“What’s buggin’ ya, May?”
Sparkles’ concerned voice made Mayhem glance up from her drink. The other girl took a seat next to her and looked disapprovingly at the glass. Mayhem replied with a question of her own; Bumlets’ strange behavior earlier had made her a little curious.
“What’s all dis stuff about anuddah job? Ya woik at a theater now?”
Sparkles blushed slightly. “Yes, I ain’t actin’ yet, but I help behind da stage, an’ I even get money fer it, a nickel an hour!”
Trying to nod approvingly Mayhem had to force herself not to let her disgust show, sure that her friend was shamelessly being used by whoever ran that theater, and too naive to realize it. “Why didn’t ya try ta get a role in dis show instead a woikin’ behind da stage?”
Sparkles smiled sadly. “I tried, I went to de audition. Same old story, dey said I’m too young, but I know dey jist don't want no low-tawkin’ newspaper goil. But I like woikin’ dere anyway. How did ya know about it?”
The sparkle in her eyes vanished in an instant as she heard Mayhem reply, “Bumlets, a course.”
“Oh.” Sparkles swallowed. When Mayhem didn’t say anything else but just looked at her with a puzzled expression she gestured vaguely at the almost empty glass standing in front of them on the bar.
“Ya really shouldn’t drink so much. Whatsa mattah wid you?”
Mayhem snorted. “Nuthin’, apart from da fact dat ev’rythin’ in my life toins ta shit lately.” She searched her pockets for cigarettes but couldn’t find any. Poifect.
“My ole gang is scattered all ovah New Yawk, Race got a goil, my sistah woiks as a goddamned stripper, an’ Leadpipe...” Mayhem’s voice faltered. Feeling her chest getting tight she quickly gulped down the scorching liquid.
Sparkles regarded her with pity. “So dat’s what it’s all about, yer upset because Race is goin’ out wid Millie.”
Wait, did I just say dis out loud? Just as Mayhem was about to deny any feelings for Race Trifle joined them, smiling excitedly.
“Hello sweeties! Guess what, I got the job, Medda was real nice. She said I can start tamorrow!”
Mayhem’s face lit up. “So yer gonna quit woikin’ at Annabelle’s.” It was more of an order than a question. Trifle chose to change the subject quickly.
“Ya know, David is really cute, especially when he tries ta dance... I wonder if his kissin’ matches his looks.”
“David Jacobs?” Mayhem raised her eyebrows. “Dat guy’s as hot as yesterday’s mashed potatoes.”
//The author would like to declare that she utterly disagrees with this statement. *runs off and hugs Davey until he’s blue in the face*//
Trifle smiled sweetly. “Thank heaven we ain’t got da same taste in guys, or else I might end up hooked to a shrimpy cigar-smokin’ gamblah as well!”
Damn, why does she always know about dese things? Mayhem tried to look unafflicted. “Who, Race? I don’t give a damn about him.”
Ignoring Sparkles’ puzzled face Mayhem concentrated on tearing a paper napkin into small pieces, deeply aware that she had never been able to deceive her sister, so she wasn’t at all surprised when Trifle shot her a knowing look.
“Well, if I was you I would get off my ass, stop moping an’ do somethin’ about da millstone around his neck!”
Mayhem glared at her. “Ya ain’t me, an’ I don’t care about dat suckah! I ain’t seen him fer half a year! Let him date ev’ry slut dis town’s got!”
“May!” Sparkles looked at her in shock. “How can ya say such mean t’ings if ya don’t even know her?”
Getting up from her chair, Mayhem emptied her glass. “I t’ink I need some air now.”
The other two girls stared after her until she had left the room. “What on oith’s gotten into her?” Sparkles demanded to know.
Trifle was lost in thought. “Somethin’s wrong. An’ I don’t t’ink it’s just dat guy.”
On their way to the theater’s washroom Blink suddenly pulled Race aside.
“Can’t ya be a little more charmin’ ta Millie?” he hissed. “She ain’t lookin’ like she’s havin’ da best time heah!”
Race glared at him. “What do ya expect me ta do, pull bunnies outta my hat? Besides, she’s da one not speakin’ wid me. Da goil’s actin’ like she’s on tranquillizers!”
“C’mon Race, please? Ya know dose two are just allowed ta date togethah. If Millie leaves now I gotta take Sally home, too,” Blink pleaded, his eyes turning into those of a lost puppy. At that moment Race was glad he wasn’t a girl, his gender making him halfway immune to the butter-melting glance. Not that it made a difference anyway. He would just have to bear the girl’s company, if he wanted to keep Blink as a friend and possible creditor.
“Alright,” he grumbled. “Even if it’s jist ta get ya outta my hair.”
Blink grinned gratefully and tried to pulled him along, but Race resisted. “Jist a moment, I gotta have a minute a peace before I face dat goil again.” He searched his pockets for a cigar, couldn’t find one, but walked outside anyway. A familiar figure sat on the steps. Race felt a slight tingle in his stomach.
“Enjoyin’ da party, Mayhem?”
Mayhem turned around at the cold voice, surprised to see Race coming up behind her.
“Look Higgins, I really ain’t in da mood for any a yer crap now, so would ya please jist leave me alone?” She tried to look as uninviting as possible, but Race didn’t budge. “Whadda ya want anyway?”
He sat beside her and shot her an angry look. “How ‘bout ya tell me why ya left back in February, widout lettin’ anyone know wheah ya was goin’.” Without even tellin’ me.
The demand caught Mayhem off guard. “Whadda ya mean, why I left? I thought you of all people would know dat!” Race didn’t answer, but just stared at her. Mayhem felt her temper rise.
“Aftah Leads killed Blade he had ta get outta town! I couldn’t leave him alone aftah all he’d done fer me! Ya t’ink I shoulda said “thanks fer savin’ my life, Leads, but yer on ya own now”? Jesus, Race, he’s been my best friend evah since we was kids!”
An’ I guess I wasn’t half as important, Race thought bitterly.
“If ya can’t live widout Leadpipe, then why didya hafta come back an’ mess up ev’rythin’?” he snapped. “Why didn’t ya jist stay wid da greatest guy on oith?”
“Dat’s none a’ ya goddamn business!” Mayhem glowered at him, stood up and went back inside quickly. Sighing Race put out his cigar and waited a few minutes before going back to the party as well, careful not to meet Mayhem on the way.
Mayhem had come back from outside, relieved to find neither Sparkles nor Trifle at the bar. She really didn’t feel like discussing her non-existent relationship with Race, mostly because she wasn’t sure what exactly her feelings were on this subject. Of course they had been rather close before she had left, but that seemed far away. Now bickering or ignoring each other appeared to be all they were capable of. Guess we wasn’t dat serious in da foist place. The thought gave her a queasy sensation in her stomach. She ordered another drink.
From her place Mayhem could watch the table Race, Blink and their dates sat on. Her brow creased when she saw the whole group erupt in laughter at a story Blink was telling. She quickly turned around again, feeling slight nausea overcome her.
Suddenly the music seemed to blast even more aggravatingly, and something pink popped out onto the stage, loudly cheered by the newsies. Mayhem blinked, not quite able to focus her eyes, but even downing her drink didn’t make the image go away. To her horror the waddling puff started to sing.
“My lovey dovey baby,
I boohoohoo for you,”
“What is dis, cotton candy from hell?” Mayhem groaned and hid her face in her hands. A slight chuckle beside her made her look up again.
A blond adolescent wearing glasses had sat down beside her. His bemused gaze made her shift uncomfortably.
“Ya don’t come heah very often, do ya?” he smiled. Mayhem arched her eyebrows.
“I used to be your tootsie wootsie,
then you said toodledeedoo...”
“I think ya can stuff da lousy pickup lines,” she grumbled, and he frowned at her.
“Wasn’t meant as one.”
“Dat’s too bad,” Mayhem snorted and started digging in her pockets for money to buy another drink. But she had trouble counting the coins; the considerable amount of alcohol she had already consumed that evening was taking its toll.
“I miss the hanky panky,
each nightynight till three,”
The stranger surprised Mayhem by calmly taking her money and motioning the bartender to fill her glass, adding some coins of his own when the sum didn’t suffice. Mayhem stared at him, baffled.
“What was dat for? Ya don’t even know me!”
The boy blushed slightly. “Jist thought ya could use a little help,” he mumbled. To his relief Mayhem started to smile.
“Well, whoevah you are, ya guessed right.” She poured down her drink as if it was water and turned towards him.
“Anythin’ else ya wanna help me wid?”
“Come back my lovey dovey baby,
and coochiecoo with me.”
While Blink joked around with Sally on their way to the girls’ home Race and Millie just walked behind them quietly. Shortly before they arrived at the girls’ house Blink and Sally stopped at a gas lantern and started to kiss. Race tried desperately to come up with something to break the embarrassing silence with, but his mind seemed emptied of all his usual suavity.
Once they had reached the door Millie turned around to him, obviously groping for something polite to say.
“Thanks for taking me out, Race, it was… nice.” He snorted.
“Yeah, I could tell ya had a great time.”
Her eyes sparkled with anger. “Listen kid, the only reason I’m on a double date with my sister is because our parents can’t stand letting her date alone! I didn’t want ta come along and I don’t see any reason ta pretend I had fun watchin’ ya play ya stupid card games!”
That did it for Race. Her calling him kid was bad enough, but no one insulted his favorite pastime and got away with it.
“Well, if ya hadn’t pulled a face like ya was sufferin’ from heartboin all da time, maybe someone might’ve asked ya ta dance!”
He had foreseen her trying to slap him, so he had no problems catching her hand in midair. “Let go of me!” Millie hissed through clenched teeth.
“I t’ink ya should apologize first,” he said with as much dignity as he could muster up while struggling with the taller girl.
“In your dreams!” She broke free and ran inside.
Race sighed and started to walk back to Manhattan. Blink and Sally didn’t even look up when he passed by them. After digging in his pockets for some time he retrieved an old cigar stump he had saved from the day before and lit it with practiced ease.
When he had proceeded a few hundred yards Race heard someone call out his name, and soon afterwards a panting Blink caught up with him.
“Hey, why didn’t ya wait?” Blink blurted out, and without waiting for an answer talked right on. “I guess it went pretty well, huh? Do ya like Millie?”
Race muttered something unintelligible and Blink started to grin.
“She’s one hot chick, ain’t she? Bet her bein’ so cool towards ev’ryone will ease off soon, aftah our next date she’ll surely be as sweet as candy.”
Race almost swallowed his cigar at the shock. “Whadda ya mean, aftah our next date?” he spluttered.
“Well,” Blink replied with a smile, “Sally promised she an’ Millie would go ta de Coney Island fair wid us next Wednesday. Dat’s gonna be swell!”
“Yeah, shoah,” Race answered wearily, a killer headache forming behind his temples as he tried to think of a way to get out of Blink’s plans.
When they had almost reached the lodging house Blink suddenly pointed towards something in the darkness near the entrance.
“Look,” he whispered, “Seems like Dutchy found himself some action fer da night.”
Race’s face blanched when he realized who Dutchy was kissing. “Dis is impossible!” he hissed. “He wasn’t even heah in February, dey must’ve met only tanight!”
“Who?” Blink asked him, puzzled. Then he put two and two together.
“I thought ya don’t care about her any longer,” he remarked with a small grin. “Least dat’s what ya said just dis mornin’, if me memory ain’t deceivin’ me.”
Race glared at him. “I don’t care,” he grumbled. “Jist seems a little sudden ta me, is all. Well, if dey found tagetha on deir own, who am I ta stop them?”
They walked past the two, who were too busy with themselves to even notice, and entered the lodging house.
“Wake up goils! Time ta carry da bannah!”
Mayhem awoke with a jolt, only to fall back into her bed again, holding her throbbing head.
“Oh damn,” she gasped. “Dat was definitely one drink too many.”
“I told ya so!” Sparkles answered in a scolding tone. “Now hurry, da presses are rollin’!”
Mayhem groaned while the other girl dragged her out of bed and into the washroom. “Let ‘em roll. I ain’t got no money left ta buy papes anyway.”
“Well, what a lame excuse,” Sparkles laughed. “I’m gonna spot ya da money, now come on!”
Mayhem obeyed grumblingly, shooting her sister who was still slumbering sweetly in a bottom bunk an envious look. The rest of the alcohol in her blood made her mind slightly dizzy, and the blazing sun stung in her eyes on their way to the distribution office. Had Sparkles not kept a firm grip on her arm Mayhem would have returned to the lodging house immediately.
“So,” Sparkles started while she was selling their papers and Mayhem was trying not to be too much in the way, “did ya have a nice night wid Dutchy?”
Mayhem looked at her as if she had grown two noses. “Who?”
Sparkles blushed slightly. “Well, you know, da guy ya kissed last night, da one who brought ya up to our bunkroom an’ almost got soaked by Sassy ‘cause she thought he was tryin’ ta peep.”
Hazy images of last night’s events started to form in Mayhem’s mind. “Oh. Dat guy,” she mumbled, not quite comfortable because she couldn’t remember everything clearly, most of the memories merely a blur of colors and smells.
Sparkles looked at her strangely, but let the subject drop as fresh customers came their way, much to Mayhem’s relief.
They changed their selling spot twice that day. When Sparkles suggested they should just buy a couple of sandwiches from a street vendor for lunch instead of going all the way back to Tibby’s Mayhem consented readily. She wasn’t anxious to face an old love interest who didn’t even talk to her anymore, much less to see a new one whose face she couldn’t even remember completely.
As Sparkles and Mayhem walked back home that evening they met Trifle on the street.
“Hey peeps,” she greeted them smilingly. “Had a nice time selling dem papers?”
“Shoah,” Mayhem answered calmly. She was aware that without Sparkles’ acting skill she wouldn’t have been able to sell a single newspaper, but her obnoxious sister didn’t need to know that.
“Good for you,” Trifle nodded sagely. “Well, I gotta be off, places ta go, drinks ta serve.”
Sparkles beamed. “Say hi ta Medda from me!”
“I will,” Trifle called over her shoulder.
Mayhem walked towards the lodging house with Sparkles, her mind on the poker game she was planning to talk the others into, in order to make some cash and pay back her debts.
Had she paid a little more attention she might have noticed that Trifle wasn’t going into the direction of Irving Hall, but towards Harlem.
Once they entered the lobby Sparkles all but darted to the corner that was the farthest away from where Bumlets sat with Skittery, good-naturedly arguing about a stick fight they had carried out earlier that day. Deciding to let the poker game she had planned wait for a moment Mayhem walked over to her friend. On her way she passed Dutchy, but completely ignored him, her attention focused solely on Sparkles. He quickly dropped his gaze and tried to pretend he had never attempted to catch her eyes anyway.
Mayhem sat down next to Sparkles, lighting a cigarette while searching for a way to ignite the conversation. Sparkles took that decision off her hands when she started to speak, seemingly out of the blue.
“It just ain’t da same anymore, ya know.” Both of them knew exactly what subject she was talking about.
Mayhem regarded her friend with a careful expression. “He been cheatin’ on ya?”
Smiling sadly, Sparkles shook her head. “It’s just… I dunno.” She shrugged helplessly. Just then Sassy called over.
“Hey Mayhem, you up fer pokah?”
As Sparkles nodded upon Mayhem’s questioning glance Mayhem got up slowly and joined the others at one of the tables.
The next morning found Sparkles back in her old spirits, and Mayhem decided that she probably had just been tired the night before. They settled quickly into their old selling routine, but the summer weather made it harder for Mayhem to bear than it had in February. The urge to just leave the reading public to watch after themselves and go for a swim in the East River was almost overwhelming. Only Sparkles energetic ways and the fact that she was as broke as a dormouse kept Mayhem at it. She was more than relieved when they could retire to Tibby’s for lunch at noon time. As ususal, the restaurant was packed with newsies when they arrived.
“Well, well, well,” Jack grinned, as his eyes wandered over to the table where Shadow and Sparkles listened to an energetic Cheater tell them about something wildly interesting, while Mayhem tried not to appear too obviously bored.
“Ev’rythin’s just like old times, ain’t it?”
Dutchy had followed his gaze and blushed slightly. Mayhem hadn’t wasted one look on him the night before, and he wasn’t sure if she just pretended not to recognize him or if she really had been that drunk at the party. He had quite enjoyed their brief innuendo, but now he was at a loss for things to do next.
Maybe he should try to get something out of the other guys, at least they had known her since she had become a newsie in February.
“Mayhem seems a nice goil,” he started cautiously.
“Nice?” David almost choked on a mouthful of food. “Of all the things you could say about Mayhem, *nice* is definitely not the first that comes to mind!”
“Annoying,” Skittery offered.
“Moody?” Mush suggested.
“As nice as bein’ clubbed on da head,” Race grumbled and threw down his paper napkin, then left the table.
Dutchy stared after him, baffled. “What’sa mattah wid him?”
“Well,” Jack replied cautiously, “They seemed to have somethin’ goin’ befoah she left, but it nevah got serious, as far as I know.”
Dutchy saw Race walking out of the restaurant, and he didn’t miss the glance Mayhem shot after him, however guarded it was.
“So, is he still after her, or is she fair game?” he asked, trying not to sound too eager.
“Ain’t Race datin’ dis cute blonde chick now?” Mush asked. Skittery nodded the affirmative, but Jack frowned.
“I dunno, I don’t t’ink dat’s all done an’ ovah with, Dutch. Dey ain’t seen each uddah fer half a year now, maybe ya’d bettah stay outta dis fer awhile.”
Mayhem saw Race leave and inwardly reprimanded herself for the loss she felt at the sight. Race had continued to ignore her all last night and at the distribution office as well, so there really wasn’t any reason for her to be mooning after him. Why can’t ya just forget about da short twit an’ move on?
She caught Dutchy’s glance and frowned slightly. That guy was an opportunity to have a break from all the uncomfortable feelings nagging at her. He was no pain to look at, and had proved quite a good kisser too, if her memory wasn’t playing any tricks on her. So why not rather concentrate on him and the fun they could have together, given the chance, instead of thinking of someone who obviously cared more for the dirt under his shoes than for her?
Cause ya still just want Race, a voice in her mind giggled spitefully. Mayhem sighed and followed Sparkles outside to sell again.
Millie’s discomfort grew steadily as the dark streets seemed to swallow her. She wished she had complied to her aunt’s wish and stayed at her house for the night instead of going home on her own, but now it was too late, the way back was almost as long as the way to the tenement building she lived in.
The sound of footsteps following her made her shiver, or was she just imagining things? As she turned around nobody was there. She started to walk faster. When a hand closed over her shoulder a small cry escaped her throat, then she almost fainted with relief as she recognized the stranger’s voice.
“Jesus Millie, what da heck is ya doin’ heah? Don’t ya know bettah dan ta run around alone dis late?”
She flung her arms around him. “Oh Race, I’m so glad it’s you!”
Race was more than a bit surprised at this enthusiastic greeting after the fight they’d had, but he enjoyed her embrace nevertheless, even though she towered over him. Don’t ya wish she was Mayhem now?- No I don’t!
This thought totally ruined the feeling for him. He gently freed himself from her clasp.
“C’mon, I’ll walk ya home.”
“So,” he started when they were on their way to her house, “are ya still mad at me for da way I behaved aftah de party?”
Millie blushed faintly. He liked the way it colored her cheeks.
“I guess I shouldn’t have been so mean to ya,” she admitted. “But ya weren’t very charmin’ in the end, either.”
“Alright,” he grumbled. “Truce?”
“Truce.”
They shook hands on the bargain and somehow to Race’s amazement their hands remained together, Millies fingers interlacing with his as they walked on.
“So,” he started after clearing his throat, still unsure on what to make out of this unexpected turn of events, “How ‘bout I teach ya ta play pokah sometime? Maybe ya’d like it.” Millie smiled upon Race’s suggestion.
“I think that would be really nice,” she replied.
“Damn, my feet are killin’ me!”
Glamor sighed as she left Annabelle’s through the back door with some of the other dancers. The huge doorman mustered them closely when they passed by him, his eyes resting on a particular girl.
“Want me ta walk ya home, Trifle?” he asked timidly. She smiled at him.
“No thanks, Bigs, I’ll be alright. See ya tamorrow.”
Smooch grinned. “Maybe ya should walk me home, Bigs, I could use a strong man in my appartment.”
The other girls laughed goodnaturedly as the giant blushed like a schoolboy. While he had no problems with throwing out unwanted guests, and although his fists were notorious throughout town, Bigs was terribly shy around women and thus the object of incessant teasing by all of Annabelle’s employees.
Trifle and Smooch were still giggling when they walked towards Manhattan together. Suddenly Trifle tucked Smooch’s sleeve and pointed out a couple in front of them.
“Look!”
“What?” Smooch couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “Whatsa mattah?”
Trifle’s eyes started to gleam dangerously. “I know dat guy. Let’s go ovah an’ say hello!”
They quickened their pace and had soon caught up with the couple. Trifle removed her light coat to fully display her costume and let out a squeal of delight.
“Raceypoo! I haven’t seen ya for sooo long, where ya been, sweetie? Ya used ta come an’ visit me ev’ry night!” She threw herself into his arms, seemingly unaware of his angry face.
Race tried to shake her off, but she stuck to him like glue. “Trifle, what da hell are ya tryin’ ta do here?” he hissed. Millie’s expression changed from puzzled to disgusted.
“Ya know this...girl?”
“No! I mean, yes, I mean... not dat way!” Race realized he was in trouble.
Trifle started to pout. “What do ya mean, honey? Of course we know each uddah, in more dan just one way...”
Smooch, who had watched the scene with obvious amusement, decided to join the show now.
“Yeah Baby,” she purred, “Ya should come again soon! We always got da handcuffs oiled an’ a huge bowl a whipped cream ready wid ya name written all ovah it!”
Millie gaped at them with horrified eyes, then turned around and ran off.
Race cursed and turned towards the two girls, his eyes blazing. “What da hell did ya do dat for?”
Shrugging, Trifle let go of him. “Ya two didn’t look like ya was havin’ any fun, so I thought I could lighten up da mood a little.”
He glared at her and looked down the street, but Millie was already nowhere to be seen.
Mayhem looked up in surprise from a game of poker with Sassy, Jake and Specs when Race burst into the lobby, fuming with anger.
“Mayhem Powell, dat was de lowest trick I’se evah seen, an’ I seen a lot! I’d nevah thought ya’d be that mean!” She raised her eyebrows.
“What’cha tawkin’ about? What happened?”
Race glared at her in disbelief. “As if ya didn’t set ya sistah on followin’ me an’ Millie, an’ den make her act like she was a whore an’ I her regular customer!”
Mayhem gasped. “Trifle did what?”
“Aw c’mon, cut dat crap, I know ya ast her ta do dat because ya can’t stand da fact dat I got a goil!”
Mayhem let out a short laugh. “’Scuse me? I t’ink ya should get back ta de real woild again, Higgins, da milkmaid messed wid ya brain!” She shot him a deadly look.
“Dis might come as a big surprise for ya, but de sun an’ moon still manage ta rise widout yer help, an’ I don’t give a damn about who yer datin’, ya can marry dat cupcake goil fer all I care!”
At that she turned her back to him, while the whole room watched them in anticipation of Race’s answer.
“Well, fine, cause I might!” Painfully aware of how immature this sounded he stormed outside.
Soon afterwards Trifle entered the room, bubbling with laughter. “Oh Jet, ya should’ve seen him! Dat was priceless! I thought he’d kill me on de spot!”
She let herself fall onto the couch, unable to stop giggling. “What happened, Trifle?” Kneecaps asked curiously, while everyone else didn’t even try to conceal their interest.
“Smooch an’ me met Race an’ his millstone as we was just leaving Annabelle’s, I guess he was walkin’ her home or sumpthin’...”
Mayhem’s face was alarmingly emotionless, but Trifle didn’t recognize the danger at hand and chattered right on.
“So I thought I couldn’t let him pass me widout even givin’ a friendly greetin’, an’ I guess it was a bit too friendly for the poor goil.”
“And what exactly was ya doin’ ovah at Annabelle’s?”
The sharp edge in Mayhem’s voice made Trifle’s hairs rise with wariness. She kicked herself inwardly for the slip, but it was too late. Straightening her shoulders she faced her sister, chin lifted indignantly.
“I still woik dere. An’ I plan ta go on woikin’ dere, an’ dere’s nuthin’ yer gonna do about it!”
Mayhem’s expression was unreadable. “Let’s go outside fer a minute.”
Trifle followed her reluctantly. As soon as they were out of the others’ hearing range Mayhem turned towards her sister, eyes blazing.
“If ya evah mess wid Race again yer gonna regret da day ya was born, ya hear me? Now dat stupid bum t’inks I’m jealous of him and dat goil!”
Trifle shrugged. “Hey, I was jist tryin’ ta help. Maybe ya should stop foolin’ yaself, an’ do sumpthin’ about dat screwed-up relationship!”
“I don’t need ya help! Ev’rythin’s jist as I want it ta be!” At that Trifle just snorted, and Mayhem’s glare intensified.
“None a dis is ya goddamned business anyhow!”
“Dis comin’ from you?” Trifle’s eyes were a dangerous sight now. “Look who’s tawkin’! Ya been meddlin’ wid my life since da moment ya arrived! Why don’t ya try an’ get ya own act tagetha befoah ya push me around an’ tell me what ta do an’ where ta woik?”
She was ready for a fight now, almost yearning for it, but to her surprise Mayhem just sighed and sat down on the fire escape. “I jist don’t want ya ta become one a dem slobs, Katie. Why can’t ya understand dat?”
Trifle flinched at the mention of her real name. No one had called her by it for years. In fact, none of her friends apart from her sister even knew about it.
She sighed and sat down as well. “An’ why don’t you understand dat I jist can’t live on dat measly wage I get from soivin’ drinks six nights a week? Aftah da gang broke up I had ta scrape tagetha ev’ry red cent I could get, an’ I’m sick an’ tired of it!”
She tried to meet Mayhem’s eyes, but failed.
“I want more, Jet! I don’t wanna hafta worry about da next meal or a place ta sleep! I wanna buy me a new dress once in a while, an’ live in my own appartment, an’ sleep late, an’ not have ta eat food dat rich people wouldn’t even give their dogs!”
Trifle got up and walked to the door. “I t’ink it’s about time ya let me live my own life.” At that she disappeared inside.
“Say Mayhem, would ya mind sellin’ alone dis aftahnoon?” Sparkles asked carefully the next day while they were trying to get rid of their last papers before going to Tibby’s for lunch.
“Ya know, since da show opens next week dey asked me if I could woik earlier tanight, dere’s still so much ta do.”
Although the prospect of selling alone was frustrating Mayhem to a great extent she tried not to look it, aware of how much the job at the theater meant to her friend.
“Yeah, I guess I’ll manage,” she replied, glaring at an elderly gentleman who had dared to pass them without buying a newspaper. “When are ya gonna be done dere? I could pick ya up.”
The delight in Sparkles’ eyes rewarded her immediately. “Really? Oh, dat’s wonderful! I think I’ll be done around ten,” Sparkles beamed and began to explain the directions to the theater.
Race returned from Sheepshead Bay tired and hungry, his bad luck at the tracks had prevented him from having any dinner that day. Lady Luck seemed to bear a grudge to him just like all females lately.
Hang on a second, what was it wid Wednesday an’ dames? Oh damn, Blink wanted ta take da goils to da Coney Island fair tanight.
Race groaned at the memory. Another date like his first with Millie would certainly not raise his mood. And he hadn’t had the chance to explain the Trifle incident to her yet. This promised to be an exciting evening.
When Race entered the boys’ bunkroom Blink was just checking his appearance in one of the bathroom mirrors.
“Alright, I’m heah, Blink. But lemme tell ya right away, I ain’t got no money ta take da goils on no fancy rides tanight,” Race grumbled and reached for a comb.
“Er, Race, dat won’t be necessary,” Blink stuttered. Race raised his eyebrows.
“Whadda ya mean?”
Just then Mush entered, a broad smile on his face. “I’m ready now, Blink! Look, I even got Millie some flowers, ya think she’s gonna like ‘em?”
Under Race’s irritated stare Blink began to sweat slightly. “Um, listen Race, Millie said she’d rather become a nun dan go out wid you again, so I thought, well, somebody else should come wid me dis time.”
“I see,” Race said icily.
“I knew ya’d understand!” Blink replied quickly and pulled Mush outside. Race sighed and went downstairs to find somebody to talk into a round of poker.