A/N- Thank you to everyone who reviewed our story! Much obliged to you all,
please R&R!! Skittery's bad mood
Chapter 2
When Mush opened his eyes the next morning, Blink was kneeling on the floor lacing up his boots.
"Whadda ya doin?" He mumbled, stretching a bit as he waited for a reply.
Blink shrugged, "couldn't sleep no moah. 'Sides there ain't nothin' wrong wit bein' early. Yesterday, I got stuck wit da leftovers, today I'se goin' ta da front and getting me fi'ty papes."
Mush smiled at his friend's enthusiasm and had just decided to join Blink in his quest for earliness when Racetrack, from his bed below Blink's muttered "nobody goes ta da front a da line 'cept Cowboy."
Upon hearing his nickname, Jack woke up as well, "What's da problem, boys?" he asked, the sleep still present in his scratchy voice.
"Ain't no problem, Cowboy," Mush said simply. The answer seemed to satisfy Jack, who closed his eyes and was asleep again in an instant.
Blink smiled appreciatively at Mush and then hurried into the washroom as the other newsies began to stir. It would be crowded in a moment. He splashed his face with cold water to vanquish the last traces of sleep from it, and then grabbed a towel from a sink nearby.
A pained groan from the threshold that separated the two rooms caused him to look up and see Skittery rubbing his temples and looking downright horrible, he turned to look at Blink and stopped making the weird noise. "Who are you?" he asked looking Blink over as if he had never seen him before.
"Dat's Blink," said another voice. Snoddy had joined them. He pulled a shirt over his head as he explained to Skittery that Blink had helped carry him home the previous night.
Skittery looked slightly embarrassed, "I was a bit woiked over, I guess."
Blink smiled, "I understand, we all gets nights like dat."
Skittery smiled, "goil's aint nuthin but a lot of trouble."
"You just don't know how to handle dem right," Mush's voice sang as he burst into the washroom.
"Who was dat qoil last night anyway?" Blink asked, curiously.
"Which one?" Mush winked, a wide grin plastered on his face. Racetrack, who had also just joined in on the conversation, laughed and hit Mush a few times before heading into one of the stalls.
"Dat's why we call 'im mush," Race's muffled voice shouted through the door.
"He's got a soft spot for da ladies," Snoddy said.
"Nah, I tink da ladies got a soft spot foah him," added Skittery, ruffling Mush's hair.
"Don't listen to 'em," Mush said, grabbing Blink's arm and leading him away from the steadily growing crowd of newsies.
They passed Kloppman on the way downstairs; the old man had a slightly confused expression on his face. He turned around and headed back downstairs as well.
"Sounds like," he said pointing to the ceiling with his broom handle, "everyone's awake already." He looked slightly disappointed as though waking up the boys every morning was his one joy.
"Sorry about that," Blink said, feeling a little guilty as Mush hurried them out the door, "I'll try and sleep longer tomorrow."
They walked slowly to the distribution center in the cool morning air.
"T'anks for showin' me da way to da lodgin' house last night, Mush," Blink said after a while.
Mush smacked himself lightly on the forehead, "Aw, I'm sorry, Blink."
"Dat's okay, dat kid Snoddy and his pal Skittery showed me da way."
"I told ya you'd like da uddas, (A/N: others)"
They stopped when they reached the gate that Blink had been sleeping against the night before, and waited in silence. The other boys began to show up in small groups, and soon the street was crowded and noisy, and got to be even more so when the gate swung open and the boys rushed inside.
Cowboy, Racetrack, and a few others pushed their way to the front. Once the boys were settled, more or less satisfied with their spots, a large boy flanked by two cronies stepped in front of Blink and Mush.
"Hey, whadda ya tink yoah doin?" Mush asked angrily.
"Da new kid goes in da back," growled the boy in the center.
"No he don't, he goes heah wit me," Mush stretched himself to his full height but still seemed quite small.
The larger boy glared at Mush for a second, and then glared at Blink and growled into his face, "you'se gotta oin (AN-earn) yoah spot."
"Is dere a problem heah?" Cowboy stepped in between the two boys, but faced the larger one, "you gotta problem wit my friend Blink heah, Charlie?"
"No, no problem," Charlie answered shooting daggers with his eyes at Blink.
"Good, now move along."
Charlie and his cohorts obeyed. As Charlie passed by Blink he said almost inaudibly, "betta watch yoah, back," he paused, lokked over Blink once more, and then added, "patchy." They walked away.
Cowboy made sure Blink and Mush were alright before going back to his spot in front of the line.
Blink made a mental note to avoid Charlie at all costs. The last thing he needed was an enemy.
Mush and Blink got their papers and then headed out into the dirty streets of New York.
It was mid afternoon when Blink sold his last paper to an old woman who also wore an eye patch and hobbled around with a short, hand carved cane.
Blink grinned at Mush as the old lady hobbled off, brushed off his hands and declared, "Well, dats me last one." Blink looked down at Mush's pile; he still had about half left. Blink thought for a moment and then said, "Soak me Mush."
Mush stared at Blink blankly, "huh?"
"No, really, soak me, den when I gives da signal, run."
"Yoah crazy."
"No I ain't. Just trust me Mush. Me and my old sellin' pahtnah used ta pull dis gag all da time, 'cept I usually did da soakin'." Blink grinned proudly as Mush still stared at him uncertainly.
"Alright, I'll do it."
Blink beamed, "make it look believable."
Mush punched Blink in his good eye, knocking him off his feet. "Dat believable enough foah ya?"
"Yeah."
Blink began to shout for help as Mush began pounding his fists into every inch of Blink he could manage.
Finally, Blink's cries drew a cop closer.
"Go," Blink hissed still clutching his stomach, a grimace of pain on his face.
Mush mumbled an apology and then ran down the alley closest to them. The cop pursued him until Mush hopped a fence and then the cop turned back to Blink, who was sitting on the ground clutching his face.
"Are you alright kid," the cop asked helping him to his feet.
"Yeah, I am now, t'anks ta youse, but dat kid stole me money and da last of me papes," he paused and then added; "I can't pay for a place ta sleep t'night!" he made sure to quiver the last couple of words and then look away shamefully from the cop, just like he had seen his partner do on so many occasions.
The cop looked sympathetic and hesitated for only a moment before pulling out a money purse from his pocket, "How many more did you have left, kid?"
Blink sniffed, "about a dozen or so mistah."
The cop took a quarter from the pouch and handed it to him, "here you go, it isn't much but it will get you a decent room and a good meal."
Blink stared at the quarter in his dirty hand and then looked up at the cop. "T'anks mistah," he said and then turned and walked away.
Mush was waiting for him at a corner store not far from where he had beaten Blink up. As his friend approached, he came out of his hiding place. "So what happened?" he asked anxiously.
Blink flicked him the quarter, "heah ya go."
Mush gawked at the money. "He gave ya dis foah gettin' beat up?" he asked incredulously.
Blink nodded, "I guess I should let ya soak me moah often."
"It'd be me pleasure." Mush pocketed the money and then asked, "Are ya okay by da way?"
Blink shrugged, "I may get a nice big shinah on me good eye. 'Sides, ya don't hit all dat hard. "
Mush felt somewhat guilty for possibly disabling Blink's eye sight any further.
The two boys walked on in silence for a couple of blocks when Mush stopped dead in his tracks. Blink almost ran into the back of him.
"Whatsa mattah," he asked.
"We'se in Charlie's territory," Mush answered quietly.
"Dat punk dat t'reatened me dis mornin'?"
"Punk?" A voice behind Blink told him he had said the wrong thing.
Blink turned around to find Charlie, his two cronies, and a group of large newsies, all carrying big sticks. "Dat's right, I said punk."
"Whadda ya doin' Blink, he'll kill ya?" Mush murmured.
"Dat's okay."
Charlie stepped toward Blink and raised his own stick. "You'se da new kid dat t'inks he owns da place, well, dis is my territory."
Blink stood as straight as he could and tried not to flinch as Charlie tapped his stick onto his open hand. If he was going to die, he was going to do it like a man. He pushed Mush behind him and braced himself for the hit.
But Mush would not allow it, he stuck his fists in the air and stood next to Blink.
"Dis don't concoin ya Mush," said Charlie. He snapped his fingers and his two cronies grabbed Mush and held him back.
Blink braced himself once again.
"Blink, no get outta heah!" shouted Mush, struggling against the two boys holding him.
Blink turned, "I ain't runnin anywheah." He turned back around just as Charlie swung his fist toward Blink's head.
"Dat's no faih! (A/N fair!) He wasn't ready yet!" Mush yelled.
Blink's vision blacked out for a moment and he stumbled backward, Charlie advanced on him, both of his fists clenched and raised. In the background Blink could hear the other newsies egging Charlie on.
Mush struggled and began to curse Charlie for the unfair advantage.
Blink picked himself up, and looked for Charlie, but his opponent was no where to be seen. Suddenly, Charlie's large fist contacted the left side of his head where he wouldn't have been able to see it. He stumbled back again, this time into an empty crate.
"Dat ain't faih! He can't even see on dat eye!" Mush shouted again. The boys held his tighter.
Charlie grabbed Blink by the neck and lifted him into the air before throwing him against a nearby brick wall. He then crouched down beside Blink's limp body. "Dis ain't even half of what I do ta people who trespass into my territory." He raised his fist again, but Blink was ready this time and had just enough energy to move out of the way.
Charlie gave a yelp as his fist struck the brick wall. Blink took the opportunity to kick Charlie in the stomach, which sent the larger boy sprawling backwards. Blink kicked him once more in the head and then climbed to his feet.
Mush cheered from the sideline and received a blow to the stomach as punishment.
Blink stepped over Charlie and punched him in the face repeatedly.
The two boys holding Mush threw him into a pile of wooden crates and then ran to help their friend.
Mush struggled to get out of the pile of now broken boxes, and when he did he saw the three boys all kicking and punching Blink who was on the ground. He ran to help and grabbed one boy by the collar and threw him backwards. The other boy turned and grabbed Mush by the neck. He stumbled and sent them both to the ground where they rolled around and wrestled.
"Hey!" The fight halted as the boys turned their attention to their leader who stood at the entrance of the alley they had been in. "What's goin' on heah?" he demanded.
Charlie reluctantly got off of Blink and wiped at his bleeding, broken nose. "Nothin' Kelley. Just tell dese punks ta stay away from wheah dey don't belong." He signaled to the others to follow him and the giant group of boys disappeared.
Mush got to his feet rubbing at his eyes where a bruise was already developing. Jack helped Blink to his feet. Blink looked worse than Charlie had. His lip was cut and bleeding as was his nose, and his good eye was black and swollen, not to mention several other cuts and bruises that littered his face and neck.
"You alright, kid?" Jack asked.
Blink nodded. "I've had woise."
"Shoah ya have," Jack laughed.
Mush clutched his jaw, "Dey's gangin' up on da kid. It was an unfaih fight."
"You two looks pretty bad. Lets get outta heah." He held onto Blink incase he fell over at any time. "Lets get youse back ta Kloppman."
Chapter 2
When Mush opened his eyes the next morning, Blink was kneeling on the floor lacing up his boots.
"Whadda ya doin?" He mumbled, stretching a bit as he waited for a reply.
Blink shrugged, "couldn't sleep no moah. 'Sides there ain't nothin' wrong wit bein' early. Yesterday, I got stuck wit da leftovers, today I'se goin' ta da front and getting me fi'ty papes."
Mush smiled at his friend's enthusiasm and had just decided to join Blink in his quest for earliness when Racetrack, from his bed below Blink's muttered "nobody goes ta da front a da line 'cept Cowboy."
Upon hearing his nickname, Jack woke up as well, "What's da problem, boys?" he asked, the sleep still present in his scratchy voice.
"Ain't no problem, Cowboy," Mush said simply. The answer seemed to satisfy Jack, who closed his eyes and was asleep again in an instant.
Blink smiled appreciatively at Mush and then hurried into the washroom as the other newsies began to stir. It would be crowded in a moment. He splashed his face with cold water to vanquish the last traces of sleep from it, and then grabbed a towel from a sink nearby.
A pained groan from the threshold that separated the two rooms caused him to look up and see Skittery rubbing his temples and looking downright horrible, he turned to look at Blink and stopped making the weird noise. "Who are you?" he asked looking Blink over as if he had never seen him before.
"Dat's Blink," said another voice. Snoddy had joined them. He pulled a shirt over his head as he explained to Skittery that Blink had helped carry him home the previous night.
Skittery looked slightly embarrassed, "I was a bit woiked over, I guess."
Blink smiled, "I understand, we all gets nights like dat."
Skittery smiled, "goil's aint nuthin but a lot of trouble."
"You just don't know how to handle dem right," Mush's voice sang as he burst into the washroom.
"Who was dat qoil last night anyway?" Blink asked, curiously.
"Which one?" Mush winked, a wide grin plastered on his face. Racetrack, who had also just joined in on the conversation, laughed and hit Mush a few times before heading into one of the stalls.
"Dat's why we call 'im mush," Race's muffled voice shouted through the door.
"He's got a soft spot for da ladies," Snoddy said.
"Nah, I tink da ladies got a soft spot foah him," added Skittery, ruffling Mush's hair.
"Don't listen to 'em," Mush said, grabbing Blink's arm and leading him away from the steadily growing crowd of newsies.
They passed Kloppman on the way downstairs; the old man had a slightly confused expression on his face. He turned around and headed back downstairs as well.
"Sounds like," he said pointing to the ceiling with his broom handle, "everyone's awake already." He looked slightly disappointed as though waking up the boys every morning was his one joy.
"Sorry about that," Blink said, feeling a little guilty as Mush hurried them out the door, "I'll try and sleep longer tomorrow."
They walked slowly to the distribution center in the cool morning air.
"T'anks for showin' me da way to da lodgin' house last night, Mush," Blink said after a while.
Mush smacked himself lightly on the forehead, "Aw, I'm sorry, Blink."
"Dat's okay, dat kid Snoddy and his pal Skittery showed me da way."
"I told ya you'd like da uddas, (A/N: others)"
They stopped when they reached the gate that Blink had been sleeping against the night before, and waited in silence. The other boys began to show up in small groups, and soon the street was crowded and noisy, and got to be even more so when the gate swung open and the boys rushed inside.
Cowboy, Racetrack, and a few others pushed their way to the front. Once the boys were settled, more or less satisfied with their spots, a large boy flanked by two cronies stepped in front of Blink and Mush.
"Hey, whadda ya tink yoah doin?" Mush asked angrily.
"Da new kid goes in da back," growled the boy in the center.
"No he don't, he goes heah wit me," Mush stretched himself to his full height but still seemed quite small.
The larger boy glared at Mush for a second, and then glared at Blink and growled into his face, "you'se gotta oin (AN-earn) yoah spot."
"Is dere a problem heah?" Cowboy stepped in between the two boys, but faced the larger one, "you gotta problem wit my friend Blink heah, Charlie?"
"No, no problem," Charlie answered shooting daggers with his eyes at Blink.
"Good, now move along."
Charlie and his cohorts obeyed. As Charlie passed by Blink he said almost inaudibly, "betta watch yoah, back," he paused, lokked over Blink once more, and then added, "patchy." They walked away.
Cowboy made sure Blink and Mush were alright before going back to his spot in front of the line.
Blink made a mental note to avoid Charlie at all costs. The last thing he needed was an enemy.
Mush and Blink got their papers and then headed out into the dirty streets of New York.
It was mid afternoon when Blink sold his last paper to an old woman who also wore an eye patch and hobbled around with a short, hand carved cane.
Blink grinned at Mush as the old lady hobbled off, brushed off his hands and declared, "Well, dats me last one." Blink looked down at Mush's pile; he still had about half left. Blink thought for a moment and then said, "Soak me Mush."
Mush stared at Blink blankly, "huh?"
"No, really, soak me, den when I gives da signal, run."
"Yoah crazy."
"No I ain't. Just trust me Mush. Me and my old sellin' pahtnah used ta pull dis gag all da time, 'cept I usually did da soakin'." Blink grinned proudly as Mush still stared at him uncertainly.
"Alright, I'll do it."
Blink beamed, "make it look believable."
Mush punched Blink in his good eye, knocking him off his feet. "Dat believable enough foah ya?"
"Yeah."
Blink began to shout for help as Mush began pounding his fists into every inch of Blink he could manage.
Finally, Blink's cries drew a cop closer.
"Go," Blink hissed still clutching his stomach, a grimace of pain on his face.
Mush mumbled an apology and then ran down the alley closest to them. The cop pursued him until Mush hopped a fence and then the cop turned back to Blink, who was sitting on the ground clutching his face.
"Are you alright kid," the cop asked helping him to his feet.
"Yeah, I am now, t'anks ta youse, but dat kid stole me money and da last of me papes," he paused and then added; "I can't pay for a place ta sleep t'night!" he made sure to quiver the last couple of words and then look away shamefully from the cop, just like he had seen his partner do on so many occasions.
The cop looked sympathetic and hesitated for only a moment before pulling out a money purse from his pocket, "How many more did you have left, kid?"
Blink sniffed, "about a dozen or so mistah."
The cop took a quarter from the pouch and handed it to him, "here you go, it isn't much but it will get you a decent room and a good meal."
Blink stared at the quarter in his dirty hand and then looked up at the cop. "T'anks mistah," he said and then turned and walked away.
Mush was waiting for him at a corner store not far from where he had beaten Blink up. As his friend approached, he came out of his hiding place. "So what happened?" he asked anxiously.
Blink flicked him the quarter, "heah ya go."
Mush gawked at the money. "He gave ya dis foah gettin' beat up?" he asked incredulously.
Blink nodded, "I guess I should let ya soak me moah often."
"It'd be me pleasure." Mush pocketed the money and then asked, "Are ya okay by da way?"
Blink shrugged, "I may get a nice big shinah on me good eye. 'Sides, ya don't hit all dat hard. "
Mush felt somewhat guilty for possibly disabling Blink's eye sight any further.
The two boys walked on in silence for a couple of blocks when Mush stopped dead in his tracks. Blink almost ran into the back of him.
"Whatsa mattah," he asked.
"We'se in Charlie's territory," Mush answered quietly.
"Dat punk dat t'reatened me dis mornin'?"
"Punk?" A voice behind Blink told him he had said the wrong thing.
Blink turned around to find Charlie, his two cronies, and a group of large newsies, all carrying big sticks. "Dat's right, I said punk."
"Whadda ya doin' Blink, he'll kill ya?" Mush murmured.
"Dat's okay."
Charlie stepped toward Blink and raised his own stick. "You'se da new kid dat t'inks he owns da place, well, dis is my territory."
Blink stood as straight as he could and tried not to flinch as Charlie tapped his stick onto his open hand. If he was going to die, he was going to do it like a man. He pushed Mush behind him and braced himself for the hit.
But Mush would not allow it, he stuck his fists in the air and stood next to Blink.
"Dis don't concoin ya Mush," said Charlie. He snapped his fingers and his two cronies grabbed Mush and held him back.
Blink braced himself once again.
"Blink, no get outta heah!" shouted Mush, struggling against the two boys holding him.
Blink turned, "I ain't runnin anywheah." He turned back around just as Charlie swung his fist toward Blink's head.
"Dat's no faih! (A/N fair!) He wasn't ready yet!" Mush yelled.
Blink's vision blacked out for a moment and he stumbled backward, Charlie advanced on him, both of his fists clenched and raised. In the background Blink could hear the other newsies egging Charlie on.
Mush struggled and began to curse Charlie for the unfair advantage.
Blink picked himself up, and looked for Charlie, but his opponent was no where to be seen. Suddenly, Charlie's large fist contacted the left side of his head where he wouldn't have been able to see it. He stumbled back again, this time into an empty crate.
"Dat ain't faih! He can't even see on dat eye!" Mush shouted again. The boys held his tighter.
Charlie grabbed Blink by the neck and lifted him into the air before throwing him against a nearby brick wall. He then crouched down beside Blink's limp body. "Dis ain't even half of what I do ta people who trespass into my territory." He raised his fist again, but Blink was ready this time and had just enough energy to move out of the way.
Charlie gave a yelp as his fist struck the brick wall. Blink took the opportunity to kick Charlie in the stomach, which sent the larger boy sprawling backwards. Blink kicked him once more in the head and then climbed to his feet.
Mush cheered from the sideline and received a blow to the stomach as punishment.
Blink stepped over Charlie and punched him in the face repeatedly.
The two boys holding Mush threw him into a pile of wooden crates and then ran to help their friend.
Mush struggled to get out of the pile of now broken boxes, and when he did he saw the three boys all kicking and punching Blink who was on the ground. He ran to help and grabbed one boy by the collar and threw him backwards. The other boy turned and grabbed Mush by the neck. He stumbled and sent them both to the ground where they rolled around and wrestled.
"Hey!" The fight halted as the boys turned their attention to their leader who stood at the entrance of the alley they had been in. "What's goin' on heah?" he demanded.
Charlie reluctantly got off of Blink and wiped at his bleeding, broken nose. "Nothin' Kelley. Just tell dese punks ta stay away from wheah dey don't belong." He signaled to the others to follow him and the giant group of boys disappeared.
Mush got to his feet rubbing at his eyes where a bruise was already developing. Jack helped Blink to his feet. Blink looked worse than Charlie had. His lip was cut and bleeding as was his nose, and his good eye was black and swollen, not to mention several other cuts and bruises that littered his face and neck.
"You alright, kid?" Jack asked.
Blink nodded. "I've had woise."
"Shoah ya have," Jack laughed.
Mush clutched his jaw, "Dey's gangin' up on da kid. It was an unfaih fight."
"You two looks pretty bad. Lets get outta heah." He held onto Blink incase he fell over at any time. "Lets get youse back ta Kloppman."