His brown hair a little messed up, his head cut up, and a knee that felt like it could barely stay attached, Leapfrog hopped up the stairs.

"What's all that noise about??? I'm trying to draw," walking out of the girls' bunkroom, the copper-haired Penny Johnson complained, holding a sketchbook.

"Have a little heart Penny, it's just me," Leapfrog waved.

"Christ, Leapfrog. Who'd ya hit?" The look of concern on Penny's face was enormous.

"Ha ha ha. Very funny. I just made a dumb move," Leapfrog went into the guys bunkroom and sat on an empty bunk, rubbing his head.

"Really? How dumb?" Penny asked.

"I tripped over some kid, and he thought I stepped on his foot. He made a big deal about it and started a fight." Leapfrog never expected the kid to beat him up like that.

"Yea? Wow. So," Penny knew she should quickly change the subject to one that Leapfrog wanted to talk about, "how are the headlines?"

Leapfrog laughed. "Penny, they're great. I really love reading articles about the rain in Moscow or the snow in Spain. I'm sure New York cares much more about weather abroad then in the United States."

Penny laughed also. "So, how many extras did you have?"

"None. I didn't buy any papers."

Penny tilted her head to one side. Wasn't Leapfrog a newsie? Didn't he want papes as much as the next newsboy? "How come?" Penny asked not saying what she was thinking.

"By the time I got there, there were no papes left. I'm sorry I can't add to your collection," Leapfrog smiled, thinking of the collection of extra papers under Penny's bed.

"Hey, Leapfrog, I think I'm going to go take a smoke really quick. You oughta get some ice for your head." Penny walked down the stairs and out the door.

Leapfrog sighed. Maybe I'll borrow some alcohol from Gears' toolbox, he thought as he walked into the girls' bunkroom. As Leapfrog pulled the toolbox out, he heard a voice at the door.

"What are you doing with that, kid?"

Leapfrog turned around. "Sorry, Gears, I just need a little alchohol for my cut," he pleaded. However the person in the doorway wasn't Gears.

Leapfrog recognized the brown hair and the blue eyes from anywhere. If he could have only seen inside this man, he would have recognized the cold heart. The man sneered. "Well, well, Kristo. This is the last place I expected to find you."

"Well, Jay, you know me. I'm always popping up in unexpected places." Leapfrog looked at the man. Jay McGuiness was back.

"Yes, well, I got an anonymous tip from someone this time. That you were here. And now I have the full right to arrest you. And it's Mister McGuiness to you, brat." Jay's eyes narrowed. Leapfrog could only imagine the thoughts going through Jay's mind. Is it jail or another orphanage this time? Leapfrog honestly thought they were both on the same level. As the police came in and took Leapfrog away, he didn't know what to expect.

The Thoughts of Leapfrog as Recorded by Leapfrog:
Well, it looks like Jay found me. I can't believe this. Joe would have loved to see the look on his face when I called him Jay.
Boy, do I miss Joe. This time there isn't anyone to share the wait with. I never should have escaped that last time, but I never figured anyone would come to Bay Ridge to find me. Well, anyway, what am I going to do? I can't escape from prison. Although Joe would think it was less then a challenge then escaping out of Bluejay's clutches. Until I figure something out, I'll keep writing this down.
--J."Leapfrog"K

Leapfrog sat inside the cell, looking around for means of escape. Well, it's a prison, what can you expect, he thought.

"Hey, kid? What you in here for?" He heard a deep voice from the cell next to him.

"I have absolutely no idea. Some wierdo put me in here for leaving his orphanage and now I'm stuck with this crazy old," as he was about to finish, the door opened, leaving Leapfrog trailing off, "So anyway, that's it."

"I hate putting kids in jail." He heard one man say.

"Well, you can't be to softhearted. Besides, I've been trying to get this one for years." Leapfrog heard Jay reply.

"Well, the judge decided to leave him here for now. I can't believe it." The other man said.

Leapfrog's heart sank. I gotta get out of here, he thought.

The Thoughts of Leapfrog as Recorded by Leapfrog:
Well, it looks like I'll be here for a couple more days. I have to get out of the big house. Shit, this just floats my boat. I can't even look at this as an adventure to try to escape. I can't believe I let the bulls get me like that. This is awful. Well, I better put this away and try to sleep.
--J."Leapfrog"K

"Hey Smudge, have you seen Leapfrog?" Tiptoe walked into the guys bunkroom, a look of concern over her face.

"Nah, not since yesterday morning." The boy looked up at the girl, not as worried.

"That's funny. I was home all day yesterday and I didn't see him..." The wave of panic on her face was bigger.

"He couldn't have gotten into any trouble...I mean...Ransom's been out for a day before..."

"Yeah, but this is different. Ransom has taken 2 minutes trips back here. Last trip Leapfrog made here was about noon, yesterday." The two teenagers looked at each other and ran outside the lodging house.

"Wake up, kid. Don't want that guy to find ya sleepin." Leapfrog's cell mate shook him up. Leapfrog opened his eyes to the tall, red haired man.

"Thanks a lot, John." Leapfrog yawned and stood up. "Damn it, for a minute I had almost forgotten where I was. I hate this place."

"Well, I hate it too, and I've been in here for," John walked to the wall and scratched something on the it, "14 years and 332 days. And I think I hear some footsteps, so shut your mouth. You might get news about your trial."

As the door opened, the familar face of Jay McGuiness walked in. "Well, well, Kristo. I'm very sorry about your trial."

Leapfrog tried to keep a straight face, "What happened?" Leapfrog didn't mind asking, since both were equally bad.

As Jay walked out, he said one more thing, "I hope you enjoy jail. For the next 2 months."

The Thoughts of Leapfrog As Recorded by Leapfrog:
Well, it looks like it will be another 2 months until I get out of here. I'll be glad just to live that long. It seems like there's nothing anyone can do, as I got news that there is a fine of 5 dollars to get me out.
I almost felt like begging for Jay to revoke my sentence, to get me sent with him. But I couldn't let him win. Not with what he's done.
I can only hope that somehow I get out of here early. If only...
--J."Leapfrog"K.

"Leapfrog? Jed Kristo, where are you?" Smudge ran up and down the street yelling his name.

"Did you say...Jed Kristo?" A man wearing a police hat walked up to him.

"Y-yes, sir. I hope I'm not causing any...er...trouble..." Smudge pleaded as Tiptoe walked up to him.

"We're looking for our...friend...and we can't find him anywhere...so if you see a brown haired boy about...4 foot 8...and green eyes...would you, uh, let him know that.. Smud--er... Nathan is looking for him?" Smudge scowled at her.

"Well, miss, I shouldn't be telling you this, but I know where the kid is. He's been put into," the police officer gulped, "into the city jail." With that, the police officer ran off into the distance.

As the officer's words sank in, a tall brown haired man with sparkling blue eyes ran into the two teenagers.

The door opened. A police officer walked in and turned towards Leapfrog. "Hey, kid. Nathan and some other girl are looking for you." The police officer walked out.

Leapfrog thought for a minute. Nathan...I don't know any Nathan. He thought for a couple of seconds, before realizing, "Smudge?"

The Thoughts of Leapfrog Kristo as recorded by Leapfrog Kristo:
Well, I found out about 5 minutes ago that Smudge is looking for me. That's always nice. I wonder who is with him.
But that's the least of my problems. A guy named Ben is leaving tonight, and wondered if anyone had a place to stay. I offered him my alley, but what do I do with all my stuff that's there? Oh well...I'm sure I'll run into him again. Well, until tonight.
--J."Leapfrog"K.

The brown haired man stood up. "Why don't you watch where you're going!"

Tiptoe thought for a little minute. "I'm sorry...I'm looking for a friend of mine. If you see a brown haired, green eyed boy named Jed Kristo, tell him that Nathan and Kalahandra are looking for him.

The man seemed to have choked. "Y-you know Kristo???"

Smudge snapped his fingers. "I recognize that voice...you were in the lodging house yesterday weren't you? You were looking for Leapfrog..."

"Um...you must...be mistaken...I...I...must be going now!" The man darted off in the direction of the jail.

The two teenagers walked to the lodging house, it being late in the night. Tomorrow they would figure a way to get Leapfrog out.

"Are you sure you're giving me right directions? If I find out you aren't..." The man pushed Leapfrog to the floor, threatening him.

Leapfrog gulped. "Yeah, I'm giving you right directions. Although it might be a left past the dump..."

"Which one is it?" The man snapped at him. "Tell me, or I'll bruise you so bad you'll wish you were dead."

"Well, if you do that, you'll never know, now will you?" Leapfrog challenged him. I'll tell this jackass where it is as soon as he gets away from me, he thought. "Now lemme get up." He growled.

The man moved away from Leapfrog, but he was still angry, "I shouldn't be taking this from you. You're just...just a worthless kid."

"A worthless kid who hasn't finished his directions. You walk away now, you never get them. It's right at the dump, keep going until ya get to the brick wall dead end."

The man sneered. "OK, Hornytoad or whatever your name is. Where do I go now? Over the wall?"

"Actually, yes." Leapfrog stood up. Leapfrog took his chances and jabbed him in the ribs. "And it's Leapfrog."

"Whatever. You're still a worthless kid." With that, the guard walked in and took the man away. He was free of jail.

The Thoughts of Leapfrog as recorded by Leapfrog:
Well...looks like I've proved something around here. A 12 year old kid can pack a punch much easier than an older man. Geez, that guy was a nutball. I could tell he wanted to beat the shit out of me, but I was giving him directions.
Geez...I wish Smudge would get here soon. I'd like to shoot myself in the foot sometime soon. Oh well, that's not a problem for now. Until tomorrow.
--J."Leapfrog"K.

Smudge and Tiptoe sat on the sofa, thinking hard of how they were going to get Leapfrog out of jail. "We could break in." Smudge offered.

"-I- am not going to break into a jail and up in the same position as Leapfrog. You can do it, if you really want too." Tiptoe smiled. How can I smile at a time like this..

Melanie Connoy watched the two of them as she walked downstairs. She had been listening to their words. "Maybe Leapfrog owns a fine. If we pay it for him, then he gets out of jail." She sat down on the couch next to Tiptoe.

Charity followed her down. "Where are we going to get the kind of money to pay that? Who knows how much it is?"

The four of them thought as Ransom Cane walked down the stairs. "I can think of someone..." He grinned.

"Really? You can pay the fine?" Smudge looked at him.

Sylvia walked in from the bed downstairs. She had had a headache and rested down there for a while as Ransom said. "No...I can't pay the fine to get Leapfrog free, but--"

Sylvia cut him off, "I can." She sat on the couch.

Leapfrog was shoved to the ground. "What do you MEAN you might have given him wrong directions?"

"I mean I'm not too sure about where the alley is." Leapfrog was getting pissed.

The man stood on his hands. "Well....if he gets arrested, you won't live to find out if you were right or not."

Leapfrog tried to kick the man, but his legs weren't long enough, "Get off you jackass."

The man grinned evilly. "Okay. Let me help you up." He pulled Leapfrog up and threw him against the wall.

Leapfrog turned around, bruised. "Stay back and shut up."

The man glared at him. "Respect your elders."

Leapfrog lashed out at him, punching him in the right cheek. When the man looked surprised, Leapfrog kicked him in the ribs, knocking him to the ground. "Care to try again?"

The man stood up and aimed for Leapfrog's right cheek. Leapfrog dodged it and tripped him.

A guard came in just as the man stood up and tried to punch Leapfrog again. The guard seperated the two of them.

Leapfrog smirked "Good thing he did. You were gonna lose anyway."

Sylvia walked into her house. Leapfrog is depending on me, she thought. "Hello Aunt Mildred." She smiled sweetly, batting her eyebrows.

Mildred didn't expect a thing. "Hi Sylvia. Come to collect your money?"

Sylvia nodded. "Yes, Auntie. Could you gave me about 10 dollars extra. I'm running out of funds to buy new papers."

Her aunt smiled and nodded. "Sure, sweetie. Here you go. Now run along, your father will be back any minute."

"Thanks, Aunt Mildred." Sylvia walked out of the house calmly. She met Mel, Penny and Ransom outside. It was time for part two of the plan.

The Thoughts of Leapfrog as Recorded By: Leapfrog:
What is it about the 25 year old man who thinks he's so tough he can beat a swift, agile 12 year old boy? The boy will always win. Unless the man has a weapon, but this is jail, so be practical. These people really shouldn't pick a fight if it isn't necessary. That's dangerous.
I'm still trying to figure out a way to get out of here, but like I said, this is jail and it sure isn't easy.
I haven't seen Jay lately. It's kind of weird actually. Oh well, maybe he's preoccupied picking on some other poor kid.
Till later:
J."Leapfrog"K.

Sylvia came out of the city jail and looked at all of them. "5 dollars. Can you believe that?"

Penny shrugged, "Well, it could have been a lot worse."

Sylvia handed Penny the 5 dollars. "Well...this is where I branch off. I have some paper selling to do." With that, Sylvia ran off to get copies of the afternoon edition.

Penny looked at Ransom and Melanie. "I don't think I'm over the fact that Leapfrog's in jail yet." She ran her hand through her copper hair.

Melanie laughed. "I don't think any of us are."

The three of them started off into the jail.

Leapfrog rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Boy, was that a long night. And who knew that four people could be so badly beat up."

John laughed. "Shit, you didn't make out so well yourself. Although, I've got to admit you did come off better than the rest of them did."

Leapfrog laughed as Jay McGuiness walked into the room. "Hello, Kristo. I hope you know that for your behavior last night, your original sentence has been extended to 3 months."

Leapfrog looked at him and smoothly replied, "The only real torture in being here, is seeing your face."

Jay was obviously offended, and made sure everyone noticed by slamming the door while muttering some random curses.

Leapfrog laughed yet again. "He really needs to take a course in anger management."

Penny and Ransom walked into the jail, Mel following close behind. The trio walked up to the desk. No later than they reached there, Penny started to fake crying.

"Where's my brother?" She wailed. She was playing her part pretty well.

The man looked at her oddly. "W-who?"

Ransom looked at him. "My father's quite mad that you arrested my brother. We're here to pay the fine. His name is Leapfrog Kristo."

The man looked down at his records. "Jed Kristo, original sentence of 2 months, extended to 3 months. Fine..." The man squinted at the book and looked up. "I'm sorry...you must be mistaken. There is no fine."

Melanie looked at the man for a second. "That's funny. I'm sure somewhere there's a judge that will agree elsewhere." She took the 5 dollars from Penny. "Release him." She ordered, holding the money out to him.

The man looked down at his records one more time, trying to see what was under the scribbles. Counting the money, he said, "Well...I'm going to say this is the right amount of money..." He went back through the door.

"Kristo." A policeman walked back and unlocked the cell. He dragged Leapfrog out of it. "You're out of here."

Leapfrog was overjoyed. "I...I'm out? B-but why?" He asked as the man pushed him out.

"Because the fine was paid." The man pushed him towards the three awaiting him.

"Hi." Leapfrog smiled. "Boy, have I got a lot to tell you."

The Thoughts of Leapfrog Kristo as Recorded by Leapfrog Kristo:
Well, I finally got out of jail. Thanks to Sylvia, "Nathan", Tiptoe, Penny, Ransom, and Mel. I'm glad to be out of there. Geez, nothing like a few days in jail to make a guy think. Until next time, when I'm not plotting on how to file the cell door with a paper clip.
--Jed "Leapfrog" Kristo