For Even A Night ❉ Newsies

Little Kelly

Katherine Pulitzer sat on her and Jack's bed. Her shakey breathing the only thing filling the room besides the test in her quivering hands.

Positive. It read.

She ran over to the phone and dialed a number she knew by heart and one of the only people she could trust just as much as Jack.

"H-Hey, um Race, can you put Crutchie on the phone? He's not out selling today is he? Thanks."

In an instant Crutchie's voice echoed into the receiver.

"Kathy? What'sa wrong?"

"C-Can you come over? I'm sorry I don't mean to be any trouble. But it's urgent."

"Course I can! I'se don't got work. Is Jackie home yet?"

"N-No h-he's still out s-selling."

"You sounds worried, is yous okay?"

"I-I don't know." She mumbled.

The line went dead signaling the little boy was already on his way. Sometimes she thought his heart was bigger than his limp, and that was saying something.

Katherine wrapped her arms around herself and looked down at her stomach. There was something in there. Something that would be there for nine months and would become her and Jack's child. They had just gotten married a few months ago. How would we raise a child? She wondered to herself.

~~~

In about 15 minutes, she stared at the clock trying to count her breathing and begging him to hurry, there was a silent knock on her apartment door. Katherine leapt off the bed, her skirts swishing as she quickly walked and threw the door open. Her panicked expression meeting Crutchie's one of worry and confusion.

"What'sa wrong?" He asked.

Katherine motioned him inside and lead him to sit on the couch. He sat next to her and she gulped trying to find the words to say. It would sound so weird to finally say it for the first time.

"I-I think I'm p-pregnant." She whispered.

Crutchie lit up faster than a Christmas tree.

"You are?!"

She nodded hesitantly.

"There's gonna be's a new newsboys or newsgoil!" He cried out, "Oh wait til we tells the boys. Wait, does Jackie know?"

Katherine bit her lip nervously and shook her head. How would Jack react to this?

As if on cue Jack opened the door to the apartment and came home.

"Kath I'm ho- oh hey Crutch! Whatcha doin here?"

Crutchie just smiled widely at Katherine who by now was paler than Snow White and on the verge of passing out. He rest a hand on top of hers and nodded as if to say it's okay.

"J-Jack," Katherine said standing up, "I-I have some news."

"Great is it a new paper?" Jack asked excitedly.

"N-No. . ." Katherine sighed, "But it does have a due date."

"Well how quick is it?"

"Nine months?" Katherine smiled sheepishly.

Jack began counting on his fingers before his face went slightly pale for a few seconds.

Katherine filled with worry.

"A-Are you. . ."

Katherine nodded, avoiding his eyes.

Jack broke out into the widest grin anyone had seen since their wedding day and dropped his newspaper bag. He ran forward and picked Katherine up and twirled her around.

"We're going to have a baby!" He yelled, "We're going to have a little Kelly!"

Her bent down so he was eye level with her stomach.

"Hi there, you may not know me yet but I'm your daddy and I love you very much."

Katherine giggled through happy tears.

Jack suddenly turned serious. He scooped Katherine up and carried her to the bedroom.

"What are you-"

"Bedrest, now." He said.

"Jack!" She laughed.

"We are protecting you and this baby at all costs." He said placing her gently on the bed and crawling in next to her.

He carefully wrapped his arms around her and placed them on her stomach, smiling to himself. Katherine yawned, tired from all the excitement.

Crutchie slowly made his way to the doorway and smiled. Soon there'd be a little Kelly running around the house and a new little newsboy or girl to teach new things at the Lodging House, and they were all never happier.