The Music Man

“You’ll make it up to me by leaving the gang and going back to the docks. We can go back to our first flat and pretend that none of this ever happened.” He replied as he grabbed his coat. He moved his body a bit too much and he immediately yelled in pain and anger. “And you better pray that Juni is okay.” He put on his coat slowly, a grunt escaping his lips.

“The last thing we need is you going to the Boarding House and having that blow up too!” He tried to make it to the door but he couldn’t. He just slowly sank to the floor. “Think you could carry me there?”

Rat wanted to point out that there was no going back to the way things were. There never had been, ever since they’d left England for America. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to rub further salt into his friend’s wounds. As Strings slid down onto the floor, Rat’s hands hovered. Did he try to pick him up? Did he just…join him on the floor?

He brushed his palms onto his trousers, and ultimately moved to help Strings back to his feet. Luckily, he was stronger now…but…

Strings grumbled loudly. He was livid that Rat would accept a job with a notorious gang. Of course bad things would happen! Bad things happen to bad people and Rat was with bad people.

“If you haven’t noticed, Rat, I’m not speaking to you. In fact, after I stop speaking to you now, I will continue to not speak to you until I realize what the bloody hell we’re going to do to get you out of this.” He said before grabbing the ring back from him. He was so close to proposing. He was so close to having the woman that infiltrated his dreams and gave him immeasurable joy to be his fiancé. Then the beam fell on him. He was told that Juni tried to pull the beam off of him and that she was in bad shape.

“But before we even do that!” He continued, his voice still hoarse from all the smoke. “I have to write the nurse an apology for being a right git to her and then!” He frowned, but that hurt too much and he was miserable because his eye was itchy and his eyepatch was itchy and everything was starting to itch. “And then, I have to get to the Boarding House and make sure my bird is okay!” He tried to put on his coat but it hurt too much to move. He let out a loud (at least, as loud as he could with a hoarse voice) yell before slumping into the chair.

Like a scolded child, Rat bowed his head, stopping short of kicking invisible pebbles sheepishly. It was his fault–this entire thing, the mess…their lives. He’d almost lost his friends, because of his own stupidity. Because of what he did and who he knew. He could have lost them, but here Strings stood. He was still here.

“I know you’re cross, mate…I deserve it.” Rat mumbled after Strings had stopped his tirade. “I know you’re cross, but I’m still too chuffed you’re up and about and not neck-deep in dirt.” 

He gently picked up Strings’ jacket, and moved to hold it up for him. “I can go to the Boarding House. Pass on letters, if you wanna rest. Stay here and…” Get better, Rat thought. He hated seeing Strings this way.

“You’ve gotta take it easy, mate.” Rat pleaded, himself the worse for wear but far more used to it than Strings likely was. They were both incredibly lucky to be alive still, injured as they were. “You move too fast and you’re gonna open things back up–that’s no treat at all, eh? Lay back again, there’s a lad.”

He hovered, feeling a sick sense of guilt lingering in his belly. His friend could have died. Biddy could have died. This was entirely his fault–well, the bombing wasn’t, but…he’d asked them to go. They should’ve been safe. They should’ve…

“If you haven’t noticed, Rat, I’m not speaking to you. In fact, after I stop speaking to you now, I will continue to not speak to you until I realize what the bloody hell we’re going to do to get you out of this.” He said before grabbing the ring back from him. He was so close to proposing. He was so close to having the woman that infiltrated his dreams and gave him immeasurable joy to be his fiancé. Then the beam fell on him. He was told that Juni tried to pull the beam off of him and that she was in bad shape.

“Maybe you can’t paint yourself, but someone could! Maybe Biddy, or someone Patch knows. He’s got connections now, which is weird because it’s Patch, but everyone loves him.” He said while looking up at the blank space on the wall. “If anything, maybe some flowers somewhere. Add a woman’s touch.” Maybe having a woman’s touch would make the apartment less gang-like and more homey. He wasn’t sure if he could ever call it home, not in the way it was earned or in how it looked. At least the tree looked nice, but that couldn’t be here year round.

“I think if you moved in, it would feel more like home.” His heart started to pound out of his chest as he turned to face her. “Libbit,” He put his hand in pocket. It wasn’t the most expensive ring, but it was something. He reached down to feel for the box. “Juni, I” But there was no box. There was no ring. He could’ve sworn he put it in there. “Juni, I’m really…I’m…” Sweat beaded on his brow and he laughed nervously. “I’m hungry.”

“You b-boys wouldn’t want a g-girl in here ruining your fun.” She joked, though the idea was more than a little appealing. The years they’d known one another, Juni already knew what it felt like to be at home with him. The last step was to make it for themselves, but…well, when the time was right, she supposed. 

It was when Strings looked at her in earnest that her heart began to pick up speed. Was…was he..?

Oh. No, he was…nevermind.

His nerves were contagious, or perhaps she was a little disappointed–well, no, she wasn’t that. She was never disappointed with him. As she’d thought before, the time needed to be right.

Strings wasn’t sure if this place would ever feel like home. It would be much better to have Patch there on a full time basis and even Sticks.

He forgot about Sticks. He wondered how he was doing around the Holidays, being by himself. He may have all his rich friends around, but he wasn’t even sure if he had any friends now that he was back. It almost made him feel sad.

“That’s where you come in, Libbit. We would love for you and Biddy to paint some pieces for us. I think we’d be able to pay you as well.” He took her hand and rushed her over to one of the bigger walls. “A painting right here, above the piano. Maybe a portrait of you with the cats?” It would inspire him to write more, as Juni was his love and his muse. “With Monster chewing on the hem of your dress like he normally does and Martin asleep on your lap.”

“You d-don’t need to pay u-us–” Juni began, but was cut off as he pulled her toward the larger wall, the suddenly enthusiasm drawing a giggle from her. She stared at the blankness of the wall, her head tilting to the side as she considered its potential and all of the possibilities. 

“I c-couldn’t paint myself.” She laughed, the idea absurd to her. While she and Biddy were artists, she preferred painting other people, other places and things. Vanity aside, it felt…odd, to consider encapsulating herself that way for years to come. The cats, however…

She chewed on her lip, thrilled by the prospect of helping to make this place a home for him. Perhaps if they married…

Well. That was something to think about later. 

Strings was shocked when Rat showed him the apartment that they would be living in as well. “I’d like to call it humble. At least, we make it humble.” It wasn’t furnished with expensive items. Strings preferred the space as it offered an amazing sound when the boys played. Their neighbors weren’t too impressed with their music, but Strings made it a point to play some nice lullabies near the end of the day. No one usually pounded on the walls when he did this.

“Merry Christmas, love.” He kissed her forehead before offering his arm. “Shall I give you the grand tour?”

“Oh, y-yes please.” She beamed and slipped her arm through his. “Isn’t e-every day I get a t-tour of such a fine place.” 

And if she glanced behind her at Biddy and Rat and smiled to herself, who was to say?

“I’m just nervous about meeting Rats’ new co-worker. I also burned the figgy pudding.” It wasn’t lying. He was nervous and he did burn the figgy pudding. But he felt strange showing Juni this huge flat that Rat earned through being a punching bag. 

“No use b-being upset over burned p-pudding, hm?” She beamed up at him. “We’ll have a l-lovely time without it, don’t fret.”

She glanced about. The flat was…well, it didn’t have the character and familiarity of the old flat, but part of that was due to the fact that there weren’t holes in the wall, and they had their own washroom that wasn’t shared with neighbors. The worst part, she supposed, was how uncomfortable Strings looked in a place that was meant to be the height of comfort. 

“I-it’s big.” Juni replied after a moment, and chewed on her lip. “B-but you only just m-moved. It t-takes time to make a p-place a home. As long as y-you and Rat and the c-cats are happy, it d-doesn’t matter where you are.” 

He forgot about Sticks. He wondered how he was doing around the Holidays, being by himself. He may have all his rich friends around, but he wasn’t even sure if he had any friends now that he was back. It almost made him feel sad.

Strings was shocked when Rat showed him the apartment that they would be living in as well. “I’d like to call it humble. At least, we make it humble.” It wasn’t furnished with expensive items. Strings preferred the space as it offered an amazing sound when the boys played. Their neighbors weren’t too impressed with their music, but Strings made it a point to play some nice lullabies near the end of the day. No one usually pounded on the walls when he did this.

“Merry Christmas, love.” He kissed her forehead before offering his arm. “Shall I give you the grand tour?”

“Oh, y-yes please.” She beamed and slipped her arm through his. “Isn’t e-every day I get a t-tour of such a fine place.” 

And if she glanced behind her at Biddy and Rat and smiled to herself, who was to say?

“I’m just nervous about meeting Rats’ new co-worker. I also burned the figgy pudding.” It wasn’t lying. He was nervous and he did burn the figgy pudding. But he felt strange showing Juni this huge flat that Rat earned through being a punching bag. 

Biddy took Juni’s arm in the elevator. She was terrified but slightly excited. The man inside the elevator took little notice of the odd pair, as though sisters of different misters frequented such a luxurious place. “What if he thinks we’re…we’re..” She cupped her hands around Juni’s ear and whispered, “whores. We don’t look like them, but we sure don’t look Ike we fit into a place like this.” She said with her wide brown eyes. She took a long glance at the operator who seemed rather bored at his job.

“Fourth floor, misses.” He said with a tip of his hat.

The idea that anyone could consider either of them capable of such a career caused Juni a good deal of embarrassment, her features turning a bright pink. As they exited the elevator, she continued to cling close to Biddy. “I-I don’t think he c-cares much at all.” She whispered as she glanced to the elevator, watching the operator yawn as he returned the lift to the ground floor.

Glancing again at the address, she paused in front of the door. There was piano music coming from inside, but who was to say it was anyone familiar? Uncertainly, she looked to Biddy, before raising her hand to knock. 

When Strings opened the door, she beamed in relief, and laughed as she was spun about. “Humble?” She asked, glancing about. “I-it’s…certainly something. Wh-when you said you had a b-bigger apartment, I have to admit, I wasn’t think a-about this.” That thought, however, was quickly dashed in favor of beaming at him again.

Strings sat down at his piano and started to play a few notes, a few chords, a couple arpeggios, before starting to play a quiet Christmas song. “A few kids. Are they coming as well? The whole family?” He tried to keep himself distracted with the piano, but occasionally he would play the wrong note and start the verse or chorus over again. “We didn’t bring anything for the kids. Do we have enough chairs to play musical chairs with them?”

“Mate, are you plannin’ on bringing chairs?” Rat asked, thoroughly confused but just as amused at the prospect. The image of Strings stacking as many chairs as he could find and carting the toppling mass to the Lion’s Den–

He shook his head. “They’re chaos, mate. They wanna cause as much mischief as they can, and that’s their favorite thing. No reason to lose your mind over kids this late–you’ll have your own soon enough, eh? You can dote on them.”

Rat winced, shoving his hands into his pockets. He regretted telling Strings about it–but then again, he couldn’t help but also feel glad. After all, it was truly best if Strings knew what the gang looked like and who these people were that were going to be in his life for…well, however long.

Strings sat down at his piano and started to play a few notes, a few chords, a couple arpeggios, before starting to play a quiet Christmas song. “A few kids. Are they coming as well? The whole family?” He tried to keep himself distracted with the piano, but occasionally he would play the wrong note and start the verse or chorus over again. “We didn’t bring anything for the kids. Do we have enough chairs to play musical chairs with them?”

“Mate, are you plannin’ on bringing chairs?” Rat asked, thoroughly confused but just as amused at the prospect. The image of Strings stacking as many chairs as he could find and carting the toppling mass to the Lion’s Den–

He shook his head. “They’re chaos, mate. They wanna cause as much mischief as they can, and that’s their favorite thing. No reason to lose your mind over kids this late–you’ll have your own soon enough, eh? You can dote on them.”

Strings wasn’t so sure, but he swallowed his worry, or at least tried to. The worry stayed a lump in his throat.

“Any minute now.” Strings replied as he smoothed out his vest. He wasn’t sure how he was going to explain the place to Juni and the new job. Maybe he got a promotion? Technically it was. He wasn’t about to lie to her, but it was going to be hard to keep from her. “How many kids does this Reds guy have? Does his wife know what he does or is that forbidden knowledge?”

Strings wanted to shake some sense into him. What Rat got himself into could get himself killed, as well as anyone who associated with him. How would he feel if Patch said the wrong thing to the wrong person? 

“You have to keep it quiet around Patch, okay? And Juni and Biddy. They can’t be wrapped up in this.” He said as he started to light some candles around the house, mainly to cover the smell of the figgy pudding. “You gotta keep me in the loop with things. I gotta know what’s going on to make sure everyone is safe.”

“You’re the first soul I told, eh? I can’t be risking tellin’ anyone else. That’s where trouble starts, mate.” Rat flopped into one of the dining chairs as he watched Strings putter about. The man was getting all the more domestic the longer he was with his bird, wasn’t he?

What he didn’t want to say was that Biddy, at least, was already wrapped up in it. She and her family just didn’t know it.

“It’s alright, mate. Let’s just enjoy the night, yeah? You’ll see…it’ll be alright, mate. We’ll have a good Christmas night still. You’ll like Reds, at the least. He’s a good man with a big, big family of his own. He’s the type of bloke we might’ve run with back home, yeah?”

Strings wasn’t sure what to say. His best friend, his brother, kept such a secret about what he did from him. Strings would’ve talked him out of it. The Blue Knife Gang was not a group to mess with. He once heard that their leader was so brutal that when someone left the gang, he dismembered them and hid their parts in barrels and sent them out to sea. They only found out when a barrel with the man’s head washed up on the shore in New Jersey.

“How the bloody hell are you still alive!” He exclaimed. “Why? How? What?” He stammered. He abandoned the dishes that were sitting in the sink. “What did you get yourself into, Rat?”

Rat, unable to keep still, began to pace. 

“It all happened so quickly!” His voice had wavered into a higher register. “I was gettin’ it bad from a couple of meatheads at the docks, and out of nowhere, Mr. Foley of the fuckin’ Blue Knife Gang himself comes and scares them off. Says he sees potential in me, as a fighter. That he wants to sponsor me. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, mate. Probably literally.”

Strings wasn’t sure what to say. His best friend, his brother, kept such a secret about what he did from him. Strings would’ve talked him out of it. The Blue Knife Gang was not a group to mess with. He once heard that their leader was so brutal that when someone left the gang, he dismembered them and hid their parts in barrels and sent them out to sea. They only found out when a barrel with the man’s head washed up on the shore in New Jersey.

“How the bloody hell are you still alive!” He exclaimed. “Why? How? What?” He stammered. He abandoned the dishes that were sitting in the sink. “What did you get yourself into, Rat?”

Rat, unable to keep still, began to pace. 

“It all happened so quickly!” His voice had wavered into a higher register. “I was gettin’ it bad from a couple of meatheads at the docks, and out of nowhere, Mr. Foley of the fuckin’ Blue Knife Gang himself comes and scares them off. Says he sees potential in me, as a fighter. That he wants to sponsor me. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, mate. Probably literally.”