i was wondering if you were gonna finish the story? I really enjoy it and check back often in hopes of an update

I love the story so far, I can't wait for the next update! You're doing a great job!

I finally caught up with this story. I've been meaning to read it for weeks. But now I'm glad that I did. She's not going to marry Michael is she? She can't! She needs to be Blink. She had better end up with Blink. I really am liking this story.

I thought that the prequal was great! I'm sorry i hadn't read it earlier. Anyway, i'm reading this one now and i really like it!

Gawd! You think that Evie would have learned not to let her family and fiancé run her life. She can’t expect Blink and Skittery’s stick to get her out of trouble every time she hookes up with a moron!

And how cheap is that Michael Smith anyway? He’s rolling in money yet the idea that the church will be already be decorated for Easter is a good selling point to that tightwad.

“Everything about him drove Evelyn positively crazy. The way his whole face seemed to light up when he smiled.”

(I guess that Blink still has the kind of smile that produced a “skirt-over-your-head” reaction.)
“The way he moaned ever so quietly in her ear when they made love, or whatever it was that they did.”
(Yup. That would do it for me!)
I don’t think that girl has the sense that God gave a goose!

I love this story. My one nitpick for the chapter is that Joseph Pulitzer probably wouldn't have named his son Patrick, it being a very Irish name, and Pulitzer being very German. I like how Evie's sort of going in circles about Blink.

I love this passage...
Everything about him drove Evelyn positively crazy. The way his accent seemed to have faded but slipped back whenever he got excited or angry, and the way he still couldn't pronounce anything correctly. The way he called her Evie, even though she'd specifically told him not to do so, just because it got her riled up. The way his whole face seemed to light up when he smiled. The way he moaned ever so quietly in her ear when they made love, or whatever it was that they did.

it is kinda sad how blissfully ignorant everyone in Evelyn's life is about her affair. I like how the relationship blink and Evelyn have is not simple and you have made her unsure of her feelings...complicated is awesome and more interesting than a simple story!! i cant wait for the next chapter!!

Your descriptions are clean and clear. You set the tone and emotions of each scene beautifully.

“He looked up at Blink, tired eyes examining him, judging him, and, seemingly, knowing him. Knowing what he used to be; that they weren't all that difference despite the money weighing down Blink's pockets.”

I love that you used the expression “used to keep company with” instead of the more modern "used to date." It really helped keep the mood and timeline of the piece.

Jack really calls ‘im as he sees ‘im.

“Didn't you learn a damn thing last time?”
“You'd think I would've.” Blink ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “She's engaged to another rich, brainless fool.”
“You forget that you're a rich, brainless fool now, too,” Jack said with a smirk.

And

“Well, a gentleman doesn't talk about these kinds of things.” Blink sipped at his water, smirking at Jack over the rim of the glass.
“Blink, you may be a rich son of a ** now, but you ain't a gentleman, no matter which way you look at it.”

This is a first-class story.

:-D

*snurf* I have no sympathy for Jack. He annoys me. The problem with Michael Smith is that he seems to be an okay sort of guy. Hard to hate him, y'know?

Wow. I love it so far, and I can't wait for more. This is going to be so cool.

i absolutely love it so far.
update when you can :)

They’ve still got it, and they’ve got it just as bad as they did back when Blink was a newsie.

“. . . . it felt every bit the same, as if they were back on the rooftop of the Duane Street Lodging House.”

I’m smiling happily and loving this story!.

“Zacharias Erickson.” I love that name!

“You must be Zacharias Erickson.” Blink nodded and extended his hand. Michael looked him up and down as they shook hands. “You're a lot younger than I thought you'd be. I was expecting an old, fat cowboy.”

I’m happy that Blink kept his New York accent. I can’t picture him going all cowboy and singing songs like Happy Trails :)

Ooh. Looks like Evie’s just seen a ghost.

Hooray! Blink is back!
I thought that we’d seen the last of him when he boarded that train at the end of Strong Men Crumble.

It’s interesting that Blink was the one who traveled to the southwest and not Jack.
And the lucky S.O.B. struck oil.
I guess all the gifts his friends gave him brought him luck.

Jack taking over for Kloppman is a wonderful idea. The most important thing in his life was taking care of his Newsie family. Now, he’s made it his life’s work.

This is a wonderful chapter and a great start for a new (continuation) story.

Anybody that hasn’t read Strong Men Crumble should do it right now! It’s fabulous.