The Roof

[Administrator]

Sunrise, sunset, and night time stars twinkle brightly. Enjoy the view of the city.

[zoo]

-because it's open-

Zoo wasn't a morning person. She yawned as she climbed onto the roof in the brisk morning. To her knowledge, everyone else in the bunk room was still asleep. The sun was just coming up though, and she decided that it was as good a time as any to wake from her sleeplessness and just get up. She'd noticed a small rip in her dress, so she took her needle and thread (and cigarette) up to the roof to watch the sun rise and do some tailoring. She sat cross legged on the ground - it was as good a place as any.

She took a deep breath in from her cigarette, blew it quietly out, and then let the cigarette sit in the corner of her mouth while she sewed. For someone who typically enjoyed entertaining and being entertained, she was enjoying the silence. The calm. Of course there was movement occurring, but it was happening far below and beyond.

[jewelkent]

Jewel arrived back n the Bronx pretty late. She figured she had time to go up to the roof, and do some thinking. She had had a rough day... *Good Lord!! What a day!* she thought to herself.

As she climbed up to the roof, she looked up at the sky, and noticed the beautiful view in front of her. "Oh, how beautiful. God, I missed this place." she muttered out loud.

She pulled out a pack of smokes she had obtained in Manhattan. She pulled out one, and lit it.

As she inhaled and exhaled the smoke, she smiled to herself "Oh man, haven't done that in a while" she said out loud.

Just then she saw a silhouette on the roof with her "Hey! Who's out here with me?" she asked in a loud whisper.

[zoo]

Zoo grabbed the cigarette out of her mouth before yawning. This whole "being awake" process was a real downer. Once she was awake for an hour or so she'd see things differently, but until then she moved through a sleepy, smoky abyss. As she put the cigarette back in her mouth, another yawn caught her off guard, and she ended up making a ruckus coughing out the smoke. She laughed to herself and finally breathed easy again. She hadn't heard it before, but someone must have arrived on the roof.

"Hey, who's out here with me?" Zoo turned her head to see Jewel smoking her own cigarette. "Oh, hello Jewel. It's just Zoo, and I daresay you're the one up here with me." She smiled to herself - that was the kind of smarmy remark her older brother would have made. "How was your night?"

[jewelkent]

Jewel walked over to Zoo and smiled at her tiredly. She then came to sit down next to her, pulling her skirt down over her knees as she sat. She looked up in the sky, and saw the sun coming up.

"Hey, Zoo. Haven't seen you all day, sweetie. Wow, what a day! Looks like I've been gone a whole 24 hours, huh? I mean, I left here to sell yesterday morning with all of you. Then, I was out in Queens after sellin', where I was highly disrespected by one of the girls from Brooklyn, and now apparently I've been banned from Brooklyn. Then I was crossing the Brooklyn Bridge to get to Manhattan, and I get jumped by 3 other Brooklyn newsies. I got slapped by one of the other girls up there. But my time in Manhattan was eventful. I met a nice girl at the local diner, and we talked and had a good time. Now, I'm back here." She said.

Jewel sighed heavily as she finished talking "So, how was my day? Pretty damn strange, I'd say." She said to Zoo with a chuckle, as she took a drag out of her cigarette.

She then ran her hand through her now flowing red hair, and looked over at Zoo "So, how was your day, girl?" She asked her, putting a hand on Zoo's shoulder.

[zoo]

Zoo nodded as the girl discussed her day. She continued pulling the needle in and out of the green fabric. "I guess I didn't remember seeing you come in last night."

Jewel continued telling her story. It was like Zoo had picked up a book and was having it read to her. Some of it seemed nearly unbelievable. She chuckled and shook her head. "Jewel, I'm not sure how you manage to get yourself on any persons good side or bad side so quickly." The girl was several years younger than she, but she did seem to have a sharp tongue. "But it seems like you keep yourself plenty busy."

"Yesterday was fine. Sold papers. Then I came back and studied my nursing textbook for a bit." She took in some of her cigarette and breathed it out again. "Things are calm for now - but an adventure is coming. Something is very near I think. I've nearly got my job back at Irving Hall, and hopefully a performance is just around the corner."

[jewelkent]

Jewel chuckled "Girl, I haven't been here since after my fight with that girl Emma, remember her?"
she asked Zoo.

"Has anyone been wondering where I had disappeared to?" Jewel asked her, taking in a little more of her cigarette.

Jewel then looked up into the sky as the sun rose, and them morning became evident. "Oh, today is gonna be a beautiful day. I just hope that it's better than yesterday." she said.

"Nursing textbook? So, you wanna work in Medicine someday? Or are you already doin' so?" Jewel asked.

Jewel looked up as Zoo mentioned Irving Hall. She'd heard of the place, she knew it was in Manhattan. "Your job back at Irving Hall? Did you used to be a dancer there or somethin?" she asked her.

Jewel stubbed out her cigarette, and chuckled slightly "Well, Zoo. I will tell ya. If there is adventure coming... I can't wait to see what else is in store for you and I today?" she sighed.

Jewel fiddled with her hair absently as she twisted one of the ends of it, and then flipped it behind her back. "Well, that takes care of yesterday. Now, what's on the agenda for today, my dear bunkmate?" she asked Zoo.

[zoo]

"I think I saw Emma selling papers yesterday. Didn't look as angry as she was the other night." She looked over to Jewel, minding that she look at her at least a little since she was conversing with her. "I don't think anyone was too worried, though. We all tucked in pretty early last night, just assumed you'd be back when you were back. But I'm sure people will be glad you're not a corpse."

She turned back to her sewing. The sun was gaining brightness, and even though the windows were becoming golden, it made it difficult to look anywhere but down in the face of the sun. "I'm back in New York to get to nursing school. I'm just a newsie for now to save up money to attend classes. I figure I might as well learn what I can so things go easier once I get back in."

Zoo smiled at her interest in Irving Hall. It was a memorizing place. "I used to sing there. Nothing too special or original, just songs that I heard up in Boston. Lots and lots of ballads, I can tell you that much."

Tuck in, tuck out, pull, and - done. The dress she currently wore was finally mended. Not that anyone really would have noticed, but with all her years of cross-stitching, it looked like a very fine mend. Almost as good as her practiced mother might have done. She still had some cigarette left though, so she put a hand behind her and shifted her weight leaning on her arm. She smiled. Bunkmate. Of course.

"Well, it'll soon be time to get some papers. Beyond that..." she took a little more smoke "I'm not sure. I should probably get a letter written and mailed. And actually, I was thinking about dropping by a church. Are you aware of any good ones?"

[jewelkent]

Jewel laughed at little bit at the mention of Emma "Well, I'm glad to know that she has calmed down a bit. That girl was so vial to me the other day."

Jewel then heard Zoo talk about Nursing school. She nodded "Wow, Nursing school. That's impressive." she said.

Then when Zoo said that she used to sing at Irving Hall, Jewel beamed "Oh wow, that's my life-long dream. To work at Irving Hall...If I were to ever quit being a newsie...I would be a singer. I used to sing for someone of the younger kids at the Orphanage." she said.

Just then, Jewel's smile faded in disappointment as she thought of what had happened to her all day yesterday. "I am so glad everyone had a nice night. Meanwhile, I was practically getting pummeled out there by Brooklyn. I was praying that someone would help me...but no one ever came for me. I was outnumbered, and it was like no one cared." she said sadly.

Jewel nodded "Yup, I guess that it's time to go out there once again, and sell them papes. Afterwards, I gotta write a letter too. I gotta convince my sweetheart Jacob to come down and visit me from Philadelphia." she said.

Jewel sat and thought about Jacob for a moment, and what it would be like to see him again if he ever came to New York.

"I hope you get to meet him if I can get him to visit. He's such a great guy, Zoo." Jewel explained.

[zoo]

"Well", Zoo said, "I don't think anyone came because you seem like the type that would go out on your own to find some fun. It's not that nobody noticed you weren't there, but do you really want somebody to follow your every move?"

Zoo was sorely disappointed when she realized the cigarette she had been smoking was dwindling. She stuck the stub that was left under her foot and smothered it, standing up.

"I'm glad you have someone special that you know is there. It's good to know, even if they are far away." She picked up her thread spool that she had stuck the needle into. She pulled one arm behind her. "I guess the day has begun. Better head over to pick papers up. See you back here tonight, 'bunkmate'?"

[jewelkent]

Jewel shrugged "No, I guess I wouldn't want that. Besides, I already told the Brooklyn people that I'd stay away from that area. So there's no need to worry about it anymore." She sighed.

Jewel nodded "Well, since Jacob is all the way out in Philadelphia, it won't be easy for him to get here, but it is nice to have a guy I can count on." She sighed.

Jewel saw the sun come out, and smiled brightly "Yup, time to start another day of sellin' papes. So, yes! I guess I will see you back here tonight, sweetie." She said, patting Zoo on the back.