A Twist Of Fate
Jack and his fellow newsies gathered up their strike signs and headed
down to the Globe. On the way they met up with David and his little brother Les. Jack and David were the "leaders" of the newsies strike that had been going on for a few days now. Jack, with Davids help inspired the newsies to strike when Joseph Pulitzer, the mighty publisher of the Globe, decided to raise the prices of the papers by half a penny. Many of the kids who worked as newsies didnt have that extra penny, so the strike began.
"How much longer can this go on?" Mush asked David.
"I don't know." David said. "I think our strike fund is nearing its end. We're quickly running out of money."
"It'll take as long as it takes." Jack said. "If we give up now, that means he won." Jack said pointing at the large building Pulitzer had his office in. "And we don't want him to think he's won."
"Course not Jack." David said.
"We're ready to go all the way with ya Jack." Mush said.
"I still say we oughta try my plan." Racetrack said fiddling around with his prize cigar. He's had it for days but hasnt lit it up yet. Who knows when he would get another one.
"Taking the money to the track?" David said. "That wouldn't be a good idea."
"Yeah," Jack said. "The last time you had a sure bet on something, it turned out there was something was wrong with the horse."
"What was that again, Race?" Mush asked.
"It was nuthin, no big deal." Race said. "Okay, the horse went blind two minutes before the race but, hey it tried!"
"Let's go." Jack said. "It's almost time."
Jack strode forward and almost ran into a blond girl going in opposite direction. She knocked his sign out of his hand and he knocked a piece of paper out of hers.
"God, I'm sorry miss." Jack said as he handed the girl back her sheet of paper. She picked up his sign. It was clearly handmade, from whatever wood he could find. She looked at it.
"Thats ok." She said. "I get knocked down a lot. It's not even a issue anymore."
"Still I'm sorry." Jack said. "Whats your name?" He asked as the others passed him by to make it to the gate on time.
"Elizabeth McCarthy." She said handing him his sign. "Some of my friends call me Lizzie, closer friends call me Tipper."
"Tipper?" Jack asked. "Where'd you get a name like that?"
"I had a slight problem with tripping when I was young." She said. "It stuck."
"Then why not Tripper?"
"Tipper sounds better." She said. "Plus it makes the restuarant people think they'll be getting more than usual."
"Ah," Jack nodded.
"I gotta go!" Lizzie said.
"Wait, where ya going?" Jack asked.
"I'm going for this job interview. This is what that is. I'm applying over there." She said pointing at the Globes main office.
"You're gonna work for Pulitzer?" Jack asked a slight frown coming over his face.
"Yeah, why?"
"Thats what this is for." Jack said referring to the sign. "We're on strike."
"I heard." Lizzie said. "Think you'll win?"
"We're in for the long haul." Jack said.
"Well good luck." Lizzie said. "You're a lot braver than I am. I'd be back to work after the first day." She paused. "I don't know if I'm actually working for HIM." She said deciding to no to say his name. "It's a small job." She started to walk away. "I got two brothers and sisters, I need the work."
"Okay, well good luck then." Jack said tipping a non existant cap.
"You too, again." Lizzie said as she went across the street.
"Come on Jack!" Mush called from a street light. "We can't do this alone!"
"Comin'!" Jack said after watching Lizzie walk into an alley. "I'm comin'!"
The Globes Offices
Joseph Pulitzer made his way to his office with his two main men on his trail.
"We need a better idea on what to do to end this strike." He said. "The scabs aren't working anymore. I had to fire a maid last week because she was sympathetic to the strikers." He said. "We need a new idea."
"Yes boss." Both of the yesmen said.
They came upon the hallway to his office. It was full of teenage girls.
"Pray tell, what are all these people doing in my private hallway?" Pulitzer asked his secretary.
"They're here for the new maid position."She replied.
"All of them?" He raised an eyebrow. "I don't hire from outside the office. You know that. You should'nt have even let them in this far." Pulitzer said. "I have a maid pool, I hire from that. Get rid of them."
"Yes sir."
Pulitzer stepped over a few girls on the way to his office. The last batch of girls included Lizzie. Pulitzer stopped.
"Ms Stark, I've changed my mind, let the girls remain." He said. He looked at his two assistants. "These fine girls have just given me an idea on how I can win this strike."
Pulitzer closed the doors to his office and looked at his two assistants. "Since we can't use the toughest looking guys in town as scabs, then why not try the opposite?"
"The opposite?" One of his assistants asked.
"The opposite. Would the newsies react the same way to a group of
girls scabs rather than the ones we've been using?" Pulitzer said. "I say its worth looking into." Het got up and went to the assistants. "Bring them in a few at a time." He said.
"What are we looking for?" The quiet assistant asked.
"Attractive, not attractive." Pulitzer replied. "It's that simple."
Nightfall
Jack was walking back to where he lived, at the boarding house with the other newsies, when he saw a familiar face leaving the area of Pulitzers building. She looked happy.
"Lizzie?" Jack said walking up to her at a corner.
"Hey, its you." Lizzie said with a slight smile. "You know, I just remembered I never caught your name."
"As Mush would say, I never threw it." Jack said. "Jack Kelly."
"Lizzie." She said. "I thought I'd remind you."
"I know." He said. "You look happy."
"I do because I am." She replied. "I got a job!"
"Great!"
"I start tomorrow." She said. "I just have to look spiffy in the morning.
"What is it that you're gonna do?"
"I have no idea actually." Lizzie said. "I went for a maid job but wound up with somthing that might pay more, much more."
"A great paying job and you don't know what it is?" Jack said. Lizzie nodded. "Well sign me up, I know a few friends who might be want to get into that."
"I know I do." Lizzie said.
"Where are you goin?" Jack asked.
"Home." She pointed. "I live at this boarding house right here."
"It's right across the street from me." Jack pointed out his place.
"How convienant." Lizzie said.
"I know." Jack said. "But that place is small, where's your family?" He asked. "You mentioned brothers and sisters."
"They uh live elsewhere." Lizzie said. "Not very far away but for the moment I live alone. I'm hoping that will change."
"Well with this job, it might." Jack said. "I'll see ya tomorrow. Let me know how it goes."
"I will, thanks." Lizzie said going into her home. Jack watched her go in, then he went in the door of the boarding house. Mush and Racetrack sat in the middle of the living room.
"Hey, whats up Jack?" Mush asked.
"Not much." Jack said. "I was talking to that girl again Lizzie."
Mush and Racetrack looked at each other.
"What? Can't I talk to a girl when I want to?" He asked.
"Its not that Jack." Racetrack said. "Theres something you oughta know."
"What?" Jack asked.
"You tell him Mush." Racetrack said as Jack got closer to him.
"We saw her going into Pulitzers office." Mush said.
"I know." Jack said as Mush and Racetrack looked on. "She got some kind of job there this afternoon. She doesnt know what it is yet."
"What if its to sell papes?" Mush asked.
"Another scab?" Racetrack asked. "What are the odds of that?"
"With Pulitzer you don't know what he might pull." Mush noted.
"Nah, can't be." Jack said. "She was gonna be a maid or something." He said. "Thats it. We're imagining stuff."
"Thats gotta be it." Mush said.
"Come on, we gotta get some sleep. Morning will be here before we know it." Racetrack said.
"Right." Jack said as he slowly followed the guys to their room. What if they were right? What if there was something more to Lizzie? She seemed awful dodgy about where her sisters and brothers were. He shook his head as he reached his room. That wasnt it. It had to be something else.
Morning
Jack, for the first time the strike started, actually slept in that morning. At the end of the day, he was gonna wish he stayed there. He got dressed in a hurry. He then ran down the stairs of the boarding house then ran out the door. He got to the Globe just in time.
"Did I miss anything?" He asked.
"Nothing much." David said. "Weasel is in there looking at us." He said. "It's strange. It's almost like hes gloating or something."
"I wonder what for." Jack said. "He doesnt think he's winning does he?"
"Who knows." David said.
"Better yet, who cares?" Racetrack asked.
"Good point." David said.
They sat there at the edge of the gate for a few minutes. Then the bell inside rung loudly, announcing that it was time for the wagon to come out.
"Get ready." Jack shouted as the newsies began to prepare themselves for what they thought was coming.
The gate slowly opened. It opened slowly at first then quickly opened all the way. The guys focused on the shadows they saw moving toward them. Jack squinted. He couldnt see who was coming. Then the people who created the shadows slowly came into the light. All at once, the newsies moved a step back. David and Jacks eyes opened wide once they realized what everyone was looking at. Some guys that had rocks, dropped them. Some that had sticks in hand lowered them in shock.
"What is that?" David asked. "Am I seeing what I think I am seeing?"
"It's not just you." Mush said.
"Great, then the strike hasnt driven me crazy." David said.
"You're seeing it alright." Jack said. "Pulizter has finally done it."
"What?" Les said in back of them. "I can't see!" He said jumping.
"Pulitzer has hired girl scabs to sell the papes." David said to his little brother.
"And look whos in front." Mush said pointing someone out to Jack.
Jack looked in the direction of where Mush was pointing. The girl out front was familiar. Her hair was tied back, but he still knew her.
"Lizzie." Jack quietly. "Lizzies new job is with pulitzer all right. Shes a scab."
Lizzie stood out front with her pile of papers. She looked around. If she didnt see him, Jack decided, she soon would.
Jack and his fellow newsies gathered up their strike signs and headed
down to the Globe. On the way they met up with David and his little brother Les. Jack and David were the "leaders" of the newsies strike that had been going on for a few days now. Jack, with Davids help inspired the newsies to strike when Joseph Pulitzer, the mighty publisher of the Globe, decided to raise the prices of the papers by half a penny. Many of the kids who worked as newsies didnt have that extra penny, so the strike began.
"How much longer can this go on?" Mush asked David.
"I don't know." David said. "I think our strike fund is nearing its end. We're quickly running out of money."
"It'll take as long as it takes." Jack said. "If we give up now, that means he won." Jack said pointing at the large building Pulitzer had his office in. "And we don't want him to think he's won."
"Course not Jack." David said.
"We're ready to go all the way with ya Jack." Mush said.
"I still say we oughta try my plan." Racetrack said fiddling around with his prize cigar. He's had it for days but hasnt lit it up yet. Who knows when he would get another one.
"Taking the money to the track?" David said. "That wouldn't be a good idea."
"Yeah," Jack said. "The last time you had a sure bet on something, it turned out there was something was wrong with the horse."
"What was that again, Race?" Mush asked.
"It was nuthin, no big deal." Race said. "Okay, the horse went blind two minutes before the race but, hey it tried!"
"Let's go." Jack said. "It's almost time."
Jack strode forward and almost ran into a blond girl going in opposite direction. She knocked his sign out of his hand and he knocked a piece of paper out of hers.
"God, I'm sorry miss." Jack said as he handed the girl back her sheet of paper. She picked up his sign. It was clearly handmade, from whatever wood he could find. She looked at it.
"Thats ok." She said. "I get knocked down a lot. It's not even a issue anymore."
"Still I'm sorry." Jack said. "Whats your name?" He asked as the others passed him by to make it to the gate on time.
"Elizabeth McCarthy." She said handing him his sign. "Some of my friends call me Lizzie, closer friends call me Tipper."
"Tipper?" Jack asked. "Where'd you get a name like that?"
"I had a slight problem with tripping when I was young." She said. "It stuck."
"Then why not Tripper?"
"Tipper sounds better." She said. "Plus it makes the restuarant people think they'll be getting more than usual."
"Ah," Jack nodded.
"I gotta go!" Lizzie said.
"Wait, where ya going?" Jack asked.
"I'm going for this job interview. This is what that is. I'm applying over there." She said pointing at the Globes main office.
"You're gonna work for Pulitzer?" Jack asked a slight frown coming over his face.
"Yeah, why?"
"Thats what this is for." Jack said referring to the sign. "We're on strike."
"I heard." Lizzie said. "Think you'll win?"
"We're in for the long haul." Jack said.
"Well good luck." Lizzie said. "You're a lot braver than I am. I'd be back to work after the first day." She paused. "I don't know if I'm actually working for HIM." She said deciding to no to say his name. "It's a small job." She started to walk away. "I got two brothers and sisters, I need the work."
"Okay, well good luck then." Jack said tipping a non existant cap.
"You too, again." Lizzie said as she went across the street.
"Come on Jack!" Mush called from a street light. "We can't do this alone!"
"Comin'!" Jack said after watching Lizzie walk into an alley. "I'm comin'!"
The Globes Offices
Joseph Pulitzer made his way to his office with his two main men on his trail.
"We need a better idea on what to do to end this strike." He said. "The scabs aren't working anymore. I had to fire a maid last week because she was sympathetic to the strikers." He said. "We need a new idea."
"Yes boss." Both of the yesmen said.
They came upon the hallway to his office. It was full of teenage girls.
"Pray tell, what are all these people doing in my private hallway?" Pulitzer asked his secretary.
"They're here for the new maid position."She replied.
"All of them?" He raised an eyebrow. "I don't hire from outside the office. You know that. You should'nt have even let them in this far." Pulitzer said. "I have a maid pool, I hire from that. Get rid of them."
"Yes sir."
Pulitzer stepped over a few girls on the way to his office. The last batch of girls included Lizzie. Pulitzer stopped.
"Ms Stark, I've changed my mind, let the girls remain." He said. He looked at his two assistants. "These fine girls have just given me an idea on how I can win this strike."
Pulitzer closed the doors to his office and looked at his two assistants. "Since we can't use the toughest looking guys in town as scabs, then why not try the opposite?"
"The opposite?" One of his assistants asked.
"The opposite. Would the newsies react the same way to a group of
girls scabs rather than the ones we've been using?" Pulitzer said. "I say its worth looking into." Het got up and went to the assistants. "Bring them in a few at a time." He said.
"What are we looking for?" The quiet assistant asked.
"Attractive, not attractive." Pulitzer replied. "It's that simple."
Nightfall
Jack was walking back to where he lived, at the boarding house with the other newsies, when he saw a familiar face leaving the area of Pulitzers building. She looked happy.
"Lizzie?" Jack said walking up to her at a corner.
"Hey, its you." Lizzie said with a slight smile. "You know, I just remembered I never caught your name."
"As Mush would say, I never threw it." Jack said. "Jack Kelly."
"Lizzie." She said. "I thought I'd remind you."
"I know." He said. "You look happy."
"I do because I am." She replied. "I got a job!"
"Great!"
"I start tomorrow." She said. "I just have to look spiffy in the morning.
"What is it that you're gonna do?"
"I have no idea actually." Lizzie said. "I went for a maid job but wound up with somthing that might pay more, much more."
"A great paying job and you don't know what it is?" Jack said. Lizzie nodded. "Well sign me up, I know a few friends who might be want to get into that."
"I know I do." Lizzie said.
"Where are you goin?" Jack asked.
"Home." She pointed. "I live at this boarding house right here."
"It's right across the street from me." Jack pointed out his place.
"How convienant." Lizzie said.
"I know." Jack said. "But that place is small, where's your family?" He asked. "You mentioned brothers and sisters."
"They uh live elsewhere." Lizzie said. "Not very far away but for the moment I live alone. I'm hoping that will change."
"Well with this job, it might." Jack said. "I'll see ya tomorrow. Let me know how it goes."
"I will, thanks." Lizzie said going into her home. Jack watched her go in, then he went in the door of the boarding house. Mush and Racetrack sat in the middle of the living room.
"Hey, whats up Jack?" Mush asked.
"Not much." Jack said. "I was talking to that girl again Lizzie."
Mush and Racetrack looked at each other.
"What? Can't I talk to a girl when I want to?" He asked.
"Its not that Jack." Racetrack said. "Theres something you oughta know."
"What?" Jack asked.
"You tell him Mush." Racetrack said as Jack got closer to him.
"We saw her going into Pulitzers office." Mush said.
"I know." Jack said as Mush and Racetrack looked on. "She got some kind of job there this afternoon. She doesnt know what it is yet."
"What if its to sell papes?" Mush asked.
"Another scab?" Racetrack asked. "What are the odds of that?"
"With Pulitzer you don't know what he might pull." Mush noted.
"Nah, can't be." Jack said. "She was gonna be a maid or something." He said. "Thats it. We're imagining stuff."
"Thats gotta be it." Mush said.
"Come on, we gotta get some sleep. Morning will be here before we know it." Racetrack said.
"Right." Jack said as he slowly followed the guys to their room. What if they were right? What if there was something more to Lizzie? She seemed awful dodgy about where her sisters and brothers were. He shook his head as he reached his room. That wasnt it. It had to be something else.
Morning
Jack, for the first time the strike started, actually slept in that morning. At the end of the day, he was gonna wish he stayed there. He got dressed in a hurry. He then ran down the stairs of the boarding house then ran out the door. He got to the Globe just in time.
"Did I miss anything?" He asked.
"Nothing much." David said. "Weasel is in there looking at us." He said. "It's strange. It's almost like hes gloating or something."
"I wonder what for." Jack said. "He doesnt think he's winning does he?"
"Who knows." David said.
"Better yet, who cares?" Racetrack asked.
"Good point." David said.
They sat there at the edge of the gate for a few minutes. Then the bell inside rung loudly, announcing that it was time for the wagon to come out.
"Get ready." Jack shouted as the newsies began to prepare themselves for what they thought was coming.
The gate slowly opened. It opened slowly at first then quickly opened all the way. The guys focused on the shadows they saw moving toward them. Jack squinted. He couldnt see who was coming. Then the people who created the shadows slowly came into the light. All at once, the newsies moved a step back. David and Jacks eyes opened wide once they realized what everyone was looking at. Some guys that had rocks, dropped them. Some that had sticks in hand lowered them in shock.
"What is that?" David asked. "Am I seeing what I think I am seeing?"
"It's not just you." Mush said.
"Great, then the strike hasnt driven me crazy." David said.
"You're seeing it alright." Jack said. "Pulizter has finally done it."
"What?" Les said in back of them. "I can't see!" He said jumping.
"Pulitzer has hired girl scabs to sell the papes." David said to his little brother.
"And look whos in front." Mush said pointing someone out to Jack.
Jack looked in the direction of where Mush was pointing. The girl out front was familiar. Her hair was tied back, but he still knew her.
"Lizzie." Jack quietly. "Lizzies new job is with pulitzer all right. Shes a scab."
Lizzie stood out front with her pile of papers. She looked around. If she didnt see him, Jack decided, she soon would.