Hi there, so i was reading this story that I wrote many many many (damn I'm old) years ago...and decided...it needed a new image. So here's my revised chapters from Outsiders Love. review and enjoy!
It was close to midnight when I woke up in a cold sweat. I looked around the room, unsure and disoriented about where I was. Then it finally hit me, I was in the Manhattan Lodging House where the majority of the residents were newsies. I climbed off the top bunk and hopped onto the floor. Paused only a moment or two to make sure that I didn't wake up anybody in the process. I walked over to the window where the fire escape was, opened up the window and climbed up the ladder to the roof.
As soon as I climbed on the roof I was hit with a powerful gust of wind…almost knocking me over. Walking over to my favorite side of the roof where if you look down you can see the main street and the quietness of the early morning. As I sat down I could feel eyes burning in the back of my head. That strange feeling that someone was watching over you. Clenching my fists, ready for a fight, I turned my head to be face to face with Racetrack.
"What are you doing up here Sweetz? You could get sick if you slept up here."
"Couldn't sleep." Thinking for a moment, why was he asking what I was doing? "Since when did you or any of you start caring about my health?"
"Sorry for asking. I'll make sure next time I feel like being a good person, I'll just bite my tongue and walk away." And that's exactly what he did. He walked down the ladder and back into the building. I sat there watching him until I finally decided to go down myself and get ready for a new day.
Once I got to the distribution center the line was already off the ramp. As I was standing in line to get my papers I was nudged forward. Already in a restless mood I looked back and I saw Mush and Snipeshooter shoving each other, once again.
"Knock it off or someone is going to lose their heads!" I shouted at them. They immediately stopped and just started to argue about who's going to get the Mayor's daughter first.
After twenty minutes it was my turn to get my papers. Got 30 papers instead of my usual 50...I'm blaming it on Mush and Snipeshooter that I wasn't in the mood to do my usual selling. As I was walking off the ramp I could hear the door open to the building and footsteps quickly catch up to me. An arm grabbed me and whirled me around to find me face to face with Morris.
"Where you going pretty lady?" Morris' arm loosened as his face came closer, giving me a big whiff of his nasty breath. "Why don't you skip your selling today and I'll take you on a little date in Central Park."
"Morris, get your hands off me." Morris released his hold on me and took a step back.
"Yes ma'am." He tipped his hat towards me. "Now how about that date?"
"Yeah that's what I want to do, go to Central Park and meet up with your ugly ass face." A few snickers could be heard but I ignored it. "Now go find yourself a tramp and leave me alone." I quickly turned around to run myself into Oscars chest. "Oh god, you smell worse than your brothers breath!"
"Now now, that wasn't a nice thing to say." Oscar said as he took his hand and ripped my papers out of my arms.
"Oscar," I growled. "give those back or there will be hell to pay."
"Oh I'm so scared of a girl." He threw my papers into the dumpster that was next to the ramp. "Oh gee, I'm so sorry."
"You rat faced pompous ass!" I curled my fists and punched him right in the gut. As he was hunching over I figured that would be a good time to get some distance before he got his air back…but I didn't go so far. Morris, who saw the whole incident happen, came up from behind me and grabbed my arms and put me into a headlock. Fantastic. Loving my chances of escaping here. "Get off of me Morris!" I yelled at him trying to stomp on his feet or kick him in the shin.
"Nah, I don't think you were being nice to my brother over there. I believe you owe him an apology and a date." I swear I could hear him smirking in my ear.
"I'll take it from here." Morris' arms made me turn towards the voice and it was Jack Kelly. The famous cowboy. Jack gave Morris a punch to the face and then turned around to find Oscar in a headlock with Racetrack holding him. Morris' hold on me was loosened so I wriggled out of it then head butted Morris. He fell to the floor, holding his nose while blood was bursting out.
"Hey, you okay?" Jack asked. I only nodded and went to the dumpster to get my papers. Luckily I didn't have to climb in, they were sitting on some old cardboard boxes. As I was walking out of the gates I felt a tap on my shoulder. Guess who. Racetrack.
"You should come to Tibby's after your done selling. I'll introduce you to the guys."
"I'll think about." With a smile I walked away towards my favorite selling spot. My favorite selling spot was in front of this new restaurant called Chierre Pier. As I was walking towards my spot I felt a pair of hands on my waist. I turned around and there was my brother.
"What the hell you doing here?" I hugged him and basically squealed into his ear. "Aren't you still living with ma and pops
"I came here to warn ya." He pulled away and frowned. "Ma and pops are having a hard time with money. They want you to come back and watch the rest of the kids while the rest of us are out there getting jobs."
"I can't come back, you know I can't." I replied…could my day get any worse?
"He's going to send the bulls after you if you somehow don't find your way back."
"Let him send the bulls. I can't go back there. I can't go through what I did before."
"I understand. Just be safe. Watch your back. Here's a few pennies." He handed me a handful of change, kissed my cheek and walked away.
I finished selling my papers close to noon. With the money my brother gave me and the money I made selling papers, I'd be good for a week. I started walking towards Tibby's where I usually got my food. But never stayed long enough for the other newsies to notice me. As soon as I got there I saw newsies in the windows. I walked in, lowering my gaze until I got to the bar and ordered my food. As soon as my food was handed to me I walked outside, across the street and sat on the park bench.
"What are you doing out here?" I looked up and saw Racetrack. "I asked you to come in and join us. Nervous?"
"I guess I am. You're the only newsie who takes time to talk to me. I've been in that lodging house for three weeks now and no one seems to care to know me." I looked at him and then to the ground.
"Come on." He held out a hand and helped me up and walked me inside Tibby's.
We walked to a table that was already occupied by Kid Blink and Mush. How these guys didn't know I existed but I knew every single one was beyond me.
"Who are you?" Kid Blink looked me over and asked as I sat down next to him.
"I'm Sweetz." I replied as I sat down my food on the table and stuck my hand out to see if he would shake it.
"Where are you staying Sweetz?" He ignored my hand so I put it back to my side and stared at him dumbfounded.
"Wow Blink, didn't think anyone could be stupider than Mush over here." Racetrack said as he got a good swipe at that head by Mush. "This is the girl that stays at our lodging house."
"Oh I see. Didn't know we were having girls staying in our lodging house." For a second there I thought Blink lost track of mind, he started to stare at his fork. But then all of a sudden he got a huge smile on his face like he was remembering something. "Did you guys see that girl that was getting hustled by the Delancey's this morning? Man, that was hilarious!" Mush chuckled at Blink's comment.
"Wow, hot but so not smart." I mumbled to myself. I put money down on the table and stood up. "By the way, that was me that was getting hustled, thanks for your help." I walked out of the restaurant and down the road. Not really knowing where I was going, just avoiding anywhere that had newsies.
Thinking back on my life. It wasn't that hard. Knowing people who's family turned them out onto the streets…when I just decided to leave. My ma and pa acted like they were bullies instead of parents. Beating us up every night. Especially me since I was the oldest and I wasn't their perfect little angel they had wanted. My brother and sisters couldn't understand that I couldn't go through with that anymore. I couldn't be treated like I was something they could hit and not feed for days. Like I was some rag doll.
I quickly realized that the sun had gone down and I was near the Brooklyn Bridge. My favorite place to just think and enjoy the view. Standing in the middle of it, I held onto the edge and held on as I looked down to the freefalling distance that was between me and the water.
"You're not from around here, are you?" I turned around into some blue eyes. Speechless and blushing like crazy I couldn't think of anything to say. "Cat got your tongue?" He smiled as he moved closer to stand by me.
"No, no. I'm from Manhattan. Just taking a walk. Ended up here." I looked back down into the water..
"It's kind of late for a girl to be walking alone. If you don't mind, I'll take you home."
"Well my ma always taught me not to trust any strangers." I smiled, just teasing him a little. I was going to let him walk me home just because he was so darned cute.
"Well just in luck, I'm no stranger. I'm Spot Conlon. Leader of the Brooklyn Newsies. The toughest ones about."
"Well nice to meet ya Spot Conlon." I stuck my hand out and he shook it. Respectable. "Shouldn't you tell anyone where your going?"
"I already did. Saw you from my dock down there. By the way, whats your name?" He asked me as he motioned me in the direction towards Manhattan.
"I'm Sweetz. Newise of Manhattan." I looked at him and he grinned.
"Sweetz, eh? Very cute." He chuckled. "What made you become a newise? Running from something?"
"Guess you could say that. Running far and quick from my family. Friend of my brothers told me to sell papers and that's what I'm doing." I looked over and he nodded. Almost like he could relate to my situation.
"Family that bad?"
"For me, yes." We walked in silence for a couple minutes before he stopped grabbed my arm and looked at me.
"With eyes like that, I'm surprised that anybody would ever treat you badly." He lifted his hand to my cheek and gently stroked it. "What'd they do to you?"
"Sometimes looks are deceiving. Problems are hidden. Secrets aren't shared." I smiled sadly. "My family abused me in lots of ways. I don't want to go back. I'm afraid that they'll find me. That they'll use their influence to get every bull out there to get me."
"What are you doing to do about it?" He asked.
"I'll try my hardest to run and hide, but eventually they'll catch up with me. They always do."
"No they won't." he said. I looked at him in surprisement. "Your family wasn't good enough for you, but the newsie family is. We'll take care of you. Just wait and see."
"You don't get it Spot." I took his hand and swiped it off my face. "The newsies in Manhattan barely know I exist. I'm nothing there. They wouldn't waste their time protecting someone they don't even know." He looked at me and was about to say something but instead I just kept talking, "This is not your fight. This is mine. Keep out of my business." I stormed off in direction towards my lodging house. Knowing that Spot was right behind me, making sure I would make it home alright.