New York City ~ Manhattan Lodging House ~ Chapter Three
Jo McClane was relaxing on her bed trying to count up her money when a couple of boys barged in, arguing. "I'se tellin you'se Cowboy dat hoirse woulda won if dat stupid Jockey was bettah at his job."
"Yeah Race if dat hoirse wins wit annuder jockey witin da week den I'se will give you'se two bits."
"You'se on Cowboy and you'se goin down." Jo studied the two boys quietly and remembered when they both came in together. They had joined about a week after her and had had no problem getting in because they used to be newsies there before they moved or got arrested and they were quite friendly with the leader Rippah. Rippah had been the one who found her in the alley and had carried her back to the L.H. and let her become a Newsie and taught her how to do it. She was one of the best now along with Cowboy and Rippah. Jack Kelly was Cowboy's real name but everyone called him cowboy because of his dream to go to Sante Fe. And Jo had a newsie name but she wasn't used to it yet. It was Trouble, Trouble McClane; got her name because of all the trouble she caused when she first came, always fighting and complaining and breaking things. She just couldn't get Kat out of her head but no one knew about her not even Rippah who had become like a brother to her.
"Hey Race you up for a game of pokah?"
Jo McClane was relaxing on her bed trying to count up her money when a couple of boys barged in, arguing. "I'se tellin you'se Cowboy dat hoirse woulda won if dat stupid Jockey was bettah at his job."
"Yeah Race if dat hoirse wins wit annuder jockey witin da week den I'se will give you'se two bits."
"You'se on Cowboy and you'se goin down." Jo studied the two boys quietly and remembered when they both came in together. They had joined about a week after her and had had no problem getting in because they used to be newsies there before they moved or got arrested and they were quite friendly with the leader Rippah. Rippah had been the one who found her in the alley and had carried her back to the L.H. and let her become a Newsie and taught her how to do it. She was one of the best now along with Cowboy and Rippah. Jack Kelly was Cowboy's real name but everyone called him cowboy because of his dream to go to Sante Fe. And Jo had a newsie name but she wasn't used to it yet. It was Trouble, Trouble McClane; got her name because of all the trouble she caused when she first came, always fighting and complaining and breaking things. She just couldn't get Kat out of her head but no one knew about her not even Rippah who had become like a brother to her.
"Hey Race you up for a game of pokah?"