Disclaimer: Sorry I forgot about this minor detail in my first chapter. I
don't own any Newsies, as much as I would like to, Disney does. Ok, that's
done.
Sarah's face was an inch from David's, and it wasn't making the situation any better. David squirmed, Sarah's eyes boring into him. Finally, he gathered enough courage to speak.
"Sarah? W-what happened?" David whispered. Then, he watched with astonishment as tears started to fill his siblings eyes. Not one to be good with criers, David waited silently and puzzled for Sarah to make the first move.
Sarah couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't even look at her brother's face without having the urge to scream and cry angry tears. Feeling the wetness on her face, she realized that any self-control she had before was long gone. Exhausted from her rants, she moved away from a scared-looking David and the door, collapsing on the chair. Plopping her feet on the ottoman - never mind her mothers knitting - Sarah dissolved into a blubbering mush.
"H-h-how could you d-do this to me?" She spluttered. "You're supposed to be my b-brother! How could you b-betray me l-l-like that?" She wiped her eyes with her shawl, grabbing her brothers arm witch he had put awkwardly around her to blow her nose on David's sleeve. David didn't protest. In fact, he hardly even noticed. What was Sarah talking about? He voiced his opinion.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, his voice filled with fear. Ever since the strike, he made a promise to himself that he would never become a traitor like Jack had in those few delusional moments. Never. And even though he hadn't the faintest idea of what Sarah was babbling about, if she felt that way.he swallowed. Hard.
"You know what I'm talking about, u big oaf!" Sarah yelled, throwing David's snot-covered arm off her and turning around to face him. "You know exactly if I have to explain it to you, then your dumber than I thought!'' She stood up and shoved a finger right into his chest. "But since that's the case here, I'll tell you! What the HELL were you thinking when you told Jack that he needed your permission?!?"
David looked at his sister like she had gone bonkers. Truth to tell, she had, but still. "Tell Jack he needed my permission for what?"
" You know! G-d, I can't believe you sometimes! Who died and made you my owner? Why in the world would Jack wanting to marry me have to depend on weather or not YOU approve? It's my life, David, so stay out of it!"
David stood stock-still for a minute, just staring at Sarah, not comprehending what she just said. Then, he burst out laughing. He was laughing go hard, in fact, that he started to choke and Sarah, regardless of her anger towards him, ran to get him a glass of water.
David downed the glass of water and was able to control himself enough to speak. "M-My permission? Ha ha! Jack doesn't need my permission for anything! Since when does he care about asking permission? He he! This is too good. Wait till I tell the guys.wait a minute. What did you say? JACK WANTS TO MARRY YOU?"
Now it was David's turn to fall into the armchair. Jack? Ready to get married? To his sister? Sarah? The thoughts tumbled around in his head, crashing into one another, not making a bit of sense. Permission? Who needed to whose permission again?
His sister, from across the room, watched as her brother went from hysterics to confusion, thinking deeply with his furrowed brow in the brown tweed armchair. Sarah turned the empty glass around between her fingers. What was David doing? She never understood him. She remembered what Jack had said, as if he had said it to her a minute ago...
AN HOUR AGO
Sarah was on her way to the Lodging House, tired but satisfied after her long hours in the textile factory. Although no longer a newsie, Jack still boarded there. He now worked for a printer as an apprentice, hoping to own a press of his own one-day.
Him and Sarah were still going strong, after three years of steady dating, or "courtship" as Jack liked to call it. "You'se my goil, Sarah. You'se a lady, and I'se got to treat you like one." He used to say. She loved it when he looked at her with his warm brown eyes, so similar yet different than her own. While both sets of brown eyes, were well, brown, his were tinged with hardness. Hers were touched with naiveté. Jack knew this, and tried to protect her from everything that had made a side of him untouchable. Sarah knew this and loved him all the more.
On her way, Sarah's face was glowing with that special knowledge every person has when in love. Her gait was light and bouncy, and the package of cloth she held in her arm was weightless. She was going to see Jack in a minute or so, and she had a feeling that Jack was going to pop the question soon. They had known they were going to marry from the time Jack took her to the docks in the harbor to see the stars. Both had felt it in their kiss, when an everlasting bond was made. No words had needed to be spoken. A look, a touch, was good enough for them.
But not good enough for the rest of the world. Jack would have to make a formal proposal sometime. Now was a good time as any. They both has steady work, both were almost 20. What time could possibly be better? Sarah hugged herself with joy. Seemed she was always in a good mood these days. In the distance, the Lodging House sign became clearer as Sarah drew closer. She picked up her pace, anxious to see Jack again before she had to return home for dinner. He long brown hair flying behind her in the wind, she approached the House door and pushed it open.
But the large room that served as the dining room/living room/extra bedroom/casino/bar was empty. Sarah glanced at her watch. It was already almost 5 o'clock. Where was everyone? Surely they couldn't be selling this late into the afternoon. She looked up the rickety stairs that led to the bunkroom. Should she go up? Nervously twisting her light blue skirt, she remembered the last time she went up there without telling anyone. That picture of Race in nothing but a cigar? Not going to leave her head anytime soon. She still blushed sometimes when she saw him. The other guys thought it was hysterical, of course.
Glancing around one last time, she resigned herself to not seeing Jack until tomorrow. Oh well, at least she came. Even Kloppman wasn't here. Must be something big, she thought.
Sarah was just about to leave, a little less cheerful then when she had arrived, when she heard voices. Not the little nagging ones inside your head that make you crazy, but real, human voices. The kind you want to go eavesdrop on. Especially since one sounded suspiciously like her true love's. Where we the coming from? Sarah looked at the door in the corner, the one she almost forgot about. It led to a small kitchen. But no one went in there unless they wanted to spend a little "private time" with someone. So what was Jack doing in there?
Tiptoeing to the corner of the room, she pressed her ear to the faded planking and listened in. She heard Jack's voice, and someone else's..was that Kid Blink? No, it sounded more like Crutchy. Maybe it was both? Sarah hugged the door closer. She wished she had a glass. The conversation started again. "Listen, Crutchy, I don't know what ta do." So then she was right. Bingo! It was definalytly Jack talking. But what did Jack ever talk to Crutchy so privately about? David was his best friend, not him. She heard them talking and spaced in again.
".I can't understan it." That was Kid Blink. " Why would David tell ya somethin like that? I mean, he knows ya gonna take real good care of Sarah. So why did he warn ya?"
"I dunno, Blink." Jack again. "I mean, I love Sarah. She's me life." Sarah, outside, felt all warm and fuzzy at his words. "But now, Davey's makin me niouvus. I mean, if he can't even trust me with his own sista, when who's ta say he's gonna trust me wit anytin' else?"
Sarah heard Crutchy hem and haw before answering, his crutch thumping against the floor. A little habit he had when he was agitated. "Jack, I think you should..ah..just do it. I mean, if its so impoitant for Davey, den make him happy. Ask for his poimission, and den it'll be ova. Dat's all. He's ya best friend, Jack. "
"Still," Said Jack, his voice leaking out from between the cracks in the old door, "Since when does David want me to ask his permission before I ask Sarah to marry me?"
Sarah didn't know weather to be furious or insanely happy. On one hand, it was always nice when her boyfriend talked about her like that. On the other hand, WHAT THE F---K WAS DAVID DOING? Grabbing her bundle, she hightailed out of there when her anger won over. Boy, was David going to get it this time.
Sarah's face was an inch from David's, and it wasn't making the situation any better. David squirmed, Sarah's eyes boring into him. Finally, he gathered enough courage to speak.
"Sarah? W-what happened?" David whispered. Then, he watched with astonishment as tears started to fill his siblings eyes. Not one to be good with criers, David waited silently and puzzled for Sarah to make the first move.
Sarah couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't even look at her brother's face without having the urge to scream and cry angry tears. Feeling the wetness on her face, she realized that any self-control she had before was long gone. Exhausted from her rants, she moved away from a scared-looking David and the door, collapsing on the chair. Plopping her feet on the ottoman - never mind her mothers knitting - Sarah dissolved into a blubbering mush.
"H-h-how could you d-do this to me?" She spluttered. "You're supposed to be my b-brother! How could you b-betray me l-l-like that?" She wiped her eyes with her shawl, grabbing her brothers arm witch he had put awkwardly around her to blow her nose on David's sleeve. David didn't protest. In fact, he hardly even noticed. What was Sarah talking about? He voiced his opinion.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, his voice filled with fear. Ever since the strike, he made a promise to himself that he would never become a traitor like Jack had in those few delusional moments. Never. And even though he hadn't the faintest idea of what Sarah was babbling about, if she felt that way.he swallowed. Hard.
"You know what I'm talking about, u big oaf!" Sarah yelled, throwing David's snot-covered arm off her and turning around to face him. "You know exactly if I have to explain it to you, then your dumber than I thought!'' She stood up and shoved a finger right into his chest. "But since that's the case here, I'll tell you! What the HELL were you thinking when you told Jack that he needed your permission?!?"
David looked at his sister like she had gone bonkers. Truth to tell, she had, but still. "Tell Jack he needed my permission for what?"
" You know! G-d, I can't believe you sometimes! Who died and made you my owner? Why in the world would Jack wanting to marry me have to depend on weather or not YOU approve? It's my life, David, so stay out of it!"
David stood stock-still for a minute, just staring at Sarah, not comprehending what she just said. Then, he burst out laughing. He was laughing go hard, in fact, that he started to choke and Sarah, regardless of her anger towards him, ran to get him a glass of water.
David downed the glass of water and was able to control himself enough to speak. "M-My permission? Ha ha! Jack doesn't need my permission for anything! Since when does he care about asking permission? He he! This is too good. Wait till I tell the guys.wait a minute. What did you say? JACK WANTS TO MARRY YOU?"
Now it was David's turn to fall into the armchair. Jack? Ready to get married? To his sister? Sarah? The thoughts tumbled around in his head, crashing into one another, not making a bit of sense. Permission? Who needed to whose permission again?
His sister, from across the room, watched as her brother went from hysterics to confusion, thinking deeply with his furrowed brow in the brown tweed armchair. Sarah turned the empty glass around between her fingers. What was David doing? She never understood him. She remembered what Jack had said, as if he had said it to her a minute ago...
AN HOUR AGO
Sarah was on her way to the Lodging House, tired but satisfied after her long hours in the textile factory. Although no longer a newsie, Jack still boarded there. He now worked for a printer as an apprentice, hoping to own a press of his own one-day.
Him and Sarah were still going strong, after three years of steady dating, or "courtship" as Jack liked to call it. "You'se my goil, Sarah. You'se a lady, and I'se got to treat you like one." He used to say. She loved it when he looked at her with his warm brown eyes, so similar yet different than her own. While both sets of brown eyes, were well, brown, his were tinged with hardness. Hers were touched with naiveté. Jack knew this, and tried to protect her from everything that had made a side of him untouchable. Sarah knew this and loved him all the more.
On her way, Sarah's face was glowing with that special knowledge every person has when in love. Her gait was light and bouncy, and the package of cloth she held in her arm was weightless. She was going to see Jack in a minute or so, and she had a feeling that Jack was going to pop the question soon. They had known they were going to marry from the time Jack took her to the docks in the harbor to see the stars. Both had felt it in their kiss, when an everlasting bond was made. No words had needed to be spoken. A look, a touch, was good enough for them.
But not good enough for the rest of the world. Jack would have to make a formal proposal sometime. Now was a good time as any. They both has steady work, both were almost 20. What time could possibly be better? Sarah hugged herself with joy. Seemed she was always in a good mood these days. In the distance, the Lodging House sign became clearer as Sarah drew closer. She picked up her pace, anxious to see Jack again before she had to return home for dinner. He long brown hair flying behind her in the wind, she approached the House door and pushed it open.
But the large room that served as the dining room/living room/extra bedroom/casino/bar was empty. Sarah glanced at her watch. It was already almost 5 o'clock. Where was everyone? Surely they couldn't be selling this late into the afternoon. She looked up the rickety stairs that led to the bunkroom. Should she go up? Nervously twisting her light blue skirt, she remembered the last time she went up there without telling anyone. That picture of Race in nothing but a cigar? Not going to leave her head anytime soon. She still blushed sometimes when she saw him. The other guys thought it was hysterical, of course.
Glancing around one last time, she resigned herself to not seeing Jack until tomorrow. Oh well, at least she came. Even Kloppman wasn't here. Must be something big, she thought.
Sarah was just about to leave, a little less cheerful then when she had arrived, when she heard voices. Not the little nagging ones inside your head that make you crazy, but real, human voices. The kind you want to go eavesdrop on. Especially since one sounded suspiciously like her true love's. Where we the coming from? Sarah looked at the door in the corner, the one she almost forgot about. It led to a small kitchen. But no one went in there unless they wanted to spend a little "private time" with someone. So what was Jack doing in there?
Tiptoeing to the corner of the room, she pressed her ear to the faded planking and listened in. She heard Jack's voice, and someone else's..was that Kid Blink? No, it sounded more like Crutchy. Maybe it was both? Sarah hugged the door closer. She wished she had a glass. The conversation started again. "Listen, Crutchy, I don't know what ta do." So then she was right. Bingo! It was definalytly Jack talking. But what did Jack ever talk to Crutchy so privately about? David was his best friend, not him. She heard them talking and spaced in again.
".I can't understan it." That was Kid Blink. " Why would David tell ya somethin like that? I mean, he knows ya gonna take real good care of Sarah. So why did he warn ya?"
"I dunno, Blink." Jack again. "I mean, I love Sarah. She's me life." Sarah, outside, felt all warm and fuzzy at his words. "But now, Davey's makin me niouvus. I mean, if he can't even trust me with his own sista, when who's ta say he's gonna trust me wit anytin' else?"
Sarah heard Crutchy hem and haw before answering, his crutch thumping against the floor. A little habit he had when he was agitated. "Jack, I think you should..ah..just do it. I mean, if its so impoitant for Davey, den make him happy. Ask for his poimission, and den it'll be ova. Dat's all. He's ya best friend, Jack. "
"Still," Said Jack, his voice leaking out from between the cracks in the old door, "Since when does David want me to ask his permission before I ask Sarah to marry me?"
Sarah didn't know weather to be furious or insanely happy. On one hand, it was always nice when her boyfriend talked about her like that. On the other hand, WHAT THE F---K WAS DAVID DOING? Grabbing her bundle, she hightailed out of there when her anger won over. Boy, was David going to get it this time.