Chapter 3
Bunk Buddies
Oliver was a great Newsie. He could sell almost as many papes as Jack and had just as much natural talent. The evening edition's biggest headline that night was "Mayor Plans Reconstruction of Bank," but Oliver twisted it into things like "Bank Torn To Shreds: Mayor Blames Angry Mob" and "Lovenest Cause of Bank's Demise: Mayor Plans Visit." He sold his 60 papes before Mush and Kid had sold even half of theirs.
"And another excellent performance by Oliver Allegretti," Mush said when Oliver had sold his last pape that night. Mush was really starting to like Oliver. They seemed to connect very easily.
Oliver grinned. "Thanks, Mushy." Suddenly the sound of a gong reverberated through the streets. Everyone stopped to count the rings. "Boy it's getting late, we better be getting back," Oliver said after the eighth, and final, ring.
When they finally did get back to the lodging house it was near 8:30. They were the last ones to get there. Everyone had claimed a bunk by this time. Kid jumped on a bunk quickly, smirking widely at Mush.
Mush sighed. "Well, looks like you and me'se gonna hafta share a bunk tonight," he said, pointing to the only open bunk. It was a top one right next to the bathroom door.
Oliver's eyes grew. "But.ain't there any uddas?"
Mush shook his head. "Sorry." He plopped into the bed. "You can lay da opposite way from me, but then we'll just hafta smell each udda's feet all night."
Oliver sighed. "Alright," he said, sitting next to Mush. "Kinda small for two people," he wriggled, pulling the covers around himself tightly.
Mush shrugged. "I don't mind, you'se not such a bad kid. And ya smaller then most of em. Usually I'se the smaller one and I get pushed off and fall on me face."
Oliver looked down to the floor, which suddenly seemed much farther away. "Oh boy."
Bunk Buddies
Oliver was a great Newsie. He could sell almost as many papes as Jack and had just as much natural talent. The evening edition's biggest headline that night was "Mayor Plans Reconstruction of Bank," but Oliver twisted it into things like "Bank Torn To Shreds: Mayor Blames Angry Mob" and "Lovenest Cause of Bank's Demise: Mayor Plans Visit." He sold his 60 papes before Mush and Kid had sold even half of theirs.
"And another excellent performance by Oliver Allegretti," Mush said when Oliver had sold his last pape that night. Mush was really starting to like Oliver. They seemed to connect very easily.
Oliver grinned. "Thanks, Mushy." Suddenly the sound of a gong reverberated through the streets. Everyone stopped to count the rings. "Boy it's getting late, we better be getting back," Oliver said after the eighth, and final, ring.
When they finally did get back to the lodging house it was near 8:30. They were the last ones to get there. Everyone had claimed a bunk by this time. Kid jumped on a bunk quickly, smirking widely at Mush.
Mush sighed. "Well, looks like you and me'se gonna hafta share a bunk tonight," he said, pointing to the only open bunk. It was a top one right next to the bathroom door.
Oliver's eyes grew. "But.ain't there any uddas?"
Mush shook his head. "Sorry." He plopped into the bed. "You can lay da opposite way from me, but then we'll just hafta smell each udda's feet all night."
Oliver sighed. "Alright," he said, sitting next to Mush. "Kinda small for two people," he wriggled, pulling the covers around himself tightly.
Mush shrugged. "I don't mind, you'se not such a bad kid. And ya smaller then most of em. Usually I'se the smaller one and I get pushed off and fall on me face."
Oliver looked down to the floor, which suddenly seemed much farther away. "Oh boy."
