Hey there! Its Ofclocksandviolets, I just watched the Newsies in the recent past and fell in love enough to write a story, give it a try please, even if the grammer and spelling maybe bad. I would greatly appreciate it.
Chapter 1
The first thing Adora smelled when she awoke, was parchment, and the second was ink. She slowly opened her tired, green eyes, and sat up slowly. Her back popped, and the bones in her left hand were stiff. Adora, sighed in pure contentment when she pushed her arms toward the slope of her bedroom ceiling. The muscles moaned, and her bones creaked. Adora then turned her groggy gaze toward the parchment sitting on her desk covered with her own smooth pen. The lines were smudged slightly, and much to her disgust a drool stain was on the left of the page. Adora well resting her face on her chin read her work from late last night. At first she smiled slightly pleased with herself, and then scowled. Adora after she finished reading, crumpled the paper up while mumbling "far too many adjectives."
She then, desiring to look at some more pleasant than her current writing, gazed out her bedroom window. Adora's window was large, circular, and held a perfect view of the sky across the bay. The sun was rising with the same slow ease of Adora herself. The concert buildings of Manhatten, even in the distance visibly punctured the sky. The morning sky dyed the harbor. Coloring the sea various hues of, lavender, pale pinks, and yellow. The Brooklyn bridge, glowed with a majestic intimidation, and promise that strength could always be found. Adora, since her first days here always found the bridge, reflected those that lived beyond it. Adora, enjoyed the view best without her thin sliver glasses on. She enjoyed how the shapes blurred, and the colors blended creating an impressionist piece of art work; symmetric from a distance, and individualized close up.
Adora, curled her freckled toes gazing out the window a few moments longer, basking in the metropolitan beauty of the city. A serene emotion cloaking her. Peace, was why Adora loved waking up early.
"Adora Marie Claire!" Her Mother bellowed from downstairs, breaking the peace. Her accent a thick boasturous Irish. Adora, felt her body jolt ever so slightly before regaining her sense of self. "If ye do not get yer toosh a moving, ye'll be late!" Her Mother continued. Her voice loud and companion to the sound of dough being slammed on the old wood of the cutting boad. Adora could just pictured her as she leaped from her wooden desk chair, placing her glasses on her face. Margaret Claire, was moving the dough with the heal of her freckled hand. Sweat already on her forehead, green eyes that matched Adora's trained on the dough. Her the arms of her shirt rolled up to the elbow, and the most of her apron covered in flower. Another slam resonated from the bakery's kitchen, this one louder showing a short temper. "I don't hear any movin' lass!" This caused Adora to jump to the, chest of drawers at the other end of her humble room and began to gather clothes. She pulled her pale pink night gown over her blonde head. Her freckled frame shivered, after being exposed to the morning chill. She moved quickly, getting dressed.
First, was her underdress. Then unfortunately a corset, that Adora always struggled in lacing up. It used to be left behind, but Adora knew that her mother would check after the incident of September fourth. As Adora began to button up her white blouse, her Mother once again bellowed shaking the whole house. Adora was too focused on buttoning the many buttons correctly to hear what was said. But she did her her brother, Fredrick shout from his room next door. "MA! Please remind me why the whole house must be awoken at sunrise because Adora has school!?" He shouted through the wood of his door, his voice cracking every other word or so. Something, Adora thought would stop after he turned sixteen. "Perhaps, if little Dory didn't stay up until the devil's hours of the night, reading she would wake up on her own." Adora as she pulled on her black stocking, and her white bloomers heard, Barnabas said a floor down. His own accented voice, seeping through the floor boards. "Well when either of ye lads get into a private school only because of yer wits, I'll stop me bellowing." Adora's Mother snapped back, and began lecturing them, as she did when they complained through the walls a floors boards. Groans of exasperation could be heard from either boys, and their roomates, Marcus and Harrison. Adora's smirked a little, placing her glasses on her face, as her mother shook the house asking why her brothers weren't more studious. She laced up her brown boots, and grabbed the school bag that hung on her desk chair. She filled it with the missing books, and papers alike. Adora then left her room, pulling the door shut when it resisted. Her father often cursed the doors in this house "bloody ancient things" he would say, mustache scowling.
"Adora! Where are ye?!" Her Mother shouted once more, slamming the dough. "Good lord Maggie! I believe you have woken up the whole street by now!" Adora heard her father, Fergus Claire, shout from their shared room. "I'm coming Ma!" Adora yelled as she quicken her walk, down the hall. Receiving an ugly scowl from her younger sister, Ophelia who had peeked her brown head from her room. Adora, jogged down the first of three flights of stairs, listening to the exchange between her folks. "Shut it Gus, and get yer arse out here and help me with the bread!"
"Woman-"
"Oh no! Don't ye woman me Fergus Donovan Claire!" Adora's Mother had a habit of using middle names when she was particularly peeved.
As Adora walked, passed Barnabas' room she heard her eldest brother Marcus grumbled "now you've done it da." She smiled, listening to her parents exchange, rounding the first banister before descending a second and a third set of stairs. When Adora entered the kitchen, her Mother was vigorously stamping out dough into round circles. She was in the middle of chewing out her father, the metal stamp slamming with each word she said. Adora snagged an already baked biscuit off the cooling rack. Hissing as it burned her fingers. This minor noise broke, her mother speech and stamping. "Alright" she said sternly her blonde hair piled on top of her head. "Lemme have a look at ye?" Adora sighed and turned so her back faced her mother. Margaret, smoothed a hand over the back of Adora's shirt feeling for the laces of her corest. Satisfied, Adora's mother smacked her rear "alright now scat my dear." Adora kissed her mother on the check before shouting her farewells to the rest of her family. "Bye Da, Barny, Freddie, Ophelia, Marcus, Diana, Harry, and Winnie!" A few grumbled "goodbyes" were replied and one "get out of here ye pest!" From a particularly grumpy Fredrick.
Just before she left, Adora dawned a light coat and her favorite hat. It was made of a light tan straw, with a pale blue ribbon. It was once her mother's, back when she lived in Ireland. Adora tugged it firmly on to her blonde head, and left her home.
The street, was partially empty except the few early morning commuters such as herself. Not even the sun was all the way up, and none of the Newsies were out yet making their calls. It was just Adora, and the sound of a strangers foot steps as well as her own. Adora, when she was out in the morning didn't particularly like the quite. Sure she adored it while in the comfort of her own home, but out here in the city streets, it was eerie. Adora's imagination ran wild while out here; murders lurked in the shadowed allies, pick pockets in barrels, and even a few sick smiled monsters on the roof tops. To quench her dangerous thoughts, Adora fished around her nap sack for a book. It was an old one, the cover water stained, and even burned in some parts. It was once her grandmother's favorite, it was Shakespeare, it was Hamlet. Given it was a not a novel, but Adora made a exception for her grandmother and Shakespeare. Adora turned one of the tattered pages to where she left off, somewhere in Act III.
Adora knew the way to her school by heart, and could if she tried walk in blindly. In fact she did try once, but it took her twice as long and was very late. Mother gave her the scolding of her life for that, and took away her dear books. Adora, mentally grimaced at the memory, a whole week with out even the paper to read. Adora, never tried to walk to school blindly again. Instead she settled for, glancing from the page every so often and quickening her steps. She rounded her street and walked down toward the street leading toward the bridge just past the docks. Adora paused a moment to look down at the docks. Some old ware houses stood vigil over the wooden peninsulas. Adora remembered hearing from her friend that in one of those ware houses lived the Brooklyn Newsies and their king.
Adora heard the king was many things about the boy king, most were fictious. She had heard he was, a dangerous boy, with a sneer that could frighten even the most cold blooded criminal. She had heard he controlled the news ring, dined with murders and cheats alike. Adora, could spend hours telling about what she had heard not what she knew. Because, frankly nobody knew anything concert about the King of Brooklyn.
The king was a myth a legend, and most of New York had a tale to contribute to the pile of urband fictious splendor.
Even some of the girls in her school, had heard of him many had tall tales of a kid no older than herself.
Adora's favorite version of the king was told by a class mate. Bobby Heart, a girl with jewel like eyes, said once that the king was a vicious boy who had his heart cut out from him and replaced with a pocket watch. She then later also said that it was so he didn't have to feel anymore, and could live forever.
Her other favorite rumor surrounding the king, was he once was a boy pirate and had his own ship. Before it was burned down, and he washed up on the Brooklyn shore water logged.
Many more rumors flew around her class room and the streets of the most respected and feared Newsie of New York. Each more fantastical than the last.
Adora walked away from the docks, and turned her face to her book. Her thoughts now swimming with the other horror stories, and rumors surrounding the child king. She often tried to picture him in her head, and it always different. She would think him tall, and short. Sometimes he had dark hair others light. He was never the same in her head. Adora couldn't help but think that sometimes she had already seen him. On the streets of Brooklynn, selling papers. This was the most frustrating thought, because she could never place a face nor could she picture him really selling papers. Sitting on a throne of them, but not selling them. She wasn't even sure why he was often on her mind, perhaps Adora thought he would make an excellent children's book. He may not be the hero, but he could be a great villain.
Adora began her trek across the large suspension bridge, and devoured her novel. Her thoughts no longer plagued by the King of Brooklynn and his sneer. It took Adora a long while walk the eight miles and then some to reach a halfway point to her school. By the time Adora stopped to rest a moment, and wait for her companions as she did most mornings, at the statue of a bearded man outside of the Pulitzer news building, her feet hurt very bad. The sun was all the way up, erasing the early dawn, and coloring the sky a lovely blue. Adora, caught her breath and tucked her book back into her nap sack. She gazed up at the Pulitzer news building, the head lines where already written in the front on a large black board in white chalk. Reading them Adora sighed "those poor boys, those headlines are awful, I suppose only the crafty will survive."
She could hear the voices of news boys shouting at each other in a language of their own. Slurring letters, and altering words. Adora, sighed and took out a pocket watch from the waist of her coat. She clicked it open and observed the time, "where are they?" Adora whispered to herself. She looked around, and watched as the newsboys filed out with papers in their arms. "Adora!" A voice behind her called. Adora, walked around to the other side of the statue and found one of two people she was looking for. Her brown hair was without a hat, and was tamed into a reluctant braid. Her own school skirt was slightly wind blown and wrinkled. "Hollie, I'm over here" the girl in question turned to face Adora with a grin. Her blue eyes sparkled in the morning sun. "There you are Shakespeare, have you seen Ellie?" Adora shook her head, pale blonde curls bouncing "no not yet, you got a little something." Adora pointed to a spot of what appeared to be white oil paint on Hollis' face. Hollis lifted her hand and wiped around her face, causing Adora to laugh. "What's so funny?" A new voice asked from behind Adora, visibly out of breath. Adora whipped her head around "your late Ellie." Eleanor trotted over to the pair standing by the statue, her pale hands griping a black violin case and a school bad. Her red hair flying about uncontrolably. Eleanor sighed, as she came to a halt, her red curly hair deflating slightly "I know my cat got out!"
Adora sighed, "Oscar is the most misbehaved cat I have ever heard of." Ellie practically growled "I know!" Hollie smiled before looping her arms with those of her best friends. "Come along now girls, I believe Mrs. Heart will be most displeased if we are tardy." Adora and Ellie nodded in agreement as they began to walk. Adora looked around the street, with a searching gaze. "Adora what are you looking for?" Eleanor asked still trying to catch her breath. "A Newsie" was her simple reply. Hollis arched a brow "a specific Newsie?" Adora catching onto what she was implying, a blush decorated her face "no I merely want my paper."
Eleanor giggled "oh Hollie don't you know? Romance is a forgein to novelist, as well as sunshine, and social gatherings." Adora rolled her eyes "I missed tea one time because, I needed to finish a very important book, and I never hear the end of it." Hollis laughed a merry way, that echoed in the streets, and cause many people to turn their way. "Oh please, Adora it was at least three times." Adora sighed "when I finish my first book you will eat your words." Eleanor pointed with her hand that held her violin "there's a few!" A few feet away from them were three Newsies walking, with papers slung over their shoulders. Two of them were taller, older boys, and one was much younger as well as smaller. The blonde was familiar to Adora, she was sure she had bought a few papers from him once or twice. She never asked his name. Never needed to.
"Come on then let's catch 'em!" Hollis cried and began to jog tugging her friends along. "Hollie! Slow down!" Adora cried moving her hand to hold her hat in place so it didn't fly away. The trio of girls caught up to the boys, rounding so they faced them. The tallest of the boys, the familiar one, had greasy blonde hair, and a cowboy hat. His grin was cocky and his posture the same. The second tallest had dark curly hair, hidden under a news' boy cap and glittering blue eyes. The younger boy, who only looked about seven or so resembled the other boy, with dark hair and glittering eyes.
"Can we help you goils?" The blonde boy asked. "Yes" Adora began, moving to fish a coin from her pocket "I would like a paper." Her voice took on a much meger tone, when talking to strangers and there was something about the blonde boy's gaze that made her shy. Perhaps it was how he oozed confidence and the only time Adora had any of that was on paper. "Yeah?" The blonde smirked. Adora held out a nickel for him to take while pushing up her circular glasses. "You seem like a nice goil, I feels I should tell ya that it's a pretty crumy pape. Headline being bad and all." The blonde said, well the taller of the dark haired boys eyed Hollis. Adora couldn't blame him, she was quite pretty in a very quite way. "That's alright, I buy them for the words" Adora said. The blonde witha confused look, handed her a paper which she took swiftly.
"Words?" The taller dark haired one said. "Yes Adora here collects words" Hollis spoke with a small laugh. The trio looked at the friends with confused faces. Eleanor explained further "Adora wants to be a writer." The blonde nodded "yeah? Like ?Mark Twain?" Adora smiled kindly "no like Jane Austen."
"Who?"
"Nevermind"
The dark haired boy spoke next "what about you what's your name?" He asked Hollis. "Hollis Holloway" she unlinked her arm from Adora and offered him her hand. "My friends call me Hollie, what's your name?" The boy clasped her hand "David Jacob." They held hands longer than the normal friendly handshake.
"I'm Jack Kelley, and this is Davey's little brother Les." The blonde, or now Jack Kelley said with an eye roll directed toward David, shaking hands with Adora and then Eleanor. "Eleanor McNally, and Shakespeare over here is Adora Claire." Eleanor said shaking hands with Jack and then Les. "Eh! Shakespeare I like it" Jack Kelley grinned. "Just Adora please" she whispered checking her pocket watch. Her eyes widen at the time "girls, we have to get going otherwise we will be late." Her friends nodded in understanding, while David asked "going where? " Hollis answered him first "Saint Mary's Girls School, Headmistress Heart isn't keen on tardyness." Jack raised his eyebrows "ooh private school girls, talking to us lowly Newsies eh?" Adora wrinkled her nose at this, and his tone. It was too defensive, the way he said it, like she was some stuck up snot "yes, we were awarded scholarships last year." Eleanor must have heard the same tone for she added on "yeah, for our wits and intellect, Hollie is the top of our class." Hollis blushed as the compliment "Ellie you know all three of us are tied." Adora and Eleanor smiled at their friend and her modesty. "Either way we must be going thank you for the paper." Adora said turning her friends back in the direction of their school and lead them in a trot. "Goodbye!" She heard David call.
"So" Eleanor began, looking at Hollis "What was that?" Hollis looked at her with at confused face "what was what?" Eleanor smile wickedly "that face you made at David, you looked like something out an Austen book." Hollis looked down at the street, blushing "I haven't the foggiest idea what you are talking about." Adora laughed "oh please Hollie, Ellie is right your eyes glazed over, you fancy the lad!" Hollis put up a defensive "how could I fancy a boy I just met?"
"Love at first sight."
"That's stuff for novels, not Mahatten."
Adora and Eleanor teased Hollis all the way up the gray steps to equally gray brick building of their school. They slipped into the seats in their class room just in time. Mrs. Gare was already in the classrooms front, writing that day's english lesson on the board. The sun floated through the second floor windows, giving the room's dust a fairytale like quailty. Adora, laid out her school supplies, and removed her hat as well as her coat.
She tucked the straw hat underneath her desk, and smoothed out her blonde curls. Mrs. Gare turned to face her class with a pleasent smile, and with the hair that Adora envied. It was the same shade as hers and thickness. But Mrs. Gare's was always pined away from her oval face in an intricate palette. Adora scarcely did anything but brush it, letting the crazed curls flow down her back. She just didn't feel like she had the right fingers to fix her hair, Mrs. Gare's were always cleaned and manicured. Adora's were ink stained and covered in the same freckles that spotted the rest of her. "Okay ladies shall we begin?" Mrs. Gare cooed. With those words Adora felt the school day pass with the same lulling ease as always.
It was all normal, the way time slowed well she sat in the hard chair in the very center of the class. The sunlight and the dust. Her daily comparison of herself and what many considered a successful women. It was a mundane routine that she was sure wasn't anything she would read about. But, Adora some how felt school wouldn't be school without those things.
When the class was dismissed, Adora packed her things away and dawned her coat along with her hat. She left the school with Hollis, and Eleanor laughing about how Hollis nearly tripped over her dressed down the stairs. "It's far too long!" She cried recovering from the near fall. Adora covered her mouth as she giggled and boarder line snorting. The trio walked, laughing. "Hollie perhaps you should invest in higher heal boots, or a tailor" Eleanor smiled. "Or she needs to visit a medcine woman who can make people grow with some elixture." Hollis scowled at Adora "your one to talk! You're only five foot and that's being generous!" Adora smirked "but I haven't tripped over my skirt yet." Hollis sighed.
The trio walked a few more blocks, before parting ways with a smile and a farewell. Adora watched as her friends disappeared into the crowd of New Yorkers bustling about. They had things to do for parents before dinner, and cats to catch in Eleanor ' s case.
With a sigh, Adora took the paper from her nap sack and began to finally read it. Her feet continued in the walk back to her home in Brooklynn. They moved slowly with a small protest, but she paid no mind to it. Adora instead devoured the words in the paper. She walked only a few blocks before she heard a
"Shakespeare!" Adora whipped her head around until she spotted Jack, with David and Les in tow. It took her a moment to remember them from their brief encounter that morning. They were running right at her with pressed urgency. "Just Adora" she said as they approached. Jack stopped a moment "I got a favor to ask of ya if a tall man with a black coat comes round this way asking about us. Tell 'em you didn't see us." Adora didn't have time to respond because he and his companions ran off too quickly. Adora watched them dissappear into an alleyway. She shrugged her shoulders, and continued to read her paper before the man she was warned about stopped her.
He clamped a hand over her shoulder, and looked at her with beady eyes "Miss did you happen to see three boys come by here, one with a cowboy hat in particular." Adora was too stunned by the man's appearence. He was indeed tall and very creepy. She shook her head 'no' and wiggled her shoulder out of the man's grasp. She stuck her nose back in the paper, and walked away leaving the man behind. Adora, fell into her peaceful reading once more. She walked a few more blocks in her route home, before once again being stopped again by Jack Kelley and his band.
"Shakespeare!" He called at her before seizing her hand and whipping her whole body around. She dropped her paper on the ground much to her dismay and was forced to run with the boys. "It's Adora let go of me!" She cried angerly moving her wrist. "Not till we are safe!" Was the only response she received besides the ocassional huff and puff from the brothers behind her. Jack lead them through a dark door before, stopping finally.
The door lead to what seemed to be back stage of some small play house. It smelled of oil and cheap perfume. There were sand bags lining a wall weighing down thick curtains, and a set of wooden stairs leading to a small room that gave off a warm glow. Adora, heard the boys bickering behind her about one thing or another. Adora tuned them out as she caught her own breath, only listening when the word refuge was said.
"Refuge?" She repeated. Jack and David looked at her, both seeming to have forgotten her presence. "Yeah, it's where they put ya when yer an orphan and break the law." David gave Jack a glare "so what did ya do to get put in?" He spat out the words, causing Jack to dangerously walked toward David. Adora thought perhaps she should do something, but she couldn't move.
"I was starvin' so I stole some food."
"Some food?"
"Yeah"
"How'd ya get out" this time Les spoke up, tearing Jack gaze from his brother. "I rode out on some big shot ' s carriage" he said to the boy who looked up in admiration. "Lemme guess" David began "the mayor?" He ask with an attitude. Jack fixed a hard gaze on him "no Theodore Roosevelt, ever 'eard of him?"
Just as Adora feared a fight may break out between the two a women's voice came from the room. "Oh no, out out!" It said as a red haired women appeared from the top of the stairs. Adora could smell her perfume from where she stood by the musty sand bags. Jack quickly ascended the stairs saying "now you wouldn't throw me out without a kiss good by would you Medda?" The red haired women smiled before saying "aw Jack, how ya been kid?" She asked bringing him into a hug.
Adora once again only gathered bits and pieces of conversation between the sweet smelling women and the boys. She was focusing on not sneezing, for where she stood still holding her school bag was extremely dusty. Her ears perked up when Jack said "and this here is Shakespeare." He smiled a cocky grin, and gesture a hand toward her. Adora stepped over to shake Medda's hand "I'm Adora Claire, not Shakespeare." Medda chuckled "I think not your far too pretty, and alive for that matter." Adora blushed at the compliment.
"Medda we need a place to lie low for a while" Jack said in a very secretive matter. Medda nodding in understanding, Adora decided that was when she should take her leave. "I must be going, my Mother will be wondering where I am." The others looked at her, Jack was the only one to speak "Come on Shakespeare stay." Adora shook her head, curls swinging under her hat. "Jack, please Adora, and I sorry but I must like I said Mother will be wondering." "But he might still be lurking, it's why we grabbed ya in the first place. We think he saw you see us the second time around." Adora smiled "I'm a intelligent girl, I can take care of myself." Jack, David, and Les smiled the older ones a little aprehensively. Adora looked at Medda "a pleasure to meet you." Medda curtsied "and to you dear."
Jack grinned and held out his hand for Adora to shake "thanks for not ratting us out back there." Adora shook Jack's hand and then David's when he held his out. "Make it home safe" he said. Les and Adora shared a nodd before she left for home.
When she walked through the front door, Adora's feet were groaning and her mother called from the kitchen. "Adora! How was yer day lass?"
Adora unlaced her shoes before discarding them by the door, she would get them later. She smelled her mother's potato soup, and could hear the large silver knife against the cutting board. Judging by oder that was floating all through the house, her mother was currently cutting up cabage.
"It was alright, met some Newsies learned about the revolutionary war" Adora said as she carried her bag into the family kitchen, and dinning room. There were two, kitchens that is. One strickly for the family bakery, and another for the Clare's personal use. Adora's mother ruled them both with an iron fist. Her father managed the finances, and was a lawyer at some large firm use name she could never remember for some reason. Perhaps it was too long an complicated.
Adora entered the dinning room where Barnabas, Fredrick, Harrison, and her Father sat in their respective chairs. It was a familiar sight her brothers were doing homework, and her father managing the income and what not of the bakery. Diana, Winnifred, Marcus, and Ophelia were the only ones missing from the oak table. It was Friday, and that meant Marcus stayed late to study, Ophelia and Winnifred had piano lessons next door with Mrs. Nabb, and Diana was at voice lessons with Lady Cathrine two houses down.
"Newsies eh?" Adora's father asked through his mustache and not looking up from his papers. Adora settled herself into her own chair, and pulled out her own homework. "Did ya meet the demon king?" Harrison piped in, his wild eyebrows raised. Adora shook her head "no I bought it in Mahatten." Harrison put on a relived face "oh thank heavens I feared you had a run it with the demon king. Little thing like you wouldn't have made it out alive." Adora smirked ignoring him "I bought it, from some character named Jack Kelley." Her father chuckled "sounds like a cowboy's" Adora nodded in agreement "had a hat like one."
Fredrick, looked up from his homework, his dark hair falling in his brown eyes slightly. "How come you spend your allowance on a ruddy paper every week?" He asked. Baranabas chimed in "yeah and ya never buy in Brooklyn ya know some of me mates are Newsies. Hurts their feelings that me kid sister won't buy their ruddy papers." Baranabas clutched his heart in mock hurt, and whipped away an imaginary tear from his green eyes.
Adora rolled her eyes "I like the paper, their interesting enough, and the words are always interesting." She said pointing her pencil at Fredrick. Adora then turned her gaze at Barnabas "you know I am never around in the morning by the time they start selling. So you can tell your friends my sincere apologies and find some one else." Harrison smirked "you sure you aren't just scared of the devil king, and that he might devour your soul?" Adora wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes "how can some who doesn't exist scare me? He's just a fantasy, a fairy tale. I'm positive he is just some other starving kid."
Barnabas shook his head grimly "oh no, I met him once when I was with Dottie he had these horrible eyes with and these gastly teeth looked like fangs they did. His sneer shook me very soul when I saw him he was eating a bird on his wooden perch in the warehouse. He glared at me and rasped a 'what are ya lookin' at?' It was only 'cause of Dottie I made it home, or I may have ended up like the bird."
Adora shivered at his tale before uddering a sarcastic "I'm petrified." Margaret choose at that moment to swoop in, her hand drying on her apron "och I feel so bad for those poor boys." She walked more into the room and placed a hand on the back of her father's chair "poor things starving every night, barely living ah ghost ' s life." Every one nodded in agreement, Adora the only one who spoke up "wish we could do something."
"Prehaps there is."
This got her mother's thoughts a rolling, Adora could see the gears turning past the green of her eyes. She stood like that a long time before, her hand on her husband's chair before vanishing back into the kitchen to check on the soup.
Everyone shrugged their shoulders, used to the odd behavior of Margaret when she was in thought.
Adora, finally looked down at her homework for the first time she had sat down to do it. She scowled, it was Math and Adora loathed Math. Adora was as he father often said "piss poor" at it. Adora, looked over at her father then at Fredrick both were scribbling on their respective papers. Fredrick was looking particular frustrated, Adora eyed the paper and saw it was English, and then decided to strike a deal. She took a piece of scrap paper and scribbled a message on it.
If you do my math I'll do your English.
Adora slide the paper to Fredrick who looked at it, wrote a reply, and slide it back.
No can do sorry, I got in a load of trouble the last time.
Adora, wrinkled her nose as she read but knew the reply wasn't a no she had to sweeten the deal. She looked at her father, one more time to make sure he was too busy to catch on. Satisfied that he was lock away in his work, she wrote another message, and slide it over to Fredrick.
I'll do your English the next two, and you can have my desert the next three nights
Adora watched as Fredrick weighed the offer, and then write a reply. He slide the paper swiftly a crossed the table.
Deal
Adora smiled with triumph, and slide her homework over to Fredrick who did the same. Adora smiled looking down at the eleventh grade English, and at the fact her homework was in good hands. Fredrick was very good at Math, he wants to be a banker.
The five members of the Claire family worked in the dinning room peacefully on their own respective task. That was until Margaret Claire exclaimed "och! I've got it!" Adora, her father, and her three brothers jumped in their seats. "What was that Maggie?" Adora's father called with mild concern. "I said I've got it!" Adora's Mother bellowed from the kitchen before entering the dinning room. She move to stand to the left of her husband, with hands on her hips. "Got what my dear?" Adora's father asked, with furrowed brows.
"Gus, what do we normal do with the left over ' s after we close up?" She asked, even though everyone knew that she knew what they did with them. None the less Agusta answered "we usually sell them the next day or, throw the one's that soil easily away." She nodded "while why don't we give them to those boys." Adora's father still looked slightly perplexed "what boys?" He asked. Adora watched her mother scowl and sigh in exasperation "the Brooklyn Newsies Gus, we could give the goods that soil easy to them. We could send Barny down with a basket and he could hand them out their mates!" Adora's Mother cried with an brilliant smile.
Baranabas looked at her partially mortified "MA no! I can't look like the bloody pastry fairy in front of those blokes. They'll soak me!" Adora's Mother scowled at him "you'll look like the bloody pastry fairy every morning until I say other wise." Baranabas sighed defeated knowing that his mother's tone was the final nail on his manly coffin. Adora made the grave mistake of smirking at this and his catching it. "At least let me take Dory, she'll soften them up with her kindness so maybe I won't come home with a shiner everyday."
Adora sent her brother a dreadful scowl, that he matched with a wicked smirk. Adora looked away only to protest to her mother. "But Ma by the time I finish doing that, I'll be late to school!" Her Mother rested a hand on her dad's chair. "Och that's right, go with him on Saturday then, and Barny you take Ophelia the other days if ye be so scared about yer face." Before Adora or Barnabas could protest any further their mother vanished back into the kitchen. "Da talk some sense into her" Baranabas whisper to his father, and Adora nodded along in encouragement. Their father shook his head "you know I can't Barny, once your mother has her mind set on an idea, there's no stopping her or it." Adora and Barnabas sighed, they knew this was true.
Harrison smirked at their misery "look on the bright side Dory, ye get to meet the devil king tomorrow. Maybe when you offer up the mice pies he won't eat yer soul." He leaned in toward her wiggling his fingers and eyebrows. Adora scowled "sod off" she spat. Harrison did and turned his teasing toward Baranabas "and Barny it'll give Dottie a chance to see yer sensitive side." Baranabas scowled and swiftly kicked Harrison under the table causing him to yelp. The pair of them began to bicker, and their father sighed heavily.
"Harry, Barny stop yer bickering!" Their mother shouted from the kitchen. Her booming voice creating silence once more. Everyone once more working silently, two of the five being less happier then before.
"And Adora, Freddie switch yer homework back!"
Freddie looked up from Adora's Math homework in atonishment "she's a witch."
Adora smirked and slid his half done homework back, and Fredrick did the same. She turned her green eyes toward the paper, her thoughts turning toward tomorrow, and dreading it. She didn't know why though, part of her thought it was indeed because she feared the king slightly, but her most prideful self justified she read on Saturdays.
Adora knew it wasn't the latter.
well there's the start please read and review!
