Note: This was actually from my application into the LJ community musechannel, and my pup's journal is cowboykelly . (There's nothing in it right now...as of yet.) Anyway I felt like posting this thing up here too. It's a ficlette based on the word "First".
First.
There's a very scary feeling in the pit of one's stomach when they're called up in front of the crowd. Eager faces looking for one to tell them what to do. Like if every word out of your mouth was right or something. Honestly he didn't know what he was doing; he was a kid, an angry kid with no money, like David said.
Times this feeling by a thousand, for the thousand people that came to the final rally. The cheering was a roar, a beast that snarled in his ears. A friendly beast that you can pet, but will turn on you if you mess things up. So Jack really, really hoped he wouldn't mess things up. He was in the midst of that crowd now, in the beast's maw. He looked up at that forbidding building, imagining old Joe Pulitzer at the very tip of the top like some kind of king overlooking his subjects. More like the rebellion at his gates. He was very glad David was coming with him. Strength in numbers. Of course he wouldn't show his fear in front of them, even though it was apparent in his eyes. The other fellahs were joyful at the turnout of this rally, it was a flippin' miracle in itself. So someone had their back. But the trek up to the top of the building felt like a trip to the gallows. He didn't know if Pulitzer would crack. There was no other option left if he didn't—this rally was the biggest thing they could ever hope to pull off. But heck, he was gonna make Pulitzer crack. Jack had nothing left to lose. He wouldn't go down without a fight.
"Extry, extry, Joe. Read all about it." He had placed the paper down, his eyes coolly watching Pulitzer's face as he read the words that they had all worked so hard on. Denton, Sarah, David, not to mention everyone else's help. It had come down to this? This heartbeat of a second while the words registered on the old man's face.
The beast had quieted. The heavy doors opened as David and Jack emerged back outside. He couldn't believe how quiet it had become; the silence was almost as bad as the noise. But twice as funny, it wasn't like you ever could tell this many people to be quiet on your own, they just did it as a collective when they wanted to know something. Pleading, scared, worried eyes looked up at the two boys. What had happened? Spot would probably sock him in the face if he didn't speak up in a second. Jack, being a bit of a ham, squished through the crowd to Sarah and Les, and whispered something in the little boy's ear. There was a moment where everyone held their breath as Les was lifted above the crowd so he could spill the beans.
A roar of joy.
Once, Jack had told Crutchy, "We was beat when we was born." But not today. This was the first time Jack had ever won.