Title: Just Trying to Get By
Author name: bellalavanima
Summary: Katherine Sommer's life is slowly crumbling beneath her. Who knew she would find the strength and means to survive from the newsies of The World?
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations owned by Disney. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author notes: Please review! I would love to get some constructive criticism on this.
From her bench in City Hall Park she could see the newsies pouring out of their lodging house and hear their eager conversations.
"Heya Race!" shouted a tall newsie wearing a pink undershirt.
"Mornin' Skittery. Hey, Skittery," the newsie that was apparently named Race leaned over confidentially "spot me three bucks?"
"Ha, no way."
"Jack! Jack! Come heah, look at dis!" gestured a small boy waving a wooden sword.
"Whatcha got there Les?" The rowdy crowd made her wonder if perhaps she should have listened to her brother's advice last night.
"I bought what I could with what we had," she said, placing the small, wilted cabbage on the table.
"So, we have nothing left?" her brother asked.
"No…he spent it all," she replied quietly as she began to cut off the rotted pieces and dispose of them.
"I guess I'd best give up on school for a bit and get a full time job. I can't believe I was so stupid to think that I could become a doctor under the circumstances…" he shook his head, in a way that made her think he'd had these thoughts before.
"Sean, don't be foolish, you have one year left until you're done with medical school, and the connections you're making at the job you have now will be so helpful when you become a doctor."
"But, Katherine, we have no money left…" he said slowly, trying to make her grasp the gravity of the situation.
"I'm going to get another job,' she replied resolutely, chopping into the cabbage a bit too forcefully.
"Katherine, you're a sweetheart, but you're just not cut out to have a job."
"No, I really found one that I think will work this time," he looked at her dubiously. "I got the idea on my way back from the market. I'm…I'm going to be a newsie," his looked changed from one of doubt to one of shock.
"You can't be a newsie, that's a job meant for orphans and.."
"Well, I'm an orphan."
"Maybe legally, but you've had different opportunities than them. Katherine, they're a bunch of ill-mannered, unlettered hooligans!" he rose from his seat, gesturing wildy. "I can't let you do this, its…"
"Just hear me out," she replied and he sat down wearily, waiting for her to begin. "At least as I newsie I would be my own boss, so they can't fire me," he didn't object, so she continued "and I would have an advantage. I mean, consider all the young businessmen that work around city hall park, don't you think they would be more willing to buy a paper from a charming, presentable young girl,"
"Don't flatter yourself," he interjected.
"than a dirty little boy?" she looked at him hopefully. He shook his head and looked like he was about to say something before she interrupted.
"Sean, you have to let me do this. For the past year and a half I've failed miserably at keeping a job long enough to contribute to this family, I might finally be able to help. I don't want to be the reason you don't become a doctor."
"Alright, but if anything…bad happens do you promise you'll stop?"
"Of course," she replied reassuringly. "Now, lets enjoy this sorry excuse for a cabbage."
Remembering how against this her brother had been gave her a new sense of determination, she had to show him she could do something. She resolutely rose from her bench and made her way to the gates of The World. Skirting around two young boys wrestling in the dusty street she gathered her courage before joining the line of newsies waiting to buy papers.
"Does anybody got an extra…" Their voices fell silent when they saw her. A few Newsies took off their hats in way of greeting, and some tried a weak smile, but most just looked at her with curiosity. As she waiting, trying hard to look unfazed, she heard their poorly hushed whispers.
"Whadda ya make of dat?"
"Think shes a newsie?"
"I ain't nevah seen her before, plus she looks too rich." She looked down at her pink and lace dress, one of the few she had left. If only they knew, she thought. She tried to look disinterested, as if this was the most natural thing in the world for her to do, but in truth she was as lost as can be. Do I just go up to that window and purchase some newspapers to sell? How many should I buy? Well, he just bought a hundred, could I really sell one hundred papers in a day? Oh, the little one bought thirty, perhaps I'll just try that. It was her turn.
"Morning, miss, how may I help you?" asked a kindly older gentleman.
"Um, I would like to buy some newspapers to sell."
"Alright then, how many?"
"Thirty, I suppose. How much is that?" Jack smiled as he saw her confusion. He had seen the possibility immediately of working with a girl like that. He knew how much business a well dressed, somewhat pretty young girl would attract.
"Thank you very much sir, good day." As she made her way to the street she was intercepted by a boy wearing a red bandana around his neck and a black cowboy hat. He was followed by a small assortment of newsies who looked on curiously. He smiled at her and she smiled courteously back, before making her way to leave. He stepped in front of her again, and she noticed that most of the newsies had stopped what they were doing to look on with interest.
"Jack Kelly," he said, putting out his hand. She doubtfully accepted it.
"Katherine Sommers."
"So, uh, this is your firs' time sellin' papes?" She nodded, wondering what he was playing at. "Well, then a'course you'll be wantin some help," she was about to protest before he continued "and that's where I could be of use to ya. Now Davie, Les, and me push about a thousand papes a week. You woik with us and we'd be glad to give you, say, ten percent of dah profits."
"Ten percent? It may be my first day as a newsie, but I'm not a fool. Now thank you for the offer, Mr. Kelly, but…"
"You heah dat boys? Mr. Kelly! Ha! Now, if we's gonna be woiking togeddah…"
"I'd really prefer to work on my own thank you." She said as she made to leave.
"Alrigh'," he said, putting up his hands in defeat "but, as a newcomah…" the rest of what he was saying was drowned out as she crossed the street.
"Jack, what was that all about?" asked Davie "If we split up our profits anymore, we're not going to make anything."
"Yea, Jack, you want to start woiking in groups of ten or what?" added Racetrack.
"How come you didn't ask me to start woikin' widja when I started?" yelled another voice.
"I just thought woikin' wid a goil could be useful."
"Yea, sure Jack."
"Whatever you say."
"No, honestly. A guy walkin' down da street would be more willin to buy papes from her dan any of us."
"I think you just want to buy some 'papes' from her," yelled out Kid Blink above the laughter of the newsies.
"Hey, I'd buy papes from her…"
"Mush!" the newsies yelled as they hit him with hats and papers.