back to my own very small pond {OPEN TO MANHATTAN}

[Babydoll]

Around a lamppost swung the figure of the wiry former Manhattan newsie. Her brown hair was tied back in a single braid off to the side. It was about mid-afternoon by the sun in the sky, meaning that most newsies were either finished selling or nearly there unless it wasn't a good day. This was the kind of day that she would've spent sprawled out on Horace's lap. But she couldn't have done so today even if she wanted to.

Why? Well, for one she wasn't a part of Manhattan anymore, she was a Statener. Two, it was close to Irving…or what was Irving. The fact that it was so close unnerved her. Three, the statue's lap would be too hot at this point in the day. In her day she would've either blown off the day to stay there, or bought and sold a fraction of her papers to get there early and relax.

Once Jack Kelly had aroused her when she was trying to nap on the old perch. She'd nearly fallen off, but hadn't minded. They'd talked in the shade at the base of the statue. He hadn't been around much and he'd apologized. Baby hadn't minded. It was what leaders did, went to meetings, discussed the welfare of their newsies. She'd been worried about the kidnappings of newsies by Harlem but he'd assured her that she was safe…

How long ago was that day, again? It seemed like years…since then she actually had gotten kidnapped, things had gotten worked out, and Harlem had been broken up. Then a blur of events before she moved out for Staten.

What the hell had she been thinking when she'd done that? Was it really all because she had been afraid of being left behind by her borough-mates? Everyone was growing up, even her–though that was more after the move–and that couldn't be avoided. It had it's advantages, though. She met The Entertainer, Peep, Darling, Dancer, Princess, and Jumper. But she hadn't connected with the Stateners the way she'd connected with Manhattan newsies. But she could move back…she'd look stupid and wishy-washy. And she didn't want to do that.

A part of her wanted to move back, though. Back to what she was…where she was known well…back to her friends. She wanted to go back and be the contented little fish in the familiar pond.

Babydoll looked up from her scuffed-up boot toes to find herself in the same square as the familiar form of Horace's statue. A weak smile flickered to life on her lips. "Did ya miss me, Horace?" she whispered, as if it would hear her and respond.

The girl walked quietly to the statue and then around it to the shade, pressed her back into the base, and slid down to the ground, knees to her chest. God, she'd missed this little sanctuary from the sun. She'd missed a lot of 'Hattan, whether she'd admit it or not that was up in the air.

For a moment, she felt like she fit in perfectly.

[Rita Thomas]

Tired and dirty, Rita wanted nothing more than to go back to the lodging house and take a nap. A long bath sounded good too. She was up past midnight last night, and left the lodging house before dawn that morning. She was worn out, and starving. She didn't have the time or money to eat. But she needed money. Sacrifices had to be made. Food could come later.

A breeze blew by, lifting her braids from her shoulders. She welcomed the wind, and wiped her forehead, and face. The breeze brought the promise of fall, which was rapidly approaching. Rita enjoyed fall; the cool days, the different colors of the trees. Fall in New York was beautiful. She wasn't eagerly awaiting this fall though. It reminded her that she had a deadline. If she wanted to raise enough money to visit her family, she had to do it fast. She had to visit and be back before winter. Could she earn enough money, go visit, and be back before the first snowfall? She didn't want to risk getting caught in a blizzard. Being stranded in a foreign state didn't sound that appealing to her.

Just then, her fatigue and hunger caught up to her. She steadied herself against the Horace Greeley statue, trying to ignore the dizzy spell. Maybe she could take a short break and relax at the statue. Maybe one of her Manhattan friends would stop by. It had been too long since she visited with one of them. She spent all of her time working. Sure, she would say hi to them, but she couldn't remember the last time she had a conversation. She sighed. Were her ambitions pointless? She was beginning to think they were.

She heard a voice, and stepped away from the statue, trying to find who the voice belonged to. Rita looked up, her green eyes scanning the area. She looked up at Horace, and blinked. She wasn't sure if she was imagining things due to her hunger and lack of sleep, but the girl sitting in Horace's lap looked like Babydoll. Could it be? She was a Statener now. What was she doing in Manhattan? "Babydoll!" She exclaimed, "Is that you?!"

[Skittery]

--

Somewhere
Far away
From here

I saw stars
Stars that I
Could reach

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It was a midnight
A silent twilight
Fell down

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Beyond the Ocean Reach

Staring off into the great expanse of the Manhattan streets, Skittery sighed. Nothing was as he planned. Chatter left, Eloise dead, his mother dead, how many more would be polluted by his ever-lasting misfortune? Not only did it destroy his own life, it appeared that the one error, one lapse in judgement, was ruining everyone that he cared about. Destroyed and ripped apart. Ever since that one moment of utter fear, Skittery had been tossed from one misfortune to the next. Mean while, the ghost of his sister haunted him, appearing at the moments of his happiness, crushing everything that made him feel happy.

The strike was a prime example of that one. The start of the strike, Cowboy taking an initiative. Maybe Skittery could finally make enough money to not borrow from various Newsies to have his meal... That had started a long time ago, and Skittery was just waiting to get out of that destructive pattern.... Then things seemed even better when Denten got their story on the front page. Skittery was about to cheer with the rest of them, when Eloise had arrived and crushed everything happy about that moment. Thus bringing him the cruelest nickname he'd had in a while. Dumb and Glum.

Skittery heard voices, snapping him out of his trance. He stood and walked towards it. After walking for a while he arrived at the Statue. Personally, Skittery wasn't one to hang around the statue, but this time he saw two girls. One was familiar, he didn't quite remember who it was though... The other face was familiar too, but he didn't think he'd see again here in Manhattan. Babydoll. He didn't exactly remember a ton about her, but he remembered that she was cool. Didn't she go to Staten Island? Skittery raised his eyebrows slightly and walked over to the two girls. "Hey," he grumbled, refusing to be thankful or happy at Babydoll's reappearance. Eloise would only ruin it...

You make the sound of pulling heaven down

I'm reaching farther than I ever have before: 363, that's without the 277 words it took to make it!
Leaving all who broke your heart upon the shore: Beh.... It could be better...
I may be some sort of crazy: Heya Guys!
We may be some sort of crazy: Babydoll, Rita

But I swear on everything I have and more
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Yep. This post format was made by Spotty. She can use the little copy-right symbol and everything. ®. There now it's official. If you remove this tag you are legally liable to Spotty coming and hunting you down.
Lyrics: Sound of Pulling Heaven Down, Blue October. Love you guys!
Pessimist Graphic ® Mouse, she's the genius who came up with that one. Not me!

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