Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Newsies. Disney owns them. Maybe someday I'll have enough money and buy them but I doubt that will happen. Anyways, I own my family and myself. I don't own any of my friends if I use any of them in here.
Enough with all that. On to the story.
Middle Ground
Chapter 1
"Ann!" yelled a voice.
"Yes father?" a girl said walking into the room.
The girl had shoulder length dirty blonde hair with light blonde highlights. She had hazel eyes and was about 5'3". She was wearing a light pink dress and newly polished black boots.
"Would you go and buy me a newspaper?" asked her father handing her some money.
"Would you like your change?" she asked.
"Let the boy keep it." replied her father.
Ann's family was by no means rich. Not like the rich families of their time. They were a middle class family. Her father had a well paying job as an assistant to a lawyer. There was always food on the table and she always had nice clothes to wear.
Ann grabbed her hat and dashed out the door. The warm summer breeze was inviting as she walked down the street in search of the newsie she always bought from. Even though it was noon, the city was alive with people. The city was always alive with people. She walked to the corner that she went to almost everyday. She had gotten to know the newsie who worked that corner. He was a nice boy and always greeted her with a smile. She saw him standing at the corner but as she got closer, she noticed he didn't have any newspapers with him. Darn it. She thought. He's already sold out.
"Already sold out Specs?" she called when she got closer.
"Nope." He said greeting her with a smile.
"Then where are all your newspapers?" Ann asked confused.
"I never had any." Specs said smiling.
"What? I'm confused."
"The newsies are on strike. We're not sellin' papes."
"Oh, father won't be happy about this. Why are you on strike?"
"Pulitzer raised the price from 50 cents a hundred to 60 cents a hundred and we're not gonna take that. We're barely makin' a livin' now."
"How long do you think it will last?" Ann asked.
"It could take days, weeks, even months."
"Is anyone selling newspapers?" she asked.
"I don't know. There might be. We've been soakin' any scabs we can. There probably aren't a lot." Specs replied.
"Thank you Specs."
"Sorry about not havin' any papes."
"Oh, that's ok. See you later Specs."
"Bye."
Ann knew her father would not be happy about this. He liked to read a newspaper everyday.
"Ann is that you?" her father asked as she walked through the front door.
"Yes father."
"Did you get my newspaper?" he asked.
"No father." Ann replied walking into her father's den.
"Well why not?"
"The newsie are on strike father. They're not selling."
"Why are they on strike?" her father asked curiously.
"Pulitzer increased the papers price for the newsies and not for the customers." Ann answered.
"Alright. Well, I'm off to work."
"Here's your money father."
"Keep it. Buy yourself something nice." Her father said smiling at her.
"Thank you father. See you tonight."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: hey everyone. A new story to read. I know not a lot happened in this chapter but it should get better. This is not going to be a romance, which is very unusual for me but Ann will develop a crush on one of the newsies. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please review. I love getting reviews. The second chapter will be in Ann's point of view, as will the rest of the story. I wrote the first chapter in third person just to give you a description of Ann and what her background is.
Thank you Liz for the title. You come up with great title.
Don't forget to review.
*~Dreamer Conlon~*