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Five Years Later
Blue woke up with a yawn and squinted in the sunlight that filtered through the window. She looked over to the other side of the room and saw Bright Eyes still sleeping. The sixteen year old girl had been more than a friend to the fourteen year old Blue and she loved her company. She was like her sister. Blue had always wanted a sister.
But instead I got a big brudda. He's a good brudda, but I tink dat all goils need sistas. 'Specially if dey don't got muddas. Blue thought as she sat up in bed and pulled on her suspenders and cap, smacking Bright Eyes on the back as she did so.
The lump on the bed stirred and groaned, then Bright Eyes sat up. Her hair was in total disarray and her eyes tired. Blue giggled.
"Whaddya laughin' at punk? You don't look much betta in da mawnin's yerself!" Bright Eyes protested as she got out of bed with a yawn and attempted to tame her hair.
"Aren't ya glad dat Race cain't see ya like dis in da mawnin'? He'd be frightened out of his mind an' den he wouldn't like ya anymore!" Blue said mischievously.
Bright Eyes rolled her eyes as she dumped water on her hair and brushed it.
"Don't be stupid. Race don't like me like dat. We're jest friends." Blue rolled her eyes.
"Oh yeah sure Bright." Blue said crossing her arms across her chest.
"Well I cain't say da same fer you. You don't got a guy eida! Or maybe ya do. Maybe it's Spot." Bright Eyes said slyly, glancing at Blue out of the corner of her eye.
"Spot? HA! Yeah right! I ain't seen him up close since I was a kid an' he yelled at me. Only fer a distance. 'Sides, he probably grew up nasty lookin'." Blue scoffed.
Bright Eyes smiled. "Actually he's downright handsome." Bright Eyes said, laying the brush on the table and putting on her cap.
"Yeah sure Bright. Sure he is." Blue remarked as the two girls walked out the door.
"Hey Blue! How'd ya sleep?" Crutchy asked, smacking his hand on her back.
"Hey Crutchy! She slept on her back! Hahaha! Get it!" Mush laughed from across the room.
"Shudup Mush! It ain't funny no more!" Jack protested as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
Blue eyed him with a knowing smile. He had gotten taller since she had first met him. Taller and more lanky. His eyes were still the same sparkly brown, and his hair still dirty and brown. He had actually developed a few muscles to Blue's surprise.
Probably from punchin' out da Delancy's every mawnin'. Blue thought with a smile.
Her brother Kid Blink hadn't changed, save the fact that he was taller. His full head of tawny hair was still the same as ever, but now Blue had to cut it frequently so it wouldn't hang in his good eye.
Racetrack entered the room, his ever present cigar in his mouth. He hadn't changed either. His voice had gotten deeper and his passion for cigarettes worse, but he hadn't gotten any taller that was for sure. Blue had shot up, but she was still the same height as Racetrack and she often rubbed in that fact to him, which he hated.
"Hey Race! Where's Blink?" She asked Racetrack.
Racetrack turned to her, as he wiped the shaving cream off his face.
"He's already down at da distribution office!" He yelled back.
"Okay! I'm off ta git me papes!" Blue called out to Bright Eyes, who was engaged in a lively conversation with Racetrack about the day's racehorses that were competing. Bright Eyes waved and returned to her conversation as Blue skipped down the stairs two at a time followed by several other Newsies.
"Mawnin' Kloppman!" She chirped as she exited the building with a wave of her hand.
When she approached the distribution office, she could sense that something wasn't right. Instead of the orderly line of boys waiting to receive their papers, there was instead groups of boys talking with angry voices. She saw Blink and approached him. He saw her and smiled faintly, but Blue could see that he was very troubled.
"Hey Blue. It ain't good." He said as he put his arm around her protectively.
"It ain't fair! Dey cain't raise da price of papes!" Pie Eater yelled.
"No it ain't! But we ain't got no choice! We've jest gotta accept it an' dats dat!" Skittery put in calmly.
"Jest accept it? No can do Skits! I cain't do dat! It'll bust me!" Snoddy said.
Blue's eyes widened as she comprehended what had happened.
Dey raised da price of papes! We cain't live like dat! No way! I cain't believe dis! Blue thought.
"Hey fellas! Why aren't ya gettin' yer papes?" The boys turned as Jack approached them.
"Dey jacked up da price Jack." Blue said quickly before Kid Blink exploded.
"Dey jacked up da price Jack! Ten cents a hundred! Ya know, its bad enough dat we gotta eat what we don't sell! An' now dey jacked up da price!" He said angrily.
Blue looked behind her brother and saw Oscar Delancy mocking him happily.
Dumb, good fer nothin' idiot! I oughta pound yer face in! Blue thought angrily as she clenched her fists.
"Dis'll bust me! I'm barely makin' a livin' right now!" Skittery protested.
"I'll be back sleepin' on da streets." Boots said sadly.
"It don't make no sense. Wit' all da money Pulitza's makin', why would he gouge us?" Mush said, all the fun knocked out of him.
" 'Cause he's a tightwad dats why!" Racetrack put in angrily as he stormed across the platform. Blue nodded her agreement as she watched Racetrack pace angrily, his cigar hanging out of his mouth.
Until now Jack hadn't said a word, he had merely stared at the others in shock. Only then did he move towards the distribution office desk.
"Hey calm down guys its jest a gag." He then approached Weasel and asked him an inaudible question, to which Weasel gave a smart aleck answer that sent Jack away from the desk in a huff.
"Dey cain't do dis to me Jack. Me or Blue. We cain't live like dis. How'm I gonna take care of her an' me huh?" Kid Blink muttered as Jack walked by and sat down on the steps.
"I kin take care of meself Kid!" Blue put in.
"Dey kin do whateva dey want, its dere stinkin' papa." Boots muttered.
Jack sat down beside him and Boots looked imploringly into his face.
"It ain't fair! We got no rights at all!" He said angrily.
"C'mon its a rigged deck! Dey've got all da marbles okay!" Racetrack said, stopping his angry pacing for a moment.
"No kiddin' Race! Jack,we ain't got no rights ta do anytin'! Dey cain't do dis!" Bright Eyes said, pounding her fist in her hand, the old Brooklyn fight in her surfacing.
"We've got no choice. So lets git some papes while dey still got some huh?" Mush said weakly as he began to ascend the steps.
He was quickly pushed back by Jack and the others.
"Hey Mush! You wit' us or against us!" Blue called out as she pushed against the crowds of boys.
Jack placed his head in his hands frustrated. Blink looked at him for a minute, then offered him his cigarette. Jack snatched it quickly and took a deep breath, calming down for the moment. Blue and all the others watched him, waiting for a plan. Blue began to get impatient.
She could see Bright Eyes out of the corner of her eye watching him, her fists flexing, in and out, faster and faster by the minute.
"Jack, you done tinkin' yet?" Racetrack asked. The boys looked at him and as they did Weasel opened the window of the office.
"Hey! World employees only this side of the gates!" He yelled and quickly closed the windows as yells for him to 'shut up' were thrown back. Blue sighed and leaned up against Kid Blink. She couldn't believe that Pulitzer could be this stupid. This heartless.
Racetrack sighed and began pacing again, winding his gold watch.
"Listen! If we don't sell papes, nobody sells papes. An' nobody sells papes till dey put da price back where it was!" Jack said on an inspiration.
Blue turned the idea over in her mind.
We could disable all of New Yawk. She thought in awe.
"You mean like a strike?" David, a new boy who had joined the Newsies asked.
Blue didn't like David. For one thing, he was too clean for her. Too clean and too hoity-toity. She liked Les somewhat. At least he was a relief from David and his endless prophecys and nonsense. And another reason she didn't like him, was because she believed that he was trying to woo Bright Eyes, which disgusted her thoroughly.
Not like he kin git anywhere near her anyway. Racetrack's got her numba sure as shootin'. Blue thought with a smirk.
"Yeah like a strike!" Jack said angrily.
The boys around him began to scoff in disgust. "Yeah right Jack! C'mon!" Snipeshooter said.
"Are you out of yer mind!" Racetrack yelled in Jack's face, the anger replaced by hesitation.
"Its a good idea!" Jack fired back. David quickly jumped down beside Jack.
"Don't worry about it, he was just joking." He explained to Racetrack who tromped off to the side and said something angrily to Bright Eyes who nodded. David whispered something in Jack's ear. Blue leaned closer so as to hear better.
"We can't strike we don't have a union." David said softly.
"Yeah but. If we go on strike den we are a union right?" Jack asked hopefully.
"No, we're jest a bunch of angry kids with no money."
Buncha angry kids wit' no money! Ha! Dats goin' a little too far. Buncha angry kids wit' no money! I'll show 'im! I'll give 'im a knuckle sandwich fer lunch! I ain't angry! I'm aggravated! Blue thought, her forehead furrowing.
"I mean, maybe we've got all the Newsies in New York, but." As David spoke, Jack's eyes widened.
Oh great. Jack's got anotha crazy idea. Blue thought as Jack stood.
"Yeah, well we organize! Crutchy you take up a collection!" Jack said, patting Crutchy on the shoulder.
"Swell! C'mon guys! We're a union now!" Crutchy said as he held out his hat for money.
He's gotta be crazy! I want me rights jest like dat next guy, but we cain't do dis! It'll bust us! Blue looked over at Racetrack.
He was walking next to Bright Eyes with an angry and confused look on his face. Bright Eyes was the same, only she seemed more doubtful than confused.
"Jack this isn't a game. You saw what happened to those trolley workers!"
For once, Blue agreed with what David said.
I 'memba. I saw dem woikas get pounded down last night. It was awful. I almost got swept up in da mob. I don't wanna be in sometin' like dat. Sometin' dat brutal.
"Yeah Jack. I mean, we ain't got da resources like some udda people's got." Bright Eyes called out.
"Yeah, well dats not a good idea. Anybody who don't join wid us den we bust dey're heads jest like da trolley woikas!" Jack was greeted with an affirmative yell as the boys let the idea sink into their heads.
It might be okay. Dat is if we had some help. Yeah, I'd like ta bust a few guys. Blue thought with a grin as she followed the now enthusiastic boys out the gates.
"Jack you can't just drag everybody into this!" Blue heard David yell over the din.
David is such a fraidy cat. You'd tink he'd neva fought before! What a wuss.
"Yer right. You tink about it." Jack yelled back.
As Jack approached the Greeley statue followed by Blue and the rest of the boys, he halted and turned to them. Blue positioned herself near Blink and leaned up against a tree to listen, pushing her blonde hair behind her ear.
"Now listen guys! Pulitzer an' Hoist an' all dem udda rich fellas, well, dey own dis city. Do ya really tink dat a buncha street rats like us are gonna make any difference?"
Blue shrugged her shoulders and looked around uncomfortably. She didn't really like being refered as a street rat. And from the looks of the others, they were less than thrilled as well. Racetrack looked over at Bright Eyes and she looked back at him, her eyes expressing her discontent. Blue turned back as Jack began to speak again.
"Now we kin eida take what dey give us, or are we gonna strike?" Jack yelled out.
The crowd was silent, as Newsie looked to Newsie quietly, waiting for the other to make the first stand.
"Strike!" Blue looked to the speaker and was surprised to see Les. She also noted with disdain how David was trying to shut him up.
Good grief, da little kid has got more guts dan a teenaga. Dan his own brudda. Man, I do like dat kid. A little annoyin', but betta dan David any day. Blue thought.
"C'mon Jack, tell us what ta do!" Boots called out from the crowd.
Jack raised his hand thoughtfully and approached David. He whispered into David's ear and David whispered back.
"C'mon Jack! Tell us what ta do! We gotta stick tegedda!" Blue yelled out.
Jack nodded to David and stood up straight.
"Pulitzer an' Hoist hafta respect da rights of da woikin' boys of New Yawk! Dats right!" He yelled as Blue and the others yelled with appreciation. Jack bobbed his head down to David once more, then at a word from David, jumped on the statue and continued his speech, much to Blue's amazement.
Jack's neva done sometin' like dis befoa. But he's good at it. Blue thought as she ran and chanted with the group of boys, following Jack everywhere. Finally, the speech ended in front of the World building. Jack stood in front of the others once more.
"Now we gotta send woid out ta all da Newsies in New Yawk! We gotta have one of dose, um, whaddya call 'em?" Jack asked David, motioning his hands while David looked at him, confused.
"Ambassadors?" David asked. Jack nodded.
"Okay guys! You gotta be ambastards, and tell all da uddas!"
Blue burst into laughter at Jack's misunderstanding, knowing full well what he was supposed to say. Boys all around her began to volunteer to go to other districts, and she sighed with relief as Jack told Skittery to take Queens.
"Okay, who wants Brooklyn?" As Jack said Brooklyn, the boys fell silent.
Blue's mouth dropped and she looked away, trying to find a place to hide, lest Jack should choose her. He had been pestering her these last couple weeks to patch things up with Spot, but she had stolidly refused. But now with Jack playing leader, she didn't know what to expect and she didn't want to take any chances. Jack looked at them in disbelief.
"C'mon its Spot Conlon's territory." Jack said.
"I'll go Jack." Bright Eyes spoke out, much to Blue's relief.
"Okay. We need uddas though." Jack said, once more scanning the crowd.
"Whassa matta you guys scared of Brooklyn?" Jack yelled with a degrading air. Blue dropped her face, which was red.
"Hey, we ain't scared of Brooklyn! Spot Conlon makes us a little neivous." Boots spoke out angrily.
You an' me both Boots. Neivous an' angry. Blue shuddered.
"Well he don't make me neivous. So you an' me an' Bright, Boots. We'll go ta Brooklyn. An' Dave an' Blue kin keep us company!" Jack said as he grabbed David.
Blue's color drained from her face and she looked to Bright Eyes in a panic. Bright Eyes' blue eyes met hers, but she didn't do anything.
Her eyes said, Don't be a coward. I'll make sure dat Spot leaves ya alone. Blue nodded as David continued, getting over the shock of being chosen to go to Brooklyn.
"Sure, just as soon as you take our demands to Pulitzer." He said. Blue shook her head.
David, you hoity toity crud ball. Blue thought, disgusted.
Jack looked at David just as if he thought the same thing.
"Me ta Pulitzer?" He asked. "Well you're the leader Jack." David said mockingly.
Jack shrugged, visibly biting his tongue. Then as if to get back at David, Jack grabbed Les and pushed him up the stairs and through the World door.
"Well maybe da kid'll soften him up a little." Blue yelled and cheered as Les' frightened face disappeared behind the doors.
A few minutes later, Jack and Les were thrown out the door. Blue laughed as Jack yelled at the big burly man behind the closing doors.
"You throw like an' ol' lady! You tell Pulitzer dat he needs an' appointment wit' me!" Jack yelled.
"Yeah!" Les concurred, a little too late.
David walked over to Jack and pulled him over to a tall man, who was dressed in rather fancy clothes. Jack began talking to him and listened to the man intently.
"Hey Bright! Blue! Come here!" Jack yelled. Bright Eyes looked at Blue who shrugged as they approached Jack.
Blue looked over the man standing before them. He was tall, brown hair combed back and brown eyes that looked them over eagerly. She didn't know whether to like him or dislike him, but she shook his hand anyway.
"Goils dis is Brian Denton, writa fer da Sun. Denton, dis is Bright Eyes an' Blue. Two of our best Newsies." Jack said proudly as Denton shook their hands.
"He wants ta know 'bout da strike. He'll be willin' ta pay fer lunch." Jack said with a smile. Bright Eyes and Blue lit up.
"Well, dere ain't much ta say. Da strike jest stawted ya know." Blue said.
Denton nodded.
"I know. But this might turn into an important affair. I want to be the first one to know the details." Denton said, leading them towards Tibby's.
The group dragged out lunch for a long time as David and Jack told Denton about the strike. Blue was unfortunately seated by David, after feeling sorry for Bright Eyes, who was originally going to be sitting by him.
Dis is my good deed fer da day. I hope Bright appreciates it. She thought, sipping her drink silently as Jack and Les finished their narrative of attempting to see Pulitzer.
"Does he scare you? You're going up against the most powerful man in New York City." Denton said, referring to Pulitzer.
Blue looked at Jack who scoffed.
"Oh, look at me! I'm tremblin'!" He said, in mock fright.
"We ain't scaired of dat ol' geeza." Blue said firmly.
She eyed Denton, who smiled and handed a piece of paper to David.
"Keep me informed. I want to know everything that is going on." David took the paper with a satisfied smile.
"Are we really an important story?" David asked.
"I covered the war in Cuba and that was a very important story. The truth is, it all depends on you." Denton said as he stood and got his coat.
"So my name's really gonna be in da papers?" Jack asked.
"Any objections?" Denton asked.
"Just so long as ya get it right. Kelly, Jack Kelly." Blue smiled.
"Oh an' Denton." Denton turned around and faced Jack.
"No pictures." Jack said, nodding nervously. Denton nodded with a smile.
Blue eyed Jack curiously, who merely shook his head.
"I don't look good in pitchas." He said with a smile.
"Well, should we hit da road?" Bright Eyes asked.
Jack nodded.
"Yeah, lets git a move on. Don't wanna keep Spot waitin'." He replied and stood. David let Blue out and the group left Tibby's and set off for Brooklyn.
*Author's Note: I know it just seems like I'm following the strike word for word, but trust me, it changes. Thanx for all you reviewers!! You ROCK!*
Five Years Later
Blue woke up with a yawn and squinted in the sunlight that filtered through the window. She looked over to the other side of the room and saw Bright Eyes still sleeping. The sixteen year old girl had been more than a friend to the fourteen year old Blue and she loved her company. She was like her sister. Blue had always wanted a sister.
But instead I got a big brudda. He's a good brudda, but I tink dat all goils need sistas. 'Specially if dey don't got muddas. Blue thought as she sat up in bed and pulled on her suspenders and cap, smacking Bright Eyes on the back as she did so.
The lump on the bed stirred and groaned, then Bright Eyes sat up. Her hair was in total disarray and her eyes tired. Blue giggled.
"Whaddya laughin' at punk? You don't look much betta in da mawnin's yerself!" Bright Eyes protested as she got out of bed with a yawn and attempted to tame her hair.
"Aren't ya glad dat Race cain't see ya like dis in da mawnin'? He'd be frightened out of his mind an' den he wouldn't like ya anymore!" Blue said mischievously.
Bright Eyes rolled her eyes as she dumped water on her hair and brushed it.
"Don't be stupid. Race don't like me like dat. We're jest friends." Blue rolled her eyes.
"Oh yeah sure Bright." Blue said crossing her arms across her chest.
"Well I cain't say da same fer you. You don't got a guy eida! Or maybe ya do. Maybe it's Spot." Bright Eyes said slyly, glancing at Blue out of the corner of her eye.
"Spot? HA! Yeah right! I ain't seen him up close since I was a kid an' he yelled at me. Only fer a distance. 'Sides, he probably grew up nasty lookin'." Blue scoffed.
Bright Eyes smiled. "Actually he's downright handsome." Bright Eyes said, laying the brush on the table and putting on her cap.
"Yeah sure Bright. Sure he is." Blue remarked as the two girls walked out the door.
"Hey Blue! How'd ya sleep?" Crutchy asked, smacking his hand on her back.
"Hey Crutchy! She slept on her back! Hahaha! Get it!" Mush laughed from across the room.
"Shudup Mush! It ain't funny no more!" Jack protested as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
Blue eyed him with a knowing smile. He had gotten taller since she had first met him. Taller and more lanky. His eyes were still the same sparkly brown, and his hair still dirty and brown. He had actually developed a few muscles to Blue's surprise.
Probably from punchin' out da Delancy's every mawnin'. Blue thought with a smile.
Her brother Kid Blink hadn't changed, save the fact that he was taller. His full head of tawny hair was still the same as ever, but now Blue had to cut it frequently so it wouldn't hang in his good eye.
Racetrack entered the room, his ever present cigar in his mouth. He hadn't changed either. His voice had gotten deeper and his passion for cigarettes worse, but he hadn't gotten any taller that was for sure. Blue had shot up, but she was still the same height as Racetrack and she often rubbed in that fact to him, which he hated.
"Hey Race! Where's Blink?" She asked Racetrack.
Racetrack turned to her, as he wiped the shaving cream off his face.
"He's already down at da distribution office!" He yelled back.
"Okay! I'm off ta git me papes!" Blue called out to Bright Eyes, who was engaged in a lively conversation with Racetrack about the day's racehorses that were competing. Bright Eyes waved and returned to her conversation as Blue skipped down the stairs two at a time followed by several other Newsies.
"Mawnin' Kloppman!" She chirped as she exited the building with a wave of her hand.
When she approached the distribution office, she could sense that something wasn't right. Instead of the orderly line of boys waiting to receive their papers, there was instead groups of boys talking with angry voices. She saw Blink and approached him. He saw her and smiled faintly, but Blue could see that he was very troubled.
"Hey Blue. It ain't good." He said as he put his arm around her protectively.
"It ain't fair! Dey cain't raise da price of papes!" Pie Eater yelled.
"No it ain't! But we ain't got no choice! We've jest gotta accept it an' dats dat!" Skittery put in calmly.
"Jest accept it? No can do Skits! I cain't do dat! It'll bust me!" Snoddy said.
Blue's eyes widened as she comprehended what had happened.
Dey raised da price of papes! We cain't live like dat! No way! I cain't believe dis! Blue thought.
"Hey fellas! Why aren't ya gettin' yer papes?" The boys turned as Jack approached them.
"Dey jacked up da price Jack." Blue said quickly before Kid Blink exploded.
"Dey jacked up da price Jack! Ten cents a hundred! Ya know, its bad enough dat we gotta eat what we don't sell! An' now dey jacked up da price!" He said angrily.
Blue looked behind her brother and saw Oscar Delancy mocking him happily.
Dumb, good fer nothin' idiot! I oughta pound yer face in! Blue thought angrily as she clenched her fists.
"Dis'll bust me! I'm barely makin' a livin' right now!" Skittery protested.
"I'll be back sleepin' on da streets." Boots said sadly.
"It don't make no sense. Wit' all da money Pulitza's makin', why would he gouge us?" Mush said, all the fun knocked out of him.
" 'Cause he's a tightwad dats why!" Racetrack put in angrily as he stormed across the platform. Blue nodded her agreement as she watched Racetrack pace angrily, his cigar hanging out of his mouth.
Until now Jack hadn't said a word, he had merely stared at the others in shock. Only then did he move towards the distribution office desk.
"Hey calm down guys its jest a gag." He then approached Weasel and asked him an inaudible question, to which Weasel gave a smart aleck answer that sent Jack away from the desk in a huff.
"Dey cain't do dis to me Jack. Me or Blue. We cain't live like dis. How'm I gonna take care of her an' me huh?" Kid Blink muttered as Jack walked by and sat down on the steps.
"I kin take care of meself Kid!" Blue put in.
"Dey kin do whateva dey want, its dere stinkin' papa." Boots muttered.
Jack sat down beside him and Boots looked imploringly into his face.
"It ain't fair! We got no rights at all!" He said angrily.
"C'mon its a rigged deck! Dey've got all da marbles okay!" Racetrack said, stopping his angry pacing for a moment.
"No kiddin' Race! Jack,we ain't got no rights ta do anytin'! Dey cain't do dis!" Bright Eyes said, pounding her fist in her hand, the old Brooklyn fight in her surfacing.
"We've got no choice. So lets git some papes while dey still got some huh?" Mush said weakly as he began to ascend the steps.
He was quickly pushed back by Jack and the others.
"Hey Mush! You wit' us or against us!" Blue called out as she pushed against the crowds of boys.
Jack placed his head in his hands frustrated. Blink looked at him for a minute, then offered him his cigarette. Jack snatched it quickly and took a deep breath, calming down for the moment. Blue and all the others watched him, waiting for a plan. Blue began to get impatient.
She could see Bright Eyes out of the corner of her eye watching him, her fists flexing, in and out, faster and faster by the minute.
"Jack, you done tinkin' yet?" Racetrack asked. The boys looked at him and as they did Weasel opened the window of the office.
"Hey! World employees only this side of the gates!" He yelled and quickly closed the windows as yells for him to 'shut up' were thrown back. Blue sighed and leaned up against Kid Blink. She couldn't believe that Pulitzer could be this stupid. This heartless.
Racetrack sighed and began pacing again, winding his gold watch.
"Listen! If we don't sell papes, nobody sells papes. An' nobody sells papes till dey put da price back where it was!" Jack said on an inspiration.
Blue turned the idea over in her mind.
We could disable all of New Yawk. She thought in awe.
"You mean like a strike?" David, a new boy who had joined the Newsies asked.
Blue didn't like David. For one thing, he was too clean for her. Too clean and too hoity-toity. She liked Les somewhat. At least he was a relief from David and his endless prophecys and nonsense. And another reason she didn't like him, was because she believed that he was trying to woo Bright Eyes, which disgusted her thoroughly.
Not like he kin git anywhere near her anyway. Racetrack's got her numba sure as shootin'. Blue thought with a smirk.
"Yeah like a strike!" Jack said angrily.
The boys around him began to scoff in disgust. "Yeah right Jack! C'mon!" Snipeshooter said.
"Are you out of yer mind!" Racetrack yelled in Jack's face, the anger replaced by hesitation.
"Its a good idea!" Jack fired back. David quickly jumped down beside Jack.
"Don't worry about it, he was just joking." He explained to Racetrack who tromped off to the side and said something angrily to Bright Eyes who nodded. David whispered something in Jack's ear. Blue leaned closer so as to hear better.
"We can't strike we don't have a union." David said softly.
"Yeah but. If we go on strike den we are a union right?" Jack asked hopefully.
"No, we're jest a bunch of angry kids with no money."
Buncha angry kids wit' no money! Ha! Dats goin' a little too far. Buncha angry kids wit' no money! I'll show 'im! I'll give 'im a knuckle sandwich fer lunch! I ain't angry! I'm aggravated! Blue thought, her forehead furrowing.
"I mean, maybe we've got all the Newsies in New York, but." As David spoke, Jack's eyes widened.
Oh great. Jack's got anotha crazy idea. Blue thought as Jack stood.
"Yeah, well we organize! Crutchy you take up a collection!" Jack said, patting Crutchy on the shoulder.
"Swell! C'mon guys! We're a union now!" Crutchy said as he held out his hat for money.
He's gotta be crazy! I want me rights jest like dat next guy, but we cain't do dis! It'll bust us! Blue looked over at Racetrack.
He was walking next to Bright Eyes with an angry and confused look on his face. Bright Eyes was the same, only she seemed more doubtful than confused.
"Jack this isn't a game. You saw what happened to those trolley workers!"
For once, Blue agreed with what David said.
I 'memba. I saw dem woikas get pounded down last night. It was awful. I almost got swept up in da mob. I don't wanna be in sometin' like dat. Sometin' dat brutal.
"Yeah Jack. I mean, we ain't got da resources like some udda people's got." Bright Eyes called out.
"Yeah, well dats not a good idea. Anybody who don't join wid us den we bust dey're heads jest like da trolley woikas!" Jack was greeted with an affirmative yell as the boys let the idea sink into their heads.
It might be okay. Dat is if we had some help. Yeah, I'd like ta bust a few guys. Blue thought with a grin as she followed the now enthusiastic boys out the gates.
"Jack you can't just drag everybody into this!" Blue heard David yell over the din.
David is such a fraidy cat. You'd tink he'd neva fought before! What a wuss.
"Yer right. You tink about it." Jack yelled back.
As Jack approached the Greeley statue followed by Blue and the rest of the boys, he halted and turned to them. Blue positioned herself near Blink and leaned up against a tree to listen, pushing her blonde hair behind her ear.
"Now listen guys! Pulitzer an' Hoist an' all dem udda rich fellas, well, dey own dis city. Do ya really tink dat a buncha street rats like us are gonna make any difference?"
Blue shrugged her shoulders and looked around uncomfortably. She didn't really like being refered as a street rat. And from the looks of the others, they were less than thrilled as well. Racetrack looked over at Bright Eyes and she looked back at him, her eyes expressing her discontent. Blue turned back as Jack began to speak again.
"Now we kin eida take what dey give us, or are we gonna strike?" Jack yelled out.
The crowd was silent, as Newsie looked to Newsie quietly, waiting for the other to make the first stand.
"Strike!" Blue looked to the speaker and was surprised to see Les. She also noted with disdain how David was trying to shut him up.
Good grief, da little kid has got more guts dan a teenaga. Dan his own brudda. Man, I do like dat kid. A little annoyin', but betta dan David any day. Blue thought.
"C'mon Jack, tell us what ta do!" Boots called out from the crowd.
Jack raised his hand thoughtfully and approached David. He whispered into David's ear and David whispered back.
"C'mon Jack! Tell us what ta do! We gotta stick tegedda!" Blue yelled out.
Jack nodded to David and stood up straight.
"Pulitzer an' Hoist hafta respect da rights of da woikin' boys of New Yawk! Dats right!" He yelled as Blue and the others yelled with appreciation. Jack bobbed his head down to David once more, then at a word from David, jumped on the statue and continued his speech, much to Blue's amazement.
Jack's neva done sometin' like dis befoa. But he's good at it. Blue thought as she ran and chanted with the group of boys, following Jack everywhere. Finally, the speech ended in front of the World building. Jack stood in front of the others once more.
"Now we gotta send woid out ta all da Newsies in New Yawk! We gotta have one of dose, um, whaddya call 'em?" Jack asked David, motioning his hands while David looked at him, confused.
"Ambassadors?" David asked. Jack nodded.
"Okay guys! You gotta be ambastards, and tell all da uddas!"
Blue burst into laughter at Jack's misunderstanding, knowing full well what he was supposed to say. Boys all around her began to volunteer to go to other districts, and she sighed with relief as Jack told Skittery to take Queens.
"Okay, who wants Brooklyn?" As Jack said Brooklyn, the boys fell silent.
Blue's mouth dropped and she looked away, trying to find a place to hide, lest Jack should choose her. He had been pestering her these last couple weeks to patch things up with Spot, but she had stolidly refused. But now with Jack playing leader, she didn't know what to expect and she didn't want to take any chances. Jack looked at them in disbelief.
"C'mon its Spot Conlon's territory." Jack said.
"I'll go Jack." Bright Eyes spoke out, much to Blue's relief.
"Okay. We need uddas though." Jack said, once more scanning the crowd.
"Whassa matta you guys scared of Brooklyn?" Jack yelled with a degrading air. Blue dropped her face, which was red.
"Hey, we ain't scared of Brooklyn! Spot Conlon makes us a little neivous." Boots spoke out angrily.
You an' me both Boots. Neivous an' angry. Blue shuddered.
"Well he don't make me neivous. So you an' me an' Bright, Boots. We'll go ta Brooklyn. An' Dave an' Blue kin keep us company!" Jack said as he grabbed David.
Blue's color drained from her face and she looked to Bright Eyes in a panic. Bright Eyes' blue eyes met hers, but she didn't do anything.
Her eyes said, Don't be a coward. I'll make sure dat Spot leaves ya alone. Blue nodded as David continued, getting over the shock of being chosen to go to Brooklyn.
"Sure, just as soon as you take our demands to Pulitzer." He said. Blue shook her head.
David, you hoity toity crud ball. Blue thought, disgusted.
Jack looked at David just as if he thought the same thing.
"Me ta Pulitzer?" He asked. "Well you're the leader Jack." David said mockingly.
Jack shrugged, visibly biting his tongue. Then as if to get back at David, Jack grabbed Les and pushed him up the stairs and through the World door.
"Well maybe da kid'll soften him up a little." Blue yelled and cheered as Les' frightened face disappeared behind the doors.
A few minutes later, Jack and Les were thrown out the door. Blue laughed as Jack yelled at the big burly man behind the closing doors.
"You throw like an' ol' lady! You tell Pulitzer dat he needs an' appointment wit' me!" Jack yelled.
"Yeah!" Les concurred, a little too late.
David walked over to Jack and pulled him over to a tall man, who was dressed in rather fancy clothes. Jack began talking to him and listened to the man intently.
"Hey Bright! Blue! Come here!" Jack yelled. Bright Eyes looked at Blue who shrugged as they approached Jack.
Blue looked over the man standing before them. He was tall, brown hair combed back and brown eyes that looked them over eagerly. She didn't know whether to like him or dislike him, but she shook his hand anyway.
"Goils dis is Brian Denton, writa fer da Sun. Denton, dis is Bright Eyes an' Blue. Two of our best Newsies." Jack said proudly as Denton shook their hands.
"He wants ta know 'bout da strike. He'll be willin' ta pay fer lunch." Jack said with a smile. Bright Eyes and Blue lit up.
"Well, dere ain't much ta say. Da strike jest stawted ya know." Blue said.
Denton nodded.
"I know. But this might turn into an important affair. I want to be the first one to know the details." Denton said, leading them towards Tibby's.
The group dragged out lunch for a long time as David and Jack told Denton about the strike. Blue was unfortunately seated by David, after feeling sorry for Bright Eyes, who was originally going to be sitting by him.
Dis is my good deed fer da day. I hope Bright appreciates it. She thought, sipping her drink silently as Jack and Les finished their narrative of attempting to see Pulitzer.
"Does he scare you? You're going up against the most powerful man in New York City." Denton said, referring to Pulitzer.
Blue looked at Jack who scoffed.
"Oh, look at me! I'm tremblin'!" He said, in mock fright.
"We ain't scaired of dat ol' geeza." Blue said firmly.
She eyed Denton, who smiled and handed a piece of paper to David.
"Keep me informed. I want to know everything that is going on." David took the paper with a satisfied smile.
"Are we really an important story?" David asked.
"I covered the war in Cuba and that was a very important story. The truth is, it all depends on you." Denton said as he stood and got his coat.
"So my name's really gonna be in da papers?" Jack asked.
"Any objections?" Denton asked.
"Just so long as ya get it right. Kelly, Jack Kelly." Blue smiled.
"Oh an' Denton." Denton turned around and faced Jack.
"No pictures." Jack said, nodding nervously. Denton nodded with a smile.
Blue eyed Jack curiously, who merely shook his head.
"I don't look good in pitchas." He said with a smile.
"Well, should we hit da road?" Bright Eyes asked.
Jack nodded.
"Yeah, lets git a move on. Don't wanna keep Spot waitin'." He replied and stood. David let Blue out and the group left Tibby's and set off for Brooklyn.
*Author's Note: I know it just seems like I'm following the strike word for word, but trust me, it changes. Thanx for all you reviewers!! You ROCK!*