Ok here's the next chapter. So sorry I haven't updated in a while! It's kinda longer than the others. Thanks for the reviews!
Sleep hadn't come to Max as easily as it had the previous night, it usually didn't. Only when you're in pain ya can rest, oderwise you gotta keep movin'. Max thought about the quote and one his friends that had said it from a long time ago. He remembered asking why and then the answer came. Cause if ya stand still you die. Max had understood what he meant. He had been one of Max's best friends back in The Bronx.
"Ay Pup!" Race said, using Max's 'new name'. "Close ya eyes and get some sleep!" he whispered annoyed as Max shifted for the millionth time. He still slept on the floor between Mush and Race's bunks. They'd given him a pillow but he didn't need much else, especially in the hot summer night.
Mush had fallen asleep pretty quickly and was sound asleep, snoring in fact and every now and then mumbling a few words. Race would doze off then shake himself back awake and continue the pattern.
Max turned onto his side so he could look out the window and gazed at the moon. It was so big and almost full. Race had shifted so he could see Max and looked at him. The moon reflected in his big black eyes and gave them an scared look that made you want to cry.
That kid musta seen somtin bad, Race thought then decided that he might as well carry on a conversation.
"You like lookin at da moon Max?" he asked and Max jumped a little. "Its jus me Race Max," Max looked at him from the floor and nodded. "Why?" Race had never understood why people liked looking at stuff like that. The moon, stars, hills, mountains. To him it was what it was.
"I jus…" Max thought. He didn't know how to explain it. The moon just intrigued him. And Max hadn't spoken a sentence longer than five words since he'd got here. Maybe to Mush but no one else.
"It's jus…I…da moon…"
"Don't hurt yaself kid," Race laughed as Max furrowed his brow and raised his lip in confusion. He always did that when he was thinking hard or if he was confused.
"Da moon…" he started again. "It's something' das always dere for ya," Max let it out. Everything he'd been storing up. "If everythin' as been torn away from ya, ya hearts broken by some girl, and life is just too hard. Das when it's nice. Its like…" he thought again. "The world can take everythin that matters to ya away! But dey jus cant take da moon, it's something ya can fall back on. It's always dere for…me," Max thought about what he'd just said and looked back at Race.
He was asleep, mouth open, arm hanging off the side of the bed. It had been a waste. He'd finally got enough guts to say something that matters and nobody was listening, Something creaked from across the room and Max flinched in the direction of the sound.
"Dat was real nice," a voice spoke. "Watcha said bout da moon," it was Spot. "'S like you a lil' kid, innocent and all ya know?" from what Max had heard Spot wasn't one to talk poetically or care about stuff like that. "Ya should stay dat way kid. Try to stay innocent…" Max just nodded silently and stared at Spot who was leaning on one of the poles on his bunk to look out the window. The moon reflected in his cold eyes.
"Night Spot," Max whispered.
"Night Pup," they both leaned back and slowly fell into a deep sleep.
The next day was sunny and Mr.Kloppman came in to wake them up. He was an older man with gray hair and little spectacles he wore. Sometimes he used a cane but mostly he walked on his own. The guy was real nice overall and Max liked him. He owned the lodging house.
"C'mon get up!" Kloppman said loudly.
Max rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms. He looked around as the others boys got ready and dressed. Spot just looked in his direction and gave a slight nod. That was all Max really needed, he knew Spot wouldn't tell the other boys about the thing with the moon and innocence. So Max wouldn't tell anyone either.
Everyone was in a big rush, trying to pick out nice clothes but casual too. They weren't looking there best but they looked nice.
"Max!" Race pulled him up from behind. "Hurry up kid!" he said somewhat panicky. Max stood quickly and shook his head to get his hair out of his eyes.
"Borrow soma Snipe or my clothes! C'mon!" Race said and quickly threw some jeans at him. Snipe tossed a cotton vest and a blue-plaid shirt from across the room. Max got dressed quickly and stood next to Mush. He opened his mouth to ask what was going on but Mush interrupted him.
"We gotta do sometin wit ya hair," he said impatiently. From across the room Spot smiled cockily and strode over.
"It's too long anyhow," Spot's eyes gleamed, standing next to Mush and examining Max. "We should cut it," Max's eyes got big and he started backing up. He bumped into Race who had been right behind him the whole time. Race put his arms around him and held him fast. Max struggled but couldn't get away.
Spot flicked out a switchblade and began advancing slowly. Mush put a hand on his shoulder and he turned.
"Dere ain't enough time Spot. Dose guys are guna be here any minute now! Just brush it to da side o sumtin," Max sighed as Race let him go and Spot put the blade away. Mush pulled Max into the washroom across the hall and ran his fingers through Max's hair once or twice then gave up. It was too tangled.
"Whats everyone all worked up bout Mush?" he looked around again and most of the newsies looked nervous.
"'Member dose guys I was tellin' ya bout da other day?" Max nodded. "Well dey guna be here in a minute and we gotta look good or dey might take us to da Refuge," Max cocked his head.
"Was da Refuge?" he asked.
"Its jail!" Max turned around to see Jack shaving. "Dey take ya dere to get more money fo demselves! Dey treat ya like trash and you gots to do whateva dey tell ya!" Jack seemed invigorated by the topic.
"Jack was in dere 'imself once or twice," Mush whispered. "but 'e busted out," Jack finished shaving and rinsed his face. Max looked at Jack and thought about him being in jail. He had seem that tough factor in him since he arrived. Max flinched as Mush pulled at another tangle.
"We do gotta cut ya hair," he whispered. "Dere ain't nothin I can do. Les go!" Max followed him back to the bunkroom and looked at the others. They all stood in front of their bunks and waited…and waited…the clock ticked and everyone's nerves were on end. Just as Max was about to turn to Race and ask when they'd get here a man walked in.
He had on a brown suit and striped tie. His silvery hair covered his head and chin-area but just barely. His skin was wrinkled from time and his skin was mostly pale. His eyes gazed at them all with it's piercing green gaze. After minutes of him walking up and down the aisles and examining each boy individually he came to Max.
He looked him up and down and seemed to be trying to make a difficult decision. Max looked at him, almost holding his breath. The man seemed to stare at him for an eternity before going on to Mush, Boots, Skittery, and the rest of the boys. Finally, the man left.
Everyone was quiet for a minute. Jack and Spot were the first to move. They walked across the room to each other and spoke in low tones. A few of the others started to move. All of the little groups of boys were talking quietly. Max followed Race, Mush, Bumlets, and Snipe to a corner to speak.
"So is 'e guna be back?" Snipe asked eagerly. Race shrugged.
"I's pretty sho dey guna 'av people all ova town spyin' on us, das what I hoid,"
"But Race, how dey guna follow all of us? Huh?" Mush asked smartly.
"Dey'll find a way. Trust me Mush! Dey've got da whole government woikin' for 'em! Dey can do whateva dey want," Race got a little mad at the thought of government and people in power.
"Race's right," Bumlets sighed. "Dey prolly got guys all over town by now,"
"So…whatdawedo?" Snipe asked.
"Jus' try ta keep outta trouble," Mush and Race gave Max a knowing glance. "An' sell ya paps like any other day,"
The newsies all arrived at the Office in less than fifteen minutes. Most were going faster than usual. Some lagged behind a little, Crutchy and Boots, but they caught up nonetheless.
"Ahundred taday Weasel!" Jack said and threw the money in his face. One of the boys behind the counter scowled as he handed the papers to Jack.
"Hundred for me too!" Spot smirked at him as he handed the papers to him. Race bought forty and Mush got sixty. Max shuffled up to the counter and pulled a few coins out of his pocket.
"Fifty," Max said politely. One of the boys behind the counter, the shorter one, glared at him and gave him an evil smirk. Max stumbled back a little and bumped into Snipe.
"C'mon Pup! Da rest of us are waitin'" Snipe said pushing him forward again. The boy handed him his papers and Max turned back quickly. He managed a glance back and tripped over a wooden board. He fell against the paved ground and clutched his arm. He'd landed on the one that Mush had bandaged.
"Was wrong Pup?" it was Race. Max took his hand and was pulled up. Race looked in the direction Max had glanced. "Ya scared of da Delancey's?" Race laughed a little.
"Why ya scared o' dem two idiots for?" Snipe asked, he'd just gotten his papers and was walking towards them.
"Dey ain't nothin' ta be scared of!" Race smiled. "If ya wana see somtin scary look in Blinks direction," Kid Blink spun around and Race ducked a punch.
"Ya see da headline taday?" Snipe asked and Max nodded. "Dat s-ser…seriya…seriya killers on da loose in Harlem. That outta sell good," Max just nodded again. He felt a hand on his shoulder and spun around quickly. It was Mush.
"'Member what I said oilier bout dose guys watchin us," he said sternly. "Keep ya nose clean," Max nodded and walked off with Snipe. They started towards Central Park and Max followed for a little while, listening to Snipe talk about lots of different things. They got to the Park and Max stopped.
"C'mon Pup, we guna sell here," Snipe coaxed and Max started forward. Then he stopped again.
"I gots an idea!" he said. Snipe smiled.
"Das da first thing I've hoid ya say all day Pup!" he patted him on the back and smiled. "Good job!"
"No I was serious Snipe." Max said. "Dere's alota newsies here," Snipe looked around and nodded.
"So?" he asked. "What are ya getting to Pup?" Max thought again.
"Dontcha think dere'd be a lot of dose guys here. They know lotsa newsies come here so they put a few guys here…make sense?" Snipe nodded and smiled.
"So we should sell in a spot dat not lotsa people sell in! Good thinking!" he patted Max's cheek. "So les go sell at da market!" Max thought. A few people sold there but not many so he nodded. Even if they had spies there, they wouldn't be able to keep up with them through the thick crowd. They arrived soon and had sold a couple paps on the way there.
"WOMAN RUNS FO' PRESIDENT!" Snipe yelled and laughed quietly as four woman and two men bought paps.
"I dint read bout dat one!" Max exclaimed. "Good one!"
"It's-it's…n-not in-in…It's not in dere," Snipe said between laughs. Max laughed along.
"Mush tol' me bout inprovin' da truth but not lyin in general," Max said.
"If ya guna lie ya might as well do it da right way Pup!" Snipe laughed again and Max pondered that. Snipe was right. But Max decided to stay safe. Besides, he listened to Mush over Snipe.
"DEADLY DISEASE KILLS MILLIONS!" only thousands.
"REBELLION CAUSES DEATH OF PEOPLE AND COPS!" just a girl and injured officer.
"STOCKHOLDERS BEWARE!" that sold about twenty and it had come just off the top of Max's head. So they continued selling and 'hawkin da headlines' as Snipe called it.
They were about halfway through the business day and their paps. They were going to buy some lunch when Max heard a familiar voice.
"Hey kid!" he spun around quickly to see the boy from the Distribution Office staring at him from less than two feet away. Max backed up and Snipe stepped in front of him.
"Whatdya want Morris?" he asked with venom.
"Shutcha mouth shrimp!" Snipe turned red with anger. If anything he hated being teased about his size.
"Why don't you make me?" Snipe was awfully brave to this boy twice his size.
"Jus step aside an' lemme talk to dat new kid ova dere!" Morris pointed and Max backed away, eyes larger with fear. The boy called Morris pushed Snipe aside and strode towards Max with an evil smirk on his face. He grabbed Max by the collar and pushed him against a wall.
"So you a newsie now huh?" Max nodded, eyes closed in fear.
"Let 'im go!" Snipe yelled but the other boy from the DO was holding him. Snipe kicked and yelled but it was useless. The taller boy punched Snipe hard in the stomach and knocked the wind out of him.
"Whats ya name boy?" Morris asked, breathing alcoholic breath into his face. Max was silent and Morris punched him in the face. "I asked you a question an I want an answer!"
"M-m-max…" Max spoke just above a whisper. Morris smirked.
"You met Jack Kelly yet?" Max nodded. "Well tell him dat I'll be waitin' for 'im at Central Park tomoraw night. You tell 'im ya hear?" Max nodded again. "And dis'll be an example of what he's guna look like," Morris drew back his fist but someone grabbed his arm. He spun around and got the punch of a lifetime in the face. He fell to the ground and the taller boy ran forward to help him.
"You two scabs get your asses outta heya!" it was Spot. Max swallowed and walked over to Snipe. He helped him to his feet and they walked over to Spot.
"You two ok?" Snipe had just caught his breath and nodded. Max nodded two and handed Snipe his papers and started picking up his own. "Dem Delanceys can be real stupid sometimes…" Spot looked as the two boys ran off.
"Why's you here?" Snipe asked. "I thought you sell on da borda," The Border was the line that divided territories. Manhattan bordered Queens, The Battery, Kings, the Bronx, Hudson, and Cony Island.
"I do. But I saw a coupla dose spies watchin' me. Made me uncomftable," he said. "I jus happened to be in da neighborhood," he looked Max over.
"You ain't gotta be afraid of dose guys Pup," Snipe spoke cheerfully again. "Dere jus like any oder person ya know?" Max nodded.
"You was lookin at Maurice earlier," Spot said and Max averted his eyes. "What happened? He kinda smirked at ya,"
"He…" Max looked at Snipe and Spot, bot h listening intently. "I met im before…he was…"
"Yeah?" Spot asked.
"He was one of da guys dat beat me up da night Race found me…" they were quiet and Spot got an angered look on his face. Jaw squared, eyes ablaze, eyebrows slightly arched.
"Well dey aint guna botha ya no more Pup. Ya hear?" Max nodded and kicked a stone. "If dey try ta mess wit ya again jus holla and I'll be here in a flash," They were quiet for a minute.
"We beta get back ta sellin our paps," Snipe said.
"Ok den. You two comin' ta Tibby's after?" Max looked at Snipe who shook his head.
"I's gona meet some friends from da Bronx at a party," Snipe explained. "Wana come Pup?" Max thought. Everyone else would be at Tibby's so he might as well go wit the crowd and stay out of trouble.
"Nah," he replied quietly. "I's guna go wit da others ta Tibby's," Snipe shrugged.
"Ok. How many paps you got left?" Max quickly counted.
"bout ten," Max said.
"Ya can finish sellin wit me Pup cuz I's already done," Spot said.
"I'll see ya guys tonight!" Snipe said and left.
Spot helped Max finish selling his papers and they started towards Tibby's. They only had to walk a couple streets down from the market so it was a short walk. Spot talked a little on the way their and Max listened. He told him about this newsie he saw get hauled away by the bulls because some of the spies saw him doing something wrong. Max just listened silently. Then there was a real conversation.
"Pup, ya remember las night?" Max nodded. "Well, ya know what I said right?" he nodded again. "Jus don't tall none of da oda newsies bout dat ok? I mean…I meant it an all but-"
"I know," Max said. "Could hurt ya rep…utation," he struggled to remember the word. "It's fine," they were silent for a little and continued walking.
Just as they arrived at Tibby's Max looked up and saw a girl leaning up against the building. Not the girl Mush had been talking to the day before, a different girl. Younger, brown hair to her middle back, trim figure with somewhat gold-tan skin. Her sparkling green eyes looked up at him and she smiled. Max blushed and nodded back in acknowledgement. She gave a little wave.
"C'mon Pup!" Max had almost forgot where they were going. Spot pulled him into Tibby's and they sat at a table with Jack, Race, and Blink. The others already had food so Spot and Max ordered. Every chance he got Max would look out the window at the girl. Spot caught him once and smiled.
"Whats dat you lookin' at Pup?" he asked loudly. The others smiled and Max blushed.
"He lookin' at dose newsies?" Jack asked.
"Nah! He's lookin at dat goil in da blue skirt," Blink said as Max turned crimson.
"I am not!" Max retorted but the others were already laughing.
"Oh yes ya are!" Race said and pinched his cheek. "Pups got 'imself a goilfrien'!" the others all laughed heartily and Max pushed Race's hand away, embarrassed. Their food arrived and the ate, talking about the day. Girls, the headlines, gambling, fights. Same old stuff. That night, on the way back to the lodging house, Max saw the girl from earlier walking down the road towards Central Park. He waited until she looked in his direction until he waved. She seemed to blush and waved back a little. They got to the lodging house and got ready to sleep. Mush came in a little while after and told the others about the girl from yesterday, they'd gone to the market and 'just walked around'.
When everyone was finally tired they layed down and began to snore. Max still slept between Mush and Races bunks on the floor. He looked at the moon for a little while then dozed off.
