Chapter 1
Five years later:
Molly "Tired" Masterson whistled softly to herself as she made her way towards Tibby's, hers and the rest of the newsies favorite eating establishment. It had been a good day for her, not only had she sold all her papes, but she had been given an extra quarter by one old gentlemen, because he said he hadn't seen such a bright smile in years. She jingled the change in her pocket and whistled a more upbeat tune. Molly was often in a good mood. In fact, she was one of the most cheery, optimistic and energetic Newsies around. All the guys thought this was funny, due to the fact that her nickname was "Tired". Jack had given her the name the first night they met and it just stuck.
Thinking about Jack made her grin fall a little. He was her best friend, had been since the first day they met, and today he had just disappeared, leaving her to sell by herself. It wasn't that she minded selling on her own (though initially she had been a bit timid due to passed fears she could never quite escape), but Jack had never just left without telling her before. She sighed and shrugged, she was sure he had a good reason, but then again, Jack always had a good reason, whether they were true or not was another story. Her smile widened into full length brilliance when she recalled how he had come to visit her one night and had gone on and on excitedly about how he and some guy named David had decided to lead the newsies in a strike against Pulitzer. She thought he was pulling her leg like he so often did, only to find out that it was true! She shook her head in mild irritation when she thought about the bad case of the flu that had kept her from participating.
"Heya, Tired! Your head in da clouds? I asked ya, how was sellin'?"
Tired turned to her best friend in the world and grinned as though she'd never get a chance to do so again, "I was just thinkin'! And it was perfect, 'Just Cowboy'! Sold all me papes an' everythin'!"
"Dat's great, Ti. So, ya headin' ovah ta Brooklyn wit' me ta play poker tanight, or what?" Jack asked, as they went through the door to Tibby's.
She shrugged, "I dunno, Kelly, maybe. So, where ya been all day, anyway? I'se had ta sell all alone, thank you very much."
Jack sighed, "Sorry 'bout dat, Ti. I spent da day wit' Sarah."
Tired rolled her eyes, "Ooooh...her...well, I don't mind dat ya took off, but ya should'a told me foist."
"I know, sorry." He muttered, then, "I caught ya rollin' your eyes, I don't see what ya got against 'er, Ti."
She shrugged, "Nothin' Cowboy." She murmered, as she slid into her seat, "She just irritates is all, seein' as how she's so... I dunno, lady like."
Jack smiled, "Well, dat's just what I like about 'er. She's so pretty and clean and lady like. Always knows what ta say, an' she just gives ya dat little smile of her's. 'er eyes shine when she sees me, Ti. I like dat."
Tired rolled her eyes again and made a disgusted face, "Ya need help, Cowboy." Jack shook his head, "Someday you'll be in love, Ti, an' den you'll see how it is."
"You'se in love wit' her Jack." She asked, astonished.
"I think that...well...yeah, I surely am..." Jack said, "But keep it ta yourself, alright, Ti?"
"Hey, we'se best friends right?"
"Right."
"Forevah?"
"Forevah!"
"Pinky?"
"Pinky."
"Now, back to da point, ya goin' ta Brooklyn or what?"
"Aw, Jack, ya know I hate Brooklyn. Spot Conlon makes me noivous."
Jack sighed, "We'se had dis conversation befo', dere ain't nothin' for you ta be worried about wit', Spot."
"Sure dere ain't. He just scares da heck outta me, an' enjoys da fact, dats all."
"Ti! Sheesh, if ya don't wanna go though, ya don't hafta. Howevah, I did want ta spend some time wit' me best friend, seein' as how I haven't had a chance to in quite awhile…" He grinned at her, wiggling his eyebrows and turning up the charm.
"Yeah, an' who's fault is dat, Just Cowboy. You'se da one wid da goilfriend an' all."
"Well, I should hope you wouldn't 'ave a goilfriend."
"Keep ya fantasies to ya'self, Cowboy!" She grouched.
He merely grinned at her, then struck a puppy dog face, "Pleeeaaaase...?"
"Aw, I ain't goin' ta Brooklyn Jack, so forget it! I'll stay home wit' Crutchy and Snipes an' whoevah else ain't goin'."
"Suit'cha self."
"I always do."
"Heya fellas, how's it rollin'?" Asked Racetrack as he entered the dining establishment, Blink and Mush falling behind him.
"Racetrack!" Tired said happily, smiling at the young gambler. Race had been one of her favorite people for almost as long as Jack had.
"Heya, Ti, smilin' as usual I see." He said, ruffling her hair.
"Wouldn't be her if she woin't." Blink quipped as he and Mush sat down at the table.
"How was sellin' taday, Kid?" Tired asked, her smile remaining ever fixed to her face.
"Good as gold, sold all me papes and met a sweet goil. Who, uh, looks mightily like da mayah's daughta, I might add."
Everyone at the table rolled their eyes, "Would ya give up on dat already, Kid? It ain't gonna happen." Race said, "A lady like dat don't want a scrappah like yaself."
Blink continued to smile and shrugged, "Ya nevah know, Race. I mean, look at Jack, he got Sarah didn't 'e?"
They all laughed except for Molly. She didn't see what was so special about Sarah, personally she couldn't stand her. Of course that could be because she was jealous over the fact that Jack had been spending all of his time with her lately and didn't seem to remember his best friend of five years any longer.
"I think dat if ya want 'er dat bad, you should continue ta go for it."
"Well, thank ya, Ti, I know I can always count on you. I'm glad ya have faith in me." "Aw, Blink, she don't count." Race said.
"An' why is it dat she don't count, Race?" Jack asked, feigning older brother protectiveness. Well, partially feigning, he didn't like it when the guys treated Ti different because she was a girl As far as he was concerned she was just another one of the guys and should be treated as so.
Race grinned, "Cool ya heals, Cowboy, I was just sayin', she don't count 'cause she's always optimistic. It don't mattah if it ain't nevah gonna happen, like Kid and da Mayah's Daughtah."
Tired rolled her eyes, "You're one ta talk about optimism, Race. You go down to dose tracks everyday, an' I don't see ya winning anythin'."
"Oooh…she gotcha dere, Race." Jack said, leaning back in his chair.
"Aw…ya break my heart, Ti. Anyways, is we all headin' ta Brooklyn, or what?"
"Yeah, lets go guys. I'll catch ya latah, Ti."
"Yeah, latah, Jack, fellas." She said, still trying to smile.
After they all left, she went back to the lodging house and onto the roof. She looked out over the city and sighed, remembering back to when she and Jack were inseparable. When he would rather stay home with her than go to Brooklyn, because he knew that Spot had always made her uncomfortable, (Hell he made most of the newsies uncomfortable, though it had gotten better for most since the strike) when they would spend nights talking about all sorts of things on top of the roof or just play cards, saying nothing but the usual banter that goes on between friends. How he always knew when something was wrong with her and vice versa, and would always try to cheer her up by doing crazy things. Like dancing with a mop and singing the bawdy songs he used to hear his dad sing while the old man was drunk. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, everything had been wonderful until Jack had won the strike and met Sarah. Ever since then he had been walking around with his head in the clouds, taking almost all his meals at the Jacobs and spending all his free time with Sarah. Now, finally he was spending a night with the guys and they decided to go visit Spot in Brooklyn and play poker. She shook her head, what was with Jack anyway? She was his best friend and all of a sudden he only had time for his girl friend? He goes off ta see her all day and doesn't even bothah ta tell me! What if somethin' had happened to me? And since when did he become so almighty wealthy that he could skip a day of sellin' ta spend it runnin' around wit' some goil?
"That's it, I'm goin' ta Brooklyn an' I'm goin' ta speak my mind!" She growled, stomping down the stairs and climbing into the window.
Crutchy glanced up from the book he was reading and smiled at her, "Hiya, Ti… hey, is somethin' the mattah?" He couldn't remember the last time he saw her angry.
"You betcha, Crutchy! That Jack Kelly….ooh!"
Crutchy's eyes widened, not only could he not remember the last time he saw her angry, he also couldn't ever remember a time in which she was angry with Jack, "What happened, Ti?"
"'e doesn't have any time for me anymore, dat's what happened! 'e's always wit' Sarah and 'e…'e loves her…" She murmured the last part to herself.
Crutchy heard though and smiled sadly, "What are ya goin' ta say to 'im, Ti?"
She sat down on the bed, "I dunno, Crutch. It's easier when your angry, but I ain't so angry no more."
Crutchy put an arm around her, "It's tough, huh?"
"What's tough?" She asked, turning to him.
"Finding out you're in love wit' your best friend. 'Specially when 'e's in love wit' someone else."
She opened her mouth to deny it at first, but then nodded slowly, "Yeah…it ain't fair. I mean, I'm da one dats always dere for him. I'm da one 'e should love, but he don't even see me as a goil. I'm just one a da guys." She took a deep breath, "Well, I ain't gonna go yell at 'im, but I'm goin' ta Brooklyn anyways… If I can't have 'im, I want to at least spend as much time as I can wit' him before 'e does somethin' crazy… like marry 'er."
She jumped up, a smile lighting her features, "An' who knows, Crutch, maybe 'e'll change 'is mind!" She said happily, then ran off down the stairs. Two seconds later she was back up the stairs, sticking her head in the door way, "I almost forgot! Crutchy, ya can't tell a soul what I'se told ya, alright? I pinkied, Jack dat I wouldn't tell a soul and I ain't nevah broken a pinky ta Jack! But ya know, it just sorta popped out!"
Crutchy shook his head, "Don't worry about it, Ti." Trying to remember what she was talking about...oh, dat Jack said he's in love wid Sarah.
"Thanks, Crutch, you're da best!" She said happily, running over to him and giving him a quick hug and then running back out the door and down the stairs.
He couldn't believe it, Ti had finally realized that she was in love with Jack. He wondered what it would take for Jack to realize that he felt the same way about her.
Five years later:
Molly "Tired" Masterson whistled softly to herself as she made her way towards Tibby's, hers and the rest of the newsies favorite eating establishment. It had been a good day for her, not only had she sold all her papes, but she had been given an extra quarter by one old gentlemen, because he said he hadn't seen such a bright smile in years. She jingled the change in her pocket and whistled a more upbeat tune. Molly was often in a good mood. In fact, she was one of the most cheery, optimistic and energetic Newsies around. All the guys thought this was funny, due to the fact that her nickname was "Tired". Jack had given her the name the first night they met and it just stuck.
Thinking about Jack made her grin fall a little. He was her best friend, had been since the first day they met, and today he had just disappeared, leaving her to sell by herself. It wasn't that she minded selling on her own (though initially she had been a bit timid due to passed fears she could never quite escape), but Jack had never just left without telling her before. She sighed and shrugged, she was sure he had a good reason, but then again, Jack always had a good reason, whether they were true or not was another story. Her smile widened into full length brilliance when she recalled how he had come to visit her one night and had gone on and on excitedly about how he and some guy named David had decided to lead the newsies in a strike against Pulitzer. She thought he was pulling her leg like he so often did, only to find out that it was true! She shook her head in mild irritation when she thought about the bad case of the flu that had kept her from participating.
"Heya, Tired! Your head in da clouds? I asked ya, how was sellin'?"
Tired turned to her best friend in the world and grinned as though she'd never get a chance to do so again, "I was just thinkin'! And it was perfect, 'Just Cowboy'! Sold all me papes an' everythin'!"
"Dat's great, Ti. So, ya headin' ovah ta Brooklyn wit' me ta play poker tanight, or what?" Jack asked, as they went through the door to Tibby's.
She shrugged, "I dunno, Kelly, maybe. So, where ya been all day, anyway? I'se had ta sell all alone, thank you very much."
Jack sighed, "Sorry 'bout dat, Ti. I spent da day wit' Sarah."
Tired rolled her eyes, "Ooooh...her...well, I don't mind dat ya took off, but ya should'a told me foist."
"I know, sorry." He muttered, then, "I caught ya rollin' your eyes, I don't see what ya got against 'er, Ti."
She shrugged, "Nothin' Cowboy." She murmered, as she slid into her seat, "She just irritates is all, seein' as how she's so... I dunno, lady like."
Jack smiled, "Well, dat's just what I like about 'er. She's so pretty and clean and lady like. Always knows what ta say, an' she just gives ya dat little smile of her's. 'er eyes shine when she sees me, Ti. I like dat."
Tired rolled her eyes again and made a disgusted face, "Ya need help, Cowboy." Jack shook his head, "Someday you'll be in love, Ti, an' den you'll see how it is."
"You'se in love wit' her Jack." She asked, astonished.
"I think that...well...yeah, I surely am..." Jack said, "But keep it ta yourself, alright, Ti?"
"Hey, we'se best friends right?"
"Right."
"Forevah?"
"Forevah!"
"Pinky?"
"Pinky."
"Now, back to da point, ya goin' ta Brooklyn or what?"
"Aw, Jack, ya know I hate Brooklyn. Spot Conlon makes me noivous."
Jack sighed, "We'se had dis conversation befo', dere ain't nothin' for you ta be worried about wit', Spot."
"Sure dere ain't. He just scares da heck outta me, an' enjoys da fact, dats all."
"Ti! Sheesh, if ya don't wanna go though, ya don't hafta. Howevah, I did want ta spend some time wit' me best friend, seein' as how I haven't had a chance to in quite awhile…" He grinned at her, wiggling his eyebrows and turning up the charm.
"Yeah, an' who's fault is dat, Just Cowboy. You'se da one wid da goilfriend an' all."
"Well, I should hope you wouldn't 'ave a goilfriend."
"Keep ya fantasies to ya'self, Cowboy!" She grouched.
He merely grinned at her, then struck a puppy dog face, "Pleeeaaaase...?"
"Aw, I ain't goin' ta Brooklyn Jack, so forget it! I'll stay home wit' Crutchy and Snipes an' whoevah else ain't goin'."
"Suit'cha self."
"I always do."
"Heya fellas, how's it rollin'?" Asked Racetrack as he entered the dining establishment, Blink and Mush falling behind him.
"Racetrack!" Tired said happily, smiling at the young gambler. Race had been one of her favorite people for almost as long as Jack had.
"Heya, Ti, smilin' as usual I see." He said, ruffling her hair.
"Wouldn't be her if she woin't." Blink quipped as he and Mush sat down at the table.
"How was sellin' taday, Kid?" Tired asked, her smile remaining ever fixed to her face.
"Good as gold, sold all me papes and met a sweet goil. Who, uh, looks mightily like da mayah's daughta, I might add."
Everyone at the table rolled their eyes, "Would ya give up on dat already, Kid? It ain't gonna happen." Race said, "A lady like dat don't want a scrappah like yaself."
Blink continued to smile and shrugged, "Ya nevah know, Race. I mean, look at Jack, he got Sarah didn't 'e?"
They all laughed except for Molly. She didn't see what was so special about Sarah, personally she couldn't stand her. Of course that could be because she was jealous over the fact that Jack had been spending all of his time with her lately and didn't seem to remember his best friend of five years any longer.
"I think dat if ya want 'er dat bad, you should continue ta go for it."
"Well, thank ya, Ti, I know I can always count on you. I'm glad ya have faith in me." "Aw, Blink, she don't count." Race said.
"An' why is it dat she don't count, Race?" Jack asked, feigning older brother protectiveness. Well, partially feigning, he didn't like it when the guys treated Ti different because she was a girl As far as he was concerned she was just another one of the guys and should be treated as so.
Race grinned, "Cool ya heals, Cowboy, I was just sayin', she don't count 'cause she's always optimistic. It don't mattah if it ain't nevah gonna happen, like Kid and da Mayah's Daughtah."
Tired rolled her eyes, "You're one ta talk about optimism, Race. You go down to dose tracks everyday, an' I don't see ya winning anythin'."
"Oooh…she gotcha dere, Race." Jack said, leaning back in his chair.
"Aw…ya break my heart, Ti. Anyways, is we all headin' ta Brooklyn, or what?"
"Yeah, lets go guys. I'll catch ya latah, Ti."
"Yeah, latah, Jack, fellas." She said, still trying to smile.
After they all left, she went back to the lodging house and onto the roof. She looked out over the city and sighed, remembering back to when she and Jack were inseparable. When he would rather stay home with her than go to Brooklyn, because he knew that Spot had always made her uncomfortable, (Hell he made most of the newsies uncomfortable, though it had gotten better for most since the strike) when they would spend nights talking about all sorts of things on top of the roof or just play cards, saying nothing but the usual banter that goes on between friends. How he always knew when something was wrong with her and vice versa, and would always try to cheer her up by doing crazy things. Like dancing with a mop and singing the bawdy songs he used to hear his dad sing while the old man was drunk. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, everything had been wonderful until Jack had won the strike and met Sarah. Ever since then he had been walking around with his head in the clouds, taking almost all his meals at the Jacobs and spending all his free time with Sarah. Now, finally he was spending a night with the guys and they decided to go visit Spot in Brooklyn and play poker. She shook her head, what was with Jack anyway? She was his best friend and all of a sudden he only had time for his girl friend? He goes off ta see her all day and doesn't even bothah ta tell me! What if somethin' had happened to me? And since when did he become so almighty wealthy that he could skip a day of sellin' ta spend it runnin' around wit' some goil?
"That's it, I'm goin' ta Brooklyn an' I'm goin' ta speak my mind!" She growled, stomping down the stairs and climbing into the window.
Crutchy glanced up from the book he was reading and smiled at her, "Hiya, Ti… hey, is somethin' the mattah?" He couldn't remember the last time he saw her angry.
"You betcha, Crutchy! That Jack Kelly….ooh!"
Crutchy's eyes widened, not only could he not remember the last time he saw her angry, he also couldn't ever remember a time in which she was angry with Jack, "What happened, Ti?"
"'e doesn't have any time for me anymore, dat's what happened! 'e's always wit' Sarah and 'e…'e loves her…" She murmured the last part to herself.
Crutchy heard though and smiled sadly, "What are ya goin' ta say to 'im, Ti?"
She sat down on the bed, "I dunno, Crutch. It's easier when your angry, but I ain't so angry no more."
Crutchy put an arm around her, "It's tough, huh?"
"What's tough?" She asked, turning to him.
"Finding out you're in love wit' your best friend. 'Specially when 'e's in love wit' someone else."
She opened her mouth to deny it at first, but then nodded slowly, "Yeah…it ain't fair. I mean, I'm da one dats always dere for him. I'm da one 'e should love, but he don't even see me as a goil. I'm just one a da guys." She took a deep breath, "Well, I ain't gonna go yell at 'im, but I'm goin' ta Brooklyn anyways… If I can't have 'im, I want to at least spend as much time as I can wit' him before 'e does somethin' crazy… like marry 'er."
She jumped up, a smile lighting her features, "An' who knows, Crutch, maybe 'e'll change 'is mind!" She said happily, then ran off down the stairs. Two seconds later she was back up the stairs, sticking her head in the door way, "I almost forgot! Crutchy, ya can't tell a soul what I'se told ya, alright? I pinkied, Jack dat I wouldn't tell a soul and I ain't nevah broken a pinky ta Jack! But ya know, it just sorta popped out!"
Crutchy shook his head, "Don't worry about it, Ti." Trying to remember what she was talking about...oh, dat Jack said he's in love wid Sarah.
"Thanks, Crutch, you're da best!" She said happily, running over to him and giving him a quick hug and then running back out the door and down the stairs.
He couldn't believe it, Ti had finally realized that she was in love with Jack. He wondered what it would take for Jack to realize that he felt the same way about her.