The story I'm About to unfold to you may seem crazy, but it's true. This is the story of how a Scabber and a Newsie fell in love.
It all started with Oscar and Morris, they had a new girl. The first girl Scabber ever. She had just realized the Newsies weren't all that bad, so why couldn't they coexist? Oscar and Morris thought this was atrocious. So they kicked her out. Before they did, to show her shame, they carved the letters SR into her arm. It stood for Street Rat. They continued to drag her out of the building into the November air, leaving her in the cold, her arm bleeding. She decided to accept the fact that she was going to die, when a Newsie walked by. He was shuffling weathered cards and had a cigar in his mouth. She shivered, she had ripped the sleeves off her shirt to bind her wound. He saw her and quickly walked over.
"What you'se doing out her? You'se should be inside."
"Don't have no home." I replied frustrated. This was my second day out in the cold.
"What happened to your arm?"
"Run in with Oscar and Morris."
"Well, we'se gotta get you to the lodging house or you'se gonna freeze to death goil."
"Thanks."
"What's you're name?" He asked helping me up.
"Millie." I replied looking down at my battered legs. I hadn't had real pants in ages. All I owned were cut off pants that were meant to counter August heat.
"I'm Racetrack." He replied holding out his hand. I spat on mine and shook.
"So, what did you'se do to bother those two?"
"Nothing, talking back I guess." I replied.
"That's not right to beat up a goil for no reason!" He said as I limped beside him.
"Hey Millie, You'se a dirty rotten street rat and you know it! Wait 'till they know the truth!" Oscar hollered out the window of they're apartment.
"Ah, shuddup!" Racetrack replied. We walked down to the lodging house. I was scared as I walked into "enemy" territory. A lot of the Newsies had finished their routes. They stared. The one I had been told was a Scabber's worst enemy, walked up. Jack Kelly of all people.
"Hey Race, who's the goil?"
"Says her name's Millie. Oscar and Morris got her." He replied. Others looked up at the mention of their names. A crowd was forming. A smoke smelling, sweaty, big crowd. I gripped my bad arm 'till it hurt out of nervousness.
"Wes better get that arm cleaned up." A taller one with curly brown hair and a kind expression said.
"No, Uh it's fine. Just gotta get some food in me and I'll be fine. Outta you'se way, gone in fact." I said backing away.
"Ah, see guys you'se scaring the poor goil, you'se gotta stay at least 'till you got some money in your pocket and a healed arm." The tall curly one said.
"Mush is right." Jack said. So that was his name. Mush, it suited him.
"Come on, let's take care of that arm, before Kloppman finds
you." Racetrack said, gently pushing me up the stairs. The whole lot of them followed up the stairs to their bunk area, past it, and to a little area holding sinks, toilets, and showers. Jack sat me in a chair and wet a rag with warm water.
"Come on, take that rag off it, we can't help ya if ya don't let us." He said sounding frustrated. I released my grip on my arm and took the rag off. Some of them were astounded at the amount of blood. I tried not to move, but it hurt. I bit my lip. They cleaned it up enough for them to see the shameful letters, SR.
"SR? What's that for?" The one called Mush asked craning his neck to get a closer look. Can I just crawl under a rock and die?
"Street Rat, that's what it stands for." I said trying not to remember that terrible day.
"Why they do that to you'se? You did nothing wrong." Racetrack asked.
"Actually, I kind of did. You'se see. When I first ran into them, they hurt me real bad. They threatened to do worse if I didn't join them. So, I'm a scab," There were glares all around, "Well, I realized you guys aren't bad at all, so why should we beat you'se up? So they kicked me out, beat me up, and carved that in my arm." I finished.
"Race, why did you have to bring a scab here? Of all girls, you bring the one who has the direct line to the Delanceys!" Someone shouted.
"I knew something stank." A younger kid said.
"But she said that she decided she wouldn't hoit us!" Mush claimed, "Can't she stay for one night? It's too cold to abandon her."
"Yeah, Jack, she could be a good defense against them." Another said.
"Have a heart! What if we abandoned her and we find her dead in an alley next week?" One with a crutch claimed.
"Fine, one night. Don't let Kloppman see her." He said glaring at me. Racetrack glared. An older one with an eye patch did as well. A younger one was holding his nose.
"Come on, let's get you some clean clothes." Mush said standing me up. He pushed through the crowd of people glaring. I heard all the remarks.
"If she wasn't a goil I'd soak her."
"If she wasn't a pretty goil, I'd hurt her real bad."
I got through the crowd and Mush smiled weakly.
"Don't listen to them, they'll get used to ya." The one on the crutch threw me a shirt. A younger one threw me some pants.
"You can change in there." Mush said pointing to a stall that was probably a shower. I changed and walked out. The people glaring scowled and glowered. Mush held out his hand and I shook it.
"I'm Mush, that one with the crutch is Crutchy, this little guy's Boots, this is Specs, and the ones glaring at you from left to right are Blink, Jack, Race, Pie Eater, Snitch, Jake, Itey, Dutchy, Bumlets, Swifty, Snipeshooter, Snoddy, and Skittery."
"Ah, well thanks, uh,"
"Your bunk." Specs piped up.
"Yeah, Jack, do we have a spare one?" Crutchy asked. He was obviously on thin ice for helping me.
"Jack, she stinks of Delancey, she'll stink up the place!" Blink said.
"Over there." He said his glare softening. There was someone coming up the stairs.
"It's Kloppman! Hide her!" Jack said as if he was suddenly on my side. Mush shoved me behind him, while the others crowded in front of me. I heard him walk into the room. My heart raced.
"Lights out boys." He said. I couldn't see him, but he was obviously old.
"Okay," Race said walking back down the stairs with him obviously trying to distract him.
"You'se not trying to hide another girl up there?"
"Nope, don't you trust us? Wes good Bois Kloppman!" At that remark everybody snickered.
"Okay, you'se can stay for a while, since you haven't soaked us within the last few minutes. One bit of trouble it's back on the street. Understand?"
"Yep. Thanks." I said. I walked to my bunk glad I didn't have to put up with the Delanceys any more. As I was just drifting off to sleep I could hear Jack taking to Race.
"Race, you'se found her, She's your responsibility. Delanceys are probably gonna try to beat her up any chance they get. You'se willing?"
"Yeah Jack. Not taking her to the Races though."
"Course not. As long as you'se understand."
I heard someone walking over, and climbing up to the top bunk.
I woke up to sun streaming through the windows. Someone was shaking me. I opened my eyes.
"Wake up, we're leaving!" It was Race. I sat up. My arm was really sore and my legs were stiff. I winced. Race held out a hand.
"Come on!" He said again. We walked down the stairs quietly as Kloppman was reading his paper. I jammed my cap on my head with my hair all bunched up under it.
"Race why is there a girl here? We have rules you know."
"Uh, discuss it tonight gotta hurry!" He said running out the door dragging me behind him. We walked to the distribution center. I followed Race up to buy papers.
"And what do you think you're doing here?" It was Wiesel.
"Well, well, well, If it ain't little Millie." Oscar said.
"Fifty papes." I said handing them the money.
"We ain't giving you papes, scabs don't sell papes." Morris said.
"Newsies do, give em to me." Race said holding out his hand.
Wiesel handed them to him.
"So,You'se still a grubby street rat, Millie."
"Hey, leave her alone ya grafters. Come on." Race said. I walked down the street, trying to ignore Race behind me.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Just stay away from them." He said. I smiled.
"I do, they come and find me. I'm a trouble magnet."
A few hours later we walked back for the lodging house. Kloppman was waiting for us.
"Race, tell me why you snuck a girl in here."
"You see, the Delanceys got her and she was going to die. They're after her."
"She can't stay for long, she'll put us all in danger what happened to her arm?"
"as I said, Delanceys." He said scowling.
"He's right. Remember the strike? We don't need her attracting trouble. Send her to Brooklyn." Jack said.
"Come on Kloppman, one more day?"
"One day."
"Yeah Race, take her to Spot." Blink said.
"He hates Scabs. He'll soak her. Goil or not."
"She'll be fine." Jack said. Race trudged up the stairs shuffling his cards. I heard him shout "Hey, who wants to play poker?" From upstairs. I smiled, he could get over anxiety quickly.
"So, you know Spot?" Blink said.
"Uh, no."
"You'll get along. Hopefully." He said, this met roaring laughter.
The next morning, I woke up and went to buy papers. As usual I wasn't given my papers. Anyway, we walked to Brooklyn.
"So, what's this Spot like?" I asked.
"Uh, not too bad, don't tell him you'se a scab. He hates 'em. No offense." I smiled.
"None taken."
we finally got to Brooklyn. It was mainly docks along the ocean or whatever body of water was here. There was an old building at one end of the docks. I shivered. The chilly air mixed with the water was overwhelming.
"Well if it ain't Racetrack Higgins." I heard the voice before I saw him. It sounded sharp and cold, like the wind. I looked up and there he was. He was a bit taller than Race by a few inches. His hair was lighter too. His eyes were a cold gray. Like limestone.
"So who's the goil Race?" He asked spitting on his hand then shaking Race's.
"Uh, just a goil. She's a newsie now, but Delanceys got her when I found her and they're after her. We can't keep her in Manhattan,it'll risk all of us. She's real tough, can you guys look after her?" Spot looked at him quizzically.
"So what's your name sweetheart?"
"Millie." He looked at me expectantly.
"Do you have a newsie name." He said flatly.
"No, uh should I?" I asked nervously. He scowled not liking my answer.
"She just got here, Spot." Race said. Spot looked me up and down.
"Yeah we got room. What happened to her arm? I can't take her until it's healed." He said bluntly. I had had enough of this rubbish.
"Excuse me, but I can speak for myself Race. Bloody Delanceys screwed up my arm. Why does it matter anyway? I'm not a Racehorse for sale." I said angrily. Oddly, Spot smirked in a self satisfied way.
"I'll take her. She's got quite a temper huh? Your new name is Blaze. Welcome to Brooklyn." He said spitting on his hand and holding it out. I did the same and shook. I walked over to Race. He held his hand out meaning to shake. I hugged him and took a deep breath in. He smelled of cigar smoke and aftershave.
"Thanks for looking out for me Race. Hope to see ya soon." I walked away wishing I could go back. I smirked holding the king of hearts card I had just stolen from him as Spot put his arm around my shoulder. I looked back to see Race looking dazed wringing his cap in his hands not sure what just happened. Spot smirked happily.
"So you'se Race's goil huh?"
He walked to the corner and hitched a ride to the races. He sat in the back of the bumpy cart in silence,hoping to clear his head. He wished he could have gotten to know her better. She trusted him to help her and he had sent her away. For once in his life he felt terrible about something he had done. He walked home much later his pocket heavy with his winnings. To busy himself, he shuffled his cards. The king of hearts was missing. He smiled realizing what an amazing pickpocket she was.
I walked up the musty stairs of the building. Thinking about what Spot had asked me. Was I? Of course not. I'm a dirty rotten scab. I'm supposed to hate Newsies.
'But you don't' another part of me said.
Within two weeks I was the second in command and Spot's right hand girl. I was no longer nervous around him and I could use a slingshot pretty well. We had sent Heron and Scratch to make sure the Delanceys didn't hurt any of Jack's boys trying to find me. My arm had healed but now there were two scars on my fore arm. It would make it much easier for them to find me. One day I had just finished my route and had settled down on the dock to sit in the sun. Scratch ran up to me, I could feel the dock vibrating.
"Blaze!" He hollered. I sat up.
"what? What?"
"Delanceys, they got one of Jack's boys and Heron!" He was huffing and puffing. I could see why he was scared. At seven he couldn't do much to defend himself and others.
"Where's Spot?" he asked frantically.
"Still selling. No need to get him, I'll head over." I said praying that it wasn't Race, Crutchy, Mush, Specs, or Boots.
"But he said not to let you'se anywhere near the Delancey
Bruddahs." He protested.
"Is Spot here?"
"No, but-"
"Okay then. Stay here, and don't get Spot. Where were they?" I asked standing up and picking up my slingshot.
"Corner by the Distribution center." I ran off. I crept to the corner by the Center. I heard the fight before I saw it. A wave of anger and fear rushed over me. I walked up to the Delanceys. I was afraid. And not sure what I was doing. I walked up to Morris and grabbed his shirt collar.
"What are you doing?" I said with venom in my voice. I could see his anger, but he was afraid.
"Soaking a street rat. A dirty rotten street rat."
"That wasn't smart Morris, that's Blaze you talkin' to. She's
got a bad tempa, her." I heard Races voice behind me. My heart sank. I turned around. There was Race, being held by his shirt collar with a black eye and a bloody nose. How could they do that to him? I turned around and smiled at Morris. Then I punched him in the stomach so hard I could feel his spine on the other side. He doubled over. I pushed down on his head and kneed him in the face. He fell over. Oscar looked nervous. I walked up to him glaring. I grabbed his shirt collar.
"I'm not going to hurt you. If you step out of line and hurt my friends again, you won't have a problem with me. Oh no, you'll have a problem with Spot Conlon and Brooklyn, and I don't think you want that. Understand?" I said. He nodded, let Race go, and dragged Morris away. Just to scare him, I pulled out my slingshot and shot him in the rear. He started to run. I did too. I looked form Race to Heron.
"Heron, can ya walk back?"
"Yeah, didn't get me too bad. Just a hit in the back and a few threats."
"Can you, when you got back, tell Spot I'll be here for a while looking after this bonehead? Thanks." I said.
"Sure, see ya." He said hobbling off. I sprinted over to Race.
"I'm fine. That was amazing!" He said standing up slowly. He put his arm on my shoulder. I walked him back to the lodging house.
"We gotta get you'se cleaned up." I said helping him through the door. Mush came up to us.
"What happened?"
"Nothin' a run in with the Delanceys that's all. Can you help me get him upstairs?" We got him upstairs and a few hours later, he was sitting dealing poker cards, and telling stories as usual. I sat next to Mush watching them play.
"And she soaked Morris so he fell over and she told Oscar 'I ain't gonna hoit ya, but you'se mess with them, you mess with Spot and Brooklyn.'" Race said triumphantly, "Oscar dragged Morris off and she shot the Grafter in the bum with her slingshot." Everybody's jaw dropped and the whole room went silent.
"You'se did that?" Jack asked in awe.
"Yep, she did." Race said walking over to me to put his arm around my shoulder.
"Amazing. So what's new in Brooklyn?" Boots asked.
"Well, I'm the new second in command, and we got two new guys, Scratch and Heron." I announced happily.
"Really? You'se leaving then?" Race said crestfallen.
"Sadly."
"Will we see you any time soon?" Mush asked.
"Not unless you've got a problem you can't handle. Bye guys." I said getting up and closing the door behind me as I left. I walked down the hall and I heard a door closing behind me and someone following me. I stopped. The footsteps continued. I felt someone grab my shoulder and turn me around. My body went rigid. It was Race. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Whaddya want?" I asked my eyes looking anywhere but his face. He held my head in his his hands so I was looking right at him.
"I got a problem." He said smiling weakly.
"What problem?" I said. His smile was infectious and a smile was forming on my lips. He moved his face closer to mine.
"I think I might love you." He said. I smiled hugely.
"Never fear, Brooklyn is here." I said softly stroking his hair. He kissed me. Happiness filled me. Who cared what anybody thought of a scab and a Newsie in love? The Scab part of me took advantage of the moment and picked his back pocket. The moment ended.
"I'll stay, for one night. Spot's gonna kill me if I don't come back by tomorrow morning. I said punching him playfully in the arm. I
walked back to their room. He went back to his poker game and I sat taking to Mush. Then, we all heard,
"I'll add a quarter to the pile. Where's my quarter, I had it!" I walked up to him happier than words can describe.
"You let your guard down so I picked your back pocket."
"Race, you let a goil pick ya pocket?"
"Hey! I didn't know she would!" He claimed
"Why would you even let her get near you like that?" She's a scab!" Glum 'n Dumb proclaimed.
"Hey, I thought we were past this! And she's my friend." He said pulling me close to his chest protectively, his arms firmly around my waist.
"More than friends if ya ask me." Glum claimed.
"Well what about that goil last week you tried to smuggle into your bed who you claimed was your cousin, Glum!" Race shouted.
"Hey, stop fighting yeah? Kloppman's gonna come up here and we'll all be in trouble!" Mush said above the noise. I squirmed out of Race's grip and climbed out the window and down the fire escape not trying to cause anymore trouble, I ran. Past the book shop and Distribution. I left entirely and headed towards Brooklyn. I pounded through the hall and up the stairs. I knew the guys were over in Queens for a card game tonight as I trudged upstairs. I walked into the bunk room ready to collapse on my bead. When I saw Oscar. I rubbed my eyes. I was overtired. Then I felt someone's hands on my shoulders.
"You'se coming with us young lady." I whirled around. It was the bulls!
"Over my dead body." I said trying to free myself.
"That can be arranged." Oscar said. He punched me hard. The last word that escaped my lips was,
"Racetrack."
Thanks guys for reading! I might do a second chapter. I don't know. Please R&R!