I huddled up in the cold alley.

God it's cold in New York.

I heard scuffling outside the alley.

Jeez wonderful probably some bum coming to rape me. I ran outside and saw that it was just two boys arguing, one with longish blond hair and a red bandanna, maybe like 18 or so, the other a short dark haired boy about two years older than me, like sixteen.

"Race, come own," the blond boy said with a distinctive New York accent. "But this hawse she's different! She's gonna win, I knows it!" The other boy replied.

"Race, c'mon you never win! I can't just keeps on lendin' ya money so ya can loose anotha bet!"

"Aw, Jack," the boy,'Race' replied. "'Ave a 'eart."

"Um, excuse me," I interrupted timidly.

"Would you happen to have any idea where I could get a job here?"

The two boys grinned at each other before turning to grin at me.

"Whatcha name?" the boy called Race asked me.

"A-Alyssa," I stammered.

"Aw, that ain't no name for a Newsie," the blond replied.

"Shut it, Jack" the other replied.

"I'se Racetrack and 'e's Jack,"

"I-uh-it's nice to meet you," I said nervously.

"So you's lookin' for a job?" Jack asked me.

"Uh yes," I answered

"Can ya read?"I nodded.

"Write?"

"A little."

"We'd 'ave ta dress ya as a boy."

"Okay, er why?" I asked him.

"See we'se newsies," Racetrack cut in.

"Guy newsies."

"The guys ain't used ta havin' goils aroun' an' we don' want 'em takin' advantage a ya."

"Oh, well I don't mind dressing as a boy, but wouldn't they find out?"

"Well, eventually but by than they'll all thinka you as a brotha an' won't try nothin',"

"Well,that's okay with me. What do I have to do?"

"Stick with us, kid." Jack said. "We'll show ya the ropes.