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"Hey kid. Hey wake up! It's mawnin' doncha know dat? Wake up!" Sketch's eyes popped open as he was kicked roughly in the small of his back by a terribly pointy shoe. He jumped to his feet and his blazing eyes looked for his attacker. Instantly he silenced that anger, for he realized that he was thoroughly surrounded. Seven boys stood around him, the one who had kicked him looking at him curiously. The leader's hair was pitch black, his eyes looked black as well, but were dark blue. All the darkness contrasted greatly with the boy's fair skin and the small smile on his lips. "Whatcha doin' sleepin' in an alley? Doncha know it ain't safe? 'Specially in West Side?" The leader asked. "Well I wouldn't know. I ain't neva been ta West Side. I jest came. I was gonna try ta find da Newsies Boadin' House but I didn't git da chance ta." Sketch stuttered. The boy smiled. "You a Newsie?" He asked. Sketch hesitated then replied, "Yeah. I'se been a Newsie before. I come from da, da, Bronx." Sketch said, thinking quickly. The boy nodded and put out his hand. "Da names Wolf. Dese is me boys. You?" Sketch quickly took the boy's hand, eager to make a friend. "Michael Hansen." Wolf nodded and released Sketch's hand. "I like Mike betta. So Mike, you really wanna be a Newsie?" Sketch mumbled and shook his shoulders. "I dunno. Its really da only ting I know how ta do." He said.

"Do ya know how ta fight?" Wolf asked, his voice low. Sketch eyed Wolf hesitantly. "Yeah I kin fight. Why?" Sketch shrugged and leaned up against the wall. "See, I could tell you was a fighta from da way ya jumped up from da ground when I kicked ya. Yer fists were all balled up, ready ta fight no matta what da cost. I need sometin' like dat. 'Specially since I'm gittin' closa ta what I'm lookin' fer. Anyway, I wanna know if ya wanna join me boys." Wolf said seriously. Sketch eyed Wolf. "What would I hafta do?" Wolf stood up and began to pace back and forth. "Well foist off, you'd hafta help me do some damage. Fires an' such." Sketch's heart jumped in his throat. "You da ones dats been doin' da fires?" Wolf laughed, much to Sketch's surprise. "Sure. Da only reason I'm doin' dat is 'cause I'm hopin' ta boin one of 'em ova me enemy's head. Kill 'im. Dats da only reason I'm doin' it. Luckily Osca picks unhabitated places." Wolf said with a sad smile.

Sketch cocked his head. "Osca?" Wolf waved his hand. "It ain't important. I'll tell ya if yer part of da gang, but as it is you ain't said nothin' on me proposition. Well?" Wolf asked. The wheels raced in Sketch's head as he thought the whole thing through. He could start a new life and be renowned with these boys. They seemed to wander anyway so they wouldn't stay in one place long. He could start a new life. One without his family. "Yeah I'll do it Wolf." Sketch spit on his hand and stuck it out. Wolf grinned and did the same, the two boys shaking hands. Sketch noticed the pleased smiles of the other boys as soon as he and Wolf let go of each other's hands. "Alrighty den Mike. Lets go git some grub." Wolf said, turning around with a pleased smile on his face.

Sketch walked shyly behind most of the boys, but one of them sought him out as they walked. "Heya Mike! Da name's Ross. Nice ta meet ya. You'll like it here I tink. I'm pretty glad dat Wolf saw fit ta ask ya ta join. Dats a rare privelige ya know." Ross said seriously. Sketch nodded as he observed Ross. Ross was rather short. He was Italian, his brown hair wavy under the bowler hat on his head. His deep brown eyes were bright, sparkling and sincere. He reminded Sketch very much of Racetrack Higgins or Grabs. Then Ross smiled a broad smile, flashing all his white teeth. "You'll like it wit' us Mike. Nothin's borin' 'round here, an' you'll meet da rest of da guys ova breakfast." Ross promised, putting his arm around Sketch's shoulders good-naturedly, as if the two had known each other for ages.

Ross kept his promise. Over breakfast, Sketch managed to memorize every boy's look and name. There was Raven, a tall, tanned boy with black hair, brown eyes and a shy, good-natured disposition. He was the second boy Sketch met after Ross. Slick was next. He was short, even shorter than Ross. Ross was up to Sketch's shoulder, while Slick was a good few inches under. He had bright red hair, red freckles, and a red face. His eyes were a twinkling light blue, looking almost white in color. He was an odd looking boy, but tough outwardly and as Wolf said, one of the greatest boxers in the streets. Then came Quincy. Quincy was very tall and brawny, the muscles in his arms bulging visibly under his shirt. His blonde hair was of a medium length and his brown eyes firm and serious. But when prodded, it was discovered that the serious Quincy had a rather dry sense of humor, one that was appreciated by all the boys.

Then there were the twins, Snake and Spider. These two were exactly alike in every look facially. They both had wavy brown hair, bright blue eyes, tall, lanky bodies and a wonderful sense of humor. The only way to tell the two apart was that Snake had a winding set of freckles on the side of his face that looked like a snake. Spider in turn had a similar reason for his name. On his right upper arm, there was a birthmark, shaped very much like a spider. All of the boys were nice enough, but Sketch knew that when the time for battle was near, the joking, the fun, they would all disappear and the steel bars would block their hearts from being merciful.

"So Mike, where ya hail from?" Wolf asked, looking up from his hot dog. Sketch took a deep breath. He hadn't thought of this. This or his fictional past life. "I'm actually not really from New Yawk. Me parents immigrated from Ireland." He gulped, saying the first nationality that came to his mind. Wolf nodded and grinned. "Me family did too. What parta New Yawk you been livin' in dough? You had ta be livin' somewhere all dis time." The wheels raced in Sketch's head as he sipped his water. "Nowhere. I actually been jest hoppin' here an' dere. Me Mama an' Papa is dead." He finally blurted out. Wolf's eyes grew dark and he nodded, turning back to his food. There was nothing else. The inquiry was done. Sketch was one of them.

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