A/N: Thank you for everyone who reviewed my story! And to Lily, I like the idea of Les having a girl because he is the cutest thing ever. But I planned this story in my head but it takes awhile to put it on paper but I promise if I make a sequel Dana will be in it. The songs are All That Jazz (I know it didn't come out for almost another hundred years but I love it so it is in this story) then there's a sample of I Never Planned on You from the Broadway play newsies, I love it so it is in my story, Seize the Day, the intro is from the Broadway play and the part with the other newsies is from the movie. I don't own these songs and I know David sings in Seize the Day but I gave it to Aggie so you can understand her character more. I do not own Newsies and I don't even own Romeo, he's in the Broadway play but he's adorable so he's in my story. I do however own Agatha (Royal)
Aggie wakes to find herself still in Kid Blink's arms. She blushes from being this close to him. He's even breathing tells her he's still asleep. She doesn't want to wake him but she hopes he wakes up soon, before Kloppman comes in to wake everyone.
A few newsies wake up but they don't even notice Kid Blink and Aggie. Although Race does.
He notices the two and feels happy that they're finally together. It means he won the bet against Snitch that they would get together by the end of 1899.
Race smirks at Aggie, in a teasing manner, and she rolls her eyes. He makes a heart with his hands and winks at her, she just smiles.
He mouths, "I'se knowe' it."
She mouths, "Shut up! Nothing happened."
He holds his hands up in defeat and walks away. Either way he will get his 50 cents.
Kid Blink stirs moments after and Aggie turns to face him.
He smiles at her, this causes a shiver to go through her body. She absolutely adores his smile. She smiles back.
"No nightmares?" He asks.
"None." Aggie whispers. They look longing into each others eyes, then Aggie sits up, careful not to hit her head and plainly says, "Kloppman." Kid Blink nods in understanding. She can't let Kloppman know she's a girl, she'll get thrown out on the streets. Kid Blink can't let that happen to her.
Aggie gets up and goes to change behind a curtain she has set up. So that way the boys don't see her in her unmentionables.
She quickly bandages her chest down and she dresses in charcoal grat pants, a navy blue shirt, white socks, and black shoes. Her heart is pounding at the thought of getting caught that she might get thrown out on the streets. But Kloppman is a nice fellow he wouldn't do that, right?, Aggie begs in her mind.
Unbeknownst to Aggie, Kloppman already knows but he trusts that she will soak any boys who try anything.
Aggie gathers her hair and tucks it into her grey cap and she grabs a vest that is black.
Just as she gets her second arm through the hole, Kloppman comes in and to wake everyone, Aggie sighs in relief. She went into guy mode just in time.
She goes to an unoccupied washroom stall to wash her face and reminisces in last night. About how many boundaries were broken between Kid Blink and herself. Oh how she wishes she is his.
Just as she finishes, Jack comes up next to her and he saw Kid Blink and her. So why not tease her about it?
"So, I sees ya gots some sleep, huh?" He says with a smile.
"I got some great sleep, like you never got." Aggie says teasing him back.
Jack splashes water at her and she splashes him back. They have a little war and Aggie reaches for some shaving cream to fling at Jack but Kloppman gives them a look saying, "Stop it". They stop but they cannot stop laughing.
While Kid Blink is getting ready he thinks about where him and Aggie stand. He wants her to be his girl but does she want to be his? Kid Blink can hardly stand it anymore. He has to try but he doesn't want to jeopardize their friendship. But he loves her and he is so sure of it. But he hasn't planned on it. He was the ladies man before he met her but now, he wants to spend all his hours with her.
"I got no use for moonlight
Or sappy poetry.
Love at first sight's
For suckers,
At least it used to be.
Look, girls are nice,
Once or twice,
Till I find someone new,
But I never planned on
Someone like you."
He watches her talk to Jack and get ready.
"No, I never planned on
Someone like you."
As he finishes getting dressed, Race comes up to him and says, "Youse knows I'se saw youse guys."
"Oh youse did?" Is all Kid Blink can say while trying to hide the fact his cheeks are burning red.
"Yep but don't worry. She likes ya back."
"Really?" says Kid Blink flabbergasted. But if what Race says is true, then he will ask her to be his girl.
Race knows that Kid Blink is a good person and can't hurt a fly, unless provoked. But there is still the protective part of him that will never let harm come Aggie's way. Race's face turns hard and he gets in Kid Blink's face and he says, "But if youse hurts her, in any way. I'se'll soak ya meself." And with that threat he walks away. He puts a poker face on, which happens to be really good because he gambled everyday, and puts his hat on.
Kid Blink knows he'll never hurt her, he can't. Then Jack walks up and whispers with a smile , "I swears if youse hurts her I'll-"
"Don't worry, Race already read me the riot act." Kid Blink interrupts.
"Well then we'd take turns, he'll go first then I'll soak ya. Sound good?" Jack says walking away. He won't let anyone touch Aggie. She will stay safe.
The newsies all head to work, but stop at the convent first.
Both Jack and Kid Blink make sure Aggie eats something.
While she eat she notices Romeo seems calmer than yesterday.
"You seem happy." Aggie says to him.
"I'm gettin' the hang of this. I selle' all 50 of me papes yesterday."
"Getting good at "reading" a headline, eh?" She says and they both kind of laugh.
Kid Blink wears another unreadable expression. It's of him truing to hold back his jealousy. He doesn't like the way Romeo looks at her, it's the same way he looks at her. He can't see Aggie's eyes because her cap is pulled down but if what Race said is right, then he has nothing to fear when he pops the question.
Aggie sees this and makes a mental note to ask him if he's alright later. But she likes Romeo, not in that way but like a family friend kind of way. But Romeo, Romeo thinks she is the best girl in the world. That she is the image of beauty and she is smart, independent, she's brave. She's caring and gentle but can be a frightening if someone insulted one of her friends. She's a survivor, a fighter and she can soak someone like a champ. All these qualities and more made the two boys, Kid Blink and Romeo fall hard for Aggie.
When the newsies arrive at work, Weasel shouts, "The paper's price has gone by a tenth of a cent. 60 cents for a hundred."
Aggie is speechless. They barely have anything and they want to take that away from them too?
Jack joins the newsies and he looks angry.
"They jacke' up the price! Ya hear that, Jack? Ten cents a hundred! Youse knows, it's bad enough that we gots ta eat what we don't sell, now they jack up the price! Can youse believe that?" Blink shouts and Aggie places a hand on his shoulder, knowing he can get pretty scary when he's angry.
"This'll bust me, I'm barely makin' a livin' right now." Skittery says flicking the buds of his cigarette on the ground. Aggie gives him a sympathetic smile, that also said "We'll find a way to fix this".
Skittery nods getting the message but he isn't one for smiling whenever he's in a bad mood. Which is often.
"It don't make no sense. I mean, all the money Pulitzer's makin' why would he gouge us?" Mush questions.
"'Cause he's a tight wad, dat's why!" Race says angrily.
"Pipe down, it's just a gag. So, why the jack up Weasel?" Jack asks.
"Why not? It's a nice day. Why don'tcha ask Mr. Pulitzer?" He says closing the window so they can't see him.
"They can't ta this ta me Jack." Blink says still angry. Aggie tries to further calm him by putting both her hands on his shoulders and she whispers, "Relax, Blink. If you're too angry nothing will be fixed. Please, you're starting to scare me." Kid Blink looks down at the girl and nods whispering back, "Okay, okay. I'm sorry." And he takes a deep breath.
"Dey can do whatever dey want. It's deir stinkin' paper." Race says during Kid Blink's and Aggie's conversation.
"It ain't fair. We got no rights at all." Boots says.
"Come on, it's a rigged deck. Dey got all da marbles." Race says.
"Jack, we got no choice, so why don't we get our lousy papes while they still got some, huh?" Mush says already giving up.
"No! Nobody's goin' anywheres. They can't get away wid this!" Jack says stopping him.
Then Aggie realizes something the revelation hits her hard and she tumbles backwards. Kid Blink grabs her arm and helps her regain some balance, "I'll be back on the streets back with him." She whispers in fear and she can't take it. She can't go live on the streets, her father will surely find her.
Kid Blink's eye widen when he realizes Aggie's talking about her father, the one he heard terrible things about. He hugs her close to him and he says, "Jack. We have to do something about this." Jack looks at the pair. He sees how frightened Aggie is and he knows she's thinking about how she'll end up on the streets and he'll find her. Sometimes it's like Jack and Aggie share a brain. They think the exact same way, almost all the time.
"Don't worry they won't get away with this. Just let me think." Jack says soothingly and sits down on the steps.
Les starts to push people away from Jack saying, "Give him some room, give him some room. Let him think."
He gives Mush an "I'm watching you" face and Aggie can't help but giggle. He's too cute, she thinks.
Skittery offers up the last but of his cigarette to help Jack clear his mind. He graciously accepts it and starts to think.
"Jack, ya done thinkin' yet?" Race says after sometime.
Then Weasel opens his window and says, "Hey! Hey! Hey! World employees only on this side of the gate!" That's him, always trying to weasel himself into their business hence the nickname; it's based on his personality and looks.
All the newsies shout comebacks at him. That's when Jack gets the idea.
"Wait, listen. One thing's for sure, if we don't sells papes, then nobody sells papes. Nobody comes through those gates 'til they puts the price back ta where it was." Jack suggests.
"Like a strike?" David says plainly.
"Yes exactly!" Jack says knowing his plan should work.
"Are ya outta ya mind?" Race asks and Aggie, still wrapped in Kid Blink's arms, gives him an "Are you serious?" look.
"I happen to think it's a great idea!" Aggie says defending Jack. And it seems like the only solution to her.
"Jack, I was only joking. We can't go on strike, we don't have a union." David says. Aggie really hates this kid and his negativity. She breaks out of Kid Blink's arms and gets in his face.
"But, if we'se go on strike, den we is a union, right?" She says, with her thickly accented boy voice, hiding the fact that she's a girl from David, whom she doesn't trust. She wants to argue with him. Pick a fight.
"No, we're just a bunch of angry kids with no money. Maybe if we got every newsie in New York, but-"
"Yeah, well den we organize. Crutchy, youse takes up for collection." She say interrupting him, Crutchy nods and takes off his hat and hops around getting the little cash we have. "We gets all da newsies of New York togeddah." Aggie says, still with her accent that's heavier than most other newsies.
David tries to reason with Jack because he knows Royal won't level with him. This kid has the thickest of skulls. And it's about time someone took a sledgehammer and got into his brain and fixed the way he thought, "Jack, this isn't a joke. You saw what happened to those trolley workers."
"Yeah, well that's anudda good idea. Any newsie don't join with us, then we bust their heads like the trolley workers." Jack says leading the newsies away from Weasel's prying eyes and ears.
"Stop and think about this Jack. You can't just rush everybody into this." David says. He really doesn't care does he? Aggie thinks. The group continues walking into newsie square.
"Alright. Let me thinks 'bout it. Listen. Dave's right. Pulitzer an' Hearst an' all 'em odda rich fellas, I means, they owns this city, so do they really think a bunch of street rats like us can make any difference? The choice has gots ta be yers. Are we jus' gonna take what they gives us, or are we'se gonna strike?" Jack says to everyone.
They all glance at each other weighing our options, but the decision is unanimous.
"Strike!" They all shout out randomly.
"Well, youse tells us what to do Davey." Jack says.
David sighs and decides to humor them, let them see how hard it will be, "Pulitzer and Hearst have to respect our rights." He says.
"Hey listen! Pulitzer an' Hearst have ta respect the rights of the workin' boys of New York!" They all cheer at the sound of that, that'll be the day. "Well, that worked pretty good, so what else?" Jack whispers to David.
"Tell them that they can't treat us like we don't exist." David whispers and Jack climbs up on the statue for extra emphasis.
"Pulitzer an' Hearst, they think we're nuttin'.
Are we nuttin'?" Jack calls out now knowing what to say.
They newsies all respond, "No!"
"If we stick together like the trolley workers then they can't break us up." David says.
"Pulitzer an' Hearst , they think they got us.
Do they got us?" Jack asks.
"No!" The newsies shout their spirits lifting.
"We'se a union now, da Newsboys Union. We have ta start actin' like a union." Aggie says proving they are a union now.
"Even though we ain't got hats or badges,
we're a union just be sayin' so...
And the world will know!" Jack sings.
"What's to stop somebody else from selling our papes?" Boots asked scared that the only thing that will come of this is that they lose their jobs.
"Well, then we'll talk with them!" Jack answers like it's nothing.
"Some of dem don't hear so good!" Race announces the obvious like always.
"Well den we'se soak 'em!" Aggie says and they all cheer.
"No! We can't beat up kids in the streets. It'll give us a bad name." David says to Aggie.
"Can't get any worse." Crutchy says and Aggie nods agreeing.
"What's it gonna take to stop the wagons?"
Are we ready?" Jacks sings.
"Yeah!" The newsies shout.
"No!" David says and the rest of them boo at him.
"What's it gonna take to stop the scabbers?
Can we do it?"Jack sings disregarding David.
"Yeah!" They all respond.
"We'll do what we gotta do untill we break the will of mighty Bill and Joe..." Jack sings.
"And the world will know!
And the Journal, too!
Mr. Hearst and Pulitzer, have we got news for you!
Now the world will hear. What we'se got ta say."
"We'se been hawkin' headlines but we'se be makin' 'em today.
And our ranks will grow." All of the newsies sing.
"And we'll kick their rear!" Crutchy yells showing he will fight too, even with his bum leg. Aggie thinks, now that's bravery.
"And the world will know that we've been here!" The newsies sing.
"When the circulation bell starts ringin',
will we hear it?" Aggie asks everyone helping Jack lead them all. She walks them over to the gates where they close them.
"No!" They all shout.
"What if the Delancys come out swingin',
will we hear it?!"
"No!" They all shout again.
"When you got a hundred voices singin',
who can hear a lousy whistle blow?
And the world will know!
That this ain't no game.
And we got a ton of rotten fruit and perfect aim.
So they gave their word?
Well it ain't worth beans!
And they gonna see what "Stop the presses" really means.
And the day has come
And the time is now
And the fear is gone." The newsies sing and dance to.
"And our name is mud." Boots sings.
"And the strike is on!" The other newsies sing.
"And I can't stand blood." Boots sings-shouts.
"And the world will-
Yeah!" they all sing and shout.
"Pulitzer may own the world, but he don't own us." Aggie sings.
"Pulitzer may own the world, but he don't own us!" The other newsies chant.
"Pultizer may crack the whip, but he won't whip us."
"Pultizer may crack the whip, but he won't whip us!"
"And the world will know
And the world will learn
And the world will wonder how we made the tables turn
And the world will see
That we had to choose
That the things we do today will be tomorrow's news
And the old will fall
And the young stand tall
And the time is now
And the winds will blow
And our ranks will grow and grow and grow and so
The world will feel the fire
And finally know!" The newsies all finish extremely angry. Even David is with them by this time; he remembers how his dad lost his job and all because he had no union, he doesn't wish that upon anyone else, not even Royal. Jack writes the word "Strike" on the headline board as the newsies chant, "Strike!"
"We gots ta get word out to all the newsies of New York. I need some of those….what'dja call 'em?" Jack asks David now that he is back down with everyone else.
"Anything youse want!" Romeo jokes and Aggie giggles at his silliness. Kid Blink wears another poker face trying to hide his jealous. It doesn't go
"Ambassadors?" David asks clarifying it.
"Yeah, right. Okay, youse guys, ya gotta be am-bastids an' go tell the oddas that we're on strike. Go in pairs." Jack says. Aggie rolls her eyes at Jack's mispronunciation. Others giggle.
Kid Blink and Aggie look at each other and call out, "We'll go take Harlem!"
He nods and winks at them, causing Aggie to roll her eyes once again and then the pair walks off.
Kid Blink still wears that look on his face that he gets when he's jealous.
"Hey, Blink, you okay? You've got this weird expression on your face. Every time I talk to Romeo you have that look on. And on the roof last night, too. I mean I'm just trying to make him feel welcome, he's still new." Aggie explains a little bit awkwardly
"Well, I don't knows, I just-" he says and he gets tongue-tied. He wants to tell her, it's now or never.
"Wow, is the great Kid Blink actually speechless?" She joke trying to lighten the mood.
Kid Blink rubs the back of his neck nervously.
"I can asks youse anythings right?" He asks gathering his courage to share his feelings.
"Of course, why would you even ask that?"
Kid Blink shrugs before taking a deep breathe and asking, "What are we? Where do we'se stand?"
Aggie stays silent not sure is she should say her actual feelings towards Kid Blink, her spirits are high thinking about better change for newsies, a rejection is the last things he wants to hear right now.
Kid Blink notices this and continues speaking, "Well it's just that I like youse. I means I really likes youse. Last night on the roof, I just wished I could kiss ya right then and there. I gots a little jealous of youse and him. In fact, there's sometin I've been wantin' ta ask ya for a while now."
He takes her hand and looks deep into her eyes. Aggie's heart is beating in her eyes and she stops breathing.
"Agatha," he uses her full name for effect, to show he is serious about this, "Will youse be me goil?" He asks. Now his heart is beating in his ears and he stops breathing as Aggie's heart beat slows and heads back to her chest cavity and she breathes in once again.
"I thought you'd never ask." Aggie says with a smile.
Their lips meet and they both get a bubbly feeling throughout my entire body. It burns with passion.
The newly made couple part and they head on to Harlem while holding hands.
The two quickly reach Harlem after their magical first kiss. They meet up with a bunch of newsies.
"Where's Choker?" Asks Kid Blink. Choker is the leader of the Harlem newsies, they call him Choker because in a fight, he chokes the person until they pass out but they're still alive. This makes him feared, but not like Spot Conlon. He can make someone wish they were fighting Choker. Still he is the most frightening newsie in Harlem.
The newsies cross their arms over their chest and one, who's name is Scar, he is called this because of a long scar across his right arm, it was a factory incident. He asks, "Why should we Agatha?" Aggie cringes as he sneers her full name, she ran into him once and it wasn't pretty, for him at least. It was self defense on Aggie's part, Kid Blink squeezes her hand as he notices.
"'Cause I'll soak ya, understood?" Aggie says showing them her left fist. She's fought each of the three newsies at least once. And every time, she knocked them out with her left hook.
They nod and walk them down the slums of Harlem. The once beautiful city is now a waste land, the newsboys here live in the worst place of New York. Kid Blink holds Aggie closer to him at the site of the horrid place. Danger lurks around every corner.
The Harlem newsies lead Kid Blink and Aggie to Choker. He's sitting on a bench reading a pape looking for headlines.
"Choker, they're some people here to see you." The newsie Grease says, he always has a greasy look in his hair, his face, so on. The other two, Scar and Smoker, they call him smoker because he is always smoking, even in his sleep, walk off with him leaving Choker alone with the two.
"Hey, Royal, is there something I can do for youse?" Choker asks fixing himself to look presentable. He is a bigger guy, 6' 4" and 230 pounds since most other newsies give him their food since they're scared of him. He has dark blonde hair and brown eyes that appear has a darker skin tone showing off his Argentinian side. Choker likes Aggie in that way. How can he not?
"Hey, the pape's price has gone up in 'Hattan. Might happen here as well." Aggie says clearly uninterested in him. She squeezes Kid Blink's hand.
"Yeah, well what's youse gonna 'bout it." He says meanly noticing the two are together.
"We'se are doin' sometin. We'se be goin' on strike. They'se haves ta lower the price of the pape. Youse wanna join us?" Kid Blink says just as meanly. He doesn't want anyone being mean to her.
Choker thinks it over, and wants to do it to get closer to Aggie yet he doesn't want to get beaten so he comes to a compromise.
"Shoa, we'll join ya, but you'll have ta get Brooklyn in or we'se out." He says and the two nod and they quickly head back.
Once they are back in 'Hattan, their pace slows.
"Well maybe we'll get Brooklyn on our side and we'll be fine." Aggie says worriedly, she is trying to convince herself more than Kid Blink .
"Of course. But remembah I ain't gonna let anyones hurt youse." Kid Blink says and he lovingly kisses her cheek. She turns red and smiles. Kid Blink does too.
"And I'll never let anyone hurt you." She says and the couple embrace.
"I'm so glad she's finally my goil," Kid Blink thinks.
They hold hands as they walk up to newsie square only occupied by Jack, Boots, and David. They are waiting to see if the others have better news than theirs.
"'Ey, Harlem is in if Brooklyn is." Kid Blink says and Jack notices their connected hands.
"Okay, but uh, youse twos go on. We'll fill ya in later. Besides we gots ta wait for the oddas. Have fun."
The couple walk away and Kid Blink says "I thinks Jack just told us ta go on a date."
"Well then let's follow his order." Aggie says with a smile.
"Okay, how 'bout we starts like this?" Kid Blink says and he kisses her. He loves kissing her. He's been wanting to do that for a while. Then an idea pops into his head.
"I knows where we should go." Kid Blink says and he takes Aggie's hand and leads her through the winding streets of Manhattan as they shove through other people.
"Blink, where're we going?" Aggie asks with a laugh.
"Youse will sees." He answers thinking of taking her to see a show. Since she loves them and can be a part of them, if ever needed.
Aggie sighs and she lets him lead her to his destination.
Soon he stops her and covers her eyes and he carefully leads her up some stairs and Aggie instantaneously know Kid Blink had taken her. They are at Irving Hall. She knows this place all too well.
Kid Blink opens the door for Aggie and he reveals the place. Aggie's full of excitement.
"Oh, Blink!" She says and she hugs him. He automatically hugs her back.
They intertwine hands and walk down to see if they can find Medda to get permission about seeking a show, but she finds them first.
"You two are finally together, aren't you?" She says happily, noticing their intertwined hands.
They nod smiling shyly.
"Oh I knew this would happen! I'm so happy for you guys. How about a free show, like a date." She says, Aggie loves how kind she is.
"Shoa, sounds great!" Kid Blink says and he leads his girl, Aggie, to the balcony Medda leaves open for the newsies. She likes having her boys and Aggie watching her.
They sit next to each other and a little into the show, Kid Blink pretends to yawn and places his arm around Aggie's shoulders.
She blushes and leans her head on his shoulder.
When the show's almost over, Aggie excuse herself to actually use the bathroom.
When she gets there she hears yelling and she goes to see what's the matter and if she can help.
"I quit!" A woman shouted slurring her words, her name is Natalie, a dancer and singer for Medda. She is somewhat beautiful with dyed blonde hair and hazel eyes. But her features have grown worse due to her excessive drinking and lack of taking care of herself.
"You can't quit! I need you to perform your act for the last number!" Medda shouted back, she wanted to fire her because she's disrespectful, always late, and now her dancing and singing is off, but she's desperate, the show must go on.
"If you're so great you do it!" Natalie yells still drunk.
She walks out and Medda sees Aggie standing there, then she gets an idea.
"You know all the dances and songs, right?" She asks.
"Yes." Aggie answers not sure where this is heading.
"Well can you perform this number? I can't sing it, it's much too young for me!" Medda says panicked.
"I can't do it, I'm not good." Aggie says.
"I've heard you and seen you on that balcony. You will be perfect. Now come on there's not much time." Medda says and she leads Aggie to the stage. Aggie realizes this is life giving her a once in a lifetime chance. "And hey if Medda and Blink say I'm good, then I must be good, right?" Aggie thinks , "And maybe that balcony isn't as secluded as I thought."
"Wait!" Aggie says and she closes the door to Medda's dressing room and she un-bandage her chest and she puts a camisole on because it'll be easier to sing without the compression against her lungs.
"Ready." Aggie says opening the door and she's a nervous wreck, especially since she's still dressed like a boy but she stays dressed like that so when she messes up, Royal messes up, not Agatha.
Kid Blink patiently waits for her and as he scans the crowd he finds the Delancy's sitting there saying profanities about the show girls.
He keep a look out for Aggie so he can warn her and she can go around their table so they don't see her.
But then Kid Blink finds her yet he finds her, being pushed on stage by Medda.
Aggie looks around nervously but before she can bolt the music starts and fills her body, she sings, "Come on, babe
Why dont we paint the town?
And all that jazz." She sings beautifully but nervously. Then she meets Kid Blink's crystal blue eye and she lightly smiles as all her nervousness washes away, she even moves around and dances more freely. Her eyes never leave his.
"I'm gonna rouge my knees
And roll my stockings down
And all that jazz
Start the car
I know a whoopee spot
Where the gin is cold
But the piano's hot
It's just a noisy hall
Where there's a nightly brawl
And all that jazz
Slick your hair
And wear your buckle shoes
And all that jazz
I hear that Father Dipp
Is gonna blow the blues
And all that jazz
Hold on, hon'
We're gonna bunny hug
I bought some asprin
Down at United Drug
In case you shake apart
And wanna brand new start
To do that jazz" Aggie sings, and she removes her cap ready to show the crowd who is behind the voice and moves. That it is Agatha, not Royal. They cheer and whistle.
"Oh, you're gonna see you
Sheba shimmy shake
And all that jazz
Oh, she's gonna shimmy
Till her garters break
And all that jazz
Show her where to park her girdle
Oh, her mother's blood'd curdle
If she'd hear her baby's queer
For all that jazz
Find a glass
We're playing fast and loose
And all that jazz
Right up here
Is where I store the juice
And all that jazz
Come on, babe
We're gonna brush the sky
I betcha lucky Lindy never flew so high
'Cause in the stratosphere
How could he lend an ear
To all that jazz?
No, I'm no one's wife
But, oh, I love my life
And all that jazz
That jazz"
She finishes. And the crowd erupts with cheers. They all thought she was great, they never knew a street rat is capable of something like that.
Oscar knew who he or she was from the start. She didn't know he and his brother was there so she showed her true self and Oscar watched her glorious being. "How could I have been so blind?" He thinks. He must have her, even if she doesn't want him.
Aggie smiles and bows finally feeling like herself. Se feels comfortable in her skin again, unlike in the last 7 years. Her gaze never left Kid Blink's gaze. He stands up and claps for her like many other people.
She waves at him and he waves back. He remembers the Delancy's are here and he wants to get Aggie out as soon as possible. They're looking at them meanly. Kid Blink hurries back stage. They now know she's a girl.
Aggie grabs her cap and she throws it back on. With one last look out, she rushes off stage. She runs right into Medda.
"Oh, honey, that was incredible!" Medda breathes, truly proud of the performance.
"Thank you!" Aggie says with a smile she can't hide.
"Hey how would you like to join the show? I'll give you a job."
Aggie becomes speechless and she knows she made the right choice of going on stage. She might even make a few extra bucks then get to Santa Fe quicker.
"I'd be honored! But I still want to be a newsie. We just started a strike." Aggie says and explains what happened today and Medda nods intensively.
"I understand, and good luck. The next rehearsal is at 2:30, in two days. We take tomorrow off."
"I cannot thank you enough, Medda."
"Don't thank me, thank God for the talent he bestowed on you. Now head back to your man." Medda says and she winks at Aggie, since she sees Kid Blink running up to her, before heading off. Aggie notices Kid Blink and she goes and hugs him. He of course hugs back. He will always have time for her, even in times of danger.
While they are still wrapped in each other's embrace, Aggie explains what Medda had said.
"That's incredible, Aggie! I'm so proud." He says and kisses her cheek. The couple hold hands and head back to the others.
Aggie smiles all the way back to newsie square. She hold hands with Kid Blink and it's a short walk so they don't talk much; all Kid Blink rambles on about how great of a performer she is. He neglects to use the word "Show Goil" since he thinks it's disrespectful.
"Jack. So, where's Spot?" Race asks when the couple arrives, along with Crutchy and Snotty.
"He was concerned about us being serious. Youse imagine that?" Jack says doubtful. This is going to be bad. Kid Blink sees the look on Aggie's face, one of shock, and gives her hand a squeeze. She wants to give him a squeeze back but she can't bring herself to do it.
"Widout Spot an' da oddas, there ain't enough of us, Jack." Kid Blink says actually stepping away from a fight.
"Maybe we're moving too soon. Maybe we ain't ready, youse knows?" Mush states, scared.
"I definitely think we'se should forget 'bout it for a little while." Skittery says and Aggie can't believe it.
"Oh, do ya?" Jack says rudely.
"Yeah." Skittery says getting a bit worried about Jack's next reaction.
"Yeah, I'se means, we'se not Brooklyn…youse knows?" Race says and Aggie never thought Racetrack would get scared. She lets go of Kid Blink's hand and throws her own up in the air outraged. "Spot was right, is this just a game to you guys?" She says getting angry. She takes a deep breathe and instead of yelling at them, she tries to inspire them, "Now is the time to seize the day
Stare down the odds and seize the day
Minute by minute that's how you win it
We will find a way
But let us seize the day
Courage cannot erase our fear
Courage is when we face our fear
Tell those with power safe in their tower
We will not obey!
Behold the brave battalion that stands side by side
Too few in number and too proud to hide
Then say to the others who did not follow through
You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you." Aggie is surprised David will fight with them and has found some respect for him because of this quality.
Him, Kid Blink and Crutchy join them in song, "Now is the time to seize the day
Stare down the odds and seize the day"
All the other newises give in and know that this must be done with or without Brooklyn, "Once we've begun
If we stand as one
Someday becomes somehow
And a prayer becomes a vow"
"And this strike starts right damn now!" Aggie sings out.
"Now is the time to seize the day" Aggie sings leading them with her words.
"Now is the time to seize the day" The newsies repeat.
"Send out the call and join the fray."
"Send out the call and join the fray."
"Wrongs will be righted
If we're united"
"Let us seize the day"
"Friends of the friendless, seize the day."
"Friends of the friendless, seize the day"
"Raise up the torch and light the way."
"Raise up the torch and light the way."
"Proud and defiant
We'll slay the giant.
Let us seize the day.
Neighbor to neighbor
Father to son
One for all and all for one!" They all sing getting our jitters out.
The newsies all dance around newsie square, dancing out their jitters.
"Open the gates and seize the day." Half the newsies sing including David, Jack, and Aggie.
"Open the gates and seize the day." The other half sing.
"Don't be afraid and don't delay."
"Don't be afraid and don't delay."
"Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Neighbor to neighbor
Father to son
One for all and all for one!" They all sing waiting for our chance when the circulation bells rings. Everyone is preparing for a fight including Aggie.
Kid Blink doesn't want her to get hurt during this act so he goes to her and will try to talk her out of it.
"'Ey, Royal." Kid Blink whispers trying not to blow her cover since she's dressed like Royal again.
"Hey Blink, what's up?" She say back not loudly but not whispering.
He looks into her beautiful green eyes with his cobalt blue eye with a pleading look and says, "Please don't stay."
"What?" Aggie whisper-shouts, "I have to stay."
He takes her hands and he whispers, "I just couldn't lives wid meself if somethings happene' ta youse. The Delancy's were at the show, they knows ya a goil. They'se try ta soak ya the most."
Aggie can't believe her ears, she has to stay.
"Blink no because I want to protect you. And I can't do that from the Lodging House. Besides, you know I'm a good fighter."
He knows how stubborn Aggie can be so he sighs and he says, "I knows. Okay, but ya gots ta stay with me. So I can protect ya 'cause yer me goil."
He pulls her into an embrace and she hold him too.
"I'm just sick and tired of not having a voice." Aggie says into his shirt not letting go.
"I knows. Me's too." He says and the couple release at the sound of the circulation bell.
