This will be the last chapter in this story, but I am already thinking of another story! I've found a name for Madison, as you will see, so here it is; the last chapter!
Chapter 7
Madison, recently re-named Lucky, walked out of Tibby's feeling full and content. She was met with the sight of two newsboys, who were around 9 and 15 years old. The smaller one had brown, shaggy hair and mysterious blue/grey eyes. The bigger, and most likely the older one, had blonde hair and dark brown eyes. They looked like they might be brothers or friends, considering how close they stayed to each other. Lucky walked up to them to introduce herself and to ask about their business in Manhattan.
"Hi, I'm Lucky!"
Both boys looked at her, then the older one stuck out his hand in return, "I'se Tips."
Lucky tilted her head in thought, "You'se from Bronx, ain't ya? I can tell by your voice; it has 'Bronx' written all over it."
Tips nodded, "I'se is; he's not"
The younger boy came up from beside Tips then stuck out his hand, "I'se Puck, I'se nine. Can we be newsies?"
"Shoah! But we'd 'ave to ask Jack first." And with that the three newsies headed off to the lodging house.
*8*
Soon the two boys were accepted into the little family and settled in quickly. Even being from Bronx, Tips wasn't as rude and mean as some of the others were, so he fit in nicely with the "goody-two-shoes" Manhattan. Puck made friends with Boots, Les, Snipeshooter and Tumbler and he was now looked at as 'one of the littler newsies'.
Brooklyn came over with news that they had a few new newsies as well; Trouble, who was an 8 year old with tan hair and bright blue eyes; Swifty, he was the one who could run quickly, he had light brown hair and grey eyes, and Tops, who had dark brown hair and eyes as black as the night. Dagger, next in line for leader, had taken Trouble and Swifty under his wing, as they had never been newsies before.
There was news of Bronx getting a new leader and Jack took a few newsies and joined Spot to see for themselves. Dodger was the new leader. His appearance was black hair and brown eyes and his attitude was defiantly a "don't tell me what to do" attitude. The newsie leaders of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Harlem (Pup- newsie with golden/ brown hair and brown eyes) and Queens (Prince-brown hair and violet eyes) all were wondering about the new leader.
Life went on as normal, except for a little more trouble from Bronx and occasionally Harlem. Many still questioned the choice of letting Lucky be a newsie, but the Manhattan newsies were not about to let a member of their family go soon.
*8*
Race took Lucky to Sheepshead one day, to give her a glimpse of how it is selling at the tracks. It was hot and muggy and yet there were still many people willing to brave the heat to bet on their favorite horses.*
"You get the left side and I'll stick with the right, it's usually less crowded on left." Race told Lucky befor drifting off into the crowd.
"Great! Now what?" Lucky glanced at the papers in her hand, then shrugged to herself and started shouting out random headlines. "Baby found outside fire station; possibly the mayor's" She grinned, thinking, before shouting, "Pulitzer is found to have a child, more on the way!"
As people came over to get their news Lucky remembered some famous words: " It ain't lying, it's just improvin' the truth a little." Yep Jack, just improvin' the truth!
After a while of making up headlines and running from those who caught onto the scam, Lucky walked around the track, exploring the new area.
She came across an opening, in which she could hear horses whinnying and stamping their hooves. A little peek won't hurt anythin'. She glanced around her, and seeing no one, walked into the stables.
The horses stared at her, as if they had never seen a human before. Lucky smiled at their reactions and continued walking and occasionally petting one, talking in soft tones to them. Near the end of the stables, she noticed that one horse in particular was fidgeting and trying it's hardest to escape. This one, a dark brown mare with a black mane and tail, was tied up unlike all the others.
Lucky frowned, No animal should be tied up like this! As she walked over to untie it, the mare reared up and pawed the ground, while neighing as loud as possible. She jumped back, startled for a minute, then continued on.
"I'm not gonna hurt you. Shhh, shhh. Calm down um…" Lucky looked at the plaque on the stable door, "Rage of Fire. It's Ok." She continued talking to the horse in soft tones and not moving any closer until Rage of Fire calmed down.
"Hey, you're a pretty horse, hmm." She smiled at the mare, "What do you say about a new name? How about….umm…..Feather Song!" The mare just stared at her, distrust in her eyes. Lucky sighed, "You don't care? Fine, Feather Song it is!"
Lucky took out a few slices of apple she was saving for later and handed a slice to the horse on her palm outstretched. Feather Song, as she was now called, tentatively lowered her head to sniff at the food in the unmoving palm. She eventually picked it up and ate the whole slice, then looked at Lucky for more.
Lucky laughed. "You want some more?" the horse gave a slight dip of her head, "Ok then, here's all I have left."
The last bits of apple were quickly eaten and the horse and Lucky stared at one another for a while.
"Hey!"
Lucky and Feather Song both jumped at the sudden shout at the entrance.
One of the jockeys was walking directly at them, "You shouldn't be in here, and much less near THAT horse!"
Lucky glanced at Feather Song then back to the jockey, "Why not?"
The jockey looked up uneasily at Feather Song, as if she would bite his head off for talking, then he replied just above a whisper, "That horse used to be a wild horse. Now she is just evil; She always throws riders off and almost stomped one at one point!"
Lucky looked at both, the horse and jockey, trying to decide what to think.
"But- She- I mean, well- I"
"I'd be in your best interest if you got out of here as soon as possible miss." With that he tipped his hat and strolled out of the stables.
"Lucky!" She heard Racetrack's voice echoing off the walls as he searched for her.
Lucky turned to Feather Song, "I don't believe him! You aren't evil! I promise you this, that one day I'll help you get free and let you run wild again!"
Feather Song looked happier and nodded.
"Wait," Lucky paused, "You can understand me?"
Feather Song just stared at her, but with a kind look in her eyes.
Lucky nodded, "I'll get you out someday; I promise."
Lucky had a way of understanding animals and they, her. It may seem like something impossible, but she just had a gift for animals, or at least this one.
Lucky would visit each day and try to think of ways to get Feather Song out. She still had yet to figure one out but she kept trying. Nobody at the stables understood how the most un-tamable horse there suddenly became one of the calmer ones, even though her wild mustang blood would still show through sometimes. They still were wary of the poor mare and kept a close watch on her, but unknown to them, there was a little redhead girl named Lucky, who would someday get the horse out of her prison.
The End
That ended this story!
A few things though;
The * was to let you know that in my story (stories) that Sheepshead will be a racing ground for horses; not cars.
I already have a few ideas for a sequel and I am planning on starting it soon!
I am very proud of this story and I would like to know, as all authors do, how you liked it, so please, please, please review!
I own Feather Song, Tops, Swifty, Pup, Tips, Puck, Dodger, Prince, Dagger, Trouble and Lucky! I think that's all, so until next time!
-Angel1029
