Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of the characters in it. What's theirs is theirs an' what's mine is mine. if it's obviously from Disney than it's Disneys. This holds to all ta sue me now!

. Chapter 1: Pack Rat

Every morning starts the same. Wake up, get dressed, sell papes. No days off, no holidays. 'course with his eye patch raking in pity sales, Blink could take a few days off if he wanted to, but he wasn't about to leave his friends on the circulation. "Ah move oavah!" Skittery shouted pushing Blink away from the sink. "Move yaself!" Blink shoved back. "'ey!" Jack barked. "cut it out!" Jack was the un-spoken 'leader' of the Manhattan Newsies, better known as Cowboy. Although the 'leader seemed to change every now and then. "Ah Jack, lay off." Racetrack said "they's jus' tryin' ta find out who's prettier. Don' worry ladies ya both look fine." This brought an echo of laughter through the lodging house.

"'ey move ya guys" a voice from the back hollered. The sea of boys separated to make room for Crutchy. Blink moved to the next sink to make room. "hey Crutchy." He said. "'ow many ya dink you'se gonna sell taday?"

"ah maybe thoidy." Crutchy shrugged. 'ow bout you?"

"I might go wid fourdy." Just then Bumletts put an arm around the two. "com'mon. Get the lead outta your pants." He headed toward the stair way. "Weasel ain't gonna wait forevah." Next thing you know all the boys were running down the stairs, ready to head out to get their papers to sell.

On the way there Blink fell behind to get something to eat from the nearby nuns. After getting a piece of bread he ran off to catch up with the rest of the guys; until he ran into someone. "watch where ya goin' why don' cha?!" the person shouted at him. "Nice ta meetcha too." Blink said sarcastically, rubbing his shoulder that was hit, that's when he noticed the boy was looking around nervously. "what's ya name?" Blink asked. no answer. "alright, I'll jus' call ya Pack Rat then. Where ya heading?" the boy glanced at him. "News stand." the boy said quickly. Blink sighed "well you'se goin' da wron' way. Follow me."

Finally they caught up with the gang. "'ey Race, Jack, Guys!" Blink shouted once he saw them. The group shouted back things like "Blink! 'ey where ya been?" and "what? Couldn' keep up?" Once they quieted down Blink introduced Pack Rat. "Ran inta him on me way heah." Jack walked up to the front of the group. "Well you'se welcome ta joins us" he said patting the Pack Rat's shoulder. "ey, 'ey lookie heah!" Race laughed patting Blink on the shoulder. "'ey Jack!" Skittery shouted "it's da Delancy Bruddahs."

"well well Cowboy." Oscar sneered. "We'd fix ya up a bit but we'se lookin' for someone."
"Ahh an' you came ta us, How sweet but uh we'se a lil' busy ta help ya find your sheep lil' bo peep." Jack teased.
Morris leered at Jack; Oscar held him back. "kid's about 5' 2" blonde hair blue eyes. Ya see 'im?" Blink looked around for Pack Rat, but didn't see him anywhere. That was good. "No. Ain't seen mucha anyone taday, 'ave we Mush?" Mush looked around the rest of the congregration. "Nope, sure haven't. You meet anyone like that Specs?" This kind of behavior continued until the question reached Blink.
"You see him Blink?" The question came from Bumletts. "Nah." Blink said without thinking, then added "but say I'se did; what's it ta ya?" Morris grabbed the front of Blink's shirt. "where is he?" Blink fanned the air between his and Morris' face. "Ugh, man. You need a breath mint or somethin'." This caused a rupture of laughter among the boys. Morris pushed him to the rest of the mass. "We'll be back for ya Kid." Oscar warned as the two brothers left.

After the two were gone the boys headed back to the News Stand. "how many?" Weasel, as always, asked. Blink was in the front of the line this time. "ya know what I think I'se gonna go wid fifty " Blink said as he coughed up the two bits. Then he whispered "heah's da two bits Racetrack owes ya from las' week." he winked, although it looked like he blinked what with his eye patch and all. After getting his papes Blink head off to Central Park…maybe head down to Brooklyn after. I wonder where that kid went.

Finaly they caught up with the gang. "'ey Race, Jack, Guys!" Blink shouted once he saw them. The group shouted back things like "Blink! 'ey where ya been?" and "what? couldn' keep up?" Once they quieted down Blink introduced Pack Rat. "ran inta him on me way heah."