Shout-outs!!!
Blue Boxer: *holds out Blink* Come and get 'im, he's waitin!!!
Lil Italy: Thanks so much, love!
Fantasy: Shank you much, dearie
Nebula-Archer: *holds out chapter* Here ya go!!
Hope ya'll like, please pretty please review!!!
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Jack's thoughts were now dwelling more on the future that lay before him than on the past that he had left behind. He would finally be a real cowboy out in Santa Fe, breakin' his back for no one but himself, free to do as he wished. He now had a future, there was no holding him back. He could now exercise the will and drive to succeed that he had felt in his heart ever since he first became a newsie. He would do whatever it took. He again reminded himself that there was no turning back.
---
"So what we do now?"
Race nonchalantly counted his papes and thanked Mr. Zudiker, the new distribution engineer. "Whadaya mean?"
Blink sat down next to his friend to take a look at the headlines. "I know you don't know anymore den I do 'bout bein a leader."
"Eh, dere's nuttin to it. Jus remember how Jack did it. Don't worry 'bout it. Jus wait till somethin happens dat someone needs your leadership soivices for."
"So people'll jus start comin to us whenever dey gots a problem?" He felt a slight tug at his pant leg. He looked down to see Tumbler staring up at him with big, watery eyes.
"Blink, he didn't gimme awl me papes."
Blink perplexedly followed as the small boy dragged him over to the familiar distribution desk. "What's goin on?" he asked politely.
"Da kid said he wanted t'oity papes, but he only 'ad enough for twenty-five," Zudiker explained diffidently.
"No, I had enough, I promise!" Tumbler insisted, near tears.
Blink quieted the boy, shooing him away slightly, and smiled apologetically at Zudiker as he surreptitiously dug in his pockets for enough loose change for five papers. "You know dese kids dese days, ain't got a very good education. He musta jus counted wrong, it was an honest mistake," he whispered, leaning over the counter slightly.
Mr. Zudiker winked at Blink and nodded understandingly, sliding Tumbler his five papers. "Sorry 'bout dat, buddy! My mistake!"
Tumbler quickly hugged Blink's leg and ran off to sell his papes with his friends. Blink rejoined Race with a peculiar look on his face. "Ya know, dat felt real good, helpin someone out like dat."
Race chuckled. "See, I told ya. Nuttin to it."
"Yeah. Nuttin to it."
After buying their papes, Snoddy and Specs drew away from the others and joined Skittery to discuss their new selling spot.
"So where we gonna go?"
"We's goin to da Bronx."
"All da way to da Bronx?" Specs exclaimed.
"Yeah, we's gonna sell over by dat new zoo dey buildin. No 'hattan newsies never sold dere," Skittery decided.
"Don't you think that might cause a few problems with the newsboys in the Bronx?" Snoddy asked quietly.
"Yeah," Specs agreed. "We can't afford no trouble from dem."
"Nah, no one'll notice us. I jus gotta get away from dese guys, ya know?"
The two others nodded in agreement.
Blink and Race sold together by the harbor and Central Park for most of the day, occasionally joined by Mush, Itey, and some of the younger boys. It had been a good day, fortune shining on a new era of Manhattan in the form of the blazing, cloudless sun, and the newsies reunited at Tibby's later in the day.
"Hey Crutchy, how'd da day treat ya?"
The gimp was positively beaming. "Oh, it was a great day today, Dutchy. I sold eighty papes!"
"Way to go man! I could only push seventy."
Blink scanned the restaurant full of bustling, joking boys, noticing that nearly all of his newsies had gathered there. His newsies. The thought sounded so strange, yet somehow so right in his mind. "Eh, anyone seen Skitts today?"
The rest of the guys looked around, slightly ashamed that they hadn't noticed their friend missing. "No, an' I ain't seen Snoddy or Specs neither," Bumlets commented.
Race was somewhat concerned at this point. What kind of a leader was he, relaxing and goofing off when some of his boys might be in trouble? His boys. Yeah, that sounded good. "Swifty," he called, jumping in shock when the boy was at his side almost before Race had finished calling his name. "Swifty, run over to da lodgin' house real quick n' see if Skittery, Snoddy, n' Specs is dere." Swifty was out the door before Race could finish his command.
The normal festivities at Tibby's continued, but of course it was different without Jack. Not good different, but not really bad different either. Just not the same. They all felt it, but no one said anything. Jack had been the topic of a few conversations during selling that day, and the man's name came up every now and then, but generally everyone was trying to keep him off their minds. They were all becoming increasingly confident that everything would be alright. However, many a 'hattanite would lie in his bed that night, thinking of his old leader and friend and trying to hold back the silent tears that streamed down his face.
---
Jack had finally boarded his last train, leaving from St. Louis, Missouri heading straight to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The euphoria welling up within him was overwhelming, and he felt as if he might explode if he didn't get off that train soon. Jack reached into his pockets, gathering the change and straightening the crumpled bills as he counted his money. He had enough to at least get him up and on his feet. He would soon have enough to even buy his own horse and get his own place, and maybe he would even meet a girl and have his own family. The possibilities were endless, Jack was sure of it. Only the sky was his limit. He was no longer trapped with no future; he would have his change of scene.
---
Approximately seven minutes after he had left, Swifty returned with the news that the three missing newsies were indeed back at the lodging house, having been rather worn out after a hard day of selling around the construction site of the new Bronx Zoo.
"Dey awight?"
"They seemed perfectly fine, just a bit tired," The Rake answered softly and smoothly with a slight smirk.
"Thanks Swift," Race acknowledged, receiving a small nod in reply from the dark, mysterious boy who now retreated back into the shadows. Race pensively sipped his Coca-Cola and cast his friend a wary, sidelong glance. He loved Swifty like a brother, but sometimes the kid made him a little antsy. They didn't just give out nicknames like "The Rake" for nothing. However, Race knew that he was most likely completely harmless and simply too concerned with more important issues than causing trouble to a fellow man. But he would be sure to keep an eye on him just in case. Couldn't have any uprisings or anything. As Race was contemplating this, neither of the new leaders gave any thought to the three young men brooding back at the lodging house, somewhat unwittingly planning their mutiny against them and all of their friends.
---
As they had stated before, Skittery, Specs, and Snoddy meant no harm whatsoever. However, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Or rather in this case, the road to full-fledged borough warfare. Little did they know that they had been watched as they sold on that sunny yet slightly chilly September day. Cut O'Shea knew that the Bronx was obviously not in Manhattan, and he knew that Jack Kelly knew that too. These were definitely Jack's boys; Spot Conlon had confirmed it. It was Bronx territory, Manhattan didn't have any right there. Jack knew better than to sell on someone else's turf. Cut considered going to Kelly, but decided to bide his time before causing any trouble. But if this kept up, there most certainly would be trouble. Kelly could count on it.
---
At long last, Jack's train lurched into the Santa Fe terminal. He shivered with expectancy as butterflies pounded away in his stomach, gathering his meager belongings with shaking hands, and assuredly, yet somewhat diffidently, stepped off the train into his new life. He fixed his old cowboy hat on his head to block the searing southwestern sun from his eyes. Jack took a deep breath of fresh, non-polluted air, and for the first time in his life, he really felt free.
---
"Hey Skitts, Specs, Snoddy," Racetrack greeted cheerfully as he and the rest of the guys came back to the Lodging House for the night.
"Oh. Hey Racetrack," Skittery returned shortly, barely glancing at him from over his cards and quickly returning to the half-hearted poker game.
"So, uh, where'd you guys sell today?"
Skittery looked up at Race, seemingly annoyed. "The Bronx."
"Da Bronx?" Race sat down on his bed and lit a cigar. "Why so far out?"
"Wanted a change o' scene," Specs answered nonchalantly after a brief pause, realizing that Skittery was apparently out of answers.
Race regarded the three with a suspicious look, casting a glance at Blink, who was just returning to the bunkroom after washing his face.
"Yous didn't run into no trouble out dere?"
"No. Why should we?"
Race shrugged. "Dunno. It's jus, you know. Not our usual turf."
"Oh. No, no one gave us no trouble."
"Well, dat's good. But from now on, let's try to stay in 'hattan, okay?"
The three poker players looked at each other narrowly, then Skittery: "Sure Race. Whateva you say."
"Okay. Thanks."
Blink looked over at Race and whispered, "I don't like dis. Dese guys, I t'ink dey up to somet'in."
Race sat quietly for a moment as he pensively smoked his cigar. "I dunno. Dey's prob'ly jus havin some trouble 'justin to da new leadership is awl. We'll keep an eye on 'em, but I t'ink dey harmless. But oh, Swifty kinda gives me da creeps, we should keep an eye on him too."
"Yeah, I know whatcha mean, but I don't t'ink he'll be a problem. He keeps to himself a lot."
The guys unconsciously scanned the room and found the Rake playing poker with Skittery, Specs, and Snoddy. Snitch had joined them as well.
"Well, he does most o' da time."
"Hey Race," called Pie-eater, who had also joined the game. "Come play with us, we'll deal ya in."
"Awight, I'se comin." Score. This would be a good opportunity to see if he could find out if anything was up. And if he couldn't, he could at least earn a little extra cash. Hopefully. He took one last look around the bunk room. Everything was pretty much business as usual. Blink had joined a game of Spoons with Mush, Bumlets, Itey, and Dutchy. Snipeshooter, Boots, and Tumbler were playing marbles with some of the other young boys. Yep, business as usual. But Race knew that it was somehow different. The normal laughter and bustle was somewhat muffled by the ever-present veil of Cowboy's absence. Everyone's inner thoughts were with Jack. Where was he, how was he, why did he leave them? Race tried to push these thoughts out of his own head as he lay down his cards of another winning hand.
"Well boys, I think I'se gonna get to bed." Skittery stood, stretched, and glanced around at Snoddy and Specs, who followed suit.
"Yeah, it's been a rough day. G'night guys."
The poker game quickly dissolved as the rest of the boys realized that they were rather tired as well. Race collected his winnings and approached Blink as Skittery quietly called his followers over to discuss tomorrow's plans.
"Da Bronx again boys?" Skittery suggested. Snoddy agreed.
"But what are we gonna tell dese chumps when dey ax us where we sold tomorrow?" Specs queried.
Skittery snorted contemptibly. "We'll tell em whateva the heck we want to. Dey ain't in charge of us!" The others agreed heartily.
Blue Boxer: *holds out Blink* Come and get 'im, he's waitin!!!
Lil Italy: Thanks so much, love!
Fantasy: Shank you much, dearie
Nebula-Archer: *holds out chapter* Here ya go!!
Hope ya'll like, please pretty please review!!!
~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Jack's thoughts were now dwelling more on the future that lay before him than on the past that he had left behind. He would finally be a real cowboy out in Santa Fe, breakin' his back for no one but himself, free to do as he wished. He now had a future, there was no holding him back. He could now exercise the will and drive to succeed that he had felt in his heart ever since he first became a newsie. He would do whatever it took. He again reminded himself that there was no turning back.
---
"So what we do now?"
Race nonchalantly counted his papes and thanked Mr. Zudiker, the new distribution engineer. "Whadaya mean?"
Blink sat down next to his friend to take a look at the headlines. "I know you don't know anymore den I do 'bout bein a leader."
"Eh, dere's nuttin to it. Jus remember how Jack did it. Don't worry 'bout it. Jus wait till somethin happens dat someone needs your leadership soivices for."
"So people'll jus start comin to us whenever dey gots a problem?" He felt a slight tug at his pant leg. He looked down to see Tumbler staring up at him with big, watery eyes.
"Blink, he didn't gimme awl me papes."
Blink perplexedly followed as the small boy dragged him over to the familiar distribution desk. "What's goin on?" he asked politely.
"Da kid said he wanted t'oity papes, but he only 'ad enough for twenty-five," Zudiker explained diffidently.
"No, I had enough, I promise!" Tumbler insisted, near tears.
Blink quieted the boy, shooing him away slightly, and smiled apologetically at Zudiker as he surreptitiously dug in his pockets for enough loose change for five papers. "You know dese kids dese days, ain't got a very good education. He musta jus counted wrong, it was an honest mistake," he whispered, leaning over the counter slightly.
Mr. Zudiker winked at Blink and nodded understandingly, sliding Tumbler his five papers. "Sorry 'bout dat, buddy! My mistake!"
Tumbler quickly hugged Blink's leg and ran off to sell his papes with his friends. Blink rejoined Race with a peculiar look on his face. "Ya know, dat felt real good, helpin someone out like dat."
Race chuckled. "See, I told ya. Nuttin to it."
"Yeah. Nuttin to it."
After buying their papes, Snoddy and Specs drew away from the others and joined Skittery to discuss their new selling spot.
"So where we gonna go?"
"We's goin to da Bronx."
"All da way to da Bronx?" Specs exclaimed.
"Yeah, we's gonna sell over by dat new zoo dey buildin. No 'hattan newsies never sold dere," Skittery decided.
"Don't you think that might cause a few problems with the newsboys in the Bronx?" Snoddy asked quietly.
"Yeah," Specs agreed. "We can't afford no trouble from dem."
"Nah, no one'll notice us. I jus gotta get away from dese guys, ya know?"
The two others nodded in agreement.
Blink and Race sold together by the harbor and Central Park for most of the day, occasionally joined by Mush, Itey, and some of the younger boys. It had been a good day, fortune shining on a new era of Manhattan in the form of the blazing, cloudless sun, and the newsies reunited at Tibby's later in the day.
"Hey Crutchy, how'd da day treat ya?"
The gimp was positively beaming. "Oh, it was a great day today, Dutchy. I sold eighty papes!"
"Way to go man! I could only push seventy."
Blink scanned the restaurant full of bustling, joking boys, noticing that nearly all of his newsies had gathered there. His newsies. The thought sounded so strange, yet somehow so right in his mind. "Eh, anyone seen Skitts today?"
The rest of the guys looked around, slightly ashamed that they hadn't noticed their friend missing. "No, an' I ain't seen Snoddy or Specs neither," Bumlets commented.
Race was somewhat concerned at this point. What kind of a leader was he, relaxing and goofing off when some of his boys might be in trouble? His boys. Yeah, that sounded good. "Swifty," he called, jumping in shock when the boy was at his side almost before Race had finished calling his name. "Swifty, run over to da lodgin' house real quick n' see if Skittery, Snoddy, n' Specs is dere." Swifty was out the door before Race could finish his command.
The normal festivities at Tibby's continued, but of course it was different without Jack. Not good different, but not really bad different either. Just not the same. They all felt it, but no one said anything. Jack had been the topic of a few conversations during selling that day, and the man's name came up every now and then, but generally everyone was trying to keep him off their minds. They were all becoming increasingly confident that everything would be alright. However, many a 'hattanite would lie in his bed that night, thinking of his old leader and friend and trying to hold back the silent tears that streamed down his face.
---
Jack had finally boarded his last train, leaving from St. Louis, Missouri heading straight to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The euphoria welling up within him was overwhelming, and he felt as if he might explode if he didn't get off that train soon. Jack reached into his pockets, gathering the change and straightening the crumpled bills as he counted his money. He had enough to at least get him up and on his feet. He would soon have enough to even buy his own horse and get his own place, and maybe he would even meet a girl and have his own family. The possibilities were endless, Jack was sure of it. Only the sky was his limit. He was no longer trapped with no future; he would have his change of scene.
---
Approximately seven minutes after he had left, Swifty returned with the news that the three missing newsies were indeed back at the lodging house, having been rather worn out after a hard day of selling around the construction site of the new Bronx Zoo.
"Dey awight?"
"They seemed perfectly fine, just a bit tired," The Rake answered softly and smoothly with a slight smirk.
"Thanks Swift," Race acknowledged, receiving a small nod in reply from the dark, mysterious boy who now retreated back into the shadows. Race pensively sipped his Coca-Cola and cast his friend a wary, sidelong glance. He loved Swifty like a brother, but sometimes the kid made him a little antsy. They didn't just give out nicknames like "The Rake" for nothing. However, Race knew that he was most likely completely harmless and simply too concerned with more important issues than causing trouble to a fellow man. But he would be sure to keep an eye on him just in case. Couldn't have any uprisings or anything. As Race was contemplating this, neither of the new leaders gave any thought to the three young men brooding back at the lodging house, somewhat unwittingly planning their mutiny against them and all of their friends.
---
As they had stated before, Skittery, Specs, and Snoddy meant no harm whatsoever. However, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Or rather in this case, the road to full-fledged borough warfare. Little did they know that they had been watched as they sold on that sunny yet slightly chilly September day. Cut O'Shea knew that the Bronx was obviously not in Manhattan, and he knew that Jack Kelly knew that too. These were definitely Jack's boys; Spot Conlon had confirmed it. It was Bronx territory, Manhattan didn't have any right there. Jack knew better than to sell on someone else's turf. Cut considered going to Kelly, but decided to bide his time before causing any trouble. But if this kept up, there most certainly would be trouble. Kelly could count on it.
---
At long last, Jack's train lurched into the Santa Fe terminal. He shivered with expectancy as butterflies pounded away in his stomach, gathering his meager belongings with shaking hands, and assuredly, yet somewhat diffidently, stepped off the train into his new life. He fixed his old cowboy hat on his head to block the searing southwestern sun from his eyes. Jack took a deep breath of fresh, non-polluted air, and for the first time in his life, he really felt free.
---
"Hey Skitts, Specs, Snoddy," Racetrack greeted cheerfully as he and the rest of the guys came back to the Lodging House for the night.
"Oh. Hey Racetrack," Skittery returned shortly, barely glancing at him from over his cards and quickly returning to the half-hearted poker game.
"So, uh, where'd you guys sell today?"
Skittery looked up at Race, seemingly annoyed. "The Bronx."
"Da Bronx?" Race sat down on his bed and lit a cigar. "Why so far out?"
"Wanted a change o' scene," Specs answered nonchalantly after a brief pause, realizing that Skittery was apparently out of answers.
Race regarded the three with a suspicious look, casting a glance at Blink, who was just returning to the bunkroom after washing his face.
"Yous didn't run into no trouble out dere?"
"No. Why should we?"
Race shrugged. "Dunno. It's jus, you know. Not our usual turf."
"Oh. No, no one gave us no trouble."
"Well, dat's good. But from now on, let's try to stay in 'hattan, okay?"
The three poker players looked at each other narrowly, then Skittery: "Sure Race. Whateva you say."
"Okay. Thanks."
Blink looked over at Race and whispered, "I don't like dis. Dese guys, I t'ink dey up to somet'in."
Race sat quietly for a moment as he pensively smoked his cigar. "I dunno. Dey's prob'ly jus havin some trouble 'justin to da new leadership is awl. We'll keep an eye on 'em, but I t'ink dey harmless. But oh, Swifty kinda gives me da creeps, we should keep an eye on him too."
"Yeah, I know whatcha mean, but I don't t'ink he'll be a problem. He keeps to himself a lot."
The guys unconsciously scanned the room and found the Rake playing poker with Skittery, Specs, and Snoddy. Snitch had joined them as well.
"Well, he does most o' da time."
"Hey Race," called Pie-eater, who had also joined the game. "Come play with us, we'll deal ya in."
"Awight, I'se comin." Score. This would be a good opportunity to see if he could find out if anything was up. And if he couldn't, he could at least earn a little extra cash. Hopefully. He took one last look around the bunk room. Everything was pretty much business as usual. Blink had joined a game of Spoons with Mush, Bumlets, Itey, and Dutchy. Snipeshooter, Boots, and Tumbler were playing marbles with some of the other young boys. Yep, business as usual. But Race knew that it was somehow different. The normal laughter and bustle was somewhat muffled by the ever-present veil of Cowboy's absence. Everyone's inner thoughts were with Jack. Where was he, how was he, why did he leave them? Race tried to push these thoughts out of his own head as he lay down his cards of another winning hand.
"Well boys, I think I'se gonna get to bed." Skittery stood, stretched, and glanced around at Snoddy and Specs, who followed suit.
"Yeah, it's been a rough day. G'night guys."
The poker game quickly dissolved as the rest of the boys realized that they were rather tired as well. Race collected his winnings and approached Blink as Skittery quietly called his followers over to discuss tomorrow's plans.
"Da Bronx again boys?" Skittery suggested. Snoddy agreed.
"But what are we gonna tell dese chumps when dey ax us where we sold tomorrow?" Specs queried.
Skittery snorted contemptibly. "We'll tell em whateva the heck we want to. Dey ain't in charge of us!" The others agreed heartily.