Don't own newsies, but I do own all the acts… except for Maura's song, I got that off the internet… The song is by Lee Ann Womack, and it's called: I Hope You Dance. I know Maura never would have known this song, or anything like it, but I really liked the song, and thought it went ok with the story… anyway, I hope you like it!
Enjoy! (and review!!!, I have never done anything like this before, comments are helpful!)
"Maura! Get out here! We're about to start!" Sam yells through the door as he runs past, on his way to the pit.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" I grumble, as I finish tying a corset for Anne, one of the dancers. "There you go, Anne, now you better hurry up, or the show'll start without you!" I say, smiling at the face my friend is making in the mirror. "Go on, or Medda won't pay you tonight."
Anne only sticks her tongue out at her reflection, and with a short "thanks" she runs out the door. Shaking my head, I leave the dressing room and head over to the pit where Sam, my best friend, is running the stage for the big production.
Actually, It's not that big of an operation, as tonight's reserved just for the newsies, but Medda, our boss had basically adopted all the newsies of New York, and decided that tonight she was going to throw the hugest party anyone had ever seen, which of course meant ALL the acts and everything had to be perfect. Which happened to be Sam's job.
"Everyone, places!" Sam calls excitedly as he grins at me. It's obvious he loves this, and wouldn't give it up for anything. "You ready Maura?" he asks, looking me up and down and admiring my costume. My dress is a dark green with a white bodice and long sleves. Personally, I think I look a bit like one of those princesses from all those romance novels, but as Medda picked out the clothes herself, out of her own trunks, as a gift, I can't really complain. My long brown hair is pinned up so that it cascades loosely down my back. Medda had done me up herself earlier, and pronounced herself proud of the result, so I guess it looks ok on me. He grins at me, expecting what's coming next.
"I guess." I reply unhappily to Sam's question, but my reluctance is all a show, because we both know I love this sort of thing. I'm a stage bird by nature, and I'm quite good at it too, if I do say so myself. Now, you may be asking yourself, what in the world I'm doing, getting dressed up in weird costumes and then claiming I'm a stage bird.
My name is Maura Scott and for my living, I sing. As a baby, I was left in a booth in Medda's theater. Medda took me in, taught me to sing, and ever since, I've been singing for my keep. You'd be a great singer too, after about 14 years of Medda's teaching.
I sit in the wings next to Sam, watching Anne and her girls dance for the newsies. They're amazing, one of the greatest acts ever to come to Medda's theatre, and they know it too. They consider themselves a bit higher than the rest of us actors and singers, but we live with it, because in truth, they ARE a bit higher in the whole scheme of things. But just because we live with it doesn't mean the rest of us don't make fun of it every now and then. As I watch Pauline, another of Anne's girls, make goo-goo eyes at some of the Queens newsies, I laugh and try to imitate the look to Sam, who is obviously trying very hard not to laugh.
Sam is like my brother. He's two years older than me, but he has short dark hair to my long brown. He, like me, was abandoned at Medda's, but two years before me, making him the natural choice to show me the ropes. We've been best friends ever since we met and some call us inseparable. Which, to be honest, is probably true.
Sam checks his watch, gauging how many minutes before he has to alert the second act that it's their turn to perform. I turn back to the stage, watching the girls go into their finale. As I've seen this act a million times, however, my eyes slide into the audience. All my friends of the Manhattan newsies are there, eyes on the performance. Except for Racetrack, though, his eyes are glued to his cards and the sitting in the center of a table filled with a bunch of Newsies I don't know who were all holding cards. Jack Kelly, and the rest of his gang are spread out through the theatre entertaining themselves as only newsies can. Continuing my scan of the room I spot a few Brooklyn newsies I know as well. Their leader, Spot Conlon is sitting near the front with a girl on either side. I laugh quietly to myself, remembering when Sam had told me about the King of Brooklyn's reputation. He was a good guy though, despite the tough front he attempted to put on, if you got to know him. My view of the rest of the audience was obstructed when Anne and her girls rushed off the stage to loud applause from the all the newsies in the audience. Then, Swipe, a fast-handed magician hurried on, knocking me the other way. Grabbing the ropes behind me to keep myself from falling on stage, I tried to regain my breath. A hand reached into my vision, offering a hand.
"You know if you pull that rope too much harder, You'll knock Swipe out with the curtain falling on his hand in the middle of his act. Then he'll be in an even worse mood than he is already, and we don't want that, now do we?" Sam grinned at my embarrassment at almost ruining the show, and helped me to stand up again. "Got your song and everything ready?" He asked again, this time in a formal voice, warning me that I was not to mess with him like last time. Last time I had convinced him I had forgot every word of my song, all my cues ect. Needless to say, he was not happy. I just winked at him and started singing the words softly.
"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder…" I sing softly, smirking at him. Sam's glare relaxes and he smiles at me again. "You're on in two, I think your friend Racetrack is about ready to blow open Swipe's whole trick. Let's get him out quickly, huh?" Nodding at him, I prepared myself to go out. In a minute, after Swipe had picked up his stuff and marched off the stage, Sam was again behind me, pushing my back gently so I wouldn't hesitate and ruin his whole production. I walked swiftly to the front of the stage and stood for a minute looking at my feet as I relaxed myself, as I always did, right before I began to sing. Into the bottle you go, my dear. I heard Medda's advice from long ago, and placed myself in that self same bottle, where there was only me, the lyrics to my song, and the small band playing in front of me. I looked up as they started the intro, smiling at my old friends.
"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger.
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed.."
I had song this song so many times, I felt myself coming out of my little glass bottle and actually singing to my audience.
I hope you still feel small when you stand by the ocean,
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice, to sit it out or dance…
I hope you dance.
I hope you dance.
I saw some of the newsies sit up and listen to the song now. It looked like they were enjoying it, but I wasn't quite sure. I glanced at Sam in the wings, but he only smiled encouragingly and motioned for me to continue. That was no help.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth making.
Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter.
When you come close to selling out, Reconsider.
Give the heavens above, more than just a passing glance..
And when you get the choice, to sit it out or dance…
Here I winked at Joe, the guitar player, and he sang the second part of the song with me. (A.N. Joe's part is in parentheses…
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder,)
I hope you dance
( where those years have gone)
I hope you still feel small when you stand by the ocean,
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance,'
And when you get the choice, to sit it out or dance…
Here was the ending… come on girl, don't blow it!
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion, always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(where those years have gone)
I closed my eyes, as I always did at this part of the song, trying to remember my parents. Nope nada. Ah well, perhaps next time…
(Tell
me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth
and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)
As the last notes from my song hit the rooftops, the room was silent. To be honest, (I might have been bluffing to you a bit before about my experience on stage…), never before had I performed for my newsie friends. They had never heard me sing, as I usually performed while most of them were still out hawking papers. Only Jack Kelly had ever heard my act before, so it was his face I sought out as I slowly opened one eye, braced for a look of disgust. Jack only winked at me, giving me about as much help as Sam had. Blushing I opened my other eye and looked around at the assembled newsboys, who still had not said a word. I glanced at a grinning Sam, pleading with my eyes to get off as soon as possible, but before he could beckon me off the stage, a loud roar of approval rang from the audience. Smiling now, I gave a deep curtsy like Medda had taught me, and waving, I walked off the stage, sighing with relief as I left the public eye.
"That" I announced to Sam as the next act went on, "Was the most stressful ordeal I have ever gone through. Period."
"Well, you did pretty well for a girl…" Sam teased me and for that, he got a punch in the shoulder. "Hey," He said, catching my arm as I shoved past him to take off my stage makeup, "Medda told me that you earned a break for the night. Go see your friends, and hang out for a while." Nodding with glee (I never get breaks) I turned away to leave, but once again, Sam held me back for a moment. "And Maura? Nice job out there. Really nice job." Blushing at the praise, and still filled with adrenaline from my success, I practically bounced into the dressing room, where I washed off most of my makeup, and let down my hair. It was time for some fun.
AN: I hope you liked it!! sorry, first time ever fanfict, but that doesn't mean I deserve sympathy… unless you feel like giving it… ;) hahaha
Please review and tell me what I'm doing wrong… I wanna make this a good one, but I dunno if im doing it right… constructive criticism is accepted, but please, don't flame me!! (I appreciate it.)
Thanks, and Happy New Year!
Mickeygee