Hello! This is a story to introduce my female OC, Mouse. I know that movie canon is that Davey and Les's sister is Sarah, but it just didn't really work out and besides, this is the musical! So I have created a sister for the Jacobs. Because of SOMETHING (backstory backstory backstory) that happened when she was six, Mouse does not/can not speak. She is two years older than Les. At some point I might put a long OC description in my profile, but for now this is all you need to know. Enjoy!

"David Jacobs, let your brother use the washroom!"

"I told him he could come in, I'm just cleaning up!"

"But Mama, the door's locked!"

"David Jacobs, unlock that door right now!"

"Okay, okay!"

After a moment Davey rushed out of the bathroom, frantically buttoning up his shirt. Les zipped in and out of the bathroom, water dripping down his bare front from splashing it on his face. His mother turned around and saw him.

"Les Jacobs, you get a shirt on!"

"I'm going, Mama!" Les started towards the bedroom, then turned towards a silent figure on the window seat and pumped his arm in a muscle. He clenched his stomach and growled animatedly, taking advantage of this moment when his top was bare.

Davey noticed his antics and poked his little brother in the ribs, making Les flinch. "Doesn't make a difference, you scrawny kid." Les frowned and scurried into the bedroom, while Davey grinned, shaking his head affectionately.

Haddie sat quietly on her seat by the window and observed her family.

Haddie was two years older than Les, but everyone treated her like she was the baby just because she didn't talk. Not couldn't talk. Didn't talk. At least, that's what people thought. "This is Haddie and she doesn't talk." Haddie thought so at first, too. But then, once, she tried to talk again, and found she couldn't. Words just wouldn't come.

She hadn't made a sound for six years.

She found ways to communicate, of course. She would point her thumb down if she didn't like something, and up if she did like something. She pointed and mimed. She frowned and smiled—well, she used to smile, not so much anymore. Haddie knew how to get her point across, and if she couldn't show people what she was trying to say…well, then it wasn't worth saying.

Haddie stayed at home with her mother because "no one will hire a girl who won't speak"—her mother's words. It was probably true. Haddie watched her brothers leave each morning with a cold feeling in her stomach. She wished she could join them. But before she could do too much wishing her mother would have her help around the house, cooking and cleaning. If there was nothing to be done, or if Mama felt Haddie was "in one of her states", Haddie was left to sit on her seat by the window for hours, staring outside at the gray street.

But today was different. Haddie was pulled from her daze when she heard her mother talking about her.

"Davey, you'll just have to take Haddie with you is all. Your father's out of town looking for work, and I have to go to Boston for the funeral."

Davey stared at her in disbelief. "But Mother, it's an all-boys lodging house. All boys," he emphasized, as if he wasn't sure she understood.

"Yes, I know that, but you've told me they've had girls stay with them before, sisters and cousins of the boys. And the newsies are nice, you've told me that a hundred times, how nice they all are."

"But Mother…" Davey searched for another argument. "I told Jack it was just going to be me and Les. What if they don't have room for her to sleep?"

"They will. Don't try to argue, Davey, this is final! It's just the way it is. Just don't let her out of your sight and you'll be fine."

"I don't want to be watching her every second."

"Then don't. She can get along fine without you. Just keep an eye on her."

"Ah…fine. Les, bring Haddie a big shirt she can wear over her dress, will you?"

And that was how a silent Haddie found herself being tugged along with her brothers to become a newsie for a day.

"Well, well, well! What have we here?" A boy about Davey's age hopped down from his perch on a wagon and squinted at Haddie. Haddie knew right away that this was Jack Kelly. Since she didn't talk, she had plenty of time to listen, and she had listened to Davey talk about Jack for long stretches of time.

Davey seemed a little reluctant to introduce her, so Les jumped right in. "This is Haddie. She's our sister, and she doesn't talk."

"Doesn't talk?" Jack inquired. Les nodded. Jack stared thoughtfully at the girl. Haddie averted her eyes from his deep gaze. After a moment, he grinned cheerfully and clapped her roughly on the back. "Well, you'll make for an interesting newsie, kid!"

"I hope there's enough room for her to stay tonight," Davey said in a low voice, as Haddie broke away from his vice-like grip and got into line behind Les, keeping her mouth tightly shut, as usual. She had heard her brothers' stories about the other boys enough that she recognized most of them from description. Crutchie was in line behind her, talking in a gentle voice, but she wasn't really listening. Specs smiled at her. Romeo winked at her, but she frowned at him so harshly that he gave up right away.

Haddie could hear Davey still talking to Jack. "What do the Delanceys think of girl newsies? They see her. Are they going to try to hurt her?" He sounded worried. Haddie couldn't speak to defend herself against any insults.

Jack chuckled; as they spoke, the dreaded Delancey brothers were making their way towards Haddie. Davey looked alarmed, but Jack just crossed his arms and watched. "Just wait and see, Dave."

Haddie looked down as the Delanceys leered at her. "Who's the quiet little-"

Bam. Haddie felt one, two, then more and more hands rest firmly on her shoulders and back. The newsies fell silent, one by one reaching to keep the little girl steady. Haddie, feeling braver with all the newsies holding her strong, raised her eyes to stare at the Delanceys. She couldn't read their expressions, but they spat on the ground and backed away. After a moment, the newsies released their hands and the conversations and movement continued as if nothing unusual had just happened.

Les handed Haddie some papers and she turned around just in time to hear Jack say with a satisfied grin to Davey, "See? What did I tell you?" He saw Haddie looking and motioned her over.

Jack bent down so that he was at the same height as Haddie. "Hey, little Mouse, how's about you sell with me for today?" Haddie looked to Davey for confirmation. Her brother nodded. Jack put a hand on Haddie's shoulder. "I'll teach you the ropes, for a price. We split the cash, all right? Seventy-thirty."

Haddie frowned and shook her head. She held up two open hands and flashed five fingers each. Jack laughed. "You see that?" he said to the others who were watching, "The Mouse wants a better deal, see?" There were shouts of laughter. "Your brother Les once made me split our cash sixty-forty. You think you'se gonna pull that on me?" Haddie thought for a moment, then shook her head. She stubbornly held out five fingers on each hand, insisting on fifty-fifty. Jack shook a teasing finger in her face. "You wanna sell with your boring big brother, or with the amazing Jack Kelly? Cause I don't go any lower than sixty-forty, ask anyone. So...Mouse...we got a deal?" Haddie noticed he had come up with a new affectionate name for her already. Mouse. She wasn't sure if she liked being called Mouse or not. Although, it wasn't really up to her.

She gave a firm nod to close the deal. Jack spat in his hand and held it out to her, and Haddie returned the gesture without hesitation.

"All right! Let's hit the streets!" Haddie (or Mouse, as they were all calling her as they walked past) stuck close to Jack. Davey kept glancing back to check on her. The young Mouse felt free for the first time in years. She didn't know how she was going to sell pages without speaking, but the fact that the newsies accepted her-that Jack Kelly was by her side, calling her Mouse!-made everything seem just fine.

Please review and tell me if Mouse is a strong enough OC to use for future stories or nah!

-Sis21K