Kloppman climbed the creaky stairs heading for the girls room. The Manhattan Lodging House has since the strike been given a new wing, added on by Pulitzer himself, so the girls had somewhere to stay. Just as he was about to turn the knob the door swung open and Megan Prescott stuck her head out. "Good mornin' Kloppman." She said a smile on her face, her brown-yellow eyes dancing.
"Good monrin' Granny. Yer up early." He said noticing she was fully dressed and cleaned, ready for work.
"I already got he girls up Kloppman, ya can go get the boys."
"You go Sparrow up?" He questioned.
"Almost." She turned her head back into the room. "COME ON SPARROW, GET UP." Kloppman head a mumble from inside the room and seconds later a thud.
"WHO DID THAT." Sparrow yelled.
"She's up now Kloppman, don't worry." Granny winked before closing the door. Kloppman smiled as he headed back down the stairs.
"WHO DID THAT?" Sparrow yelled. She threw black the blankets that covered her head and rubbed her sore butt. Her mattress lay in a pile along with her pillows. Sparrow's eyes scanned and look into each of the girl's faces who all seemed to either find the floor or ceiling interesting at the same moment.
"Sparrow." Said Granny walking up to her. "Come on, ya need to get ready."
"This was your idea, wasn't it." She said pushing back a strand of her shin length blond hair that had fallen into her ocean blue eyes.
"Now what makes ya think I would ever do something like that or even be a part of it?" Sparrow gave her a dirty look.
"Because I know you to well. I now you are sneaky like that." She said trying to use her height to stair her down.
"Get ready." Granny ordered.
Sparrow watched her as she began to place her mattress and other bed belongings back onto her top bunk. Her butt was still sore and she knew she was going t have a bruise.
A soft tune from someone whistling filled the small room. Sparrow looked down at the girl from where the whistle came. "Pinch must ya whistle the same tune every mornin'?"
Katy Price, also known as Pinch, looked at Sparrow with her almond gray eyes. She had sharp features, much like a fox. She sat up and tried to fix her dark brown hair. Her tips were roughly cut from the pair of dull scissors she used to do it. "I like the song is all."
"Well pick a new one." Sparrow said.
"Someone's in a bad mood." Said baby adjusting her gray skirt and white blouse. Her small stature made her look 11 when she really was 17. Her eyes were green and laughed at the scene before her of Sparrow trying to fix her bed. She pulled her brownish red ringlets that came to her shoulders back off of her face.
"Well ya would be to if ya got pushed off yer bed." Sparrow said smiling as she finally got her bed back the way she likes it.
"Oh get o'er it." Said Granny placing her hand on her hip. "Come on get a move on." Sparrow glared at the girl but did as she was told.
Sparrow was in charge of the girls newsies, as her boyfriend Jack was of the boys, however, everyone listened to Granny. Her kindness made everyone look at her like she was all of their grandmother's and everyone had the up most respect for her, even Sparrow, so that is why she was second in command.
A half hour later all the girl's were dressed and heading out the door. The boys who were running late ran to catch up and talk with the girls. Jack ran up to Sparrow and kissed her cheek. "Mornin' honey." He said glaring at the few who snickered. Not getting a reply he looked at her and saw she wasn't in a good mood. "Ya was the thud this mornin'." She turned to glare at him and his smirk quickly disappeared.
"Man Sparrow, that was a pretty loud thud." Said Kid Blink.
"Yeah, ya think ya may be gainin' weight." Added Racetrack. Sparrow looked at Blink then Race and lunged at the two smirking newsboys. Jack grabbed hold of her waist before she could reach them.
"They meant no harm Sparrow." A small smirk crossed his face. "I can rub that sore spot for ya."
"I can punch ya in the face." She said in response.
"Do it Sparrow, he deserves it." Said Miracle walking up to the group. "Mornin' dear brother, already getting' yerself inta trouble." Ariana Sullivan was 14 and had shoulder length dark brown hair with natural red highlights. She had brown eyes and stood only 5'4. Unlike her brother, Jack, she still went by her old last name, Sullivan.
"Hey Mir, it is nice seeing ya in Manhattan." Joked Race. Miracle doesn't live in on borough, same with her best friend Rebecca Scott, also known as Scribble. Both of them travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Miracle does it because of her brother and her boyfriend, Spot Conlon, who is the leader of Brooklyn. Scribble is from Brooklyn, but she has a few friends in Manhattan and will come and visit them so often she is just looked as belonging in both boroughs.
"Well thank ya Race and it is nice to see you are as annoyin' as always." Race smiled.
"So where's Scribble today?" He questioned. Everyone knew he liked her, but neither have the nerve to ask the other out.
"She'll be along later. She is bringing a new book for ya bookworm." Miracle said looking at Alison Hudson. She was the same height as Miracle, but two years older. Her long brown hair was pulled into a tight ponytail and had bright blue eyes.
"Really, do you know which one?" Bookworm asked curiously.
"Oliver something or another, don't remember some guy named Dickens wrote it, I think."
"Oliver Twist." Said Two-Bits correcting her.
"Yeah, that's it." Said Miracle.
"Oh yeah, I had asked to borrow that one." Said Bookworm excitedly.
"Guys the bell is gonna ring any second. We gotta go." Mush said.
"All right lets go." Said Jack, his pace picking up.
The newsies made it just on time and they all lined up to get their papers. Two-Bits was standing in the middle next to her best friend Skittery. She is almost seventeen years old and stood 5'4. She had blue eyes and long auburn hair pulled into a ponytail. Her hands played with a think black ribbon that around her neck.
"Hey Two-Bits, how many papes ya getting' today?" Asked race.
"50." She answered.
"Why yer only gonna sell at most half." Said Blink jumping in.
"What ya think I ain't as good as seller as ya two." She said getting defensive.
"Two-Bits they didn't mean no harm, they were just tryin' to be honest." Said Skittery.
"Well just you watch, today will be different." She said storming off with her fifty papers in hand.
"She ain't serious, is she?" Questioned Race.
"She is." Said Skittery. "Two-Bits wait for me." He yelled grabbing his papes, chucking the money on the counter and running off to catch up with his now more determined then ever friend.
