"Don't worry guys! This is only temporary, and I will see you on Sundays!" I said, trying to comfort my family.
I was going to be leaving home for a little while even though I was only fourteen because my mom was sick in the hospital. Even with my dad working two jobs we could not seem to afford all the treatments she needed, so I was off to get myself a job. Starting today I was going to be a newsie.
"We'll miss ya Ida," My little sister whispered.
"Yeah," My other sister piped in.
"Of course you will! Who can resist me?" I laughed and patted her on the head.
"Ida remember what we talked about," My dad instructed, "Hide your hair in your cap, pretend to be a boy, stay at the Manhattan lodging house, and if you have a single bit of trouble come right back here"
"Don't worry dad, I'll be good. See ya guys. I love ya," I smiled before walking out of our apartment and down the stairs to the hard work ahead of me.
The reason my dad was letting me do this is because we were desperate and proud. We don't take charity around here. Every Sunday I had to come back to visit my mother in the hospital, so she would think everything was normal. If she found out I was blowing off school for her she would throw a fit. Turning the corner, I pulled my cap on and straightened my borrowed clothes. If only I could wear pants everyday! It was so freeing! After walking for about fifteen minutes I spotted the newsboy's lodging house that seemed fairly welcoming. I walked inside to find what I expected. A bunch of loud boys playing some card game and probably drinking.
"Can I help you?" a tall boy said stepping in front of me, who looked to be around eighteen.
"You might actually. I was thinkin' 'bout stayin' here," I nervously replied hoping my voice was not to high to pass as a guys.
"Heya Cowboy. Who's dis kid?" A short Italian boy with a cigar in his mouth smiled walking up.
"I'm, uh, Chris," I lied quickly.
The boy they called Cowboy said, "Alright, Chris your a newsie. I'll get ya all signed in. Racetrack show the kid around."
"You got it boss," Racetrack chuckled.
"Heya boys! We got a new one! Dis is Chris," Racetrack shouted.
Suddenly, the room was filled with a lot of noise as everyone tried to get a good look at me. Thankfully, I am not the girlies looking person you have ever seen with my medium height, brown eyes to match my brown hair, and splash of freckles across my nose. Rather quickly I was introduced to Skittery, Crutchy, Bumlets, Pie Eater, Da Walkin' Mouth (who preferred to be called David), Les, Kid Blink, Specs, Mush, and a bunch of other people including girls. Most of the girls there were the newsies "goils" and the girl newsies were mostly from the Bronx and Queens because Brooklyn didn't like being outdone by girls, and Manhattan didn't have a girl's lodging house.
"Chris you need a nickname!" Cowboy declared enthusiasticly after all the introductions.
"I'm fine with Chris," I mumbled.
"They don't care," David laughed shaking his head.
I felt bad for him because he did not seem to like his nickname at all. All the other guys tried to come up with nicknames for me but nothing would fit.
"Guess we'll have ta wait till we know you a bit better," Racetrack shrugged.
I laughed, "Guess so."
"Hey, Cowboy wanted me to show you your bunk," The adorable Les smiled pulling at my sleeve.
"Really? He does?" I beamed down at him.
He reminded me a lot of my little sisters.
"Yeah! Cowboy trusts me," He stated proudly, "I even got to help out with the strike!"
"That is really cool kid," I laughed ruffling his hair, "How bouts you show me my bunk now."
He grabbed my hand and dragged me up the stairs into a messy room filled with bunks. That one's yours," Les said pointing at a bunk under the window.
"Thanks," I smiled.
Picking up the small bag of belongings I brought I smiled. So far things were working out fairly well. Les ran back downstairs and I sorted through my things and then just laid down and crashed right away.
"Wake up you lazy bones! It's your first day!" A boy named Mush yelled as he shook me.
I groaned and turned over making sure my hat was still on, partially because I was tired and partially because he did not have a shirt on (not saying that it bothered me at all though).
"You'se sleep with that on?" He asked.
"Course, it's my lucky hat," I lied quickly, there was nothing lucky about a hat my dad found in the middle of the road.
"Change of plans!" Cowboy (or as I just realized was also called Jack) yelled walking into the room, "Today we got us a party in Brooklyn! Sell your papes quick today boys!"
"What we celebratin, Jack?" The hilarious cripple, Crutchy, asked.
"We're celebrating the third month anniversary of the strike's success!" Jack yelled which was followed by whoops and hollers from all the boys around me.
"Ya need help sellin your papes?" Kid Blink asked me as everyone started to file out of the room.
"I bet. Haven't sold a thing in my life," I sighed.
"Well I'll help ya out. The first rule to bein a newsie, headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes," He responded.
I laughed, "This sounds hard!"
After selling papes for three hours I was finally finished for the day. Being a newsie was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I almost got run over by a carriage, lied about the headlines to a bunch of people (although I was pretty darn good at it!), and the only good thing about it was that now there was money jingling around in my pocket. Thankfully, it was all over for the day and Kid Blink and I were heading back to the lodging house to meet the rest of the newsies before we headed over to Brooklyn.
"Why is Brooklyn hosting the party," I said making conversation.
Kid Blink laughed, "Brooklyn sure knows how to throw a good party. Especially, Spot."
"Spot?" I asked.
Kid Blink stopped short and openly gasped at me, "You don't know who Spot Conlon is?"
I shook my head. This was weird, was I supposed to know this guy?
"He's only the most feared and respected newsie in all of New York! He's the leader of the Brooklyn newsies!" Kid Blink laughed
I stared a him with a blank look on my face.
"Spot's the leader of Brooklyn?" I responded.
"You catch on fast kid," Kid Blink chuckled, "No wonder your from Manhattan"
I laughed loudly at this.
"Course I do!"
"Sure, keep telling yourself that," Kid Blink smiled.
We had just neared the lodging house when Race, well, raced up to us.
"Come on ya slowpokes, we gonna miss da party! Get your butts to Brooklyn pronto!"
"Someone's a bit to excited to play some cards," I chortled.
"Yeah, I bet ya get sick of beatin us," Kid Blink stated.
Race and I just laughed as the rest of the newsies started to walk up to Brooklyn with us.
It didn't take us to long to get to the Brooklyn's lodging house. It was already packed with boys drinking, playing cards, and laughing. I wasn't much of a party person, but I supposed I could watch Race crush some people at poker. As soon as we walked in I started to cough from all the smoke.
"Chris, I gotta introduce ya to Spot," Jack said running up to me.
"Why?" I asked worried.
"Nothin bad, you should just meet him. You'se bein a new newsie and all," He responded.
I let myself be dragged through the crowd of boys and up to a handsome newsie who seemed to have had more than a few drinks.
"Heya Jackie boy," Spot smirked.
I tripped over a bottle on the floor and almost fell on top of him, but thankfully I caught myself.
"Heya Spaz," Spot's smirk widened.
Jack started howling with laughter when he heard this.
"Spaz! That fits you perfectly!" He laughed hysterically.
Apparently, my new name was Spaz. Thank you Spot Conlon.