Newsie Girl
Chpt. 1
July 16, 1899
Run, Run, Run, don't look back!
"Come back here shrimp!"
Stupid Delancy brothers! I say one thing and they try to kill me!
"Once we're done with ya, ya ain't ever gonna walk again!"
I should blame Racetrack for this. Bright side is, if I live, I'm getting two cents. (Hey, in my time two was like five bucks.)
"Pardon me ladies." I said bursting through a crowd of proper elegant women about my age. Mush would've gone after the one in the Blue frilly dress, and by the end of the day would've already gotten a kiss.
To think I might have become one of those frilly girls that mush would go after is a scary thought. My blue eyes set on Racetrack smoking a cigar, selling papes.
"Ya owe me two cents!" I yelled once reaching him.
"How da I know ya went threw with it?" he smirked, puffing out some smoke.
"There 'e is!" I turned around and saw the Delancy's violently running at me.
"Pay up." I said turning to Racetrack.
"Ugh." he sighed, as he dug into his pocket and flipped out two pennies. I caught them and hid the two cents in my back pocket.
"See ya!" I shouted with the Delancy's nipping at my heels. The routs of the streets were at the back of my hand. Turn right, go threw the ally way, duck, dive. I was running so fast I didn't care to look back. Turn left outta the ally way, then turn…
"Oof!" I ran into someone and I crashed to the ground. I gazed up at the person I collided with.
"What are ya run'n from, the Bulls?" questioned the best person to run into while running from some one.
"Nah cowboy just thought I otta take a jogg." I smiled. I herd the Delancy's come behind me.
"You're dead." Oscar Delancy chuckled.
"And make some friends along the way." I smirked nervously.
"I'll handle this." Cowboy said helping me up then standing in front of me.
"Outta the way Cowboy, this ain't got nott'n ta do with ya." Morris Delancy commanded.
"Ya's chasing my best man, it's got everything ta do with me." Cowboy shot back. The Delancy's were about eighteen and Cowboy was seventeen, but Cowboy was tall, strong, and had friends everywhere. The Delancy's would be stupid to fight him. They seemed to back down.
"We're watch'n ya shrimp." Oscar threatened turning back with Morris.
"Thanks." I said once Cowboy turned around.
"Hey, we're newsies, that makes us brothers, and brothers stick out for one anudd'a." Cowboy smiled. I nodded at the fact. That was like our code. We were all one huge family.
"So whatca do ta get ugly, and uglier chase afta ya?" questioned Cowboy.
"I took oscar's hat and called them dirty muttonhead butts." I smiled. Cowboy laughed at that. Most likely imagining Oscars face when I grabbed his hat, considering nobody had the guts to do that.
"So, how much did Racetrack bet ya at do that?" questioned Cowboy. He knew that if anyone did something outrageously stupid, Racetrack bet them to do it.
"Two cents." I answered.
"Ta do that I woldda asked for five. You got some guts for do'in that." Cowboy nodded.
"Here, ya helped me get away." I said reaching into my pocket and pulling out and handig him a penny. "Half the profits." I smiled. The bell of the church down the street chimed two in the afternoon, and I just remembered something.
"Gotta go! Boots told me ta meet him at the park." I said running off.
"Oh, Laces!" I turned around. "Got ya these." Cowboy handed me three strings of shoelaces. (What a Newsie still has hobbies. How'd ya think I got my name?)
"Thanks Cowboy!" I called back while running off again.
"See ya later!" he yelled. Boots said there would be a large gathering of people at the park at three. It would make up for lost time since I still got thirty-seven papes to sell.
Papes- in 1899 it was slang for newspapers.
Bulls- What newsies called the Police
Mutton head- what newsies called idiots.