The bird of Manhatten

Chapter 25 - in which many things, that were held back, are spoken out

February 1900
Manhattan, New York City
Jacks P.O.V.

"Hey, Mags, wanna sell wit' me today?", I ask, as we get our papes.
"Don't ya sell wit Davey an' Les?", she questions back, turnin' half ways ta me, raisin' her eyebrows.
"Can't I sell wit whoever I want?"
"Um... sure ya can..."
"So, wanna sell wit' me or not?"
"Jack? Ya O-"
"Yes or no?"
She sighs. "Yes."
I smile, but then she turns ta me completely.
"Ya look... tired.", I determine.
"Wow, thanks Jack.", she sarcastically answers an' rolls her eyes.
"Sorry."
She walks past me, then turnin' back. "Wanna sell now, or not?"
I smirk at her. "Commin'."

"So.", Mags says after half an hour of sellin'. "What's da real reason, ya wanted ta sell wit' me. Is somethin' wrong? Fight wit' Davey?"
"There's no reason."
She raises her eyebrows again. She doesn't believe me.
"Do I really need a reason ta sell wit' my little sista?", I snap. I don't know, why I's so angry now.
Mags raises her arms in defence. "No, of course not. I jus'... Never mind."
"Ya jus' what?"
"Oh nothin'. I jus' thought maybe somethin' happened."
"No.", I answer. "Nothin' happened. I jus' wanted to sell wit' ya."
"Wanna tell me 'bout it?"
"There is nothin'.", I say again wit' determination. I turn away, shout another headline, an' sell some papes, ta avoid her. Unfortunately, foa me, ya can't jus' ignore Magpie. She'll jus' be quiet foa two seconds an' ask ya again. I hand da man in front of me a pape.
"So?", she asks.
"Can we please talk another time?", I question hopefully.
She hesitates before she answers. "Fine.", she eventually says.
"Really?" I's seriously surprised. She never gave up dis easily before.
"Yes. It's ya life, ya know?"
"Ya sure? Ya ok?"
"Yes, Jack." She sounds annoyed. Maybe she's on her period.
Magpie turns around to sell one of her papes ta a lady, when she suddenly sways an' then falls. Scared I run over ta her an' catch her before she hits da ground.
Her eyes is open, but it seems like she can't see.
"Jack?" Her voice sounds terrified. "I... I can't see."
"Sh.", I try ta calm her down. "I's here. I won't leave ya." I hold her.
Her legs seem too weak ta carry her. As we stand there, we get questionin' glares from passers-by.
After a while she pulls away.
"Better?", I ask carefully.
She nods. "Sorry.", she whispers.
"What foa?"
"Don't know."
"Did dat happen before?"
"I... I don't think so... At least I can't remember somethin' like dat. Don't worry. I's sure it's jus' da lack of sleep."
"Lack of sleep?"
She blushes like she didn't want me ta know.
"Magpie?"
"Headache.", she answers quietly.
"What?"
"I's got a headache tonight. I barely slept."
"Ya still have it?"
"No, I's fine."
"Ya not."
"Yes, I is."
"No, ya not."
"Shut up."
"Nope."
"Francis Sullivan! Shut ya damn mouth right now! I don't wanna talk about it!" She turns away an' walk over ta da other side of da street, yellin' headlines, sellin' papes.
I follow her. "Ok, ok.", I say. "What 'bout a deal?"
She raises her eyebrows. "A deal? 'Bout what?"
I smile. I knew I'll get her dat way.
"I'll tell ya 'bout what's botherin' me... an' ya will tell me 'bout ya headache... Deal?"
She looks at me, scannin' my face like she expects me ta lie.
"Deal.", she says eventually.
I smirk an' spit in my hand, holdin' it up foa her. She rolls her eyes but copies me an' we shake. We continue sellin' in silence.

Around five o'clock we'se done sellin'.
"Wanna go ta Tibby's?", I ask.
She shakes her head. "Can we please go home? I's tired."
"Sure. Let's go." I offer her my arm. She laughs an' takes it. We slowly walk back.
She leans against me. "Jack?"
"Hm?"
"What is it like?"
"What is what like?"
"Ta be in love."
I stop short. "Um...", is my answer.
"Ya don't have ta answer.", she says quickly.
"No, no. it's ok... ya jus' caught my off guard. Well... ta be in love is somethin' wonderful. It's... it's like a dream, I think... an' very difficult da describe."
"But it also hurts."
"Sometimes."
"Then why do it?"
"What?"
"Why do we do it, when we know, it'll hurt us."
"Ya never know dat before."
"Yes, ya do."
"So?"
"Yes. Even if ya happy together. Ya die in da end. An' most likely not together."
"..." I have no idea what ta say ta dat. "... Love's jus' complicated?"
"I don't think I understand."
"Me neither, sweetheart. Me neither."
"Love's strange."
"Yeah."
Da rest of da way we walk in silence.