Let's play a game, shall we? Get a piece log paper and something to write with. Got it? Okay, I'll tell you what to do after review responses:

AndrewKeenanBolgerFan: It's a Henry boy! I randomly ruined his life! Yay me! *angry sandwich making intensifies* Jack does not know what to do while a Rage Sandwich is being made. I'm excited for the drama too! Race did not overhear, don't worry. Ah, "Typical Jack Kelly". Oof. You were waiting for this? That makes me so happy!

Back to the game thing. As you read this chapter, look for references to the lyrics from "Carrying The Banner", and every time you spot one, make a little tally mark. I'll do it too, and we'll see exactly how many references to the lyrics I included (there are A LOT).

Here we go. (You by no means have to actually do this, but if you wish to have some fun, since it's Friday, this is what I offer you for entertainment.)

Chapter 19- Henry

Thursday, September 16, 1999, 7:00 a.m.

Henry spent the next morning in a numb daze, preoccupied as he was with his mother and her tendency to forget about him. It wasn't as if this was the first time she'd failed to show up to something. The majority of Henry's childhood had been spent waiting for his mother; she was often busy with her job or some other matter, usually involving the deli his parents had once owned before his dad died. Because of this, she would forget to pick Henry up from school or wherever he happened to be. Therefore, it was not all that surprising that she would forget about her son now.

But all she'd needed to do was make one stinking hearing. For the first time, Henry was letting himself be angry with her. He had lost his temper the night before when he'd deflected all his feelings toward Jack, and that argument had not ended well. Of course, Henry had meant the things he'd said. The thing was, he had never meant to say them out loud. And now he couldn't take them back. He had to hope his problem with Jack would resolve itself, the way it did for the girls at school; they could go home on bad terms and show up friends the next day. Henry wished he could do the same.

"Earth to Major Butts," Elmer's accented voice brought Henry out of his thoughts.

"I told you never ta call me that."

"Two years ago, you did. But as you told it to the entire drama class yesterday, I'd say the nickname's back."

"Or, you could forget that eva' happened."

"You're no fun." Elmer pushed Henry through the door of the little coffee shop where Jojo worked. "Come on, it's caffeine time."

Elmer had shaken his best friend awake an hour early so they could walk over to Harlem before school. Said Henry needed "a cheer-up". At first, Henry had refused to get out of bed. But in the time it took Elmer to forcibly wake him and drag him out of the apartment, he found himself feeling a lot better. Much better than he would have if he had spent all that time asleep.

"Hey." Jojo waved to Elmer and Henry from behind the counter as the pair walked in.

Elmer jogged up to the counter, drummed on it rapidly with his fingertips, and leaned over, moving slightly closer to Jojo. "Two coffees, with the most cream and sugar you're allowed to give us."

Jojo wrote the order down, but gave Elmer a skeptical look. "Ya got money ta pay for that?"

"Er..."

"Of course ya don't." They moved away from the counter and began to procure what Elmer had ordered. "Don't think I'm a pushover jus' 'cause I'm doin' this for ya. 'Cause I'm not."

At that moment, Buttons burst through the door. They looked sleep-deprived and in a hurry. With a grin, Jojo handed them a cup of coffee that had been sitting, already prepared, on a corner of the counter. Buttons didn't even stop moving to grab it. Jogging in place, they breathlessly muttered their thanks, pushed off the counter, and ran back out. They spun around once more to shoot finger guns and shout "You're the best!" at Jojo. After that, they nearly ran into the door, but recovered and dashed out of the business.

"Not a pushover, huh?" Henry asked Jojo.

Elmer stared with concern at the place Buttons had just been. "Is Buttons okay?"

"Shut up, Henry," said Jojo, "an' they might be, Elmer. Prob'ly chasin' afta' their siblings." Jojo handed Elmer his order, then glanced over their shoulder at the staircase behind the counter, which led to the apartments above the cafe. "Speakin' of siblings, here comes your sista'."

At these words, Elmer ducked down, cowering beside the counter. Somehow, he managed to pull Henry down with him, despite his hands being otherwise occupied.

"Mornin', Roza." Jojo greeted someone Henry couldn't see.

"Is this your sister who's also a Sister?" Henry whispered to his friend.

Elmer hissed back, "Yes, which one would it be otherwise? Now shut up." He handed Henry one of the drinks.

Rolling his eyes, Henry stood up, dragging Elmer to a standing position by the crook of his elbow. "Good morning."

"Elmer!" Roza said, spotting her younger brother immediately. She adjusted her glasses and pointed at him, placing her other hand in the middle of her lower back. "When are we going to see you inside the church?" There was a cathedral right across the street from the coffee shop, so this was a valid question.

"I dunno Sista', but it's bound to rain sooner or lata'," Elmer answered quickly. "Henry and I have to get to school now, so we can't talk, sorry!" In a flash, Elmer pulled his friend outside.

As Henry looked on, Elmer backed into the wall of the building and chugged his caffeinated beverage. "Are you ever goin' ta tell her ya stopped goin' to church?"

Elmer wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Not if I can help it."

"She's your sister. I'm sure she'd understand."

"As my sister, she might. But as a nun..."

"Right."

The pair made their way down the block. At some point, Mush and Kid Blink fell into step beside them and started talking about the school newspaper.

"We gotta find an angle on this strike thing," Mush said, "otherwise, we got nothin'."

Tommy Boy joined the group then. "Jus' checked. It's gettin' bad out there-"

"Great," Blink interrupted. "Violence makes headlines."

"'Cause it's eighty-eight degrees an' da strikers are gettin' restless. But all them strikebreakers are puttin' a stop to it, so da headline ain't changin'. Don't get yer hopes up."

Blink groaned at this news.

Running up from behind, Jojo joined the line of newsies that was currently taking up the entirety of the sidewalk's width. "Y'know my shift was almost ova'," they told Henry and Elmer.

"Yeah, well, Elmer's a chicken 'round his sister," Henry informed.

"I needed some air, that's all," Elmer protested.

"Uh-huh."

"Whaddaya think 'bout this strike headline, Jojo?" Mush asked.

Jojo shrugged. "Might a' been worth a shot, three weeks ago. Now it's crap. We need somethin' new."

A few paces ahead of the group, Buttons stepped out of their apartment building. A hand-knitted beanie that was better suited for wintertime covered their entire head.

"Nice hat, B," Blink complimented.

"Yeah," Buttons pursed their lips. "Wanna see why I'm wearin' it?" Not waiting for an answer, they pulled off the hat, underneath with a newly shaved head had been concealed.

Mush, Blink, Tommy Boy, and Elmer all winced at the sight.

"Oh no," Jojo said.

"Ya let your little brotha' cut your hair or somethin'?" Henry joked.

"No." Buttons gritted their teeth. "The little brat got lice. Again. An' ya know what happens, if one of 'em gets lice..."

"You always catch it," Jojo finished.

"Yup," Buttons scratched their neck. The rest of the group took a step back, afraid of catching the little buggers.

Henry clapped Mush on the shoulder. "Hey, there's a headline for us: 'Buttons Gets Lice'."

"I sure as hell hope ya ain't seriously considerin' that," Buttons threatened.

Mush said, "Ya know what Jack always says. 'If I hate da headline, I'll make up a headline...'"

"'An' I'll say anythin' I hafta,'" finished Henry, looking at his feet, which suddenly felt like lead. He would have to face Jack at school. For a minute there, he had almost forgotten about the last night's events.

Elmer stepped in front of the group, walking backwards so he could look at everyone as he talked. "Forget about Jack," he ordered, with a sideways glance at Henry. "Headline ideas, go." He pointed at Blink.

"I dunno 'bout the rest a' youse, but I feel like there's somethin' comin' up. A real big story."

"How big?" Mush asked. "Like gunpoint robbery or somethin'?"

"The hell? No, not that big."

"Just askin'."

"Somethin' huge like that would be good, though," Jojo mused. "Wish we could get an earthquake."

"Or a war," suggested Tommy Boy. "Think a' da stuff we'd 'ave ta write about if there was a war goin' on."

Blink looked incredulous. "What the fu-"

Elmer cut him off. "How 'bout something non-life-threatening, like a crooked politician?"

Henry cuffed him on the ear. "That ain't news, ya nitwit."

"It very much is," Elmer looked dejected.

"Nah, you've seen one crooked politician, you've seen 'em all," said Buttons. "It's just life. An' speakin' a' life, whatever happened ta those assignments where ya write about summer vacation?"

"What, ya think that would work fer the pape?" Jojo asked.

"It might at least get one person interested."

"I doubt it," said Much. "Most excitin' thing I did this summer was get chased outta Coney Island by Spot Conlon."

"Yeah, that was fun," Blink muttered sarcastically.

"Race and Spot Conlon," Elmer shot finger guns at the others, mouth open wide in a smile. "Now that's a headline."

"It's really not." Henry stopped walking. The rest of his friends continued moving forward, passing both him and Elmer.

"Aw, come on!" Elmer whined.

"C'mon yourself." Henry threw an arm around his shoulder. "Let's get ta school. I smells me a headline."

Side character love! I don't have Buttons, Jojo, Elmer, or Henry in this story enough. Tommy Boy, Mush, and Blink will be more involved in the major plot coming up.

Okay, how many references did you count? (Assuming you counted.) I got 16.

Drop a number in your review! (Don't feel bad if you didn't see them all, I'm a complete nerd.)

See you next time, when the strike will begin!