HIDDEN: A GOIL NEWSIE

Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies, if I did well Snyder would be dead :)

"Boots! Skittery! Skittery! Skittery!" shouted Kloppman

My eyes opened, morning again? Skittery yelled, "Wha... I didn't do it!"

I rolled my eyes, Skittery musta broke into the lockbox or something again.

Faintly hearing Kloppman say, "What do you mean you didn't do it? Will you get up? When you get up, it's time to get up! Snitch! Get up! Get up! Everybody's sleeping. They sleep their lives away these kids! The presses are rolling! Sell the papers, sell the papers! Come on, come on. You dreaming about selling papers?"

I pushed Jack off of the bunk, "Get up ya lazy bum!"

Then he and Kloppman went to bickering. Damn, they're like fadder and son. I ran to the washroom, calling the first bathroom stall. I stripped down to my underclothing and put dem on, followed by a soft blue shirt, some tan knickers, black suspenders. Wrapping wrapped away the knowledge of me evah being a goil. My long brown hair went into a messy bun, a little falling out to look a bit natural, and a hat on top. Thank god my face isn't very femine.

As I entered the stall I could hear some kids arguing about a cigar. Race and Snipeshooter I think. I hope to god that Snipeshooter didn't take Race's cigar again. Happens all the time. All the time.

I left the washroom as a Newsie named Flash, good boidie material there, entered. Somethings always strange bout dat boy. Sometimes when I take da wash out of the rooms I find blood on his bed. It's weird. Could Flash be anudder goil? Nah, impossible.

"So, how'd you sleep Jack?" asked Mush

Jack replied with a simple, "On me back Mush."

Mush let out an airy laugh, "Ha ha. Hear that fellas? Hear what Jack said? I asked Jack how he slept and he said 'On me back Mush'"

I rolled my eyes. Even with his cheesy remarks and jokes, Mush Myers has gotta be the dreamiest and cutest Newsie here. "Aye, Chaser stop ya daydreamin. Some of da boys ahe gettin a bit worried bout you." said Skittery

"Aw go steal some money or something Skittery."

He ran off at that remark. "Hurry on up Chasah! We gotta Carry da Bannah!" shouted Kid Blink

I nodded and ran off. I got my name when Jack found me bein chassed by da bulls. He got me outta it, by saying I was 'is kid sister who was running loose and had a bit of a mental problem.

Snipeshooter was standing right by Flash when he came outta the washroom. I laughed as I saw some of the boys goofing off, one poor boy had soap in 'is eyes and Blink just said "For a buck I might."

I ran outside and we all started to sing the song we always do, Carrying the Banner. I really didn't sing, too embarrased to. I'se already know I can't sing. Though Mush and Jack tell me different.

My green eyes looked around, the streets were busy. Everyone was heading out for the ring or ta work. The nuns were out; passing out bread and coffee and water to us Newsies. Nevah taking any since I hate charity, I carried onwards to the Distribution Center.

"Hey dere Weasel. Hundrah papes."

"For the last time, it's Weasel." stated Weasel.

Hey, he looks like a weasel! So he's a weasel. I laughed, "Sure it is."

Morris set my papes down, "Dere's yer papes."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed them, setting four bits down. Aye, I got a good pay yesterday. I sat down by Mush looking at the headlines. "Look at this, baby born with two heads. Must be from Brooklyn." laughed Racetrack

A bunch of laughs echoed through the crowd of Newsies. I spotted two new ones, they were dressed nicely; one even had a pocketwatch. But, Ise didn't pay any attention. "Hey Mush, whose the new goil youse brought to the Lodging House last night?"

"Eh no one Chaser." replied Mush looking down

The girl was a total prostitute. She was dressed in a too tight top, skirt that was a bit short, hair evidently dyed blonde and looking fake as fake could be. Faker den my da was when he was sobah!

"Aw, come on Mushy Boy, you can tell us."

"Just a goil is all. I gots my eyes set on someone else though. Gotta get to Bottle Alley." said Mush, standing up and walking away

I sighed, not many people know I'm a goil. And Mush is one of dem. Racetrack knows, Jack knows and Kid Blink knows. That's because Race stepped in on me when I was putting me hair up and Kid Blink heard me talking in me goil voice. Jack knew because he's known me since Ise was eight and had just ran from home.

I heard Weasel yell, "Hey, you got your lously papes, now beat it!"

The boy who was up there replied "I paid for twenty. I only got nineteen."

"Are you accusing me of lying kid?" grunted Weasel

I stood up, knowing that if Jack don't step in, I'd be the one stepping in. "No. I just want my paper." said the boy

Anudder fight? This early? It ain't even ten yet! "Hey Cowboy, you should step in." I whispered to Jack

He nodded. "Ya tink Ise should?"

"He said beat it!" barked Morris

"Yeah, I tink you should!"

Jack stood up and went and counted the papers, "No, it's nineteen. It's nineteen, but don't worry about it. It's an honest mistake. I mean, Morris here can't count to twenty with his shoes on. Hey Race, will ya spot me 2 bits? Another 50 for my friend." Racetrack threw him two bits. Jack slammed it onto the table and fifty papes were passed over to him. He handed them to the boy, apparently his name is David.

"I don't want another 50." stated David handing the papes back.

"Sure you do. Every newsie wants more papes." insisted Jack, handing the papes to David

"I don't. I don't want your papes. I don't take charity from anyone. I don't know you. I don't care to. Here are your papes." said David, handing the papes back as he started to walk away.

I stiffled a laugh, which turned into a strange cough, "Hey new guy, youse gonna want more papes."

"Well I don't." stated David

The younger boy next to David muttered, "Cowboy. They called him Cowboy."

Jack looked at him, "Yeah, I'm called that and a lot of other things, including Jack Kelly, which is what me mudder called do they call you kid?"

"Les. And this is my brother David. He's older." stated the little kid, Les

Jack tried to hold a laugh back, then he went and started to talk with these boys. My jealousy took over. Jack is my best friend, nearly me brudder. Especially since I don't know where me own brudder is. I walked away, knowing that I'd be losing my good spot but then Ise noticed a lady luncheon. A bunch of rich ladies.

I coughed into my hand, a shiner from a brawl last night showing, "Please miss. I need money for a doctah." I held out a pape.

About twenty ladies swarmed around me. Cooing and being all mudderly. They all grabbed five papes, paying a dollah per pape. Man would I be eating good tonight.

"Thank you madames. I can feed me and me brudder tonight. He's only two. We last our parents in a fire." I coughed in my hand for good length. A large lady handed me an extra five and I smiled. "Bless your souls." I then took off. My money stuffed into me pocket. I'd pay any of the Newsies who couldn't afford the lodging house tonight and decided that maybe I'd spoil myself and buy a gown. Damn, I haven't thought of gowns in so long. I went to the tailor. He knew I was a goil. Found out when fitting me for knickers.

"Hey there Natalie. Need some new knickers?" asked Mr. Clemmens, the tailor.

"Actually I'd like a dress. Thinking I'll dress like a lady for the day and go and get some gifts for me friends."

"Well its ten dollars for a gown. You have that much?"

"Hundrah and five sir. Just got some ladies to pay a buck a pape and anudder gave me a five."

"Well ain't you special. What color?" asked Mr. Clemmens as he took out a bunch of fabrics

"That pretty blue one. I think it'll go good with da hair." I stated pointing to a dark blue fabric

He nodded, "Right this way. I'll have the Mrs. take yer measurments."

I nodded as he led me down a hallway. Mrs. Clemmens took my measurements. "Okay Miss Conlon. Let's give you a nice bath before you get into that dress." ordered Mrs. Clemmens as she started some hot water into a fancy tub.

I laughed softly to myself, Spot would be so jealous. I'd only seen the leadah o' Brooklyn four times but I knew he wanted a porcelain tub.

I nodded, knowing that ain't no ones won a fight with Mrs. Clemmens. The tub was so nice. It was nice to actually relax for once. My head was massaged pratically with a sweat smelling soap. Lilacs. Me mam's favorite flower. This would be one of the only times I'd get something like that. Everytime a newsie comes they get a bath. Usually the boys wash themselves but my hair is so long I can't do it myself. So Mrs. Clemmens washes it.

As I got out, I dried myself and my hair was brushed by meself. "Um, Mrs. Clemmens could you help me put my hair up?" I asked her shyly

She laughed, her german accent floating through the air, "Of course dear. I haven't braided anyones hair since Nila went to Minnesota to live with her husband. And I don't think Sammy will let me braid his hair."

The Clemmens had six children, five boys and a girl. Nila moved to Minnesota with her husband James. Now its Sammy, Nero, Michael and James here in the house. They're all age six, seven, seven and seven. She had triplets. Don't know how big of a hanful that had ta be. The boys are in school though.

She softly braided my hair and then put it up in one of them fancy updos the high crust does. "There you go darling. Mr. Clemmens has your gown done." I felt bad for treating meself this way but I promised myself that I'd buy me boys something special. The dress was ten, that means $95 is left. Shoes are only $3 a pair (A/N is that right? I'm not sure...) I'll buy shoes for the older boys, candy for the younger ones. Then treat them all ta dinner at Tibby's. That seems good. So lets see $42 on shoes, $20 on candy, $10 on dinner, $6 on rent and that leaves $17 in my stash for savings.

The dress was brought out, a beautiful gown of a dark blue, like sky that is a vibrant dark blue in the twilight, with a boddice that had three quarter sleeves, some white lace. It was a simple, put together gown. Two petticoats and a shift came with it. I knew it'd be hard to move but if I wanted to get into them stores I'd need this gown.

Mrs. Clemmens helped me put it on. I thanked them then left. Running right into my favorite Newsie. Mush.

And thats this chapter! Now I know what your thinking "$105? Why spend that on others, buy a ticket and leave!" but Chaser is really motherly, though she doesn't always show it, and she knows the boys need new shoes so she'll spend most of her money on the older boys who go out farther and then buy candy for the younger ones and then take them to dinner and stash some in her Savings. Next chapter might be out tomorrow. Might be out over the week. Maybe next weekend. Depends when Ise gets a break.

Well bye now!

-SeAfOaM-