It had been a long day, and I had to improve the truth a little too much in order to sell all my papes. I trudged down the streets until I finally got to the lodging house.

"Heya Snap" racetrack greeted me as I walked through the door. He and some of the other fellas were playing a game of blackjack in the front room. He was winning, like always.

"Hey Race" I said in a weary voice

He must have noticed the weariness in my voice cause he looked up at me with concern in his voice.

"ya look really tired Snap. everythin ok?"

"Wow Race is right. Snap you look exhausted!" Blink said nodding in agreement

"It's been a long day and I haven't been sleeping too well lately, especially since I got back from my trip. I think I'll head to bed right now I really need some sleep" I answered

"kay see ya tomorra" Race said

"yup yup" I muttered as I made my way up the stairs and into the goils bunkroom.

I wasn't my usual bouncy, energetic self lately. Ever since I got back from my long trip to try and find my brother I hadn't been sleeping well, and I had a lot on my mind lately. I was usually known as the crazy hyper one of the Manhattan bunch that always made things exciting. but lately I hadn't been feeling like myself.

Perhaps I should explain a little about myself. I'm Snapper, or Snap for short. My real name is actually Audrey, but I left that name behind with my parent's death. They died about ten months ago in an accident by the river; it was pretty tragic. It was all over the news. After they died my older brother took care of me as best he could. We slept here and there on any door step we could find, and managed to steal enough food to survive. After about a month and a half of being with my brother he sent me out on my own. He wanted to travel west and start a new life. He told me I would be fine and that I had a good head on my shoulders, good enough to get by. I was sixteen at the time and I was a little scared, but I would never stand in the way of my brother's freedom. So I let him go without having any complaints or showing any fear.

After he left I wandered the streets of Manhattan, probably looking really confused and outta place. I used some of the techniques my brother taught me to steal some food so that I would survive on my own. It was about two weeks later that Skittery found me walking down the streets pale and hungry looking, and not to mention all alone. He took me to the lodging house where I was adopted by the newsies. They became my family, and Skitt became my best friend. My craziness and energetic personality made up for his pessimism and glum and dumb attitude, and still do now. Although I am much smaller than him I am always there to give him a good whacking when he needs one.

About a month and a half ago I piled up all my saved money and went on a long trip to try and find my brother. I had no such luck. I remembered him mentioning something about Denver, Colorado so that's where I headed first. When I got there I started asking around till I came to a small mercantile. A man there told me my brother had worked for him at his factory down the street, but that he had died in an accident there about a month before I came. With a new burden to carry I had snuck on the next train heading east, and made my way home stowing away from train to train until I finally made it back to New York. I missed my newsie family like crazy, especially Skitt, and the bad news I had received only made me miss them that much more. When I had gotten back he had surprised everyone by showing a side of him only I had ever seen before. When I told them about my brother being dead, and that the whole trip was a waste he had embraced me in a warm comforting hug. He assured me that he and the other newsies would always be there for me. He told me that they would be my family now. I had received his consoling gladly, needing someone's shoulder to cry on.

I laid down on my bed staring at the bunk above me, various thoughts drifting through my head. I could still here the boys down stairs groaning as Race won again and again. I turned out the light hoping to get some much needed sleep. My body must have been more exhausted than I thought, because I was out within five minutes.

I woke up bright and early before any of the other girls even opened an eye. I sat up looking around the room at all the new friends I had made within the new population of girls, which had been here when I got back. I loved all of them. They all fit in perfectly with the newsgirls lifestyle. When I had left it had only been myself, Smiley, Ember, Manda, and Sparks. When I returned I had met Snick, Scuff, Taps, and Kitty. Kitty was the newest member of Spot's gang over in Brooklyn. They all made great newsies, and were all very likable. I got along with them all, right away, and Sparks, Ember, Smiley and Manda had gladly welcomed me back with open arms.

I snapped back to reality and hopped outta bed making my way over to the sink when someone whispered my name. I turned around to see it was Snick.

"Yeah Snick" I whispered

"oh, well I was just wonderin if everything was alright. When we all got up here last night you were was sound asleep"

"yeah, yeah everything is fine" I assured her

"I was just exhausted. It was a long day yestaday and I haven't been sleeping so well, and I needed to catch up on some sleep."

"Oh, ok good. We were all worried you might be sick or something"

"nope, no sickness here, and I feel well rested too"

"Great!" said Snick "well I guess we should be getting ready now that we are up"

"ya I guess we better" I said splashing cold water on my face to wake myself up

We both got ready and headed down to get our papes. We were the first ones there.

"Hey can I sell with ya today" Snick asked me

"Sure" I said "I'd love to have ya along"

We walked a little way down the street, and sat down to examine the headline. I flipped through the pages nothing really catching my eye. Until, I came to page nine where there was a headline that said "Twenty year old boy killed in factory accident; tragic loss for family". It was at that moment that I realized why I hadn't been sleeping well. The story reminded me so much of my brother's tragic accident. The terrible heart ache I felt as I read that headline was the reason for my loss of sleep lately. I missed my brother. It had hurt when I had found out, but it was at that moment that I actually realized just how much.

"Snap, Snap did ya here me"

"Huh, oh sorry Snick"

"Gee, you look terrible are you okay?" Snick asked

"yeah I'm fine" I answered, not wanting anyone to see I was hurting inside

"Are you sure you don't look fine" she said as she leaned over to see what I was reading

"Oh. No. Your brother died in a factory accident, didn't he? This story must bring back terrible memories for you, I'm so sorry Snap"

"He's…. gone" I muttered. "He's gone. my brother, the only family I have is…dead. This headline brought me back to reality Snick. Since I got back I have been living in a dream world, not wanting to accept the fact that I have no family left" I said sobs shaking my body

"but we are your family" said Snick

"We sure are." said Smiley joining us at the corner "I don't know what's going on, but if anyone is doubting that us newsies are a family they are dead wrong"

"you bet we are" said race overhearing the conversation and joining our little circle

"you bet we are what?" Dutchy said walking over

"Family….all us newsies" Race answered him

"Well of course youse family Snap" Dutchy said.

I felt kinda awkward him seeing me like this: a crying mess. I kinda had feelings for Dutchy. Not one of the newsies knew this, not even Skitt. It didn't really matter anyway. He never looked at me in the way I wanted him too.

I sat silently while Snick explained the whole thing to them. The next thing I knew, they were all surrounding me again, reassuring me that they would be my family now. They told me I should have no worries because no matter what, they would be there for me. It made me feel so much better to know I wasn't alone in the world that I did indeed have a family, and they did care about me.

"Come on" Skitt, who had joined us said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

"let's go get some papes sold" said Smiley with a huge grin on here face"

"Alright let's do it" I said letting that old sparkle return to my eyes, and letting my face glow. I was ready to move on now. Ready to go back to the way things were.

"Come on you bumma's" I called back at them as I ran down the street with much enthusiasm

"She's her old self again" Skitt yelped as he ran to join me.

"Yes! finally someone I can be energetic with again" Smiley squealed skipping into place beside me.

"Come on Snick I promised ya I would sell my papes with you today there is no way I am leaving you behind." Snick smiled and ran to catch up to us.

"See you guys back at the lodging house" I called to the other fellas as me, Smiley, Snick, and Skittery went off to sell our papes.