Hello again, fellow fansies! I'm back with the sequel-sort-of-thing to Question Time.
As you'll notice, I've added in some characters who weren't there last time that I think you'll enjoy. Also, I added Mouse, my OC from Silence Speaks. It's not necessary that you read that before this; she's not a big deal here. And if you're groaning "Ugh...why does she have to put her OC in THIS too?!" ...well, you'll get over it. ;)
Standard disclaimers apply. And sorry if this first chapter seems a little choppy...I don't know, I read it over, but...enjoy!
Excitement had been brewing among the newsies of Lower Manhattan all day.
That morning, Jack had made the exhilarating announcement that there was to be another Question Time that evening, the name given to a night when the newsies gathered in their Lodging House (in an orderly circle, which was most rare) and asked questions of each other, to be answered truthfully. The newsies were ecstatic at the news, bringing it up throughout the day.
Jack made the comment to Davey that he didn't understand why they were always so excited. "Half of 'em always end up crying." Davey just shrugged; the original idea was his, anyway, so he didn't try to discourage their excitement.
Perhaps the most eager newsie was Les, who told anyone that would listen about it being his sister's first Question Time, a fact which, of course, they all knew.
Mouse was two years older than Les and until very recently, had been mute. She hadn't spoken a word since the age of six; an intense series of events led to her finally being able to speak again, six years later. However, this miracle hadn't come without injury—scars on her back and burns on her hands were still healing. Though she could speak now, she was still quiet most of the time. Still, she was much happier, and seemed almost as excited as Les for the Question Time, which she'd heard about from her brothers but never taken part in.
That evening, after a long day of selling, the newsies marched back to their Lodging House in a roar of conversation. They were ready—and bubbling with excitement.
Jack called them all to order.
"All right, all right! Let's do this! Get in a circle…that's it…pull up a chair…yeah, Crutch, you can sit on the bed with me…move closer, boys, closer! You don't gotta to spread out all over the room! Jeez…all right, just pull it out a little…no, just a little—don't—" There was a crash. "What did I tell you? Pick it up…pick it up, I said! Don't just stand there…ugh…Hey, make room for him…move over, move it…make room for Albert…okay. Everyone ready?"
Their voices died down, shuffling stilled. Jack grinned and plopped down on a lower bunk bed between Crutchie and Davey. In the moment of quiet there came a harsh pounding at the door. Jack froze, his face suddenly pale. "Who's there?" he shouted.
"Lemme in!"
The color returned to Jack's face, and he got to his feet. "Is that who I thinks it is?"
"If you thinks it's Spot Conlon, King o' Brooklyn, then yeah, you'se right!" came the muffled voice. "Now, s'you gonna let me in or am I gonna have to bust down the door?"
Jack flew across the room and threw the door open. Spot Conlon was there in an impressive stance, taking up the whole doorway. He peered in, taking in the circle of newsies. Jack jumped aside as Spot cracked his knuckles and stepped into the Lodging House.
"What do we got here? A cozy little—"
"Whatcha doin' on my turf, huh?" Jack slammed the door. A few newsies's eyes widened, impressed with their leader's nerve.
Spot whipped his head around to glare at Jack. He had been interrupted, which would usually merit a fist to the mouth—if it was your standard newsie mouthing off. However, these were hardly standard conditions. Spot Conlon was facing Jack Kelly in a roomful of Manhattan newsies…and even Spot knew he was just a little out of his league.
So he forced a laugh. "For your information, Kelly, I was tipped off that there was gonna be some kind of meeting here tonight. Seems my information was correct. So whatcha up to, huh? Organizin' another strike?"
"Nah," Jack said, and then, to keep him interested, "Just havin' ourselves a Question Time."
"What's that?" Spot asked suspiciously.
Jack sat down in his place again. "Well, I'd invite you to stay, but it'll probably take all night, so if you got stuff to do…"
"I got plenty of time." Spot clearly didn't like being kept in the dark. "So what is this—'Question Time,' you said? Like I said, looks to me like you'se havin' a—"
"We ain't."
"What kinda questions we askin'?"
"Any kind you like. Someone asks, we go around the circle and everyone answers. Thing is, you gotta answer truthfully, otherwise you'se kicked outta the game. That's the only rule." Jack dropped his pretentious manner. "Smart, ain't it? Davey thought of it."
"The Mouth? Figures." Spot frowned. "Don't seem too smart to me."
"Well, pull up a chair and we'll show you how it's done. It's all right if Spot Conlon joins us, huh?" he asked his newsies with a bit of a threatening tone. They all nodded quickly. "That's what I thought. All right, boys—and, uh, Mouse—"
"You got a girl here, Kelly?!"
"And we'll get started!"
There was another knock at the door. Everyone groaned. A moment later, Katherine burst in, freezing at the sight of the newsies.
"Oh! Oh, sorry. I hope I'm not interrupting anything…"
"Hey, Plums," Jack said, jumping to his feet and nearly tripping over his own feet in his hurry to get to her. "It's all right, we'se just doing Question Time, how's about you joins us?"
"I was just going to—"
"Great. Romeo, grab her a chair, won't you?"
"Jack, it's okay, I don't have to—"
"Sit. Now."
Katherine sat, looking flustered but rolling her eyes at Jack's enthusiasm. He planted a kiss on her forehead and the rest of the newsies made exaggerated retching noises behind him. Katherine's arrival seemed to defuse the tension created by Spot.
Finally Jack settled himself between Davey and Crutchie again. Davey glanced around the circle to make sure everyone was paying attention. "Okay, we ready? Jack, you wanna start?" There was a pause. "Jack."
Jack started. He had been reaching across Crutchie to hold hands with Katherine and not been listening. The couple's clasped hands rested in Crutchie's lap now, and Crutchie rolled his eyes. Katherine looked apologetic. Jack's cheeks were slightly flushed. "Huh? What?"
"You wanna start?"
"Oh. Right. Hold on, I just had one…lemme think…"
There was quiet apprehension in the room while Jack scrunched up his nose in thought.
The silence was suddenly broken by Race, who sounded disgusted.
"All right, you lovers, break it up, I don't think I can stand your hands that close to Crutchie's—"
"OKAY!" squealed Katherine, jerking her hand out of Jack's grip. They resumed holding hands, both looking slightly abashed, behind Crutchie's back.
Crutchie smirked. Spot was slouching, arms crossed impatiently, in his chair. "We gonna start this or what?"
"Right, okay…hmm…oh yeah! Okay, I remembered my question. Everyone know how this goes? We all ready? How about—"
"Just ask the question already!"
"All right! All right! Just making sure…"
And now for the fun part-your questions! You can leave a review with a question for the newsies to answer individually! (They may get reworded a little in the writing process, as you know, but that's okay.) I'll try my very best to use as many questions as I can. I don't know whether Jack's question should be light-hearted or really deep...you guys will have to decide.
So review! And ask away!
-Sis21K
