As Medda was arranging Katie's hair for the evening's performances, Katie
probed her gently for news concerning the newsies and their strike. She
was surprised at the amount of information Medda had; she had forgotten how
close Medda was to all the boys, not only Jack.
"It was truly shameful the way they were treated. And they're only children!" Katie thought to herself that most of them appeared to be well past childhood and old enough to take care of themselves, but she held her tongue. "But you should have seen how brave my Kelly was. He led them to victory, he did."
"You talk as if he's some kind of hero."
"Oh, he is my dear; he certainly is."
"He seems to know it plenty well himself."
"Kids with lives like his have the right to be a little arrogant when they can. Kelly has a good heart, and he's not lacking in talent in more ways than one." She gave Katie a knowing look which Katie pretended not to see. She could tell Medda was frustrated that her gossip attempt had been thwarted. "There now," she said, putting the finishing touches on Katie's dramatic hairstyle. "Now you do mine."
She continued her story as she switched places with Katie and Katie began to brush out her long red curls. She was proud that there was no hint of grey in them, although she couldn't say that she hadn't helped nature along a bit on that front. "The boys would often meet here to discuss their plans and I would put on a show for them. It was the least I could do." Katie knew it couldn't have hurt Medda's vanity at all to have a crowd full of young boys hooting at her. The thought made her smile. "Some of them are still regulars, although most of them can't afford it. But I don't have a problem if the only payment I get is the knowledge that I'm bringing a little light to their bleak lives." Katie had to stifle a giggle at this obvious melodrama. "In fact, I have a contract with the New York World to put on a charity show every once and awhile for the boys. Mostly major holidays. You'll get to help out for Christmas."
"Oh so Pulitzer is taking measures to reform his treatment of the newsboys? Paying for your concerts and such?"
"Oh yes. That man will do whatever it takes to avoid another incident like the strike. Those boys certainly struck fear into him." She chuckled.
"It was truly shameful the way they were treated. And they're only children!" Katie thought to herself that most of them appeared to be well past childhood and old enough to take care of themselves, but she held her tongue. "But you should have seen how brave my Kelly was. He led them to victory, he did."
"You talk as if he's some kind of hero."
"Oh, he is my dear; he certainly is."
"He seems to know it plenty well himself."
"Kids with lives like his have the right to be a little arrogant when they can. Kelly has a good heart, and he's not lacking in talent in more ways than one." She gave Katie a knowing look which Katie pretended not to see. She could tell Medda was frustrated that her gossip attempt had been thwarted. "There now," she said, putting the finishing touches on Katie's dramatic hairstyle. "Now you do mine."
She continued her story as she switched places with Katie and Katie began to brush out her long red curls. She was proud that there was no hint of grey in them, although she couldn't say that she hadn't helped nature along a bit on that front. "The boys would often meet here to discuss their plans and I would put on a show for them. It was the least I could do." Katie knew it couldn't have hurt Medda's vanity at all to have a crowd full of young boys hooting at her. The thought made her smile. "Some of them are still regulars, although most of them can't afford it. But I don't have a problem if the only payment I get is the knowledge that I'm bringing a little light to their bleak lives." Katie had to stifle a giggle at this obvious melodrama. "In fact, I have a contract with the New York World to put on a charity show every once and awhile for the boys. Mostly major holidays. You'll get to help out for Christmas."
"Oh so Pulitzer is taking measures to reform his treatment of the newsboys? Paying for your concerts and such?"
"Oh yes. That man will do whatever it takes to avoid another incident like the strike. Those boys certainly struck fear into him." She chuckled.