When Dad goes back to work, we go back to school…
That was the one line that repeated in Davey's head over and over again. It was their last day of being a Newsies. Their dad had gone back to work yesterday. Davey was dreading this because he hadn't told Les or the other Newsies. That is how he ended up on the Lodging House "penthouse".
It had been a year. A year since he was forced to leave his beloved school to work on the streets to feed his family. A year since the strike. A year since he was told that one line.
He didn't know how long he sat there watching the sunset. All he could think about was that one line. All he knew was Jack climbing up to meet him.
"What'c are ya's doin' up here?"
Davey sat back on the railing. "Today was our last day. And I haven't even told Les."
He couldn't see Jack but he knew what his face looked like. Jack had stayed silent for a while before sitting next to him.
"Yous will always be a Newsies. Ya knows that right?"
"I know."
Jack stood up and held out his hand. "Wes brothers all but in blood. Well, except yous, Les and Mike and Ike." Jack helped him up.
Davey didn't say anything as he got to his feet. Jack spit on his hand in normal Newsies fashion. Davey didn't shake his hand, but instead, he pulled Jack into a hug.
"Thank you. For everything you have done." He whispered.
Jack returned the hug. "Ya's always welcome back if ya change ya's mind."
Davey pulled away. He gave Jack one more smile before climbing down the fire escape. When he reach the bottom Les was waiting for him. He looked back up to see Jack looking down at him. He grabbed Les's hand and walked away.
When Dad goes back to work, we go back to school… When Dad goes back to work, we go back to school… When Dad goes back to work, we go back to school… When Dad goes back to work, we go back to school…
As expected Les wasn't happy about leaving the Newsies. Davey had to practically drag him to school. Once Davey dropped him off he made his way to his school just two blocks down.
With the help of the principal, Davey was able to keep up with his studies without being in school. So he was moving up with his old class. If you asked him a year ago if he wanted to be a Newsies he would have said no in an instant. If you asked him today, he would have walked straight back to the circulation center.
Davey stopped in front of the gates. He looked around to see the other kids laughing and running around. They were sheltered from the real world of New York, just like how Davey was. But that was a year ago, this was now.
He was so used to being called Davey that he didn't even recognize that someone was calling him by his actual name. He turned around to see his old friends. Cody, Jonathan, and Maximus.
"Hello." He said waving at them.
"Where have you been? It's been a year!" Cody asked.
"My dad got injured on the job, so I had to work so I could feed everyone." He explained as the started walking.
"I'm so sorry." Jonathan said. "Is he okay?"
"Yes he is fine, he started working again. That's why I'm back in school." The school bell rang.
The group walked into the classroom. Davey took a set next to Maximus. The teacher began to teach something. It was November so school had been in session for a few months now. Davey couldn't figure out how he had paid attention a year ago. He was so bored. His mind kept thinking about the other Newsies out there selling papes.
"Mrs. Rells. What about the newsboy strike?" Someone asked.
That caught his attention. The boy who had spoken looked like a rich kid. He would have no idea how it felt like.
"The newsboy strike was nothing more than a couple of boys with money looking to gain money by exploiting those richer than them." The teacher said.
Davey clutched his pencil. Stay out of it… Stay out of it…
"But Mrs. Rells why did they win?"
"They did not win they were…"
Davey was seeing red. Is that what they were taught? Did they not read the papes!
"They are just stupid kids-"
"SHUT UP!" Davey slammed his pencil on the desk as he shot up.
The teacher looked at him. "Mr. Jacob, do you have something to say?"
"Dam right I do! Just because we are working on the streets selling papes, don' means you get to make up stupid lies about us to make yous higher ups look better!" Davey was so mad that he didn't care that he was messing up his grammar.
"So does that mean you became a newsboy when the strike was going on?"
"Better yet." Davey walked right up to her. "I was the one who came up with the idea for the strike."
"Are you telling me the great star student David Jacob became a no name newsboy?"
"We are Newsies." His voice was low and dangerous.
"Let me tell you one thing Jacob, I do not teach lower ranking civilians. Get out of my class."
"Gladly." Davey snapped before grabbing his backpack, leaving the shocked classroom.
Mom is going to kill me…
That was all Davey could think as he sat outside of the principal's office. His mother had came and was now talking to the principal about his behavior in class. He had never been sent here unless it was something good.
Soon Davey's mother came out and told him to go inside. Davey walked in and looked around for the ten thousandth time. It looked the same as last year. Same gray walls, same old brown desk, same everything.
"David." Mrs. White said in a calm voice. "Please have a set."
Davey took a set, he looked down not wanting to face the consequences for his actions. He took a deep breath before looking up.
"One year ago, on this day exactly you came into my office and told me you would not be returning to school. When I asked why, you told me your father was injured. I was devastated to hear my star student was leaving. And then the paper came in. My David was leading a newsboy strike. I felt so helpless not being able to help. Then I called you back in for a small meeting, and I told you I would send you the work of your fellow classmates. Then today you came back. I was so thrilled to have you back. Then I find out you yelled at a teacher? David, what has gotten into you?" Mrs. White told him.
Davey just sat there trying to come up with words. "I got smarter. I learned how to survive on the streets." He finally said.
"But school-"
"Fuck school!" He stood up. "I'm done with school! I quit-"
"David don't give up school like that. You can't get a good enough job without-"
"One of my friends is making more money than these stupid teachers and he has never been to school!"
"I going to assume that this "friend" is a newsboy?"
"Newsies. We are Newsies." Davey made his way to the door. "Thank you for everything you have done for me, but I will not be returning." And without another word, he walked out.
What have you done… What have you done… What have you done… What have you done…
Davey stormed into the apartment he lived in. He needed to find someone, any of the Newsies to make sure he wasn't going to lose it.
"David…"
Davey stormed over to the window and slammed it shut. With almost enough force to break it.
"David."
Davey stripped himself of his school uniform and started getting changed into his normal clothes.
"David."
Davey grabbed his hat off of the bedside table. He went over to the other side of his bed looking for his Newsies bag.
"David!"
"WHAT!" He yelled looking up at his mother who was still at the doorway.
His mom looked concerned for her raging son. He slumped against his bed in defeat. His mom came over to sit on the bed.
"Come here." His mother said holding out her arms.
Like a little boy Davey jumped into his mother's arms. He sat there as the tears began to fall. His mother rubbed small circles on his back.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be like this. I shouldn't-" He started saying.
"Shhh. You are a teenager, it's okay to overreact on stuff like this."
"I just gave up school!"
"There is more than one way to learn. You can go back to selling papers-"
Davey pulled away. "Really!"
"Les may join you on the weekends, we will buy some books once we have the money so you can keep learning. But promise me one thing." His mother gave him his Newsies bag.
"What is it?"
"Never stop wanting to learn."
When dad goes back to work, we go back to school…
Davey walked into the circulation center. All the Newsies had already left. But that didn't stop Davey from buying his papes. Mom made him take Les to school. Les wasn't happy that Davey got to sell and he didn't. But that made it all the more funnier.
He walked into the Lodging house. Some Newsies were playing around with each other, he took it all in. School might have once been his second home. But this was his new second home, and it was never going to change. Sure he was going to get older but that wasn't going to change anything.
Davey made his way to the "penthouse". Not to anyone surprise Jack was up there with Crutchie and Race.
"Hello." He said calmly joining them.
"Don' ya have school?" Race asked kind of bitter.
"Not anymore. I quit."
The three Newsies looked at him like he was crazy. Maybe he was, he was with these crazy assholes. He wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.
"Who are you and what have you done to Davey?" Jack asked.
"I rather be with you menses to society than sitting in some dumb building."
Crutchie jumped into his arms and hugged him. Davey hugged him back.
"Good, 'cause I hate it when yous an't here. Yous thes only ones with brains."
"All hail Brains!" Race yelled jumping up.
"No, my name is Davey. And I would like it to stay that way."
"Brains! Brains! Brains!" Jack, Crutchie, and Race started chanting.
"No!"
Race jumped through the window into the Lodging house yelling. "Davey's new names in Brains!"
"No, it isn't!" He yelled back climbing through.
"Brains! Brains! Brains! Brains!" All the Newsies started chanting.
Jack and Crutchie came through next. Jack joined the stunned Newsies. Davey saw the stupid smirk on Jack's face but chose to ignore him.
"Fine! My name is Brains!" Davey finally caved. "Happy?"
All the Newsies cheered. Davey now Brains rolled his eyes and mumbled to Jack.
"Les is already mad I get to sell papes and he doesn't. He is going to be furious that I got my name before him."
Jack's smirk change into a smile he spit on his hand and stuck it out. "Welcome back Brains."
Brains spit on his hand and shocked Jack's hand. "It's good to be back."