Oscar turned to Snipeshooter,
"In the back, you lousy little shrimp." He said throwing Snipeshooter to the ground. Jack went to help him up
"It's not good to do that. Not healthy." Racetrack said
"You shouldn't call people lousy little shrimps, Oscar, unless you're referring to the family resemblance in your brudda here." Said Jack
"5-1 that Cowboy skunks 'em. Who's betting?" Asked Racetrack
"Shut up Racetrack!" Margaret hissed
"That's right. It's an insult." Jack said
"Jack, please don't do this" Oscar laughed
"Well, well, well, look who it is, the virtuous Margaret Rose. Here to save our souls!"
"You looking for a challenge Delancey?" Margaret growled as Jack continued to insult the other Delancey brother.
"So's this." Jack knocked Morris' hat off his head. The Delancey's chased Jack around the Square, forgetting Margaret. Meanwhile, two newcomers came into the square and watched until Jack bumped into them.
"What do you think you're doing?" Demanded the eldest boy.
"Runnin'!" Cried Jack
"Go get 'em Cowboy!" Cheered the newsies
"You've got 'em now boy! Go!" Suddenly someone yelled
"These are for the newsies!" And the newsies lined up for their papes, congratulating Jack on beating the Delancey's
"Brilliant, better than yesterday." Said Racetrack said
"You're too kind to me, Race, you're too kind." Jack smiled
"See you tomorrow, Cowboy" said Morris
"You're as good as dead, Cowboy." Spat Oscar
"You're an idiot" Margaret said glaring at Jack.
"Aw, you always say that Margaret Rose." Jack said before calling out,
"Oh Mr. Weasel."
"Alright, alright! Hold your horses! I'm coming, I'm coming." Weasel muttered
"So, didja miss me Weasel? Huh, did you miss me?" Jack smirked
"I told ya a million times, the name's Wisely. Mr. Wisely to you. How many?"
"Don't rush me, I'm prusing the merchandise" Jack said Margaret rolled her eyes
"Mr. Weasel. The usual." Jack decided
"A 'undred papes for the wise guy. Next!" Margaret was next, as much as she hated dealing with Weasel, Margaret was ever polite.
"Good mornin' Mr. Wisely."
"Good mornin' Ms. Margaret, how many?" Weasel said looking her over giving Margaret chills,
"The usual please"
"A 'undred papes. Next!" Margaret left quickly with her papers so the boys could get theirs. She went over to Jack, her selling partner, who was talking to a young boy.
"You wanna sit down?" He asked Margaret noticed the boy from earlier ordering papes. He was about eighteen, nineteen years old same age as Margaret, though in truth she didn't really know when her birthday was. And was quite handsome.
"Look at this, 'Baby Born With Two Heads'. Must be from Brooklyn." Racetrack hollered waving a pape around.
"Hey, you got your lousy papes, now beat it!" Weasel was telling the boy
"I paid for twenty. I only got nineteen." The boy said
"Are you accusing me of lying kid?" Weasel growled
"No. I just want my paper." The boy said
"He said beat it!" Morris shouted
"You looking for more trouble Delancey?" Margaret said shaking her fist at the boy. Jack shot her a look before saying
"No, it's nineteen. It's nineteen, but don't worry about it. It's an honest mistake. I mean, Morris here can't count to twenty with his shoes on. Hey Race, will ya spot me two bits? Another fifty for my friend."
"I don't want another fifty." Said the boy
"Sure you do. Every newsie wants more papes." Jack said
"I don't." Said the boy
"I don't want your papes. I don't take charity from anyone. I don't know you. I don't care to. Here are your papes."
"Cowboy and Flower." Said the little boy from earlier "They call 'em Cowboy and Flower. Margaret blushed at the sound of her newsie name.
"Yeah, I'm called that and a lot of other things," said Jack
"Including Jack Kelly, which is what me mudder called me. What do they call you kid?"
"Les, and this is my brother David. He's older." The little boy said
"No kidding. So how old are you Les?" Jack said
"Me? Near ten." Les said
"Near ten." Jack mused
"Well, that's no good. If anyone asks, you're seven. You see, younger sells more papes and if we're gonna be partners, we wanna be the best." Jack said
"Wait. Who said anything about being partners?" David demanded
"Well, you owe me two bits right? Well, I'll consider that an investment. We sell together, we split 70-30, plus you get the benefit of observing me, no charge." Jack reasoned
"Ah-ha." David said Jack mocked him.
"Ah-ha."
"You're getting the chance of a life time here, Davey. You learn from Jack, you learn from the best." Crutchy said
"Well, if he's the best, then how come he needs me?" David asked
"Listen, I don't need you, pal, but I ain't gotta cute little brudder like Les here to front for me. With this kid's puss and my God-given talent, we could move a thousand papes a week. So what do you say Les? You wanna sell papes with me?" Jack asked
"Yeah!" The little boy cheered
"Jack!" Margaret cried
"Oh c'mon Margaret Rose don't tell me you're jealous" Jack smirked Margaret glared
"You're a girl?" David cried surprise written all over his face.
"In this get up ya can't tell can ya?" Margaret said
"It's Jack's idea, somethin' about protectin' my honor"
"It's not right for a young lady to be seen pushing papes" Jack said
"Who said I was a young lady?" Margaret asked
"No one, but you could be you don't know" Jack shrugged before turning to David.
"So we got a deal?"
"Wait." David said
"It's got to be at least 50-50."
"60-40, I forget the whole thing." Jack said, David held out his hand. Jack spit on his hand and reached for David, who pulled his arm away.
"What's a matta?" Jack asked
"That's disgusting!" David cried
"Try livin' with it" Margaret muttered.
Please review!
