"Just to Love"
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Okay just a little note that this chapter will be about Peepers, Figgy, Butters and Sticks. It's just a chapter to let you get to know them better, cause they will become important later on in the story. It's funny. I promise :D
I also got inspired for this chapter by listening to Billy Joel's "Why Should I Worry?". A great song and it fits into that newsie category of "Old New York" jazzy music. Anywho...on with the chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 24 ~ Getting Sidetracked
"Watah hippo found in Brooklyn Rivah!!!"
"I's can do better..." Peepers snapped. He cleared his throat and thrust his pape out in front of him.
"PULITZER CAUGHT WID TWO MEN IN BED!!!"
"UUUGGHH!!" the three other boys screamed. They shuddered at once but Peepers just stuck out his tongue. "Yeah it is pretty bad, 'uh?"
It must have worked because people flocked to Peepers, snatching papes and throwing money in his little tin can like wildfire.
"...Just goes ta show what New Yawk is really made of..." Figgy said, trance like as he watched Peepers' papes go bye bye.
"..." Butters considered that, then answered with innocent stupidity "People interested in gettin' a date wid Pulitzer?"
"AAAH!!!" Figgy and Sticks cried, which induced ANOTHER round of shuddering. Peepers raised an eyebrow at Butters. "Yous...is...very...distoibed..." With that Peepers snatched up his can, his arms now free of the bundle of papes. He had one more stack to sell. Known as the noon stack. Spot had once told him that most people want their papes in the morning. It gives them something to get through the day. But then there's the hoity toity bastards who have to buy at noon so they can have something to read while they sip their tea and munch their crumpets for "lunch".
"Well...I'll be seein' yas boys" Peepers said with a nod. Butters blinked then asked "...Hey uh...where ya goin'?"
Peepers adjusted his cap. "Well dats simpsville...dere's dis goil-"
"Aha! Gettin' a little tart for lunch?" Figgy said with a cheesy grin. Peepers whipped out his slingshot. His prized slingshot which was painted gold. One day he had happened to come across a building, being bought and fixed up. The can of gold paint was just sitting there...and thus Peeper's best friend, known as Goldie, was born.
He had some of the younger newsies going that it was a genuine gold slingshot. Until Figgy had gone and opened his mouth and said it was just wood.
"Tart yes...goil no" Peepers said, flipping Goldie in a taunting way. "Yous didn't let me finish. I know dis goil in da bakery...she's nuts for me..." Peepers said with a slick gesture of sweeping his chestnut colored hair back. Peepers gave a rather cocky smirk. "She keeps me supplied in baked goods..."
"...So dat's where yous get da jellies at?" Sticks asked, curiosity now eating away at him. Being the two youngest, Butters and Sticks looked at Peepers with amazement. The jellies, being lovely jellied donuts that Sticks had often seen Peepers sneak in with and covet away from everyone else.
"Yep. Da one and onlys"
Butters dropped his stack of papes onto Figgy's. Figgy opened his mouth to object but Butters got the first word. "Take me wid you Peep!"
Sticks followed Butters' action and walked up beside Butters. "Me too"
Peepers grinned. "Well...I dunno...she might tink I'm bringin da whole neighborhoid..."
"Aww...come on..." Butters whimpered, his blonde bangs falling in his face.
Figgy glared and waved a pape at them. "Yous forgettin' sumtin!?"
Peepers raised an eyebrow at Figgy then made a face. "Yeahs...alright...come on..."
A trolley wheeled past and as it did Peepers grabbed the back with perfect timing. Butters ran after and Sticks followed, soon being pulled onto the trolley with Peepers. Figgy threw a pape down and scoffed. "Dose..." he muttered, not bothering to finish his sentence. The trolley was gettin farther away...
Figgy's anger turned to worry and eventually he snatched up the papes and hid them in a nearby crate. They'd be safe there.
Figgy ran after the trolley hollering "Yous bums wait for me!!"
It wasn't that he was scared of being alone, rather he was scared of missin out on jellies.
Peepers snickered and crossed his arms, standing at the back of the trolley. "Come on slowpoke!!"
Figgy glared daggers and jumped and caught Butters' hand. Butters and Sticks pulled Figgy aboard. Peepers started snickering harder.
Figgy glared death at Peepers. "Yous is a real bum"
***
"Will yas just leave da store already?!" the girl demanded. She was about Peeper's age and very cute. She was pretty with delicate skin and blonde, bouncy curls. Her eyes were a sky blue. Only spots of flour on her cheeks, from a hard days work at the bakery, marred her appearance.
"'Ey! Whoa dere Marie!" Peepers said, holding up his hands. He smirked, as if trying to pry through her shell of annoyance. Marie scowled and tossed a donut at him. "OUT!"
Peepers' eyes widened as it connected with his face. Butters slinked in with Sticks close in tag and caught the donut as it slid off to the ground. His eyes positively lit up like stars.
Peepers glared then his eyes went wide again once he realized he had an audience. He coughed and tried to play it off. "Nice hand ya got dere Marie!"
Marie glared, preparing another to throw at Peepers. "Yeah and if yous don't leave, den you'll meet it personally wich yous face!"
Her tone wasn't one that betrayed she was kidding. She was dead on serious. This caused a nervous laugh to erupt from Peepers. "Aww, sweetcheeks...what about what we's had togeddah...?" he inquired innocently enough. It was the wrong thing to say.
Marie put her hands on her hips. "What...ARE yous talkin' about?! I've been kickin' yous mangy ass outta my Pa's store since day ONE!"
Figgy shot Peepers a smirk from the door to the bakery store and crossed his arms. He did so love catching Peepers in a fib. Peepers glared then looked back to Marie and softened his look. "Yous don't rem-"
"Heeeey!" Marie said with a bright smile. Her eyes lit up and she peered over the counter. "Who's dese lil guys?"
Peepers glanced down at Butters and Sticks. Neither were really little, but due to Marie's outburst with Peepers, they were visibly scared.
"Aww it's okay. I ain't gunna hurt yas" Marie chided in a now calmed and gentle voice. Butters looked out from behind Peepers and watched her. "Yous ain't gunna pelt us wid danishes are ya?"
Marie giggled. Her giggle was like tinkling music to anyone's ears. Some may have said it was the perfect laugh. Butters was more reassured by this and stepped over to the counter, though he was still too short to reach all the way up. "What are yous doin' wid dis jerk, cutie?" Marie asked, shooting Peepers the stink eye. Butters looked at Peepers and answered quite honestly "Well he said you'd give us jellies"
Peepers' mouth fell open and he gawked. Marie ignored him totally and giggled again. "Well...I'm not really suppose ta ...but only on one condition..."
Butters and Sticks leaned in, intent on listening.
"You promise not ta give dat flea-bitten, womanizing macho airhead over dere ANY"
Butters glanced nervously to Peepers, then back to Marie and nodded eagerly. "I can do dat! Uh...what if he attacks me?" Marie went behind the counter and shouted "Then I's 'il shoot him upon sight if he evah shows his face again!"
Peepers gulped but his eyes kept darting to see what Marie was getting. When she did return, it was with a small box. She handed it to the two eager boys and smiled. "Don't yous go eatin' dem all at once now, okay? Den yous'll get a tummy ache"
Butters nodded and opened the box. He promptly fell back and the box landed on his chest. Inside the box were about three glazed donuts, three jellies and three chocolate covered ones. On top of that was a small loaf of hot, freshly baked bread. Sticks poked Butters with his shoe. "Yous okay?"
Butters jumped up, snuggling the box in his arms. "Uh...thank yous! Thank yous very much!!"
Marie smiled. "Yous is very welcome. Now yous bettah go before my Papa gets back...but 'ey! Yous two is welcome 'ere anytime, okay cuties?"
Butters and Sticks nodded in unison and ran out with renewed speed. Figgy was forced to pull Peepers away, his jaw practically on the floor. He had just had "his" girl stolen away by two nine year olds...
***
"DIS IS NOT HAPPENIN'!!!!!!!!"
The two donut munchers were oblivious to Figgy's ranting. They were currently off in their own world of merriment. Peepers too seemed oblivious to Figgy's dismay, as he was aimed at snatching a donut or two from Butters.
"Dey...dey're gawn!" Figgy yelped, gripping his head, his eyes wide with panic. His fingers were threaded through his hair and he looked utterly lost. For the first time, Peepers, Butters and Sticks looked over to see what their companion was complaining about.
"What's yous problem Figgy?" Peepers asked, giving him his best annoyed look he could manage. Figgy turned from pale to an angry red. "Yous bums!! Da papes!!"
Butters looked up, thick layers of jelly coating his cheeks. "What about dem?"
"DEY'RE GONE YOUS MUTTONHEAD!!!" Figgy screamed, clearly in panic. Figgy threw his arms down and slapped a hand to his face. "Dis is jus great..."
Butters and Sticks had promptly stopped eating. They understood why Figgy was so upset. Butters' stack had consisted of about fifty papes, Sticks about the same and Figgy had about sixty. So total was one hundred and sixty papes down the drain.
Figgy looked to Butters and Sticks. Butters and Sticks looked at each other and gulped. They had suddenly lost any appetite they once had. Spot would be furious, regardless of his recent somber mood. There was no excuse for losing a hundred and sixty papes.
"...We're so dead..." Sticks muttered, his eyes wide and terrified. Butters panicked and dropped the box. Peepers immediately snatched it up. "HAHA! Well I's still got me money..."
Figgy glared and looked back to the crate helplessly. There was absolutely nothing they could do. They could've been ANYWHERE. In the hands of another newsie, taken by the public or worse...burned. Figgy knew well enough that no one lived as well as Hearst and Pulitzer. If there was wood around or any other burning material, it wouldn't stay available for long. People used it to heat their homes, especially when night rolled around. That was the grand city of New York.
It made Figgy sick to his stomach to even picture the idea of their papes being burned.
"Ohhh..." Butters whimpered and ran his sticky fingers through his hair. They might as well just pack up and leave the lodging house. "Spot is gunna go off his trolley..."
"Oh really?"
The three boys looked up, snapping out of their worrying temporarily. They saw Kid standing there looking quite pleased with himself. "Yous owes me one for dis..." Kid said, tossing the large stack of papes down. Butter and Sticks' eyes lit up, and the
color immediately returned to their faces. "Yous can staht by givin' me one of dose donuts..." Kid added with a playful smirk. Butters promptly fainted. Figgy could only glare. He hated people getting one up on him, but Kid had saved them...
In fact he had probably saved their lives...
Peepers smirked and handed Kid a donut. Kid nodded his thanks. "Yous bettah get back ta sellin dose papes..." Kid said, turning to walk away, then he paused as if on a last thought. "Oh yeah...happy early April Fools day"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: Okay this chapter is kinda like a prelude to the next chapter. I don't know if they celebrated April Fools back then. I suppose I could've done the research but COME ON! I mean, doesn't April Fools Day at the Brooklyn lodging house sound interesting? Hee hee I think so. By the way...if you would like to place a face to Kid in the movie Newsies, look to Spot's left when he first pops up with his slingshot to bail out the Manhattan newsies. Before his famous "Nevah fear, Brooklyn is heah". The guy on his left looks exactly like I was trying to describe Kid (Except I don't think he has those vivid green eyes but oh well...) !! I almost wet myself. I was watching the Newsies DVD so I don't know if you can see him in the VHS version but take a look. Tootaloo!
By: Laney Sanchez
==============
Okay just a little note that this chapter will be about Peepers, Figgy, Butters and Sticks. It's just a chapter to let you get to know them better, cause they will become important later on in the story. It's funny. I promise :D
I also got inspired for this chapter by listening to Billy Joel's "Why Should I Worry?". A great song and it fits into that newsie category of "Old New York" jazzy music. Anywho...on with the chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 24 ~ Getting Sidetracked
"Watah hippo found in Brooklyn Rivah!!!"
"I's can do better..." Peepers snapped. He cleared his throat and thrust his pape out in front of him.
"PULITZER CAUGHT WID TWO MEN IN BED!!!"
"UUUGGHH!!" the three other boys screamed. They shuddered at once but Peepers just stuck out his tongue. "Yeah it is pretty bad, 'uh?"
It must have worked because people flocked to Peepers, snatching papes and throwing money in his little tin can like wildfire.
"...Just goes ta show what New Yawk is really made of..." Figgy said, trance like as he watched Peepers' papes go bye bye.
"..." Butters considered that, then answered with innocent stupidity "People interested in gettin' a date wid Pulitzer?"
"AAAH!!!" Figgy and Sticks cried, which induced ANOTHER round of shuddering. Peepers raised an eyebrow at Butters. "Yous...is...very...distoibed..." With that Peepers snatched up his can, his arms now free of the bundle of papes. He had one more stack to sell. Known as the noon stack. Spot had once told him that most people want their papes in the morning. It gives them something to get through the day. But then there's the hoity toity bastards who have to buy at noon so they can have something to read while they sip their tea and munch their crumpets for "lunch".
"Well...I'll be seein' yas boys" Peepers said with a nod. Butters blinked then asked "...Hey uh...where ya goin'?"
Peepers adjusted his cap. "Well dats simpsville...dere's dis goil-"
"Aha! Gettin' a little tart for lunch?" Figgy said with a cheesy grin. Peepers whipped out his slingshot. His prized slingshot which was painted gold. One day he had happened to come across a building, being bought and fixed up. The can of gold paint was just sitting there...and thus Peeper's best friend, known as Goldie, was born.
He had some of the younger newsies going that it was a genuine gold slingshot. Until Figgy had gone and opened his mouth and said it was just wood.
"Tart yes...goil no" Peepers said, flipping Goldie in a taunting way. "Yous didn't let me finish. I know dis goil in da bakery...she's nuts for me..." Peepers said with a slick gesture of sweeping his chestnut colored hair back. Peepers gave a rather cocky smirk. "She keeps me supplied in baked goods..."
"...So dat's where yous get da jellies at?" Sticks asked, curiosity now eating away at him. Being the two youngest, Butters and Sticks looked at Peepers with amazement. The jellies, being lovely jellied donuts that Sticks had often seen Peepers sneak in with and covet away from everyone else.
"Yep. Da one and onlys"
Butters dropped his stack of papes onto Figgy's. Figgy opened his mouth to object but Butters got the first word. "Take me wid you Peep!"
Sticks followed Butters' action and walked up beside Butters. "Me too"
Peepers grinned. "Well...I dunno...she might tink I'm bringin da whole neighborhoid..."
"Aww...come on..." Butters whimpered, his blonde bangs falling in his face.
Figgy glared and waved a pape at them. "Yous forgettin' sumtin!?"
Peepers raised an eyebrow at Figgy then made a face. "Yeahs...alright...come on..."
A trolley wheeled past and as it did Peepers grabbed the back with perfect timing. Butters ran after and Sticks followed, soon being pulled onto the trolley with Peepers. Figgy threw a pape down and scoffed. "Dose..." he muttered, not bothering to finish his sentence. The trolley was gettin farther away...
Figgy's anger turned to worry and eventually he snatched up the papes and hid them in a nearby crate. They'd be safe there.
Figgy ran after the trolley hollering "Yous bums wait for me!!"
It wasn't that he was scared of being alone, rather he was scared of missin out on jellies.
Peepers snickered and crossed his arms, standing at the back of the trolley. "Come on slowpoke!!"
Figgy glared daggers and jumped and caught Butters' hand. Butters and Sticks pulled Figgy aboard. Peepers started snickering harder.
Figgy glared death at Peepers. "Yous is a real bum"
***
"Will yas just leave da store already?!" the girl demanded. She was about Peeper's age and very cute. She was pretty with delicate skin and blonde, bouncy curls. Her eyes were a sky blue. Only spots of flour on her cheeks, from a hard days work at the bakery, marred her appearance.
"'Ey! Whoa dere Marie!" Peepers said, holding up his hands. He smirked, as if trying to pry through her shell of annoyance. Marie scowled and tossed a donut at him. "OUT!"
Peepers' eyes widened as it connected with his face. Butters slinked in with Sticks close in tag and caught the donut as it slid off to the ground. His eyes positively lit up like stars.
Peepers glared then his eyes went wide again once he realized he had an audience. He coughed and tried to play it off. "Nice hand ya got dere Marie!"
Marie glared, preparing another to throw at Peepers. "Yeah and if yous don't leave, den you'll meet it personally wich yous face!"
Her tone wasn't one that betrayed she was kidding. She was dead on serious. This caused a nervous laugh to erupt from Peepers. "Aww, sweetcheeks...what about what we's had togeddah...?" he inquired innocently enough. It was the wrong thing to say.
Marie put her hands on her hips. "What...ARE yous talkin' about?! I've been kickin' yous mangy ass outta my Pa's store since day ONE!"
Figgy shot Peepers a smirk from the door to the bakery store and crossed his arms. He did so love catching Peepers in a fib. Peepers glared then looked back to Marie and softened his look. "Yous don't rem-"
"Heeeey!" Marie said with a bright smile. Her eyes lit up and she peered over the counter. "Who's dese lil guys?"
Peepers glanced down at Butters and Sticks. Neither were really little, but due to Marie's outburst with Peepers, they were visibly scared.
"Aww it's okay. I ain't gunna hurt yas" Marie chided in a now calmed and gentle voice. Butters looked out from behind Peepers and watched her. "Yous ain't gunna pelt us wid danishes are ya?"
Marie giggled. Her giggle was like tinkling music to anyone's ears. Some may have said it was the perfect laugh. Butters was more reassured by this and stepped over to the counter, though he was still too short to reach all the way up. "What are yous doin' wid dis jerk, cutie?" Marie asked, shooting Peepers the stink eye. Butters looked at Peepers and answered quite honestly "Well he said you'd give us jellies"
Peepers' mouth fell open and he gawked. Marie ignored him totally and giggled again. "Well...I'm not really suppose ta ...but only on one condition..."
Butters and Sticks leaned in, intent on listening.
"You promise not ta give dat flea-bitten, womanizing macho airhead over dere ANY"
Butters glanced nervously to Peepers, then back to Marie and nodded eagerly. "I can do dat! Uh...what if he attacks me?" Marie went behind the counter and shouted "Then I's 'il shoot him upon sight if he evah shows his face again!"
Peepers gulped but his eyes kept darting to see what Marie was getting. When she did return, it was with a small box. She handed it to the two eager boys and smiled. "Don't yous go eatin' dem all at once now, okay? Den yous'll get a tummy ache"
Butters nodded and opened the box. He promptly fell back and the box landed on his chest. Inside the box were about three glazed donuts, three jellies and three chocolate covered ones. On top of that was a small loaf of hot, freshly baked bread. Sticks poked Butters with his shoe. "Yous okay?"
Butters jumped up, snuggling the box in his arms. "Uh...thank yous! Thank yous very much!!"
Marie smiled. "Yous is very welcome. Now yous bettah go before my Papa gets back...but 'ey! Yous two is welcome 'ere anytime, okay cuties?"
Butters and Sticks nodded in unison and ran out with renewed speed. Figgy was forced to pull Peepers away, his jaw practically on the floor. He had just had "his" girl stolen away by two nine year olds...
***
"DIS IS NOT HAPPENIN'!!!!!!!!"
The two donut munchers were oblivious to Figgy's ranting. They were currently off in their own world of merriment. Peepers too seemed oblivious to Figgy's dismay, as he was aimed at snatching a donut or two from Butters.
"Dey...dey're gawn!" Figgy yelped, gripping his head, his eyes wide with panic. His fingers were threaded through his hair and he looked utterly lost. For the first time, Peepers, Butters and Sticks looked over to see what their companion was complaining about.
"What's yous problem Figgy?" Peepers asked, giving him his best annoyed look he could manage. Figgy turned from pale to an angry red. "Yous bums!! Da papes!!"
Butters looked up, thick layers of jelly coating his cheeks. "What about dem?"
"DEY'RE GONE YOUS MUTTONHEAD!!!" Figgy screamed, clearly in panic. Figgy threw his arms down and slapped a hand to his face. "Dis is jus great..."
Butters and Sticks had promptly stopped eating. They understood why Figgy was so upset. Butters' stack had consisted of about fifty papes, Sticks about the same and Figgy had about sixty. So total was one hundred and sixty papes down the drain.
Figgy looked to Butters and Sticks. Butters and Sticks looked at each other and gulped. They had suddenly lost any appetite they once had. Spot would be furious, regardless of his recent somber mood. There was no excuse for losing a hundred and sixty papes.
"...We're so dead..." Sticks muttered, his eyes wide and terrified. Butters panicked and dropped the box. Peepers immediately snatched it up. "HAHA! Well I's still got me money..."
Figgy glared and looked back to the crate helplessly. There was absolutely nothing they could do. They could've been ANYWHERE. In the hands of another newsie, taken by the public or worse...burned. Figgy knew well enough that no one lived as well as Hearst and Pulitzer. If there was wood around or any other burning material, it wouldn't stay available for long. People used it to heat their homes, especially when night rolled around. That was the grand city of New York.
It made Figgy sick to his stomach to even picture the idea of their papes being burned.
"Ohhh..." Butters whimpered and ran his sticky fingers through his hair. They might as well just pack up and leave the lodging house. "Spot is gunna go off his trolley..."
"Oh really?"
The three boys looked up, snapping out of their worrying temporarily. They saw Kid standing there looking quite pleased with himself. "Yous owes me one for dis..." Kid said, tossing the large stack of papes down. Butter and Sticks' eyes lit up, and the
color immediately returned to their faces. "Yous can staht by givin' me one of dose donuts..." Kid added with a playful smirk. Butters promptly fainted. Figgy could only glare. He hated people getting one up on him, but Kid had saved them...
In fact he had probably saved their lives...
Peepers smirked and handed Kid a donut. Kid nodded his thanks. "Yous bettah get back ta sellin dose papes..." Kid said, turning to walk away, then he paused as if on a last thought. "Oh yeah...happy early April Fools day"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: Okay this chapter is kinda like a prelude to the next chapter. I don't know if they celebrated April Fools back then. I suppose I could've done the research but COME ON! I mean, doesn't April Fools Day at the Brooklyn lodging house sound interesting? Hee hee I think so. By the way...if you would like to place a face to Kid in the movie Newsies, look to Spot's left when he first pops up with his slingshot to bail out the Manhattan newsies. Before his famous "Nevah fear, Brooklyn is heah". The guy on his left looks exactly like I was trying to describe Kid (Except I don't think he has those vivid green eyes but oh well...) !! I almost wet myself. I was watching the Newsies DVD so I don't know if you can see him in the VHS version but take a look. Tootaloo!