Always and Forever... Maybe *Spot Conlon*

"There's the beautiful girl of the day," Jack says as I step out of the washroom.

I smile and fake a bow. "Why thank you, kind sir."

Jack laughs and throws his arm around my shoulders.

Mush scowls from across the room. "Careful, Cowboy. That's my sista."

Kid Blink ruffles Mush's hair as Mush glares at him. "Ay, lighten up Mushy. You ain't scaring nobody."

"'Specially not me," Jack says.

Kid Blink walks over to me and takes my hand, spinning me around. "Plus, what we's supposed to do with a beautiful girl like Danny?"

"Yes, we must all bow down to the royal highness of 'Hattan," Race says, bowing. A bunch of other boys copy him, and I laugh.

I curtsy. "Thank ya, thank ya. Now off to work, peasants."

Race stands, placing a hand over his heart, looking offended. "How dare ya?"

I pat his shoulder. "Oh Racey, teasing ya neva gets old."

"Heya Danny," Crutchy says as he walks into the room.

"Heya Crutchy," I say, skipping over to him. "How ya doing?"

"Oh, I'm great!" Crutchy says, smiling. "How bout ya beautiful self?"

"Guys, c'mon, really?" Mush asks, looking around at all the guys. "She's my sista! And all I eva hear is 'she's beautiful' and 'she's the best'."

"Oh, Mushy," I say, walking over to him and resting my arm on his shoulder. "Don't be jealous! It don't matta that I's prettier than you!"

The boys cackle with laughter and Mush glares at me. I grin and walk to my bunk to find my hat.

"Skittery, give me the towel!" I hear Racetrack yell.

"Only if you give me a buck!" Skittery yells back.

"Fellas, settle down," I say, walking into the room again. I grab the towel from Skittery and give it to Race. "None of us got a buck."

"I ain't even got enough money to buy any more papes," Race grumbles.

"That hot tip didn't work out again?" Kid Blink teases, laughing.

"It neva does, that's why he keeps going back!" I say, laughing along.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, shut ya mouths," Race says, waving us off.

"Alright fellas!" Jack yells from the doorway. "Time to go sell some papes!"