Ch 3-



They had walked around the city all day, and Linda had gotten to know the city and the five Newsies pretty well. They talked about Chicago and how it was different from New York (she did omit, however, why she was there. For all they knew she was just visiting) She liked them and learned their names. Mouth's little brother was called Skunk because he was sprayed by one his first night in New York. The brothers were from Long Island, but they left when they were young so they had New York accents. They copper skinned one was Nuts because he could crack a walnut with his mouth. Mouth, whom besides Ryan was her favorite Newsie, got his nickname because he had a big mouth- and a comment for everything. They walked back to Tibby's for dinner (which all the newsies got for free). There Linda met some more of the newsies. She met the sons (and in some cases, daughters) of the former Newsies. Racetrack had two kids, Stella and Orion. Racetrack had caught up the schooling he had missed and eventually gone to college. There he studied astronomy and passes on his love of the stars to his kids, who were 14 and 15. Blink had left New York for about a month before he decided he missed it too much and came back. His daughter, Wild Card, had an explosive temper. But she was also very protective of her fellow Newsies, especially the younger ones.

"Well," Wild Card said, sitting on a backwards chair in the front of one of the booths, "What are we gonna call the new girl?" No one responded immediately. They all looked like this was the most important decision of their lives. Finally Mouth spoke up.

"Hows about Sunshine, for that shiner she got after kicking the crap out of the Twins?" Everyone laughed and nodded in agreement; Mouth added, "I told you I'm a genius but no one would believe me. This comment was met with good-natured 'Yeah rights' and 'Whatever you say, Mouth'.

They ate and walked over to the Lodging House. No one but Ryan knew her last name, and she didn't know if she wanted them to. She liked being liked for just being herself, not her father's daughter. As they walked up the stairs Sunshine held back and called to Ryan.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure, shoot. What's on your mind?"

"Well…would you mind not telling the guys that Spot's my dad? I really like it here and want everyone to like me for me, not for being Spot's daughter." He nodded and put his arm around her shoulder.

"No problem there, kid. Of you wanna tell 'em, that's your business".

"Thanks, Joker" she said, using his nickname. With that they walked up the stairs and into the bunkroom. A thought suddenly hit Ryan. Where's she gonna sleep? He knew that Heather (Kloppman's daughter, who had taken over since Kloppman had passes away) would forbid her to sleep with the boys. Ryan didn't see the harm in it (he trusted his Newsies and Linda) and just led her up stairs. He showed her to a bunk and to a very small room where she could put her bags and change. I don't own the Newsies (I only own Ryan/Jester, Linda/Sunshine, Skunk, Mouth, and a few others I can't think of now