Disclaimer: You all know I don't own the newsies. I'm still in High School and I only work weekends for minimum wage. Therefore, no money. I own any character whose name does not appear in the credits of the movie. This includes Hotshot, any parents, siblings, other family/friends/enemies, or girlfriends. Except for an occasional few. I'll let ya know at the top of the chapter if I own 'em.
My Way Home
Prologue
By Hotshot
Winter was the worst time for newsies every year. Even though there were holidays, which meant generous people on the streets it also meant blizzards, a need for heavier clothes, which no one could afford, and countless days where they couldn't sell. These were the days before or after a blizzard. No one was on the streets and those that were weren't the kind of people who would stop and buy a paper. No those people were only out when it was warm, sunny, and there was no chance of them getting their precious clothes dirty.
On these days the newsies stayed at the lodging house at Kloppman's request. Those who went out were more likely to get sick. Losing a newsie or two every winter was normal for each borough. Thankfully, it didn't commonly happen in Kloppman's lodging house. There had been a few close calls over the past few years. A few of the boys would go out selling when Kloppman warned them, not too and came back sick.
Living in the lodging house for many years most of the boys were tired of the closed quarters very quickly. There were only so many things you could do before they became boring. The younger boys were the only ones who could always entertain themselves; they never got sick of endless games of marbles. The older boys were usually restless, and the girls that sometimes lodged there were the same way. Occasional visits from Spot and other outsiders were appreciated.
By the time she'd been there for a few years Hotshot was used to this, therefore, she was always prepared. She'd save her money during the summer and buy several thick novels to read when they were stuck inside. She could spend hours reading to herself, the younger children, and even some of the older boys.
This year was different though, because it was the last. Many of the strike newsies were leaving after the next summer to find better jobs or start families. Don't take it the wrong way, everyone was glad that they were getting better jobs and moving on, but the group had become somewhat of a family over the past few years. It was in thinking about this second family that Hotshot stumbled upon a very important and surprising fact. She didn't know how many of them had become newsies, or gotten their names. Granted some were easy to guess, but others had stories behind them, and every newsie had a story of their life before Manhattan.
She would have just asked one of the guys about it but realized they'd each have a different version of the story, and that their version would only start when they became a newsie. She wanted every story, starting with the very first newsie to live under Kloppman's roof.
When she brought up the subject one evening she got looks from everyone. Some exchanged looks and others just looked nervous. Jack, being their leader came up with an idea. Every day that Kloppman kept them in from selling one boy would tell his story. They'd go in order of who came to the lodging house first. The only problem was, no one could remember who was the first one of them to find their home.
The next morning Kloppman didn't wake them and when everyone found themselves in some consciousness they remembered their plans for the day. When David, Les, and Spot arrived they sent David downstairs to get a list from Kloppman. The night before they'd asked the old man to make a list in the order of their arrivals. He had told them it would be done by morning and as promised it was. David returned with the list grasped tightly in his hand and handed it to Jack. Everyone crowded around to see the first name and all eyes fell on the holder of that name.
"Ah you kiddin' me?" he questioned.
Not sure if he meant he couldn't believe he was the first one there or that he meant he didn't want to tell it they all sat in silence, waiting for him to begin.
"Alright," he said, obviously thinking hard about it. "I ain't gonna tell you no fairy tale version a me life and I expect all youse bums ta do the same when you tell youse stories…"
With that, the winter of 1902 started, and along with it twenty stories of twenty young boys from New York.
A/N: OK, so basically each chapter is going to be a story of one of the guys and there will be a little bit after it's done. I have main story ideas but not the entire story for each person so it might take a while. Think you can guess the order that they became newsies in. I have a nice set order including all the guys on the soundtrack, which includes those who don't live there (David, Les, and Spot.) I'd love to see whom you guys think was the first newsie at the lodging house. That means I want you to guess in the review. Oh, yeah, I will officially be changing my pen name to Hotshot after I finish my first story 'Past Secrets and Present Times.' Hope I get some reviews for this even though it's short. Thanks!
~Megan~~~
~Hotshot~~~
P.S. Oops! Almost forgot. In your review guess which newsie is going to be telling his story first. Thanks!