NEW YORK CITY -1899 - EVENING
Alysia thought she was dreaming about being caught in a rainstorm, but when rain kept hitting her in the face she knew something was up. A crash of thunder had her sitting up with her eyes wide open. She looked around and saw that she was in a dead end of some sort. Surrounding her were brick buildings that were about two stories high. Alysia was pulled from her thoughts when she heard someone moan. She noticed that there was a girl lying down right next to her. Cautiously she shook the girl's shoulder. Mary mumbled something as she slowly opened her eyes. "Are you all right?" Alysia asked, not quite sure what to say. Mary rubbed her eyes, slowly sat up, and took a look around.
"Uh huh." After she had finished looking around she added. "Where are we?"
"I have no idea." Alysia replied as the lightning spread its fingers across the sky. They sat there for a few moments in silence as the stared in awe at the sky.
"I'm Mary." She stated as she extended her hand.
"I'm Alysia, it's nice to meet you." She declared as the shook hands.
"It's nice to meet you too." There was an awkward silence until Mary spoke up again. "What I wouldn't give to be back in front of my computer!" Mary exclaimed with a sigh as she looked down at the mud they were both sitting in.
"I know what you mean! I never got to finish my paper. . . and I just figured out just what to add!" Alysia replied and sighed too.
"What kinda paper was it?" Mary asked.
"Well, it might sound silly, but it was about Newsies. Newsies are . . ." Alysia stopped when she saw the wild look in Mary's eyes.
"I know what Newsies are, they're the coolest! I've only watched the movie about a hundred times. I've written so many fan fictions about them it isn't even funny!" Mary exclaimed not holding back her excitement.
"No one ever knows what newsies are, this is so cool!" Alysia exclaimed. "I know what you mean." They heard a voice state. They turned around and saw Nikki. "Umm . . . hi?" She added when Alysia and Mary just stared at her. "Hello! I'm Alysia and this is Mary." Alysia said unable to quit smiling. "I'm Nikki, a big time newsies fan!" She stated returning the smile. "Three newsies fans wake up in a dead end in the middle of a thunderstorm. The possibility of this happening is slim to nothing!" Mary declared. "Four newsies fans." They heard another voice proclaim. They all turned and saw Laura. "The name's Laura." She added. "You guys, this is getting really weird." Nikki proclaimed as she looked up at the sky as the thunder roared. "Newsie names, maybe that's what connects us!" Mary exclaimed. "Mine's Angel," Alysia stated. "Sassy," Nikki stated. "Vigor," Laura stated. "Harmony," Mary stated. "I know those names from somewhere. Oh my gosh, the Newsies Website! That's it!!! Aren't you all from the Newsies Website???" Alysia exclaimed unable to keep her voice down. "Yeah" They all chimed in. "Well, the last thing I remember is being tortured by Medda's screeching voice." Laura declared. "That's the last thing I remember!" Mary exclaimed. "Me too!" Alysia and Nikki said at the same time. "But where are we?" Alysia asked. They all turned and say a newspaper tumbling around the dead end. Nikki grabbed a hold of it and had to concentrate to read the writing on the soaked paper. "August 28, 1899." The four girls looked at each other, recognizing the year.
"1899?" whispered Mary. "What paper is that?" Nikki looked at the top of the paper. "The New York Sun." They all jumped to their feet and walked out of the alley. "These aren't my clothes!" Nikki declared as she noticed the baggy pants and filthy shirt that she was wearing. They all noticed that they were wearing clothes that were really worn and didn't fit. "You guys, look" Laura said drawing their attention away from their odd apparel. She pointed at a building with a sign that read: Newsboys Lodging House.
"Wait just a minute! Let me get this straight; listening to Medda sends you back in time?" Alysia demanded trying to understand what was going on.
"I guess . . ."Mary said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Guys, this is really freaky." Alysia stated. Laura brushed her wet hair away from her face and said.
"Yeah, and standing out here in the rain isn't helping us what so ever. Why don't we go call on the newsies." Alysia turned to Laura and asked with wide eyes. "Are you crazy? What are they going to think of four drenched girls knocking on their door in the middle of the night? They'll think we're insane!"
"Maybe they'll think we're hot, and they'll let us stay!" Nikki said with a smile.
"Look," Laura declared. "I think we should just go knock on the door and see if we can stay there for the night or until we figure out how to get home." Lightning streaking across the sky made their decision for them. The girls ran over to the door of the lodging house and pounded on it. Kloppman answered.
"C-c-can I help you young ladies?" He asked. The girls pushed Laura forward.
"This was your idea, " Mary whispered in her ear.
"Thanks." Laura whispered back. She turned to Kloppman and said, "We need a place to stay out of this rain." Kloppman looked them over.
"Well, it'll cost ya six cents each." They all looked around at each other. None of them had money! Nikki opened her clenched hand and found her quarter.
"Here." She said as she handed Kloppman the quarter, praying he wouldn't look at it closely. He didn't and opened the door wider.
"Right this way, please. I'll have to warn you, usually this is only boys lodging, but you girls look like you need someplace warm to stay." The girls followed him up the stairs; shocked at how Kloppman and the lodging house looked exactly the way they had in the movie. "Wait here." Kloppman opened the door to the bedroom, shutting it behind him. A few seconds later, he opened it. "Come on in." The girls entered the room and were amazed by what they saw. The room and the guys looked exactly the way they did in Newsies. Staring right back at them were Racetrack, Snoddy, Skittery, Snitch, Bumlets, and all of the other newsies. Then they saw Jack Kelly. Alysia almost passed out from shock, but Mary caught her. "Now, I don't want you boys givin' these girls any trouble, ya hear?" Kloppman stared at the boys sternly. "You give 'em these forward bunks. I'll be right down stairs." He warned. They all nodded, too shocked at seeing four girls in their room to say anything. "Good. Well, goodnight." Kloppman patted Nikki on the back, smiled at the girls, and left the room shutting the door behind him. The newsies stared at the girls who stared right back. Jack was the first to respond to the visitors.
"The name's Kelly, Jack Kelly. What's yours?" He asked Alysia, holding out his hand to shake hers. Alysia couldn't take this any longer and fainted, collapsing to the floor. "Whatsamatta wit her?" Jack asked, kneeling next to Alysia. He elevated her head and shook her slightly. "Wake up!" Alysia woke to find Jack Kelly staring at her, so she screamed. Jack screamed back, not used to having people scream at the sight of him. "Alysia, it's okay!" Mary kneeled down and helped Alysia to her feet. "It's just Jack."
"You alright?" Jack asked now concerned. She didn't answer just stared bug-eyed at him.
"My name's Angel." Mary whispered in her ear.
"My name's Angel." Alysia repeated, still in shock. Jack gave her a dazzling smile.
"Nice to meetcha." He turned to the others and asked. "So, do the rest of you have names too?" Each introduced themselves as their Newsie name.
"I'm Vigor." Laura said.
"I'm Sassy." Nikki said.
"And I'm Harmony." Mary said.
"So, what're you doin' out on a night like this? Why aren't ya at home?" Jack asked Sassy. Sassy looked at the girls with wide eyes. What was she supposed to say? That they were from more than one hundred years in the future?
"Um, we're from..." Sassy trailed off.
"Philadelphia." whispered Vigor.
"Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! We came here 'cause . . . um . . . we . . . uh . . . didn't like working there. So we came here." Sassy smiled, praying Jack would buy her story.
"In the middle of the night?" Jack looked at them suspiciously.
"Well, yeah . . ." Sassy looked at her friends for help.
"We left a week ago." Vigor spoke up. "We just got here." Jack looked at them through squinted eyes. "So why'd ya come to da lodgin' house?" Harmony had an idea and replied, "We wanna be newsies!" Jack smiled, looked over the group standing before him, and asked. "You don't know the first thing about bein' a newsie, do ya?"
"Well, um, we're willing to learn!" said Harmony. Thinking of Newsies she added, "We have an idea of what it's like." Jack sighed still smiling and replied. "Well, ok. Tell ya what, you goils take these two bunks here." He said, pointing to the bunks. "Kloppman usually wakes us up in the morning, so be prepared to get up at dawn, 'kay?"
"Dawn! Like before the sunrises?" Sassy exasperatedly whispered to Angel, Vigor, and Harmony. "This is REALLY gonna kill me." The others just nodded and went to the two bunks reserved for them. Jack seemed satisfied with this and decided that it was lights out for the bunkhouse.
"Six in da morning is early? What part of Philadelphia are ya from?" Kid Blink whispered to Vigor. Vigor turned towards him, eyes wide.
"What?" she barely whispered. Kid Blink just gave her a 'you're-up-to- something' look and walked past her heading towards his bunk. Vigor hopped onto the top bunk and relaxed on her back. Kid Blink knew something was up, but what did he know? She closed her eyes and fell asleep, wondering.
Alysia thought she was dreaming about being caught in a rainstorm, but when rain kept hitting her in the face she knew something was up. A crash of thunder had her sitting up with her eyes wide open. She looked around and saw that she was in a dead end of some sort. Surrounding her were brick buildings that were about two stories high. Alysia was pulled from her thoughts when she heard someone moan. She noticed that there was a girl lying down right next to her. Cautiously she shook the girl's shoulder. Mary mumbled something as she slowly opened her eyes. "Are you all right?" Alysia asked, not quite sure what to say. Mary rubbed her eyes, slowly sat up, and took a look around.
"Uh huh." After she had finished looking around she added. "Where are we?"
"I have no idea." Alysia replied as the lightning spread its fingers across the sky. They sat there for a few moments in silence as the stared in awe at the sky.
"I'm Mary." She stated as she extended her hand.
"I'm Alysia, it's nice to meet you." She declared as the shook hands.
"It's nice to meet you too." There was an awkward silence until Mary spoke up again. "What I wouldn't give to be back in front of my computer!" Mary exclaimed with a sigh as she looked down at the mud they were both sitting in.
"I know what you mean! I never got to finish my paper. . . and I just figured out just what to add!" Alysia replied and sighed too.
"What kinda paper was it?" Mary asked.
"Well, it might sound silly, but it was about Newsies. Newsies are . . ." Alysia stopped when she saw the wild look in Mary's eyes.
"I know what Newsies are, they're the coolest! I've only watched the movie about a hundred times. I've written so many fan fictions about them it isn't even funny!" Mary exclaimed not holding back her excitement.
"No one ever knows what newsies are, this is so cool!" Alysia exclaimed. "I know what you mean." They heard a voice state. They turned around and saw Nikki. "Umm . . . hi?" She added when Alysia and Mary just stared at her. "Hello! I'm Alysia and this is Mary." Alysia said unable to quit smiling. "I'm Nikki, a big time newsies fan!" She stated returning the smile. "Three newsies fans wake up in a dead end in the middle of a thunderstorm. The possibility of this happening is slim to nothing!" Mary declared. "Four newsies fans." They heard another voice proclaim. They all turned and saw Laura. "The name's Laura." She added. "You guys, this is getting really weird." Nikki proclaimed as she looked up at the sky as the thunder roared. "Newsie names, maybe that's what connects us!" Mary exclaimed. "Mine's Angel," Alysia stated. "Sassy," Nikki stated. "Vigor," Laura stated. "Harmony," Mary stated. "I know those names from somewhere. Oh my gosh, the Newsies Website! That's it!!! Aren't you all from the Newsies Website???" Alysia exclaimed unable to keep her voice down. "Yeah" They all chimed in. "Well, the last thing I remember is being tortured by Medda's screeching voice." Laura declared. "That's the last thing I remember!" Mary exclaimed. "Me too!" Alysia and Nikki said at the same time. "But where are we?" Alysia asked. They all turned and say a newspaper tumbling around the dead end. Nikki grabbed a hold of it and had to concentrate to read the writing on the soaked paper. "August 28, 1899." The four girls looked at each other, recognizing the year.
"1899?" whispered Mary. "What paper is that?" Nikki looked at the top of the paper. "The New York Sun." They all jumped to their feet and walked out of the alley. "These aren't my clothes!" Nikki declared as she noticed the baggy pants and filthy shirt that she was wearing. They all noticed that they were wearing clothes that were really worn and didn't fit. "You guys, look" Laura said drawing their attention away from their odd apparel. She pointed at a building with a sign that read: Newsboys Lodging House.
"Wait just a minute! Let me get this straight; listening to Medda sends you back in time?" Alysia demanded trying to understand what was going on.
"I guess . . ."Mary said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Guys, this is really freaky." Alysia stated. Laura brushed her wet hair away from her face and said.
"Yeah, and standing out here in the rain isn't helping us what so ever. Why don't we go call on the newsies." Alysia turned to Laura and asked with wide eyes. "Are you crazy? What are they going to think of four drenched girls knocking on their door in the middle of the night? They'll think we're insane!"
"Maybe they'll think we're hot, and they'll let us stay!" Nikki said with a smile.
"Look," Laura declared. "I think we should just go knock on the door and see if we can stay there for the night or until we figure out how to get home." Lightning streaking across the sky made their decision for them. The girls ran over to the door of the lodging house and pounded on it. Kloppman answered.
"C-c-can I help you young ladies?" He asked. The girls pushed Laura forward.
"This was your idea, " Mary whispered in her ear.
"Thanks." Laura whispered back. She turned to Kloppman and said, "We need a place to stay out of this rain." Kloppman looked them over.
"Well, it'll cost ya six cents each." They all looked around at each other. None of them had money! Nikki opened her clenched hand and found her quarter.
"Here." She said as she handed Kloppman the quarter, praying he wouldn't look at it closely. He didn't and opened the door wider.
"Right this way, please. I'll have to warn you, usually this is only boys lodging, but you girls look like you need someplace warm to stay." The girls followed him up the stairs; shocked at how Kloppman and the lodging house looked exactly the way they had in the movie. "Wait here." Kloppman opened the door to the bedroom, shutting it behind him. A few seconds later, he opened it. "Come on in." The girls entered the room and were amazed by what they saw. The room and the guys looked exactly the way they did in Newsies. Staring right back at them were Racetrack, Snoddy, Skittery, Snitch, Bumlets, and all of the other newsies. Then they saw Jack Kelly. Alysia almost passed out from shock, but Mary caught her. "Now, I don't want you boys givin' these girls any trouble, ya hear?" Kloppman stared at the boys sternly. "You give 'em these forward bunks. I'll be right down stairs." He warned. They all nodded, too shocked at seeing four girls in their room to say anything. "Good. Well, goodnight." Kloppman patted Nikki on the back, smiled at the girls, and left the room shutting the door behind him. The newsies stared at the girls who stared right back. Jack was the first to respond to the visitors.
"The name's Kelly, Jack Kelly. What's yours?" He asked Alysia, holding out his hand to shake hers. Alysia couldn't take this any longer and fainted, collapsing to the floor. "Whatsamatta wit her?" Jack asked, kneeling next to Alysia. He elevated her head and shook her slightly. "Wake up!" Alysia woke to find Jack Kelly staring at her, so she screamed. Jack screamed back, not used to having people scream at the sight of him. "Alysia, it's okay!" Mary kneeled down and helped Alysia to her feet. "It's just Jack."
"You alright?" Jack asked now concerned. She didn't answer just stared bug-eyed at him.
"My name's Angel." Mary whispered in her ear.
"My name's Angel." Alysia repeated, still in shock. Jack gave her a dazzling smile.
"Nice to meetcha." He turned to the others and asked. "So, do the rest of you have names too?" Each introduced themselves as their Newsie name.
"I'm Vigor." Laura said.
"I'm Sassy." Nikki said.
"And I'm Harmony." Mary said.
"So, what're you doin' out on a night like this? Why aren't ya at home?" Jack asked Sassy. Sassy looked at the girls with wide eyes. What was she supposed to say? That they were from more than one hundred years in the future?
"Um, we're from..." Sassy trailed off.
"Philadelphia." whispered Vigor.
"Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! We came here 'cause . . . um . . . we . . . uh . . . didn't like working there. So we came here." Sassy smiled, praying Jack would buy her story.
"In the middle of the night?" Jack looked at them suspiciously.
"Well, yeah . . ." Sassy looked at her friends for help.
"We left a week ago." Vigor spoke up. "We just got here." Jack looked at them through squinted eyes. "So why'd ya come to da lodgin' house?" Harmony had an idea and replied, "We wanna be newsies!" Jack smiled, looked over the group standing before him, and asked. "You don't know the first thing about bein' a newsie, do ya?"
"Well, um, we're willing to learn!" said Harmony. Thinking of Newsies she added, "We have an idea of what it's like." Jack sighed still smiling and replied. "Well, ok. Tell ya what, you goils take these two bunks here." He said, pointing to the bunks. "Kloppman usually wakes us up in the morning, so be prepared to get up at dawn, 'kay?"
"Dawn! Like before the sunrises?" Sassy exasperatedly whispered to Angel, Vigor, and Harmony. "This is REALLY gonna kill me." The others just nodded and went to the two bunks reserved for them. Jack seemed satisfied with this and decided that it was lights out for the bunkhouse.
"Six in da morning is early? What part of Philadelphia are ya from?" Kid Blink whispered to Vigor. Vigor turned towards him, eyes wide.
"What?" she barely whispered. Kid Blink just gave her a 'you're-up-to- something' look and walked past her heading towards his bunk. Vigor hopped onto the top bunk and relaxed on her back. Kid Blink knew something was up, but what did he know? She closed her eyes and fell asleep, wondering.