Act Nine: Breaking the Will of Bill and Joe/ End It Good
Crutchie's Point of View
I awoke to blurry vision and a voice echoing. After a few blinks, my vision and hearing cleared, and I saw Gabbs looking down at me. Then I heard cheering from every newsie in the room.
"You're still alive? But how? I mean you fell from the..." Gabbs jabbered on and on and all I could do was laugh. "What's so funny?" she asked.
"You." I replied playfully. And before she could say anything else, I pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. The cheering turned into a bunch of oohing and Race let out a teasing whistle. I pulled away from Gabbs and looked into her beautiful, hazel eyes. "Gabbs, I'd nev'ah leave you. You means da world ta me." I used my crutch and pulled myself up. "I love you." At that moment a ghostly mist filled the air. It was only there for moment and then it lifted. A final goodbye from James. Jack came up to us with a bewildered look on his face.
"I rememb'ah now; I tink we all do's! Da rally, Davey, Gabbs' confession, everyting!"
"But why did we forget in da first place?" Race asked as he lit a cigar.
"Does it really matter?" Davey replied. "We got Crutchie and our memories back. Now we have a strike to win."
"Yeah, an Katherine showed me how!" Jack said excitedly.
We finally met up with Katherine around midnight, and then waited for her friends Bill and Darcy to show up. When they did, Kathrine, Jack, Race, Davey, Spot, Bill, and Darcy sneaked into Pulitzer's office using the janitor's keys. We waited as they printed the Newsie's Banner, which would hopefully win us the strike. Spot opened the window to let the others in so they could take the papers and spread the news to everyone in New York. By that afternoon, every sweatshop, factory, slaughterhouse, and newspaper was shut down, and that was just the beginning! Katherine went and got Teddy Roosevelt and she, Jack, Spot, and the governor went and made a deal with Pulitzer. As all us newsies stood outside, Gabbs leaned over and asked how I survived my fall.
"I don't know. I tink a friend o' mine might a had somethin' to do wit it. Oh, an did I mention I'se a mediator now." Gabbs just stood there, mouth wide open. "No slappin' dis time!" I winced. Then Gabbs leaned in further and kissed me.
"I'm sorry, Crutchie. I promise, I will never hurt you again. I love you."
"I love you too, Gabbs." Then Teddy Roosevelt came and made an announcement.
Then I hear Elmer shout, "Hey look, it's Snyder and the cops!" Sure enough, the cops brought Snyder and were about to cuff him. I asked Roosevelt if I could do the honers. As I was cuffing him he just stared at me.
"Well it's off to the pen with you, little man." I said before hitting him in the rear with my crutch. "So long, sucka!" Afterwards, Joe offered Jack a job drawing pictures for his newspaper. But Jack declined. He still wanted to go to Santa Fe.
"I don't get it." said Davey. "What does Santa Fe got that New York ain't? Tarantulas?"
"Better yet, what does New York got that Santa Fe ain't?" Katherine added.
"New York's got us, and we're family." I told Jack as I limped over to him and patted on the back. Then Katherine stepped between us and proceeded to assure Jack that no matter what he decided, she would always be at his side. After that, he chose to stay, knowing that things seemed to be looking up for him here in New York. I hobbled over to where the brunette in pink was standing. "Ms. Katherine?" I asked as I tapped her on the shoulder.
"Yes?"
"I'm Crutchie, an I'se like ta apologize."
"But you didn't,"
"I didn't trust you, at first. But den, you helpt us an I see dat you really do care about Jack. It's just dat Jack an I are like broddahs, an I tought dat would change when he met you. I tought because of you he didn't care no'se more. But I was wrong, an I'm sorry." Katherine looked at me kindly.
"Crutchie, you didn't let me finish. I was going to say that you didn't do anything wrong."
"But I,"
"You were only protecting your friendship. And you were right to be defensive. Trust is something you earn."
"So since you're wit Jack now, I suppose dis makes us family."
"Really?"
"Why sure. In fact, I says we make you'se an honorary newsie. I hereby dubs you, Ace, on accou'nah bein' the card we needed to win"
"How da hell you'se know about poka." asked Race.
"I'se knows nuttin' bout dat. But if's ya mean dat card game, I sometimes watch ya play wit Elmer." We all laughed at the bewildered look on the gambler newsie's face.
"Guess I walkt inta dat one." Race shrugged and lit a cigar.
Suddenly we hear Mr. Wiesel shout, "Papes for da newsies!"
"Well, time ta do what we does best!" I told Jack.
"You'se got it, Crutch. Wonder what da headline will be taday?"
"Doesn't matter." said Davey. "Headlines don't sell papes," He said as he put on his cap. "Newsies sell papes!"
Stay toont for da sequel!
Love Triangle of 1899
Hey everyone, Cara here. Sorry I rushed the last chapter but truth be told, I didn't know how else to end it. Anyway, please reread the whole story; I changed some things to make it better. And I will give you 3 hints from the sequel on account of 3 is a magic number, lol.
Hint (1) It's not a yaoi or yuri. Not that I'm a homophobe, I just don't approve of Gaysies. Sorry.
Hint (2) The story is told from Race's point of view.
Hint (3) The first chapter may or may not be titled, 'The Life of a Jealous Newsie'.
Keep Calm and Seize the Day! That's all for now!
