Disclaimer: This is set before the strike and I hold no ownership over any of the Newsies except for Hannah.
I really hate train seats.
No honestly thought, they are the most uncomfortable things on this planet. Well at least the ones in the normal passenger cars were, I saw the first class cars when trying to find the bathroom and saw how amazingly comfortable those leather seats of plush richness looked. The normal standard seat however, I believe was made of cardboard and colored into to look nice. My butt and back told a different tale.
It was because of this fact that I was happy to finally step off of the train, my bag in hand, and into the busy crowd at the Manhattan train station. I could spot people busying around, shoving me a bit as the other passengers got off and some rushed on. My booted feet fumbling a bit as I looked around in the crowd. Now that I was here, I needed to find out where the ever living heck Brooklyn was.
A newsboy yelled loudly in the distance, calling out some headline as I approached since he was probably the only person that would just tell me to go away upon me attempting to speak to them. "Excuse me?" I tapped the boys shoulder causing him to turn mid screaming about some baby born with two heads or something.
"Wha's can I'se helps yah with miss?" He asked, Manhattan accent thick on his tongue.
"Do you know which direction I need ta go to get to Brooklyn?" I asked him my own southern accent ringing out.
"That'a way miss." He pointed off in the direction. "Hit de bridge and's you'ses there." He spoke tugging on his cowboy hat.
"Thank ya very much sir. Can I have a paper as well?" I offered as I pulled a dime out of my wrist purse and was exchanged it for a newspaper.
The boy nodded a thanks before turning to squawk the headlines as I went off to find a trolley or some way to get into Brooklyn. I luckily got one of the many carriages waiting for customers, the man nodding when I informed him of wanting to go to Brooklyn. Hopping in I watched as Manhattan flew by me, seeing several other newboys along the way and smiling at them even if they didn't notice or smile back, after all no one ever said people here had to be friendly.
When the carriage came up on the bridge I didn't expect it to be so big! I couldn't help but notice, however, that as soon as I stepped off, the folks seemed a lot tougher and over all upset as I was dropped off in the main square of Brooklyn. I once again was lost, and set out a bit to find someone who might help me, or at least seemed approachable. I had been walking for nearly two hours before I ended up near a body of water. My eyes flew over a group of newsboys, each one a bulk of muscle and sweat, all by the docks and messing around. The only one that even seemed approachable was in the middle of the mass of boys, smaller in stature but still looked like he could beat someone up in a matter of seconds.
They all looked to be around or near my age, 18, but some of course looked younger. Though I couldn't tell if it was just a baby shaped face or if they were actually young considering all of them look like they lifted full grown horses in there free time! I knew Brooklyn had a reputation for being some what tough, but this just seemed insane!
Taking a deep breath I held up my skirt a bit and began to walk towards them looking around as a few took notice of me, and I averted my eyes. My bag felt heavier in my hand as I continued to lug it along, the sack lightly hitting my calf as I walked. The mass of boys seemed to notice my approaching and the one in the middle stood as if to speak to me. I notice that his hair was probably a light brownish color, thought it looked darker because it was either pulled back or wet. I ruled it to the first because his clothes seemed perfectly dry, red suspenders snapping when he tugged at them. "May I'se helps youse?"
"Uh... yeah um, I'm lookin fer a... fer this bakery yah see. It's called 'McKinley Bakery', do yah perhaps know where it is?" I asked having to pause to look down a small sheet of paper in my hands. "My brother owns it and I need ta find it is why." I mumbled a bit. My brother of course would write down the name of the place, but not any directions other than 'in Brooklyn'.
"Ey, aint dat the place nexta Lodge House?" A boy piped up behind me, causing me to look over at them before back at the red suspendered boy who nodded.
"Yeah, I knows da place. But why should I'se tell some goil?" He asked leaning on a cane. Strange that he had that, thought I was gold topped I observed.
"Well it would be mighty kind if yah did... and I can give yah somethin from the store if that makes this deal go over smoother." I offered raising a brow at him. The boy was smart to try and get something out of the deal I'll admit, might as well throw him a bone and just try and get there faster.
"I'se thinks I'se can escorts a lady there then." He smirked shifting on his feet and pushing forward with a smirk.
Oh why did I feel as if I was going to get annoyed of that smirk? Oh wait, I already was. Blue grey orbs stared at me with a sort of childish spark in them as he walked past me and I picked up my bag and haled myself after him. I noticed that most of the boys had followed us as well. "So's you'se new ta Brooklyn or what?" He asked when I caught up to him, walking beside the boy.
"You probably already know the answer to that mister." I responded in a soft voice as the boy chuckled.
"Cleva, I like dat in a goil. So what made's yah come to New York? And Brooklyn of all places?"
"Well I don't see how that's any of your business, but if you must know I came to work in my brothers bakery. He offered it to me." I drawled out my voice catching a glance from him.
"Of course's is my job ta know, I'm the King a Brooklyn!" The other newsboys cheered behind him, I raised a brow.
"Never heard of yah before." I replied. "Must be a minor king then huh hun?"
This earned a few 'Ooh's from the boys behind as, and a chuckle from red.
"I'ms Spot, Spot Conlon at you'ses service." He spoke pausing to do a fake sort of bow.
Rolling my eyes I did a curtsy in response. "Hannah, nice ta meet ya Spot."
A small smile stretched onto my lips as I kept walking with him, and the boy stopped in front of a worn down building, who had a sign on it which read 'Lodging House'. I looked to the buildings right and saw a warm inviting place with letters spelling 'McKinley Bakery' on the bricks. Setting my bag down when I stepped in front of the door way I turned to Spot. "Well thank ya'll very much for showing me the way here, and I will have you a treat in the morning freshly baked mister Spot Conlon." I spoke as he nodded his head.
"See's you then Hannah." He spoke as he and the other boys disappeared into the building, and I turned to grab my bag feeling eyes on me as I walked through the door and into the building filled with the smell of breads, pastries, and something burning.