Chapter Three: Hot off the Press

"Elizabeth."

Blink shuts his mouth quickly as Spot puts a protective arm around Blink and gives Jack the name they made up for him. Blink offers a wary smile.

"What a lovely name doll," Jack says smoothly, reaching out and taking Blink's hand in his and kissing the knuckles, "If ya find ya need anything, be sure to ask me."

Blink stammers out a high-pitched thanks and Spot snorts as he tries to hold in his laughter.

"Jack, what say ya an' me go have a talk."

"But-"

Spot takes Blink's hand out of Jack's and hands him over to Mush.

"Trust me, you'll be happy 'bout it."

Mush stares at Spot as he walks away, Jack in tow. He turns, wide-eyed, to Elizabeth and smiles shakily.

"Guess it's just you an me now, ain't it?"

"Guess so."

Swifty frowns, annoyed about being ignored and a little suspicious of Blink's high-pitched falsetto, then walks over to Dutchy. Blink follows him with his eyes and continues.

"So, Mush you said it was? What do you boys do here?"

Jack and Spot enter the room again and hurry over to Swifty and Dutchy. They whisper something to the two and all four begin a tittering laughter. Swifty looks up and winks at Blink. Mush, happy that some attention is being paid to him, perks up and answers eagerly.

"We sell papes, Liz. We're newsies. I'm the best"

Blink winces when Mush says Liz, then smiles at the last part, glad Jack isn't listening.

"You know what Mush," she begins, trailing a finger down Mush's arm. "call me Biffy."

Mush blushes and begins to stammer. Spot walks over and takes Blink's arm.

"Can you guys take care of my friend tonight?"

Mush turns to Jack for confirmation. Just because he annoys them doesn't mean he's not the leader - however. Jack nods and Mush grins.

"I'd love to! But . . . where is she going to sleep? We don't have any empty beds."

"Did I forget to tell ya?"

"Tell me what?"

"Blink got put in the refuge. So, Biffy here can sleep in his bed."

Jack, acting along with the joke, strides over to them.

"What! We can't just leave him there!"

Spot, of course, has already worked this out with Jack and has his answer ready.

"He's not going to be in for long, Jack. He just got in a fight with the Delancy brothers. The bulls caught him and put him up for a week or two. Ya know, so he can learn his lesson."

Jack frowns and stalks away. Mush, worried for Blink, continues to grill Spot.

"Look Mush, I don't know what all's goin on, just that Blink's in the refuge and doesn't want us to worry about getting him out."

"That's odd."

"Just take care of my goil here or I'll have to soak ya, alright?"

"Sure."

_____________

The next morning, the newsies leave to pick up their papes and Blink, unsure of how to continue, stands around. Jack, not wanting to alter Blink's path, drags Mush over to Blink.

"Mush, ya've gotta help Biffy sell papes today. I've got too much ta do today."

Blink smiles coyly.

"That sounds wonderful Jack. I'd love to sell papes with Mush."

Mush, a little shocked, is speechless. Blink takes Mush's arm and smiles up at him in his best imitation of a Mary Sue gaze. Mush goes from looking shocked to scared. Jack, watching this, holds back laughter.

_____________

At the distribution office, Mush hands Blink twenty-five papers and keeps fifty for himself.

"Now, alls ya got to do is scan the headlines and pick out the most interestin'. Then ya spice it up a little an ya've got yer papes sold. With a mug like that, I'm sure ya'll sell more papes than all of us poor guys put together."

Mush, having decided the night before to imitate the basic Mary Sue, smiles up at him and blinks rapidly. He pretends to struggle under the weight of the papers, although they obviously aren't heavy for him. Mush notices and takes them from him.

"Don't worry Biffy. I'll hold yer papes for ya. It'll be easier for ye to sell 'em that way. People always buy papes from the ones only holding one."

He takes Blink's hand with his free one and smiles at him.

"Ya ready to sell some papes?"