Ch.1 The Escape
Stolen Shoes
The square where I'd first met the newsies was called Newspaper Alley. Their apartment wasn't that far away from the Alley. The building was tall and the apartment they lived in was near the top. I didn't know if I could make it up all those stairs. The smells coming from within urged me to continue. It smelled of meat and potatoes something I hadn't had in a long time. David and Les opened the door and we walked inside. Their parents stood up to greet them. His dad had black hair with some gray in it, and he was wearing a sling around one arm. He had a bright smile on his face and greeted his boys with a hug. Their was a slim woman with blonde curly hair and blue eyes. I soon decided that I had never meet nicer parents, excepting my own of course. Sarah, their sister, was a pretty girl with brown hair. David introduced me to all of them, " Hi, I want you to meet Molly O'Neil. She's the first girl newsie in these parts. It is alright if she eats with us right." His parents smiled at me and I sat down at the table. I felt inferior, with my dirty face and clothes eating at their clean table. The feeling passed soon because the Jacobs treated me as one of their own. Mrs. Jacobs put the food on the table and my eyes widened; I hadn't seen that much food in a while. There was salad, baked potatoes, and even meat. It seemed that I had come on a lucky day, it was Mr. Jacob's birthday, and they were having a feast. I ate everything they put on my plate and had seconds; who knew when I get another decent meal. My stomach could no longer hold any more food and I noticed the rest of the family. They were all looking at me not out right staring, just quick awed glances. Suddenly ashamed I looked down at my plate, it was his birthday and here I was eating all his food. Mrs. Jacobs broke the awkward silence and said, " Well Molly, I don't think I've ever met someone who enjoyed my cooking quite so much." The embarrassed quiet broke and everyone started talking like normal. The rest of the evening was most enjoyable. The sun had gone down while I was eating and the streets outside were dark. I stood up ready to leave. I thanked them many times over for the wonderful dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs apologized for not having any dessert. They had eaten it the night before when Jack came to eat with them. I didn't see any need to apologize because I was full enough from dinner as it was. David walked with me down the stairs to the street. Before he went back he asked me, " Hey where are you sleeping?" I told him that I had my own place to stay. I hated to lie to such a nice person but I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me.
" Where to sleep? Where to sleep?" I thought hard upon this issue as I walked the dim streets near David's home. The place had to be close to the Lodging house so I could wake up in time to sell papers. It would also have to be sheltered to protect me while I was sleeping. I would hate to have someone mess with me when I was defenseless. There was a fire escape one building over from the where the newsboys slept. I climbed up to the second level and found the perfect spot. The second story landing was big enough for me to stretch out and I didn't think anyone would disturb me. Hopefully there wouldn't be a fire, because no one likes to be stepped on especially while they are sleeping. With that I took of my shoes, they were killing my feet. Ladies shoes aren't designed for walking miles; they're made to look pretty. I curled up and went to sleep on the cold metal staircase. Morning would come soon and I would earn more money and look for James.
The early morning sunlight woke me up and I stretched out, banging my hands on the railings. It wasn't that bad of a night I was only sore in a couple of places. I grabbed onto the railings and pulled my self up. Yawning, I looked down for my shoes. They weren't there. I peered down the stairs to see if I'd kicked them down there during the night. No shoes. I ran down the stairs and checked the ground below, and still no shoes. Someone had stolen my shoes last night. That thought made me uncomfortable, my place wasn't a safe as I thought. What made me really mad was that some stupid person had gone a stolen a worthless pair of shoes that belonged to me. They weren't even pretty or in good condition. To make everything worse the shoes were the only things I had to protect my feet from the weather and the streets. Seething I stormed my way to Newspaper Alley. I'd have to save up to buy me some new shoes. Jack, David, and Les saw me coming and smiled. All three of them waved at me to come over still smiling. The smiles left their faces when they first noticed my furious expression. Jack asked nervously, " Hey, what'sa matta with ya?" The anger bubbling inside me overflowed and I yelled, " Someone stole my shoes that's what. Now I ain't got any shoes and I gotta go around selling papes in my bare feet. That's gonna hurt my feet and the whole thing just makes me mad." Jack stepped back and muttered something I didn't quite catch. Then he said out loud, " How can someone be so angry so early in the morning. The is the second time I've seen yer face as red as yer hair." He cocked his head and looked at me thoughtfully. Then he announced to no one in particular, " Since yer a newsie you gotta have another name. Yer new name is Fury, cause I only know one other person with a temper like yers, and its really not fitting ta call ya Spot. My old name was forgotten and I was known as Fury by all the other newsies. I liked Fury better any way.
Stolen Shoes
The square where I'd first met the newsies was called Newspaper Alley. Their apartment wasn't that far away from the Alley. The building was tall and the apartment they lived in was near the top. I didn't know if I could make it up all those stairs. The smells coming from within urged me to continue. It smelled of meat and potatoes something I hadn't had in a long time. David and Les opened the door and we walked inside. Their parents stood up to greet them. His dad had black hair with some gray in it, and he was wearing a sling around one arm. He had a bright smile on his face and greeted his boys with a hug. Their was a slim woman with blonde curly hair and blue eyes. I soon decided that I had never meet nicer parents, excepting my own of course. Sarah, their sister, was a pretty girl with brown hair. David introduced me to all of them, " Hi, I want you to meet Molly O'Neil. She's the first girl newsie in these parts. It is alright if she eats with us right." His parents smiled at me and I sat down at the table. I felt inferior, with my dirty face and clothes eating at their clean table. The feeling passed soon because the Jacobs treated me as one of their own. Mrs. Jacobs put the food on the table and my eyes widened; I hadn't seen that much food in a while. There was salad, baked potatoes, and even meat. It seemed that I had come on a lucky day, it was Mr. Jacob's birthday, and they were having a feast. I ate everything they put on my plate and had seconds; who knew when I get another decent meal. My stomach could no longer hold any more food and I noticed the rest of the family. They were all looking at me not out right staring, just quick awed glances. Suddenly ashamed I looked down at my plate, it was his birthday and here I was eating all his food. Mrs. Jacobs broke the awkward silence and said, " Well Molly, I don't think I've ever met someone who enjoyed my cooking quite so much." The embarrassed quiet broke and everyone started talking like normal. The rest of the evening was most enjoyable. The sun had gone down while I was eating and the streets outside were dark. I stood up ready to leave. I thanked them many times over for the wonderful dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs apologized for not having any dessert. They had eaten it the night before when Jack came to eat with them. I didn't see any need to apologize because I was full enough from dinner as it was. David walked with me down the stairs to the street. Before he went back he asked me, " Hey where are you sleeping?" I told him that I had my own place to stay. I hated to lie to such a nice person but I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me.
" Where to sleep? Where to sleep?" I thought hard upon this issue as I walked the dim streets near David's home. The place had to be close to the Lodging house so I could wake up in time to sell papers. It would also have to be sheltered to protect me while I was sleeping. I would hate to have someone mess with me when I was defenseless. There was a fire escape one building over from the where the newsboys slept. I climbed up to the second level and found the perfect spot. The second story landing was big enough for me to stretch out and I didn't think anyone would disturb me. Hopefully there wouldn't be a fire, because no one likes to be stepped on especially while they are sleeping. With that I took of my shoes, they were killing my feet. Ladies shoes aren't designed for walking miles; they're made to look pretty. I curled up and went to sleep on the cold metal staircase. Morning would come soon and I would earn more money and look for James.
The early morning sunlight woke me up and I stretched out, banging my hands on the railings. It wasn't that bad of a night I was only sore in a couple of places. I grabbed onto the railings and pulled my self up. Yawning, I looked down for my shoes. They weren't there. I peered down the stairs to see if I'd kicked them down there during the night. No shoes. I ran down the stairs and checked the ground below, and still no shoes. Someone had stolen my shoes last night. That thought made me uncomfortable, my place wasn't a safe as I thought. What made me really mad was that some stupid person had gone a stolen a worthless pair of shoes that belonged to me. They weren't even pretty or in good condition. To make everything worse the shoes were the only things I had to protect my feet from the weather and the streets. Seething I stormed my way to Newspaper Alley. I'd have to save up to buy me some new shoes. Jack, David, and Les saw me coming and smiled. All three of them waved at me to come over still smiling. The smiles left their faces when they first noticed my furious expression. Jack asked nervously, " Hey, what'sa matta with ya?" The anger bubbling inside me overflowed and I yelled, " Someone stole my shoes that's what. Now I ain't got any shoes and I gotta go around selling papes in my bare feet. That's gonna hurt my feet and the whole thing just makes me mad." Jack stepped back and muttered something I didn't quite catch. Then he said out loud, " How can someone be so angry so early in the morning. The is the second time I've seen yer face as red as yer hair." He cocked his head and looked at me thoughtfully. Then he announced to no one in particular, " Since yer a newsie you gotta have another name. Yer new name is Fury, cause I only know one other person with a temper like yers, and its really not fitting ta call ya Spot. My old name was forgotten and I was known as Fury by all the other newsies. I liked Fury better any way.