Ours
By Bon Bon
Race woke up with sun in his eyes. He rolled over and reached for his cigarettes. "Wheres me cigs?" he complained, after not finding them. Nobody answered. he groaned and rolled out of bed. He turned around to ask Jack where his cigs were. Instead of Jack being in his bunk, some curly haired blonde boy was laying there. "Whos dat?" Race asked out loud. Mush and Blink slept on while several other newsies through pillows and shoes at him. "Oy vey. I'se outta heah" Race went downstairs to the kitchen and found Jack drinking coffee. "Jack, whos da new guy in yer bed?" He poured himself some coffee and sat down at the table with Jack.
"oh him, thats Liam. I'se found him last night aftah da pokah game. He ain't got no place or job so I'se figured he could be a newsie" "LIAM?" Race laughed. 'yeah, we'se ain't got his Newsie Name figured out yet. Don't know much about him. but he looked real bad last night. Figured I'se could help den and ask questions latah"
"Well whatevah, should we's go wake da boys up now?" "yeah" Jack said "I'se can't wait til Kloppmann gets back from visitin his daughter. I'se don't like gettin up earlier tha i'se hafta" Race laughed and they went upstairs. "get up, get up Carry da bannah!" they called, walking through the bunk rooms. Race stopped at Liam's bunk. "ey, new kid, Lionial or whatevah your name is, get up. its time ta carry da bannah" He poked the kid and pulled off his covers. "Hey" the boy shouted "me names Liam, not lional and whats carry da bannah?" Race rolled his eyes and sat down "Ise guess ya nevah hoid of newsies before, huh? carryin da bannah is sellin papes which is what we'se should be doin now"
"ok" Liam got up out of bed and looked around. "uh, wheres da washroom, please?" "Tru dere" Race pointed. "hey Jack" Race yelled "you'se gonna take your newbie or should i, hes real lost in dis world. where'dya get him from?" 'Bottle Alley" Jack said as he tied his bandana around is neck and grabbed his hat. "don;t laugh, you'se were jist as bad when I'se brought you heah too. "Me?, nah. Is'e was nevah that bad. he don't even know what newsies are" "he'll loin" Jack stated before walking out.
Liam met up with Race and Jack at the distribution center. He was walking with Gav and she was explaining newsielife to him. "Liam, come 'ere" Jack called "I'se gonna spot you'se some papes for taday cause you'se new. Den I'se gonna teach you'se ta sell 'em." "ok" Liam agreed and then went back to talking with Gav. "man of few woids I guess" Race joked "or maybe 'e likes Gav" "prolly not"Jack said staring at the two "Gav's jist good wid da newbies, dats all" They got their papes and Jack handed Liam 20 of them. "start wid dese. Now I'se gonna give you'se a lesson in improvin da truth. watch and loin" Jack shouted out a few improved headlines. "give it a try. Da main story is da mayor and his daughter takin a trip. Improve it a little" Liam stepped forward nervously. he took a deep breath and yelled "Mayor seen travelin wid younger woman" He sold a few. "i'se did it" He smiled. Jack, Race, Gav and Liam sold together the rest of the morning. Afterwards they took Liam to Tibby's.
"We'se gotta get you a newsie name, Liam. In case da bulls get ya" Jack said. "ya got a nickname already?" "well" Liam said "my father used to call me Dutchy but he usually called me that when he yelled at me" Snickers spread like fire throuhg the newsies. Liam looked lost and kinda hurt. "I'se don't get it" he said. Race whispered in his ear. "oh, I'se dont wanna be called that then" "Why not?" Gav questioned "its bettah den Liam." "but it means.." He protested "People will think you'se Dutch" Jack settled the matter. He was to be called Dutchy.
"So, whats your story Dutchy? How did ya get here?" a girl asked. "you're Mills right? he asked, attempting to place names with the people Jack had described last night. She nodded and he continued "well Mills, me faddah couldn't support me anymore so he kicked me out. Me muddah died when I'se was young." "aaww" Mills said. "dats sad". well I hope ya like it here. I'se going out ta sell again. buhbye" She slid a cap over her black hair as she walked out the door. Dutchy was staring after her. Mush and Race laughed at how lovestruck he looked. Mush leaned in and whispered in Dutchy's ear. "woid to da wise, Mills'll be yer friend but she ain't gonna be yer girl. She ain't inta hangin off a guy" Dutchy frowned. "buts she so pretty. how can she not want a guy. I'se mean she looks like a doll" "Don't call her dat" Jack put in "she hates dat and will coitenly soak ya for it."
Dutchy looked sad. "Cheer up" Gav said "we're got plenty of goils in da lodgin house. deres me, and Stripes, but shes Jacks goil, and dere's Slayer. and Books, you'll like her. and Spadey too. Maybe you'se like one of dem" Gav gave him a reassuring smile.
Lunch was over and they all paid up and left. They did a little more sellin around the harbor and Bottle Alley. When it started gettin dark they headed back to the Lodging house. One of Spots newsies was there, inviting them to a poker game. "ya wanna come, Dutchy?" Jack offered "nah, I'se gonna stay heah" Dutchy grabbed a book off a shelf and settled onto his bunk. After a few minutes a girl came in. She went to the bookshelf and frowned. She ran her finger along the spines of the books and frowned again. She gave Dutchy a glance and left the room. "weird" he mumbled. A few minutes later she walked back in. "is that my book?" she asked. "what?" he asked sitting up. "i'se sorry, but I lost my book and you happen to be reading one. a book i mean. and i'se thought it might be my book, and who are you by the way.?" Her green eyes clouded over in confusion. "Umm, I'se Dutchy. I'se new. Sorry fer readin yer book. heah ya go" He closed it and handed it back to her. She sat down on the bed. "I'se Books." There was silence as the two shook hands. They stopped shaking and just held hands. They both looked up. Books took her hand back and turned away.
"So you like Little Women?" "It was good so far. i'se only got to chapter 5" Dutchy kept trying to make eye contact again but she wouldn't. "Well you can borrow it sometime to finish it. Its my favorite but you'se seem trustworthy." "Thanks" Dutchy said "are we da only ones around?" "Slayers here. Downstairs." "Good' he said casually "I'm gonna go walk. wanna come?" "i was gonna read" Books said. "please", he asked. "I don't know my way around yet' he gave her his cutest puppy dog eyes. "alright" She put the book back on the shelf and grabbed a black shirt off of a bed and put it on over her purple tank top. "lets go"
They walked through Central Park. "Its really not safe to walk alone at night" Books said nervously. "and all the guys are in Brooklyn" "I'm an excellent runner" he said. She laughed. They walked and talked for a while and decided they should head back. when they were almost to the lodging house they heard something behind them. "walk faster" Dutchy whispered. The footsteps grew faster and suddenly Books screamed and was tackled to the ground. He turned to hit her attacker and was tackled. He fell to the ground and was licked in the face. He heard Books laughter. "yuck" he pushed the furry beast off of him. "its a dog" Books said. she knelt down and petted it."its sooo cute" "real cute" Dutchy said, wiping the slobber off his face. "don't be mean, shes cute" Books patted the dog on the head and it sat down. "we should get back" Dutchy said. "yeah, you'se right. bye bye puppy. bye bye" Dutchy grabbed her arm "lets go"
They got a few steps and Dutchy realized the dog was right next to him. "go home" he said to it.It still followed. He picked up a rock to throw at it. "NO!" Books ran to the dog. "Don't you dare be so mean. Puppy did nothing to you." He dropped the rock and continued walking. Books took off the chain form around her waist and tied it around the dogs neck. "come on, i won't leave you here" So the dog went back to the lodging house with her.
Dutchy lay awake in bed. He had heard Books come in so he knew she was ok. He was kinda angry at himself for leaving her but her protecting that dog was a little irrational. He rolled over. Iy was too quiet. with Kloppmann gone the newsies could stay out all night. but he was happy to be sleeping in a real bed. All of a sudden something else climbed in bed with him. His mind raced. Could it be Books? A long wet tongue licked his face. "BOOKS!" he yelled. he heard her giggles from the other room. He couldn't believe his luck. She brought home the dumb dog and let in his bunk. He pushed the dog off his bed and turned over, pulling the covers over his head. He felt the dog hop back on the bed but this time it curled up at his feet. He ignored it and attempted to sleep. A few minutes passed and he felt light shing in his face. He pulled the covers back. Books was standing there with a lamp in one hand.
"What do you'se want?" he asked. "I'm gettin Abbie" she said. Books shooed the dog off his bed and started taking it back to hers. "tanks" he called. Then he thought of something. "Abbie? why did you'se name it Abbie?" he heard no answer. So he got up and went into the girls room. Books was curled up with a book. Abbie was laying over her legs. "why did you'se name it Abbie?" he asked. "I'se dunno. its a pretty name and she seems ta like it. Why do you'se care?" "No reason, g'night" Dutchy started going back to his bunk. "Keeping secrets on yer first day, tsk, tsk" she called. He paused in the doorway. "Abbie was me muddah's name. She ain't alive no moah. Its an unusual name. I'se 'aven't hoid it much" Books smiled. "ok, well g'night" she blew out the lamp and pulled up the covers. He went back to bed, relieved she didn't ask alot of questions.
By Bon Bon
Race woke up with sun in his eyes. He rolled over and reached for his cigarettes. "Wheres me cigs?" he complained, after not finding them. Nobody answered. he groaned and rolled out of bed. He turned around to ask Jack where his cigs were. Instead of Jack being in his bunk, some curly haired blonde boy was laying there. "Whos dat?" Race asked out loud. Mush and Blink slept on while several other newsies through pillows and shoes at him. "Oy vey. I'se outta heah" Race went downstairs to the kitchen and found Jack drinking coffee. "Jack, whos da new guy in yer bed?" He poured himself some coffee and sat down at the table with Jack.
"oh him, thats Liam. I'se found him last night aftah da pokah game. He ain't got no place or job so I'se figured he could be a newsie" "LIAM?" Race laughed. 'yeah, we'se ain't got his Newsie Name figured out yet. Don't know much about him. but he looked real bad last night. Figured I'se could help den and ask questions latah"
"Well whatevah, should we's go wake da boys up now?" "yeah" Jack said "I'se can't wait til Kloppmann gets back from visitin his daughter. I'se don't like gettin up earlier tha i'se hafta" Race laughed and they went upstairs. "get up, get up Carry da bannah!" they called, walking through the bunk rooms. Race stopped at Liam's bunk. "ey, new kid, Lionial or whatevah your name is, get up. its time ta carry da bannah" He poked the kid and pulled off his covers. "Hey" the boy shouted "me names Liam, not lional and whats carry da bannah?" Race rolled his eyes and sat down "Ise guess ya nevah hoid of newsies before, huh? carryin da bannah is sellin papes which is what we'se should be doin now"
"ok" Liam got up out of bed and looked around. "uh, wheres da washroom, please?" "Tru dere" Race pointed. "hey Jack" Race yelled "you'se gonna take your newbie or should i, hes real lost in dis world. where'dya get him from?" 'Bottle Alley" Jack said as he tied his bandana around is neck and grabbed his hat. "don;t laugh, you'se were jist as bad when I'se brought you heah too. "Me?, nah. Is'e was nevah that bad. he don't even know what newsies are" "he'll loin" Jack stated before walking out.
Liam met up with Race and Jack at the distribution center. He was walking with Gav and she was explaining newsielife to him. "Liam, come 'ere" Jack called "I'se gonna spot you'se some papes for taday cause you'se new. Den I'se gonna teach you'se ta sell 'em." "ok" Liam agreed and then went back to talking with Gav. "man of few woids I guess" Race joked "or maybe 'e likes Gav" "prolly not"Jack said staring at the two "Gav's jist good wid da newbies, dats all" They got their papes and Jack handed Liam 20 of them. "start wid dese. Now I'se gonna give you'se a lesson in improvin da truth. watch and loin" Jack shouted out a few improved headlines. "give it a try. Da main story is da mayor and his daughter takin a trip. Improve it a little" Liam stepped forward nervously. he took a deep breath and yelled "Mayor seen travelin wid younger woman" He sold a few. "i'se did it" He smiled. Jack, Race, Gav and Liam sold together the rest of the morning. Afterwards they took Liam to Tibby's.
"We'se gotta get you a newsie name, Liam. In case da bulls get ya" Jack said. "ya got a nickname already?" "well" Liam said "my father used to call me Dutchy but he usually called me that when he yelled at me" Snickers spread like fire throuhg the newsies. Liam looked lost and kinda hurt. "I'se don't get it" he said. Race whispered in his ear. "oh, I'se dont wanna be called that then" "Why not?" Gav questioned "its bettah den Liam." "but it means.." He protested "People will think you'se Dutch" Jack settled the matter. He was to be called Dutchy.
"So, whats your story Dutchy? How did ya get here?" a girl asked. "you're Mills right? he asked, attempting to place names with the people Jack had described last night. She nodded and he continued "well Mills, me faddah couldn't support me anymore so he kicked me out. Me muddah died when I'se was young." "aaww" Mills said. "dats sad". well I hope ya like it here. I'se going out ta sell again. buhbye" She slid a cap over her black hair as she walked out the door. Dutchy was staring after her. Mush and Race laughed at how lovestruck he looked. Mush leaned in and whispered in Dutchy's ear. "woid to da wise, Mills'll be yer friend but she ain't gonna be yer girl. She ain't inta hangin off a guy" Dutchy frowned. "buts she so pretty. how can she not want a guy. I'se mean she looks like a doll" "Don't call her dat" Jack put in "she hates dat and will coitenly soak ya for it."
Dutchy looked sad. "Cheer up" Gav said "we're got plenty of goils in da lodgin house. deres me, and Stripes, but shes Jacks goil, and dere's Slayer. and Books, you'll like her. and Spadey too. Maybe you'se like one of dem" Gav gave him a reassuring smile.
Lunch was over and they all paid up and left. They did a little more sellin around the harbor and Bottle Alley. When it started gettin dark they headed back to the Lodging house. One of Spots newsies was there, inviting them to a poker game. "ya wanna come, Dutchy?" Jack offered "nah, I'se gonna stay heah" Dutchy grabbed a book off a shelf and settled onto his bunk. After a few minutes a girl came in. She went to the bookshelf and frowned. She ran her finger along the spines of the books and frowned again. She gave Dutchy a glance and left the room. "weird" he mumbled. A few minutes later she walked back in. "is that my book?" she asked. "what?" he asked sitting up. "i'se sorry, but I lost my book and you happen to be reading one. a book i mean. and i'se thought it might be my book, and who are you by the way.?" Her green eyes clouded over in confusion. "Umm, I'se Dutchy. I'se new. Sorry fer readin yer book. heah ya go" He closed it and handed it back to her. She sat down on the bed. "I'se Books." There was silence as the two shook hands. They stopped shaking and just held hands. They both looked up. Books took her hand back and turned away.
"So you like Little Women?" "It was good so far. i'se only got to chapter 5" Dutchy kept trying to make eye contact again but she wouldn't. "Well you can borrow it sometime to finish it. Its my favorite but you'se seem trustworthy." "Thanks" Dutchy said "are we da only ones around?" "Slayers here. Downstairs." "Good' he said casually "I'm gonna go walk. wanna come?" "i was gonna read" Books said. "please", he asked. "I don't know my way around yet' he gave her his cutest puppy dog eyes. "alright" She put the book back on the shelf and grabbed a black shirt off of a bed and put it on over her purple tank top. "lets go"
They walked through Central Park. "Its really not safe to walk alone at night" Books said nervously. "and all the guys are in Brooklyn" "I'm an excellent runner" he said. She laughed. They walked and talked for a while and decided they should head back. when they were almost to the lodging house they heard something behind them. "walk faster" Dutchy whispered. The footsteps grew faster and suddenly Books screamed and was tackled to the ground. He turned to hit her attacker and was tackled. He fell to the ground and was licked in the face. He heard Books laughter. "yuck" he pushed the furry beast off of him. "its a dog" Books said. she knelt down and petted it."its sooo cute" "real cute" Dutchy said, wiping the slobber off his face. "don't be mean, shes cute" Books patted the dog on the head and it sat down. "we should get back" Dutchy said. "yeah, you'se right. bye bye puppy. bye bye" Dutchy grabbed her arm "lets go"
They got a few steps and Dutchy realized the dog was right next to him. "go home" he said to it.It still followed. He picked up a rock to throw at it. "NO!" Books ran to the dog. "Don't you dare be so mean. Puppy did nothing to you." He dropped the rock and continued walking. Books took off the chain form around her waist and tied it around the dogs neck. "come on, i won't leave you here" So the dog went back to the lodging house with her.
Dutchy lay awake in bed. He had heard Books come in so he knew she was ok. He was kinda angry at himself for leaving her but her protecting that dog was a little irrational. He rolled over. Iy was too quiet. with Kloppmann gone the newsies could stay out all night. but he was happy to be sleeping in a real bed. All of a sudden something else climbed in bed with him. His mind raced. Could it be Books? A long wet tongue licked his face. "BOOKS!" he yelled. he heard her giggles from the other room. He couldn't believe his luck. She brought home the dumb dog and let in his bunk. He pushed the dog off his bed and turned over, pulling the covers over his head. He felt the dog hop back on the bed but this time it curled up at his feet. He ignored it and attempted to sleep. A few minutes passed and he felt light shing in his face. He pulled the covers back. Books was standing there with a lamp in one hand.
"What do you'se want?" he asked. "I'm gettin Abbie" she said. Books shooed the dog off his bed and started taking it back to hers. "tanks" he called. Then he thought of something. "Abbie? why did you'se name it Abbie?" he heard no answer. So he got up and went into the girls room. Books was curled up with a book. Abbie was laying over her legs. "why did you'se name it Abbie?" he asked. "I'se dunno. its a pretty name and she seems ta like it. Why do you'se care?" "No reason, g'night" Dutchy started going back to his bunk. "Keeping secrets on yer first day, tsk, tsk" she called. He paused in the doorway. "Abbie was me muddah's name. She ain't alive no moah. Its an unusual name. I'se 'aven't hoid it much" Books smiled. "ok, well g'night" she blew out the lamp and pulled up the covers. He went back to bed, relieved she didn't ask alot of questions.