Echo of Eire
This is the story of an Irish lassie name Nicolae Brigid O'Connor. This is a story of something so strong that it can make one person leave home and everything they've ever know, looking for a better life.Only to dream the dreams and relive the memories of the past while starting over, in a new home.   
    This is a story of true friendship, that lasts even through something that would have torn many apart. But soon after she finds her friend, her past comes flying back at her. While she's fallen for a new guy, the someone from her past comes back into her life. And it's more than just a shock, it's memories and feelings that haven't been there for years. How will she choose, and why?

Echo of E'ire

Killala, Ireland 1893 Springtime
    "Nicolae Bigid.Ye are going to be late for mass."Breeda O'Connor, Nicolae's mother, grabbed the girl's hand, pulling her to her feet, only for her to fall to the floor.
    "Aye Mumma. I'm coming."She giggled, tying her shoe and standing up again.
    Nicolae slipped her hand into her mother's as they stepped through the door. She smiled up at her mumma, hoping that she'd forgive her. When Breeda smiled back at her daughter, Nicolae knew that even if they were late for mass, it'd be alright.
    The two walked the couple of blocks to the small church that their family had been going to for years, starting way back. All the while Nicolae hummed the melody to a song her mumma sang to her when she was sick. It had a pretty little tune, and went something like this:

On the hilltops of green, there's a treasure untold.
A treasure of the riches of the people that past.
The memories of the morning sun.
The moonlight strolls along the sand.
The whisper of the wind.
And all the voices singing.
It's the people of E'ire, echoing in the distance.


    As they reached the churchyard, they were greeted by many a face, familiar and non.
    "Ce'ad mile fa'ilte."Mrs. O'Connor called to her old friend, Maireed McDonn.
    "A hundred thousand welcomes."Nicolae ran and hugged her best friend Reilly.
    "Same to ye Nici."Reilly Conlon returned her hug.
    "Where's ye brudda Star?"Nicolae looked around for the familiar face of Morgan.
    "Didn't I tell ye? He an' Da went on a ship to America. Morgan told me to say beannacht de' leat (goodbye) for him. That boyo. He was to embarrassed to tell ye hisself. They're going to send for me and Mumma when Da earns enough money for the ship."Reilly turned toward the church. "Where's your da?"
    "Ah, he also went on a ship to 'Merica. Though he would have told us if it was on the same boat with your da and Morgan. Left me and Mumma with the house. Da says he'll get a job too, so we can be a familly again."Nicolae and Reilly sat down on the chestnut pew.
    "Now girls."Mrs.O'Connor seated herself next to her daughter."I want ye girls to listen to Father Mahoney this time. Not all of ye jabberin' going on."
    "Aye Mumma."Nicolae clasped her hands in her lap, smiling to herself, knowing her mother didn't care. She told them that she was just the same when she was a wee lass, so she didn't expect much different form them.
    "Aye Breeda."Mrs.O'Connor allowed Reilly to call her by her first name. She too smiled, knowing they would be able to talk for a while, or well whisper as to not disturb anybody.
    That day's sermon was about David in the lion's den.
    The girls didn't really listen. They never did. David didn't interest them all that much. "I wish the women were strong and independent. Not just the men."Nicolae whispered to Reilly, who nooded her head in agreement. Their conversation was cut short but a tap on Nici's shoulder.
    "Sha."Mrs.O'Connor placed a finger to her lips, though her eyes danced. Mrs. O'Connor felt similar to that also.
    "He had faith! He prayed to the Lord, and He helped him!"Father Mahoney's voice echoed in the church."All you have to do is believe, and it shall be done." That was Father's parting.
    As the service ended, Nicolae called to her mother, "We be going to the bay Mumma."
    "Aye. Ye be back for suppa now. And ye two be careful."Mrs.O'Connor yelled after her daughter.
    "We will. Don't ye worry!"They quickly walked down the street, only once pressing against a building to let a carriage through.
     When out of their mothers' sights, they took off down the dirt roads;the dust they kicked up, settling down on their Sunday's best.
    "I beat ye!"Nicolae shouted, tagging the handrail on the docks.
    "I could have beaten ye if I wanted to. I just wasn't trying hard enough."Reilly crossed her arms over her chest,pouting, then looked up in surprise as a shadow approached them.
    "What ye pretty lasses doin' down 'ere?"A stranger of about 15 walked up to them. He had a rough face and eyes that spelled trouble.
    "Back off boyo!"Nici spit in his face. She was tough, for an eight-year-old.
    Wiping off the spit, he just grinned wickedly, saying,"Why don't ye sweethearts run along home to ye mummy?"He mocked them, laughing, bent over his hands on his knees so he was eye level with the girls.
    At the same time, Nicolae punched him in the jaw, while Reilly kneed him in the stomach.
    "Run!!"Reilly yelled. And they did, all through the streets, taking back alleyways and cutting through lawns to escape the boy. They lost him after a couple of blocks of sharp turns and doubling back.
    As they reached the street the church was on again, they slowed down to a fast walk.
    "I'm so tired. Aren't ye?"Nicolae panted, bending over and pausing.
    "Aye, that was quite a run."Reilly smiled. She loved trouble.
    "Well, we best be setting out for home. Mumma's going to be worried that something awful happened to us."They started walking again, noting that the sun was quickly setting below the horizon. They had been gone for quite a while.
    As they reached Nicolae's home, they parted."Beannacht de' leat. I'll see ye in school tomorrow if Mumma doesn't need my help." She gave Reilly a quick hug and trotted to the front door.
    "Beannacht de' leat to ye also, Nici."Reilly called back, and continued on down the road, waving her hand absentmindedly behind her.
    That quiet Sunday morning was the last that they saw eachother in a long time.
    The next morning, Nicolae's mother needed some help with house work.
    "I'm really sorry Nici dearest, but yer Da told us to get rid of anything we don't need. Soon we'll be traveling to America. It's a land of opportunity, where we can start over, do better than Killala."Breeda set her hand on her daughter's head as she looked up at her face.
     "Aye Mumma. It's alright. I don't mind helping you anyway. I can visit Reilly after I'm done with this."Nicolae smiled weakly, beginning to help her mother go through cuppboards and such, taking out things that were useless. She began packing the things into boxes that were set out all over the kitchen, which is where they started.
    At about the time school ended, Breeda and Nicolae had finished cleaning out the kitchen and the living room. Now they started to taking things  out of the bedrooms.
    "I need a break sweetheart. Ye can finish up here while Mummy takes a small break."Mrs. O'Connor walked into the living room and collapsed onto the couch.
   Nicolae cleaned out the rest of their home, even scrubbing the walls and the floors as her mother had asked. After she was done, stacking the boxes down in the cellar, she found something interesting. It was the promise ring Morgan had given her after she had fallen during a pillow fight.  It was a momento that they'd always be friends. Just seeing it brought tears to her eyes. Nicolae slipped it on her finger and went back up to make she and Breeda some supper.
   That night, she had an awful dream. It was the same as it had always been, every time she dreamed it. It was a rainy day, like most were. Mumma was smiling, all happy because of the new baby. Da was right at her side, her hands in his, their eyes held eachother's in long gazes. Nicolae clung to he Mumma's dress in fear of losing her. Mumma had told her they would have a new baby in the house to play with. This thought sacred NIcolae. She didn't want her mumma not to love her, and love the new baby even more. Every night she prayed to the Saint Brigid that Mumma would never love the new baby more that her. The dream jumped ahead a few months. Mumma was laying on the bed, pale as the walking dead. She grimaced in pain every few moments, crying out with it. Da was by her side, holding her hand while they waited for the doctor to come. Nicolae remained hidded from view, though she watched her mumma suffer in fear. She didn't want her mumma to die. She even prayed that if her mumma lived, she could love the baby more than her. All she wanted was for Mumma to be all right again. Soon the doctor came. He examined Mumma and told her the baby was ready to be born, though it might not live. It's heart wasn't all that strong, but it couldn't stay inside of her, for it would kill them both. All night Nicolae hid, hoping that Mumma and the baby would be okay. By dawn, everyone was exhausted, especially Mumma. Nicolae woke up to hear her mother crying. She looked up in time to see the doctor wrap the baby in a blanketand set it into a box, dead. Suddenly Nicolae started to weep like Mumma was. It was from joy and sorrow, belonging to the same tears. Mumma was alive, but the baby was not, and it saddened her a great deal, no matter how much she didn't want it to be there. The next day, They held the funeral, gently placing the box into a grave dug next to her older brother Sean, who had died of disease. Nicolae held her mumma close, trying to comfort her, telling her that she was sorry she ever hoped that she wouldn't love the baby. Mrs.O'Connor just patted the girl's head and continued crying. She just lay there on the bed for several days, not even caring to go to mass or if Nicolae and her da did either. Every morning she woke up to sit at her mother's bedside, sponging her forehead, or spooning broth into her mouth. Her eyes were swollen from crying so often, that Nicolae barely recognized her healthy, smiling mumma. Months past in her dream, depicting certain times when Mumma grew stronger and eventually left her bed. The dream ended there, for Nicolae awoke with a start as her mother gently shook her awake.
    "Time to get ye ready for school mucushla."Mrs. O'Connor pushed back her daughter's damp hair, knowing exactly what had happened. "It's alright. Mummy's here. It will be okay."
    Slowly Nicolae got ready, and they stepped into the crisp morning air.
    Down the streets they walked, Nicolae's dream far into the back of her mind. She began to sing the comfort song her Mumma had taught her. Soon Mrs.O'Connor had joined in.
    It happened so suddenly that Nicolae never really saw it coming. Whate she remembered was the baker, and the gun, and then Mumma just lying there. Mrs.O'Connor had been shot.       
    Running blindly through Killala, Nicolae tried to find Reilly, hoping that her friend would be able to comfort her. Never remembering she was in school, Nicolae went home. Going down into the cellar, she grabbed as many planks of wood as she could carry.(which wasn't much, she was 8) Grabbing her Da's hammer and a fistful of nails when she had reached the kitchen, she went to the nearest window. Setting down the other boards, She lay one across the top of the window frame. Taking the hammer, she nailed it to the wall. Going around the house, Nicolae did the same to every window and door until the cellar was the only way in, and out.
    The first night alone was the worst. Nicolae cried her eyes dry. She cried for Mumma. And for Da in America. And she cried for herself, all alone in Killala. She hummed tune after tune that Mumma had taught her, trying to make the pain in her heart go away. Nothing helped.
    She stayed alone in her cottage for an entire month, living on the food that was still left. Though one morning Nicolae awoke to find nothing in the cuppboards of the pantry. Venturing out quietly, taking with her the small bag of coins that were underneath a loose board in Mumma's bedroom. She bought enough food to sustain herself for another month or so, barely having any coins left for the next time she might need them.
    When the time came once again, all too quickly, Nicolae had no money left. That led to one last resort. She stole. A loaf of bread and some vegetables. A slab of butter and some fruit. Only a little so that she could carry it all back. Nicolae had thought of begging, but beggars got sent to the workhouse. She thought of asking Reilly, but she was afraid of being rejected. Stealing, she saw, was the only way to get anything. That was the first and last time she ever did that.
    The next time she needed provisions, she just starved. For an entire month she never left the cottage, just sitting on the couch or in her room. Quietly she sewed, or cleaned and rearranged the belongings, trying to forget the hunger and pain she felt. Soon she became thin and frail, looking like the homeless children she used to walk past on the streets.
    Finally Nicolae resorted to begging. It worked. Then, the
gardas (police) found her, throwing her out of her home.  
    That night was next to inpossible to survive. Killala's streets were dangerous at night. There were all sorts of people who wanted street trash dead. Or they killed for the fun of it. Also the other homeless children were no better off than she was. They begged from eachother, taking what food the other had found, sometimes fighting just for a corner of bread. It was a pitiful sight, and Nicolae couldn't believe she was one of them.
    She livied like that, hiding and begging, stealing and lying for five years. Then she decided to clean up as best she could, and get a job. Nicolae had decided to get out of these filthy streets. All she needed was money. Presenting her self as best she could, Nicolae spoke to the mangager of a sweatshop near her old cottage. Upon getting the job, she worked every day for about ten to twelve hours. Nicolae's job was to work the machines. She was around loud noises all the time. But in the end, it was worth it. For an entire year she worked, never quiting for she wanted to leave that badly. Nearing her fourteenth birthday, according to a stranger on the streets, Nicolae prepared to leave. She had no belongings, so she prepared herself mentally. Getting ready to say goodbye to her home, even though she wanted to leave it so badly. It was like with Mumma and the baby. Nicolae had twisted feelings, but knew exactly what she wanted to do.
    A month after her birthday, she slung a sack of clothes, a gift from the manager, over her shoulder and headed toward the ticket office.

Killala, Ireland 1899 Late Autumn
    'I'm going to America. Once now and for all.'Reilly thought, stubbornly looking at her mother as they walked down the street.
    "America is too dangerous for a wee lass, Star. I won't allow ye to go alone. And I shan't leave home. This is where I belong, and it's where you should stay." Nora took her daughter's chin in her hand and looked into her eyes, trying to make her understand. All she was was scared. She didn't want her baby girl to go to America, not until Teirney sent the money for the ship. They couldn't afford it on their own. As a matter of fact, they barely could buy enough food to survive.
    "I'm not a wee lass Mumma. I'm 15, and I want to go. Why can't ye understand that I have to go? Why won't ye let me be my own person and let me make my own path, let me travel it on my own. I need Da and Morgan and cousin Jack. They're just as much family to me as ye are Mumma. I need them too. Are ye going to come with me or not?"Reilly begged, a pleading look in her eyes. They shone with slight tears, ready to spill over with just the simple word no. Silently she pleaded to her mother, willing her to let her go, to come with her. It was useless.
    "I'm sorry Reilly. I just can't leave Ireland. I have roots here that are too deep to dig up. It'd hurt more than help me to leave. And if we did make it to America, how would we find our family? Where would we live? How would I find a job? There are just so many things that are standing in the way. I'm afraid I can't go, and I won't let ye either, not as long as yer living under my roof yer not." Nora Conlon responed, hoping her rebellious daughter would listen to her for once.
    Star refused to answer her mother, much less look at her. She just didn't understand how much she needed Morgan. She missed him so. And she knew that if she left her mother behind, she'd never be able to forgive herself for it.
    Suddenly a carriage came dashing down the street. Both of them didn't move fast enough. The next thing Reilly saw was an empty blackness.
    When she awoke, she was in a room with about 30 other girls.
    "Where am I?"She asked sitting up.
    "Workhouse. M'm said to put this on."The girl held out a brown uniform.
    Reilly did what the other girls did, imitating them, hoping that she wouldn't be noticed, for she was planning. Planning her escaped that night. When everyone was sleeping, she tiptoed to the window, gently sliding it open, with the hope that it wouldn't squeek of get stuck. Neither thing happened. Dropping her down quietly through it, she landed softly in a bush. Quickly shutting the window again, she made her escape, to the harbor.
   The next morning she was off, on a ship to America. 'I'm finally free.'Reilly thought, thinking of  seeing her da and Morgan and Jack again. She could barely bring their faces to her memory, it had been so long since she had seen them. And Nicolae. She missed her terribly, ever since her disappearance, she had been alone. It was just her and Mumma. And now, it was just her. At least until she found Morgan and Da. Then they would be a family again. That was the only thought that kept her sane until they reached the New York Harbor.

Killala Bay, S. S.Maria 1899 Winter
    "Wow."Nicolae stood there with her mouth a-gape. She hadn't ever seen a ship, not even the one that took her da to the States.Her mother said it was dangerous down here, so she refused to let her daughter go even near a ship.
    She walked up to the ticket counter."I'd like one ticket please, for today, to go to New York." She smiled shyly at the lady.
    "Name please."
    "Nicolae."She replied, staring off at the ship coming in.
    "Last name and middle too sweetheart."
    "Oh, Nicolae Brigid O'Connor."Again she smiled, glad that the lady wasn't being rude. She thought she might be able to tell how nervous she was.
   "So yer Patrick's daughter. I wondered when I'd be seeing ye. I'm sorry to be the one to tell ye, but yer da fell overboard during a storm. He didn't make it."The lady handed her her ticket. Nicolae just walked off in her stunned, saddened silence.
    Taking a deep breath to calm hersself, she quietly said to herself, heading toward the ship,"It's now or never I suppose."She started to walk again, right up the gangplank until she was stopped.
    "S'cuse me. May I see yer ticket please, lassie?"A man in a sailor suit, cap an' all, asked her.
    "Here, it says I'm suppose to be on this boat. S'cuse me now."Nicolae told him as he handed her back her ticket.
    "Ye may board."He let her pass.
    When Nicolae finally got onto the ship, she was led to a cabin bellow deck.
    "'ere's yer room. It'll be three week sail."The sailor who led her there told her, and promptly left to his name being called.
    Nicolae walked out onto the deck. It was somewhat crowded with people, going this way or that or just standing there waving to family and friends. Nicloae held back tears that threatened to spill over. She had no family. Da gone, Mumma had gotten shot. Now she was all alone, with no one, not even Reilly, whom she had avoided, thinking she wouldn't understand. While the ship started off, Nicolae waved good-bye to Ireland and all of the people, wondering if she'd ever return to the beautiful hills she called home.
    "Uh.....I feel so sick."Nicolae muttered, falling off of her cot as the ship rocked in the storm. She'd woken up that same way almost everyday for going on three weeks now.
    "We'll be arriving in New York City in less than 4 hours!"Came the captain's voice, magnified using a bullhorn.
    'Yes. Free in a few more hours. Soon I'll be on dry land again.'Nicolae thought, smiling to herself. Finally she'd be able to see the wonders of America, when no one in her family did.

New York, New York 1899 Middle of Winter
    Nicolae stepped off of the ship and was quickly swept up in a crowd of people. She smiled slightly, though it was hard with an elbow in her ribs. America was nothing like she imaginined, but it had that sort of charm like Killala. Though she couldn't figure out what made it seem that way. Suddenly the crowd disperesed, and only a few people were clumped around her. Looking around at her new home, she saw the newsies, though she hadn't a clue what they were. Nicolae grinned to herself. They were just making a living like she did in the sweatshops. 'Maybe I could do that.' She thought, then shook her head, thinking she just wanted to find something better than that.
    Instead, she lived off of what people gave her. Nicolae didn't even find work. No one would hire a girl. And a small girl at that. She was short for her age, though she was 14 when she first arrived.People gave her a place to stay for the night, and a warm meal. Mostly though, Nicolae stayed on the streets, living in alleys and eating food scraps from restaurants. When someone did feel sorry for her, it usually went like this:"Are you cold and hungry deary?"The stranger always said some version of that when they saw her curled up in an alley or hudled near a door way. She always nodded her head, because it was the truth. Never,during the winters in Killala had she ever felt this cold.The person or people would take her to their home, and she'd get a warm meal and a nice bed for that day. Then she was back out on the streets again.
    One day though, a mistake she made, turned into a the greatest thing to ever happen.

New York, New York 1900 Summer
    A boy with a patch over his left eye, stumbled over Nicolae asleep in an alley.Yanking her up, he nearly dragged Nicolae down a couple of streets and into the Lodging House.
    "Hey Jacky. Does dis look familia'?"Kid-Blink asked Jack Kelly, with Nicolae by the collar.
    "Ya it does. Star, clean dis kid up, will yas?"Jack smiled, of course he remembered when Star came to the lodging house.
    "Hi my name's Reilly Conlon, but I'm called Star. And who might ye be?"Star asked, leading Nicolae to the washroom.
    "Reilly?"Nicolae croaked."Is dat really ye?"She hadn't seen her in over 7 years.
    Reilly removed Nicolae's hat."By the love of Saint Brigid."She clasped her hand to her heart."Nicolae O'Connor? How are ye?"They both squeeled, hugged, and cryed."I haven't seen ye since the day we were chased by that boy at the bay in Killala. Why did ye avoid me?" Nicolae just hugged her tighter.
    "What's going on in dere?"Jack peeked through the door.
    "Youse all right Star?"Race was right behind Jack.
    "Boyo, I'd like ye to meet be best friend, Nicolae O'Connor. Nicolae, ye rememeber me cousin Jack. An' dis,"She grabbed Race's hand."Is me future husband."
    Nicolae hugged Jack and Race in turn. She kissed Jack on the cheek."How are ye?"She turned to Race again."It's nice to meet ye. Ye take good care of me Reilly now."She smiled and then laughed.
    "C'mon. I'll introduce youse to da rest of da boys."Jack led Nicolae into the other room that was now crowded with boys. Nicolae looked down at her ragged clothing and smiled weakly.
    "Boyo, ye better not embarrass me."Again Nici grinned.
    "I won't."Jack turned to all of the newsies who where staring at Nicolae."Boys, dis be Nicolae Brigid O'Connor. She be Star's bes' frien', an' our newest newsie."He turned back to Nicolae. In turn, he pointed out all of the newsies. They each gave her their own variation to a greeting.
    "She's mine now Kelly."Reilly took her hand and led her back to the washroom. "Ye can borrow a skirt and a shirt o' mine for now."Reilly handed her the garments, noticing that she no longer had a bag with her."Ye change and I'll show ye to yer bunk. Then tomorrow I'll teach ye how to sell papers. She gave her friend a hug and left her to change.
    When she walked out, Jack called, "Hey Echo."That's what Jack, Morgan, and Star had called her. Thay said her laugh echoed all throught the hills of Ireland."C'mere an' show these fallas how ya really play poka'."He waved her over to where he was playing.
    "Move ova boyo. I'll show ye how ye really play dis game."Nicolae sat down and easily won the next three games.
    "Hey Spot!"Mush called.
    'Morgan?'Nicolae thought.She turned around, and there he was. "Morgan!!"She lept out of her seat and ran and gave Spot a hug.
    "Echo, is dat youse?"He asked, standing back to look at her.
    "Ya it's me boyo."Echo smiled.
    Spot kissed her on the cheek."I haven't seen youse since youse was eight. How've youse been?"
    "Well,"She started. It was hard having to tell them all after seven years.She didn't really want to, but he deserved to know what happened." Da died on the ship. He got thrown overboard during a storm and drown."She said quietly."Me mumma died the day after ye left. I lived a year in me abandoned home, then five years on the streets before i came here. I lived on da streets for anuuda year 'fore Kid-Blink,"She pointed at him."'fore he foun' me sleepin' in da alley. That's hows I ended up here with ye all."Nicolae shook her head, making her red hair bounce, and her blue-green eyes shone with tears."I'm sorry. It's just so hard to remember all of that after so long."She started to cry into Spot's shoulder. After a bit, she looked up and wiped her eyes."I'm sorry Morgan. Didn' mean to do that to ye."Nicolae smiled."I better go clean me face now."She took Star's hand and they went to do some girl talking.
    "Wow. She sure is pretty."Mush commented, staring at Echo's retreating back.
    "Ya, she's sumtin' all right."Jack said, looking down at his cards.
    "Lights out boys, and Star."Kloppman walked into the room.
    "Ey Klopper, we's gots a new goil. She's Star's bes' frien'. Her names's Nicolae. She's stayin'."Jack flicked a nickel at him, and Kloppman smiled. Then the lights went black.

    Echo awoke to Kloppman's shouts of,"Get up! Carry da banna!"She rolled over and fell on the floor.
    "Uh."She grumbled, standing up. Then something flew and hit here in the head.
    "Wear this. And dese."What had first hit here was a hat, then came clean pants and a shirt. Jack threw Nicolae some old  clothes of his that didn't fit anymore, for her to wear for the day.
    "Go raibh maith agat (thank you) Jack."She thankedhim in Gaeilc, hoping he'd still remember some that she'd taught him. She smiled her dazzling smile and headed toward a changing stall. Then she turned around and held the pants to her waist. They were obviously to big for her slim figure. "Do any of ye boys have an extra pair o' suspenders I could use?"Echo grinned and then laughed.
    "Here, have mine."Mush walked over to Nicolae and handed her his. "I don' really need 'em anyways."He smiled shyly at her. (gotta have a romance for her! what can i say!)
    "Thank ye kindly Mush."She gently kissed his cheek, standing on tiptoes because he was taller."Ye are such a sweetheart. Ye'll make a girl happy some day."Her smile practically melted Mush's heart."I'll be right out."Echo called over to Star.
    "Alright."Star smiled, and looked over at Race who had on his green vest.
    "C'mon Star. Ye has to teach me how to be a newsie."She looked in the direction of Star's gaze.She smiled somehwhat sadly."I wish I had someone like ye do. Someone to care and love me. I hope I find it one day."Nicolae sighed. She and Star walked down the stairs with the boys, and toward the distribution center.
    After Star got them their papers, they started walking. "Ta sell the papes, ye need to exaggerate the truth o' little bit. Take this headline. It says: "Runnaway Horse". So how do ye make it more interesting?" Star thought for a moment."Runnaway Horse causes Death." Now that's catchy, it's something the people want to hear. Ye have to make people want to read the article. Got that?"Star explained.
    Nicolae nodded. She went around, changing various headlines, and got quite a few customers. By lunch time at Tibby's, she had sold all of her morning addition.
    "So how'd ye sell?"Star walked up to Echo as she entered the small restaurant.
    "I sold 'em all. Every last one o' 'em."Nicolae smiled.
    "I'm impresses with ye. Ye hear dat fellas, on her first day, Echo sold all thirty of her papes."Star presented her proudly.
    "Good job Nici."Mush told her, who had sat down in a chair next to her.
    "Thank ye Mush. That's nice of ye."Again she quickly kissed his cheek, and then went over by Star, Jack, and Race who were playing a game of poker.
    "Mind if I join ye?"She grinned wickedly. They knew they couldn't beat her. "Deal me in."Sure as anything, Echo won that game, but she said she had something else to do and walked off after that to the relief of Jack and Race who had lost.
    "Hi Mush. How are ye?"He turned and came inches away from Nicolae's beaming face."Tibby put on some music, do ye care to dance?"
    "Sure, I mean, ya I will."And Echo led them over tho where Star and Race were also dancing.
    After the song ended, Nicolae walked up to Tibby and whispered something in his ear. He smiled. Soon a lively Irish tune started to play.
    "Shall we?"Nicolae and Star started to dance to the beat. Their feet flew while their arms remained stock-still by their sides. They were quite a sight to see, dancing to an Irish jig in men's clothing in a restaurant. As the final notes faded away, they both collapsed into chairs, exhausted.
    "Wow."Race came over to them. "Where'd ya learn dat?
    "Well, we both used to dance feis (pronounced fesh) which is competitive dance. Me mumma taught us how when we was just bitty lasses of four."Nicolae laughed, then it suddenly died away, as if carried off by the wind. Her expression became pained with the memory of it. It was a beautiful, sunny day outside. They both smiled and laughed, humming Nicolae's tune from the day before. Then the crazy baker from across the street called for them to shut up. Nicolae's mother told his to stop being such an eejit and laughed. He told them to be quiet once more, then pulled out a pistol and shot her. Mrs O'Connor crumpled to the ground. Nicolae lay there, sobbing into her mother's chest until the police came and took her mother's body away. She ran that day. All over Galway, never realizing she wouldn't find Reilly, for she was in school. In the end, she returned to her home, and stayed there with the windows and doors boarded for an entire year. She barely went out, only when the hunger was to much. Then and only then was when she went out, until the police made her leave. Then she lived five awful years on the streets, all alone.
    "Youse okay Nici?"Mush put his hand on her shoulder.
    "Ya. I'll be fine."She swallowed and forced a smile.
    "C'mon fellas!"Jack called. "Afternoon addition!"
    They all left Tibby's. Nicolae stayed behind. "Thank ye for playing that for me. It meant a lot to hear it ringing in my ears after all these years.."Sadly she smiled and left, folowing the newsies back to sell it all over again.

    Back at the Lodging House, everyone was lively, having made good profit today. Even Nicolae was smiling and cheerful,  momentarily forgetting the events at Tibby's earlier at lunch. Poker games were scattered around the room, on the floor, on a barrel. Also someone had some marbles, so a couple of guys were doing that. But Nicolae walked past all of the poker games and sat down on the edge of a bed where Star was mending a pair of pants.
    "Mind if I help ye?"Nicolae whispered quietly, watching Reilly's determination at doing something she dispised. That was Reilly for ye. She never gave up, no matter how awful and irritating she thought the task was.
    "No I don't mind ye helpin', pick up a needle. Ye can start with this."Star handed her a shirt that had a large rip up the sleeve.
    "Who's was this?"Nicolae asked with a laugh, cutting some blue thread and beginning to stitch the gap shut.
    "I'm not so sure. The boys, they just throw their clothes that need to be mended in a pile at the end of the week, and I sew them and they take the fixed garment from the basket."Reilly jabbed her needle in the direction of a wicker basket that held a few repaired items of clothing.
    "I see the boys keep ye busy. It looks like ye need the extra hands."Echo smiled as she tied and cut the tread. She enjoyed stitching, so it never took her as long as it did for Star to do it.
    "Yes, I'm always doing something for them. If it's not cooking, it's sewing. If it's not sewing it's cleaning. Sometimes I wish I were a boy and had someone else to do this for me."Star smiled, her eyes twinkling like her name.
    "Ah, I see, to some extent. I haven't been around any boyo for over seven years."Nicolae laughed, then set down the mended socks."We should tidy up for bed. The boys won't want to be sleepin' with needles, I gather." They lay the mended garments in the basket, which Reilly took, along with the thread. While Nicolae gathered the needles and the pile of clothing that still needed to be fixed.
    "Lights out boys and girls!"Kloppman snuffed out the lantern by the door.The last thing they all saw was the old man's smiling face.
    "G'night to ye, Star."Nicolae turned over and whispered to her friend's back.
    "Good night to ye too Echo of the hills."She laughed softly, switching sides to face Nicolae.
    "This has been the best day o' me life Reilly. All I've ever wanted was a family again, and now I've finally found it. It the greatest feeling in the world, knowing that yer loved by so  many people."Nicolae realize she gave herself the answer to her own question earlier about finding someone who loved her. She found it all right, a whole room full of somebodies that were'nt going anywhere.She smiled and fell asleep to the gently tapping of the raindrops on her window.
Nicolae was up before Kloppman came in the next morning. She had taken a quick shower and put on clean clothes. She lay Jack and Star's borrowed clothes on their beds. Nici was brushing her teeth quietly, as quiet as you can be while brushing, when Kloppman flicked on the lights and shook mostly everyone awake.
    "Good morning to ye boyo. Sleep well I gather?"Nicolae smiled and laughed at Jack's groggy figure.
    "Hullo to ye, Echo. Up early are ye?"Star smiled sleepily, grabbing her freshly cleaned clothes and moving to a changing stall.
    "C'mon boyo. Rise an' shine. It's a beautiful mornin'."Echo yanked the sheets off from over Jack's head, who had layed back down again.
    "I'm up, I'm up."Jack yawned, stretching out his arms.He lay his head back on his pillow. Nicolae yanked it out from under him, and wacked him. Now he was up!
    "Youse gonna get it fo' dat!"He grabbed the pillow off the nearest bed and went after her. Nici shreiked, weaving between the bunches of people and the beds.
    Suddenly she turned around and swung. "I got ye Jack!"Then the mouse became the hunter, and the cat the hunted.
    Kloppman came up to see what all of the commotion was about. He walked in, only to step right inbetween the two. "Freeze."He laughed at how rediculous and childish they looked.
     Very shortly after, the two were in histarics over it. It was just like back home in Killala on special Saturday mornings.
    Nicolae remembered one particular pillow fight. It was always the one she remembered because it was special. It was the one where Morgan had hit her with his pillow and had knocked her down. She hadn't been expecting him to hit her, so she landed hard. Tears welled up into her eyes. Then Morgan came over and gave her a hug. Then he said he was sorry for hurting her, and then took her hands and helped her up. He quickly and quietly slipped the promise ring onto her finger, and then trotted off by Jack. He left Nicolae standing behind a tree, happy and confused. She always remembered that day as the day she fell in love with him. Well, as far in love as you can get when you're seven. Nicolae smiled to herself, not noticing that she was twisting the ring that she had kept so well hidden.
    She was brought back to reality by the sudden rush of voices.
    Soon all of the newsies came rushing down the stairs and into the streets.
    "Echo, youse gonna sell wit me taday?"Jack took her hat and held it just out of her reach."Youse promised last night."
    "Ya, I'll sell with ye. If only ye give me my hat back."Nicolae jumped and snatched her hat out of Jack's hand."Got it!"She held it up triumphantly.
    "C'mon, lets go get our papes."Together they walked to the distribution center. Like Nicolae had done the day before, they walked around instead of staying at one corner. By the time lunch came at Tibby's, they'd sold between them, 150 papers.
    "Hey ya fellas."Jack greeted the few newsies who had accummulated there already.
    "Hey Jacky-boy."Race waved from his poker game with Skittery. "Hi ya Echo."He smiled in her direction and went back to his game.
    Jack and Nicolae sat down and talked for a while, waiting for more of the guys to get done selling.
    Nicolae waved Reilly over when she saw her walk through the door. She smiled and held up a finger, and went to talk to Race for a minute.
    "Hi, how are ye Race?"Star asked him, leaning over and kissing him.
    "Just fine mucushla."Race smiled up at Star's shining face."I'll be over by youse in a bit. Go talk to Nici."
    "See you in a bit."Reilly returned Race's smile and walked back over to Nicolae and Jack. They talked for a while, then Race came over. All got lunch from Tibby, on the house like it mostly was. Befor they all knew it, it was time to go back out and sell.
    "Hey Race, I'll come with youse."Jack called after him, and ran to catch up.
    "I guess that leaves us ta sell tagedda."Nicolae smiled. They walked out of Tibby's, arm in arm.
    Neither one grabbed many papers. Mostly they talked, slowly strolling around, selling a pape here and there. When they got back to the lodging house, each flicking a nickel at Kloppman, it was dark.
    "Where's youse been?"Race rushed up to Star as soon as she entered the room.
    "We were just walking Race. That's all. I'm fine and here so ye can stop yer worryin'."Star gently caressed Races shoulders until she felt his muscles loosen."There. That's better."And she smiled at him.
    Soon after, Kloppman came up and turned out the lights.
    The next morning Nicolae woke up to Reilly poking her and whispering in her ear,"Sunshine, 'tis the morning."
    After getting ready, the boys, Reilly and Nicolae clabbered down the stairs and out the door Kloppman was holding open, counting them. Getting their papers, after quite a bit of yelling on Weasel's end, they each headed out to sell their own way. Even Echo headed off away from everyone, a small shadow in the distance. Once again, like always, everyone met at Tibby's for lunch before the afternoon addition.
    "Ye want a cup Reilly?"Nicolae turned toward her friend. When the reply was a shake of her head, Nici handed Tibby her two pennies in exchange for a steaming cup of coffee.
Nicolae sat down on a chair at an empty tably. She realxed, just sipping her coffee, and watched them all have a great time. She smiled as she saw Race beam after winning a fair amount off of Jack. Kid-Blink and a bunch of other guys were arm wrestling at a table across the room.
    'This is me family now. They're my family and I belong here.'Nicolae thought, surveying the group of people she'd come to know and care for, even in the short time she'd stayed with them, with a smile.
    "Whatchya thinkin' about?"Mush came up behind her, making her jump. "Sorry, didn' mean to scare youse."
    "It's alright. I'm fine."Nicolae turned her chair around to face him.
    "So, what were youse thinkin' 'bout?"Mush repeated. He had seen her staring at everyone and wondered if something was wrong. He would have known nothing was, if he had seen the gleam in her eyes.
    "Just how happy I am here. And how much all of ye are like my family now. I like the idea of us all being a fmily. It's comforting."Nicolae looked at him and half smiled.
    "Ya. We's is like a big family."Mush smiled back at her.
    "Hey ya fellas. Sorry Ise late."Spot stepped through the door. Jack and Rielly walked over to hime. He and Jack spit shook. Then, after wiping off his hand, hugged his sister.When he noticed Nicolae wasn't  over there, he called to her,"Nicolae.C'mere an' gimme a hug."He held out his arms to her. She got up and rushed over to him. Only a few feet away, she suddenly tripped on a chair leg and went flying. Nicolae grasped through the air and caught ahold of something. It didn't help any. She thudded to the floor with the item still clutched in her hand.
    "Echo. Youse alright?"Spot was by her side in seconds, him being the closest to her, and helping her to her feet.
    "Sorry Mor. Didn' mean to rip off ye....."Nicolae trailed off as she looked at the necklace, stunned. Tied to a leather cord was a key. "Ye still have this Mor? I gave it to ye ages agao."
    "Ya, I did. Didn' youse tell me ta keep  it always, no matter what?"He carefully lifted the necklace out of Nicolae's hand, and retied it around his neck, noticing she had the ring he had given her on.
    "For the love o' Saint Brigid. Do ye remember what it was for boyo?"Nicolae studied Morgan's face, hoping for some sign. His eyes showed that he did, while the rest of his face remained expressionless.
    Nicolae whispered in his ear,"We need to talk. Tonight on the roof."
    "'kay fellas. Next addition!"Jack yelled, leading the boys out the door. Nicolae was pulled back by Reilly.
    "What went on with ye and Morgan?"Star questioned, confused.
    "It was something just the two o' us did before he left, that's all."Nicolae was being very vague, not wanting to say what it really was about.
    "What was it?"Nicolae's hopes that Reilly'd be satisfied with that answer were dashed on the rocks.
    "Just something. Nothing important."Came Nici's quick reply.
    "Well, it must have been important. For Morgan has kept it all these years."Reilly just wouldn't give up.
    "I'll tell ye tomorrow."Then Nicolae took off down the street, not looking back until she was long gone. She didn't go back and get her papers. She just walked, thinking that no matter where she was or how much things change, the past always came back and slapped her in the face, just when she was beginning to forget it.
    After a few blocks of walking, she started to sing the song he mummy sang to her when she was sick, only faltering slightly while trying to remember the melody.
    On the hilltops of green, there's a treasure untold.
A treasure of the riches of the people that past.
The memories of the morning sun.
The moonlight strolls along the sand.
The whisper of the wind.
And all the voices singing.
It's the people of E'ire, echoing in the distance.
    'I am the echo of Ireland. I bring with me my memories, the echo in the things I remember. Now I understand the meaning of it, and why Mumma sang it to me.'
    Suddenly a shadow jumped out from behind a building. "Youse gots a pretty voice sweetface. How 'bout you come over here, huh?"Morris Delancy walked over and tried to wrap his arms around her.
    "Get off of me! Ye ugly eejit!"She pushed him against a wall, making an easy escape.
    The sky began to darken. Nicolae turned and headed for home. 'Home' She thought. 'Now I'm not fogetting Ireland. They are both my home.' Instead of going through the door, and taking the risk of being questioned, she went to the side of the building and climbed up the fire escape and onto the rooftop. She sat there, shivering for a few minutes until she heard the window open. Spot crawled through and settled himself down next to her.
    Nici was the first to speak. She was so confused. She just couldn't understand why he had kept the key."Why Mor? Do ye still remember what it was for? Why I gave it to you?"A tear trickled down her cheek.
    "Because I wanted to bring youse back. I dunno."He said quietly, wiping away the tear from her face.
    "Bring me back? From what?"Nicolae turned to look at him for the first time, more confused that anything.
    "Ever since youse saw Marie die, youse canged. Youse were quieter, and didn't want to be with me. All youse did was sit in your house crying. I didn't want to lose you?"Spot fingered the key, and looked to the east, toward Killala.

    Marie had died of the fever. Nicolae blamed it on herself, saying she passed hers on to her. Nicolae locked herself in her room for days at a time. Until one day she heard Morgan knocking on her window. She opened it up and told him to go away. But instead, he climbed through the window and into Nici's room. He tried to comfort her, saying everything an eight-year-old can think of to make someone feel better. No matter what, nothing he did or said helped. Nicolae still blamed herself for what happened. Besides Reilly, Marie was her only other friend. And then she killed her. It all happened in a blur. They had thought Nici's fever was gone, so she was allowed to visit Marie. Somehow there must have still been some living germs that infected Marie.  She went through two bouts of it, and then died, with Nici at her bedside. Morgan just didn't understand how awful she felt, killing her friend like that. Still though, he came everyday to try to talk some scence into her. One day, though, she shooed him away, telling hime she didn't feel like talking. Instead of going home, Morgan went into the cellar, which had been left unlocked. When he walked down the steps, he nearly died himself. He saw Nicolae standing there, a knife to her chest, about to kill herself. Her eyes being closed, she never saw, nor heard, nor knew he was there, until Morgan had taken the knife out of her hands. Nicolae cried for so long, saying over and over how she didn't mean to kill Marie. That it wasn't her fault and she still blamed herself for it. So she was going to pay the price for killing her friend. She was going to take death as her penalty. Instead, Morgan made her sit down, and he tried to get her calm. After that day, they met in Nicolae's cellar often, to talk about anything that needed talking about. Eventually Morgan got his own cellar key, just in case he felt she might try it again. She never did, and he was glad.

   "Ye used to sneek into the house through my window to comfort me.That's why I gave ye the key, so we'd have some privacy in the cellar. But why'd ye keep it after all these years?"Nicolae remembered.
    "'cause youse gave it to me. Ise was gonna go back one day for youse."Spot replied quietly. He made a motion to leave.He glanced at her hand with the promise ring on it, which she had lay on top of his."Youse still got my promise ring."He said quietly, fingering the ring.
   "Yeah. I kept it."Nicolae twisted the metal band, realizing she couldn't hide it amymore.
   "Why did youse keep it?  I gave that to you forever ago Nici."Morgan looked into her eyes. He saw mixed emotions; sadness, joyfulness, and a tad bit of nervousness.
    "Because it meant something to me Mor. And it still does. I'm just really confused right now." Gently she touched the key that hung around his neck."Thank ye Mor. It shows ye still care."Nicolae gently kissed him and left throught the window.
    Spot sat there quietly for a while. Just sitting there thinking what all of this meant. Or if it should mean anything at all. She was fastly falling for Mush, yet he still had some of the same feelings for her as he did when he was eight, and it seemed that she did too. It was just all so confusing. He wanted her to be happy. But which one, he or Mush or even someone else, could do that for her?

THE END

copyright 2002 Stephanie Hartwig
Reilly Conlon/Star copyright 2002 Caitlin Nicholas

p.s.i'm still updating on it. So please be patient, I'm trying!
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