Yes, I know what your thinking. ANOTHER girl newsie story? Well before you judge, give this a chance? I'm planning a few twists and turns to keep it slightly original... I think. LOL! Well, I hope you enjoy the first chapter! Review and Read On!
-Emily
Maia's stomach growled fiercely as she woke up. Once again, her stomach was her alarm clock. She hadn't eaten in three days! Honestly, if she didn't get at least a crumb in what she called the 'deep bit of nothing' she was almost certain it would eat itself. She wasn't to fond of that idea.
Anyway, she climbed out of her small bed and slipped out of her white nightgown. She changed into her only dress, a light pink number, and put on her white shoes. Maia combed her wavy brown hair that reached about five inches below her shoulder. Finally, she walked into the small kitchen in their apartment.
"Morning, darling." Said her mother, Abigail. Maia was always told she had her mothers looks. They both had wavy brown hair, brown eyes, freckled noses, and were tall for women-Abigail at 5'6 and Maia at 5'8.
"Morning, mother. Do we have any food today?" She asked.
"No. Now stop asking." Her father, Jacob, answered. He was reading the latest paper. Maia could slightly make out the headline- TROLLY STRIKE.
"So this strike is getting serious?" She asked, sitting down at the table. Her father set down the paper and shook his head.
"Maia, what have I told you? Girls are not to talk politics! It's not their place!" Maia grumbled. She found this hardly fair? How could gender decide what you were and were not allowed to do?
"Sorry, it's just that-"
"Maia! If I have to tell you one more time-" He started, however was interrupted by Maia's older brother-Andrew- walking in.
"Morning! I'm off to work!" Andrew said. We worked with the Brooklyn newsies, not wanting to be part of the, so-called, "Jack Kelly Clan".
"Bye." Maia said. He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"See ya'. Don't worry, I'll bring back something from Conlon." He teased. Maia's faced turned bright red!
"I don't like Conlon!"
"Sure. Ok," He said.
"Ah shut it!" Maia said, standing up.
"Maia!" Abigail warned.
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna hit 'em." Andrew laughed and walked out of the door.
"I don't get it! Why can't I work? I'm part of this family to! Besides, girls do work now and-"
"Maia! Enough! I will not be putting my daughter in danger! Your like a flower-"
"NO! I'm not! Don't call me a flower! I could contribute to this family to! We don't even have food and you sold off of Andrew's belongings but why not mine? Huh! Why when I offered you wouldn't?" By now she was screaming. Jacob stood up.
"Because your a girl! I don't need to be told what to do by a girl! Andrew is a boy! A man! It's his duty to take care of this family not yours!" Maia threw her hands in the air and ran out of the room.
She ran up to the roof, as she always did when her dad and her got into fights. Instead of tears, fire seemed to blaze in her eyes. She didn't cry. Maia Blazer never cries. You know, they say that she gets her attitude from her dad. They both have a temper, and won't take crap from anyone. They both are hard head stubborn. She sat down on the ledge, pulling her feet up to her chest.
She doesn't know how long she actually sat there. She just sat, thought, and watched the hundreds of children scurry off to work. Suddenly, she heard the door open and she jumped to her feet. It was Abigail.
"Hey, you ok?" She asked.
"Nope." Maia responded.
"Well, I know it's a miracle, but I talked a compromise with your father." Maia perked up.
"What?" She asked.
"You can help Ms. Smith downstairs with chores. We talked to her, she will pay you a dime a day."
"A dime a day! That's nothing!"
"It's the best you got!" Abigail said. Maia thought for a minute.
"Fine. When can I start?"
"Now if you want." Maia huffed as she walked downstairs.
Ms. Smith was a kind old woman. She always smelled like buttermilk though. Hew curly gray hair matched her smile perfectly. She was friendly all over!
"Hello, honey! Welcome! First, I thought we would fold some clothes, ok?" Maia forced a smile.
"Ok." Ms. Smith led her to a basket full of clothes.
"Here we are! Now, let's get folding!" Ms. Smith said cheerfully. Maia took out a shirt and neatly folded it.
"I appreciate this, Maia. I know a dime isn't much, but this also shows your character. You're a fine young lady." Ms. Smith said as she folded a dress.
"Thank you. It's all I'm allowed to do, anyway."
"What do you mean, dear?" Maia shrugged.
"My father is stubborn. He is convinced that girls can't work, or talk politics, or do anything! So why my brother works his rear end off, and father works all day, I do nothing to contribute to the family! We have absolutely no food and Andrew has close to nothing while I see, to have it all!"
"Well, what do you want to do?" Ms. Smith asked, seeming interested.
"I don't care what. I just want to work like the other kids in my family's position! But father will never take me seriously." She sighed. Ms. Smith thought for a minute.
"Your brother, he is a newsie in Brooklyn, yes?" I nodded.
"Well, maybe you could be a newsie here."
"Jack Kelly's Clan? How could I do that! There are no girl newsies."
"But this is why we have disguises." Ms. Smith smiled mischievously. I returned it.
"I'm in." She handed me a flannel shirt, trousers, and a cap to hide my hair.
"Tomorrow you can start. I'll give you a dime, that will give you enough for twenty papers. By the way, they call the papes. Its two cents a 'pape'. Ok?"
"I think so." I said, adrenaline pumping.
"Oh, and go by Micheal. And maybe smear dirt on your face? Yes, that would work." I smiled from ear to ear. Tomorrow I would finally prove what girls could do, well, secretly of course.
Hey! Thanks for reading! The next chapter should be up soon. Review please! Thanks!
