Ch. 1: A Hard Knock Life
Night time settles over New York City, as the stars begin to blink in the sky as the moon begins to set. In it's place, the sun began to rise, igniting a new day. It was at this time that the city was finally sleeping. Many people have gone to slumber, especially the children of the Newsies Lodging House. Snores filled the rooms of each newsie, dozing and dreaming. That is, except one boy. That boy was still awake, standing on the rooftop, gazing out in the distance. He holds his stare at the city, glaring at the streets and buildings that make New York. His eyes close as he takes a deep breath, and exhales. He tries to imagine the place he's been dreaming of for years, the place he wants to get to. Hopefully, after gaining a few extra dollars, he'll be on the next train there.
The door to the roof opens, which causes the boy to turn around to see who's coming. He catches another boy at the door, looking relieved to have found him here. He was very meek looking, with his glasses resting on his nose with a crutch in hand. He limps over to his friend, saying "I thought I would find you here. You always come out at this time of night, Luffy."
Luffy shakes his head with a scoff and says "What are you doing here, Coby? The bell ain't rung yet, go back to sleep!"
"I wanna beat the other fellas to the streets." Coby looks down with shame, continuing with "I don't want anyone to see that I ain't...been walkin' so good."
Luffy simply slaps Coby's back, and puts his arm around him with a smile. "Oh, quit gripin'. You know how many guys fake a limp for sympathy? That bum leg of your is a goldmine!"
"Someone gets the idea I can't make it on my own, they'll lock me up in the refuge for good." Coby says, shuddering at the thought of being enlisted into the refuge. Luffy doesn't react to it, but Coby could tell in his eyes that the refuge isn't something Luffy likes remembering. He has done a lot to make sure he doesn't go back, and he's going to make sure none of the other kids suffers the way he suffered there. He turns back to the view of the city with a glare. Coby follows his gaze, asking "You love the stars, don'cha? I mean, you're always up here almost every night. Is it the view?"
"The real view is my ideal home." answers Luffy, much to Coby's confusion. "Them streets down there, they sucked the life right outta my old man. Years a' rotten jobs, starved on by bosses, and when they found him broken, they tossed him to the curb, just like yesterday's paper. Well they ain't doin that to me!"
"But everybody wants to come to New York." utters Coby. "And most don't even get that chance. We're here in the Big Apple, and you's want to leave it?"
Luffy simply shrugs and admits "New York's fine, for those who got a big, strong door to lock it up. I'll tell you personally. There's a whole nother way out there. You keep your small life in the big city. Give me a big life, in a small town."
(AN: Song 1, Santa Fe [Luffy's Soliloquy])
Luffy: They say folks is dyin' to get here. Me...I'm dyin' to get away to a little town out west that's spankin' new. And while I ain't never been there, I can see it clear as day. (looks at Coby with a smile) If you want, I bet'cha you could see it, too. (covers Coby's eyes) Close your eyes, come with me, where it's clean and green and pretty, And they went and made a city outta clay. (wraps an arm around Coby and points to the horizon with the other, while Coby's eyes is still closed) Why, the minute that ya get there, folks'll walk right up and say "Welcome home, son. Welcome home to Santa Fe!" (rest hands on Coby's shoulders) Plantin' crops, splittin' rails, swappin' tales around the fire, 'cept for Sunday when you lie around all day. Soon your friends are more like family, and they's beggin' you to stay! Ain't that neat? Livin' sweet...in Santa Fe.
Coby opens his eyes with a sad look and turns his head to Luffy. "Got folks there?"
Luffy shakes his head and answers "I got folks nowhere. You?"
"Nah, I don't need folks." Coby chuckles a bit and pats Luffy's back. "I got friends."
Luffy turns back to Coby, with a look of realization on his face. He then says "Hey, how's about you come with me? No one cares about no gimp leg in Santa Fe! You just hop a palomino! You'll ride in style!"
Coby simply chuckles, and says "Yeah. Picture me, ridin' in style."
"Hey, I bet a few months of clean air, you can toss that crutch for good." exclaims Luffy with a smile, prompting Coby to smile in return.
Both: Santa Fe, you can bet, we won't let them bastards beat us. We won't beg no one to treat us fair and square. There's a life that's worth the livin' and I'm gonna do my share.
Luffy: Work the land, chase the sun!
Both: Swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun!
Coby: Watch me stand! (begins to cry) Watch me run...
Luffy: (goes to hug Coby) Hey, hey...Don't you know that we's a family? Would I let you down? No way. Just hold on, kid 'til that train makes...Santa...Fe.
Then, the two heard a bell ringing, followed by an angry shout. Luffy sighs and says "Time for dreaming's done." With that, Luffy helped Coby back into the building.
Once they reached the bed rooms, they found the owner of the lodging, Curly Dadan, yelling at the sleeping children "Will you get up already? When you get up, it's time to get up! The presses are rolling! It's time to sell the papers! Come on, come on." Slowly, the kids began to wake up, more specifically the girls started to get up. The boys took more time to get up. Dadan looks behind to see Luffy and Coby up and about. "How do you control these kids?"
"Simple. I treat 'em with respect." Luffy says with a smug smile. "Don't worry about a thing, Dadan. We'll get to work."
Without much of a word, she grunts and walks back down stairs. Luffy and Coby head to their beds to get their clothes, so they can get dressed. Soon, all the kids were up, freshened up, and ready for work. One boy then decided to smoke a cigar he had been hiding from the rest, only to be snatched by his pal.
(AN: Song 2, Carrying the Banner)
Sanji: (getting in Zoro's face, glaring at him) Hey! That's my cigar!
Zoro: (glares right back) You'll steal another!
Luffy: (smacks their heads) Hey bummers, we got work to do!
Kaya: (adjusts her hat) I thought that I'd surprise my mother.
Koala: If you can find her.
All: (glares at Koala, who shrugs with a smug smile and sticks her tongue out) WHO ASKED YOU!
"C'mon kids! Playtime's over! Let's get to work!" orders Luffy, as the newsies head downstairs one by one. They entered the mess hall, where they proceeded to partake in morning routines like shaving, showering, and eating breakfast. As the kids were eating, Luffy noticed a puzzled look on Tashigi's face. He asks her "Hey, why the long face?"
"Papes ain't movin' like they use to. I gotta find a new sellin' spot." answers Tashigi. "Anyone got any ideas?"
Koala: (washing her hair) From Bottle Alley to the Harbor, there's easy pickings guaranteed.
Sabo: (shaving his mustache) Try any banker, bum, or barber. They almost all knows how to read.
Luffy: (gets up to put his dish away) It's a crooked game we're playin', one we'll never lose. Long as suckers don't mind payin' just to get bad news.
All: (eats their food, puts their dishes in the sink for Dadan to clean) Ain't it a fine life, carrying the banner through it all! A mighty fine life, carrying the banner tough and tall! (picks up their bags, and puts on their hats) When that bell rings, we goes where we wishes. We's as free as fishes. Sure beats washing dishes. What a fine life, carrying the banner home-free all!
The kids opened the door and exited the lodging, on their way to deliver the papers. As they were walking, Vivi walks up to Coby and asks "Hey Coby, what's you leg say, gonna rain?"
Coby checks his leg, answering her "Uhh, no rain...but it'll be partly cloudy clear by evenin'."
"And the limp sells fifty papes a week, all by itself!" Luffy interjects with a proud smile.
Coby shrugs with a scoff, saying "I don't need the limp to sell papes. I got personality."
Coby: It takes a smile that spreads like butter, the kind that turns a lady's head.
Ace: It takes an orphan with a stutter.
Sabo: Who's also blind-
Koala: And mute-
Koza: And dead.
All: Summer stinks and winter's freezing, when you works outdoors. Start out sweatin, end up sneezin', in between it pours!
Newsies Group 1: Still it's a fine life, carrying the banner with me chums. A bunch o' big shots tossin' out a freebie to the bums.
Newsies Group 2: Still it's a fine life, carrying the banner with me chums. A bunch o' big shots tossin' out a freebie-
Luffy: Hey! (gains everyone's attention) What's the hold up? Waiting makes me antsy. I likes livin' chancey
All: Harlem to Delancey. What a fine life, carrying the banner through the slums.
The group make their way to a church, where they see some nuns doing their daily prayers. They stop and notice that some nuns were walking to them, with food and beverages.
Nuns: Blessed children, though you wander lost and depraved, Jesus loves you. (gives the newsies the food and drinks, while blessing them) You shall be saved.
"Thanks for da grub, sistas. You're always too good for us." Luffy thanks and bows, which the other newsies soon follow his example.
Sanji walks up to one of the nuns and proceeds to flirt with her. "Well hello, hello, hello, beautiful." She giggles and gives him a kiss on the forehead. Sanji nearly faints, until Zoro catches his fall. "Settle down, 'Romeo'. You're already a creep with da girl newsies. We don't need you puttin' the moves on the sistas."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!" yelled Sanji, looking for a fight.
"YOU HEARD ME!" yelled Zoro back. The two began to scuffle, which the others are cheering "Fight! Fight! Fight!" The nuns sigh in frustration, looking at Luffy to fix the mess. He nods and pulls the two apart. "Hey schmucks! We still got a job to do. You can fight later."
"Luffy," He turns to see Mother Makino walking up to him. "When are we going to see you children inside the church. This place could be a home and sanctuary for all of you."
"I appreciate the offer, Mother." Luffy says, while clasping her hands. "But I wouldn't want to trouble you and da nuns. We can be a bit hard to handle."
"Oh it's no trouble at all. Our church welcomes every lost soul in God's loving embrace."
Luffy hugs her, and says "Again, thanks Mother." He then turns to the nuns and says "Rest assured sistas, you'll find us inside whenever it starts to rain." This gets the newsies to laugh and the nuns to chuckle. Mother Makino doesn't laugh, but she does shake her head with a smile. The newsies continue their walk to work, while Mother Makino and the nuns wave goodbye.
Koala: Curled,
Zoro: Just give me half a cup
Nuns: Blessed children,
Koala: coffee,
Sanji: Somethin' to wake me up
Nuns: though you wander
Koala: concrete donuts
Vivi: I gotta find an angle.
Nuns: lost and depraved,
Koala: sprinkled with mold.
Tashigi: It's gettin' bad out there.
Nuns: Jesus loves you.
Koala: Homemade
Sabo: Papers is all I got
Nuns: You shall be saved.
Koala: biscuits.
Ace: It's 88 degrees
Koala: Just two
Coby: Maybe it's worth a shot
Koala: years old.
Rebecca: All I can catch is fleas.
Luffy: If I hate the headline, I'll make up a headline and I'll say anything I have'ta.
Newsies boys: 'Cause at two for a penny, if I take too many, Weasel just makes me eat 'em afta'! Got a feelin' bout the headline! I smells me a headline! Papes are gonna sell like we was givin' them away! Betcha dinner it's a doozy 'bout a pistol-packin' floozy who knows how to make a Newsie's day!
Newsies girls: I do too, so it must be true! What a switch! Soon we'll all be rich! Don't know any better way to make a newsie's day!
All: You wanna sell the next edition, give us an earthquake or a war!
Carrot: How 'bout a crooked politician?
All: Ya nitwit, that ain't news no more! (dashing down the alleyways) Uptown to Grand Central Station, down to City Hall, we improves our circulation, walking 'til we fall.
Newsies girls: But we'll be out there, carrying the banner man to man! We're always out there, soakin' every sucker that we can. See the headline: Newsies on a mission! Kill the competition! Sell the next edition! We'll be out there, carrying the banner! See us out there, carrying the banner! Always out there, carrying the banner!
Newsies boys: Got a feelin' bout the headline! I smells me a headline! Papes are gonna sell like we was givin' them away! Betcha dinner it's a doozy 'bout a pistol-packin' floozy who knows how to make a Newsie's day! I was stakin' out the circus and then someone said that Coney's really hot. But when I got there, there was Law with all his cronies. Heck, I'm gonna take what little dough I got and play the ponies. We at least deserves a headline for the hours that they work us. Jeez, I bet if I just stayed a little longer at the circus.
All: (zigzagging across the block, running through many bystanders) We'll all be out there, carrying the banner man to man! We're always out there, soakin' every sucker that we can. Here's the headline: Newsies on a mission! Kill the competition! Sell the next edition! We'll be out there, carrying the banner! See us out there, carrying the banner! Always out there, carrying the banner! Ahh, ahh, ahh, go!
The newsies stop in their tracks, slamming into the gates of the main of the New York World.
TO BE CONTINUED...