I'm having a very bad time trying to upload this short story, it likes to screw with itself. If it screws up one more time, I won't try anymore. This is really infuriating me, and it's the last thing I wanted to happen. Sorry for wasting anyones time, I'm REALLY sorry, I'm trying my hardest.
I don't own Newsies, please enjoy.
"Mummy? What is it like working everyday instead of going to school?" a seven year old Charlie Morris asked.
"Well it's similar to school, only you don't do different things everyday. Most days I just sit there stitching up clothes to be sold at shops," his mother responded. "School is better in my opinion, you learn a lot more about different things."
"Oh, I thought it was better than school," Charlie stated.
"Why do you say that?"
"Cause I'm teased for being short."
"You know what? One day you'll grow up to be taller than those kids, then no one can tease you anymore."
"Really?"
"Really, really."
For most of what Charlie can remember, it had only been his mother and himself living in a small, low budget house. He loved his mother and she loved him back, and that was all that they needed. Each other.
Although, one day, Charlie came home from school complaining about pains in his leg. He hoped that it was a one off thing. He liked to run a lot, especially when he was alone. He believed that one day, he could be a runner, that he could be paid for doing something that he loved.
That isn't what happened because the pain kept getting worse. Soon enough, he was admitted into hospital. His mother didn't have enough money to fund him staying in hospital with one job, so she took another job. They found out that Charlie had poliomyelitis.
It became hard on her, she was getting stressed out, and soon found herself getting addicted to drugs. She couldn't help herself. She couldn't do it anymore.
It was mid March when Charlie had heard about his mother committing suicide. It hurt him to face the fact that he was all alone, with no mother to help him, and a father that was murdered when Charlie was very young.
With no family members left to go to, Charlie had to start fending for himself. He was kicked out of hospital because of 'no payments being paid.' Charlie begged for help to the nurses, but it seemed that they all turned their nose up at a helpless child.
Charlie was left on the streets, forced to crawl around because his leg wasn't working anymore. Soon, the alleys that Charlie was once afraid of became his home. He had to beg people of the streets for an extra dime to eat something. It was usually just a piece of bread every two days, with disgusting river water.
Charlie felt helpless and vulnerable to the gangs that roamed the alleys at night. He tried to stay hidden in the shadows whenever he would hear people coming his way.
One night, he was too slow to hide himself and found himself facing his worst fear. Pain. He had enough of pain as it was.
"Ooh we'se found a cripple!" one of the gang members yelled out as he spotted poor Charlie.
"Let's beat him!"
Soon Charlie was met with dozens of ferocious punches to his face, torso, and mostly, his leg. He screamed out in pain, hoping that a good Saint would save him. Once the gang had had enough of punching Charlie, they left him lying helpless in the middle of an alleyway.
Charlie heard more voices coming his way and threw his hands up, hoping for mercy.
"P...please don't hurt me..." Charlie whimpered.
"Huh? We'se ain't gonna hurt ya," a soft voice had said.
"We'se were just walking by, an' we'se found ya," another boy said. "Are youse alright?"
"No..." Charlie started to sob.
"Hey, kid," the first boy crouched down. "What happened?"
"Some people came and...and started p...punching me. They punched my leg." Charlie continued to sob. He felt as though he could trust these two boys.
"Can youse stand?" the second boy asked.
"N...no, my leg hurts. I can't use it."
"Oh. My names Jack by the way, and this here's Race," the first boy said. "What's your name?"
"It's...it's Charlie, b...but I can't walk."
"Why not?" Race asked.
"C...cause I can't."
"Here Ise'll help youse up," Jack offered.
Jack grabbed ahold of Charlie's arms and proceeded to pulling him up. Charlie screamed at the pain in his leg.
"Jack! Careful, he's been hurt real bad," Race glanced at Charlie's leg, it looked completely shrivelled up.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry!" Jack apologised once he saw what Race was meaning.
"We'se gonna have ta carry him, Jack."
The two gently lifted Charlie off the ground and took him into a building. Charlie hadn't been into a warm place in what felt like years. It had been about 5 weeks since Charlie had first ended up on the street. Jack and Race slowly lowered Charlie onto the only couch visible in the place.
"Wha...what is this place?" Charlie asked.
"This here is the Manhattan newsboys Lodging House," Jack said proudly.
"You're newsies?"
"We'se sure are!" Race exclaimed.
"Is it only you two?"
"No! We'se got others too, they'se upstairs," Race explained. "How old are ya?"
"I'm seven."
"If youse don't mind me asking, what 'appened to your leg?" Jack asked.
"I...I had polio not long ago a...and I can't use my leg anymore," Charlie had tears forming in his eyes again. "Then t...the gang came a...and punched my leg heaps of times."
This had obviously shocked the two of them, because they sat in silence. Finally, Jack worked up the courage to continue talking.
"Will youse ever walk again?" Jack asked.
Charlie shook his head.
"We'se will have ta fix dat!" Race said cheerfully, it sounded oddly out of place as he said it. More silence came as Charlie and Jack looked at Race with a confused look on their faces. "A crutch?"
"Oh, that would be great," Charlie thought out loud.
"Yeah, then youse could walk again!" Race seemed glad that Charlie was catching on. "And then, youse can sell papes wit us!"
"I can?"
"Course ya can!"
"But before that happens, youse'll need a newsboys name," Jack said.
"How about Crutchie?" Charlie suggested.
"Dats perfect! Youse'll be known as Crutchie from now on."
From then on, Charlie's life had gotten better. He had friends, which soon became brothers. He was known as Crutchie, and Jack and Race had given him a crutch. Crutchie was forever grateful for what the two boys had given him, a new chance in life.
I'm begging for this to work this time, if not, I'm not going to try again. Once again, I'm sorry for wasting anyones time. If it worked, please leave a review. If you liked, that's awesome, if it doesn't work, I might just rip my hair out.