Kayley Simmons and Jenna Lachaise work at the Manhattan Lodging House in 2008. Jenna is just there for a job, and isn't really interested in the newsboys' past. Can a past life flashback show her that whether she likes it or not, the newsies are a part of her life?
Disclaimer: I'll make this easy.. Anyone you know from the movie, I don't own.
"And here we have where the young newsboys would unwind at the end of the day. Sort of like a den or a playroom if you will. They would read, or play ping pong, but there was no gambling. Unlike the movie I'm sure some of you are familiar with, the lodging houses were run by nuns and to get caught meant your butt was gone." Kayley Simmons explained looking at the group ahead of her. "We have arranged the room to the best of our ability from some letters and blue prints that were left behind." She walked to the middle of the room and spread out her arms, "Can't you feel it? The energy, the everyday situations of these young boys, some as young as five years old. Can't you hear their voices? Feel their pain?"
"Ladies and Gentleman, feel free to look around. Please excuse us for a minute." announced another voice, belonging to the latest member of the modern newsie team, Jenna Lachaise. She put on her fake smile and tugged Kayley near the door.
"Alright I'm going to make this quick," she announced, keeping one eye out on the group. "I can't do that."
"Do what?"
"How do you get so into it?" Jenna asked completely ignoring the question. "How do you care so much?"
"I think the question is how can you not?"
Jenna made a face. Why couldn't Ulta Cosmetics have called her back? Or Sports Authority? Things she actually knew and cared about. Newsies, Sales, The Past... it all held no interest to her whatsoever. She had only sat through the movie to oogle Christian Bale, even if he did have greasy hair and mis-matched clothes. The newsies had picked their life, they had to have known it wouldn't be the best paying, well meaning, and safe job on the market.
"Jen, before the strike, before the movement the lives of these poor kids were all but ruined. Many had no families, future, or even freedom. I mean they were on the run from the law for things like stealing bread. Bread." she emphasized. "While now, all of us are doing quite fine for ourselves in our 'streak of lighting' cars and fancy name-brand clothes."
"I'm not a customer Kayley," Jenna laughed and stuck a piece of gum in her mouth. " You don't have to go all jobby on me.. Want some?" she offered.
"No I'm fine, and pay attention.. There will come a day you'll have to know all this on your own. Anyway, this is the story of the greatest event ever done and organized by children since well... since ever. I'll tell you what, hang out here for now. Gather yourself and try to feel the history of this place. I'll take care of the group in there and then we'll talk some more. I'll make you a newsie expert yet." Kayley declared, patting the other girl on the shoulder and turned herself back on the group apologizing for the delay and asked if there were any questions. Jenna heard a girl's voice ask if Max Casella had actually slept here.
Jenna sat down at the front desk and picked up a penny. She studied it for a moment and briefly wondered how this annoying little coin could mean so much over a century ago. She took out some paper and flipped the penny in the air. It landed on Tails. She shrugged and made a tick mark under the newly drawn "T" column. This was her normal game of amusement when she was bored and away from any freedoms. Most people thought it was a statistics project so they left her alone and didn't raise their eyebrows over the young girl flipping a coin in the air over and over again. She leaned back in the chair and studied the ceiling. "I wonder if boys back then knew how to make spitballs" she laughed to herself. "Should I go for-- wait what in hellfire is that?"
"Papa please don't leave me," the girl sniffed. "I promise I'll be good and do anything you say."
"Hey kiddo, it will be alright.. Just remember that life has to end, for all of us. There's no going around it. Love however, can last for all eternity. You've got my love princess, I swear on it."
"But I want you with me..."
"I don't intend to leave, you're my one and only. In fact... come here. I have a new song for you." The young girl crawled onto her daddy's lap and hugged him for all she was worth.
"Wow, tough crowd" Kayley's voice jerked Jenna away from the scene above. "I had to explain to that girl three times that the set was man made and in California. Hey, are you alright?" she asked, noticing Jenna's green eyes were focused on the ceiling. "Is there a leak or something?"
"No, no." the other girl blinked, trying to shake off the crazy dream. "I uh, I was just looking for pictures. You know, like in the clouds."
"Are you really that bored here?"
"Nahhh, it's just I don't know what to do with myself." she shrugged, as if her lack of activity was due to the fact she was new and unexperienced.
"Well you could help me take care of upstairs. How does that sound?"
"Great." Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like this?
"Okay, it's easy. Basically, it's mopping. And lots of it. Have you seen the area yet?"
"Just in the movie."
"Ah, well it's a start!" Kayley laughed locking the door for the night. "But the real thing is a little different."
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