Chapter 1
Welcome to Their Life
In 1916, the sewers of New York echoed with the voices of newsies, peddling the papers of Samson Hearthlol, Jonathon Peter Null, and other "giants" of the newspaper world. On every street corner you would unknowingly pass them as they were carrying the banner, bringing fellow mice the news for just a few cents a pape. Poor orphans and runaways, the newsies were a ragged army who sought to achieve their dreams above all…
Daniel walked along the streets of the upper world. He had always had a certain fascination with humans and their habits, though most mice didn't think there was much of a difference between the two species. Daniel was a sturdy little guy. He was a pure white mouse and a friend to almost everyone. He wore the same outfit just about everyday: a blue pinstripe shirt with dusty, brown knickers. Between his ears was a Gatsby hat that was a soft brown. He had a bright pink tail that was often tugged on by his good friends.
Friends, friends… Daniel knew everyone in the colony beneath DeLancey Street, but his two best friends would have to be Smalls and Abigail.
Smalls had a dark brown pelt that was often messy. He was half rat from his father, and though being such was frowned upon, he would never let that stop him from living his dream of selling newspapers. He wore a white shirt with black suspenders. He had black knickers, as well.
Abigail was also a white mouse. As much as she loved to work as a newsie, Abigail found it more of a goal to obey her father's wish for her to grow up to be a beautiful lady, so she wore dresses and skirts, even to sell papers. Not that Abigail was unattractive without those things. She was the most beautiful mouse around after her mother had passed away. While selling, Abigail was known by the title of Catch.
Daniel neared his favorite hangout, The Wheel. This was a lovable bakery and cheese shop that had a cellar that was good for breaking into. This is where the Manhattan newsie mice would have their meetings every week. Now, as often as you may hear that mice like cheese, this is not true amongst the crowd of them living in New York City. Crackers and even finer things found in foreign restaurants might satisfy these mice. Except for Smalls, of course. He would eat anything…
As Daniel neared The Wheel, he looked around at all the sites on the streets. He loved watching the humans. He would even pick up habits and tips from them, mostly about the best ways to sell newspapers. His entire world revolved around his work, not that he wanted it to. No, though Daniel had once dreamed of becoming a newsboy in his younger days, he now had a new dream. He wanted more. More adventure. What more could being a newsie give him other than a few cents a day and fair shot at being popular down in the society below?
"Daniel!" a sweet voice called out from the alley by The Wheel.
It was Abigail.
"Oh, hiya, Catch," Daniel said unenthusiastically, slowly taking his eyes off of the world above.
"Well, come on! The meeting's about to start!"
Daniel sighed, ready to call it a day after selling newspapers until 4:00. He turned away from the view of the shops and traders, the hustle and the bustle, and he headed into a crack in the alley wall that led to The Wheel's cellar.