As they headed to the distribution center they picked up their rolls and coffee from the nuns on the street. Most of the newsies talked amongst themselves, working on waking up.
Jack turned to the oddly quiet Spot, "Hey youse gonna get youse papes here or youse heading back cross the bridge?"
Spot scowled at Kit before answering, "Ise get me papes here but head for home after."
They reached the distribution office without incident, no Delancey brothers chasing Kelly, and with out a fight breaking out between Kit and Spot. "Ise wonder where the Delancey brudders is at. The air is so much cleaner." Racetrack took a sniff to emphasis his point.
"Who gives they ain't here, no need to look a gift in the mouth." Kid Blink spoke up from his position on the statue.
The girls decided that standing by the gates was pointless and sat down on the curb to talk about, what else, boys. "So Mills do they always wake up like that or was that just because of a late night?"
"Like what? Oh youse mean not caring who saw them in such a state of undress? Yeah youse have to 'member, they still ain't used to goils in the bunkhouse, so they ain't suspecting wes just sit their and watch. That's why wes always leaving early, sometimes they ain't even that dressed, and it isn't pretty. What sort of lodgings do youse have in Lincoln?"
"Lodgings? Well most of us camp at the college campus during the summer. See around the end of September harvest starts so most of the guys head out to help farmers and their families. Working the banner is only a summer job for most. Our winters are too harsh to sell year round."
"How harsh is harsh that youse can't sell papes?"
"Well about the end of October, maybe November the snow starts. By end of November we have 4-6 feet on the ground, and 10-foot drifts on the open land. The temperature stays below zero and wes lucky if we don't have snow for a day from Thanksgiving till Easter. Blizzards happen at least every two weeks; you can't see your hand in front of your face. Papes only come out once a week, and are sold from the stores. No smart newsie will sell during the winter."
"Wow that's harsh, you ain't just improving on the truth now is youse?"
" No I am not, that when we're lucky, I've had to stay with Swan's family most years, me parents live to far west for me to get to in time."
"How's youse know each other anyway?"
"Swan's ma and me ma knew each other when they was little but didn't tell us till after we met. My folks sent me to Lincoln with me brother, Cray, to get us some schooling. Our money was running low so Cray started selling papes in the morning. But wes got thrown out when our money ran out. So I became newsie too. Swan found us on the street almost sick cuz we couldn't get enough to eat. He feed us and we all started selling together. Wes couldn't get home fore the first storm, so Swan's family took us in at their farm. After Rose, Swan's ma, found out whose kids we were she was only happy help us." Kit paused and looked around, "Mills is it just me or have dos gates not opened yet?"
"Ise think youse right Kit. Hey Jack youse think they gonna open the gates anytime soon?"
"Wes been sitting here wondering the same thing."
"Jack look at the Headline board its got some thing writing on it."
"Youse right Les. It says S-T-R-I-K-E, strike. Spot, when did wes call for a strike?"
"Ise don't member calling one."
"What is we gonna do Jack. Ise need to work Ise can't afford not too."
"Keep you pants on Crutchy Ise got to think."
"I think we should find out who's on strike and…" Swan started to speak but stopped when everyone's eyes turned toward him.
"Actually that ain't have bad idea. So youse all know what areas you know best. Go to them. Tell them wes having a meeting in Central Park. Ise go with Spot and take Swan David and the goils with me. Les youse better get home unless David want to take youse with."
"Who's said goils can some with us?" Spot rose from his place against the wall and grabbing for his cane.
Jack pulled him self up from the pavement and turned to him, "Ise say wes going to take them with, and whether youse like it or not."
"Brooklyn is still mine, Ise say who comes and who goes, not youse Kelly."
"Okay then Ise asking if the goils can come in Ise promise to take them out when we leave."
Kit mumbled under her breath, "Who would want to stay there any way?"
Mills heard and whispered, "Shut it or youse find yourself on the ground with a shiner."
"Fine their in youse hands, If they get hurt its youse fault not mine."
"Fair enough," Kelly spit on his hand as did Spot and they shook hands, officially closing the deal.
"Alright youse scatter find out what's going on wes meet at Central park at 7, got it? Tell those in charge at the boroughs youse go into. Good now go do you work." Kelly's command to his newsies worked like a charm and they scattered quickly.
Jack turned to the oddly quiet Spot, "Hey youse gonna get youse papes here or youse heading back cross the bridge?"
Spot scowled at Kit before answering, "Ise get me papes here but head for home after."
They reached the distribution office without incident, no Delancey brothers chasing Kelly, and with out a fight breaking out between Kit and Spot. "Ise wonder where the Delancey brudders is at. The air is so much cleaner." Racetrack took a sniff to emphasis his point.
"Who gives they ain't here, no need to look a gift in the mouth." Kid Blink spoke up from his position on the statue.
The girls decided that standing by the gates was pointless and sat down on the curb to talk about, what else, boys. "So Mills do they always wake up like that or was that just because of a late night?"
"Like what? Oh youse mean not caring who saw them in such a state of undress? Yeah youse have to 'member, they still ain't used to goils in the bunkhouse, so they ain't suspecting wes just sit their and watch. That's why wes always leaving early, sometimes they ain't even that dressed, and it isn't pretty. What sort of lodgings do youse have in Lincoln?"
"Lodgings? Well most of us camp at the college campus during the summer. See around the end of September harvest starts so most of the guys head out to help farmers and their families. Working the banner is only a summer job for most. Our winters are too harsh to sell year round."
"How harsh is harsh that youse can't sell papes?"
"Well about the end of October, maybe November the snow starts. By end of November we have 4-6 feet on the ground, and 10-foot drifts on the open land. The temperature stays below zero and wes lucky if we don't have snow for a day from Thanksgiving till Easter. Blizzards happen at least every two weeks; you can't see your hand in front of your face. Papes only come out once a week, and are sold from the stores. No smart newsie will sell during the winter."
"Wow that's harsh, you ain't just improving on the truth now is youse?"
" No I am not, that when we're lucky, I've had to stay with Swan's family most years, me parents live to far west for me to get to in time."
"How's youse know each other anyway?"
"Swan's ma and me ma knew each other when they was little but didn't tell us till after we met. My folks sent me to Lincoln with me brother, Cray, to get us some schooling. Our money was running low so Cray started selling papes in the morning. But wes got thrown out when our money ran out. So I became newsie too. Swan found us on the street almost sick cuz we couldn't get enough to eat. He feed us and we all started selling together. Wes couldn't get home fore the first storm, so Swan's family took us in at their farm. After Rose, Swan's ma, found out whose kids we were she was only happy help us." Kit paused and looked around, "Mills is it just me or have dos gates not opened yet?"
"Ise think youse right Kit. Hey Jack youse think they gonna open the gates anytime soon?"
"Wes been sitting here wondering the same thing."
"Jack look at the Headline board its got some thing writing on it."
"Youse right Les. It says S-T-R-I-K-E, strike. Spot, when did wes call for a strike?"
"Ise don't member calling one."
"What is we gonna do Jack. Ise need to work Ise can't afford not too."
"Keep you pants on Crutchy Ise got to think."
"I think we should find out who's on strike and…" Swan started to speak but stopped when everyone's eyes turned toward him.
"Actually that ain't have bad idea. So youse all know what areas you know best. Go to them. Tell them wes having a meeting in Central Park. Ise go with Spot and take Swan David and the goils with me. Les youse better get home unless David want to take youse with."
"Who's said goils can some with us?" Spot rose from his place against the wall and grabbing for his cane.
Jack pulled him self up from the pavement and turned to him, "Ise say wes going to take them with, and whether youse like it or not."
"Brooklyn is still mine, Ise say who comes and who goes, not youse Kelly."
"Okay then Ise asking if the goils can come in Ise promise to take them out when we leave."
Kit mumbled under her breath, "Who would want to stay there any way?"
Mills heard and whispered, "Shut it or youse find yourself on the ground with a shiner."
"Fine their in youse hands, If they get hurt its youse fault not mine."
"Fair enough," Kelly spit on his hand as did Spot and they shook hands, officially closing the deal.
"Alright youse scatter find out what's going on wes meet at Central park at 7, got it? Tell those in charge at the boroughs youse go into. Good now go do you work." Kelly's command to his newsies worked like a charm and they scattered quickly.