yes we C A N E ((open))

[The Entertainer]

The Entertainer was sulking. He normally was cheery and happy, stood as straight as a board, and was either humming or singing something. Now, a scowl was in place of his usual smile. His shoulders were slumped, something he never did. His posture was always perfect. And he was silent...for once.

He was perfectly fine until about an hour ago. He finally saved up enough money for a cane, something he felt he needed. A nice cane that would make others fear him, and know he was someone to be respected. He was going to be rich and famous someday, he felt like he needed to be treated like the star he was now. If he had a cane, he would be respected, plus he would get to hit people with it, just like his dance teacher. When he was younger, his dance teacher had a very large cane, that's how he knew to respect her. She would go around and hit them if they weren't doing something right. The Entertainer knew he could do that too, whenever he saw someone doing anything improper he would just hit them, and fix the problem.

But, he was now sulking down the streets of The Bronx, caneless. He didn't know where he was going. He started out in Brooklyn. Well, technically, Staten Island. Then he rode the ferry to Brooklyn to buy his cane. He was so proud of himself, he saved three whole dollars and was going to buy himself a cane. But, the cane he knew he deserved was eight dollars. He walked out of the store, and almost cried. But he didn't, because men didn't cry, and The Entertainer was a man. Men sulked. So, The Entertainer was walking around New York, just sulking. He wandered around Brooklyn, put a foot in Manhattan, and was now wandering The Bronx. He didn't want to go back to Staten Island. Before he left, he told (more like bragged) to everyone in the lodging house that he was going to get a cane, and they would give him the respect he deserved. It would be so humiliating to walk back in, and hear them laugh at him, and listen to their taunts.

He slumped over, and kicked a rock down the street, sighing. He wanted his cane.

[Peep]

Peep was following the Entertainer. There were no other words for it. He could have been doing something productive. He could have been digging up information, he could have been doing a million other things. Instead... He was following a young man who did not even know he existed. Peep sighed and stopped behing a lamp post. It was not enough to hide him, but he was done hiding. What was he doing?

Nothing. That was what. He had watched the Entertainer walk out of the Lodging House with a swagger, continued that way on the ferry (he had missed that one and had to catch the next one) and when he had found him again in Brooklyn, the swagger was gone. What had happened? Why did he walk away without his cane? This was confusing Peep horribly.

He thought about his chances. Should he run back to Staten Island, or continue on this doomed quest of his? He knew what the end result would be if he ran away. But what if he followed the Entertainer? Who knew where that may lead? Peep felt excitement course through his veins. Why not?

Peep sighed and pulled himself away from the lamp post. He quickly spotted the young man, turned around sharply and looped around the block-not realizing how big it was. He was intending to just happen to 'run' into the Entertainer. That was if he did not die of exertion first...

Peep made it, he slowed to a walk and started down the block toward his target. When he was only a few feet away he asked in a desperate attempt to be casual and not gasping for air, "Entertainer? What are you doing here? In the Bronx?" He waited patiently, his eyes wide and only slightly curious. He was resisting to just hug the man and pat him on the back. For some reason, he knew exactly what was wrong.

"Sorry, not really my business. I'll just go... then?" Peep asked uncertainly, not really wanting to leave him and have to walk anywhere alone at that moment.

[The Entertainer]

"Entertainer? What are you doing here? In the Bronx?"

The Entertainer jumped, and turned around, ready to attack whoever called his name. He almost did some crazy attack blocking move, but figured that would be embarrassing, so he didn't. He saw Peep, the Staten Island leader. "Oh, it's just you. I thought you were some attacker who was coming to steal my voice or something." He chuckled awkwardly, before clearing his throat. Peep was the leader and had every right to know what he had been doing. If he didn't tell him, he could get kicked out, and he couldn't leave Staten Island! He had too many adoring fans there! Well, they could be called his friends too, but he preferred calling them his fans. It made him feel important.

"For your information, I'm in The Bronx because I left our lodging house precisely at ten oh three this morning. I took the ferry, which took me to Brooklyn. I went to Brooklyn so I could get..." He paused, usually when he voiced his thoughts he ended up embarrassing himself, but Peep was his leader and friend, so he had to tell him. "...A cane." He said sheepishly, hanging his head a bit. "If I had a cane like Spot or someone like him, then I'd be treated like the star I am. I could even hit people with my cane!" He said beaming, before glancing down and muttering sheepishly, "I wouldn't hit you, Peep. You're never mean to me. I'd only hit the ones who were mean to me, or just for fun. Like Jumper! I'd poke him and watch him go crazy, and then talk about how he isn't crazy. And then I would laugh, but not too hard, because I can't ruin my voice."

"Sorry, not really my business. I'll just go... then?"

"No, no, no!" He said, "Don't go. I need company. Or someone to follow me around. That makes people look important too." He nodded. He had all of this planned out in his head. "But it is your business. You're my leader. My business is supposed to be your business. Well, kind of. It's hard to explain. I can't really voice my thought that well, you know?"

[Peep]

Peep watched the Entertainer jumped around and move to defend himself. It was quite comical. Peep had to work hard not to laugh. Peep's eyebrows came together. "Steal your voice? Is that possible?" Then deciding to overlook this logic, he moved on without waiting for a response. "Well, I'm not here to attack you." He nodded, smiling kindly. This is why he followed this man, to get a laugh. He knew the guy must be nervous, so he said reassuringly, "You honestly don't have to tell me. I mean, it's just me. I always ask people what they're doing. Habit of um... spying." He shrugged, realizing her was coming to close to revealing he'd been following the Entertainer.

Peep nodded, listening and could not help interuppting. "It was ten oh two, actually." He said, coloring slightly. He had a mind for memories and remembered everything. "When you left the Lodging House that is." He rubbed his neck uncomfortably. Peep pretended to look for a cane. "Did you get one? Are you hiding it for a sneak attack on Jumper?" Peep asked, smiling slightly. Peep smiled. "Thanks for not hitting me. But uh... I think you're already treated like a star. I mean who else could get away with the things you do?" He laughed, attempting a weak joke. "Yeah... Don't want to ruin your voice."

Peep chuckled. "I understand completely." He said. But he had not really listened to what the Entertainer had said. He was focusing on the fact that the Entertainer wanted him around. At this point, Peep would follow the other anywhere. "You don't need to look important, only feel important, then everyone else can see it too. I mean... I don't look important. I look like a little lost boy..." He shrugged. "Really? I didn't know leaders were so... involved. I thought just thought we were supposed to make sure no one killed one of you or you didn't kill each other." He said this thinking of Jumper and the others... "But... Okay." He nodded. "Sounds good to me."

[The Entertainer]

"Steal your voice? Is that possible?"

He nodded, "It's very possible! They could cut open my throat and steal the beautiful vocal chords that lie underneath!" He said, dramatically. The Entertainer didn't really know how to explain anything without using wild hand gestures and dramatic voices. It was just something that he did.

"It was ten oh two, actually."

"Oh." He said simply, thinking nothing of it. "I stand corrected." He said, grinning. Peep was very observant. The Entertainer considered himself to be observant. He had to be on his toes at all times, because he was convinced someone who was so jealous of his talent and fame would try to kill him. Sure, he wasn't famous then, but practice couldn't hurt. "You're very observant." He said, voicing his thoughts.

"Did you get one? Are you hiding it for a sneak attack on Jumper? Thanks for not hitting me. But uh... I think you're already treated like a star. I mean who else could get away with the things you do?"

His lips curled into a frown, he now wanted to take back his observant compliment. Obviously, he did not have a cane. He had air. An air cane. How pathetic. He wanted a real cane. "No. The cane's too expensive. I have to live, I need food, water, voice lessons..." He trailed off, and crossed his arms. Why wasn't he famous now?

The Entertainer grinned at Peep's compliment. "That's true! No one else could get away with half of the things I do! Because they're not going to be famous, and I am! So they want to stay on my good side, so that I might help them out later." He chuckled at his own brilliance.

"You don't need to look important, only feel important, then everyone else can see it too. I mean... I don't look important. I look like a little lost boy... Really? I didn't know leaders were so... involved. I thought just thought we were supposed to make sure no one killed one of you or you didn't kill each other."

"Nah, you don't look like a lost little boy. You look like well..." He trailed off looking Peep over. What did he look like? He wasn't as well dressed as The Entertainer, but no one really was, except for all the rich people. "You look like a Staten Island leader." He grinned again at his brilliance. "You have the look of a leader! The look of someone who needs to be respected. Everyone around probably respects you, because you demand it without even knowing." He nodded.

The Entertainer shook his head, "Oh no. That's only half of the job. At least, that's what I think it should be. If I were leader, that's what I would do. But I'm not leader, you're better fitted for that position. I'm the borough member that's going to be a star, every borough has one." He wasn't too certain on that 'fact', but he figured he was right. He was rarely wrong.

[Peep]

As the Entertainer explained how his voice would be stolen, Peep had to avoid his wild hand gestures to make sure he was not smacked in the face. Peep smiled, to show no ill will. After all, who could feel anything but joy around this guy?

Peep flushed as the Entertainer complimented him. He tried to hide it by passing a penny to a child selling papes, taking one calmly. Finally, after scanning the paper just to have something to do, he said, "Thanks." And then he grinned, tucking the newspaper into the bag that was slung across his shoulders.

He nodded sympathecially, listening to the other's problems. "I'm sorry. They can be expense. But uh..." Peep looked around. "I kind of bought it for you." He said sheepishly. "I-I uh... Kind of followed you there and I noticed which one you looked at the most and the longest. So... I bought it. All you need to do is pick it up." Peep dug into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. "Just give this to the man and he'll give it to. All packaged and wrapped nicely for you." Peep handed the slip of paper over. "And I don't want to hear you saying anything about not taking it or paying me back, because I won't hear it." And his fierce expression gave this message to the Entertainer.

Peep laughed. "Yeah. You're gonna be famous. If you aren't someday, I'll jump off the Brooklyn Bridge and then punch Spot in the face." He said. Then paled. "But uh... No need to mention that to anyone, right?" He asked nervously.

Peep listened to the Entertainer describe him. Is that really what he thought of Peep? Peep flushed and bent his head, messing with his hair, not sure how to respond. Peep smiled nervously and then looked at the other boy. "Thanks..." He said, then went to touch his arm, switched to patting his shoulder, and then settled on a playful punch on the shoulder. He looked away quickly. What an idiot he was.

He chuckled weakly. "I'll keep that in mind. But believe me, I'm not going to get overly involved with anyone unless they want me too. Especially not Missy." He smiled, "She kind of scares me. In fact, all girls do." He paled, frowning. Had he just said that? What if the Entertainer guessed? Trying to act normal, Peep laughed a little louder then he had intended. "Yeah, every borough has one, but you're the real star." Then it was silent. Awkwardly silent.

[The Entertainer]

"I-I uh... Kind of followed you there and I noticed which one you looked at the most and the longest. So... I bought it. All you need to do is pick it up."

The Entertainer's eyes widened, "You...you bought me a cane?" He asked in disbelief. No one had ever done anything that nice for him before, they usually laughed at his silly wish for a cane. He took the slip of paper and looked at it, before looking back up at Peep, his blue-gray eyes were full of shock. "You did this for me?" He beamed, before giving the Staten Island leader a bear hug. "No one's ever done anything like that for me!" He exclaimed, before letting go of him.

"And I don't want to hear you saying anything about not taking it or paying me back, because I won't hear it."

He shook his head, his big smile still across his face. "No, no of course not." He said, still shocked that he was going to get his cane after all. "Thank you, Peep! You're the best, you know that right?!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah. You're gonna be famous. If you aren't someday, I'll jump off the Brooklyn Bridge and then punch Spot in the face. But uh... No need to mention that to anyone, right?"

The Entertainer's eyes grew wide, "You'd punch Spot Conlon in the face?!" He asked quietly. "If I came face to face with him, I don't think I'd even be able to look him in the eyes without passing out!" He said, running a hand through his brown hair. "You're brave, Peep. Much braver than I am. And I'm pursuing a career in show business. That's saying something." He said with a nod.

"I'll keep that in mind. But believe me, I'm not going to get overly involved with anyone unless they want me too. Especially not Missy. She kind of scares me. In fact, all girls do."

His eyes widened again, "Me too!" He exclaimed. "Missy scares me, she scares me a lot. So do her two boyfriends. I can't tell which one she's with now." He said, shrugging. "Jumper and I decided that we need to protect her from them, because they're hurting her. And her hurting makes the young ones upset, and then it goes downhill from there." He said, rolling his eyes dramatically. The Entertainer nodded. "Girls are scary, I guess certain types of girls aren't scary. But I still like them." He said, cheerfully.

"Yeah, every borough has one, but you're the real star."

He cleared his throat. It was now silent. He didn't like silence at all. "You think so?" He asked, trying to break the silence.

[Peep]

Peep nodded, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, I-I did." He grinned despite his nervousness. "Why not? You needed a cane, I had some extra cash..." That was a lie. He had spent his personal savings. No new shirt for a few months. No need to ask his parents for more money, he would have to lie about Uncle Alfie and it would be weird and, yeah... He wasn't going there yet. Peep was suddenly swept into a bear hug and his eyes widened in shock. When the Entertainer let him go, he took a deep breath, suspecting one of his ribs may have been broken. "No problem." He said.

Peep laughed. "Yeah... I'm the best." His tone clearly said he did not believe it. If only the Entertainer knew, but Peep was not going to tell him. "You're welcome." He said. "I try my best."

Peep held his hands up, looking shocked. "No, no, I'm not brave. That's only talk, thank the Lord I don't actually have to do it. You're gonna be famous right, don't let me done." He grinned. "And... I may just smack him and run for it." He laughed.

Peep nodded. "Glad I'm not alone." He said, trying to keep his voice straight as a small bubble of hope swelled inside of him. Peep thought a bit then said, "She's with Chance now, but she's having August's baby, and he's been getting close to a new girl in the Bronx and..." He thought about anything else he might have missed, "And Street told Chance she loved him. He rejected her of course, and he may be in trouble with Missy, but I slipped from the rafters before I heard anymore. Nearly got caught. Anything else you want to know?" Then he remembered something else he had wanted to tell the Entertainer. "Oh yeah, Irving Hall's looking for a new act." He hinted.

"You and Jumper... As bodyguards?" He chuckled slightly. "You two may need protection from each other, but... I'm glad you're trying to help her. You two are good people. I would help, but... I don't think she needs my help. After all, what can I do? I've never been in a relationship. Sure... I fooled around with Drifter once, but that was about it." He grinned. "Yeah, only certain types. Princess isn't scary, and neither are a few younger ones. But when they start dating..." He shivered melodramatically. "Then they go crazy."

Peep looked at him, shocked he would even ask such a question. "Of course! Who else could be a star? You know, you may be bigger then Medda one day." He suggested, laughing.

[The Entertainer]

"Yeah... I'm the best. I try my best."

"You are!" He exclaimed, "Thank you again!" The Entertainer said before nodding, "You don't need to try, you're just automatically great!" He nodded again, convinced this was true.

"No, no, I'm not brave. That's only talk, thank the Lord I don't actually have to do it. You're gonna be famous right, don't let me done."

The Entertainer nodded again, and beamed. "I will be famous, so you don't have to punch Spot. He would kill you, and I don't want you to die. That'd be bad." His eyes widened, "Then who would take over Staten?!" He asked, "I can't, because I'm going to be famous, none of the younger ones can, that leaves Jumper and Missy. So you can't die, Peep."

His eyes widened again, "That's fascinating." He almost whispered. "You know a lot about those people, I know my fellow Statens, and that's about it." He said, "I wish I knew as many people as you do, Peep." He gasped, "Really?! Irving Hall is looking for a new act?! That could be me! Peep, that could be me!" He exclaimed.

The Entertainer laughed, "That's true. But I can beat them with my new cane, and Jumper said he'll throw chairs at them. I think we'll work well as bodyguards." He grinned. "I've never been in a relationship either. I don't think girls could handle me. That's what they've said anyways. At least you've been with someone." He said, nodding.

He grinned, "You think so? That'd be nice, I hope one day I'm bigger than Medda!"

[Peep]

Peep couldn't help but grin. "Oh, go on!" He joked then held out his hands, "No, it's okay, I believe you believe that." He said, realizing the Entertainer would probably go on, so he used some lawyer lingo he picked up to make both of them happy. "And... Thanks." He said.

He laughed, really laughed, harder then he had in a long time. "I'm not going to die... Unless someone has a hit out on me that I don't know of, and I know alot..." He grinned. "No, Missy's gonna have her baby and we don't need a mom running around freaking out on you all, and Jumper's... Jumper." He laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not going to die!" He said to calm the other boy.

Peep shrugged. "It's my job. Before Staten was established permanently, I was almost a bird. At least, I gave information to Doll and she used it." He sighed. "But you don't really know people... Only random things about them. And from that information, you can kind of discern who they are, but not really. I mean, I knew your nickname, I knew your real name, your age, your job, everything... But I didn't know you... You know?" He said, scratching his head and wondering if he was explaining this right. Then he laughed. "It certainly could be you!" He cheered.

Peep thought about this, imagining it. A faceless mob against the Entertainer and Jumper, both using their methods. Then he burst out laughing. "I can actually see that! And it's hilarious! Alright, if Missy needs bodyguards, you two will be up to the job." He said, grinning. "I'm sure she's out there..." He said, resigning himself to the fact that he was not even an option.

"No, no... You will be bigger then Medda! I assure you!" He said, his grin growing larger.