Disclaimer- I don't own newsies or anything about them, Disney does.  All I own is the story idea… and maybe later some made up newsies.

                              Chapter 1

'What a shame…' Spot Conlon thought to himself.  'A newsie lost like this… who woulda seen it comin'?'  Spot looked over at the Manhattan newsies at the funeral.  They were crying.  All of them… even Jack, who had always been the strongest of them all.

1 Month Earlier

      "Heya Mush, any good 'eadlines taday?" Kid Blink asked his best friend Mush Meyers.

      "Not a one of 'em." Mush said frowning at his paper.

      "Shit… I'se gonna be out on da street soon.  I'se barely makin' it as it was, and now, dey can't even come up wit decent 'eadlines." Blink fumed.

      "I know what ya mean.  All dis is dapressin'." Mush commented.

      "Heya fella!" Jack Kelly called walking up to them. "What's da matteh?  You'se two ain't smilin'!"

      "No good 'eadlines." Blink told him.

      "Even wit no good 'eadlines atleast Mush'll smile." Jack said giving Mush an odd look.

      'I wish I could smile, but it's not that easy.  I wish Jack would just drop it.' Mush thought to himself.  He put on the biggest smile he could, even though it was fake in hopes that Jack would shut up.

      "Dat's betteh.  You'se two wanna meet a whole bunch of us at Tibbys for lunch?" Jack asked.

      "Sure!" Blink said cheering up. 

      Mush laughted to himself.  'Food could always cheer up Kid Blink.'

      "Come on Mush!  We'se gotsta get sellin' before everyone realizes da papes are crappy taday!" Blink said pullng on Mush's arm.  Mush followed along blindly for another day of selling papers.

      "What is wit you taday?" Kid Blink asked Mush as they finished selling their papers and headed to Tibbys.

      "Whatdya mean?" Mush asked defensively.

      "Like Jack said, you ain't been smilin'!  You ain't been cheerful at all!"

      "Shuddup!  I'se just in a bad mood!  Can't I be in a bad mood eveh?" Mush yelled.

      "Geez… sorry…" Blink said as the entered Tibbys.  They sat down at a table with Jack, Racetrack Higgens, and Dave and Les Jacobs.

      "Heya guys, how's da sellin'?" Racetrack asked them as they sat down.

      "Worse den eveh." Mush mumbled.  He felt Kid Blink's eye on him.  They had actually sold more then usual.

      "Actually we sold quite a few taday." Blink told the guys, hoping they would ignore Mush's comment.  "It was great.  We're gonna eat like kings!  What'd ya all get anyways?"

      "Chicken and coffee." Jack responded.  Before anyone else could answer the door opened and in walked Spot Conlon.  "Hey Spot!  Whatcha doin' way oveh here?"

      "Just checkin' up on all me favorite Manhattan newsies.  Wanted ta know if ya wanted ta come swimmin' taday." Spot told them.

      "It's too hot ta say no." Racetrack exclaimed.  All of the rest of the newsies agreed.  Spot sat down next to Mush.  Then a waiter came over and they all ordered their meals. 

      After lunch they newsies made their way to Brooklyn to go swimming.  Mush kept to himself the whole way their hoping no one would ask him why he hadn't eaten anything at lunch.  'I wish they would all let me be.  They always expect me to be so damn cheerful all the time!  I can't stand it no more.' Mush thought to himself. 

      "Mush ain't ya comin' swimmin'?" Racetrack asked him.  Mush looked around.  The rest of the guys were getting undressed around him.  He'd been so caught up in thought he hadn't even noticed they were at the docks.

      "Yeah…" Mush muttered as he started taking of his clothes.

      "Damn!  You'se getting' skinny!" Jack exclaimed in shock.  The rest of the boys turned and looked at Mush. 

      "Yeah why didn't you eat anyting at lunch?  Cuz da way it looks you'se need all da food you'se can get." Spot commented. 

      'Leave it to Spot to notice who is and isn't eating… or doing anything for that matter.' Mush thought to himself.  "Guess I wasn't hungry." Mush said putting on a fake smile.  "So Jack are you goin' out wit Sarah tanight?" Mush asked getting the pressure off of him.  Everyone knew that Jack and Sarah were on the rocks and that she was going to break up with him. 

      "I don't really want ta but I tink I hafta…" Jack frowned. "Is she gonna break up wit me Dave?" Jack asked. 

      "How many times have I told you?  Sarah doesn't tell me these kinds of things." Dave said annoyed with the question.  Mush suddenly felt Blink's eye on him.  So before Blink could say anything Mush jumped into the water, the rest of the boys followed.