by Monkey McCartney
*******
Brian Denton bit off a chunk of his chicken leg and smiled to himself. How he loved Tibby's big, greasy, fried chicken legs! He ripped off another hunk, grease dribbling down his chin.
"Mmm!" he exclaimed loudly.
Several dine-in customers looked his way in annoyance. This spectacle had gone on for hours; Denton was on his fifth plate of chicken legs and showed no signs of being even halfway full.
Denton was never seen without a chicken leg. He showered in chicken grease, he slept holding a chicken leg in his hand, and he even dreamed about - what else - chicken legs! Chicken legs were Brian Denton's LIFE.
He ripped off another gooey hunk or meat and gristle. This was heaven.
Suddenly, the front door of Tibby's swung open and in sauntered Jack Kelly, Sarah Jacobs, and the rest of the newsies. They all crowded around Denton's table.
"Heya, Denty!" Jack said loudly, grabbing a chicken leg and taking a bite.
"Ya gained weight, Denton?" Mush asked, punching Denton in the arm. It jiggled slightly and Mush burst into loud, obnoxious laughter.
"Denty's packin' on the fat," Davey joked, slapping Denton on the back.
"Yeah, maybe you oughta lay off them chicken legs," Race grinned.
Denton's eyes glowed red as he gripped his half-eaten chicken leg tightly. "Lay off my chicken legs?!" he roared.
Race held up his hands. "Hey, hey, I'se just kiddin', Dent!"
"LAY OFF MY CHICKEN LEGS?!!!"
Denton was scaring the boys now. He towered over them, the half-eaten chicken leg still in his hand. "NOOO!"
Denton lunged at Race, using the chicken leg as a dagger. He jammed it into Race's chest.
"Hey, whaddoya think you're doin'?" Race asked angrily. "I just washed this shirt!" He tried in vain to wipe off the large spot of chicken grease.
Denton started hurling chicken legs at the newsies. "HA!"
Ducking, the newsies stared at Denton, more than slightly disturbed. He had gone downhill since he had refused that job as the Sun's Ace War Correspondent.
After a moment, Mr. Tibby personally escorted Denton out, but not after he'd been nailed in the face with a chicken bone.
Still in a fury, Denton cried, "The chicken legs will have REVENGE!!!"
Jack looked to Race after Denton was out of sight. "You were right. He definately needs to lay off the chicken legs."