Chapter IV Written By Bubblegum
Kloppman climbed the stairs to the bunkroom where Race and Specs had told him the girl was. As he approached her, he noticed she as shaking and her eyes were slipping out of focus. He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bunk.
"Hi. I'sh Kloppman. I own thish place. Yer friendsh told me dey found ya in a shtreet an' I told 'em I would take care o' ya until dey got back from shellin"
He smiled a grandfatherly smile, which helped Reverie relax. He made her feel better, like she was with family. She struggled to sit up again.
"Well I's Reverie an' I really appreciate you's helping out" she said, trying to be polite.
Kloppman nodded and asked: "D'ya need anything? I don't got anything ta make yer head feel bettah all da way but I'sh got some ice if ya want it.." Reverie nodded and Kloppman went to get the ice. She put it against her forehead and felt instantly relieved. Kloppman stood, watching her.
"Well I'sh gotta go woik on shome papah-work foah da Lodging House, but if you'sh need anything, you'sh can tell me"
Reverie nodded, eternally grateful, as he left. As she lay there, she wondered where the others were. Had they forgotten about her? Or did they just not know where she was? She moaned quietly and lay back, falling asleep.
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Punky walked quickly after Hades.
"He didn't mean you's had funny eyes! I bet he liked 'em!" She felt bad about hurting her friend's feelings and making Hades think Mush didn't like her. Hades turned around
"Really?" she asked, getting excited. Punky nodded.
"I betcha he did! Dat's probably what he was sayin ta Blink!"
Hades grinned. "C'mon lets go sell some papes." Punky laughed and agreed as they started walking down towards the Harbor.
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As they walked across the Brooklyn bridge, Sneaks looked around and took in everything carefully. The view was amazing and she walked in silence as she, Sling, and Graft crossed. Looking across to the other side of the bridge, Sneaks noticed a pale figure with long dark hair, strongly resembling Luna. Sneaks mouth dropped, realizing who it was and she walked on the other side of Graft. Graft looked across the street, trying to figure out what was bothering Sneaks. He turned to her.
"Isn't dat da goil I was askin about?" Sneaks nodded.
"Yup. Dat's Luna. Da one an' only." Graft looked at her for a moment as she walked. Suddenly Luna looked up and saw Sneaks and Graft with a girl she hadn't seen before. Luna crossed over to them. She looked at the three of them for a moment before speaking.
"Why didn't ya tell me where you's was going, Sneaks?" she demanded.
"I's told Dodge ta tell ya I thought dat was enough." Sneaks quickly replied. Luna glared at her for a moment before introducing herself to Graft. Graft nodded slightly, and then introduced himself. Sneaks spoke up. "Luna, dis is Sling. She's been stayin in Brooklyn, so she's comin ta Manhattan wit me an' Graft." Luna nodded and then turned to leave.
"Well. Its been nice meetin ya but I got business in Brooklyn so I's bettah be goin." Luna turned and left as Sling, Sneaks, and Graft watched her walk away
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Preacher headed towards Manhattan trying to shake his mind of the rude girl he had just encountered. He had tried to be nice, and tried to be friendly, something he had learned from years of experience on the streets, but it didn't seem to work with that girl.
He kicked a stick that was lying in the street and gazed around. The sun was growing higher in the sky, so he started to walk faster.
" Hi-ya Preach!" he looked over to see Kid-Blink and Mush walked by.
" Hi," Preacher greeted them back.
" What brings ya ta Manhattan?" Blink asked pausing to talk to Preacher.
" I um.thought I'd say hi ta Gibby over at da newsgirl's lodging house." Preach answered looking around.
" Oh, tell her hi foah us. I's hear she got some new goils," Mush winked.
" I'll do that," Preacher nodded.
" Ya should come ta da lodging house ta night, Preach. We's haven't seen ya 'round Manhattan in a long time." Blink invited him.
" Dat's usually a good thing, dare Blink." Mush whispered to the one-eyed boy.
" Well, I should be on my way, boys. I'll stop by and stay da night." Preach smiled at them as they nodded and headed off in their own ways. Preach continued on his way towards Gibby's when he stopped a few yards away, seeing a girls helping another girl up.
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I's swear, I's getting sick o' jerks," Windy sighed as Floaty and Bubblegum helped her up. She dusted herself off and looked around.
" Are you okay?" Preach asked striding over to them at a fast pace.
" Oh, I's fine. Just a jerk dat knocked me down foah da fight," Windy nudged over at the man that was holding a flask of whiskey. "D'anks dough," she replied turning back to her friends.
" You's should be more careful when ya sell, Windy." Bubblegum shook her head.
" I's tried! Ya'd think I's was Klutz o' something." Windy shook her head with a laugh.
" Nah, Klutz just falls ovah things, o' nuttin at all." Floaty giggled. She looked over and noticed that Preacher was still standing there. "She's fine," she tried to reassure the boy.
" Oh, sorry," Preacher blushed and started to walk away.
" D'anks dough!" Windy called back at him as he walked off.
" Dat guy was weird," Bubblegum mentioned, looking at her two friends.
Floaty thought for a second, "He wasn't anywhere in da movie. Not even a nameless newsie or anything. I wonder who he is"
"He spoke like David," Windy said thoughtfully. The other two nodded.
" Come on, dese papes ain't gonna sell dem selfs!" Floaty called as they walked off hawking the headlines again.
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When Preacher finally got the Gibby's Lodging House he let out a sigh of relief. He headed towards the door when he heard a familiar voice from behind him.
" What ya doing here, boy?" He spun around to see Kloppman staring at him square in the face. "Dare ain't no one shick here ish dare?" he asked, Preacher knowing he was referring to Gibby.
" No, sir. I was just going in ta pay Gibby a visit, dat's all." Preach said.
" Well, befoah ya do, would ya mind helping me wit a shick goil I'sh got back at da Lodging Houshe?"
" Sure," Preacher shrugged, turning away from Gibby's and heading with Kloppman back to the boys Lodging House.
" I'sh wash gonna get Gibby, but I'sh figure ya could help betta."
" Just know, I ain't as good as me brother." Preacher tried to tell him.
" I'sh have faith in ya boy. You'sh good wit dish shtuff." Kloppman said nodding. Preacher smiled to himself as they continued to head off to the Lodging House.
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"So Graft." Sneaks began as they walked across the bridge. "What kinda business do ya got wit Jack?" she asked curiously
Graft turned to look at her, scowling. "Dat aint none of yer business, now is it?"
Sneaks shook her head and walked in silence for a while before Sling whispered to Sneaks, "So.how many uttah goils are der? Are der lots or just a few?"
"Der's at least 30 or so. Not a lot compared ta all da membahs, but still quite a few fer da Lodging House."
Sneaks whispered back, aware that Graft was eyeing them suspiciously. Sling nodded, understandingly.
"So how come I's da only one who ended up in Brooklyn?" She asked even quieter than before. Sneaks just shrugged, shook her head, and walked on, not understanding it anymore that Sling did.
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Punky and Hades walked along, trying to figure out where to sell their papes. As they walked down the street, Hades suddenly felt a tap on the shoulder and the two of them spun around. Punky's mouth fell open as her eyes fell upon Dutchy. He grinned at the two of them and stuck out his hand.
"I's Dutchy. I jus' figured I would intraduce myself ta you's since you're new an' all." Punky stared at him in shock and awe as Hades spoke up.
"Well I's Hades an' dis is Punky," she said, kicking Punky lightly to get her to close her mouth. Punky finally got herself together.
"Yea, its uh.. nice ta meet ya." Dutchy chuckled and indicated his papes as he spoke. "Well. Mush ditched me fer Blink an' so I aint got a sellin partner taday. I was wonderin if I could sell wit you's two since yeh've probably nevah sold here befoah. I could show ya some good sellin' spots an' den I wouldn't have ta sell alone." Punky nodded eagerly, wondering if this was all a dream.
"Shoa. Dat'd be great." Hades agreed. Dutchy grinned and pointed down the road a little way.
"Well. dat der is da Harbah. We might wanna try der. It's pretty busy dis time o' day." The three started walking down towards the Harbor and Punky winked at Hades behind Dutchy's back, more excited than she had ever been.
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Reverie woke up with a groan, putting her hand to her aching head. She reached over for the ice on her beside table and replaced it on her head. She heard footsteps coming up the stairs and sat up, wondering if it would be Kloppman again or one of the newsies. The door opened and in walked Kloppman with a boy dressed as a newsie that she didn't recognize from the movie.
"Dis ish Preachah." Kloppman introduced as Reverie smiled weakly at the boy. He was tall and skinny with black hair and blue eyes. "He's gonna try an' help ya feel bettah." Reverie nodded, trying to remember if she had ever seen him in the movie and Preacher sat down on a stool next to the bunk.
"Where's it hurt?" he asked gently, trying to sounds compassionate. Reverie indicated her forehead and Preacher thought for a moment, his brow furrowed. After a few minutes, he spoke."Well. have ya been sick er anythin' lately?"
Reverie shook her head and then realized something she hadn't thought about before. Since she and the others had come from the 21st century, they might not be immune to some of the diseases in 1899 and she certainly hadn't been in very sanitary conditions the night before. She couldn't admit this to Preacher though without admitting where she had come from. She sighed and he put a hand to her forehead.
"You's burnin' up." He frowned and replaced her ice pack. He bit his lip and stood up, taking Kloppman outside. "Kloppy." he began "She's got a real bad fevah. Dat's why her head hoits so bad. I don't know if she'll make it. She seems pretty weak right now" he finished.
Kloppman nodded. "Ish der anything ta do?"
"Aint nothing ta do, but keep da ice on an' pray." He walked back in the room to pray with Reverie and left a few minutes later with a hopeful look on his face. He had a strong faith and hoped for the best.
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"Wanna sell wit me?" Strider asked Illusion looking around and noticing that most of the others had partners. She had been sitting on a bench, not really doing much since she didn't know where to sell, and seen Illusion walk by. Illusion nodded.
"Where ya tink we should go?" Strider shrugged.
"Anyplace is good fer me" she responded, standing up and stretching. Illusion nodded and pointed towards Central Park.
"How bout der? Seems as good a place as any." Strider grabbed her papes and agreed as the two set off in that direction. A couple minutes later, Illusion stopped abruptly.
"What?!" asked Strider, alarmed. "I jist realized something. We should go see if dat goil is Reverie at da boy's Lodgin House. I mean. dey said we could go latah. Dey didn't say we had ta have dere permission. We know where it is." She said with a evil grin. Strider laughed and then became serious.
"Yea I guess we should go check. If it is Reverie, I wanna know if she's okay. I've been worried about her. I felt awful leavin' her in dat alley." Illusion nodded and pointed in the direction of the Newsboys Lodging House.
"C'mon, let's go."
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Sneaks looked at the scenery around them, which was slowly changing. It no longer looked dangerous like Brooklyn, but more familiar as the place she had the spent the last two nights.
"Graft." she asked "Are we in Manhattan yet?" Graft gave her a raised- eyebrow.
"Sneaks, You's been here enough times. You should know." He said coldly "Whattaya mean 'are we in Manhattan?' O' course we are." Sneaks blushed.
"Well yeah.. I t'ought so. I was just makin' shoa ya know."
Sling looked nervously at the two, wondering if anyone would ever figure out the newsgirls' secret. Wouldn't someone think it strange that all of the sudden, there's over 30 more new newsgirls in New York? She tried to change the subject.
"So. I like yer key Sneaks. Dat was nice o' Spot ta give it ta ya." Sneaks nodded.
"Yea" she agreed, playing with it, "It is pretty nice. Don't ya t'ink Graft?" Graft just grunted and walked stiffly on.
"We's almost here. Now dontcha go askin Jack what dis business is all about. It's between me an' him, not you's an' yer little friend here." Sneaks glared at him as they walked into a deserted building. Graft knocked on a door a couple times before it was answered. Sneaks tried not to gasp as Jack Kelly opened the door and acknowledged her.
"Heya Graft. Hey Sneaks. How's it rollin?"
"Uh.. fine" Sneaks managed to say. First Spot, now Jack. She wondered if the others had met any of the boys yet. Well, besides Bubblegum and Windy that was. She already knew they had met some. Jack nodded, looking rather grim.
"Ya talk ta dem?" he asked, turning back to Graft. Graft nodded, also looking grim.
"Sneaks," he said roughly "Why dontcha go an' try ta sell some papes er somethin'? I got some business here." Sneaks nodded.
"C'mon" she muttered to Sling "We don't wanna get 'im mad." Sling smiled weakly and the two girls left. Graft stepped into the room and Jack shut the door, locking it behind them.
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Dodge frowned and looked around her. She had been trying to both pick- pocket and sell all morning. It was a lot harder, she had realized, when you were by yourself. It was hard to get someone to buy a pape from her if they had happened to have just seen her stealing someone's wallet. She groaned and sat down on the ground, looking at her still rather large stack of unsold papes. She supposed she could have found someone else to sell with her but she didn't want to go looking this late in the day. Almost everyone else already had selling partners. She sighed and stood back up.
"C'mon, let's try an' find some o' da uttahs so I can intraduce 'em ta ya." She heard a familiar voice say. Dodge spun around and saw Sneaks walking a little ways away with a newsgirl she hadn't seen at the Lodging House.
"Sneaks!" she called out. Sneaks turned and smiled, seeing Dodge.
"Heya Dodge. Dis is Sling. Somehow she ended up in Brooklyn an' I found her when I went der ta see Graft. He's got some official business wit Jack Kelly so we's cant distoib him. Hows da sellin?" she finished, eyeing Dodge's rather large stack of paper, very glad that she hadn't had to sell today.
"Nice ta meetcha, Sling. Sellin aint too good. Its hard ta do da sellin an' da stealin at da same time, but oh well. I'll manage" Suddenly Dodge remembered something "Sneaks! Guess what happened dis morning at da Distribution Centah!"
"What?" Sneaks and Sling both asked eagerly.
"Well. we was all disappointed cause we didn't see our boys again but den suddenly we hoid Race's voice behind us. Den, next t'ing we knew, all da newsies from da movie were der! We all got ta meet 'em. Bubblegum an' Windy introduced us! An' Jack even know der names!"
"Aww. We've only met two. Dey both knew Sneak's name dough. I wish we coulda been dare," Sling pouted. Sneaks nodded eagerly.
"Dat woulda been da best! Oh Dodge! Look at dis necklace Spot gave me! I fergot dat I put it in me profile fer him ta give me a necklace wit a key just like his. He gave it ta me cause my boithday was just a few days ago. I's kinda glad dat I put all dat stuff about Spot an' Graft in my profile. It's helped me out lots." Dodge admired the key and the girls continued chatting away, occasionally stopping for Dodge to sell a pape or two.
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Lavender and Mix had decided to sell together and they were almost finished. Lavender sighed.
"Wow.." she said softly, "Aftah seein da movie so many times, I always t'aught dat sellin papes seemed so easy. Ya just make up a good headline an' people buy it, but it really is hard, aint it?"
"Yea.." Mix agreed, "but still.Its kinda fun. An' I mean at least we don't hafta worry about da war er nottin."
Lavender pulled out her bandana to wipe her eyes on. "I do worry about da war t'ough. I worry about me family an' me friends. I wish I coulda brought 'em wit me. I don't like not knowin' what's goin on. I wouldn't even know if dey died er nuttin." Mix put an arm around her.
"Don' worry. It'll be okay. I bet dey's fine." Lavender smiled weakly.
"Yea, I hope so." Her smile turned into a frown. "If da war ends do ya t'ink we'll go forward in time again or ya t'ink we'll just stay here. I don't know if I wanna be a newsie forevah an' I miss everyone so much." Mix frowned too.
"I have no idea"
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Luna finished crossing the bridge into Brooklyn and walked swiftly, even though she had no idea where she was headed. She wondered where she could find Spot and looked around trying to find someone to follow. Her eyes fell upon the guy from the movie who asks Jack where he's going. She snuck behind him as she heard him say to a fellow newsie. "Yea well.. dey's all givin us trouble now, dem Queens newsies. I figuah I's gonna head ovah ta Spot ta talk about it in a bit. Dis is da last straw. Spot an' Jack an' Graft an' dem. Dey's sick o' all da trouble wit Queens. Maybe dey'll actually do sometin' fer once. Gawd I hope so."
Luna's mouth dropped. This is my change ta see Spot! She thought I'll just follow dis guy heah an' he'll lead me straight der!" Luna ducked behind a nearby building and watched him as he left. She decided that it would be safer to follow him from a distance instead of close behind.
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Kloppman climbed the stairs to the bunkroom where Race and Specs had told him the girl was. As he approached her, he noticed she as shaking and her eyes were slipping out of focus. He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bunk.
"Hi. I'sh Kloppman. I own thish place. Yer friendsh told me dey found ya in a shtreet an' I told 'em I would take care o' ya until dey got back from shellin"
He smiled a grandfatherly smile, which helped Reverie relax. He made her feel better, like she was with family. She struggled to sit up again.
"Well I's Reverie an' I really appreciate you's helping out" she said, trying to be polite.
Kloppman nodded and asked: "D'ya need anything? I don't got anything ta make yer head feel bettah all da way but I'sh got some ice if ya want it.." Reverie nodded and Kloppman went to get the ice. She put it against her forehead and felt instantly relieved. Kloppman stood, watching her.
"Well I'sh gotta go woik on shome papah-work foah da Lodging House, but if you'sh need anything, you'sh can tell me"
Reverie nodded, eternally grateful, as he left. As she lay there, she wondered where the others were. Had they forgotten about her? Or did they just not know where she was? She moaned quietly and lay back, falling asleep.
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Punky walked quickly after Hades.
"He didn't mean you's had funny eyes! I bet he liked 'em!" She felt bad about hurting her friend's feelings and making Hades think Mush didn't like her. Hades turned around
"Really?" she asked, getting excited. Punky nodded.
"I betcha he did! Dat's probably what he was sayin ta Blink!"
Hades grinned. "C'mon lets go sell some papes." Punky laughed and agreed as they started walking down towards the Harbor.
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As they walked across the Brooklyn bridge, Sneaks looked around and took in everything carefully. The view was amazing and she walked in silence as she, Sling, and Graft crossed. Looking across to the other side of the bridge, Sneaks noticed a pale figure with long dark hair, strongly resembling Luna. Sneaks mouth dropped, realizing who it was and she walked on the other side of Graft. Graft looked across the street, trying to figure out what was bothering Sneaks. He turned to her.
"Isn't dat da goil I was askin about?" Sneaks nodded.
"Yup. Dat's Luna. Da one an' only." Graft looked at her for a moment as she walked. Suddenly Luna looked up and saw Sneaks and Graft with a girl she hadn't seen before. Luna crossed over to them. She looked at the three of them for a moment before speaking.
"Why didn't ya tell me where you's was going, Sneaks?" she demanded.
"I's told Dodge ta tell ya I thought dat was enough." Sneaks quickly replied. Luna glared at her for a moment before introducing herself to Graft. Graft nodded slightly, and then introduced himself. Sneaks spoke up. "Luna, dis is Sling. She's been stayin in Brooklyn, so she's comin ta Manhattan wit me an' Graft." Luna nodded and then turned to leave.
"Well. Its been nice meetin ya but I got business in Brooklyn so I's bettah be goin." Luna turned and left as Sling, Sneaks, and Graft watched her walk away
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Preacher headed towards Manhattan trying to shake his mind of the rude girl he had just encountered. He had tried to be nice, and tried to be friendly, something he had learned from years of experience on the streets, but it didn't seem to work with that girl.
He kicked a stick that was lying in the street and gazed around. The sun was growing higher in the sky, so he started to walk faster.
" Hi-ya Preach!" he looked over to see Kid-Blink and Mush walked by.
" Hi," Preacher greeted them back.
" What brings ya ta Manhattan?" Blink asked pausing to talk to Preacher.
" I um.thought I'd say hi ta Gibby over at da newsgirl's lodging house." Preach answered looking around.
" Oh, tell her hi foah us. I's hear she got some new goils," Mush winked.
" I'll do that," Preacher nodded.
" Ya should come ta da lodging house ta night, Preach. We's haven't seen ya 'round Manhattan in a long time." Blink invited him.
" Dat's usually a good thing, dare Blink." Mush whispered to the one-eyed boy.
" Well, I should be on my way, boys. I'll stop by and stay da night." Preach smiled at them as they nodded and headed off in their own ways. Preach continued on his way towards Gibby's when he stopped a few yards away, seeing a girls helping another girl up.
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I's swear, I's getting sick o' jerks," Windy sighed as Floaty and Bubblegum helped her up. She dusted herself off and looked around.
" Are you okay?" Preach asked striding over to them at a fast pace.
" Oh, I's fine. Just a jerk dat knocked me down foah da fight," Windy nudged over at the man that was holding a flask of whiskey. "D'anks dough," she replied turning back to her friends.
" You's should be more careful when ya sell, Windy." Bubblegum shook her head.
" I's tried! Ya'd think I's was Klutz o' something." Windy shook her head with a laugh.
" Nah, Klutz just falls ovah things, o' nuttin at all." Floaty giggled. She looked over and noticed that Preacher was still standing there. "She's fine," she tried to reassure the boy.
" Oh, sorry," Preacher blushed and started to walk away.
" D'anks dough!" Windy called back at him as he walked off.
" Dat guy was weird," Bubblegum mentioned, looking at her two friends.
Floaty thought for a second, "He wasn't anywhere in da movie. Not even a nameless newsie or anything. I wonder who he is"
"He spoke like David," Windy said thoughtfully. The other two nodded.
" Come on, dese papes ain't gonna sell dem selfs!" Floaty called as they walked off hawking the headlines again.
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When Preacher finally got the Gibby's Lodging House he let out a sigh of relief. He headed towards the door when he heard a familiar voice from behind him.
" What ya doing here, boy?" He spun around to see Kloppman staring at him square in the face. "Dare ain't no one shick here ish dare?" he asked, Preacher knowing he was referring to Gibby.
" No, sir. I was just going in ta pay Gibby a visit, dat's all." Preach said.
" Well, befoah ya do, would ya mind helping me wit a shick goil I'sh got back at da Lodging Houshe?"
" Sure," Preacher shrugged, turning away from Gibby's and heading with Kloppman back to the boys Lodging House.
" I'sh wash gonna get Gibby, but I'sh figure ya could help betta."
" Just know, I ain't as good as me brother." Preacher tried to tell him.
" I'sh have faith in ya boy. You'sh good wit dish shtuff." Kloppman said nodding. Preacher smiled to himself as they continued to head off to the Lodging House.
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"So Graft." Sneaks began as they walked across the bridge. "What kinda business do ya got wit Jack?" she asked curiously
Graft turned to look at her, scowling. "Dat aint none of yer business, now is it?"
Sneaks shook her head and walked in silence for a while before Sling whispered to Sneaks, "So.how many uttah goils are der? Are der lots or just a few?"
"Der's at least 30 or so. Not a lot compared ta all da membahs, but still quite a few fer da Lodging House."
Sneaks whispered back, aware that Graft was eyeing them suspiciously. Sling nodded, understandingly.
"So how come I's da only one who ended up in Brooklyn?" She asked even quieter than before. Sneaks just shrugged, shook her head, and walked on, not understanding it anymore that Sling did.
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Punky and Hades walked along, trying to figure out where to sell their papes. As they walked down the street, Hades suddenly felt a tap on the shoulder and the two of them spun around. Punky's mouth fell open as her eyes fell upon Dutchy. He grinned at the two of them and stuck out his hand.
"I's Dutchy. I jus' figured I would intraduce myself ta you's since you're new an' all." Punky stared at him in shock and awe as Hades spoke up.
"Well I's Hades an' dis is Punky," she said, kicking Punky lightly to get her to close her mouth. Punky finally got herself together.
"Yea, its uh.. nice ta meet ya." Dutchy chuckled and indicated his papes as he spoke. "Well. Mush ditched me fer Blink an' so I aint got a sellin partner taday. I was wonderin if I could sell wit you's two since yeh've probably nevah sold here befoah. I could show ya some good sellin' spots an' den I wouldn't have ta sell alone." Punky nodded eagerly, wondering if this was all a dream.
"Shoa. Dat'd be great." Hades agreed. Dutchy grinned and pointed down the road a little way.
"Well. dat der is da Harbah. We might wanna try der. It's pretty busy dis time o' day." The three started walking down towards the Harbor and Punky winked at Hades behind Dutchy's back, more excited than she had ever been.
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Reverie woke up with a groan, putting her hand to her aching head. She reached over for the ice on her beside table and replaced it on her head. She heard footsteps coming up the stairs and sat up, wondering if it would be Kloppman again or one of the newsies. The door opened and in walked Kloppman with a boy dressed as a newsie that she didn't recognize from the movie.
"Dis ish Preachah." Kloppman introduced as Reverie smiled weakly at the boy. He was tall and skinny with black hair and blue eyes. "He's gonna try an' help ya feel bettah." Reverie nodded, trying to remember if she had ever seen him in the movie and Preacher sat down on a stool next to the bunk.
"Where's it hurt?" he asked gently, trying to sounds compassionate. Reverie indicated her forehead and Preacher thought for a moment, his brow furrowed. After a few minutes, he spoke."Well. have ya been sick er anythin' lately?"
Reverie shook her head and then realized something she hadn't thought about before. Since she and the others had come from the 21st century, they might not be immune to some of the diseases in 1899 and she certainly hadn't been in very sanitary conditions the night before. She couldn't admit this to Preacher though without admitting where she had come from. She sighed and he put a hand to her forehead.
"You's burnin' up." He frowned and replaced her ice pack. He bit his lip and stood up, taking Kloppman outside. "Kloppy." he began "She's got a real bad fevah. Dat's why her head hoits so bad. I don't know if she'll make it. She seems pretty weak right now" he finished.
Kloppman nodded. "Ish der anything ta do?"
"Aint nothing ta do, but keep da ice on an' pray." He walked back in the room to pray with Reverie and left a few minutes later with a hopeful look on his face. He had a strong faith and hoped for the best.
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"Wanna sell wit me?" Strider asked Illusion looking around and noticing that most of the others had partners. She had been sitting on a bench, not really doing much since she didn't know where to sell, and seen Illusion walk by. Illusion nodded.
"Where ya tink we should go?" Strider shrugged.
"Anyplace is good fer me" she responded, standing up and stretching. Illusion nodded and pointed towards Central Park.
"How bout der? Seems as good a place as any." Strider grabbed her papes and agreed as the two set off in that direction. A couple minutes later, Illusion stopped abruptly.
"What?!" asked Strider, alarmed. "I jist realized something. We should go see if dat goil is Reverie at da boy's Lodgin House. I mean. dey said we could go latah. Dey didn't say we had ta have dere permission. We know where it is." She said with a evil grin. Strider laughed and then became serious.
"Yea I guess we should go check. If it is Reverie, I wanna know if she's okay. I've been worried about her. I felt awful leavin' her in dat alley." Illusion nodded and pointed in the direction of the Newsboys Lodging House.
"C'mon, let's go."
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Sneaks looked at the scenery around them, which was slowly changing. It no longer looked dangerous like Brooklyn, but more familiar as the place she had the spent the last two nights.
"Graft." she asked "Are we in Manhattan yet?" Graft gave her a raised- eyebrow.
"Sneaks, You's been here enough times. You should know." He said coldly "Whattaya mean 'are we in Manhattan?' O' course we are." Sneaks blushed.
"Well yeah.. I t'ought so. I was just makin' shoa ya know."
Sling looked nervously at the two, wondering if anyone would ever figure out the newsgirls' secret. Wouldn't someone think it strange that all of the sudden, there's over 30 more new newsgirls in New York? She tried to change the subject.
"So. I like yer key Sneaks. Dat was nice o' Spot ta give it ta ya." Sneaks nodded.
"Yea" she agreed, playing with it, "It is pretty nice. Don't ya t'ink Graft?" Graft just grunted and walked stiffly on.
"We's almost here. Now dontcha go askin Jack what dis business is all about. It's between me an' him, not you's an' yer little friend here." Sneaks glared at him as they walked into a deserted building. Graft knocked on a door a couple times before it was answered. Sneaks tried not to gasp as Jack Kelly opened the door and acknowledged her.
"Heya Graft. Hey Sneaks. How's it rollin?"
"Uh.. fine" Sneaks managed to say. First Spot, now Jack. She wondered if the others had met any of the boys yet. Well, besides Bubblegum and Windy that was. She already knew they had met some. Jack nodded, looking rather grim.
"Ya talk ta dem?" he asked, turning back to Graft. Graft nodded, also looking grim.
"Sneaks," he said roughly "Why dontcha go an' try ta sell some papes er somethin'? I got some business here." Sneaks nodded.
"C'mon" she muttered to Sling "We don't wanna get 'im mad." Sling smiled weakly and the two girls left. Graft stepped into the room and Jack shut the door, locking it behind them.
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Dodge frowned and looked around her. She had been trying to both pick- pocket and sell all morning. It was a lot harder, she had realized, when you were by yourself. It was hard to get someone to buy a pape from her if they had happened to have just seen her stealing someone's wallet. She groaned and sat down on the ground, looking at her still rather large stack of unsold papes. She supposed she could have found someone else to sell with her but she didn't want to go looking this late in the day. Almost everyone else already had selling partners. She sighed and stood back up.
"C'mon, let's try an' find some o' da uttahs so I can intraduce 'em ta ya." She heard a familiar voice say. Dodge spun around and saw Sneaks walking a little ways away with a newsgirl she hadn't seen at the Lodging House.
"Sneaks!" she called out. Sneaks turned and smiled, seeing Dodge.
"Heya Dodge. Dis is Sling. Somehow she ended up in Brooklyn an' I found her when I went der ta see Graft. He's got some official business wit Jack Kelly so we's cant distoib him. Hows da sellin?" she finished, eyeing Dodge's rather large stack of paper, very glad that she hadn't had to sell today.
"Nice ta meetcha, Sling. Sellin aint too good. Its hard ta do da sellin an' da stealin at da same time, but oh well. I'll manage" Suddenly Dodge remembered something "Sneaks! Guess what happened dis morning at da Distribution Centah!"
"What?" Sneaks and Sling both asked eagerly.
"Well. we was all disappointed cause we didn't see our boys again but den suddenly we hoid Race's voice behind us. Den, next t'ing we knew, all da newsies from da movie were der! We all got ta meet 'em. Bubblegum an' Windy introduced us! An' Jack even know der names!"
"Aww. We've only met two. Dey both knew Sneak's name dough. I wish we coulda been dare," Sling pouted. Sneaks nodded eagerly.
"Dat woulda been da best! Oh Dodge! Look at dis necklace Spot gave me! I fergot dat I put it in me profile fer him ta give me a necklace wit a key just like his. He gave it ta me cause my boithday was just a few days ago. I's kinda glad dat I put all dat stuff about Spot an' Graft in my profile. It's helped me out lots." Dodge admired the key and the girls continued chatting away, occasionally stopping for Dodge to sell a pape or two.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lavender and Mix had decided to sell together and they were almost finished. Lavender sighed.
"Wow.." she said softly, "Aftah seein da movie so many times, I always t'aught dat sellin papes seemed so easy. Ya just make up a good headline an' people buy it, but it really is hard, aint it?"
"Yea.." Mix agreed, "but still.Its kinda fun. An' I mean at least we don't hafta worry about da war er nottin."
Lavender pulled out her bandana to wipe her eyes on. "I do worry about da war t'ough. I worry about me family an' me friends. I wish I coulda brought 'em wit me. I don't like not knowin' what's goin on. I wouldn't even know if dey died er nuttin." Mix put an arm around her.
"Don' worry. It'll be okay. I bet dey's fine." Lavender smiled weakly.
"Yea, I hope so." Her smile turned into a frown. "If da war ends do ya t'ink we'll go forward in time again or ya t'ink we'll just stay here. I don't know if I wanna be a newsie forevah an' I miss everyone so much." Mix frowned too.
"I have no idea"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luna finished crossing the bridge into Brooklyn and walked swiftly, even though she had no idea where she was headed. She wondered where she could find Spot and looked around trying to find someone to follow. Her eyes fell upon the guy from the movie who asks Jack where he's going. She snuck behind him as she heard him say to a fellow newsie. "Yea well.. dey's all givin us trouble now, dem Queens newsies. I figuah I's gonna head ovah ta Spot ta talk about it in a bit. Dis is da last straw. Spot an' Jack an' Graft an' dem. Dey's sick o' all da trouble wit Queens. Maybe dey'll actually do sometin' fer once. Gawd I hope so."
Luna's mouth dropped. This is my change ta see Spot! She thought I'll just follow dis guy heah an' he'll lead me straight der!" Luna ducked behind a nearby building and watched him as he left. She decided that it would be safer to follow him from a distance instead of close behind.
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