Howdy, got another chapter right here.

-Casey

Chapter 36.

"Henry Kloppman." Came the Judge's voice breaking the silence. "I come to understand that on December 24th 1899...you want to adopt Lindsey Basham and Alex Conlon." The Judge spoke carefully. "That I do, your honor." Kloppman spoke simply nodding his head.

"I object your honor! This man is in no condition to raise kids such as them! Believe me he'll be sending them back to my orphange within the first week!" Mistress Collingwell spoke her objection with such sterness that it surprised Soda from her seat next to Collingwell. "Objection substained...Mr. Kloppman, what makes you believe you can raise two children?" The Judge asked.

"Your honor, I'll let you and this whole court...especially Miss. Collingwell over there know, that I'm fit as a fiddle. These children are already like my own..." Kloppman said to the judge. "Well why don't you adopt all of the Newsies while you're at it? Can't ya see your honor? This man obviously isn't mentally stable enough to--" Collingwell started but the Judge banged his gavel down hard which shut Collingwell right up.

"Miss. Collingwell that is the second time you've spoken out of turn. Things are starten to darken on your lot....don't make me bang this gavel down again." The Judge spoke harshly. "So you see your honor. I've been under the impression that Miss Collingwell's orphanage wasn't a suitable place for them to grow up....why, I've seen young Lindsey run to my lodging house with cuts and bruises all over her from that place. Your honor, you wouldn't believe how bad she's got it there...the whole lot of them." Kloppman spoke.

"Your honor I object!" Mistress. Collingwell shrieked. Soda could tell she looked worried. "This court isn't here to decide on whether my orphanage is suitable for juvenile delinquents to grow up in or not... it's about..." Collingwell was yet again interrupted by the judge. "While we're on this matter Miss. Collingwell...please brief me on the happening in your orphanage." The judge said.

Mistress Collingwell glanced around at the faces in the court room. "Well....my orphanage....as you know...houses children between the ages of 3-18...Every morning the children wake up...they have a nice wholesome breakfast...They have free time after they have finished everything they have eaten. I love the children...I would never hit any of them. Lindsey and Alex are like my children...their cuts and bruises are from fallin' out of all the trees those little scamps tried climbin'." Collingwell said with a chuckle to hide her nervousness.

Soda couldn't listen to this anymore she stood up in anger. "Your honor I object!" Soda yelled. "Young lady...what in the world can you be objecting to?" The Judge asked. "Your honor...she's lying through her teeth! All of us don't get that good of treatment! Why, that'd be a luxury!" Soda tried to speak as formally as she could with no Newsie lingo....if she could help it. "Well...Lindsey...would you indulge me on the so called, "Real happenings" at 4th Street Orphanage?" The Judge asked.

"If you say anything Lindsey I'll beat you so badly you'll wish you were never born...I'm going to win this case." Collingwell hissed in her ear. "Your honor....may I approach the bench? As Mistress Collingwell tends to hiss some threats into my ear as I prepare to speak to you sir." Soda said cooly smirking Mistress Collingwell's way. "What are these threats Lindsey?" The Judge asked.

"About how bad of a beating I'm going to get after court." Lindsey said not being to hold back a smirk. She slowly came closer to the bench. "You wanna know what really happens there sir? This is how it is. She said turning to face the witnesses and audience sitting in as well as the jury. "We wake up at the crack of dawn...we're dragged out to the table to eat the most disgusting food that Mistress Collingwell can think of serving. Trust me it isn't the fact that her cooking sucks." Soda paused as she heard Spot trying to hold back laughter. She shot him a grin and continued.

"She sometimes wont even feed us for something we might've done wrong. Trust me ladies and gentleman take it from someone who's had to go a week without food. "Alex and I are the only orphans who have done more closet time then any orphan put together. And what may you ask is closet time? Well, after Mistress Collingwell beats us we either get corner time or closet time. Corner time was when we'd act up and we'd get spanked. C'mon what kid didn't get it? Then there was the other types she administered...with implements of any kind....and she'd lock us up in a closet...for days at a time. Till' she saw fit to let us out. Night times you'd think we'd be cut some slack? Think again...if we didn't finish the numerous chores she gave us we were up till almost dawn finishing them. Oh, and comfort while sleeping? No way. She keeps the orphanage so cold... you'd think we'd have blankets? Most of the time Mistress Collingwell over there would slip into our room and steal our blankets. Our thin cotton ones. When she has wool blankets....oh yeah, try 3 of them!" Soda yelled.

"If all of this is true...I must say....I must have proof." The Judge said sternly. "You want proof your honor?You'll get proof." Soda said going to the back of the room and leading a little girl to the front. "Your honor, this is Ashley. She's in the orphanage with me. Tell him your illness. "Well...I got outta the hospital for pneumonia sir..." She tried to speak again but was cut off by coughing. "Want anymore proof you can count the numerous marks left on us that could only count as whip marks." Soda finished. With that the Judge got up and had Soda lift up the back of her shirt to show the scars.

The Judge went back to his bench and spoke. "In the light of this new evidence I have the power within me to fire Miss. Collingwell and send her to prison until December 1910. We'll hold another session in court at that time. Bailiff, you know what to do." The Judge said banging his gavel. Mistress Collingwell jumped up and ran over to Soda. She raised a hand to hit Soda but Soda caught it right before it reached her. "You're through messing with me Collingwell. Have fun in jail, oh and remember Mistress, Your days are numbered." Soda said as Collingwell was handcuffed by the bailiff.

"I'll get you for this Lindsey Hallie Basham!" Collingwell screamed as she was led out. "Well....now the moment you folks wanted...I've got to deny the postion of holding Henry Kloppman as guardian of these children. However, I wish to assign Henry Kloppman as the new Owner of 4th Street Orphanage. There he shall hold custody of Lindsey and Alex." The Judge spoke.

Could you only imagine how over joyed the lot were?

Kloppman accepted his position as owner of the 4th Street Orphanage. Soda and Spot were his children. No questions asked. All of the Manhattan Newsboys were placed in the orphanage. Of course they could still work. But now they had a home. Let's just say 4th Street Orphanage was never a warmer place. And Lindsey Hallie Basham was never a happier girl.

The End

Aftermath:

"Hey everyone this is Soda here to tell you, I got my family right here with me. Spot is still my boyfriend....We couldn't be happier. I think we might be expecting a kid soon. Oh hell yeah man! Mush never went back to his parents. Of course they wanted to get him back but Mush was happier with his real family. Jack might be heading to Santa Fe soon. No one really knows. That'd be really awesome if he did huh? He met this girl named Sarah Jacobs....wonder how that swings....Well as you can see our life is fit as a fiddle as Kloppman.....rather...dad would say...Just thought I'd update you on our happenings. Hope you loved the story.

So....does anyone wish to vote for a sequel maybe? I tried to make it have a happy ending as wished. Well if anyone wants a sequel review and tell me so...and drop me some ideas. :)

-Casey