AN: Ok, well I'm Duchess, and this chapter was co-written with Rae Kelly, but eventually a whole lot of people will be contributing to this story.  It's the story of the next generation of newsies.  It is being written for our LH, Nexgen: http://geocities.com/nexgenlh/   Where the kids of the strike newsies live.  If you like it feel free to join us :-)  yeah, yeah, shameless advertising, so sue me!  Wait, that's Disney's department, but being as I don't own Newsies, and Rae doesn't own Newsies either, and neither of us are making any money from this story (you knew that right?) I hope they won't do that.  So, enjoy!

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"Jecca, are you sure you want to do this?" Spot asked.

"Yes, I am" Jessica answered.

"But, Jecca, you're only eighteen."

"So..."

"It would be hard enough for a person with sight..."

"So..."

"But Jecca, a lodging house?"

"Spot if you are trying to convince me not to buy the building you're too late."

"Grr..." Spot turned to the others in the room. "Would one of you talk some sense into her?"

"She just as stubborn and pigheaded as you are Spot." remarked a woman seated on the sofa holding a young baby.

"Watch it Rae." Jessica said with a smirk. "He's likely to start blowing steam out his ears soon."

All the adults but Spot laughed.

"It's a good idea, Spot." Jack said.

"And when Conlon is old enough he will move into Jecca's lodging house." Jack's wife Lyric added. Their four-year-old son, Francis Conlon Sullivan, who went by Conlon Kelly, was asleep in her lap.

Snitch looked over to where his five-year-old daughter sat playing with her twin cousins, Gil and Anne, and the Conlon twins, Ivan and Zane. "Kelly's still a bit to young, but JP can make up his own mind on the matter, if that's alright with you Rae?" he said, looking at his wife, who nodded.

Spot looked around him, feeling his resolve crumbling. He still thought it was a bad idea, but everyone else seemed to side with Jessica. He decided to make one last plea for sanity, but was deterred by a comforting hand on his arm.

His wife Duchess had come up behind him. "You know, I think it's a great idea. And it I think the twins and Sunny should move in too, when they're old enough," she said referring to their four year old twin sons Ivan and Zane, and their two year old daughter Sunny.

Spot threw up his hands in defeat. "Fine! Do whatever you want! But don't come crying to me when you're sick and tired of dealing with little newsies day in and day out."

Jessica grinned and hugged the man she looked upon as an older brother. "Thanks Spot!" she said, enthusiastically. Spot gave in and grinned, not able to hide his affection for his "little sister."

Spot looked over at Duchess. "But Ivan, Zane, and Sunny are still going to go to school." His wife patted his shoulder affectionately, humoring him. "Of course they are dear," she said soothingly.

"Well," Jessica said, getting excited about her project, "I need to talk to Davey and Bekah, and Crutchy and Books . . ." she thought for a moment, "Oh! and Mush and Hades, and maybe Dutchy wants Singah to join. And Jack, what about Yanchi?" she asked, referring to Jack's little sister. Jack shrugged. "I'll ask her." Jessica nodded eagerly, "Ok, and if anyone thinks of anyone else, you let me know, ok?"

And with that, she was off to gather newsies for her lodging house.