Disclaimer: If you recognize a character, they belong to Disney. If you don't recognize the character they belong to me with the exception of Shoegoil who is owned by herself. If you want to put this story on your site, please ask. If you want Shamrock (although heaven help you if you do) for your story, please ask. Ditto for all the other characters…
Author's Note: I am a history major so I know that some of my facts are wrong. (Can you spot the mistakes?) But as this is fiction, I get to play with the historical aspect of it. I started writing this many years before I joined the NML so no characters (even if I have similar nicknames) except the aforementioned Shoegoil, belong to anyone else and any resemblance is coincidence. If people actually want to know the mistakes, just say so in the review and I will maybe put them up in the author's notes for the second chap.
~ Chapter One ~
Ten days later the Yankee steamed into New York Harbor. One minute we were on the ship; the next pushed and jostled onto Ellis Island. After what seemed to be forever it was our turn to register. Liam stepped up and faced the man behind the desk. The man looked bored as he asked for our name. "Liam O'Maille," he said in his clear Irish brogue. I watched the man write down his name, "Liam O'Malley". I gasped. The man had spelled our last name wrong. He had changed our name forever because of his ignorance. Then he asked for our first names, which he wrote down. "Liam, Ashleen, Seamus." Tears sprang to my eyes.
"Liam, he spelled my name wrong. He spelled our last name wrong too. Do something." I begged.
"Not now Aisling!" he hissed pushing me away, "So what if he did? It makes it all the more safe for us."
"What all are we going to have to give up to find peace? We've left Ireland and everything we've ever known, came to this place to be poked and prodded and told we may not even be allowed in. We came here with little money, no jobs, and an uncertain future and soon we'll be sent over to that huge New York. Jumped out of the frying pan and straight into the fire, we did!" I wailed ignoring the looks of other immigrants. "And now, that man has given us a name that 'tis practically English. What does that make us?"
Seamus piped up, "Americans!" I whirled around and slapped him on the arm, hard. After we went through the doctor inspection area I went outside and looked to the Statue of Liberty. Thanks to Seamus, I knew what was written on her base. I said it out loud to myself. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free."
"Beautiful ain't she?" Beside me stood a boy with dark, curly hair, dark eyes, and a prominent nose. He looked to be about my age and was just slightly taller than me. His skin was darker than that of boys back in Ireland. Under his arm was a batch of newspapers and covering most of his hair was a cap many Irish wore. "Me and me parents came trough heah about thirteen yeahs ago. Saw de same sight you are. Da Statue of Libeahty heah to welcome us to our new home."
"If you came to America thirteen years ago than why are you still on this island?" I asked. All the people on the Ellis Island were immigrants just waiting for the next available ferry to take them across New York Harbor.
"Me? I'm a newsie. A Brooklyn newsie. Dis is me sellin' spot." He said it like being a Brooklyn newsie meant something. "Name's Nomad."
"I have never heard of such an odd name." He started to laugh at me, which made me feel really stupid. "There's no need for you to laugh at me."
"No, no, it's not you. Nomad is me nickname. All da newsies have 'em. It's easieah ta escape da bulls if people don't know youse real name."
"What difference does it make if a cow knows your name?" It was hard enough to understand him with his accent and he spoke rather fast so when he threw out that slang term I hadn't a clue as to what he meant.
"Geez goil, you really are a greenhorn. Bulls is anudda woid for coppahs," When I still looked confused, "Police." Just then Seamus came out.
"Aisling, Liam has gotten our ferry tickets for New York. Come along." He disappeared into the crowded building.
I turned back to the newsie, "My brother.....I guess I better, well it was nice talking to you."
He grinned at me, "If you evah need anyting, advice, help, just want ta talk, anyting at all, just come ta Brooklyn and ask any newsie for Nomad. No problem's too big for us newsies." I smiled politely and left. I didn't even know where Brooklyn was.
The first week we were in New York we stayed at a boarding house with Colin, Anna and Danny Murphy while Liam looked for work and for a place to live. Seamus kept pestering me about who Nomad was. "He was a newsie wasn't he. I bet he was a part of that strike they won in July. Did you ask him if he was part of the strike? I'm going to be a newsie." On and on he rattled about the strike these newsboys staged. Finally after the seventh day I had had enough and left our cramped room to walk around.
"Well here's our little immigrant." A familiar voice called out. I looked down the side street and there was the newsie I had met. Nomad. He came out of the shadow holding a lit cigarette and started walking beside me. "So ya likin' it so far?"
"Which part? The noise, the dirt, the food, the smells, the fact that I am sharing one room with five other people?" I said bitterly. "I do not even know where I am. Is this Brooklyn we're in?"
He laughed, "No. Dis is Manhattan. Da Lowah Eastside ta be exact. I'm ovah heah ta visit some friends of mine. You wanna come?" I turned to look back at the boarding house. It only took a moment to make up my mind and I nodded a yes. As we walked he told of the strike that my younger brother had heard about. I tried to remember every detail to tell Seamus. Soon we came to a building with a sign reading 'Newsboys Lodging House'. Nomad opened the door for me.
The room was poorly lit but fairly large. It was very like the foyer and living room of the house I was staying but the furniture was much more worn. Many boys and a few girls lounged around chatting and laughing. The boys all wore clothes similar to what Nomad wore and I was shocked to see a few of the girls in knickers instead of skirts. Nomad greeted the man behind the desk as Kloppman and gestured to me to follow him.
"My deah fellow newsies it is wit' great regret dat I must tell you Spot can not make tonight's poker game. So it's jist me but I brought wit' me a much prettiah face. Everyone meet Ashleen." I smiled shyly. "Ashleen is a recent transplant from da Land O' Green. Ashleen, I would like ta introduce you to da Manhattan Newsies. Jack Kelly, or Cowboy as some of us call him, is dere leadah. Next to him is Racetrack, smokin' da cigar and over dere is Coppery and Blink." He pointed out all the newsies but I immediately forgot most of their names.
Coppery and another girl got up and came toward me as Nomad went to play cards. "Heya. I'm Shoegoil. In case ya fergot. All a dem names can get confusin'. Why I remembah when I'se was a new newsie-"
Coppery cut her off. "Shoegoil, you're goin' ta scare her off wit your big mouff. So you gonna be a newsie or are ya just Nomad's new goil?"
"Or are ya both?" Shoegoil asked with a certain gleam in her eye. They both reminded me of the gossipy girls of Castletownbere.
"Neither. I don't even know him that well. He was the first person I talked to here is all. My brother does want to be a newsie though. He overheard two boys talking about that strike you had and now 'tis all he talks about. How old have you to be?"
"I love ya accent. Me pop was from Ireland. Donegal I tink." Coppery told me while at the same time Shoegoil was saying:
"Da youngah, da bettah. Youngah sells more papes."
"He's fourteen...."
Coppery pushed some of her copper colored hair behind her ear. "Ya tink ya could find dis place again by yaself?" I knew there was no way of me getting back here on my own and told them so. "Okay, hmmm. Maybe afta Kelly is done wit' cards we'se can talk ta him about it but until den Shoe and I can introduce ya ta da udda goils. Come on." Leading the way up two flights of stairs we came to a large dormitory with many girls lounging on various beds. Most looked up as we walked in but a few were so engrossed in a card game that they didn't even seem to notice that there was anyone else in the room. Coppery obliged them with my name and they in turn told me each of theirs. They all seemed to have nicknames like Nomad.
With a sly grin Shoegoil said to a brown haired girl with a piece of charcoal in her hand, "Hey Stencil, guess who Ashleen came in wit. Nomad." The girl jumped up so fast she smacked her head on the bunk above her, dropping her charcoal and pad of paper. Wincing and holding her head she made her way over to us.
"How do you know Nomad?" The girl asked eyeing me suspiciously. She wore brown knickers with matching suspenders but the suspenders hung down in large loops instead of on the shoulders of the tight blouse she wore. She looked ready for a fight.
"Stencil don't get all woiked up. You know how Nomad almost always sells his papes at Ellis Island. Ashleen just got off da boat. Nomad was da first American she talked to." Coppery said trying to calm the girl.
"Oh how romantic." One of the girls sighed. Stencil stormed out of the room and two other girls followed her. One of them stopped to whisper something in Coppery's ear to which she replied that he didn't make it.
"Wheah ya from?" Asked a young girl I remember being introduced as Gabby.
"Eire." I said not thinking. My answer was greeted with a chorus of 'Where?' Flustered I said "Ireland."
A girl with long blond hair gestured for me to sit beside her. Her blue eyes had smile lines around them and a smile to match. She was not much taller than me and maybe a year or two younger. "I'm Sunshine. You seem to really miss it." I nodded. "So do you speak Irish too?"
"That I do. Until I was 9, people who spoke it were frowned upon but there were these people only known to us as Gaelic Wanderers. They came around and taught those of us who wanted to learn the language."
"Well what happened afta you were 9?" Asked Gabby. Her round brown eyes looking up at me out of her very young face.
"Well not so sure am I, but I do know that something called the Gaelic League was formed. They encouraged the Gaelic and Celtic sports too. My brother Liam is one of the best Gaelic Football players in all of Bantry Bay."
"So just how many are dere in your family?" Asked Gabby.
"Gabby, ya shouldn't ask so many questions. Not everybody is used ta your constant curiosity." Sunshine said kindly.
Gabby grinned widely showing her two front teeth were missing. "Jus' livin' up to me name. She don't really mind. Do ya Ashleen?"
Realizing how long I had been gone from my boarding house I stood up. "I really enjoyed being here. 'Tis a much more friendly place than the boarding house I am staying."
"Shoegoil and I will walk witchu back to your place, maybe meet your brudda. Den tomorrah around five thoity in da moinin' we can come an' get ya brudda and youse too if ya want ta come." Coppery said.
We walked down the stairs and saw Stencil fawning over Nomad. She was giggling and batting her eyelashes coyly as we came into the room. When Nomad saw the three of us he stood up. Stencil immediately turned around to glare at me.
"Ya ready ta leave, Ashleen?"
"Coppery an' Shoegoil can take her home. Youse don't have ta go too." Stencil said in a whiny singsong voice. "Sit and play a few more hands of cards. You are so good at poker. I'd love for youse ta teach me a few of your tricks...."
Not wanting to have Stencil mad at me I said, "I'm sure we can find the way back by ourselves. I don't want to pull you away from your cards."
"No, no it's about time I stopped playin' anyway. Got ta get back ta Brooklyn and I try ta quit while I'm ahead, eh Race." He said looking at the black haired boy with a crooked grin. The boy mumbled something unintelligible and just sat looking at the table strewn with cards.
Saying goodbye to Kloppman we left. The city streets were still busy. I was not used to all these people on top of each other. People yelling their fares, carriages, horses, crying babies. Trains rumbled by on elevated tracks that looked unstable. Children laughing and darting in and out of the crowd. Trolley's announcing their arrival with clanging bells. People speaking in languages I couldn't recognize or understand and here and there I could hear strains of music in unfamiliar melodies. The noise was endless and pounded in my ears causing my head to ache.
"Noimally we would be sellin' right now but taday dere was only da moining pape." Shoegoil said.
"Why wasn't there an afternoon paper?" I asked.
"Don't know, don't care. Means we got a free aftanoon."
Nomad laughed, "Nutin' is free. No aftanoon papes means less money for us."
"But I am glad ta have da aftanoon off. If I was ta jus not buy da aftanoon papes, I would feel guilty, ya know." Shoegoil explained. "I love da summah. Da weadda is nice an' people are so happy ya don't have ta come up wit such outrageous headlines." We continued talking until we were a block from my street. I saw two figures coming down another road that looked familiar.
"Oh Jaysus!" I exclaimed when finally recognizing them as Colin and Liam. Colin was helping my brother walk. Liam had his arm around Colin's shoulder and was holding his side with the other arm. I ran over to them to help. "What happened? Liam, you okay? What happened to you?"
"I just saw the last part of the fight but from what I saw I'm guessing they jumped him." Colin said.
"What fight? Who jumped him? Explain what you mean Colin."
"We were in this part of New York called Harlem-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You went ta Harlem?" Nomad cut in as he got into hearing distance. "Geez, you people are greenhorns. Nobody goes ta Harlem unless dey got connections. And even den ya don't go ta Harlem. Harlem is only da most dangerous part a dis whole city."
"Yeah well we were looking for jobs and some guy told us to go to Harlem if we wanted jobs. So that's where we went." Colin clarified.
"Ya don't go ta Harlem. Not for jobs, not for anyting."
"Aye, I got it the first time boyo." Colin said losing patience. "Just who are you anyway? And what are you doing with Aisling?"
Before Nomad could say something sharp back and start another fight I said, "Colin, this is Nomad. He's a newsie in Brooklyn. These two are Coppery and Shoegoil. They are both Manhattan newsies. Now can we get Liam inside so we can see the full extent to his injuries?" All agreed and we made our way to the boarding house. Seamus and the two Murphy children were on the steps waiting.
"We saw you guys coming. We cleared the bed. What happened?" Seamus said.
"I cleared the bed. Seamus and Danny wouldn't help." Anna declared, hands on hips. "I'm going to tell Mrs. Leary that you left us alone Aisling. One of the rules was that you must stay here with us if we were to be allowed to stay here."
"Of course Anna, as you see fit. I just thought that a big girl like yourself could mind two unruly boys. After all, you are twelve, almost a woman. Right now, though, would you go and distract Mrs. Leary while we smuggle Liam upstairs." Anna opened her mouth to protest. "Please Anna. For Liam." She shut her mouth and ungraciously went on her mission. Colin helped/dragged Liam to our room. One of his eyes was swelling shut and his bottom lip was split. Blood ran slowly from three small cuts on the left side of his face. Various bruises were now forming all over his body. He finally started talking once in bed but it was in Gaelic so half the people in the room didn't understand what he was saying. Colin and I tried to get information out of him but he just kept saying, "The damn louser called me a bleedin' taig"
Shoegoil started getting impatient. "So what's he sayin'? Does he know who did dis to him?"
After looking at her skeptically Seamus turned to me, "Who are these other people? I mean Liam just got the whooping of his life and you're having friends over. Have some heart would you Aisling."
Losing my temper, I grabbed my younger brother by the collar of his shirt and pulled him close. "Look here you eejit, these here people wanted to meet you. I told them that you wanted to be a newsie. You best shut your mouth before I decide to shut it for you." Seamus had real fear in his eyes when I let go of him. The room stayed silent for a few long moments.
"Um, maybe we can come back at some udda time. . . ." Nomad said.
"Yeah, like when youse ain't so busy." Coppery said.
"I'll show you out." I said truly embarrassed that I let Seamus get to me. We four walked down the stairs and outside. "I am so terribly sorry. 'Tis not a good time right now. I truly am sorry you had to see that. Seamus, he, well, the boy likes to see how far he can push me."
"Well he sure knows now. Man I woulda never t'ought dat you could be so intimadatin'. You bein' so small and stuff." Shoegoil said placing her cap back onto her blond hair.
"Well tink about da most feared and respected newsie in all a New Yawk. He ain't all dat big, but boy, can he make your knees start ta tremble when he wants." Nomad said with a hint of pride.
"Spot can also be da most charmin' and wonderful newsie in all a New Yawk when he wants ta be. Not ta mention da most handsome and sot afta." Coppery said.
"I best be getting back to Liam. I will see you tomorrow. Thank you for everything. Good luck." I said.
I hurried back to Liam's side. He was sitting up and talking about what happened. I shooed Anna and Danny to the hallway and returned to hear the last of what Liam was saying. "They fought dirty. There were five of them. They came out of nowhere and knocked me over from behind. I'll tell you this though. When I am not so sore, I'm going back and finding them."
"No Liam, let's get us a house and jobs first. I don't want you looking for fights already." I said. "Besides, Nomad said you don't go to Harlem. So Harlem is off limits for us all. Especially for you Seamus. You have too big a mouth as it is."
"Who was that boy with you Aisling? This Nomad person? He was a bit full of himself." Colin said.
"All three of them were newsies, as I said before Colin." I said impatiently. It wasn't like Colin to be so difficult. "They were kind enough to walk me home. They're also willing to teach Seamus and me how to be newsies. I'm sure you two could be newsies too. Oh, that would be perfect because all the newsies live in this newsie lodging house. We wouldn't have to find a place to live or anything." I explained liking the idea more and more.
"I don't think you should be living with a bunch of boys." Colin said.
I laughed at him. "Are you trying to be my nursemaid? Besides what am I doing right now? Living with dogs?"
"This is different. You know us. How can you trust boys like that Nomad. Enough that you went into the city with him. This isn't wee Castletown here Aisling, you can't trust everyone you see."
"Nomad lives in Brooklyn. He's a Brooklyn newsie. You almost sound jealous of him." I said starting to get irritated at Colin. He'd been so sure of my judgement on the boat over here but since than he'd been the one to want me to stay in the room as he and Liam went out. I bit back the million other arguments I had on the tongue. They would save until the next time.
"We'll see. Anyway, nothing can be done until Anna and Danny's aunt comes for them so we have a while to figure out what we'll do." Liam said.
"My vote is to get real jobs and our own place." Colin said.
"You don't get to vote. You aren't a part of this family." Seamus said moments before I could.
"And selling papers is as real a job as any." I added.
"Hey, we won't be fighting each other. We have come too far." Liam said. He winced as he tried to get up. I gently pushed him down onto the bed and made Colin go for that night's dinner. Once Colin was gone, Seamus and I both crawled onto the bed with our older brother.
"Colin has changed. Sure you've noticed?" I said to Liam.
"Colin is my best friend. That has not changed Aisling. As long as that doesn't change, and it won't, you will have to put up with him." That night I tossed and turned, thinking about the glares Colin gave to Nomad and the way Colin had looked at me.