Hey, y'all! I'm super excited to be posting my first multi-chapter fic! Usually I stick to the one-shots, but I decided to change it up a little today. :)
I'm still totally open to prompts, so feel free to leave one in the reviews or shoot me a PM!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies.
Jack Kelly hated winter.
For one thing, the snow and ice made the people who were brave enough to venture out on foot hurry on their way. The cold had them focused on getting someplace warm rather than wasting time buying a newspaper.
The holidays were over, and the end of the festivities brought with it a decrease in paper sales. After the excitement of Christmas and New Year's, no one was interested in a pape commenting on the obvious weather.
And the freezing temperatures didn't affect only the customers.
"Jack, y' almost done?" Crutchie hobbled over to the older boy, empty newspaper bag slung over one shoulder. He moved cautiously, being sure that his crutch didn't slip on the icy street.
The Manhattan leader sighed. "I gots three more to go, Crutchie."
"Oh." The boy's face fell. He coughed into his sleeve and shivered.
Jack frowned at the fourteen-year-old. "You okay?"
Crutchie nodded quickly. "I's fine." He shivered again.
"You ain't. You's been sniffing for two days straight now, and your cough's gettin' worse." Before Crutchie could respond, Jack darted across the street, newspapers in hand. The "poor orphan boy" charade worked its wonders on the older women waddling down the sidewalk, and within fifteen seconds Jack had sold two of his last papes. He dropped the coins into his pocket and returned to Crutchie. "And your leg's been real stiff, too," he continued, picking up the conversation right where he'd left off.
Crutchie rolled his eyes. "You knows it's always like this in th' winter."
"Yeah, I know. And I don't like it." Jack spotted another passerby headed down the street. He slipped over and hollered a ridiculous headline. The man all but grabbed the paper from Jack's hands, tossing a penny at him.
Jack pocketed the copper coin and turned back to his friend. "All right, kid, let's go." He was in just as much of a rush to meet up with the others and make it back to the lodging house.
Crutchie didn't move, his gaze lingering on—Jack turned to look. Nothing.
Jack waved a hand in front of the kid's face. "Crutch?"
The boy startled, focusing in on Jack. "Hm?"
Jack just frowned.
"I's fine," Crutchie mumbled sheepishly. "Just tired." The young newsie offered a grin, trying to hide the fact that his teeth were chattering and he was more than ready to get out of the chilly air.
Jack's eyebrows furrowed even more. He didn't like the way Crutchie was acting one bit. The older newsie tugged at the sleeves of his thin, tattered coat, pulling it off and tossing it over
Crutchie's shoulders. He ignored the boy's protests. "Jack! You's gonna be freezin'."
He snorted. "Not any more than I already am. I can't even feel my fingers." It was spoken in a light tone, but the younger boy took it seriously. "Jack!"
"Quit gripin' and let's just get on home," Jack said, picking up his pace. Crutchie followed, muttering under his breath the whole way.
Snow was beginning to fall by the time the boys all made it to the lodging house. Jack mentally counted the group.
"How's you feeling?" he asked Albert, who almost hadn't sold today due to the wracking cough he'd developed practically overnight.
The boy scowled. "Could be a heck of a lot better." Another coughing fit took over. Around the lodging house, boys were sniffling as they huddled under their blankets, trying to soak up any warmth they could.
"It's gettin' to be that time, Jackie," Race announced to the Manhattan leader, dropping on the bunk next to Albert and slinging an arm around the sick newsie.
"I knows, I knows," Jack agreed, frustrated. Winter was finally catching up to them. He hated winter. It wasn't as if his boys didn't pick up illnesses easy enough due to lack of rest and good food, they were forced to sell papes all day in the below freezing weather.
"Boys's gonna be gettin' sick—again," Race added. "Elmer's already catching his second cold this year, and—"
"I know, Race." Jack tugged his cap from his head and ran a hand through his dark hair. "We'll be okay. We always is."
It was times like these when Jack didn't feel qualified to be the leader of the Manhattan newsies. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't stop the boys from catching colds and coughs and who knows what else. All he could do was face it as it came and help them through it the best he could.
He lightly pounded a fist against the wooden post of a bunk. "Newsies, get some rest. Mornin' comes quick, and we needs the sleep."
There were no arguments from any of the boys, for which Jack was grateful. Quiet settled over the lodging house, the only sound being the wind and snow from outside—and the occasional cough from a couple of the bunks.
Jack slipped over to Crutchie's bed, pausing to eye the blond newsie. The kid was already sound asleep, curled up underneath his thin blanket. His forehead was warm to the touch, but not alarmingly so. Jack bit his lip, hoping it was nothing more than exhaustion from the long week. Crutchie got sick 'most every year, usually worse than the others. Jack had hoped he could keep the kid from enduring it this time around, but it seemed as if it wasn't to be.
With one last glance at the boy he called brother, Jack climbed up into his own bunk and drifted off to sleep.
And there you have it, the first chapter! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Drop a review if you get the chance; I love them!
See y'all next time!
~Ollie