Title: High Times and Hard Times
Author: sabor ice
Summary: The story takes place around the time Pulitzer raises the price of the Newsies' papers. It centers more on what was happening with newsies on the inside rather than just Jack and David's crusade.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but this story is mine. Thanks for the reviews. Please keep reviewing if you want more.
Chapter Two
"Twenty papes," Letty said, putting down her coin on the counter.
She glanced back at Racetrack, who was two boys behind her. She had beaten him by a mile in their race.
"Race," she said, catching the money he owed her for the other twenty papers when he tossed it.
Weasel looked at her questionally. He took her money as Oscar Delancey counted out 20 more papers for her. The boy shot a dirty glare at her and mouthed the words "I'm gonna get yous." Letty, being the smart-alleck she was, just simply stuck out her tongue at him. As she turned around with her papers, David was behind her.
"Better count those yourself, Letty," David said. "Because I watched Oscar counting them out, and I only counted eighteen."
David was the only newsie that called her by her real name. Once in awhile Ten-Pin did, but she didn't mind. Almost all of the other boys called her by her nickname of Dreamer. Letty sighed, turning back around and slapping the papers on the counter.
"Come on, missy. Move it along all ready," Weasel complained.
She didn't move. She licked the ends of her thumb and forefinger before beginning to flip through the papers. Then, the girl looked Weasel straight in the eyes.
"Dave's right; there's only thirty-eight here," she confirmed. "But, it's all right, I know Oscar has troubles countin'."
Weasel moved his face closer to the fencing that separated them. His breath smelt worse than she remembered. Letty actually gritted her teeth in disgust.
"Take off, girl," the man growled, as he handed her two more papers.
The dark-haired girl gave him a mocking smile, bowing slightly as she took her papers and was on her way. She sat down on the ledge of the plank of wood and opened up one of the papers. She glanced over at Racetrack as he took a seat beside her.
"Any good headlines today?" he wondered, puffing on his cigar as he looked through a paper of his own.
"Just more about that ol' Trolley strike," she answered, flipping the page. "Hey, look at this. Some apes escaped from the zoo."
"Yeah, I thought I smelled something a little foul," Racetrack grinned, as he gestured back at the Delanceys and Weasel.
Letty chuckled and shook her head. The Delancey brothers and Mr. Weisel, or Weasel as the newsies liked to call him, were always easy to joke about. Suddenly, Ten-Pin and David's little brother, Les, came running over to where Letty and Racetrack were. Les and Ten-Pin had become friends easily. Les was ten, but he led people to believe he was seven. Papers always sold more when the kid was younger, unless you were persuasive or a customer's last choice. If someone wanted to know what was going on in New York, they bought a paper.
"Hey, did yous hear? Jack Kelly escaped from the Refuge!" Les exclaimed.
"Cowboy's outta the joint?" Racetrack wondered, in slight disbelief. "How'd they says he do it this time?"
"He got a ride out in a carriage!" Ten-Pin interjected, wide-eyed.
"Who's carriage?" Letty inquired, with an arched eyebrow.
"Teddy Roosevelt's. Ever heard of 'em?" came a familiar, mocking voice.
Letty and Racetrack raised their heads, as Ten-Pin and Les turned around to see Jack "Cowboy" Kelly himself walking their way. He was greeted by a bunch of newsies, including Mush, Kid Blink, Crutchy, and Boots. Letty hadn't seen Jack around in awhile; he had changed alot since last time she'd seen him. He was taller and his brown hair was a bit longer.
"Well, well, well, look what the cats dragged in," Racetrack said, jumping down to his feet as he went to greet him.
"The famous Jack Kelly," Letty chimed in, dropping down onto her feet as well, her papers slung over one shoulder as she walked up to him. "I's the one they call Dreamer."
Jack looked her over a moment and nodded.
"I's heard of ya," Jack replied, hawking into his hand and holding it out to her. She returned the gesture immediately. "So, whacha doin' away from Brooklyn? I thought yous was hangin' 'round with Spot Conlon and his gang."
Letty shrugged.
"I decided to come over to see what Jack Kelly's boys was up to. I see everythin' is pretty good. But, you escaping the Refuge in Teddy Roosevelt's carriage...that was a good one, Cowboy," the girl said, with a chuckle, patting his shoulder as she passed him to join Ten-Pin and Racetrack and a couple of the others that were standing around.
"Hey, Dreamer," murmured Mush and Kid Blink.
Mush instinctively slung his arm around Letty's shoulders. She glanced at it before looking up at him disapprovingly. Mush had it bad for her and everyone knew it. Then again, being the charmer he was, Mush had it bad for alot of girls. She exchanged looks with the other boys. Ten-Pin giggled while Kid Blink and Racetrack just grinned and shrugged when she shot them each a dirty look.
"So, Dreamer, hows about me and yous going to catch a flicker show later?" Mush asked, giving her his best smile.
"When pigs learn to fly," Letty replied, irritably, as she shrugged off his arm from her shoulders.
The other boys laughed and Mush made a fist at them. He always turned him down, but he always kept trying. She gave him some credit for that.
"Come on, Letty," Ten-Pin said. "Let's go 'fore our sellin' spot is taken!"
The fair-haired boy grabbed onto her sleeve and urged her forward towards the street.
"Hey, Dreamer, comin' to the lodge later, ain't ya!" Racetrack called after her.
"You bet!" she called back. "And, prepare to lose to every single poker hand, Race!"
The other boys murmured amongst themselves and began to disperse. Racetrack watched until Dreamer and Ten-Pin were out of sight. He scratched the back of his neck before going to collect his own papers to sell.