Chapter 2: Road's Itey
Road's view
I woke up that morning to another one of Kloppman's rude awaking. You would have thought that I would have gotten used to those by now, but they still annoy me. Racetrack immediately accused me of stealing his cigar.
"Why don't you blame Snipeshooter like you usually do?" I asked. I usually call Snipeshooter 'Pipes'. I gave a lot of the newsies new nicknames—that only I am allowed to call them.
"Because you took it this time!" Racetrack threw back.
"No, I didn't!" I argued. "I don't even smoke!"
"You used to!" Race reminded me.
"I stopped 3 months ago!" I argued defensively. The only time that I can't win with Race is when smoking comes up. It's true that I used to smoke—all the time. But, I couldn't really afford it and I was sick of pocket-picking to get them. So I forced myself to stop. I haven't smoked ANYTHING in three months.
"Give it a rest, Higgins," Jack advised Race. He took my hand and led me out of the room. He stopped in front of the stairs, looking at me like he had something to say. But, I let go of his hand and walked silently down the stairs alone.
The boys meant me downstairs about fifteen minutes later for breakfast. A couple touched my shoulder lightly, telling me it was okay. I sighed and gave Itey a half-hearted-smile when he sat down next to me.
I won't lie, Itey it cute. I'm not really REALLY smitten with him or anything but that doesn't stop him from being cute.
After breakfast we newsies trudged our sorry self down to the circulation office. We all stood in line as Jack did his usual smart-ass routine with Weasel. Finally, we all had our papes and parted for a day of papers and pennies.
I sell with Jack, David, and Itey these days. We used to sell with Les, too, but his dad demanded that he went back to school, so now we only sell with him during the afternoons. Jack announced that we were selling in Central Park today, and we all followed him without a complaint.
We sold for a couple of hours, and were pretty successful. Then, we went to Tibby's and talked with the rest of the boys. You know, same ole same ole. Mush announced that he's in love again. Blink announced he was out of love again. Bumlets announced that he needs love again. And Denton announced that his new girlfriend broke up with him this the third or fourth one this week?
After lunch the newsies and I bought the afternoon edition, and Les came over to say he couldn't sell today. David sent him home again. Itey, David, Jack, and I walked back to Central Park.
We sold of about two hours until everyone but Jack had about 10 papers left and the sun was setting. I was walking over to the water fountain, alone, when Oscar and Morris (you know them, don't you?) each grabbed my arm and pulled me off the ground. My feet reached about to where their knees were. "What the hell are you doing?" I demanded, fighting to get out of their grip.
"Don't struggle, you damn street rat," Oscar grunted as he made a great effort to carry me. I struggled all right. I kicked them both in the back of the knee. Their knees gave out and they dropped me.
I saw Jack, David, and Itey running towards us. Jack grabbed Morris in a head lock and Itey did the same to Oscar.
I don't like fighting. I hate rough-housing. I mean, I'll hurt someone if they are bothering me, and I'm okay at fighting…But, I don't like it. Let's just say that I'm one of those newsies who had a pretty rough childhood. Don't ask me to explain anymore.
David took me in his arms and buried my face in his chest. I don't cry anymore when there's fighting. But, sometime I feel like it. David kept his arms around me until I knew the fighting was over. I had heard Oscar and Morris running off, talking about telling their Uncle Weas and sending the boys straight back to the refuge.
Jack gave me hug. He doesn't pound on my back when he gives me a hug. But, I noticed he does pound on Sarah's back. I always thought that was funny. Itey gave me hug too. He's so sweet. Jack asked me if I was all right. But I didn't say anything. I didn't feel good. I spotted a brush nearby and ran towards it. About five second later I was puking. I usually puke after violence as occurred. It's a bad habit. Itey's used to it, though. He came up from behind me and rubbed my back slowly. I finally finished vomiting and we trudged back to the lodge house, our leftover papes forgot.
We entered a room of care-free newsies. Scissors, Itey's brother, greeted me with a huge smile. I picked him up. Scissors is the adorable little boy in orange, the one that Jack trips over all the time. I sighed and Scissors kissed my cheek playfully. I smiled at him and handed him to Itey.
I walked past the newsies and into the bunk room. Thoughts were flying through my mind a hundred miles per minute. I knew all about what the Delaney's did to girl when they got them. What if the boys weren't there? What if no one's was there to save me? I forced myself to shove the painful thought out of my head and I lay in my bunk. I fell asleep almost immediately.