January 2, 1900
"David, would you come here a moment?"
"Sure, Mom! Just a second!"
Sixteen-year-old Davey looked back down at his math homework. Five months after the strike, he and Les were now back at school. Finishing up his final math problem, he hurried downstairs to see what his mother wanted. Or he did, after reminding eight-year-old Les to do his homework and not just stare out the window.
When he got downstairs, he saw his mother, Esther, attempting to balance six plates, making sure Aaron did his work, and cooking dinner all at the same time. "Mom!" Davey cried, "What are you doing?"
"A lot of things, my dear. Would you set the table? Aaron, come work on your homework at the counter over here, sweetie."
As his mom gave out orders to his four-year-old brother, Davey took the plates from her and set them on the table. He then got the napkins and put them to the left of each plate. Next, he put the dinner forks on each napkin. Those were followed by the dinner knives, which he put to the right of the plates and then put the dinner spoons to the right of the dinner knives. Finally, the water glasses were put directly above the dinner knives. Esther was very strict on what the table setting should be.
"Hey, Mom?"
"Yes, David?"
"Where are Sarah and Dad?"
"Sarah is delivering something to Emily for me, and Mayer is still at work."
Davey cringed. Now for the question that he asked practically every day. He and Les wanted to go back to the newsies so badly, and Aaron wanted to meet them so much.
"When can Les and I be newsies again?"
Aaron immediately looked up from his work. He looked to Davey, then to Esther. Esther tensed and Davey's hope deflated. Davey glanced over and saw Les hovering in the entryway with a hopeful look in his eyes.
"You two have to go to school. That was the deal and you need to stop asking."
"But you never said how long we had to go to school for," Les put in helpfully. At least he thought he was being helpful.
"You are not going back to the newsies and that's that," Esther said, sending a sharp look at her sons. The boys knew that there would be no arguing with her because her mind was made up.
August 31, 1899
Davey's eyes scanned the Lodging House. There was a group of newsies playing poker with Les. Well, Race and Les were on some sort of team because they were using the same hand of cards. Most of the newsies, however, were around the Lodging House talking and laughing.
Davey knew he had to tell them the news. Les wanted to wait a bit longer but, with them starting school in September, it had to be now. He made his way over to Jack and told him he had an announcement to make. Jack nodded and managed to get the newsies' attention in just a couple of seconds.
"Dave has sometin' 'e would like ta say. Davey?" Jack glanced at Davey. All eyes were on him and all was silent.
"Davey, no!" Les cried. He didn't want Davey to tell them just yet.
"Les, they have to know now." Davey told the seven-year-old. Les looked like he was about to cry but, didn't say anything.
"What's buggin ya Mouth?" Race questioned, knitting his eyebrows and scrunching up his face. "What's so important dat wese gotta knows now?"
Davey took a deep breath, "Les and I are going back to school in September. We won't be newsies anymore."
January 2, 1900
Davey and Les hadn't stayed to see the newsies reaction. They had gone home and hadn't spoken to the newsies since.