Chapter 3: Mush and Nickel
By Aguachica
A/N: This chapter is longer, I promise!
~~~
John woke up as the sun was rising. He wondered why he had woken up this time. He didn't have to wonder for long.
"Wake up! Wake up! Sell the papes!" An old man, Kloppman, John presumed, was pacing through the room shouting and trying to wake up random Newsies.
Above him, Blink and Mush woke slowly, still grasping the blanket. Neither one of them seemed willing to let go, even though they were both awake and had no need for it.
Blink, who had dark lines around his eyes, whispered hoarsely, "Mine" and rolled over. Mush pushed him off the bunk.
There was a thunk, and Blink leapt up, yelling at Mush. Mush, recognizing this as a sign Blink was getting irritable, practically flew off the bunk and scampered for the washroom. Blink was right behind him. There was a splash, followed by a yelp, probably from Mush.
Mush walked back into the bunkroom, soaking wet, with Blink. They were now both laughing hysterically, no sign of any annoyance or anger.
John glanced over at Race, the only other newsie he really knew. "Is it this crazy every morning?"
Race nodded solemnly. "Every single one. Those two are best friends; can't go five seconds apart. They's always fighten' about somethin' every morning. It wakes them up. Blink really isn't a mornin' person."
The boys quickly dressed, a scene which the author will skip over as she doesn't want to faint and be found, days later, with a permanent keyboard pattern on her forehead. That would be very embarrassing to explain. I can see it now.
Friend: Hey, what happened to your forehead?
Me: I fainted while writing a scene about guys getting dressed.
Friend: You're weird.
Anyways, back to the story. To make it short, they dressed, and they made it into the washroom to partake in safe activities like shaving without the author having a heart attack.
John was content to listen to the singing that echoed through the washroom. The newsies here were very upbeat in the morning, and were very good singers. All in all, it was a very pleasurable experience.
He joined the rush as the newsies tumbled out of the Lodging House. He caught up to Mush and Blink, who were play fighting. Every time he saw those two, he was reminded of two overgrown Labrador Retriever puppies. Despite their hard life, they were incredibly optimistic and hyper.
"Hey, Blink?" Blink stopped instantly and both boys crowded to him to hear what he was going to say. John saw Jack watching them out of the corner of his eye. A little light clicked in his brain. Jack probably got to show most of the newcomers around, and this time the job had fallen to Blink and, with Blink, Mush. The two were obviously proud and excited about their special job and took it very seriously.
Blink interrupted him. "Oh, I thinks I knows what you'se thinkin'" You'se hungry, ain't you? Let's see. You never had food yesterday 'cause you spent it all on a train ticket, right?"
John nodded, relieved that he hadn't had to ask such an embarrassing question. Suppose they didn't usually eat breakfast and they ended up having to go out of their way to find him food? He didn't want to cause any trouble for his new friends, but he hadn't eaten since he got on the train, which had been about two days ago.
"Two days, actually."
Mush's eyes widened. "Wow, you must be starving! We'se almost there, though."
"Where are we going?"
Blink waved his hand down the street. "The nuns always come and bring us bread and coffee in the morning. We all get shares, so Mush and I can chip in a little of our share. Sellin' has been real good, so we'se been eatin' every day, so we'se good."
John felt another pang of guilt. These boys had so little to begin with, now they were offering to share with him. "No, you really don't have to."
Blink shook his head firmly. "We insist." Mush nodded, smiling encouragingly.
When the nuns distributed the food, John took the extra bits of bread that Mush and Blink handed him. He had tried to refuse, but the two newsies wouldn't let him. Eventually, John had just given up and taken the food gratefully.
Mush and Blink led him to the Distribution Office. This, Blink explained, was where the papers were sold to the newsies. John bought twenty papers, for ten cents, while Mush and Blink each bought thirty.
"Me and Mush usually sell together. Two newsies always have a better chance of winning a fight than one, we says. So you can tag along and see how to sell papes." Blink said. John agreed.
Mush and Blink took out a paper and began reading it, pointing out headlines to each other. John, curious, took a paper and began reading the headlines. When he did, he almost wished he hadn't.
"'Mayor Kicked by Runaway Horse'? Who writes this junk? How are we supposed to sell this?" John screeched, causing both Mush and Blink to jump and stare at him for a few minutes, than break into laughter.
Blink grabbed one of his papers and stood. "The fist thing you've gotta learn is that headlines don't sell papes; newsies sell papes. Watch and learn." Blink faced a cluster of people walking down the street. "Mayor injured by vicious animal! Wounds may be fatal!" He yelled.
John watched as five people bought papers and than Mush and Blink both grabbed John's arms and marched him to a different street. "Where are we going?"
Mush laughed softly. "Away. We don't want to be there when they can't find that story. That's how we sell; by improvin' the headlines. No one would buy a pape if they heard headlines like that."
Mush clapped Blink on the shoulder and they both looked at John expectantly. "What?" John asked, confused.
"Your turn!" said Blink.
Gulping, John raised one of his papers and spoke loudly. "Mayor attacked by crazy horse! Death feared!"
Mush leaned forward. "They can't hear you! Yell!"
John tried again. This time, aided by pokes from Mush and Blink, he yelled loud enough to get quite a few customers.
The first customer was a middle-aged gentleman. "The mayor might die?" He gasped, "This is horrible. I'll buy a paper."
John handed him a paper. The man pulled out some change and handed John a nickel. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't have change."
"Keep it." The man replied.
Mush's eyes widened. So did Blink's eye. "Wow" said Mush, his eyes shining in happiness. John liked this about Mush; he was a very positive person. "I've never seen a Newsie get that much of a tip selling his first pape. Great job, Nickel!"
John grinned at Mush before turning back to the small crowd of people around him. Nickel would be a very good name. It would certainly be a nice reminder of selling his first paper.
~~~
THE MUSES SPEAK:
Mush!muse: OMG! Nickel is SUCH a cute name! I can't believe that I though of that! It's perfect! *goes back to playing with Cookie the Kitty*
Aguachica: Mush has taken over Cookie completely. That cat follows him EVERYWHERE! And he loves it!
Blink!muse: I feel neglected. . .
Mush!muse: Don't worry, Blink. Cookie likes you second best!
Blink!muse: Joy.
SHOUT OUTS!
TO ROADTRIP:
Race!muse: YAY! *smuggles cigars past Aguachica* I love you, Roadtrip! I knew we were meant for each other!
John!muse: NOOO! *tries to hide, but isn't very good at it because-* ACHOOO!
Mush!muse: *cuddles Cookie the Kitty* Yay! I luffle Cookie very much! Thank you!
Aguachica: Yay! Movies! *takes movies and starts watching them. Muses look at her in disgust.*
Aguachica: What?
John!muse: *comes out from hiding* You're watching a chick flick?
Aguachica: Why not? I'm a chick, and I like flicks.
John!muse: *flicks Aguachica's ear*
Aguachica: *bites John's finger*
John!muse: Ow!
TO INQUISITIVE INK:
John!muse: dizziness. . .
Aguachica: *uses shampoo* There that should take care of the lollypop, chewing gum, chocolate, and rubber cement that my darling John!muse has put in my hair. . .
John!muse: *runs*
Aguachica: I like the Blink and Mush war too. That is one of my favorite parts.
TO NAETH:
Aguachica: *shudders* May my story never sink to May Sue level.
Blink!muse: There isn't any romance at all in it.
Aguachica: Then it can't become a Mary Sue, can it?
Blink!muse: True.
TO PIXIE-GAV24601:
Aguachica: I'm glad you like it. Don't worry; you'll have plenty of name choices. One will be really good. Even I have my favorite, like-
Blink!muse: Don't tell! You'll ruin the story!
Aguachica: Oops. Sorry. You'll find out, though!
TO PIXIEDUST5:
Aguachica: I'll see you on the message board at _navet_'s Newsie Neopets guild that everyone should visit. It's called "Carryin' the Banner".
By Aguachica
A/N: This chapter is longer, I promise!
~~~
John woke up as the sun was rising. He wondered why he had woken up this time. He didn't have to wonder for long.
"Wake up! Wake up! Sell the papes!" An old man, Kloppman, John presumed, was pacing through the room shouting and trying to wake up random Newsies.
Above him, Blink and Mush woke slowly, still grasping the blanket. Neither one of them seemed willing to let go, even though they were both awake and had no need for it.
Blink, who had dark lines around his eyes, whispered hoarsely, "Mine" and rolled over. Mush pushed him off the bunk.
There was a thunk, and Blink leapt up, yelling at Mush. Mush, recognizing this as a sign Blink was getting irritable, practically flew off the bunk and scampered for the washroom. Blink was right behind him. There was a splash, followed by a yelp, probably from Mush.
Mush walked back into the bunkroom, soaking wet, with Blink. They were now both laughing hysterically, no sign of any annoyance or anger.
John glanced over at Race, the only other newsie he really knew. "Is it this crazy every morning?"
Race nodded solemnly. "Every single one. Those two are best friends; can't go five seconds apart. They's always fighten' about somethin' every morning. It wakes them up. Blink really isn't a mornin' person."
The boys quickly dressed, a scene which the author will skip over as she doesn't want to faint and be found, days later, with a permanent keyboard pattern on her forehead. That would be very embarrassing to explain. I can see it now.
Friend: Hey, what happened to your forehead?
Me: I fainted while writing a scene about guys getting dressed.
Friend: You're weird.
Anyways, back to the story. To make it short, they dressed, and they made it into the washroom to partake in safe activities like shaving without the author having a heart attack.
John was content to listen to the singing that echoed through the washroom. The newsies here were very upbeat in the morning, and were very good singers. All in all, it was a very pleasurable experience.
He joined the rush as the newsies tumbled out of the Lodging House. He caught up to Mush and Blink, who were play fighting. Every time he saw those two, he was reminded of two overgrown Labrador Retriever puppies. Despite their hard life, they were incredibly optimistic and hyper.
"Hey, Blink?" Blink stopped instantly and both boys crowded to him to hear what he was going to say. John saw Jack watching them out of the corner of his eye. A little light clicked in his brain. Jack probably got to show most of the newcomers around, and this time the job had fallen to Blink and, with Blink, Mush. The two were obviously proud and excited about their special job and took it very seriously.
Blink interrupted him. "Oh, I thinks I knows what you'se thinkin'" You'se hungry, ain't you? Let's see. You never had food yesterday 'cause you spent it all on a train ticket, right?"
John nodded, relieved that he hadn't had to ask such an embarrassing question. Suppose they didn't usually eat breakfast and they ended up having to go out of their way to find him food? He didn't want to cause any trouble for his new friends, but he hadn't eaten since he got on the train, which had been about two days ago.
"Two days, actually."
Mush's eyes widened. "Wow, you must be starving! We'se almost there, though."
"Where are we going?"
Blink waved his hand down the street. "The nuns always come and bring us bread and coffee in the morning. We all get shares, so Mush and I can chip in a little of our share. Sellin' has been real good, so we'se been eatin' every day, so we'se good."
John felt another pang of guilt. These boys had so little to begin with, now they were offering to share with him. "No, you really don't have to."
Blink shook his head firmly. "We insist." Mush nodded, smiling encouragingly.
When the nuns distributed the food, John took the extra bits of bread that Mush and Blink handed him. He had tried to refuse, but the two newsies wouldn't let him. Eventually, John had just given up and taken the food gratefully.
Mush and Blink led him to the Distribution Office. This, Blink explained, was where the papers were sold to the newsies. John bought twenty papers, for ten cents, while Mush and Blink each bought thirty.
"Me and Mush usually sell together. Two newsies always have a better chance of winning a fight than one, we says. So you can tag along and see how to sell papes." Blink said. John agreed.
Mush and Blink took out a paper and began reading it, pointing out headlines to each other. John, curious, took a paper and began reading the headlines. When he did, he almost wished he hadn't.
"'Mayor Kicked by Runaway Horse'? Who writes this junk? How are we supposed to sell this?" John screeched, causing both Mush and Blink to jump and stare at him for a few minutes, than break into laughter.
Blink grabbed one of his papers and stood. "The fist thing you've gotta learn is that headlines don't sell papes; newsies sell papes. Watch and learn." Blink faced a cluster of people walking down the street. "Mayor injured by vicious animal! Wounds may be fatal!" He yelled.
John watched as five people bought papers and than Mush and Blink both grabbed John's arms and marched him to a different street. "Where are we going?"
Mush laughed softly. "Away. We don't want to be there when they can't find that story. That's how we sell; by improvin' the headlines. No one would buy a pape if they heard headlines like that."
Mush clapped Blink on the shoulder and they both looked at John expectantly. "What?" John asked, confused.
"Your turn!" said Blink.
Gulping, John raised one of his papers and spoke loudly. "Mayor attacked by crazy horse! Death feared!"
Mush leaned forward. "They can't hear you! Yell!"
John tried again. This time, aided by pokes from Mush and Blink, he yelled loud enough to get quite a few customers.
The first customer was a middle-aged gentleman. "The mayor might die?" He gasped, "This is horrible. I'll buy a paper."
John handed him a paper. The man pulled out some change and handed John a nickel. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't have change."
"Keep it." The man replied.
Mush's eyes widened. So did Blink's eye. "Wow" said Mush, his eyes shining in happiness. John liked this about Mush; he was a very positive person. "I've never seen a Newsie get that much of a tip selling his first pape. Great job, Nickel!"
John grinned at Mush before turning back to the small crowd of people around him. Nickel would be a very good name. It would certainly be a nice reminder of selling his first paper.
~~~
THE MUSES SPEAK:
Mush!muse: OMG! Nickel is SUCH a cute name! I can't believe that I though of that! It's perfect! *goes back to playing with Cookie the Kitty*
Aguachica: Mush has taken over Cookie completely. That cat follows him EVERYWHERE! And he loves it!
Blink!muse: I feel neglected. . .
Mush!muse: Don't worry, Blink. Cookie likes you second best!
Blink!muse: Joy.
SHOUT OUTS!
TO ROADTRIP:
Race!muse: YAY! *smuggles cigars past Aguachica* I love you, Roadtrip! I knew we were meant for each other!
John!muse: NOOO! *tries to hide, but isn't very good at it because-* ACHOOO!
Mush!muse: *cuddles Cookie the Kitty* Yay! I luffle Cookie very much! Thank you!
Aguachica: Yay! Movies! *takes movies and starts watching them. Muses look at her in disgust.*
Aguachica: What?
John!muse: *comes out from hiding* You're watching a chick flick?
Aguachica: Why not? I'm a chick, and I like flicks.
John!muse: *flicks Aguachica's ear*
Aguachica: *bites John's finger*
John!muse: Ow!
TO INQUISITIVE INK:
John!muse: dizziness. . .
Aguachica: *uses shampoo* There that should take care of the lollypop, chewing gum, chocolate, and rubber cement that my darling John!muse has put in my hair. . .
John!muse: *runs*
Aguachica: I like the Blink and Mush war too. That is one of my favorite parts.
TO NAETH:
Aguachica: *shudders* May my story never sink to May Sue level.
Blink!muse: There isn't any romance at all in it.
Aguachica: Then it can't become a Mary Sue, can it?
Blink!muse: True.
TO PIXIE-GAV24601:
Aguachica: I'm glad you like it. Don't worry; you'll have plenty of name choices. One will be really good. Even I have my favorite, like-
Blink!muse: Don't tell! You'll ruin the story!
Aguachica: Oops. Sorry. You'll find out, though!
TO PIXIEDUST5:
Aguachica: I'll see you on the message board at _navet_'s Newsie Neopets guild that everyone should visit. It's called "Carryin' the Banner".