Shoutouts (Last time! Ain't it sad?? Haha)
misprint )( I meant the Newsie Aladdin was G.E.'s son. They said so in the "audio commentary" part of the DVD. Whoo whoo! I love Aladdin. Do you know that I never watched Doogie Howser? And now I kick myself everytime it's mentioned. I wish they would run re-runs of it on Nickelodeon or the Disney channel or something. Grrrrr. Haha, newsie drought… thank goodness there really ISN'T one of those! I would go insane. Mis Quote Worth Repeating: "Awwww! Our boys breeded and had a Charlie!" I nearly died laughing at that one. Hahahaha! No, let's not breed Mushy and Racey… we can breed Mushy with Mondie, and we can breed Racey with you, but let's not breed the two boys tageddah. Yeah, no knifing Racetrack. He would not appreciate that. **Mush crushes a pop can on his head** HOO HA! **Mondie giggles as she watches Skitts doing the hustle**
FictionHobbit )( LOL you crack me up!!! I really don't put in the lines about Skitts stripping to excite goils or anything… it just happens! I never realize I do it until you point it out! Haha. You crack me up! Thanks for the review!
Cards )( It's continued! :D LOL.
Crunch )( Hey, I started SCL! ((The credit goes to misprint, btw, for getting on my case to read it)) I'm proud of myself, haha! Thanks for the compliments hun!!! And I *will* read your story. **Mondie huffs and puffs away like the Little Engine That Could**
Derby )( Blinky-182 forgives you, since you gave him an Elmo band-aid. He's fascinated by it. **Everyone turns and looks at Blinky-182, who is staring with rapt attention at the Elmo band-aid fixated to his arm** It's kinda sad, actually. Bwahaha, it was all part of my evil plan to make you become addicted. I'm glad it worked. LOL!
rumor )( I went to a Halloween party last night as a medieval… person. Yeah. People kept telling me I looked like Juliet, though. Though I'm not particularly sure how they knew what Juliet looks like… :/ Anyhowz. That is a weird story about how you broke your leg. **Mondie gives rumor an odd look and mutters, "Weirdo" under her breath** Just joking! Haha. Rumor the Dominatrix! I like it. It has a nice ring to it. LOLOL! Yes, I enjoy Mush in this story… he's a bit of an idiot… I love him so much! **Mondie kisses Mushy Darling's nose**
Raider )( Ah, since this is the end, you'll soon find out what happens with Pirate… WHOO WHOO! Yayness.
Keza: Queen of Procrastination )( The acorn that hit the skylight? That was Mushy Banana Boy and Blinky-182. They're now snickering behind their hands. They thought it was a good joke. **Mondie whispers, "Don't let them know that it wasn't a good joke at all. They think they're incredibly witty for coming up with that one."** Yes, Chocolate was in Growth too. He became a Vaudeville star with Six Strings in that story. That made me happy. ^_^ Sorry, can't let you in on the recipe—it's been in the family for generations. LOL!
kimimay85 )( I was dressed! Whoo whoo! And we had good fun picking out the wallets at Wal-Mart. Even though I still think you should've gotten the kitty one. But it's a good thing you didn't get the cherry one, cuz then I would've thought of **shudder** Lexie every time you used it. Sick. And then my cousin sewed her finger… HAHA! We always have such fun on our adventures about the town!! LOL.
Shortie )( I sing along as well! LOL. I'm a dork like that. Yeah, I agree, the amount of Newsies die-hard fans is actually quite amazing. :D **Mondie nods** The world without Rent would be a sad, sad, sad world indeed. Props to Court Jester, she's the one who got me hooked on Rent with her Newsies/Rent crossover. :D Thanks for the review hun!!!
**A/N: So here it is, kids. The end. La fini. Kinda sad, eh? Okay, not really. Whatever. Thanks for all the reviews and such!! And thanks to Misprint for yelling at me to update this all the time. Haha!! Now, everyone go read her and Shade's "Bloodflame" (formerly Total Eclipse of the Heart) because it's my favey-davey story on ff.net.**
Will I? Chapter 4
by Mondie
Will I lose my dignity?
Will someone care?
Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?
Skittery burst through the door, running straight into Terrain, Six Strings, and Race. As the four toppled into a heap on the floor, Race was able to come out of his "coldness." Skittery sorted himself out of the jumbled pile and frenetically and methodically ran his eyes along the bunks, searching the faces for someone he didn't seem to be finding.
"…Skitts?" asked Kid Blink, exchanging confused glances with Mush. "Wha' da hell is ya doin'? Wheah was you las' night?"
Skittery's eyes were wild and bloodshot as they continued their frenzied search. "Wheah's … Jack…" he trailed off. Suddenly, his face lost its luster. "Shit, 'e's gone," he realized, a bit in shock. "But Jack…" His brain seemed unable to function with this sudden realization, and whatever composure he had left crumbled. His eyes teared up. "Dammit, Jack's da one dat kin fix anyt'ing. Even…" Again, he seemed unable to finish.
"Skitts, what in hell is you ramblin' about?" Six Strings demanded. He was secretly glad for the diversion, because the longer Skittery looked confused and as startled as a rabbit hearing a gunshot, the longer they could keep Race in the bunkroom. Racetrack was still lying on the floor, though Six Strings and Terrain had stood. And he didn't look like he'd be getting to his feet again soon.
Skittery closed his eyes, trying to compose himself. "I need help," he said finally. "Chahlie… 'e's been soaked. Real bad."
"Chahlie?" everyone repeated, flabbergasted. Charlie never got hurt.
Pirate looked disgustingly proud. "Yeah, so maybe da bum needed it."
A stunned silence filled the room, and Terrain angrily turned to Skittery. "I'll help ya. Wheah is 'e at?"
Pirate walked across the room angrily and stood before the door, crossing his arms over his thick chest threateningly. "Anyone who leaves dis room kin find a new home. Ya heah me? Ya won' be a pardda 'Hattan no mores."
Without a word, every newsie stood up and raced for the door, knocking Pirate out of the way.
Will I lose my dignity?
Will someone care?
Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?
Boots shivered, leaning against the barren stone wall. He only remained standing because the whipped skin on the back of his thighs hurt too much if he squatted down or sat. Chocolate was sitting, leaning against the adjacent wall, his head thrown back and his eyes closed. He hadn't spoken to Boots in nearly fifteen minutes. Boots wondered for a moment if he had gone to sleep, and wondered how such a feat could be performed. But then the door opened, and, quick as a cat, Chocolate leapt to his feet.
Boots hoped fervently that it was a meal. The cucumber had definitely not quenched his hunger at all the day before, and he hadn't eaten since, which just added onto the growing hunger from the previous days. His stomach had given up on rumbling now, and it was just a twisting hurt inside Boots.
Instead of food, a stocky frame filled the doorframe. His white, buzzed hair seemed even more of a menacing characteristic than usual. He held a pair of shackles and a thick chain which rivaled Chocolate's in his hand, and he turned to Boots with a malicious grin.
"No."
Chocolate's deep voice cut through the pounding silence, and exploded into Boots' head, filling him with gratitude.
Snyder, however, looked outraged, and dropped the chains to the floor. He reached over and grabbed the horsewhip. Though the room was devoid of furniture, Boots wished he could have found a hiding place for the whip. He gritted his teeth and braced his muscles, pulling them taut so that the sting wouldn't bite quite as much.
Snyder had other plans.
"Never tell me what to do," he growled, his eyes wide and outraged. He raised his arm and there was a loud crack as it snapped tight against Chocolate's skin.
Boots couldn't stand it as he heard Chocolate's grunt of suppressed pain. He quickly moved forward and tightened his small hands around Snyder's throat. Chocolate saw his opportunity and too moved, wrapping his long, skeletal fingers around Boots'. Snyder's face turned red as he struggled to breathe, and it was all the two could do to keep him from escaping as he thrashed about. Soon, however, he passed out, and Boots used the keys dangling from his pocket to unlock Chocolate's ankles.
He closed his eyes and felt a clang of forgiveness as he remembered where he had first learned how to do such a feat. It had all happened to Snyder before, and had been recounted in one of many bedtime tales from a Cowboy.
Will I lose my dignity?
Will someone care?
Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?
Charlie groaned piteously, and struggled to open his eyes. There were blurred figures surrounding his body, and he realized he was being jostled with stiff, jerky motions. His eyes closed laboriously. His voice was slow and thick in his throat as he tried to protest, and didn't even come out as anything more than a puff of air. He heard a faint, faraway voice saying, "I t'ink we's too late, Snoddy. 'E's gone." Other voices echoed in the affirmative, and Charlie struggled. He knew he wasn't gone! …Was he?
"'Ey, look!" said a voice that he recognized as Rudolph, sounding much closer. "I t'ink e's still heah, fellas…"
Charlie groaned and opened his eyes again. The figures weren't quite so blurry anymore… in fact, he now recognized Six Strings, Snoddy, and Rudolph, the three carrying him.
"We need ta get 'im ta warmth," spoke up a fourth newsie – Terrain. He was carrying Charlie's shoulders, and was supporting nearly all the weight of the incapacitated Queens runner.
"Yeah, but Pirate…" Skittery, walking along beside them, fell silent.
"Whaddabou' Pirate?" called a familiar voice. The boys, who had come to a halt before the Lodging House, turned in unison. Even Charlie struggled to see the new invader.
Boots and Chocolate, both now fully clothed after stealing clothes from Snyder's personal closet, sat jauntily upon a nearby banister. Boots was dressed in a starched pinstriped suit that had just been delivered from the tailor's, which he figured would infuriate Snyder all the more. Though it was too large in every aspect next to Boots' short, skinny frame, his smile made all the difference.
Charlie let out a short, hacking laugh. "Ya look like a liddle kid," he rasped.
The newsies gathered around him began to laugh and slapped him, who grunted, only half-seriously. Amazing, the medicine of laughter.
Will I lose my dignity?
Will someone care?
Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?
Racetrack found himself lying on the ground next to Charlie. He remembered vaguely being carried, jostled, down the Lodging House stairs. There were newsies laughing and joking all around him, and it seemed the coldness was gone. He hoped it wouldn't come back.
"Whadda we need?" Skittery yelled. The bitter wind rushed through his hair, rifling it, and caused the loose material of his pink undershirt to flutter. Yet his cheeks were flushed, and he wore a determined look.
"A leadah!" Boots yelled back. He was eating a cinnamon bun.
"An' who's it gonna be?" yelled Skittery.
Everyone fell silent, staring at him. He interpreted the stares. "No, not me!" he said, sounding shocked. "I jus' yell da stuff out, I'm no leadah."
Race gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet. "I'll be da leadah," he said, pulling his cigar out of his pocket and chomping down on it.
"Race, you's sick," said Mush quietly.
"Yeah, but I ain't about ta let Man'attan ta get taken oveh by a cheesehead like Pirate," he scoffed. "Now, who's wit' me?"
Everyone still seemed a bit wary of his strength, but agreed they needed their Lodging House and territory back. Race let out a battle cry and charged up the stairs, his friends at his side and running along with him.
Pirate sat smugly on a bunk. "I knew ya'd come back," he scoffed, looking self-righteous.
"Yeah, we'ah back," Race snorted. "Back ta kick YOU out." He felt a wave of the coldness come to him again, but wouldn't let it overtake him. "Get yer ass outta Man'attan, Pirate."
"Oh, an' who's gonna make me?" Pirate asked, climbing off the bunk and walking over. He was a good head taller than Racetrack, and had muscles that would send a Brooklyn thug running. But Race stood his ground.
"Go on back, ya bum," he said. "We don' wantcha heah. Leave 'Hattan fereveh, an' jus' let us be."
Pirate let out a laugh. "Not wit'out a fight, liddle man," he threatened, then leaned back and threw a punch.
Racetrack ducked, and Pirate went flying forward, landing on the ground. The newsies all began to laugh hysterically. Race jumped on his back and, feeling a bit like a circus performer, began to put on a show with the flailing Pirate. The newsies clapped and laughed as he bit Pirate, and hit him, and put him in a headlock, and various other tricks which didn't hurt Pirate much at all, other than his pride.
Pirate finally succeeded in flinging Racetrack off his back, and Race fell a few feet away. Instantly, twenty newsies were at Pirate's throat, pummeling him. Bleeding, he finally gave up and staggered for the door, hardly able to stumble down the stairs and out of the Lodging House.
"We did it," Race gasped, a bit out of breath from his masquerade. "An' wit'out Jack."
"So da magic ain't gone aftah all," Skittery mused.
"Ain't it weihd dat we kin still get along, even aftah we depended on 'im fer so long?" wondered Boots.
"Hey, fellas?" Mush said, picking himself off the ground and brushing dust from his trousers. Everyone looked over, and he grinned hopefully. "Kin we get a puppy dog?"
Everyone groaned and began punching him jokingly. "Mush, you'se an idiot," Race said sentimentally.
"Hey, fellas?" Mush asked again, as everyone began to clean up what had been messed up during the brawl. He was met with groans. He shrugged them off. "We's always gonna be bruddahs, right?"
"Right," said Skittery.
"Right," echoed Boots.
"Right," said Charlie, who'd just appeared in the doorway with Kloppman, who had been bandaging his leg in a homemade splint.
"Right," Racetrack replied.
Will I?