Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire – "A fool can always find a greater fool to admire him."
(L'Art poetique – [1674] Nicholas Boileau – Despreaux [1636-1711] )
Chapter 4 : Delanceys
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Newsies or related to the Newsies.
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"Look kid, we'se don't allow none'a you'se newsies in da buildin'," the man at the counter snapped irritably. I scowled, feeling more irritated with his manner, "Look, I just want to see Denton." He returned my scowl, "He ain't heah an' even if he was, why would he talk ta you'se?" I bit my lip. That's true…
"Alright fine," said I then narrowed my eyes at the man, "Do you know how I can get a job as a reporter here?" The man laughed harshly, "you'se boy? You'se can't git a job heah! You'se too stoopid." I bristled at his comment but instead of flaring up and bursting in his face, I remained surprisingly calm. I pulled the cap down to shade my eyes before I fixed the man with a stare.
"Tell your superiors that someone had came by asking to work as a reporter to report on a certain, "I paused before continuing, "interesting story. If they don't want it, I'm more than happy to give it to Pullitzer. Good day to you sir and may you rot in hell for your stupidity." With those words, I was off without chancing a glance back. To tell the truth, I was too afraid of his reaction to my words.
Reporter job? No chance in hell. The whole interesting story part was…well, more or less, not true.
I don't have crap, much less an interesting story. Besides, they don't want kids to do their reporting for them. I sighed. Medda was my last hope for a job or else I would have to work as a Newsboy… with a low pay… and bad health benefits… What the hell was I thinking? Bad health benefits? Too much time Social studies class studying the economy and government is really getting to me.
I frowned. The prospect of dropping into the Newsies video was supposed to be fun. Instead, it resembled more like a jumble of confused situations and stereotypical thoughts. The movie, though portrayed somewhat accurately had left out many other aspects of the real world. For one, smells and the reality of it was that the alleyways and certain parts…stunk. Parts like the sight and smell of the freshly deceased, thawing in the sun. An unpleasant sight and an unpleasant odour. It would make sense though. This was reality, very much so.
Disney had just toned down that reality to a G rating.
That doesn't mean that reality is a G rating unfortunately.
I sighed and kicked a can, suddenly in a foul mood. It doesn't look, smell, or feel like I'm insane or delusional and if anything, it made it worse.
This…was real. I could die… I could catch influenza like it was going to happen in a few years time. What if I don't get back? The First World War was just around the corner from the turn of the century after all.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. 'No use thinking of that now… you have to find a job!' I scolded myself before concentrating the task at hand… finding Irving Hall.
"Excuse me…ma'am?" I chased after a woman. She looked up at me, surprised, then disgusted.
"What do you want boy?" she snapped, taking two steps back. I looked at her in surprise then suddenly remembered that I am of the lower class. I took off my cap in an effort to be polite and look pathetic, "Ma'am? Could you direct me to Irving Hall?" The woman glowered at me before she exploded, "Irving Hall?! Irving Hall?! Isn't that all I hear about these days! Irving Hall! Really! One looses a husband to that…that… bordello!"
"I'm…just looking for my dad," I lied. The woman glowered at me and I attempted to look pathetically sad. It worked for she softened and gave me directions, though needlessly harsh. I thanked her most sincerely and she merely sniffed before she was on her way again. I hurried away in the direction given, eager to leave the crazy woman.
It was obvious that the woman had been to Irving Hall before for the directions she gave me were accurate and fast. I was there in less than five minutes and that's just by walking. Certainly tell you a lot about her relationship between her husband and her.
"Irving Hall," I murmured to myself as I stood outside the large theatre like building. I raised an eyebrow at the large picture of Medda that was perched on the top of the theatre before going in.
"Kid, you'se gots any money?" asked a tall and rather tough looking guy who was standing at the entrance. I groaned inwardly.
"No sir…" I murmured, hanging my head in embarrassment.
"You'se can't git in," he said firmly, giving me a strange look that looked like something between a glare and confusion.
"I'm looking for a job," said I. He threw his back and laughed.
Aw shit…it was going to be like the whole Denton incident all over again.
"You'se kid? You'se lookin' fer a job workin' fer Medda?" he asked with a large smirk plastered across his face. I looked at him with slight annoyance, "Yeah." He threw his head back and laughed again, "If I'se had a penny fer every time somebodies says dat ta me, I'se be rich." I frowned, "Look, can I just see Medda?"
He turned on me with a scowl on his face, "Yer ain't got no money so yer ain' goin' anywheres." My mind worked quickly to find some kind of excuse.
"This is urgent… I have a message for her from Sweden!" I told him. He looked at me skeptically and I faltered under his stern gaze, "Okay, I don't…look, can I just please see her? It's very important." My mind searched for a reason, "I cannot…tell you because it's for her ears only."
"You'se think I'd let one o' you'se boys in?" he snapped. My head snapped up in surprise and realization. He thinks I'm male!
"Now see here, just because I dress like one doesn't mean I am one!" I exclaimed. One of his eyebrows rose and I glowered at him.
"I'm a girl!" I exclaimed and he snorted in disbelief, "You'se can't believe 'ow many times I 'eard dat too."
I swore under my breath.
"What do I have to do to prove it to you?!" I asked in disbelief. Now his other eyebrow was up and I immediately regretted what I said for a large smirk was now plastered across his face. I took a step backwards, "Urm…good day to you sir." With those words, I scurried away.
Now what do I do?
I was jobless…I really didn't want to work as a newsie. From what the movie portrayed, the pay was crap so working somewhere else would at least provide a higher wage…right? As I stalked away, my mind began working again. There was this one scene in the movie where Jack had led David and Les into Irving Hall through a back door. I wracked my brains, suddenly wishing that I had seen the movie more recently.
So, I circled the large building, hoping to find the small door that the movie had portrayed. After a few minutes of searching and strange looks of passers-by, I found what I was looking for.
Almost casually, as to avoid looking suspicious, I walked up to the door and placed my hand on the knob. I was so very nervous; I could hear my heart beating furiously against my chest. Finally, I twisted the knob and stepped inside swiftly before closing the door behind me. When I turned around, I came face to face with the same man I had met with at the front of Irving Hall. I gaped at him. 'How…how did he get here before me?!'
He glowered at me, "How did you'se find out about the backdoor?" I desperately pulled out an excuse, "Er… The Cowboy told me?" To my surprise, he recoiled with amazement.
"You'se know dah Cowboy? Jack Kelly?" he asked. I nodded hesitantly, "Yeah…"
"Wow," the tone of the young man was now of respect, "I wish I could meet him. Medda tawks 'bout him all dah time…"
"Which brings me to my next question…can I see Medda now?" I asked impatiently. His whole attitude seemed to have changed, "Shoah, shoah, roite dis way." With that, he scrambled up the small flight of stairs and I struggled to keep up with him. Feeling that somehow, my luck had finally changed.
Thank you Jack! I will try not to make fun of you…in your face… in the future.
"Medda? Deah's someone heah ta see ya."
"I'll be right there…"
"'e knows Cowboy."
"Why, why didn't you say so? I'm coming!"
I stood at the base of the stairs, watching as the red haired wonder stepped gracefully down the steps as her pink dress swished wonderfully as she moved. She gave me a smile as she did a small curtsey in greeting. I bowed awkwardly.
"Why hello there. You wanted to speak to me?" said she, speaking in a voice that seemed to be reserved for younger kids. I did not show my distaste when I answered, "Yes ma'am. I wanted to ask for a job?"
"A job? Doing what?" she asked, intrigued, "I have all the help I would need around here." My mind worked quickly.
"No ma'am…I was thinking of perhaps…performing?" With that, she threw her head back and laughed jovially, "Performing? What can you do girl?" I stared at her in surprise, "You know I'm a girl?"
"Of course!" she exclaimed with a confused look on her face, "Why wouldn't I?" I grinned and hugged her, "Everybody's been thinking I was a boy and it was starting to get on my nerves!" Medda laughed, "What's your name dear?"
"Name's Boy," I replied, twisting my face.
"Alright, c'mon then. Let me see what you've got," she told me, dragging me up the stairs.
Minutes later, I emerged from Irving Hall feeling dazed as I stumbled down the street towards the lodging house. I got the job… I got a job at Irving Hall! With limited physical contact with people (I'm not as social as people would think) it was perfect! As was the pay (in those days) for all I was to be was the backup or assistant piano player if the old one wasn't able to make it to a performance.
Medda had even invited me to stay with her just for some female company to which I had readily agreed. True, I really couldn't stand the redhead but I mean, despite how tempting it was to bunk with Racetrack, it's really too embarrassing for me.
But that's beside the point. Let's get back to the narrative shall we?
Anyways, I was walking down the street with a lovely spring in my step when guess who should shove me into an alley yet again for the second time that day but…
"Hey there Boy," came the familiar cocky voice.
"Hello Oscar," I replied civilly, picking myself up from the pavement and dusting myself off.
"'Ow do you'se knows me name?" he asked suspiciously. I blanked for a moment before I fished for a reason, "Er…I heard Jack talk about you?" The Delancey's face twisted almost hideously, "You'se know da Cowboy?" I smiled, "Of course."
Oscar spat into the pavement, "Den I'se feel sorry for you'se."
I raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"Yeah. I'se feel sorry for you'se. You'se know why? Cuz I'se gonna pound yer face into da wall. Dat's why," he told me, cracking his knuckles. Damn, he sure holds a long grudge doesn't he? From behind him, out stepped the tall but dumber brother, Morris. I backed up one step nervously, "You wouldn't hit a girl would you?"
"No…but we'se gonna have fun wid a goil," came Oscar's reply with a smirk plastered across his face. I took another step back and my head raced. I couldn't think of a reply.
"'ey Oscah! De boy looks loik e's gonna shit in 'is pants," laughed Morris dumbly.
Shit in my pants? Not likely. I mean, damn! I was scared shitless.
"Couldn't we talk this out? Reach a compromise?" I asked nervously, backing away. See, if I was mad, I would have beat the shit out of him just for…you know, rage control or something like that but I was happy I got the job. Me being happy led to …well, me being a total and complete wuss.
"No, we'se can't tawk it out," snorted Oscar as he advanced.
"Argh! Screw this!" With that, I took off, running down the other end of the alleyway, hoping desperately that it doesn't come to a dead end. I could hear the footsteps of the agile Oscar and the heavy set Morris behind me. That and the drumming of my own heart beating against my ears.
"Come back heah Boy!" yelled Oscar.
"Not a chance!" I yelled back, urging my legs to go faster. As I ran, I turned desperately into corners to throw off my pursuers.
No such luck.
Though, Lady Luck did finally to be on my side when I exploded out of the alleyways and found myself facing a long bridge, stretching out over the calm waters below. Without thinking that I would be crossing over to the famed Brooklyn territory, I ran across it with the footsteps of my pursuers still behind me. I chanced a glance behind me, almost tripping when I found the two brothers were still hot on my tail.
I whipped my head around, scolding myself for looking back as my heart hammered almost painfully against my ribcage.
At this point, the sun was slowly setting across the horizon, turning the skies a beautiful reddish orange colour but I was oblivious to the beauty of nature in the city atmosphere. The thumping of my footsteps and those of the Delancey's echoed loudly as the rest of the city got ready for the upcoming night. As I ran, I vaguely thought of jumping off the bridge and plunge into the somewhat shallow waters below just to wake me up from this dream that was fast becoming into a nightmare. Then I remembered that I was too afraid of pain to do that.
Besides, I was nearing the end of the bridge.
My muscles screamed and groaned in pain, urging me to give in but with the images of rape going through my head, I refused to listen. I kept running until my head spun like crazy from the lack of oxygen I was taking in. The footsteps of the two brothers were still behind me though the steady pace was a faltering, a sign that they were exhausted from the chase. Still, I refuse to rest.
Then the inevitable happened.
I plummeted straight into a boy who seemed to have popped out of nowhere, causing the both of us to go tumbling forwards. There was a happy crowing from the two brothers when they saw this happen. My head was still spinning even after I had rolled to a stop.
"What do you'se think you'se doin'?!" the boy exclaimed angrily. I struggled onto my tired feet, muttered an inaudible apology towards him before I started running again. I didn't go far before I collapsed on my knees, too tired to run.
"Crazy kid," I heard the boy mutter before he turned his attention to the approaching Delanceys.
"Well, well, well… if it ain't da Delancey brudders," said the boy. Despite my dazed condition, I detected fear radiating off the two.
"Spot Conlon!" exclaimed Morris and my head snapped up with surprise. Spot Conlon?
… Oh crap … I really didn't want to have to deal with Conlon any time soon. It might lead to severe misunderstandings.
Misunderstandings that I will regret.
"What a surprise tah see you'se two heah," came the sarcastic comment of the Brooklyn leader. He whipped out the cane that was attached to his belt and hit it against one of the metal railings by the shore creating a ringing sound that echoed and bounced off everything.
"We'se jis' got lost," Oscar replied nervously, already backing away.
"Yea…we'se…we'se…" came Morris' stuttering before his brother finished for him, "jis' gonna go back to Man'atten." With that, the two brothers turned tail and ran across the bridge like the devil himself was after them. The famed Brooklyn leader turned around, brandishing his cane as he observed me quietly before speaking, "Who's you'se?"
I was still on my knees, panting from exhaustion of the chase. My mouth opened to answer but no sound came out. I held out a hand and gestured for him to wait until I get my breath back. He crossed his arms and looked at me impatiently. Just for his impatient-ness, I took extra time.
Finally, I stood up and dusted myself off, "Hey. Thanks for chasing them away. Name's Boy." I stuck out my hand and he looked at it with an expression on his face as if he had smelled rancid meat.
"What you'se doin' on my territory?" he demanded. I frowned, "I told you. I was being chased by the Delancey brothers." He squinted his eyes at me, "You'se not from around heah are ya?" I shook my head, attempting to look innocent.
"You'se best go now 'fore I'se call me boys to soak ya," he threatened. I rolled my eyes.
Such a way to threat a lady.
"Fine, fine," I replied and was on my way as I head back to the bridge. I wasn't sure if I was in the right frame of mind when I turned around and cried out, "By the way! Jacky boy says hi!"
Of course, before I could witness his reaction, I was running across the bridge as fast as my exhausted legs could take me and I did not stop until I reach the lodging house. I did not go back to Medda's that night. It was dark and it was creepy. Images of Delancey rape were still floating in my head.
I did not bunk with Racetrack that night. Snipeshooter, the little kid from yesterday night, was feeling better so he bunked with the Italian. Instead, I occupied one of the beds in the corner, away from the window and with an extra blanket from one of the empty beds. It did little to shut out the cold but at least it's not as bad considering that there were not alternate sources of heat available.
So I slept, with dreams of fame, Brooklyn and the Delanceys floating in my head. Not a pleasant combination but I suppose interesting all the same.
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End of Chapter 4
Checkmate: Thanks for the review! I wuv you…@_@
Brownie/Melody: Kicking Oscar's ass? Now that's just mean! J
Sapphy: *grin* Us perverts gotta stick together! It's a mean world out there for pervs! Especially female pervs! … I've managed to confused myself yet again. _
Angel27: Yes…vacation without computer=bad! You poor thing! Anyways, welcome back!
Lyra Torg: Thanks! I try… ^^ and I will.