#nml

The train came to an abrupt stop as it rounded the corner into the train yard. Rissa was thrown off her empty potato sack and Slacker rolled a few feet before jolting awake.

"What just happen?" Slacker asked groggily, looking around for at Rissa.

"Uh…" Rissa rubbed her head where she’d hit it on a crate. "I think the train stopped."

"Oh." Slacker laid back down, not bothering to return to her potato sack pallet.

Rissa stood up, and cracked open the large, sliding train-car door. She peeked out of the opening, spotting a familiar skyline. The biggest smile spread across her face. "I think this is our stop!” She turned to Slacker, who had fallen back to sleep. She rolled her eyes and walked over to her. "Slacker! Get up! We gotta go."

"What?" Slacker groaned, batting off the annoying hands shaking her shoulder. "I don't wanna get up. I'm tired."

“You’re always tired!” Rissa grabbed her arm and yanked her up. "Get the lead out of your pants!"

Slacker muttered something no ear should hear and stood up, wiping her eyes. "Where are we?"

“Pretty sure we’re in a freight yard on Staten Island.” Rissa grabbed her bag full of belongings and threw it over her shoulder. Slacker did the same, and they jumped out of the train car.

The girls weaved through the train cars on high alert for yard workers. If they were to get caught stowing away in a train-car, they might be sent to an orphanage - or even worst, jail for kids. Rissa and Slacker were experienced vagabonds who knew what they were doing-

Slacker looked up and read what one of the train car's labels. "Oooo! This one has pillows in it! That is the car for me!" She stared at the car with wonder until Rissa pulled her in-between two sides.

"Someone is coming,” Rissa hissed.

"But…" Slacker didn't get to say anymore before Rissa slapped a hand over her mouth. They listened as footsteps in the rocks crunched by. Slacker smacked Rissa’s hand away. "You are paranoid, aren't you?"

Rissa rolled her eyes. "I just don't wanna get caught and not make it back to…" She glanced at Slacker with a look of longing. "…home."

Slacker patted her friend on the back. "It's okay. You're gonna get home and see your family again."

"I know. You can join my family. Trust me, they'll love you!"

"Well, I don't know about love…maybe tolerate." Slacker smirked as Rissa playfully slap her on the cheek.

They walked through the trainyard and out into the world that they’d traveled hundreds of miles to find. Rissa stopped short to peer out at the wonder that was New York City across the river. Slacker elbowed her in the ribs.

"So, this is New York City?" she asked. “Looks complicated to navigate.”

A smile split Rissa’s face. She grabbed Slacker's hand and dragged her down the hill from the trainyard to the edge of the river. "I'm home!" she shouted as she ran and did a cartwheel. Slacker lagged behind watching her friend's enthusiasm calming down after a minute of leaping around.

They caught the Staten Island ferry that would bring them to Lower Manhattan. Slacker glanced over at the worn newspaper clipping Rissa was holding. A group of boys and girls looked caught off guard in the photo and were piled together as if it was one big group hug.

“You won’t have to stare at that photograph anymore,” Slacker commented. “You finally get to see your family again. Nervous?”

Rissa mustered up a smile. “Kinda. I hope they’re not mad at me for disappearing.”

“I’m sure they’ll understand.”

“Yeah, hope so.”

The ferry docked and the girls exited into Lower Manhattan. They walked through the streets, avoiding any familiar newsies along the way. Rissa didn’t want anyone catching sight of her just yet and spoil the surprise of her return. They arrived at the lodging house around dusk. Rissa’s master plan was to send Slacker in to check for any newsies hanging around the lobby. If the coast was clear, she’d sneak in and hide until the majority of the lodging house occupants showed up.

“This man will think I’m crazy,” Slacker hissed, not fully on board with the plan.

“Kloppman puts up with a lot. He won’t think anything of this.”

Slacker rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She slinked off to the lodging house across the street.

An older man wearing glasses and a bowler stood behind the front desk. His attention was drawn to her immediately. Slacker suddenly felt self-conscious. “May I help you?”

“I’m here on behalf of Clarissa Sinclair,” Slacker said, trying to keep her voice low. “She’s waiting out there and wanted me to check if the coast was clear for her to sneak in.”

The man’s brow furrowed. “Are you talking about a girl named Rissa who used to live here?”

“Yeah, that’s her.”

A vague smile crossed Kloppman’s face. He looked around. Only a few of his tenants were lounging in the common room. He gestured at Slacker. “Tell her to come on in.”

Slacker stepped outside the door and waved for Rissa to come on. Rissa threw Kloppman a bright smile as she met him behind his desk.

Kloppman laughed. “Look at you.”

Rissa held a finger up to her lips to communicate the secrecy that was desired. “I finally made it back.”

Kloppman whispered, briefly embracing her. “There’s gonna be a lot of happy people when they see you.”

“I’ll be happy to see them, too. Can me and Slacker hide in the back room until they’ve gotten back?”

“Go ahead.”

The girls slipped into Kloppman’s bedroom until he signaled for them to emerge. Chatter and laughter and music streamed from the common room, where the LH occupants usually resided in the evenings.

“Heya everybody!” Rissa greeted, happily stepping into the doorway where everyone could see her.

Chatter ceased and the music died in an eerie instantaneous stop. Every head turned at the familiar voice. Some mouths dropped open, and others just stared. A tall, curly red-headed girl stood up and walked over to Rissa slowly. "Rissa, is it really you?"

"Last time I checked" Rissa replied, giving her an impish grin.

Damsel throw her arms around her cousin. "I can't believe you’re back. Where have you been?"

"All over the place…" she answered, peering around at everyone. "Hey guys."

“Rissa!” Blink exclaimed, swooping her off her feet into a bear hug.

“Kid!” Rissa threw back as he set her down. “Been treating my cousin right?”

He flashed a winning smile at her. “Wouldn’t be anything less than a gentleman.”

Most of the girls and boys jumped up to welcome back the missing member of their newsie family. "Hey…Pigeon…Dutchy…Jake…Raven…Race." Rissa hugged them all as they approached.

"Oh drat! I gotta introduce someone to you guys." Slacker was shadowing the doorway, completely overlooked by everyone in the room. Rissa dragged her in. "This is my friend, Slacker. She's been my pal for the past few months."

Everyone greeted Slacker. The commotion settled down. Everyone went back to what they were doing or were crowded around Rissa to ask questions.

"So, Rissa, where have ya really been?" Blink asked.

"Everywhere," she answered, bluntly.

"You couldn't’a been everywhere," Damsel said in disbelief.

"Ask Slacker. We been all over the place." Cone elbowed Slacker in the ribs. "Isn't that right?"

"Huh?" Slacker tore her eyes from staring at Racetrack. "Oh yeah, we've been everywhere."

"It doesn't matter where ya’ve been, Rissa!” Pigeon said, coming up behind them and throwing her arms around their shoulders. Slacker looked less than enthused by the girl she’d just met touching her. “You're here now and that's all that matters!"

“Rissa?” a voice came from the doorway.

Rissa whirled around, her heart suddenly beating out of her chest. “MUSH!” She dashed to him and threw herself into his arms.

"You’re here,” Mush said in disbelief, trying to catch his balance before they both toppled to the floor.

She pulled away but kept her arms around him. "I’m here, Mush. I'm here to stay." Before Mush could say anything else, Rissa pressed her lips to his.

"Mush, why are you kissing this girl?" an unfamiliar voice gasped behind them.

Mush gently detached Rissa from him and stepped back an arm’s length away. Rissa’s eyes flicked to the new girl that had just entered the room. The girl was an inch or so shorter than her, her dark hair pulled up into a bun and deep blue eyes glaring bewildered at them. The girl shuffled up against Mush’s side.

Rissa stared directly into Mush’s face, but he avoided her gaze. “What’s going on, Mush?”

Mush leaned close to the other girl’s space. “Agnus, wait for me here. I need to talk to Rissa alone.”

Agnus stared at Rissa as if she’d found the missing link.

Mush gestured for Rissa to follow him into the lobby. The common room door closed, echoing like a prison cell clanking shut. Mush sighed, reaching to grasp Rissa’s hand. “Ris, you’re back!” He cracked a smile, but Rissa could see it pained him. “Y’know how you said you’d be back after about a month?”

“Yeah…”

"You promised one month, but you were gone for a lot more than that.”

"I'm sorry, but I got held up in some places," she tried to explain. She'd traveled so far and so long on the same train that she'd went all the way from New York to Missouri. That's where she met Slacker.

"Held up? You were gone for months!" Rissa stepped back from Mush in surprise. He'd never raised his voice at her. “You never wrote to let us know you were alright. Not once! Not even to your own cousin.”

Rissa tried to hold back the tears prickling in the corners of her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Mush softened at the sight of her becoming upset. He raised his hand toward her but dropped it instantly. “You promised a month. It crushed me not knowing if you were okay or not.”

“I was hurting too, Mush. I didn’t want to be away from you for that long. One thing happened and then another until I found myself so far away from here.” She wanted to throw her arms around him, hold him close, and whisper fervent promises that she’d never leave again. The reality was, there was another girl in the next room who looked rather comfortable at his side. “Who’s the girl?”

Mush threw a quick glance at the closed door. “Her name is Agnus. She works with Sarah Jacobs sewing lace.”

“Is Agnus your girl?” Mush bowed his head then nodded with the slightest hint of shame. Rissa’s heart dropped and anchored at the bottom of her chest. “You said you’d always love me and wait for me…”

Mush finally raised his eye to meet hers. “I didn’t know if you were ever coming back. Agnus was here and--”

Rissa shook her head, desperately holding back tears. “Maybe I should’a never come back.” With that, she rushed up the stairs to the girls bunkroom.

***

She wasn’t certain whose bunk she’d thrown herself upon, but at the moment, it didn’t matter. She’d apologize later for the dampness of her tears.

“Cuz?” The thin mattress dipped a fraction, and a comforting hand began to rub her back. “I wish I would’a had more time to warn you about Mush. I’m sorry.”

Rissa sniffled and a rag miraculously appeared by her face. She grabbed at it, scrubbing her cheeks. “It’s not your fault. It is what it is.” She sat up to sit on the side of the bed with Damsel. “I shouldn’a been so stupid to think he loved me enough to wait for me. Wasn’t like we were married or even promised to each other.”

“That doesn’t make it hurt any less and it’s okay to feel that way.”

Rissa nodded in agreement.

Damsel clasped her hand and pressed a kiss into Rissa’s crown. “I’m thankful you’re back. So many of us are. We’re a family here, and a broken heart over a boy don’t change that.” She stood, tugging Rissa to her feet. “C’mon, let’s go back downstairs after you wash your face.”

A wince crossed Rissa’s face. “Is Mush and what’s-her-name still down there?”

“No. They left after you ran up here.”

Rissa sighed in relief. “Good.”

***

Damsel led Rissa by the hand back downstairs to the common room. Every head turned to look at her; some in concern and others trying to act like they didn’t know her heart had been crushed by one of their friendliest members. Raven and Jake darted over to her and enveloped her in a group hug.

Raven gave her an extra squeeze. “We’re happy you’re back home.”

“Yeah, we missed you,” Jake added.

“Thanks.” Rissa cracked a small smile when they let go. “I missed you guys, too.”

 Kid Blink sauntered up to her. He leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone, “I can confirm that Mush hasn’t been the same since you left. Been all mopey. Maybe with you back—”

Damsel heaved a sigh and scolded, “Too soon, Blink. Too soon.”

He threw Damsel an incredulous look as she pushed him along.

Rissa peered around, remembering she’d left Slacker to fend for herself amongst a room of new people. “Where’s Slacker?”

“Her and Race hit it off,” Dutchy informed with a mischievous grin. “They stepped outside together.”

Rissa’s eyebrows shot up. “Aww geez, they moved quick!” Everybody had a good chuckle.

"Am I seein’ things or is this the Clarissa Sinclair?" Jack said, in mock surprise.

"Better get your eyes checked, Jack," she smirked.

"Har har, I knew ya'd be back someday. "

"I said I would be, so don't think you was right about something, Cowboy." She dodged a slap from Jack.

***

Two weeks passed, and Rissa fell easily back into the life of being a newsie. She’d planned to teach Slacker how to sell papes and show her around the city, but Racetrack jumped at the chance to help her. The whole attraction Race had for Slacker boggled Rissa, but if it worked then she was happy for them.

While Rissa was gone, Damsel had sold with Kid Blink or another newsgirl. Since Rissa didn’t have Slacker or Mush to sell with, Damsel was more than happy to take her back as her selling partner.

Rissa tried to avoid Mush at every turn, and he did the same with her. Rissa would steer clear of the common room if Mush occupied it, or if she spotted him through the window at Tibby’s, she’d find another food venue. She tried to forget about him; pretend that he didn’t exist. But then a chance meeting on the staircase or around a corner would occur. Their eyes would make contact, and the cold wave of heartbreak would slam into her again.

Damsel wanted to do something that would get Rissa’s mind off her situation and show her cousin that there were other people beside Mush that made returning worth it. Damsel started organizing a 'welcome back' party. It was going to be a surprise, but Damsel had a hard time keeping it a secret.

"Y'know, you really don't need to have a party for me. It doesn't matter," Rissa said, trying to convince her cousin to blow off the idea. They walked down the street, papes in hand.

"Why not? I want to do this for you, cuz.  It'll be fun!" Damsel grinned. “And it gives me an excuse to throw a party.”

"Why not?" Rissa sighed. She looked down at the ground, forlorn. Her current predicament with her former significant other was always at the forefront of her mind. "I'll be alone."

"What?" Damsel gave her a look like she'd just said the Brooklyn Bridge had fallen into the river. "You'll have the entire Lodging House there…me and Blink and everyone!"

Rissa rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean."

A light clicked in Damsel's head. "Oh! Then…why, why don’tcha you ask someone to go with you?"

Rissa snorted. “You must be joking.”

“Is it because of Mush? You’re still caught up on him.”

This was heading into territory she didn't want to discuss. A frown turned down Rissa’s mouth. “I don’t wanna talk about that.”

“I get it.” Damsel touched her shoulder. “Mush was your first love. Your one and only for a long time. Try moving on.” She gave her cousin a playful push. “Or, at least, try to have some fun with someone else!”

Rissa rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh. “Fine! But who will this new someone be? How am I going to find a fellah to accompany me when the party is tomorrow?”

Damsel thought for a moment then grinned. "I got an idea. The first newsboy that we know that we come across today, you'll go ask him to accompany you to the party."

"Wait. It won't be a surprise welcome back party then!"

“That’s right.” Damsel frowned, returning to her thoughts. She snapped her fingers. “I got it! Ask him if he could accompany you to Medda’s that night. When you go back to the lodging house to get ready, we’ll surprise you!”

Rissa threw her a doubtful look. “I don’t see this working, but I’ll do it.”

The cousins stood on opposite sides of the street hawking the headlines until their papes were all sold. Not a single newsboy from their lodging house passed through their selling block.

Rissa strolled across the street to Damsel, a little triumphant. "Not one newsboy came by today."

"Don't speak so soon," Damsel sing-sanged, pointing down the street.

Rissa turned to see what she was pointing at. She groaned when she spotted a familiar yellow-clad newsboy striding close by. "Pie Eater?"

"Yeah, he'll be great!"

Snippets of Pie Eater’s past antics jumped to her mind. "No, no, no. Not Pie Eater, please! He plays stupid pranks and laughs obnoxiously ever time.”

"Pie isn't that bad,” Damsel whined. “So, he likes to play pranks sometimes and once tried to hide in the girls’ washroom while you were gone." She started thinking about the things she just said then came back from her pause. "Pie could be an okay guy. Just give him a chance."

It was grievous to say no to her cousin. "All right, I'll at least give him a chance."

Rissa hurried off to catch up to Pie Eater, who’d stopped to sell his last remaining paper to a gentleman on the corner.

"Heya Pie!" Rissa greeted as she approached him.

"Rissa, sell all ya papes…just like me,” he grinned, spreading out his arms to show he was empty handed.

"Yeah, I did. Just a few minutes ago.”

Rissa glanced down, shuffling her feet. She drew in a deep breath. How’d she let her cousin convince her to do this? She wanted to plead temporary insanity and take off running to anywhere but there.

“Try wiggling any old men out of their money lately?"

Rissa’s head shot up, and her eyes grew wide. "What?”

"That worked!" Pie cracked up laughing.

Rissa sighed. Pie was already up to his antics. "What are you talkin' about?"

"Just tryin' to ease you up. You walked up to me like you were fixing to have to wrestle a bear to the ground."

Rissa blushed and couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. "Thanks. I'm a little on edge."

"Why’s that?"

"Just stupid stuff." Rissa fidgeted nervously. "Listen, I wanted to ask you something."

"I'm all ears." Pie reached back behind Rissa’s ear and pulled out a coin.

The anxiety that was weighting her down suddenly felt lighter. Maybe this wouldn’t be as hard as she thought. "I'm going to Irving Hall tomorrow evening to watch the show, and I was wondering if you’d accompany me?”

A tiny wave of confusion crossed Pie Eater’s face. Rissa noticed his eyes wander onto something right over her shoulder. She turned to see Damsel looking extremely interested in the sky.

"Uh…yeah, sure, I'll accompany you."

Rissa thanked him and said she’d see him at the lodging house later. She made her way back to Damsel. "He said yes."

"That's great!" She threw her arm around Rissa’s shoulder. "Now you'll be on the road to gettin' over Mush."