Disclaimer: I do not own the newsies. I do own Red and Mr. Cleaves.

Dimonah Tralon - I'm a big procrastinator too. Thanks for the review!

Spraks Kelly - Nope. You're wrong. Well, you could be right. You'll just have to wait and see.

love97 - You'll get to know her through her rants and thinking. Thanks for the review!

-Chapter 5-

Red's POV

We walked down the gloomy streets of the city, my mind still deep in thought.

I don't like it when other people are troubled, it bothers me too much, my brother says it's my only weakness.

He thinks that I shouldn't spend so much time worrying 'bout what everyone else is thinking and that I should only be worried 'bout what I am thinking. According to him it's a quality that only a woman can have.

But I don't think that's true, because he's worried about what I am thinking all the time.

I would never tell him that though, not now anyway. I'm saving it for later, when I can really make use of it.

I have a lot of theories in my mind, like how I can tell what people are thinking. Not really of course, but I can't be lied to and I know when something is the matter with someone. I am able to read personalities really well, another trait my brother says only women can possess, but when I tell him he's wrong he doesn't answer.

I don't even think he really believes it himself, he just gets pure joy out of bothering me.

We finally walked through the gate of the distribution office and stepped into line. The line was shorter than usual that morning, about twenty people less dense then normal. I stood there, not saying a word to anyone.

I'm usually deep in conversation with the boys about headlines or argued about where the best selling spots were.

But I didn't care about all that today, he was troubled, and therefore, I was troubled too.

After about ten minutes of waiting for papes I made it to the front of the line.

"Good Mornin' to ya Red," Mr. Cleaves said, like he does every other morning.

Mr. Cleaves took over for Weasel about a month after the strike had ended. We all liked Mr. Cleaves a lot better anyhow.

"Mornin' Mr. Cleaves," I said back to him. I didn't show half as much enthusiasm as he did but I was just trying to be polite. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a few coins and placed them onto the counter, "50 papes please."

"What's the matter with you this mornin' Red? You don't seem yourself?"

"Ahh, it's nothin Mr. Cleaves," I told him, "I just got a lot on my mind." As the papers were put in front of me I slung them over my shoulder.

"Good day Red," he said to me as I walked off the platform, tipping his hat to me just like he does every other morning.

I didn't need to count my papes anymore, everyone trusted Cleaves.

A/N: Sorry its so short. R&R!!!