Bean loved summer. The air was warm, the birds sang, and best of all, ice cream was everywhere.

The bell atop the wooden door jingled as Bean strolled into Tibby's. She slid the seat across from Denton. "Ya wanted tah see me?"

Denton smiled, "Yes I did. Jack showed me the story you wrote. You've got a whole lot of talent, Bean."

Bean blushed, "T'anks, Denton."

"You know, there's a job opening at The Sun for a typesetter. Would you be interested?"

"Aww, I dunno, Denton. I like bein' a newsie jus' fine."

"Well, you'd be working evenings. You could still sell papes if you wanted."

"How much does it pay?"

"Two dollars a day. And with your spirit and talent for writing, you could work your way up to being a reporter in no time. I'll even throw in a good word for ya."

"Wow, I dunno, Denton. Lemme t'ink about it."

"Sure," Denton nodded. "How about I buy you some ice cream?"

"Are ya shor about dat?" Bean asked.

Denton chuckled. "I've bought lunch for twenty newsies before. Buying you some ice cream isn't such a big deal."

~~~

Mooch looked into Jack's eyes. They were sitting on the roof of the lodging house, watching the sun set.

Jack twirled a piece of Mooch's silky raven black hair around his finger. "Yer da best thing dat evah happened tah me, Mooch," he whispered.

Mooch smiled, "Ya ain't so bad yerself, Jack," she said as she pulled him into a deep kiss.

When they broke apart a few minutes later, Jack asked, "So what exactly happened wid you an' Spot?"

Mooch sighed. "You jus' ruined a perfectly good moment, Jack."

~~~

"I'll see yer ten an raise ya fitteen." Skittery pushed the chips out into the growing pile on the floor of the bunk room.

Race suppressed a smile. That dirty good-for-nothing piece of dirt just gambled his life savings, and he was going to lose. Race really needed that money, too. He grinned wickedly as he laid down his cards. "Royal flush." he announced smugly, showing his ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of spades.

Skittery's mouth dropped open. He laid down his cards, a two, three, four, five, and six of hearts. "Straight flush," he mumbled digging the money out of his pockets.

Race scooped up all the chips and collected his money. He glanced around the room. "Any more takers?"

All the newsies avoided eye contact with the Italian.

Before Race could challenge anyone to another poker game, Bean burst into the room. "Guess what!" she shrieked.

Race clamped his hand over his ear. "Ya jus' busted me ear drum?"

Bean rolled her eyes. "No, sill, I got me a job!"

Race was puzzled. "Ain't ya already a newsie?"

"Well, yeah, but I gots meself a second job, too. I'ze woikin' at da Sun as a typesettah."

Race walked over to embrace his girl. "Congrats, Bean. I'ze happy fer ya." He kissed her softly.

"Denton even said dat if I do a good job, I could be a reportah in nuttin' flat."

"They must be real hard up fer writahs."

Bean glared at Race. "Shaddup."

"I was only kiddin'. I'm sorry."

"S'alright."

~~~

Spot chucked a bottle at the wall of the Brooklyn Lodging House. As it shattered liquid spewed out, spraying Mush and Kid Blink.

"Woah, dere, Spot, calm down, she's jus' a goil." Snipeshooter commented.

Spot spun around. "I didn't hear nobody ask you nuttin' ya blasted lil' pantywaist!"

Mush spoke up. "Watch it, Conlon. Snipeshotter is jus' runnin' his mouth like always. Ain't nothin tah get shook up about."

Spot turned around to face mush, knocking over an oil lamp in the process. "Lookee here, ya good-fer-nuttin' sissy. Don't you tell me what Ah can an' can't do, kay? If I wanna be mad about sumtin, I will be, so get yerself used tah it." Spot sunk into the couch and buried his face in his hands "Jus leave me alone!' he muttered.

Just then, Nickel walked in. "Spot!" she exclaimed in her squeakily annoying voice. "What's wrong?" she asked as she sat down next to him.

Spot looked up at her. "What do ya tink's wrong, Nick?"

Nickel shrugged.

Spot groaned and curled up in the corner of the couch.

A light bulb turned on in Nickel's head. "Oh, is it dat Mooch goil?"

Spot sighed.

"I dunno how in da world she sells an papes when she's dat dim- witted," Blink whispered to Mush.

~~~

Sarah Jacobs wiped off one of the tables in Tibby's. It was her first day on the job and she had already seen too many people that she knew.. Every newsie in Manhattan had been in for some reason or another, except for the only one she wanted to see. Her wish was soon granted, however, as Jack waltzed in the door. Sarah was going to run up to him, until she saw that he was with a girl. She ducked behind the counter as she listened to their conversation.

"I'm real worried about Spot, Mooch."

"Don't be worried, Jack," she said soothingly, "Spot's a big boy, he can take care a' himself."

"Yeah, but he's me best friend. I feel awful about doin' this to him."

Mooch laughed. "If I know Spot, he'll find a new goil fastah dan he can sell a pape."

Jack smiled. "I guess yer right, Mooch."

"'Course I am," she agreed as she leaned in for a kiss.

Sarah winced as she peeked from behind the counter. She sank down to the floor, her messy curls falling in her face. As tears began to stream down her cheeks, she was startled by a voice.

"Uh, scuse me, could we get sum soivice ovah heah?"

Sarah stood up. "Sure, sure, jus' gimme a sec." She lifted her head to make eye contact with the person talking to her. As her eyes locked into his, a chill ran up her spine. It was Jack.

"Oh, hey dere, Sarah," Jack said, a little too friendly for seeing hsi ex-girlfriend for the first time in nearly eight months.

Mooch turned towards Jack. "You know her?" she asked suspiciously.

"Uh, yeah, Mooch, dis is Sarah, me ex-goilfriend, an' Sarah, dis here is Mooch, me best goil."

Sarah smiled through clenched teeth. "Hey there, Mooch. It's nice to meet you," she said forcedly.

Mooch grinned fakely. "It's nice tah meet you, too, Sarah," she lied.

"So, what can I do to help you?" Sarah asked.

"Well, I'd like tah ordah a.." Jack started to order, but was interrupted by Mooch.

"You know what, Jack? I'm not dat hungry anymore." Mooch said, glaring sideways at Sarah.

"Okay den, I guess we'll jus go," Jack shrugged. "Nice seein' ya again, Sarah."

"Yeah," she replied, "Nice to see you, too."

Sarah wistfully watched the lovebirds waltz out the door together, arm in arm. She took a moment to mourn the death of her and Jack's relationship, then headed back to the kitchen.