Disclaimer: I do not own Life With Derek or Newsies because if I did I would not be writing this. I would have given myself sweet parts in them though.
Forty year old George Venturi let out an exasperated sigh as he ran a hand through his blonde hair. It was getting late and he still had a pile of bills stacked up in front of him. He had recently lost his job as a lawyer due to the closure of the law firm he worked at. The work was more for defending the little guy so he never made that much money to begin with. Now, he was in way over his head with five children to feed and no way to afford it.
Nora, George's wife sat beside him and handed him a cup of coffee. Looking at all of the bills on the table, she deeply wished she could just take them all and burn them with the oil lamp that was sitting next to them. "It's bad, isn't it, George?" She asked her husband.
"Well, it's a lot worse than I thought." George replied. "We're going to have to resort to our Plan B."
"Are you sure?" She asked. "The kids are not going to be too pleased about this. Casey will refuse to do it because she thinks it's demeaning. Edwin and Lizzie may get pushed around. And, Derek, well, he's so lazy."
"Nora, we have no choice." He took his wife's hands in his. "The only way we are going to be able to feed these kids is if they make the money themselves."
"When do you want them to start?" Nora asked.
"They need to start right away." George replied. "Tomorrow is as good a day as any."
With a sigh, Nora stood up. "Let's go break the news to them."
George followed in her lead. They each took a seat in their living area. The five children were all sitting around playing games except for the eldest daughter Casey who was reading a book. "Kids, we have to tell you something." George piped up.
"What is it, dad?" Edwin, the youngest boy asked.
"We're having trouble paying the bills." The father described. "And, you kids are going to have to go to work and sell newspapers."
"What?" Casey shot a death look at her step-father. "I refuse to be forced into child labor. And, I will not let you force Edwin, Lizzie and Marti into child labor either." She flipped one of her brown braids behind her shoulder.
"What about me?" Derek, the eldest boy asked. "I am not going to go out there and sweat my rear off selling newspapers. What will the neighborhood girls think of me?"
"There is no debating this." Nora explained.
"I don't wanna sell newspapers!" Marti, the youngest of the girls cried.
"You don't have to." George told her. "It is way too dangerous out there for you. But, Derek and Casey are both sixteen and old enough to hold their own on the streets. Lizzie and Edwin need to stay together or with Derek or Casey."
"Do we really get no say in this?" Lizzie asked.
"This is only until George finds another job and we can afford the bills." Nora told her daughter.
"But…" Derek began.
"Derek, you have to do this." George told him. "Plus, girls sell newspapers now, too."
With a look of defeat, the four eldest Venturi/McDonald children groaned. They knew they had no say in this matter. Tomorrow, they would become newsies.