As they walked into Tibby's any one could see that they didn't exactly belong. Heck even they knew that. He was pretty tall, seemed to take up the entire space in the door. She was half hidden behind him, but her eyes peaked over his shoulder so anyone could tell she was tall. The girl had dirty blonde hair in braids that hung to her back her green eyes took in the entire scene. His blue eyes peered out from the masses of shaggy white blonde hair. Most who met them, just assumed that they were related. Tibby's itself was uncharacteristically quiet, especially with the number of newsies there, as they stood in the doorway.
A boy with a red bandana and a vest stood up, to greet the newcomers, "Ise Jack Kelly, youse can call me Cowboy. Whose youse be?"
"I'm Swan and this here's Kit, we was told this here place was where the newsies could be found."
"What you want with the newsies?" another guy from the crowd stood up.
"We were hoping that we could get a job with them, but since you don't know who they are we'll just take our business else where, come on Swan." The girl, Kit, pulled on the guy's shoulder.
"Hey goilie, hold up. These bums are some of the Manhattan newsies. Ise Millie or Mills one of the only newsgoils in the city."
"Swan move." Swan moved out of Kit's way but stood back glaring, as if to there anyone to look at her wrong. "I'm Ami, but everyone calls me Kit, as Swan says he's Swan, but I call him Craig, just like his ma does. Please to make your acquaintance." She spit on her hand and stuck it out. Mills followed suit.
"So youse thinks youse can be newsies? What makes youse think that?" Jack stepped up to Kit but backed off a bit as Swan moved toward him.
"I think I can be a Newsie cause I am one, that's why. Both me and Swan are." Kit stood her ground; "We're from out west, from what we have heard New York is the best place to get tips on how to be better newsies. Our papes ain't selling like we want them to so we come to y'all for some tips and such."
"Tips youse thinks that wes just give out tips?"
"Cowboy back off the goil. Yeah youse have just stumbled into the best group of newsies in all of New York. I'm Race, at youse service."
"Racetrack youse better stop your floirting or I'll make sure your goil hears about it."
Mills stepped in between Race and Kit. "So Kelly should Ise take these two to Kloppman's or youse gonna have them sleep on the street their first night?"
"Take them to the boarding house, den bring them to the distribution house wes got papes to deliver. Skitts go with her."
Kit and Swan followed their tour guides out of Tibby's and into the streets of New York. "So how far west are youse from?"
"Nebraska, it's out in the middle of the country. We come from the capital, Lincoln. It is no where near as big as this is, we can walk the city in a day."
"Cowboy has these dreams of gonna out to Santa Fe, that anywhere nears youse?"
"No it's farther west."
"So here is how things work around here. Kloppman charges us six cents a night to sleep in the lodging house, due up front. It gets you a bed, blankets, dinner if youse were brave enough, and a wake up call in plenty of time to get papes. We all are World newsies, and Weasel opens up at 5, no earlier any later. He's open for an hour or till he runs out, whichever comes first. We all meets at Tibby's for lunch, our man Denton has a running tab pays for all us. Youse gonna have to find dinner on you own, breakfast is provided for by the nuns. Now we ain't got a room for goils only so youse have to sleep with the guys. We get the sinks first before lights out, but in the morning it is a free for all. That fine with youse Kit?" She barely stopped for an answer. "Here wes is. Hey Kloppman, this here are two new newsies, Kit and Swan. Youse got room for them?"
"Ise got the room Mills. It's six cents now, Show them up to store their stuff and then get youse got papes to sell." Kloppman pointed up the stairs.
"Come on this way, let's see, Kit youse can share my bunk with me, and Swan…Skitts where is there some open bunks?"
"Well he could sleep in the bottom of you bunk and she could sleep in this bunk here."
Mills smacked Skitts, "You bum that's the Brooklyn's bunks."
"Yeah and they won't soak a goil, at least not at foist."
"May not but Ise still don't think this a good idea."
"Don't worry bout it Mills Kit can take of herself." Swan not wanting to have a fight break out interjected.
"The guys right Mills let's go its getting late."
The four rushed down the stairs and headed out to get to the distribution before the papers were gone. "Swan gets 30 papes for the 2 of youse. Kit youse can come selling with me. But never get more then youse can sell, the Delancey's make youse eat the left over ones. Afternoon is the harder edition to sell unless something big has happened. Here's Cowboy he'll make sure youse get your papes."
"Hey Mills, they all settled in now? Good, first rule of selling don't cross the Delancey's or they will get youse. Swan better come with me."
"What! Why can't I get my own papers?"
"Because the Delancey brudders are nasty and go after youse that's why."
Jack and Swan made their way to the front. "Hello Weasel this here is a new guy Swan give him 30 papes and I'll take 60."
"Hello Cowboy here's youse papes. Don't sell with him boy, he'll cheat you."
"Don't youse listen to that sucker, Come on Swan let's see if wes can find ourselves some headlines that sell. See you tomorrow Weasel."
Jack and Swan headed back to the girls standing by the gates. "Here Mills take 20 of mine, youse can pay me back later. So whose these two gonna sell with?"
"Ise taken Kit, to my Spot I was thinking that…. Mouth! What youse doing down here? I thought you didn't work afternoons."
"You got a problem with me working afternoons Mills? Who's this? Ise David Jacobs, the Walking Mouth, and youse are?"
"I'm Swan and this here is Kit" Swan placed himself between his friend and the new comer.
"Oh I see how did it is."
Kit spoke up trying to get around The Human Wall, "We're out here to learn about selling papes from the best."
"Youse should sell with Cowboy here, he's the best newsie in all of New York, ain't that right David?" A 10-year-old face appeared around Jack's waist.
"That's right Kid. Kit, Swan this here is Mouth's little brudder Les. Ise guess that Swan here can sell with us, what you think Les?"
"Sure I'll show youse all the ropes, just like Cowboy did with me when I was little." Les got a huge smile that made him look about 8.
Kit and Mills began walking toward Mills' normal spot. "Let's see what the banner is tonight. Hmm, Kit youse got to remember headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell them. Take this one read, "Lights out in Chicago." Youse should play it up some thing like "Thousands swelter in the dark" Or something like that. Make it good and the papes sells real quick like. Youse go that way, stay on this side of the street. Ise go this way and stay on de other side. See youse when de gone."
The girls split up hawking their papers to anyone who would buy. It took about four hours and when they were done, they began to walk back to toward the lodging house.
"What youse think?"
"Not bad, it went better then I thought."
"That's good now wes got to find us some food, or do youse feel like trying Kloppman's home made stew?" Mills wrinkled her nose at the thought of Kloppman's stew.
"Will it cost anything?" Kit was debating cost over taste.
"Nah like Ise said before its all part of the price of the bunk."
"I think I'll take the chance, I haven't eaten since Swan and I got in around 2 last night, then we came looking for newsies so I am starved. I have a feeling I could eat squirrel if I has to."
"That might just be what Kloppman's stew meat is. If youse don't mind me asking, What is with youse and Swan? Are you like his goil or something?"
"I am no bodies girl. Not even Craig's. We have been friends since I first came to the city looking for work when I was 7."
"Youse known each other that long?"
"Yep and we haven't killed each other yet. He can be just like big brudder sometimes though."
"Ise believe it, Jack gets like that too, specially when certain newsies are round."
"Well you know…oh isn't that them coming up the street?"
Kit looked up the street and waved at the guys as they walked toward them.
"Well Jack me and Les here better get home see youse in the morning. Nice to meet you Swan, Kit." David tipped his hat to Kit and Mils as he and Les walled off.
"So where's wes gonna go for food Mills?" Jack walked over to Mills putting his arm over her shoulder.
"Kit and me is gonna try Kloppman's stew. Ise got some bread left over from breakfast too." Mills shrugged his arm off as she answered.
Jack looked at Kit in surprise, "My ain't we the brave one. Swan youse want ta attempt Kloppman's stew?"
Swan looked at Kit then nodded, "Yeah I'm tired. Ill just eat then go to bed. If that's okay?"
"Ise don't got a problem. Don't see how's youse gonna sleep with all the noise." Jack smirked "But Ise gonna find something else. Eating Kloppman's food is more of an adventure then what Ise wants." Jack headed off into the opposite direction while Mills took Swan and Kit back to the lodging house.
The stew was just as bad as Mills and Jack had said, but Kit and Swan were so hungry that they ate it as fast as possible, barely noticing the extreme salty taste or the stringy quality of the meat. After Eating Mills showed them where to change, and soon both Kit and Swan fell into their respective beds, asleep.
A boy with a red bandana and a vest stood up, to greet the newcomers, "Ise Jack Kelly, youse can call me Cowboy. Whose youse be?"
"I'm Swan and this here's Kit, we was told this here place was where the newsies could be found."
"What you want with the newsies?" another guy from the crowd stood up.
"We were hoping that we could get a job with them, but since you don't know who they are we'll just take our business else where, come on Swan." The girl, Kit, pulled on the guy's shoulder.
"Hey goilie, hold up. These bums are some of the Manhattan newsies. Ise Millie or Mills one of the only newsgoils in the city."
"Swan move." Swan moved out of Kit's way but stood back glaring, as if to there anyone to look at her wrong. "I'm Ami, but everyone calls me Kit, as Swan says he's Swan, but I call him Craig, just like his ma does. Please to make your acquaintance." She spit on her hand and stuck it out. Mills followed suit.
"So youse thinks youse can be newsies? What makes youse think that?" Jack stepped up to Kit but backed off a bit as Swan moved toward him.
"I think I can be a Newsie cause I am one, that's why. Both me and Swan are." Kit stood her ground; "We're from out west, from what we have heard New York is the best place to get tips on how to be better newsies. Our papes ain't selling like we want them to so we come to y'all for some tips and such."
"Tips youse thinks that wes just give out tips?"
"Cowboy back off the goil. Yeah youse have just stumbled into the best group of newsies in all of New York. I'm Race, at youse service."
"Racetrack youse better stop your floirting or I'll make sure your goil hears about it."
Mills stepped in between Race and Kit. "So Kelly should Ise take these two to Kloppman's or youse gonna have them sleep on the street their first night?"
"Take them to the boarding house, den bring them to the distribution house wes got papes to deliver. Skitts go with her."
Kit and Swan followed their tour guides out of Tibby's and into the streets of New York. "So how far west are youse from?"
"Nebraska, it's out in the middle of the country. We come from the capital, Lincoln. It is no where near as big as this is, we can walk the city in a day."
"Cowboy has these dreams of gonna out to Santa Fe, that anywhere nears youse?"
"No it's farther west."
"So here is how things work around here. Kloppman charges us six cents a night to sleep in the lodging house, due up front. It gets you a bed, blankets, dinner if youse were brave enough, and a wake up call in plenty of time to get papes. We all are World newsies, and Weasel opens up at 5, no earlier any later. He's open for an hour or till he runs out, whichever comes first. We all meets at Tibby's for lunch, our man Denton has a running tab pays for all us. Youse gonna have to find dinner on you own, breakfast is provided for by the nuns. Now we ain't got a room for goils only so youse have to sleep with the guys. We get the sinks first before lights out, but in the morning it is a free for all. That fine with youse Kit?" She barely stopped for an answer. "Here wes is. Hey Kloppman, this here are two new newsies, Kit and Swan. Youse got room for them?"
"Ise got the room Mills. It's six cents now, Show them up to store their stuff and then get youse got papes to sell." Kloppman pointed up the stairs.
"Come on this way, let's see, Kit youse can share my bunk with me, and Swan…Skitts where is there some open bunks?"
"Well he could sleep in the bottom of you bunk and she could sleep in this bunk here."
Mills smacked Skitts, "You bum that's the Brooklyn's bunks."
"Yeah and they won't soak a goil, at least not at foist."
"May not but Ise still don't think this a good idea."
"Don't worry bout it Mills Kit can take of herself." Swan not wanting to have a fight break out interjected.
"The guys right Mills let's go its getting late."
The four rushed down the stairs and headed out to get to the distribution before the papers were gone. "Swan gets 30 papes for the 2 of youse. Kit youse can come selling with me. But never get more then youse can sell, the Delancey's make youse eat the left over ones. Afternoon is the harder edition to sell unless something big has happened. Here's Cowboy he'll make sure youse get your papes."
"Hey Mills, they all settled in now? Good, first rule of selling don't cross the Delancey's or they will get youse. Swan better come with me."
"What! Why can't I get my own papers?"
"Because the Delancey brudders are nasty and go after youse that's why."
Jack and Swan made their way to the front. "Hello Weasel this here is a new guy Swan give him 30 papes and I'll take 60."
"Hello Cowboy here's youse papes. Don't sell with him boy, he'll cheat you."
"Don't youse listen to that sucker, Come on Swan let's see if wes can find ourselves some headlines that sell. See you tomorrow Weasel."
Jack and Swan headed back to the girls standing by the gates. "Here Mills take 20 of mine, youse can pay me back later. So whose these two gonna sell with?"
"Ise taken Kit, to my Spot I was thinking that…. Mouth! What youse doing down here? I thought you didn't work afternoons."
"You got a problem with me working afternoons Mills? Who's this? Ise David Jacobs, the Walking Mouth, and youse are?"
"I'm Swan and this here is Kit" Swan placed himself between his friend and the new comer.
"Oh I see how did it is."
Kit spoke up trying to get around The Human Wall, "We're out here to learn about selling papes from the best."
"Youse should sell with Cowboy here, he's the best newsie in all of New York, ain't that right David?" A 10-year-old face appeared around Jack's waist.
"That's right Kid. Kit, Swan this here is Mouth's little brudder Les. Ise guess that Swan here can sell with us, what you think Les?"
"Sure I'll show youse all the ropes, just like Cowboy did with me when I was little." Les got a huge smile that made him look about 8.
Kit and Mills began walking toward Mills' normal spot. "Let's see what the banner is tonight. Hmm, Kit youse got to remember headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell them. Take this one read, "Lights out in Chicago." Youse should play it up some thing like "Thousands swelter in the dark" Or something like that. Make it good and the papes sells real quick like. Youse go that way, stay on this side of the street. Ise go this way and stay on de other side. See youse when de gone."
The girls split up hawking their papers to anyone who would buy. It took about four hours and when they were done, they began to walk back to toward the lodging house.
"What youse think?"
"Not bad, it went better then I thought."
"That's good now wes got to find us some food, or do youse feel like trying Kloppman's home made stew?" Mills wrinkled her nose at the thought of Kloppman's stew.
"Will it cost anything?" Kit was debating cost over taste.
"Nah like Ise said before its all part of the price of the bunk."
"I think I'll take the chance, I haven't eaten since Swan and I got in around 2 last night, then we came looking for newsies so I am starved. I have a feeling I could eat squirrel if I has to."
"That might just be what Kloppman's stew meat is. If youse don't mind me asking, What is with youse and Swan? Are you like his goil or something?"
"I am no bodies girl. Not even Craig's. We have been friends since I first came to the city looking for work when I was 7."
"Youse known each other that long?"
"Yep and we haven't killed each other yet. He can be just like big brudder sometimes though."
"Ise believe it, Jack gets like that too, specially when certain newsies are round."
"Well you know…oh isn't that them coming up the street?"
Kit looked up the street and waved at the guys as they walked toward them.
"Well Jack me and Les here better get home see youse in the morning. Nice to meet you Swan, Kit." David tipped his hat to Kit and Mils as he and Les walled off.
"So where's wes gonna go for food Mills?" Jack walked over to Mills putting his arm over her shoulder.
"Kit and me is gonna try Kloppman's stew. Ise got some bread left over from breakfast too." Mills shrugged his arm off as she answered.
Jack looked at Kit in surprise, "My ain't we the brave one. Swan youse want ta attempt Kloppman's stew?"
Swan looked at Kit then nodded, "Yeah I'm tired. Ill just eat then go to bed. If that's okay?"
"Ise don't got a problem. Don't see how's youse gonna sleep with all the noise." Jack smirked "But Ise gonna find something else. Eating Kloppman's food is more of an adventure then what Ise wants." Jack headed off into the opposite direction while Mills took Swan and Kit back to the lodging house.
The stew was just as bad as Mills and Jack had said, but Kit and Swan were so hungry that they ate it as fast as possible, barely noticing the extreme salty taste or the stringy quality of the meat. After Eating Mills showed them where to change, and soon both Kit and Swan fell into their respective beds, asleep.