It was a dismal day on January 22nd. A group of friends sat in history class listening to their teacher as he drowned on about the rise of industries in he late 19th century. The girl's moods matched the weather perfectly.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Mr. McCay, the history teacher gathered his student's attention. "For homework tonight, due on Friday, in your groups that I will assign you must research a strike that happened in the late 19th century and early 20th century. No group an have the same strike. Group 1 up here." He pointed to the 6 desks in the front of the room. "Will be…Chloe, Rose, Tara, Ariel, and Maureen." McCay continued to announce the other groups. Chloe raced over to her friends.
"I'm so excited he picked us!" "Yes but what strike are we going to use?" asked Rose, fixing her hair.
"The Pullman Strike of 1894?" Maureen suggested. They sat in thought for a moment.
"Nah what about Newsies?" Tara remembered a movie Nicole, their senior friend, told her.
"Newsies?" Chloe bewildered asked. She pulled the desk closer to her friends.
"What's your choice?" Mr. McCay came around to ask the groups.
"Newsies" blurted Tara before anyone could disagree he walked to the next people. She whispered. "Trust me you'll like it." And smiled.
"What exactly is Newsies?" pestered Maureen. She needed to know these things in life! "I don't know. We'll ask Nicole next period." The others rolled their eyes and the bell rang.
Lunch Time! The girls chattily filed in the cafeteria. They sat in the usually spot, near the snack line at the front of the room.
"Hey Nicole! Gotta a question." Chloe asked when she returned with her pretzel and raspberry tea.
"What's on your mind?" she questioned.
"Tell me everything you know about Newsies!"
"No, no…wait until the others get back." Tara shushed Chloe."We're doing a report on it for history and everyone else needs to know." They waited another 5 minutes before everyone came back with their lunch.
"Ok, spill." Chloe told her Nicole.
"First off Newsies the movie is a musical based on the Newsie strike of 1899 in New York City. A bunch of orphans and runaways came together from all over the city to rise against Joseph Pulitzer and his newspaper. Supporters of the strike were not just newsboys but sweat shop kids and young ladies. They all played a big part in winning the strike. There you have it, the basic story of Newsies."
"Sounds interesting can I borrow the movie?" asked Ariel.
I've got a better idea." Nicole started. "Why don't you just come over my house and watch it." They all agreed.
At Nicole's house! She sat in her living room with her newsie out fit on!
"Awesome hat! I want one!" mentioned Maureen.
"6 bucks at target." She informed her. "So, are you guys ready to watch the movie?" 'Yeses' and 'Yeas' came from the girls.They all were scattered around the living room. Maureen and Chloe sat on the couch along with Rose. Ariel sat on the floor near the chair. Tara sat in the chair and Nicole pulled her beanbag to sit in the middle of everyone. The movie took about an hour or so, but the girls loved it!
"I want a newsie name!" shrieked Chloe when it was over.
"Same here!" called out Ariel.
"What could mine be?" Chloe pondered. She took a sip from her root beer.
"Definitely something to do with dance or band because that's your life." Commented Maureen. Who was also in the band with her but played clarinet.
"I could be Cadence or Taps. I like Taps, though."
"Taps it is. Welcome I'm Jittery." Nicole introduced herself."Once you figure out names I have to get you into the NML"
"What's the NML?" one of the girls asked.
I hope you like the first chapter! please Review!
CTB!
Taps