Disclaimer: All of the original newsies belong to Disney, and the chapter quotes are from the poem "If---" which belongs to Rudyard Kipling and was copied out of Read-Aloud Poems for Young People. I own Leprechaun, Sweetheart, Sketch, Demon, Refugee, Pepper, Jungle, Trickster, Newsprint, Sparrow, Switchblade, James McLaws, and Benjamin "Bricks" Saunders. Ruby and Ketchy's is an actual diner near Morgantown, West Virginia.
To Jack Kelly's Lady: Thanks for the reviews! I went back and reread my story, and Racetrack does act like a tattle-tale in parts of it. My reasoning for that is that he is really upset about Leprechaun and also has a big mouth, so he shares every little thing that Lep does with the rest of the newsies. I'll try to improve his character in future chapters. Keep reviewing!
"Or watch the things you gave you life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;"
Demon left Leprechaun at the Manhattan Newsgirls Lodging House and hurried back to Brooklyn to tell Spot about the new rumors Racetrack had been spreading.
"He STILL thinks you and Leprechaun are going out," Demon said. "He said you said something about Lep being a good kisser."
"It was a joke!" Spot shouted, then softened his voice as various newsies turned to stare. "When will that stupid scabber get it through his thick skull? There is nothing going on between me and Lep, what I said was just a joke, and Race needs to get over Lep and get a life!" Spot stopped his foot angrily on the lodging house floor to emphasize his words.
"Stop it, Spot," Bricks called from his office. "We already have holes in the roof, we don't need holes in the floor, too."
Spot rolled his eyes, muttering something along the lines of 'yes, mother', and then decided to go to bed. At the end of the hallway farthest from the main bunkroom, Spot noticed a random newsie smoking. "Put the cigarette out," he demanded, "it stinks up the lodge." Then he strolled to his private room and fell into bed, looking forward to a night of peaceful slumber.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. Around 1:00 in the morning, Bricks Saunders rushed up the stairs and pounded on Spot's door. "Fire!" he shouted. "Fire!" Spot, a light sleeper, woke quickly and grabbed his shoes from under his bed. Hurriedly, he put them on and then raced with Bricks to the main bunkroom.
"Everybody out!" Spot shouted. "Get your shoes and nothing else! There's a fire in the lodge!" The newsies began to yank on shoes and run for the stairs. Spot helped one of the youngest newsies put on his shoes, and then handed him to Demon. "Carry him," Spot directed Demon, and Demon, holding the kid in his arms, headed for the stairs.
"I can't find my shoes!" another child screamed in panic. "I'll carry you," Spot said. The newsie couldn't have been more than seven. Spot scooped him up in his arms and dashed for the stairs. The smoke was becoming thick, cutting off Spot's visibility. He prayed he wouldn't trip. Bricks followed behind Spot, holding as many blankets as he could grab from the bunks.
Together, they reached the door of the lodging house and ran into the street. Bricks began a head count. "Everyone got out," he said, relief spreading across his face.
A fire truck came clanging past, and the firemen hurried to unroll their hoses. One came to talk to Bricks. "We can't save your building," he said, "the fire's grown too large already. We're just going to try to stop the fire from spreading to the buildings around it."
Bricks nodded. "That's all right. We'll find somewhere to stay for the night."
"As in the streets?" Spot whispered once the fireman had left.
"That's what it looks like," Bricks replied.
"What if we tell the kids that it's a camp-out?" Spot suggested. "I've heard of rich people doing it---packing up their stuff and sleeping outside. Why couldn't we?"
Bricks nodded. "That's not a bad idea," he admitted. "Okay, everyone listen up. The firemen can't save the lodging house---it's too far-gone already. But everyone's here and everyone's safe. I managed to grab a few blankets from the lodging house, and since it's summer anyway, we're just going to sleep outside for the night. It's called camping."
Spot called the older newsies to him. "Watch out for the little kids," he said. "The streets aren't safe, especially at night." Together, the newsies and Bricks walked for a few blocks until they found a small, little-used park. They spread out their blankets and prepared to spend the rest of the night there.
News spread rapidly across New York City. Early the next morning, Jack and Pepper traveled to Brooklyn bringing Kid Blink, Mush, David, and Switchblade along to help. Spot arose to greet them. "So Race didn't want to come?" he asked, pretending to be surprised.
"Sorry about him, Spot," Jack apologized. "He's either really messed up or still really in love with Lep."
"Or maybe both," Switchblade suggested. "I don't know what's eating him. He barely even talks to me anymore."
"Anyway," Pepper began, smoothly changing the subject, "we brought plenty of food with us, plus some news from the other boroughs. Queens, Midtown, and Harlem all have some space left in their lodging houses, and we have room for six of you in the girls' lodge."
"Thanks," Spot said gratefully. "We're used to eating breakfast at the lodging house, but since it burned down..."
"Breakfast, coming right up," David said, holding up a basket full of rolls. "Fresh from the Sisters of St. Francis's."
"Great," Spot said. "Just pass them out. Make sure the little kids get plenty to eat." David and Mush moved into the crowd of newsies, handing out food. "I think I'll have most of the newsies buy papes in Brooklyn and sell here, then walk to the other boroughs. A few of us, though, can go back to Manhattan and buy there."
"I'm assuming you're coming, Spot," Jack said. "Who else?"
"Uh...Demon, Jungle, Trickster, Newsprint, and Refugee," Spot decided.
"All right," Jack agreed. "We'll leave as soon as the food's handed out."
That night, the six Brooklyn newsies found bunks in the Manhattan Newsgirls Lodging House. Spot just "happened" to claim the one underneath Pepper.
"Usually I leave my stuff on that bunk," Pepper said, "but you can have it for tonight."
"Thanks," Spot said.
"Oh, and all you Brooklyn people will have to get up extra early if you want a shower," Pepper said, "before the girls need to use the washroom." The six Brooklynites groaned. "It's either that or no shower at all," Pepper pointed out.
"I might be able to live without a shower," Trickster mumbled.
"Oh no you won't," Pepper said. "I am NOT having any smelly newsies in my lodging house."
Spot laughed. "Go to sleep, Tricks," he said. "Looks like you'll be getting up EARLY tomorrow morning."
A/N: The story's half over, folks---only eight more chapters after this. Now, please hit that adorable purple button and review!
To Jack Kelly's Lady: Thanks for the reviews! I went back and reread my story, and Racetrack does act like a tattle-tale in parts of it. My reasoning for that is that he is really upset about Leprechaun and also has a big mouth, so he shares every little thing that Lep does with the rest of the newsies. I'll try to improve his character in future chapters. Keep reviewing!
"Or watch the things you gave you life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;"
Demon left Leprechaun at the Manhattan Newsgirls Lodging House and hurried back to Brooklyn to tell Spot about the new rumors Racetrack had been spreading.
"He STILL thinks you and Leprechaun are going out," Demon said. "He said you said something about Lep being a good kisser."
"It was a joke!" Spot shouted, then softened his voice as various newsies turned to stare. "When will that stupid scabber get it through his thick skull? There is nothing going on between me and Lep, what I said was just a joke, and Race needs to get over Lep and get a life!" Spot stopped his foot angrily on the lodging house floor to emphasize his words.
"Stop it, Spot," Bricks called from his office. "We already have holes in the roof, we don't need holes in the floor, too."
Spot rolled his eyes, muttering something along the lines of 'yes, mother', and then decided to go to bed. At the end of the hallway farthest from the main bunkroom, Spot noticed a random newsie smoking. "Put the cigarette out," he demanded, "it stinks up the lodge." Then he strolled to his private room and fell into bed, looking forward to a night of peaceful slumber.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. Around 1:00 in the morning, Bricks Saunders rushed up the stairs and pounded on Spot's door. "Fire!" he shouted. "Fire!" Spot, a light sleeper, woke quickly and grabbed his shoes from under his bed. Hurriedly, he put them on and then raced with Bricks to the main bunkroom.
"Everybody out!" Spot shouted. "Get your shoes and nothing else! There's a fire in the lodge!" The newsies began to yank on shoes and run for the stairs. Spot helped one of the youngest newsies put on his shoes, and then handed him to Demon. "Carry him," Spot directed Demon, and Demon, holding the kid in his arms, headed for the stairs.
"I can't find my shoes!" another child screamed in panic. "I'll carry you," Spot said. The newsie couldn't have been more than seven. Spot scooped him up in his arms and dashed for the stairs. The smoke was becoming thick, cutting off Spot's visibility. He prayed he wouldn't trip. Bricks followed behind Spot, holding as many blankets as he could grab from the bunks.
Together, they reached the door of the lodging house and ran into the street. Bricks began a head count. "Everyone got out," he said, relief spreading across his face.
A fire truck came clanging past, and the firemen hurried to unroll their hoses. One came to talk to Bricks. "We can't save your building," he said, "the fire's grown too large already. We're just going to try to stop the fire from spreading to the buildings around it."
Bricks nodded. "That's all right. We'll find somewhere to stay for the night."
"As in the streets?" Spot whispered once the fireman had left.
"That's what it looks like," Bricks replied.
"What if we tell the kids that it's a camp-out?" Spot suggested. "I've heard of rich people doing it---packing up their stuff and sleeping outside. Why couldn't we?"
Bricks nodded. "That's not a bad idea," he admitted. "Okay, everyone listen up. The firemen can't save the lodging house---it's too far-gone already. But everyone's here and everyone's safe. I managed to grab a few blankets from the lodging house, and since it's summer anyway, we're just going to sleep outside for the night. It's called camping."
Spot called the older newsies to him. "Watch out for the little kids," he said. "The streets aren't safe, especially at night." Together, the newsies and Bricks walked for a few blocks until they found a small, little-used park. They spread out their blankets and prepared to spend the rest of the night there.
News spread rapidly across New York City. Early the next morning, Jack and Pepper traveled to Brooklyn bringing Kid Blink, Mush, David, and Switchblade along to help. Spot arose to greet them. "So Race didn't want to come?" he asked, pretending to be surprised.
"Sorry about him, Spot," Jack apologized. "He's either really messed up or still really in love with Lep."
"Or maybe both," Switchblade suggested. "I don't know what's eating him. He barely even talks to me anymore."
"Anyway," Pepper began, smoothly changing the subject, "we brought plenty of food with us, plus some news from the other boroughs. Queens, Midtown, and Harlem all have some space left in their lodging houses, and we have room for six of you in the girls' lodge."
"Thanks," Spot said gratefully. "We're used to eating breakfast at the lodging house, but since it burned down..."
"Breakfast, coming right up," David said, holding up a basket full of rolls. "Fresh from the Sisters of St. Francis's."
"Great," Spot said. "Just pass them out. Make sure the little kids get plenty to eat." David and Mush moved into the crowd of newsies, handing out food. "I think I'll have most of the newsies buy papes in Brooklyn and sell here, then walk to the other boroughs. A few of us, though, can go back to Manhattan and buy there."
"I'm assuming you're coming, Spot," Jack said. "Who else?"
"Uh...Demon, Jungle, Trickster, Newsprint, and Refugee," Spot decided.
"All right," Jack agreed. "We'll leave as soon as the food's handed out."
That night, the six Brooklyn newsies found bunks in the Manhattan Newsgirls Lodging House. Spot just "happened" to claim the one underneath Pepper.
"Usually I leave my stuff on that bunk," Pepper said, "but you can have it for tonight."
"Thanks," Spot said.
"Oh, and all you Brooklyn people will have to get up extra early if you want a shower," Pepper said, "before the girls need to use the washroom." The six Brooklynites groaned. "It's either that or no shower at all," Pepper pointed out.
"I might be able to live without a shower," Trickster mumbled.
"Oh no you won't," Pepper said. "I am NOT having any smelly newsies in my lodging house."
Spot laughed. "Go to sleep, Tricks," he said. "Looks like you'll be getting up EARLY tomorrow morning."
A/N: The story's half over, folks---only eight more chapters after this. Now, please hit that adorable purple button and review!