Disclaimer: Ok, well there aren't any newsies in this yet. For this chapter I own Joshua, Henry, and their parents, Madison, Caleb, Andrew, Cole, Blake, and Alex are mine. So are their families and any other person I may have mentioned. There will be newsies soon, and then I will tell you that Disney owns them and give a list of reasons for you not to sue me.
Ivy League
Chapter 1
By Hotshot
The six year old clutched his mother's hand in the New York train station. His brown eyes were wide as he took in his surroundings. They'd been in New York for nearly a month, him and his mother. Even after that time the skyscrapers and all those buildings still intrigued him. But then he was only six years old so the entire world seemed bigger to him.
"Joshua," His mother pulled roughly on his arm as she spoke, "Come on the train will be here momentarily." She pulled him along behind her until they reached a platform, and then released his hand to give their tickets to a conductor. As she spoke to the man he fumbled with his jacket and the dressy clothes she made him wear. Suddenly an idea sprang upon him.
Joshua looked at his mother and quickly scurried off to hide behind a trashcan. Hide-and-seek was his favorite game, and as long as he could remember it was all he and his mother ever played. He laughed and moved out of her sight.
"Joshua," she soon realized he was missing, "Damnit Joshua, get out here. We don't have time for this. Young man get out here this instant. Joshua."
He giggled again from his ingenious hiding spot.
"Josh, we don't have time for this." She threw up her hands as the train pulled in and people began boarding. She looked at the conductor, "When's the next train?"
"Not for a few days ma'am." The conductor answered before moving to help an elderly couple get their things onto the train.
Joshua was laughing harder. He was laughing so hard he could barely stand. When he'd gotten control of himself he looked back around the side of the trashcan. His mother wasn't there. Any giggling immediately stopped. His mother wouldn't have left him would she? Suddenly a thwack on the back of his head made him turn around. His mother was very angry and red in the face. He turned on the waterworks, both due to the pain in his head, and to the fact that he was scared.
She shook her head, "I don't want to hear it. It serves you right for sneaking away like that. We almost missed our train." She straightened his jacket. She could barely lean down to pick him up her corset was so tight. She finally succeeded in picking him up and carried him onto the train. She dropped him into the seat across from her and glared into his direction. "What were you thinking running off like that," she snapped.
The young boy barely managed to get an angry answer out to his mother, "I wanted to play."
"You wanted to play," She threw her arms up in the air. "Joshua, there are times when it's ok to play, but not when we're someplace important. You have to grow up; it's not going to be all fun and games, as you get older. Now get some sleep."
He settled into the seat, afraid to even question his angry mother. His stomach grumbled a bit but he ignored it and moved into a more comfortable position. He almost jumped as the train pulled out of the station but refrained himself.
Before I go any farther it may be a good thing to describe this little boy. He was chubby, but all children his age still have some baby fat on them, and he was short. His eyes were big and dark, it was hard to explain, but they were a severely deep brown. His hair was also dark brown. Most members of his family had curly hair, but his was extremely straight, and as it was kept long fell to either side of his head. It also began to curl, as it got longer though. His clothes were almost impeccably kept, the appropriate clothes to show his family's standing in society. Silks and finely tailored suits, even for one so young.
A sudden brake bolted him awake. He looked out the window to find they were back in his home. The scenery was familiar and lacked the cityness of New York. His mother's hand was quickly on his shoulder. "Come along, get up. And this is not a time for games"
He slid to the floor from his seat, and she bent down, quickly trying to straighten his wrinkled clothes. It was a task, seeing as he fidgeted most of the time. She straightened up when she thought he looked presentable and take his hand, "Now don't wander off."
**Ten Years Later**
He was sixteen-and-a-half now. That half was very important in his mind. For most young men it brought them freedom. He'd changed plenty in that time, gained a little control of his life. His hair, instead of the longer look his parents had adored throughout his early childhood was cut reasonably short. It was long enough to stick out to the sides and top a little so, not quite a crew cut, but not long enough to fall into place. The best part was that it drove his mother insane.
He was much taller now, as one normally does quite a bit of growing between six and sixteen. Thinner too, though his arms and legs were more muscular. He played baseball with several friends, and a European sport that was introduced by a foreign diplomat's son. He was far more physically active than most.
His mother hated it. She loathed the fact that he was more interested in sports, or anything else for that matter, more than his studies. His father was a governor for God's sake. He was going to be going to one of the finest schools in the country as soon as possible, and all he cared about was playing baseball with his friends, walking around the city, basically anything but brood over his books for hours every night.
The only thing she could keep control of were the clothes he wore and that was just barely. He was still dressed in the finest suits, silks, and whatever else she though to be in style every night at his parents' dinner parties. School was always the same uniform, and of course he had to be at least presentable at any public appearance. The only problem was he'd ruined so many sets of clothes playing sports that she'd been forced to buy him something less.
He was doing this right at the moment; driving her insane. He sat in the front yard playing catch with his younger brother, a five-year-old. He'd throw the ball as far as he could and Henry would run after it and bring it back. He'd stop about five feet from his brother and try to throw it, but he was too little. It was fine with Josh though; he'd just scoop it up and throw it again.
She stepped out onto the porch as her younger son ran after the ball and called out, "Joshua."
He turned to look at her, "Yes mother." He forced an ounce of affection into his voice.
Even with her age she was still beautiful. His mother's dark hair was streaked with gray and she'd gained weight over the past ten years but could still dress herself so that she looked years younger. Her style was the same as many of the wives of other diplomats. Joshua couldn't help but grin, he was the cause of most of those gray hairs, and proud of it.
"Dinner is in an hour. Bring you brother inside and give him to the nanny. Then get dressed. Come down to your father's office as soon as you're ready."
"Who's house are we going to tonight?" he asked, scooping up the baseball into his mitt. He scoped up his younger brother in the other arm and began to walk toward the stairs.
"The Woods'." She said swiftly, "And Joshua, you had better be in something presentable when you come downstairs tonight."
"Yes ma'am," he nodded, and she quickly disappeared from sight. Henry began to wiggle to be put down. He carefully dropped his younger brother on the first step and took hold of his hand. He released his brother when they reached the main stairway and allowed him to scamper up the stairs. Henry waited at the top however and Joshua brought him down to the third room, where his nanny was waiting.
"Josh, are you gonna come say goodnight when you get home?" Henry asked.
"Of course," Joshua said, "I always do." He knew very well that he wouldn't. Henry would be asleep long before he arrived home, and as long as he said he had the next morning his brother never knew the difference. He ran a hand through his brother's thick curls and turned to leave the room, taking a second to wink at Henry's nanny. She was a lower-class girl who barely looked to be Joshua's age. She immediately blushed and turned to the task of changing the younger boy's dirt-covered clothes.
Joshua walked at a leisurely pace up the stairs and down the hall to his room, tossing the old baseball he'd been throwing around for hours outside. One of the family's many butler's stood outside the door.
"Your mother wishes that I hurry you along. In ten minutes I ought to be entering your room and dragging you downstairs." He said, a bit of a grin on his face.
Joshua grinned back, "Thanks for the warning Roald." He entered his room and closed the door behind him. Tuning on a lamp he found, to his great distaste, a new suit laid out on his bed. He made a face as he looked it over, but at least it was blue this time. He dressed in what had to be record time and was ready before Roald had to knock on the door.
His mother and father were still in the office rather than the front hall when he reached the bottom floor. His mother actually rose from her chair as he entered.
"Joshua, darling you look wonderful," she said, straightening his jacket as she saw fit.
He rolled his eyes. It would be another perfectly scripted night. No matter how often they went out his parents still said the exact same thing to him. His life was full of 'oh, you look wonderfuls' and 'that suit looks brilliants' and god only knows what else. It was really a boring cycle after a while.
"Shall we go then?" his father asked taking his coat from one of the servants, "We don't want to be late."
"Of course not," his wife agreed, taking his arm.
Joshua followed them silently out of the house, and climbed into the carriage behind them. While not quite as prone to nagging and getting on his case about everything Joshua's father was a man who expected his orders to be followed and everyone to know exactly what to do. He expected Joshua to always know what he was thinking and act wisely, which more often than not was not the case.
Their father was the first out of the carriage when they arrived, and moved to speak with the valet. This left Joshua and his mother sitting alone. As it was polite to let a lady out first Joshua was forced to sit, and not leave. He knew exactly what was coming and yet could not do anything to stop it.
"I don't want you getting into any trouble tonight, Joshua," she started after a moment's silence had passed between them. "I know that last time that Black boy had some alcohol, and you have caused trouble on several other occasions." She continued as he let out an annoyed sigh. "I know that you do not care Joshua, but I will not let you disgrace our family's good name, or your own reputation. Your behavior is barely what I expect from lower class children often enough, but I expect you to start shaping up. In less than two years you will be at one of the finest law schools in the country, an Ivy League college, just like your father, hopefully Harvard. You will need to impress them if you want to be successful, and that means shelving your childish behavior, are you listening to me?"
"Yes ma'am, shelving my childish behavior." He responded automatically.
"Good, and if you disgrace me tonight boy, so help me…" she trailed off giving him that warning look that only a mother can give her children. She then turned quickly and accepted her husband's hand to help her out of the carriage. Joshua climbed out after her and followed his parents up the front walk.
A servant at the door took their coats and they started down the hall to the room where the guests were congregating. Before entering Anita turned to face her son again. She straightened his collar a final time and looked him straight in the eye. "What time-"
Joshua cut her off quickly and with a devilish grin, "It is not a time for games."
"Very good," she said, not quite believing him.
They entered the room, which was already filled with people, the high class in New Hampshire government. The onslaught of greetings was almost instantaneous. Other noticed his parents and began to call out greetings and come over. Mrs. Black was quick to point out how wonderful he looked in his new suit. She was what his mother referred to as new money, and someone to be avoided. She was also significantly younger than most of the other women there, which was enough reason for Joshua to ignore his mother's wishes for a short period of time when he saw her. He did, however, quickly excuse himself from the group of mingling adults.
"Josh," a voice came from across the room, followed quickly by several others.
"Hey, Wainrib!"
"Joshua."
"Hey, rich boy."
With a grin he strolled casually over to his friends who had picked a usual corner table to seek refuge in for the evening. Five boys, close to his age if not older, and a girl their age were seated around one of the several circular tables that littered the room. He collapsed happily into the last seat.
"My mother will shoot you if she hears you call me Josh, Woods," he warned with a quick look at his friend.
"You can't honestly tell me you prefer Joshua?" Caleb glanced at him with a knowing look on his face, "Besides it's not like she even knows you're gone."
Other than Caleb, around the table sat Andrew Brown, Blake O'Handley, Alexander Dark, and Cole Modermo. They were the sons of the most powerful men in New Hampshire, and probably the rest of New England as well.
"So, you're saying she wouldn't be the least bit perturbed about that rich-boy jab," the final member of their group spoke calmly.
Josh crossed his arms and leaned forward to the table looking straight across, "Nah, Madison, with the way she sees your family she'd probably be saying the same thing. Oh, and by the way, you're mother was hitting on me again."
"Wish my parents saw it that way," Madison Black said laughing. She rolled her eyes, "And as for my mother, well, while I don't condone her behavior it is sort of fun watching you squirm." Madison was the only girl that the boys allowed into their 'private' group. Her parents being new money none of their parents exactly wanted their sons to take an interest in her, but she had an attitude that was similar to theirs, having grown up with three older brothers. She fit in with them.
"I'm sure you love it, maybe even want to get in on the action yourself," Josh played along, "I mean, I know you've been trying to catch my attention with those provocative little dresses you wear."
"You think it's fun wearing a corset, Wainrib. Honestly, I dare any of you to try for a night and see how long you last." She shook her head in his general direction; it was typical behavior among them.
"As I was saying," Caleb interjected, "I was just telling the rest of the boys-"
"Ahem."
"And Madison about the weekly dare."
It was their most sacred tradition, from back when the group was small, and they were perhaps only about ten. They'd made a tradition out of a group of children Alex had watched playing 'truth or dare' in the park. Their version however was slightly modified. Every week one of them would come up with a dare. It began as something small like stealing something from someone's handbag, or putting something disgusting in someone's food. As they grew older it became drinking and smoking, or perhaps some type of elaborate gag if Caleb was the one making it up. You didn't have to do it, though most often all of them did, but if you didn't the others would get on your case about it, and if you were the only one who succeeded you had specific bragging rights until you were outdone. Most of these gags and tricks had landed them in trouble on several occasions.
Blake laughed, "Yeah, Josh you gotta hear this one."
"Yeah," Andrew added, "Right old barrel of laughs this one is." He motioned toward Caleb and made the impression that he was off his rocker with a hand gesture.
"Nah," Alex grinned, "It's more like…" he made a motion that signified a person drinking heavily.
"That's enough out of both of you." Caleb said. Him being the basic ringleader of the group they stopped their teasing immediately. "Anyway, as I was saying, this weeks is a bit elaborate."
"Just a bit," Cole muttered.
"Well, I don't really expect anyone to do it. I've heard about a lot of upper class kids down in New York. Any of them with family issues, they just take off."
"Like flying." Cole interjected.
"Caleb either hadn't heard or chose to ignore him. "They just up and leave in the middle of the night. They become newsies or take up some other odd job in the city. They take care of themselves for a few weeks and then go home. By then their parents are just worried sick so of course they don't get punished."
Cole portrayed any of their mothers beautifully, "Oh darling, I'm so glad you're home. You gave me and daddy such a fright."
Caleb leaned behind Madison and hit him soundly upside the head, "Shut up, why don't you. Anyway, you get where I'm going with this."
"Yeah," Josh nodded, "and I agree with Andrew and Alex, you're either off your rocker or drunk. I mean, us, running away and being newsies."
"In New York, it has to be there, I mean, don't you remember telling us about when you went there."
Josh sighed, "I was six Caleb. And besides, how will we accomplish this entire feat in a week. Just think about the cost man, to get a train all the way there and back again. I mean none of us can exactly go ask our parents for that much money without them getting suspicious, and none of our parents are as free as yours with the bank accounts."
Caleb shrugged, "I never said we had to do it, but it was an idea. I mean just think about all the freedom those guys must have. They get up every morning, work whatever hours they want, and spend all their time with friends. Most of them don't even go by their real names from what I head, make up nicknames, so no one can question whom they are. I heard about this hysterical name yesterday, supposedly there's some kid down in New York who goes by Spot."
They all began laughing at this, and as a group began coming up with something they could manage before the party's end. Cole handed Josh the bottle of ale that they were continually passing around the table. He took a swig and then passed it along to Andrew. When it reached Madison and she took a sip he frowned.
"You know it's not ladylike to drink like that," he said.
She looked at him, "and when have you ever known me to act ladylike."
"Point taken."
Cole was the one that came up with the dare for that week; stealing bottles of ale from behind the bar. It wasn't a hard task for any of them, but it was the best anyone could come up with on such short notice.
The daughters of the other wealthy men who were there came over often enough to ask for a dance but were always turned down. It wasn't exactly a great night, and the music wasn't what they would have preferred. This was unusual for a night at the Woods'. Usually things went much better.
Caleb was the first to get fed up with the boredom. "Here, hold this." He handed Josh his cigarette, and stood up.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I," Caleb stated, "am going to ask Emma Waters to dance. She only has eyes for you lately and I need something to do."
Josh shrugged as his friend left and watched him and Emma dance. It wasn't until he realized that his mother's gaze was on him that he noticed he was still holding the cigarette. He quickly smothered it in the ashtray. Oh, he was going to hear it for this later. As she started over he quickly stood and asked Madison to dance with him. Madison looked at him as if he were mad but then realized what he meant and gladly obliged.
The subject of the cigarette, however, did not escape him for long. It was all they talked about on the way back to the house.
"I can't believe you Joshua, what have your father and I told you about smoking? Even if we were to allow you to smoke you're still much to young. And don't think I didn't see the lot of you passing around that bottle. I mean, a little champagne on special occasions is fine, but drinking at a weekly get together, Joshua I thought you knew better."
He couldn't even bet a word in so he let his mother continue her ranting. It was best to just let her get it out of her system quickly.
"And dancing with that Black girl. She's new money, what have we told you about associating with her."
"I asked her to dance mother; not marry me."
"Don't even joke about that. Dancing and talking is where it starts. I know how you teenagers think, and how you act. Before you know it you'd have to marry her and-"
"Mother!" He couldn't believe what she was suggesting. He turned to his father for help. The man just sat there looking amused. At least they were pulling up in front of the house. His mother only continued as they went inside.
"I'm only looking out for your best interests Joshua, really. It isn't good for your image to be seen associating with a girl like that, much less dancing with her…"
If his mother said anything else he didn't hear it. He made his way swiftly up the stairs without her noticing, and ducked into Henry's room. He walked over to his brother's bed and whispered, "Night buddy."
"Mr. Wainrib?" The young nanny was awake behind him, "What are you…"
"It's Josh, Marie, call me Josh."
"I'm sorry," she muttered, "Josh what are you doing in here at this time of night?"
"Avoiding my parents," he turned to look at her, "Marie, what's it like to be… not rich. Caleb was talking about newsies and other working kids down in New York. Is it really like he says, is there more freedom."
She made a sound in the back of her throat that could have resembled a laugh, "Well, think of it as how much you hate being under your parents' rules."
"Yeah…"
"It's like that. I was told I had to take this job when I was fourteen. Most of the kids that work need to work. There's some freedom I guess, but you really can't enjoy it."
He nodded, "Thanks, g'night."
She mumbled a reply as he left.
Once upstairs he undressed and threw on his nightclothes before collapsing into bed. He'd catch hell tomorrow for not paying attention to his mother, but no worse that usual. He expected it. Maybe he could be up and out doing something before she was awake. He heard the clock downstairs chime two and rolled over; maybe not.
A/N: ok, so this story doesn't have the newsies in it yet, but it will I promise. It's just a spur of the moment idea I had and wrote so there may not be quick updates. This guy I'm using is actually a real person, so I would appreciate if none of you used him. I hope you guys like this though, and some reviews wouldn't hurt either.
Forever roaming the rooftops,
~Hotshot~~~
Random plug:
Go read 'How I spent my summer vacation' by Studentnumber24601