Shock and Disbelief
Chapter II: Mission Trendy
The next morning, Turtle woke all the newsies up. It was 9'oclock in the morning, and Katie's parents were at work while her sister was at driver's ed. Kate and Bethany -most Beth- had made pancakes and had the ready in the dining room for the boys. Turtle immediately engaged David in conversation while Bethany and Racetrack battled for a quarter- that had been found on the floor- in a staring competition.
"You do realize that 25 cents buys absolutely nothing in this day and age, don't you?" Racetrack broke the gaze to look at Kate. Bethany greedily snatched up the quarter. Kate gaped at her.
"What?" Bethany stuck the quarter in her pocket and smiled.
"Other people would call this a sign you need a new job," Kate sighed. "Did you hear that?" Bethany shrugged. Just then the doorbell rang making Turtle and David both jump.
"Shoot! It's ten o'clock!" Liz shouted as she hurried to close the curtains.
"What does that mean?" asked David.
"My sister is home!" Kate pushed Spot down the stairs to the basement. "Get out that door and try to get to Beth or my car without being seen! Turtle, who else is out there."
"Tasha drove her home. She's also blocking your car." Kate stomped her foot on the ground in frustration.
"Kate!" yelled Tasha from the other side, "I know those newsy-like guys are in there! We saw them through the windows."
"That's right," said Beth, who was still munching on a pancake, "There are windows in this room." Kate and Turtle stared at Beth is disbelief.
Sarah's key turned in the lock. The door burst open and Tasha jumped through.
"Aha!" she looked around the entryway and into the dining room. It was now empty except for Turtle and Bethany. Kate saw movement outside as all the newsies climbed into Bethany's car. She smiled at her sudden turn in fortune.
Tasha wrinkled her forehead. She was looking from the dining room then to Kate and back to the table.
"But… I … I… saw…"
"You might want to have your eyes checked, Tasha," Kate smiled sweetly, "Beth don't you need to go to work? It's almost eleven."
"No, it's a Thurs…" Turtle kicked her in the shin, "Oh yeah! I better get going. Bye! Thanks for the pancakes." Kate breathed a sigh of relief as Bethany drove away.
"If you two don't mind us," she said to Sarah and Tasha, "we were going to go down to the thrift shop. You two can go watch Newsies or what not… if you like."
"I think I will," said Tasha. She followed Sarah into the kitchen.
"Wait! First you have to move your car."
Kate and Turtle headed to the thrift shop but with a quick stop at the Candy K to meet up with Beth and the guys. (Well then they went to the Needle's Art to get money from Kate's mom, but that's beside the point.) The girls had a mission.
A half-hour later, Bethany was shoving Racetrack into a dressing room at the thrift shop. This wasn't too hard because Bethany is a black belt in Tae Kwon Doe. Kid Blink let out a small yelp from his position in front of the mirror.
"Oh, come on," Kate said, "You look just like an Tommy Hillfiger model… with
"So you don't look like a newsy," Turtle told him as she pushed back behind the curtain. "If you haven't figured this out yet, there aren't any newsies left in this day and age." David walked toward the mirror. "Looking good, Davey." David was the only one embracing the new clothes.
"These are the fashions of the 21st century," Bethany told them, "The fashions of the future… I mean… the present." Kate giggled. David was walking up and down the aisle like a runway model. He was wearing a pair of khaki pants and a polo shirt, and he was looking very preppy.
"Are you done yet, Spot?" asked Kate. She could hear some rustling in his dressing room. "When are you coming out?"
"Nevah!"
"It can't be that bad," Bethany told him. "What about you, Racetrack?" Racetrack stepped out and shrugged. "That'll do."
"Come on, Spot," Kate coaxed. "You're gonna have to come out sometime."
"He could just change into his regular clothes," said Turtle.
"No, he can't," Kate said holding up a pair up pants, "I've got his clothes." Spot stepped out. He was scowling at Kate. Kate waved her hand in front of her face.
"Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?" She pretended to faint into Kid Blink's arms. Spot crossed his arms.
"She means you look good," Beth laughed.
Kate squinted into the sun outside. She smiled; her current mission was complete.
"Hey, Kate," Turtle poked her in the arm, "Isn't that Tasha's car?"
A/N: I really don't know if they even have many dressing rooms at thrift stores, but seeing as I don't go to any that often, I guessed. It works. What should I call Kid Blink: Kid or Blink? It's hard to write Kid Blink over and over again. R/R
