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Chapter 3

After about five minutes, they arrived at Tibby's. Katie got suddenly very nervous when she saw all the other newsies in there. David saw this.

"Don't be nervous. They're harmless. Trust me," he assured her, smiling. She liked his smile. It was very warm and comforting.

She took a deep breath and said, "Okay." Still holding her hand, David led her inside.

"Hey, what's dis? Davey's got himself a goil?" one of the boys called out. The others laughed as David quickly dropped her hand and walked to his friends. Katie followed close behind him.

"Guys, this is Katie. Katie, these are the newsies," he introduced. He told her their names which sounded very odd to her; like Racetrack, Mush, Specs, Skittery and a lot more. She was wondering how she was going to be able to remember them all. Like he was reading her mind, David told her, "Don't worry. It gets easier." They sat down.

"Dave, is dis da goil you'se can't shut up about?" Jack teased him, making David blush very red.

"Aw, you've been talking about me?" Katie joked, making the others laugh and feeling all her nerves melt away. David pretended to be very interested in his menu.

"So Katie, where ya from?" Racetrack asked.

She wanted the boys' trust so she didn't want to lie to them. "It's…a long and complicated story."

"We'se listenin'." Nervously, she started at the beginning, and didn't leave anything out. When she was done, they all looked at her like she had three heads.

"So, you'se really from da future?" Mush wondered. She nodded.

"And you'se just appeared 'ere?" Skittery added. She nodded again. There was an awkward silence.

But it was broke when Les spoke out, "That's so neat!" Everyone laughed and the awkward tension was gone.

"So, do you have a place to stay?" David asked her.

"Nope. No place to stay, no job, no money. Hence the stealing and pick pocketing."
"You'se could stay at da Lodgin' House wid us. And you'se could be a newsie," Crutchy suggested.

"Oh no, I don't want to put any of you out," Katie stated.

"Nonsense!" Jack exclaimed. "It'd be an hona' ta have you'se stay wid us."

"But I don't know how to be a newsie."

"Lucky, we do," Specs told her. "We'se'd help you'se out."

"And I could sell with you for a while. If that's okay with you," David offered.

"That would be great! Thank you all so much."

"No problem. Of coise. Fugget about it!" they all replied.

"Now, foist things foist. You'se need a newsie name. We'se all got one. Like I'm Cowboy and David 'ere is da Walkin' Mouth cause he don't know when ta shut up!" Jack explained. Everyone laughed, and even David smiled at the comment. "Any ideas?"

"Well, my friends back home call me Berry because my hair is more strawberry than blonde." The guys agreed it fit her.

"Next, you have to eat," David said,

"But I don't have any money," Katie reminded him.

"Oh don't worry. I've got it." He started for his pocket but Katie stopped his hand.

"David, no. You already paid my fine. I don't want you spending all your earned money on me."

"Kate, you're my friend. I don't mind."

"But-"

"Don't argue Berry. He never gives in," Mush told her. The others piped in agreeing.

"Okay, fine," Katie agreed. "But as soon as I get money I'm paying you back. Deal?" She held out her hand.

"Deal." David went to spit shake but she pulled her hand away. "What?" he asked confused.

"That's disgusting!" The boys laughed, remembering when David thought it was gross too.

Chuckling, he said, "Like I said, it gets easier. C'mon, let's get you some food." The pair stood up and walked over to the counter.

Watching them walk away, Jack bet, "I give 'em a month til' dere togeddah."

Keep reading on!