The 'Hattan Conference

This is my first story so don't be too harsh…but leave comments! Disclaimer: I do not own the Newsies or anything to do with the Newsies just a raging imagination and a passion for Newsies!

Sand looked around the unfamiliar restaurant. She only knew the name…Tibby's. She wished Spot would get here soon. Sand hadn't seen her brother since the strike three months ago and since then a lot had changed in her life. Long Island was like a new sellin' spot…unfamiliar and strange. It was all because of the Bull Dogs and their hate for the newsies. Now that she thought about it, every newsie group had its own form of Bull Dogs. The Hattans had the Delancey's, Brooklyn had…well anyone who got on spots nerves. That's one thing they shared a short temper…the way they looked well they were only a year apart and they seemed alike in almost every way except the way they looked. He was a few inches shorter with their mother's hair that could never decide if it was blond or brown and their father's stormy eyes. She had their father's height and dark brown hair and their mother's knowing eyes…at least that are what Spot said. She hated her father…they both had that same burning to soak their father the first chance they got. After leaving their mother all alone with two kids and not much of an income… Her thoughts were thrown astray by the sound of the door opening. She saw a familiar face…Jack. He smiled but he seemed surprised to see her. She knew exactly why too…he was expecting Blue not his second in command. "Hey Sand! How's Long Island?" Jack asked in his Hattan accent that was always way to nice for her comfort. Sand answered, "Not ba'. How's the life of an almighty strike leada'?" but Jack didn't have time to answer because the others started coming in. She noticed the shame look of shock she saw in Jack's eyes. Everyone said their hellos and they all sat down for the conference to begin. It wasn't much of a conference more of a get together so they could all catch up. Flash, from Queens, started dealing out cards for a game of poker. Sand saw that the guys were not used to havin' a girl around and were wondering where Blue was. Jack was the first to ask. "So, um, Sand. Where's…um…where's Blue?" Sand had planned her answer ahead, a way to tell them what happened, but her mind went blank. So she said the first thing that came to mind "Not nows Jacky-boy. We'll tulk about it later. Now pay attention or I is gunna beat yous like always." It worked. They would ask her about it later but it was better than now. Sand looked up into her brother's eyes…he knew something was wrong but he knew better than to ask questions.

The night was the most fun Sand had had in a long time, but Jack didn't forget about her not being Blue. "Sand, so when will yous tell us what happened to Blue?" She felt her face turn from having a good time to remembering the sad painful truth. By the looks on their faces they knew something was wrong. Shivah, from Harlem, asked "Is he ok? What happened?" as she tried to piece her thoughts together. Without thinkin' the words came out as her vision blurred from tears and then cleared, "Blue's dead."

TADA! I know horrible way to start a fanfic….but it's what my mind came up with! Please comment!