Disclaimer: Ok, I don't own any of the original Newsies characters (although I wish I did), etc, etc. I do own Chris. You guys get the point.
Sorry it took me so long to get this up, but i had a dance workshop this weekend and I got snowed into the hotel for two extra days!!! I was going crazy. The workshop was great, but I'm happy to be home and writing again. Enjoy!
Shoutouts:
Racesgurl: I love your Pro-Pretty Boy and Pro-Snipeshooter Plan. It better work or we'll have even more trouble if you know what I mean. LBL is looking great!
Angel: Thanks for the great reviews! And FINALLY: someone else likes Blink!!!
Madeleine: HAHA, now that you have joined us in the ranks of Newsies fanatics the plan for Newsies to take over the world is almost complete!!! Oops, did I say that out loud?
Spotted One: Glad you liked the song. Any other ones you like or would recommend?
And finally: THE STORY!
~ * ~ * ~
The rest of the afternoon was spent getting Chris acquainted with life in 1900. Kloppman was able to get her a pair of pants and a shirt. Although the faded blue shirt was oversized and hung like a bag on her thin frame and the brownish pants (also rather loose) were covered with various patches, the garments were still better than her peasant costume. The boots she wore for the play seemed to fit the time period well enough and had no tag or mark that would give her away so Kloppman let her keep them. Her mismatched ensemble was finished off by an equally worn-out brown coat to help her fight off the bitter cold of New York's winter.
As Kloppman showed Chris around the Lodging House and her various jobs the two filled each other in on their respective lives. It puzzled Chris a little that Kloppman didn't seem overly surprised as she told him about her life and the freedoms that women enjoyed in 2003. Chris listened intently as Kloppman told her all about the newsies and how they lived. Of course, he told her about the strike and how courageous the boys had been. The two were so rapt up in their discussions that Kloppman almost jumped when he saw the time.
Oh my! Dah boiys will be back soon! he exclaimed.
The boys?! Chris felt her usual panic begin to return, What do I-
Kloppman smiled, Miss Chris, I told ya I'd keep ya secret and now mattah how much I'se hate lyin' to dah boiys I intend ta keep my promise.
Well...what do I tell them? Chris gulped, slightly relieved.
Well now, he said thoughtfully, der are all da usually stories: runaway, orphan, lost. Ya have ya pick. I'se would recommend sayin' dat you'se from somewheah othah than New Yawk. Are ya familiah wit any othah place den
Chris thought about this, umm....Virginia. My uncle lives there and we used to go visit him a few times a year.
Good, good. Wheah in Virginia?
A small town right near Washington D.C. For all intensive purposes it practically IS D.C. so many politicians live there, Chris laughed.
I'se only see one pro'lem, Kloppman frowned, you'se don' have a Southern accent.
Oh! That's not a problem, Chris laughed again. When she saw Kloppman's confusion she continued, Washington D.C. and the area around it is so full of politicians from all over that all the different accents sort of cancel each other out.
Kloppman nodded, So you'se from a small town neah Washington D.C. And....what about ya family?
Chris thought about this a moment, Do I have to make up a story. Can't I just tell them that I don't feel comfortable talking about it? she pleaded.
Kloppman mused, Dat could woik, at least at foirst. Dat way if ya evah decide that ya do wanta tell dah boiys you can have time ta t'ink bout ya story.
Just as Kloppman finished a loud noise could be heard from the street and the door to the Lodging House was thrown open and a group of boys came in singing and dancing. They all stopped when they saw Chris. Remembering their manners they removed their hats.
Kloppman chuckled to himself, Boiys, dis here is Chris MacNeil. She'll be stayin' here and helpin' me wit some o' dah bookkeepin' and dah chores.
Jack was the first to step from the group of newsies, I'se glad ta see that you'se feelin' bettah, Chris, and welcome to dah Lodging House. My pal, David, should be heah soon wit his sistah, my goil, Sarah.
Chris stammered, I better get to work. With that she hurried out of the room.
The boys watched intently as she departed. Kinda noivous, ain't she, one of the boys asked.
Wouldn' you be just as noivous in a room full of goils, Race? Jack asked, She just needs a few days ta settle in.
Sure t'ing, Cowboiy. Now, how about a game a pokah?
Kloppman stood silently as the boys ran up the steps to the bunkroom. Maybe it's too early ta tell, but could dat da reason she was.......Naw, pro'ly still too early ta tell. With that he turned and walked out the door to go run some errands.
~ * ~ * ~
Chris poked her head out when she was sure that all the newsies were gone. Great first impression! Why do you always panic in situations like that? You're such a chicken! She silently chided herself as she began to check over the books for Kloppman. She didn't even notice when someone approached the front desk.
Excuse me, miss, Chris jumped and looked up to see yet another boy. Great another newsie. This one, however, was dressed slightly better than the others had been and he didn't seem to have the harsh New York accent, Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.
No, no. That's fine. Umm...how may I help you? she replied.
You must be the girl that Jack told me about. Chris, is it? She nodded. The boy smiled, Great! It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm David Jacobs and this is my sister, Sarah, and my brother, Les.
Chris shook hands with each of them, It's nice to meet ya'll (trying to have somewhat of a Southern accent). The rest of the boys are upstairs, she nodded towards the stairs to the bunkroom.
David and Les started towards the stairs. Why don't you come up with us? Chris looked up to see that Sarah still stood in front of the counter. She was pretty, probably why Jack liked her, and she seemed to be nice enough.
Oh, thank you, but I've got to work on these books for Kloppman.
Dat's alright, Chris. You'se done enough woik fer one day, Kloppman said from the doorway, I'se can take it from here. When she didn't move he walked over and gently nudged her to the stairs, Have fun, he smiled.
Oh goody, thought Chris as she trudged up the stairs, time with the boys.
All noise stopped when they entered the bunkroom. Chris could feel her cheeks burning red. Jack rose and walked over to give Sarah a peck on the cheek, Great, you'se here! We was just bout ta start anothah game of pokah. Care ta play?
Sarah laughed, Actually, I was thinking about getting to know Chris, if that's alright with her, she glanced at Chris expectantly who nodded, Great! We'll be on the roof. She took Chris by the hand and lead her to the fire escape and up onto the roof.
The two stood there for a moment awkwardly. Sarah was the first to break the silence, You seemed a little uncomfortable back there.
Chris laughed, Yeah, just a little, she looked at Sarah, Thanks. I don't know. I'm not sure if it's the fact that I was standing in a room with what seemed like a million new people who were all judging me or that they're all guys that bothers me more.
Probably both, Sarah smiled, Don't worry, you'll get used to them. They're really not as scary as you think. Actually, they're probably more scared of you then you are of them. This sent both girls into a fit of laughter. They spent the rest of the night talking and getting to be pretty good friends.
At around ten Davey came up on the roof, Sarah, we'd better get home. Mom and Dad will be worried. Plus, I think Les is about to fall asleep.
Sarah sighed, I'll try and stop by to see you tomorrow Chris.
Chris followed them inside and slipped in to her room. Lucky them, she thought, they're going home. Oh! Stop feeling sorry for yourself. That's all you do! With these thoughts Chris slowly drifted off to sleep.
~ * ~ * ~
So, wadda ya boiys t'ink of Chris? Jack asked them the next morning in the washroom.
What can we t'ink? asked Mush, We saw er fer about two seconds yesterday.
I'se still t'ink she's da noivous type, Race interjected.
She suah is pretty, said Specs, Wadda you t'ink, Blink? You'se been pretty quite bout
Blink jolted,
Blink, not AGAIN! Jack sighed, Get ovah her.
Yeah, Blink. Hey maybe ya can have Chris. Dat might cheer ya up, Race playfully slapped his friend's cheek.
Ah, shut-up, Race, Blink retorted, Anyway, she ain't me type.
How d'ya know, Blink, Jack questioned, She ain't ain't said much yet. She could very well be ya type.
Right, Coyboiy, Blink said skeptically as the boys finished up and walked downstairs ready for another day of selling papes.
~ * ~ * ~
Kloppman, what day is it, Chris asked as she swept the floor behind the front desk.
Kloppman thought about this, Let me see know. Friday, Saturday.....I'se believe it's Sunday.
Chris exclaimed, Dang. Kloppman do you happen to know if there's a Church around here?
Well, I'se t'ink der is a Catholic Church round ere somewheah. Is dat alright? Chris nodded. Ah! Jack, do you'se know wheah dat Catholic Church is?
Jack smiled, It's on our way to dah Distribution Center, he said as he descended the stairs.
Good, good. Would you'se be so kind as to show Miss Chris wheah it is?
Of course! Common, Chris, we was just leaving, Jack motioned for her to follow him and the rest of the boys who were slowly making their way down the stairs, yawning all the while.
Chris followed Jack down the street. She could feel the eyes of the newsies on her back, and she tried unsuccessfully to ignore it.
So, you'se Catholic? Race asked and she nodded, Hey, we used to ave a Catholic newsie. What was his name, Blink? Race prompted his friend.
Blink said not taking his eyes from the ground in front of him.
Ah, here we are, Chris, Jack announced as they turned a corner. In front of them was a medium sized, stone building. It's sign read:
St. Andrew's
Catholic Church
Looks like we'se just in time, too. You have fun. I'll send one a dah guys ovah ta pick you up latah.
Thanks, Jack, Chris smiled. With that she turned and walked inside.
See, boiys, she's nice, Jack winked at Blink who looked away and the boys headed off to the Distribution Center.
~ * ~ * ~
Inside the Church was rather quaint-looking: a few wooden pews, a small, yet beautiful alter. Chris enjoyed the Mass. She introduced herself to the priest afterwards and he encouraged her to come back again giving her a list of Mass times.
Chris stepped outside into the cold morning air. She shivered and looked around, but didn't see any of the newsies. Must not be finished selling their papers yet, she thought, Guess I'll wait outside. She walked down the steps looking up at the clouds in the sky as the first of many snowflakes began to fall. Chris was so caught up in the beauty of the flakes that she ran smack into someone.
Oh! I'm so sorry! she exclaimed.
It was me fault. Are you'se alright?, Chris looked up to see Blink offering her his hand.
Thank you, she said as he helped her up.
Jack sent me ta git you. He said we'se should meet im at Tibby's. Blink said. When he saw the confusion in her eyes he continued, It's a restaurant us newsies like ta go to. Common, he mumbled as he shoved his hands in his pockets to keep them warm, It's dis way.
Chris struggled to keep up with Blink's quick pace. He realized her doing so and slowed a little allowing her to catch up. The rest of their walk was quite and they soon reached Tibby's. Jack saw them enter waved them over to his table.
How was Mass, Chris? he asked, trying to start a conversation.
she answered.
Jack tried again, Kloppman tells use dat you'se from Virginia? Wheah abouts?
A small town near D.C., Chris said quietly.
asked race puzzled.
Smooth, Chris, they probably don't call it D.C. yet. Washington D.C., she corrected.
Jack looked like he was going to ask something else, but at that moment a new groups of boys burst into the restaurant. Everyone looked up to see who it was.
Jack was instantly on his feet, Wadda you'se doin' here, Miller? Dis ain't ya territory, he said, a dangerous tone in his voice that chilled Chris' bones.
Just checkin' up on our little mattah from two nights ago, Miller replied, his voice equally as deadly. He strode over to Chris. She sucked in a sharp breath. Miller reached out to grab her chin, but his hand was shoved away. Both Chris and Miller looked up in surprise to see that it was Blink who had struck Miller. Well, well, Blinky, I see you'se got ya noive back. Oh wait, I guess it's just cause ya defendahs are heah. What a shame. He turned and strode to the door. There he turned, Dis ain't ovah Manhattan. Remember: I always git what I want, and with that he turned and strode out the door with the rest of his newsie minions leaving the restaurant silent.
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A/N: Ok, that wasn't as long as I wanted, but I hope to get more up soon. Please: review and let me know what you think. I love you all!!!
patch:)
