When the strikers arrived at Tibby's, Margaret's table instantly became the infirmary. Margaret was just putting ice on a bruise that was forming on Mush's right cheekbone when David walked up,
"You better get yourself patched up, that cut might scar." David said gently grabbing Margaret's chin.
"I'm sorry, 'ave ya been tendin' newsies that were soaked by the Delancey's since ya were eight?" Margaret replied, David's eyes widened,
"You've been doing this since you were eight?" He asked,
"Well, fer as long as I can remember, and I can't remember anything before Jack found me." David frowned,
"What do you mean 'Jack found me'?" He said sitting beside Margaret.
"Well, it's an interestin' story, Jack was on 'is route one mornin' when 'e found me, more dead then alive, unconscious and bleedin' from the 'ead. 'E took me tah the Lodgin' House and nursed me back tah 'ealth, I couldn't remember anythin' but my name and 'ow old I was." David looked amazed, just then Denton walked into Tibby's, newspaper in hand.
"Hey, fellas," he said, holding it up to Tibby and Specs so they could see the headline.
"Hey!"
"Hey!"
"Hiya!" and the likes were shouted out to him as he walked towards Jack. Margaret got up to sit next to Jack.
"Hey, hey, hey! Big time," Denton said, slamming the paper down in front of Jack.
"Hey, whatcha got there, Jack?" someone from across the room asked. The newsies crowded around him, David and Denton hung back.
"Where's me picture, where's me picture?" Spot asked, pushing to the front of the crowd. Margaret snorted.
"All dem woids dere, dey all about us?" Boots asked.
"Ha! Ha! Look atcha Jack, ya look like a general or somethin'!" Mush exclaimed, pointing to the picture.
"Would ya get your finga's off me face?" Jack asked, brushing Mush's hand away.
"Where does it say my name? Where's my name?!" Spot almost toppled over Jack's shoulder, trying to get a better look at the paper.
"Would ya stop thinkin' about yaself?" Jack said, pushing him away.
"Well, you got us on the front page!" David smiled. Denton looked up from his food.
"You got yourselves on the front page. I just gotta make sure you stay there," Denton replied.
"So what? You get your picture in the papes, what's that get ya?" Skittery drawled. Everyone shouted at him at the same time.
"What are ya talikin' about, huh?"
"Shut up!"
"Shut up, boy, you'se been in a bad mood all day!"
"I'm not in a bad mood," Skittery protested.
"Gettin' glum and dumb!" Race punched him in the face. "What's da matta' witchoo? You get in the papes, your famous, your famous, you get whatever you want! And that's what's so great about New York!" he finished, slapping the table for emphasis.
"A pair of new shoes wid matchin' laces," Mush sighed.
"A permanent box at the Sheepshead races," Racetrack said with an adorably longing expression.
"A porcelin tub wid boilin wate'," Spot put in his two cents.
"A Saturday night wid da Mayor's daughter!" Blink shouted, jumping on a table and adjusted his belt
"Look at me! I'm the King of New York! Suddenly, I'm respectable, starin' right atcha, lousy wid stature," Race continued.
"Knobbin' around dese muckety mucks, I'm blowin' my dough and goin' deluxe," Jack said, kicking back on a table.
"And there I be! Ain't I pretty," Race said, jabbing at the paper. "It's my city, I'm the King of New York," they said together.
"A corduroy suit wid fitted knickers," Boots said, tipping his chair forward
"A mezzanine seat to see the flickers," Les added.
"Havanna cigars that cost a quarter,"
"Snipeshooter! I told ya tah ease off the cigars!" Margaret shouted,
"An editors desk for the star reporter!" David exclaimed.
"Tip your hat! He's the King of New York!" The boys said, taking offtheir hats to Denton, "In nothin' flat, he'll be coverin' Brooklyn to Trenton, our man Denton!"
"Makin' the headline out of a hunch!" Blink vaulted off the table.
"Protecting the weak," Denton said.
"And payin' for lunch," Racetrack added.
"When I'm at bat, strong men crumble."
"Proud, yet humble," Race forced him back into his seat. "I'm/he's the King of New York," they said in unison.
"Gotta be either dead or dreamin', cause look at that pape wid my face beamin'. Tomorrow they might wrap fishes in it, but I was a start for one whole minute!" Everyone cried, leaping away from or off the table. "Startin' now, I'm the King of New York!" the newsies exclaimed
"Ain't ya heard? I'm the King of New York!" Denton said.
"Holy cow! It's a miracle! Pulitzer's cryin'. Weasel, he's dyin'! Flashpots are shootin' bright as the sun! I'm one high falutin' son-of-a-gun. Don't ask me how! Fortune found me, Fate's just crowned me I'm the King of-" half started. "Look and see! Once a piker, now a striker, I'm the King of-" the
other half began.
"Victory!" Margaret interrupted them.
"Front page story! Guts and glory. I'm the King of New York!" Everyone finished , they fell into their seats. Five minutes later, they'd decided. They were going to hold a rally at Medda's and were leaving the restaurant. David and Les followed Margaret and Jack back to the Lodging House before Jack got up the courage to say,
"Davey, Les! I, um, have a question..." Jack said sheepishly,
"Yeah, Jack?" David asked, leaning on the wall. Jack turned red.
"I was wondering, um, if it'd um... weder it be okay if I um-" Jack stuttered, pulling at his shirt collar nervously. "Escorted Sarah to de rally," Jack asked. Margaret and David looked surprised,
"You want to take Sarah to the rally?" David clarified,
"If it's okay with you'se." Jack said holding his head up high.
"Of coarse, Sarah would love for you to escort her to the rally!" David smiled, "we better go clean up ourselves, we'll see you at Medda's!" David before dragging Les away, once they were gone Margaret
turned to Jack with a knowing smile.
"So, since when 'ave ya 'ad a thing fer Sarah Jacobs?" She asked,
"I'se don't 'ave a thing fer Sarah Jacobs, a gentleman always escorts a lady places." Jack said in a matter-of-fact tone,
"Uh-huh, shore ya don't." Margaret said smugly,
"And since when 'ave ya 'ad a thing fer David?" Jack shot back, Margaret tried to hide her blush.
"I'se don't 'ave a thing fer David, a lady always needs an escort." Margaret mumbled, Jack chuckled.
"Uh-huh, shore ya don't." Jack said throwing Margaret's words back in her face. Margaret rolled her eyes and ran to the top of the stairs before turning, and shouting down at Jack,
"JACK AND SARAH SITTIN' IN A TREE K-I-S-S-I-N-G! FIRST COMES LOVE, DEN COMES MARRIAGE DEN COMES-" Jack growled and lunged at Margaret causing her to squeal and run for her bunk.
"That's right, ya better run!" Jack shouted after her, Margaret reached her bunk and gasped, laying spread out on her bunk was a expensive looking red dress.
"Jack!" Margaret shouted,
"What? What's wrong?" Jack asked rushing to Margaret's side.
"What da 'ell is this?" Margaret cried gesturing to the dress,
"A dress?" Jack guessed,
"I know that! What's it doin's 'ere?" Margaret demanded,
"I don't know, but it looks nice. Ya should wear it tah da rally!" Jack said,
"Ha! Good one Jack! I don't wear dresses." Margaret said dryly,
"Oh c'mon, Margaret Rose! It's a perfectly good dress. And besides David will be smitten if ya wear that!" Margaret threw a mock punch at Jack who laughed and hurried off the get ready. She told herself she wasn't wearing it for David, she told herself that it was only this one time. But as Margaret
stood in the perfectly fitting dress with the matching satin slippers that pinched her feet. Margaret knew all her convicting was in vain.
"I wonder who sent it," Margaret wondered out loud.
"Wasn't there a note?" Jack asked,
"There was," Margaret said. "But all it said was, 'for the ravishing Margaret Rose. You sure you didn't send it Jack?"
"Margaret Rose, where would I get the money tah buy a dress like that? Let alone when we're on strike!" Jack said offering her his arm. Arm in arm Jack and Margaret hurried to Medda's. A fair young lady, and a gallant young gentleman.

TADA! Review please!