. Cuz if he hurts you I’ll kill ‘em.” Spot said casually.
	“Yeah, and I promised that I would never hurt you.” Blink said in a very serious tone,
which kinda surprised me.
	“Well that’s good, since you dead would not be  a good thing. I mean what would I do with
a dead Blink.” I said jokingly.
	The rest of the night was great. Probably because I relized how very, very, very (you get it
by now i’m sure) much I love Blink!

Chapter 8

	It was getting late and well  most of the guys that were still at the rally were wasted.
	“You wanna get out of here?” Blink asked, by the way he hadn’t had anything to drink all
night.
	“Yeah.” I said as I stood up.
	“Let’s go then.” he said as he also stood up.
	“Wait you guys can’t go yet the party is just getting started!” jack shouted as he
stumbled towards us.
	“Teal wants to go, so we’re leaving!” Blink said sternly.
	Jack then came over to me and put his arm around me. “You don’t wanna leave, do ya
Teal? The party is just starting!” he shouted at me even though he was about 2 inches from my
ear.		
	“Yeah, Jack I’m going to go.” I said as I removed his arm.
	Then Race came over he was also very drunk. Let me try that again he tried to come over
but he couldn’t really walk. I noticed he couldn’t walk when he fell falt on his face.  But he got up
and said, “Let em go we can have fun without them, Jackey Boy!”
	“Your right race.” jack replied.
	“Of course I’m right.” Race said as he put his arm around Jack and led himaway from us.
	Blink and I gave eachother the same confused look as we walked towards the door.
	When we got outside it was really quite cold. And I started to shiver a little. I mean I was
wearing a short sleeved dress.
	“Are you cold?” Blink asked looking concerned.
	“No.......yeah, well a little.” I replied.
	He then took his jacket off and put it over my sholders, “Here maybe this will help.”
	“Thanks,’ I said as Iput my arms in the sleeves.
	He looked at me and made this face that said that he was trying not to laugh.
	“Are you laughing at me?” I asked knowing that he was.
	“No!’ he said now between laughs, as I gave him an evil look.
	“It’s just that you look kinda silly with my jacket and your dress” he said still between
laughs.
	“Well thank you.” I said sarcastically.
	“I’m sorry.” he said not laughing anymore, “Even in that outfit you still look gorgeous” he
said with that smile of his.
	“You added that smile cuz you know I can’t be mad at you when you give me that smile!” I
said.
	He nodded with the grin still on his face, “Yeah, but I really am sorry ‘bout calling you
silly.”
	“Thanks for the apology.”
	We walked in silence for a while until Blink asked “Do you mind if we......um........hold
hands?”
	He was so sweet how could I say no to that, “No, I don’t mind if we hold hands, I’d actually
love it if we would.” I said happily.
	He then took my hand and we talked about a lot of things. He was so easy to talk to, I felt
as if I had known him forever. After a while it was silent because we were almost to the lodging
house. This time I broke the silence, “Blink?”
	“Yeah?”he said sounding a little suprised.
	“I love you.”
	“I love you, too!” he said as he leaned forward and kissed me, those kisses always seem
to get better!
	So we went into the lodging house still hand in hand. we had to be quiet since some
people were already asleep in their bunks.
	I went into the bathroom and got ready for bed. I then went downstair to hang up my
dress. Blink was already for bed when I had went downstairs.
	I came back up to the bunk room. I sat down on my bunk and was going to lie down. Blink
then came over and gave me a kiss and said, “Good night Teal, I love you.”
	A little shocked but galad that it happened, “I love you, too, night.”
	I went right to sleep..........

Chapter 9

	The next morning I awoke to a lot of sleeping guys. Except Blink who had just opened his
eye.
	“Mornin’.” I wispered quietly.
	“Mornin’.” he said as he streched.
	I then got up, “I’m gonna get dresses.”
	“Me too.” he said still sounding sleepy.
	I went into the bathroom got dressed in my usual get up, and brushed my hair. Then I
went back into the bunk room, Blink was already dresses when I went out there.
	He walked towards me , “Wanna go for a walk or somethin’?” he wispered.
	“Sure!” I said as we walked downstairs, he took my hand and led me out the door.
	It was a beautiful mornin’ could already tell that it eas going to be a hot summer day. We
decided to walk around Central Park. We stopped after  a while and just talked and then we
started to kiss!
	“Uhum!” race interuppted.
	Blink and I both looked up at him with evil looks.
	“Sorry but Jack wants to talk to Blink and some other guys. So I was supposed to find you,
and so here I am.” Race said sounding proud.
	“Thanks, for finding us!” Blink said sarcastically.
	“Yeah thanks!” I said with the same amount of sarcasim.
	“I’m sorry, just followin’ orders. Just go to the square.” Race said as he walked away.
	“I suppose we better go.’ Blink said sounding dissapointed.	
	“Yeah, I suppose we should.” I said also disapointed.
	So I took his hand and we walked out of Central Park and to the square. When we got
there I saw Jack, Race, Dave, Mush, Spot, along with a lot more Newsies. They were everywhere.
We wlaked over to meet them. 
	“Hey guys your just in time for some good news, that me and Dave get to tell ya” Jack siad
and I wasn’t sure if he was serious or sarcastic.
	Blink and I looked at eachother shrugged as we turned and face the guys.
	Jack and Dave made some speech about how we have been waiting for Pulitzer to make
his next move and know he has.
	Jack said, “Pulitzer has definatly made his next move, he as issued arrest warrents for
the following people......” Jack said not sounding worried at all.
	Horror swept over my face as well as Blink’s. We were both major parts of the strike , and
we deffinatly didn’t want to go to the refuge.
	Jack continued, “Jack Kelly, Spot Conlin, David Jacobs, Racetrack Higgins, Mush, and Kid
Blink. I just wanted to let you guys know to watch out for the bulls.”
	“Blink?” I asked almost crying, “What are we going to do?” 
	“I don’t know.” He said as he hugged me, “I don’t know.”
	I started to cry as he held me tighter.  We stood there as the newsies started to scatter.
	Jack came over to us, “Don’t worry about this too much. Denton says that they can’t keep
us in jail without some legal reason, so if doesn’t find one we’ll be fine.”
	“What if he does find one!” I said still crying in Blink’s arms.
	“Then we’ll probably only be held for around six months.” Jack said now looking
concerned.
	“Six months! I can’t be without you guys for six months!” I said crying even harder.
	By this time Mush, Race, Dave and Spot had gathered around us. They all started to talk
about what to do about the bulls. Blink just held me as I continued to cry.
	Then I heard Race say, “ The one thing I don’t understand is why they aren’t going to
arrest Teal.”
	“What the HELL are you talking about, you want them to arrest Teal?!” Blink shouted at
Race.
	“No, I didn’t mean it like that.  It’s just that she’s as much in this strike as we are.” race
said quickly.
	“They won’t arrest her, because she’s a girl.” Denton said as he apparently appeared out
of nowhere.
	“What!” We all asked.
	“The refuge isn’t made to take girls, so they won’t arrest her.” Denton continued.
	“The one time I wish I was a girl.” Race said jokingly.
	So we discussed the whole Jail thing for a while as I stopped crying. Until Blink asked me
if I wanted to go for a walk, again.
	We walked and talked for hours before we got back to the lodging house. There was a
brief silence before Blink said “Teal, don’t worry ‘bout this I’m sure that everything will be okay.”
	I hugged him and then we kissed. Next we we went into the Lodging House. Got ready for
bed, said our good nights and laid down.
	That night I thought about what Blink ssaid about everything going to be okay. That made
me feel a little better although deep down I knew that they were all going toi the refuge.
	
Chapter 10

	The next day Blink, Jack, Spot, Race, Dave, Mush and I decided to go to Tibby’s for
breakfast.
	We had just finished eating and were stepping out the door when the bulls grabbed the
guys and pushed me down out of the way. One shouted, “Get out of the way girlie, this doesn’t
concern you!”
	“Leave her alone!” Spot yelled trying to fight a bul.
	The bul that had pushed me down then went over to Spot and punched him as he said,
“Get ‘em in the cart!”
	So they loaded them up and the guys tried to fight but it was no use. I started to cry as
the cart pulled away. I thought about how much I had cried in the last couple of weeks, what was
happening to me, was I getting soft? Next I got up and ran to the Lodging house.
	When I got there I ran right upstairs. The rest guys were of the guys were just getting up
so I yelled, “They all got arrested!” I was still crying.
	Dutchy came over to me and gave me a hug. It made feel a little better, but I was still
crying pretty hard and couldn’t stop so he just stood there and held me.
	So after I stopped crying for the moment Dutchy and I decided to go to Denton’s. We had
to see if he could help us. I hoped to God that he hadn’t found any legal reason for them to be
arrested.
	We walked there and then knocked on his apartment door. He opened the door and the
first thing he said was, “They got arrested.”
	I nodded, “Did you find anything about the legal cause stuff?” I asked hoping that they
could get out of jail.
	“Well, so far I haven’t found any cause for arrest,  but I talked to my lawyer friend and
asked him to come check it out for sure.”
	It made me feel a little better but I still felt lousy and like crying again. “So when is he
coming?’
	“Not ‘til next week.” Denton replied
	“Next week? I don’t think I can last that long.” I said as I started to cry again
	“Sorry but that is the soonest that he can come, I let you know as soon as I know, okay?”
	“Thanks.” I said through my tears. Dutchy put my arm around me as we got up to leave.
	“Teal, I’m sure the guys will get out.” Denton said.
	“I hope so, “ I said still crying. Then we walked out the door and back to the Lodging
house.

Chapter 11

Almost a week later.......
	
	For the last couple of days I just hung around the lodging house and thought about stuff
espeically Blink.
	I was sitting on bunk when Itey came running upstairs, “teal, Denton and some guy are
here to see ya!” he shouted.
	“Really?! Great!” I said literally jumping out of bed, running downstairs and outside.
	“Teal, this is Robert Tunning the lawyer I told you about.” Denton said as soon as he saw
me.
	“Nice to meet ya.” I said as I shook his hand.
	“The pleasure’s mine. iwent over your case a little this morning and I think we can get
them out of this refuge.”
	“Let’s go back to my apartment and work on this case. we gotta get these kids out of
there.” Denton said as we turned to walk back to his place.
	For the rest of the day we went over the entire strike to see if there was any possible
reason why they should have been arrested. We didn’t find any. Well we didn’t find any until we
talked about the fight. But for some reason Mr. Tunning disreguarded that idea. So by that night
we had decided that there was no legal reason why they should’ve been arrested.
	“Tomarrow Denton and I will go down to see the Police Chief and talk to him. If everything
goes right we can get the guys out in a few days.” Tunning said.
	“All right!” isaid very happily.
	“Yeah, tomarrow you won’ have to come with but I’m sure you’ll want to come with when
we go to visit Snyder.” Tunning said to me.
	“Of course.” I said smiling.
	“And one more thing could you wear a dress when we go to see Snyder. I want us to look
really proffesional.” Tunning asked with a hopeful smile.
	“Sure I guess, but just cuz you asked nicely.” I said as I got up to go back to thelodging
house to go to sleep.
	When I got there I told the guys all about the meeting, They were really happ but not
nearly as happy as I was. I got ready for bed and got a good night sleep or at least the best night
sleep I’ve had in a week.
	The next couple of days semmed to go on forever and I was ready to go insane. But
finally one morning Denton stopped by and told me to be ready by 2:00. O fcourse I said I would
be ready.
	At 2:00 Denton and Tunning came to get me. I was wearing a very simple pale pink and
lace trimmed dress.
	“You look lovely.” Denton said as we clibed into the carrige. the carrige knida surprised
me since I usually walk everywhere.
	We pulled up to the refuge and we were stopped by a guard, “May I help you?” the guard
asked.
	“We have a meeting with Warrden Snyder at 2:30.” Tunning said as he poked hi shead
out of the carrige.
	The guard let us in and we got out, went in the door, and were led to Snyder’s office.
	“Warrden Snyder?’ Tunning asked as we entered a room.
	“Yes, you must be Mr. Tunning.” he answered.
	“Yes, and this is Denton and Teal. Let’s get down to business shall we?”
	“Yes, sure.” Snyder siad looking a littl esuprised at how forward Tunning sounded.
	“You have six boys in the refuge that shouldn’t be there. We have already talked to the
Police chief and he agrees with our findings. Here are the papers that explain everything. They
say that they should be released, and as you can see they were signed by the chief down there
at the bottom.”
	Snyder read them for a few minutes and then saud, “Well, everythinh seems to be in
order. Give me their names and we’ll find out what rooms they’re in and they can be realeased.”
	Iwas so happy i must have been glowing, “Blink, Spot, Jack, Mush, Race, and Dave.” I said
right away.
	“Okay, they are in two different rooms, I’ll show you to them, follow me.” Snyder said as he
opened the door.
	We went down a long hall and stpped at a dorr which Snyder unlocked and said, “Dave,
Jack, and Spot are in this room.” As we walked into the room then Snyder yelled, “Could I have
“Jack Kelly, David Jacobs, and Spot Conlin. “ he was reading them off the paper he had brought
with him.
	They guys got up and came over to us. Then Spot asked, “Did you guys come to bust us
out”
	“As a mattera fact we did.” I said as I hugged each of them.
	“Let’s get the other three.” Denton said as we followed Snyder out into and down the
hallway.
	We came to another door which Snyder unlocked. And then I said “Could I just go in and
get them?”
	“Sure, I don’t see why not.” Snyder said as he opened the door.
	I stepped in and looked around until I spotted Mush’s hair. he was with the other two
guys talking. So I walked over there and said, “Hey guys, did ya miss me?”
	They all looked up at me and Race said looking confused, “Teal?’ 
	“Yeah, it’s me!” I said as Blink stood up and embraced me and gave me one of those
sweet kisses of his.
	After the kiss I gave the rest of the guys hugs. I then explained to all of them what was
going on. We then left and thanked Denton and Tunning for everything.
	The gang was back together for now.........