Shout ins:

Lil Rain Angel: You're my favorite crayon! (hugs Rain) Don't worry. When I start a new story, you can send your profile! :) love you, read, read, read!



Jack: Yoah awfully demandin' to poah Rain, ahn't you?

Legs: Oh, hush.

Jack: Yeah? Why don't YOU hush?

Legs: (mutters darkly) Brat.



Sureshot Higgins: I just had to put the Uno thing in. It's the only card game I'm an expert at and I figured Race needed to learn how to play.

Thank you for not hating me! (hugs Shot) I don't think I could go on if you did. (sniffs)

Legs: Sureshot says not to make fun of Skittery anymore or she just might have to find herself a new favorite Italian newsie, namely, Skittery.

Race: I'd like ta see huh try it. (smiles confidently) Da poah t'ing would miss me too much. Ain't dat right, sweethawt?

Skittery: You'se really need ta get a grip, Racetrack.

Race: Oh, contra'ah, Skittso. (puts an arm around Legs) I'se got one.

Legs: You don't have to be so smug about it. It's not like I can help being desperately in love with you.

Race: I t'ink I'se made my point. (smiles triumphantly)

Legs: Hey, Bumlets! KRISTEN, MY DARLING!

Race: I t'ought I was yoah dahling.

Legs: (elbows Race) Say hi.

Race: Hi? Hi ta who, pray tell?

Legs: Kristen and Bumlets!

Race: (breaks into a large grin) 'Eeeeeeyyyyyy, ya sorry bum! How's it rollin'?

Kristen:(muttering) I hope you're talking to HIM.

Bumlets: So Racetrack, how much ya lose dis week?

Race: (turns red) Aw, shut ya lid. I'd much rathah talk to yoah lovely wife, anyhow. Kristen, how ya holdin' up wid dat lazy good foah nuttin of a newsie ya got deah?

Kristen: Fine, thanks.

Legs: We miss you! I promise you guys get to come back soon! :)

Bumlets: Hey, t'anks.

Kristen: Oh, good! (smiles)





DemonBlood: Yeah, I wanna spit shake with a newsie! (pouts)

They're innocent children. They're not supposed to know how to play poker. Heheh.

Here's the update you requested. ;) Thanks.



snipah higgins: Glad to oblige. Race in yellow is hot, dude.

Thank you, punkin.



imaginelet: The Uno thing was fun, wasn't it?

Well, duh, you ARE loved! (hugs Let) (all newsies present hug Let) There, ya see?

Thanks for the idea! I'm SO gonna make Jenny do that. :D





ShortAntntionSpaz: Thanks as always.:)

I wasn't sure if you were still following the story. If you still want a part, would you send me your profile again with a modern spin? I'd really appreciate it.

I actually don't have AIM, yet. When I get it, I'll let you know. :)





PhoenixTBN (Katie): Thanks for your review! :)

I'm afraid I don't have any more room right now for new characters! I really would love to have you in the story but I feel like if I use someone's character I need to have enough time to fully concentrate on their individual story lines. If I have another casting call, I'll let you know. :)





Lady Elwen: This last chapter was long. Hard to write, though. Thank you so much for what you said about it!

Race is adorable forever! Yeah, Tanya's little sister is my new pet.

(joins in happy dance) Look, your character's arrived! :D





Raven: Your review made my week! I was so worried you were gonna hate what I did with Raven's character. Whew. (breathes immense sigh of relief)



David: (panics) Oh, don't cry! Here! (hands her his blue handkerchief)

Raven: (sniffles)

David: Look what you did, Legs! And you think I'M trouble? And why do you think boys are twisted, Raven?

Raven: Because they ah.

David: I'm a nice boy.

Raven: Yeah, shoa. (blows nose) Wheah's Spot?





Angelic One: You're welcome, of course.

Glad you liked the chapter. Yeah, the Uno bit has become quite popular. Thank you...

Here's more...:)





Sapphy: Confused guys are interesting to watch, aren't they? (Hint) The baby is now a main character in the story. Thank you for the suggestion. (makes note to self: throw rich girls off Brooklyn Bridge)



Mush: Goils? Wheah?





Cici: Whoa. LONG REVIEW, BABY! Thanks, it was fun to read. :)

Glad you liked the last installment.

Bringer of Truth wanted you to know that Bonsai kittens do not exist. Here's the site: .

That would be horrible, though, if they did. Don't tell Racetrack. He's sensitive.





Aiya: Thanks for your review! Here's another chapter. :)



MethosMacLeod: Awesome? Thank you.

You want some Blink, huh? Hmmm...

Legs: Blink, get your butt over here! You have a fan!

Blink: (groans) Oh, good, I'se gettin' hot.

Legs: Not that kind of fan, numbskull. She likes you.

Blink: She?

Legs: Say hi to MacLeod.

Blink: (waves) Hi.

Legs: Ok, you can go back to whatever it was you were doing now.

Blink: Watchin' Sahgeant Bilko.

Legs: Oh, I...(realizes what he said) Who picked the movie?

Blink: Racetrack.

Legs: Figures.

Racetrack: (in front of television) It's amazin', Jack. 'E looks jus' like me, don'tcha t'ink?

Jack: Nah, he's prettier.

Racetrack: (darkly) Dat ain't funny, Cowboy.

Legs: Yeah, you can go, Blink.

Blink: Aww, shucks...(hugs Legs) That's so nice of you! (dances sweetly away)



feisty: Yeah, sad chapters are so...sad? Anyways. Here's a happy chapter! At least, I think it's happy. (checks) Yeah, pretty happy. Hope you like your character in this. :) Thanks for letting me use her.



Dreamer: I'm so glad I got to put you in the story! :D Thanks.

Raven's past is a mystery to me, too. Hmm...Spot? Get over here and explain this to me.

Spot: I'se busy.

Legs: Doin' WHAT?

Spot: Stuff.

Legs: Like?

Spot: (pokes head downstairs) Look, Legsy, it's really hawd ta kiss Raven when you'se shoutin' so loud. Could ya keep it down, goily?

Legs: Um...ok. (tries to shake mental image) Okaaaaaay, then. Oh, Racetrack says he's "alloigic to granola." Yeah, right.



Bringer of Truth: Thanks for the information. :)



Chubby Cheeks: Yeah, Race shouldn't beat up anymore tv's. Tanya's mother will kill him if he does.

Thank you forever! :) Here's an update that you might have been looking forward to. (Ok, that made very little sense)



Moonlight: Thank you for the positive encouragement! All of your reactions have kept me going with this story. I've been sort of disappointed with the last couple chapters myself. I'm so glad you guys like Race in the future! Thank you so much for your support and graciousness! That's been so wonderful. And I'm on my merry way to review your story now! :D

Race: I wouldn't soak Jack. Cowboy's my best friend. Wouldn't soak Spot. Not that I'm scahed of 'im owah nuthin'! But heck yeah, I'd soak Blink anyday! He's too happy to be nohmal.

Blink: (is hurt) Moonlight's wrong. You're not SWEET and KIND.

Race: Ta people I like I am.



Corky Higgins: Do you have any IDEA how much I've missed you and Vinnie? Seriously, I thought I was gonna have to send out a search party. (yells at guys) It's ok, fellas. They're back!

(Newsie search party comes back in, grumbling to themselves)

Mush: What ah you talkin' about, huh?

Jack: Well, t'anks a lot. We got all woiked up foah nuttin'.

Spot: (disappointed) No fightin' den?

Skittery: Aww, you found 'em too soon! I wanted ta be da hero foah once.

Boots: Yeah, you ruin EVERYTHING, Legs!

(Chorus of YEAH'S)

Blink: (waving at Corky) Hey, Corky! We missed you! I'm glad you're back! (beams)

Skittery: Somebody lock 'im in da closet.



Vinnie, my love, I was beginning to think you stood me up. (I've never been stood up before, how exciting!) But, of course, I forgive you. You can still take me out if you want. Tomorrow night at seven...hmmm, I think I'm free. :) SURPRISE? Like...a good surprise or a bad one? Love you, baby...see you tomorrow night. (kisses Vinnie)

lol, you'll pretend you're in it? Aww, I'm really sorry! I wish to high heaven I could put you in. (feels sad) I love you, though! Next time I have a casting call, send me a profile. :)





NicNac: I thought it was fitting that Racetrack lost at Uno. Heheh.

Race: (rubs head) Ow! I was just tryin' ta keep Legs from gettin' fat!

Legs: Oh, how noble. (rolls eyes)

Race: Yeah, I know! (injured) So how come yoah friend hoit me? (sniff)

Legs: Can't imagine why...(winks at NicNac)

Race: Hey, I saw dat! I knew it. You'se in cahoots!!!!

Legs: Cawhat?

Race: Cahoots!

Legs: What are those?

Race: Uh...

Legs: Thanks, Nac. :)



Ivy: Yeah, Race is confused but cute. Thank you for the review. :)

The Conlons rock, don't they? (everyone claps for Ruin and Spot)

Spot: (stomps feet, jumping up and down) no, No, NO!!!!!!!!! Da applause is mine, aaaaaaaalll mine! Go 'way, Ruin.

Ruin: Why?

Spot: Yoah stealin' me glory!

Ruin: Well, yoah stealin' everythin' else so guess dat makes us even, don't it?

Spot: (purple with fury)

Legs: Mush, Ivy sends her love.

Mush: (blushing) T'ank you. Tell huh...(looks around to make sure none of the guys can hear him) Tell huh I send my love back. (smiles, proud of himself)



PsYcHoJo: Hey, you're back! Yayness. :) Thank you...here...Skits, Jo's back!

Skittery: Hey.

Legs: He's not good at showing emotion.

Racetrack: Yeah, "hey" means he's glad ta see you'se.



Bella: Clueless Racetrack=Cute Racetrack...but he is getting the hang of things. Sort of. As soon as I think of a good story idea, I'll email you. You'll probably think of something absolutely genius before that but I'll email you, anyway! :) Thank you, punkin.

Love you, too! Glad you're home for a bit.

Jack: Yeah, love you'se, too, Bella.

Race: Yeah, I'se got Legs. (pulls Legs into lap) I'se got every goil I want. Shoaty, Snipah, Shoahshot, Legs, Tanya...Moira...

Legs: Moira is Jack's!

Race: Oh...in THEORY. Deep down...da goil's in love wid me. Everyone is.

Legs: You're so full of it.

Race: See? Even Bella says she loves me! Ha. What does DAT say ta you?

Jack: Yeah, but she loves me moah!

Race: Dat's what you'd like ta t'ink.

Jack: (dangerously quiet) I t'ink it cos it's true, Racetrack.

Race: Yeah, shoah, Jackie boy...you keep tellin' yoahself dat.



Chicago: Yeah, poker for eight year olds. It's pretty cute.

Congratulations on your blue belt! (hugs Chicago) My bro's in martial arts and he enjoys testing new kicks on me. Seriously, he's scary.

Thank you, darling. Here's more. :)



shingiami nanoda: Thank you so much! Your stories rock. You need to update that story you started because I really need to know what happened Racetrack's back! Mwah. :) (hugs nanoda)





DISCLAIMER: I will never own Newsies. When I say never, I mean NEVER, EVER, EVER on this side of FOREVER. So no one sue me because I have nothing of value. And I'm saving for college. You wouldn't wanna take away my chance at a good edu, would ya? Aw, c'mon, that'd be mean.

Disney owns Newsies

Raven owns Raven

The real newsies from the turn of the century owned themselves.



****

"So this is why you weren't at school?" LaShonda prompted. "You were busy picking up some extremely hot lunatic who thinks he's from 1900?"

"He's not a lunatic!"

"A hot lunatic who brainwashes people!"

"Do I look brainwashed to you?"

"I don't know. You do look kind of glazed over."

"LaShonda..."

****

"See? A royal flush. Dat means I win!" Racetrack grinned and began pocketing the monopoly money the girls had dragged out for the game.

The three children whispered to one another and then Jenny spoke up, "We don't want to play, anymore."

"Oh," Racetrack looked a little disappointed.

"Why don't you guys go play somewhere else?" Mrs. Smith suggested gently.

"I don't believe we've met," she told Racetrack, as the girls trotted down the hall. "I'm LaShonda's mother."

Racetrack stood up quickly and tugged his hat off, "Ant'ony Higgins."

Mrs. Smith shook his outstretched hand, "And how do you know Tanya?"

The newsie thought for a moment, "I ran into huh at da theatah." He prayed silently that they still had theaters in the future.

"Oh, I see! Are you an actor?"

"Me? Nah. I'm a newsie."

"A what?"

Tanya walked in and to his rescue then, "It's slang."

"Oh, for...what?"

"For..."

A shriek from the kitchen interrupted them. The three rushed towards the other room.

"LaShonda Marie, are you alright?"

"The water splashed out of the pot! I burned my hand!"

"Let me see," her mother asked. "It looks alright to me."

"Are you kidding me? It was this close to hitting my eye! I could have gone BLIND!"

Tanya bit back a laugh. And everyone called HER the drama queen.

No one noticed Racetrack steal quietly towards the stove and pick up the bag of pasta.

****

"So you guys are going to the party, right?"

"Party?" Tanya looked up from her plate of spaghetti.

Racetrack didn't say anything, just leaned over and wiped a red dot of sauce from her chin.

LaShonda watched the exchange almost jealously.

"What party is this?" Mrs. Smith asked.

"The party at Greg's house, Mom. It's an end of the year blow out. Seriously, you guys HAVE to come."

"I like pahties," said Race.

"Yeah, ok. We'll come," Tanya took a gulp of milk.

"I wanna go!" Jenny announced.

"No," Tanya told her.

"Why not?"

"This is a party for our class. And last time I checked you weren't in high school."

Jenny made a face at her sister.

"Eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"Eat, anyway."

"You can't make me."

Tanya sighed, frustrated.

Racetrack looked back and forth at the two, thinking for a moment. He picked up his fork and leaning forward, whispered in her ear, "Hey, Jenny."

"What?" she asked him, sullenly.

"Betcha I'se can eat moah den YOU."

"Nu uh."

"Betcha a nickel."

"What would I do with a nickel?"

Racetrack looked taken aback. What wondrous things HE could do if HE had a nickel!

"Well, I'se can finish my plate befoah you can finish yoahs."

Jenny didn't say anything, just tore into her plate of noodles with a furious child-like energy.

Tanya mouthed a "thank you" in Racetrack's direction.

****

As Tanya once again shoved the key into the apartment door, Jenny turned to frown at Racetrack. "Aren't you going home now?"

"Uh..."

"He's staying here, Jenny."

"What? Why?"

"Because he doesn't have anywhere else to go." Tanya pushed the door all the way open and stepped into the hallway.

"Oh, please," her sister rolled her eyes, "Like that makes any sense."

"You've been watching too many movies. You're too young to be rolling your eyes."

"Does Mom know?"

"Know what?"

"That your boyfriend is staying with us?"

"No, and she doesn't need to."

"Oh, but I think she does," Jenny smiled evilly, grabbing the phone from the wall.

"Don't you dare..." Tanya started forward.

Jenny shrieked and ran down the hall towards her bedroom, taking the cordless phone with her.

"You call her and I SWEAR I will KILL you, Jennifer Nicole Farthing!"

She and Race ran down the hallway and pounded on the door, "Jenny! Open this door!"

"Hahahaha...haahaa...you can't make me..." her little sister said in a sing-song voice.

"Jenny, please," Tanya begged.

"What's the matter, Tanya? If he's allowed to stay here then what do you care if Mom finds out?"

Racetrack tried, "Hey, kid. Wouldja please come out jus' foah a little bit?"

****

Jenny stood up on her cushioned desk chair making it swing wildly. She dialed her mother's cell phone and listened for the ring. Busy...

"Jennifer, open this door."

"C'mon, Jenny. Open da doah."

"Nope, sorry!" she yelled, dialing the number again. The chair swerved madly. She steadied herself.

"Seriously, Jenny, you can have anything you want. Just don't call Mom."

"Not likely," her sister yelled, in a high, screeching voice.

Racetrack couldn't help grinning.

"Ugh! Sometimes I really hate her!" Tanya gritted her teeth, letting her fist fall on the locked door.

The newsie's grin disappeared, "Don't say dat, Tanya."

"It's true."

He put two fingers to her lips and leaning close, breathed quietly in her face, "No, it ain't, Tanya. You have no idea how lucky you ah ta have someone. Even if you feel like moidahin' huh."

She opened her mouth to say something but Racetrack was backing her up against the door, leaning closer to kiss her.

Jenny sighed in disgust. Still busy...she listened for activity outside her door. Her eyes narrowed. They had stopped shouting and pounding on the door. There were no more suggestions of violent deaths or pleading bribes...just silence.

"You guys?"

She opened the door a slit and peeked out. No sound, no movement. Well, darn. Where was the fun in getting her sister in trouble if her sister wasn't groveling at her feet or making really funny threats about what she'd do if Jenny told?

The door opened farther, "Tanya? Racetrack? Hello? Where are you guys?"

All was quiet. Well, almost...what was that noise in the living room?

****

"What if Jenny calls my mom?" Tanya whispered anxiously.

"She won't," Racetrack kept his eyes on the screen, mesmerized.

"She might."

"She's only doin' it ta get attention. Thinks she's got all da mahbles but she don't."

Jenny's little face appeared in the doorway, "Can I watch?"

"We'se don't watch TEL-EH-VISHUN wid snitches." Racetrack seemed proud of new and improved vocabulary.

The little girl's lip quivered.

Tanya stifled a laugh.

****

A glance at the clock and Tanya yawned, "Jenny, time for bed."

"What? No!" Jenny looked up from playing with Racetrack.

Tanya looked at the newsie who was holding a Barbie tipsily between his calloused fingers.

He shrugged, his brown eyes wide, "What?"

"You're so cute."

"I ain't cute," he growled.

"Yeah, sure. Jenny. Bed. Now."

"But..."

"You've got school tomorrow."

"So do you!"

Tanya had forgotten about that, "I know. C'mon, let's go."

Jenny threw her arms around Race, who looked nervous all of a sudden, "Racetrack tucks me in, then."

Licking his lips uncertainly and not looking at Jenny, he swung her into his arms and stood up.

Tanya thought he looked older, suddenly; and she remembered he was old enough to be a father himself. And technically, a great-grandfather. The thought made her blush and shake her head in turns.

Race's eyes bore into hers as he passed her into the hallway, his dark blue jeans swishing.

"Tha t'ings I do foah you," he muttered.

"You know you love me," she giggled, her mind telling her how truly strange this all was.

"Yeah, I do some stupid t'ings, sometimes," his dark eyes looked a little sad under the brim of his grey cap.

Tanya winced inwardly but her eyes glowed at him, "So do I."

****

a/n: I was planning to introduce the new characters in this chapter but it looks like it has to wait till next chap (and the PARTY). So if you're still waiting for the new characters, I will start introducing them next chapter. :) Thank you, guys! Love you all, Legs