*I don't own Newsies, or Mush. :(
I was the perfect daughter. I had done nothing wrong, what had I done to deserve this? I had spent my life making doilies, not stealing. Yet here I was, peeking out from behind a building eyeing the steaming loaf of bread. I hadn't eaten anything in five hours, I was starving. I made a quick prayer before walking calmly out. I had been looking at the smallest loaf, I couldn't back out now. For the first time in my life, I was hungry. I walked up to the stand, and stood there for a moment. "Miss, can I help you miss?" the baker asked me. I couldn't speak. I grabbed the loaf and ran. I never looked back, though I could hear the shouts. I couldn't stop; I kept running until I rounded a corner where I finally collapsed on the ground.
I nibbled hungrily at the steaming loaf I stole. It still bothered me I stole, it was a most uncourteous thing to do, not to mention very unladylike. It did have to be done though. After my strength was regained and my hunger satisfied (as much as you can on a single loaf of bread) I stood up and started to wander the streets again. Around me, people walked without even a second glance at me. I sat down on a bench by myself at my favourite park. A boy walked up to me; a newsboy, with a single paper under his arm. "Hia," he said, and I can tell he was never taught proper English like I was. "Would a pretty lady like you wanna buy me last pape?" He asked me holding it out, his dirty hand only inches from me. I didn't know what to say.
"Uh, no thank you." I said nervously, "I don't have any money." I don't know why I was telling him this. Not like he would care.
"Don't gots no money, eh?" he said sceptically, "How could a pretty dressed goil like you not gots money?" He was very confused.
"I… I…" I couldn't bring myself to say it, but his shining eyes made me say it, ever so quietly, "I ran away and now I have to live on the streets." I said the word 'streets' with particular disgust. I still wasn't sure what I would do when night came. I wouldn't want to soil my dress, but just sleeping in a slip in public? It was an outrageous thought.
"I gots an idea," the boy said. I didn't like it, but I couldn't see any other option.
"What is it?" I asked him, knowing better than to go along with a stranger blindly.
"We can make ya a newsie!" He seemed very proud of coming up with this plan all by himself. I almost wanted to laugh, but I spared him. Instead, I just stared at him, I didn't know what to think. I didn't exactly dream to be a dirty, poor, rowdy newsboy. Then again, at least I would have a job. It was better than whatever I had here. I looked around the empty park, it was growing dark. No one would notice if I disappeared, but I trusted the boy anyways.
I nodded, "Alright, what do I have to do?"
He smiled, clearly now I was his pet to show off to his friends, "Follow me. We're going to the lodging house." I wasn't sure about any of this, but once he was a few feet in front of me, the darkness swallowed me and I quickly ran to catch up with him. We walked in silence for a bit, before I finally couldn't hold it any longer.
"Would you mind telling me your name?" It seemed like a silly thing to ask. I trusted him yet I didn't know who he was.
"Name's Mush." He said, stopping and bowing. "Pleasure to meet you Miss…" He trailed off expecting me to tell him my name.
"Worthington, Jane Worthington."