Disclaimer: I don't own the Newsies only everybody you don't know but
Connie and Lindi.
A/N: Sorry this is late but it has been done for a while now I just was busy with Bible Quiz and Competition and CA Tournament and SCQANIT and Nationals. So here you go. Also read Lindi's story Unforgettable it's hilarious.
Chapter 5: Trouble Strikes Again
"Hey, um," Connie cleared her throat nervously, "Could we have someone walk us back to our flat? 'Cause we've got to go home or else my parents will get worried."
"Shoah, I'se can walk you'se home." Racetrack said rather brightly.
"Hey, Race, I'll go wit' ya." Spot said grinning from ear to ear, "Since, it's Brooklyn and you being from Manhattan. I mean I don't want any of my boids to hoit you'se." He added hastily.
"Thanks." Both girls said simultaneously.
Once they were about a block or so away from the lodging house Connie, unable to stem her curiosity, asked," So Spot, how old is your sister, Lindi?"
"She's youngah by 'bout two minutes," Spot said in the bored tone of one who had mentioned that fact too many times. "But I'se still oldah"
"You mean you and Lindi are twins?!" Connie and Anne exclaimed with matching expressions of shock on their faces.
"Uh-huh" Spot grunted.
"Youse didn't guess dat when the stood next to each othah?" Race said incredulously.
"No, I thought that they just looked a lot alike because all she said was that she was your sister." Anne stated vehemently, causing Spot and Race to laugh.
"Well, I would have never guessed." Connie said a bit more calmly than Anne. Once they reached the flat Connie said, "Thanks for walking us home."
"Our pleasure" Spot said excitedly.
"Umm, when can we see you'se again?" Racetrack asked fiddling with his hat nervously.
"Uh, well is there a certain place you sell at? We could meet you there. Or you could come over or something." Connie responded floating off into another daydream for the millionth time that night.
"Shoah." Racetrack's eyes brightened at the thought.
"Ok, well, see you next time." Connie said disappointed because they must depart.
Suddenly Spot spoke up, "Hey, we'll be sellin' tomorrah at da harbah, would you'se like to come and get some pointahs in how at sell a pape?"
"Sure!" The two girls said giddily.
"'Till tomorrah!" Spot and Race said happily.
"Until tomorrow." The girls' voices echoed as they turned to go up the 3 flights of stairs to their flat.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
30 minutes later
"WHAT!?!?!?!?" Connie exclaimed incredulously, her eyes filling with tears, "What do you mean we have to get jobs? What happened?"
"Honey, my employer died and none of his relatives want his mansion. So the lawyer laid us all off." Mrs. Kendry explained before breaking down into more tears. "It's not like I planned it on purpose."
"I'm sorry, but you are going to have to work in order for your brother and sisters to go to school." Mr. Kendry cut in.
"But what are we supposed to do? We can't work in a sweat shop. Sewing constantly on machines that are horrendously dangerous!"
"There are other jobs, Connie," Mrs. Kendry said desperately trying to calm her daughter down, "I'm sure you could find something other than a sweat shop."
"I'm giving you until the end of the week to find jobs," Mr. Kendry stated in the "no-buts-about-it" tone, "or else I'll find one for you whether you like that job or not ."
Connie opened her mouth to speak but closed it again when her mother shot her a warning look. Then taking Anne by the arm, she practically dragged the shocked silent Anne to the bedroom they shared. Once there Connie broke down in tears. "Why do we have to work?" Connie ranted to her friend, the tears coming fast now. "I don't know." Anne said quietly, finally accepting this new bit of bad news which had been added to the pile of bad news she already had building in her life recently.
"What are we going to do?" Connie cried pitifully.
Then remembering Spot's offer to teach them how to sell a newspaper Anne said, "What about being newsies? It shouldn't be too hard. I mean how hard could it be to sell a newspaper?"
"I don't think my parents'll want us to be newsies. They'll probably say it's not what proper young ladies do to work."
"Well, there's no reason not to try." Anne said more optimistically than she felt.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day outside the Brooklyn Newsboys Lodging House.
"Spot!!! This isn't working!" Anne said exasperatedly.
"Tell me da headline you'se is usin'"
"Mayor approves new budget plan." Anne said looking sadly at her stack of papers.
"Dat's your problem. You'se gotta make it interestin'." Spot said flashing his million-dollar smile.
"How do you do that?" Connie whined looking forlornly at the newspaper not seeing any headline that was even remotely interesting
"Well, for the mayor headline you'se could say, 'Mayor Accused of stealing money from the city.'" Spot said selling two papers with the headline.
"Isn't that like lying?" Anne questioned warily.
"Now, it's just...improvin' da truth a little" Spot said silently thanking Jack for his description of what newsies do to headlines. "How 'bout I help you'se sell your papes so we'se can eat lunch." Spot said, his stomach growling emphasizing his point.
"I suppose." Anne said dejectedly.
"Yeah, I guess we could do that." Connie agreed.
"Hey, you'se are doin' purty good for you'se foist time." Spot said reassuringly. "I mean lots of people barely even sell two papes on their foist day."
"Like who?" Connie said, not believing a word he said.
"Jack Kelly, for one." Spot smirked remembering Jack's first day.
"Really?" The girls said astonished.
"Yeah, but don't tell him I told you'se. Actually, it's better if you'se don't even let him know you know."
"Ok." Anne said confused.
"Well, how about we finish selling these," indicating the stack of newspapers by their feet, "so we can eat." Connie proposed, her Baptist side coming out.
"Dat sounds like a good idea."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~Kendry Household~
"So, have you two girls found a job yet? You know how your father'll get if you don't find one by the end of the next week." Connie's mother warned, while mending a pile of socks.
"We did." Connie responded despondently. "Not that we're any good at it." She muttered under her breath.
"Oh, good. What kind of job is it?" Mrs. Kendry queried curiously,
"Well," Connie stammered, "you're not gonna like it much..."
"We're gonna be newsies once Spot teaches us the techniques of selling newspapers." Anne finished for her best friend, grinning though not for long when she saw Mrs. Kendry's face.
"Oh, my!" Connie's mother exclaimed, dropping the sock she was mending. "You can't be serious. Being a newsie is not for girls, especially you ladies like yourselves. No, it simply will not do. And don't think you father will let you do this either."
"Ma, it's the only job we'd consider. Please just let us see how it works." Connie pleaded not wanting at all to be a maid of waitress or to have to learn how to sew and things like that.
"We will see." Her mother answered ominously.
"Thanks, mom." Connie said sending up a quick prayer of thanks.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day at the Distribution Center (Brooklyn). The Newsies from Manhattan are still in Brooklyn.
"So, Spot, that Connie goil seems to like you'se, doesn't she?" Lindi teased.
"I'se wouldn't know, Lindi." Spot replied thoroughly not comfortable with his twin's butting in on his "relationships", because knowing his sister; he'd have a date by the end of the week. "Don't you dare get any ideas!"
"Why, Spottie, what are you talkin' about?" Lindi said sweetly.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe your knack at matchmakin'!" Spot exclaimed.
"Now why would you'se bring dat up?" She mused. "I mean someone might t'ink you want them to match make you and Connie."
"Lindi Nicole Conlon, if you'se evah even try ta get us togethah I'se will get ya back so bad!"
"I'se don't t'ink Mush'll like dat mush." She said, happily thinking about her boyfriend.
"Just promise me you won't do anythin'"
"I'll do my best." Lindi off-handedly remarked, grinning mischievously and batting her eyelashes at her brother.
Looking at her suspiciously," Whatevah, jus' get yer papes so we can go sell."
Then Connie and Anne ran up alongside them, totally out of breath, "Will you teach us how to sell again, Spot?" Connie asked hopefully.
"Well, I s'pose I could, but before we do dat we should get you'se nicknames if you'se want ta be newsies. 'Cause not even Davey goes by David." He responded as his sister elbowed him rather hard in the ribs to get her point across.
"Okay." Connie answered brightly.
"How are you going to make nicknames for us?" Anne queried.
"Well, could be you'se's hobby, or favorite t'ing, like Jack's is Cowboy, 'cause he likes cowboys and Santa Fe, somet'in' like dat."
"Oh, well Anne already has one, in that case." Connie snickered remembering the day she caught Anne sitting in a pile of petals with a flower in her hand saying 'he loves me, he loves me not.'
"Oh, no, Oh, no, no, no! I refuse to go by that, and well you know it!" Anne said, suddenly remembering the reason why Connie had named her Petals.
"Well, I think Petals is a perfect name four you." Connie said, as she began to giggle.
"Hey, dat's a great name for you'se." Spot declared.
"It fits you'se poifectly, I'se t'ink you'se should keep it." Lindi piped up.
"But-"
"Your nickname'll be Petals." Spot pronounced. "Now for Connie."
"Well, if I must go by Petals, then I think Connie should go by Manders." Anne smirked.
"Just because my grandfather had a hard time remembering my real name doesn't mean I should go by the nickname he made for my supposed nickname of Amanda which of course isn't my middle name."
"You know a name based on a name not even yours would be best if ya end up needin' ta hide for some reason or othah."
"Wha-"
"It doesn't mattah, now dat you'se goils gots names we can woik on you'se sellin' techniques." Spot said not wanting to get into a discussion about why one would want to hide for any reason.
A/N: Sorry this is late but it has been done for a while now I just was busy with Bible Quiz and Competition and CA Tournament and SCQANIT and Nationals. So here you go. Also read Lindi's story Unforgettable it's hilarious.
Chapter 5: Trouble Strikes Again
"Hey, um," Connie cleared her throat nervously, "Could we have someone walk us back to our flat? 'Cause we've got to go home or else my parents will get worried."
"Shoah, I'se can walk you'se home." Racetrack said rather brightly.
"Hey, Race, I'll go wit' ya." Spot said grinning from ear to ear, "Since, it's Brooklyn and you being from Manhattan. I mean I don't want any of my boids to hoit you'se." He added hastily.
"Thanks." Both girls said simultaneously.
Once they were about a block or so away from the lodging house Connie, unable to stem her curiosity, asked," So Spot, how old is your sister, Lindi?"
"She's youngah by 'bout two minutes," Spot said in the bored tone of one who had mentioned that fact too many times. "But I'se still oldah"
"You mean you and Lindi are twins?!" Connie and Anne exclaimed with matching expressions of shock on their faces.
"Uh-huh" Spot grunted.
"Youse didn't guess dat when the stood next to each othah?" Race said incredulously.
"No, I thought that they just looked a lot alike because all she said was that she was your sister." Anne stated vehemently, causing Spot and Race to laugh.
"Well, I would have never guessed." Connie said a bit more calmly than Anne. Once they reached the flat Connie said, "Thanks for walking us home."
"Our pleasure" Spot said excitedly.
"Umm, when can we see you'se again?" Racetrack asked fiddling with his hat nervously.
"Uh, well is there a certain place you sell at? We could meet you there. Or you could come over or something." Connie responded floating off into another daydream for the millionth time that night.
"Shoah." Racetrack's eyes brightened at the thought.
"Ok, well, see you next time." Connie said disappointed because they must depart.
Suddenly Spot spoke up, "Hey, we'll be sellin' tomorrah at da harbah, would you'se like to come and get some pointahs in how at sell a pape?"
"Sure!" The two girls said giddily.
"'Till tomorrah!" Spot and Race said happily.
"Until tomorrow." The girls' voices echoed as they turned to go up the 3 flights of stairs to their flat.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
30 minutes later
"WHAT!?!?!?!?" Connie exclaimed incredulously, her eyes filling with tears, "What do you mean we have to get jobs? What happened?"
"Honey, my employer died and none of his relatives want his mansion. So the lawyer laid us all off." Mrs. Kendry explained before breaking down into more tears. "It's not like I planned it on purpose."
"I'm sorry, but you are going to have to work in order for your brother and sisters to go to school." Mr. Kendry cut in.
"But what are we supposed to do? We can't work in a sweat shop. Sewing constantly on machines that are horrendously dangerous!"
"There are other jobs, Connie," Mrs. Kendry said desperately trying to calm her daughter down, "I'm sure you could find something other than a sweat shop."
"I'm giving you until the end of the week to find jobs," Mr. Kendry stated in the "no-buts-about-it" tone, "or else I'll find one for you whether you like that job or not ."
Connie opened her mouth to speak but closed it again when her mother shot her a warning look. Then taking Anne by the arm, she practically dragged the shocked silent Anne to the bedroom they shared. Once there Connie broke down in tears. "Why do we have to work?" Connie ranted to her friend, the tears coming fast now. "I don't know." Anne said quietly, finally accepting this new bit of bad news which had been added to the pile of bad news she already had building in her life recently.
"What are we going to do?" Connie cried pitifully.
Then remembering Spot's offer to teach them how to sell a newspaper Anne said, "What about being newsies? It shouldn't be too hard. I mean how hard could it be to sell a newspaper?"
"I don't think my parents'll want us to be newsies. They'll probably say it's not what proper young ladies do to work."
"Well, there's no reason not to try." Anne said more optimistically than she felt.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day outside the Brooklyn Newsboys Lodging House.
"Spot!!! This isn't working!" Anne said exasperatedly.
"Tell me da headline you'se is usin'"
"Mayor approves new budget plan." Anne said looking sadly at her stack of papers.
"Dat's your problem. You'se gotta make it interestin'." Spot said flashing his million-dollar smile.
"How do you do that?" Connie whined looking forlornly at the newspaper not seeing any headline that was even remotely interesting
"Well, for the mayor headline you'se could say, 'Mayor Accused of stealing money from the city.'" Spot said selling two papers with the headline.
"Isn't that like lying?" Anne questioned warily.
"Now, it's just...improvin' da truth a little" Spot said silently thanking Jack for his description of what newsies do to headlines. "How 'bout I help you'se sell your papes so we'se can eat lunch." Spot said, his stomach growling emphasizing his point.
"I suppose." Anne said dejectedly.
"Yeah, I guess we could do that." Connie agreed.
"Hey, you'se are doin' purty good for you'se foist time." Spot said reassuringly. "I mean lots of people barely even sell two papes on their foist day."
"Like who?" Connie said, not believing a word he said.
"Jack Kelly, for one." Spot smirked remembering Jack's first day.
"Really?" The girls said astonished.
"Yeah, but don't tell him I told you'se. Actually, it's better if you'se don't even let him know you know."
"Ok." Anne said confused.
"Well, how about we finish selling these," indicating the stack of newspapers by their feet, "so we can eat." Connie proposed, her Baptist side coming out.
"Dat sounds like a good idea."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
~Kendry Household~
"So, have you two girls found a job yet? You know how your father'll get if you don't find one by the end of the next week." Connie's mother warned, while mending a pile of socks.
"We did." Connie responded despondently. "Not that we're any good at it." She muttered under her breath.
"Oh, good. What kind of job is it?" Mrs. Kendry queried curiously,
"Well," Connie stammered, "you're not gonna like it much..."
"We're gonna be newsies once Spot teaches us the techniques of selling newspapers." Anne finished for her best friend, grinning though not for long when she saw Mrs. Kendry's face.
"Oh, my!" Connie's mother exclaimed, dropping the sock she was mending. "You can't be serious. Being a newsie is not for girls, especially you ladies like yourselves. No, it simply will not do. And don't think you father will let you do this either."
"Ma, it's the only job we'd consider. Please just let us see how it works." Connie pleaded not wanting at all to be a maid of waitress or to have to learn how to sew and things like that.
"We will see." Her mother answered ominously.
"Thanks, mom." Connie said sending up a quick prayer of thanks.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day at the Distribution Center (Brooklyn). The Newsies from Manhattan are still in Brooklyn.
"So, Spot, that Connie goil seems to like you'se, doesn't she?" Lindi teased.
"I'se wouldn't know, Lindi." Spot replied thoroughly not comfortable with his twin's butting in on his "relationships", because knowing his sister; he'd have a date by the end of the week. "Don't you dare get any ideas!"
"Why, Spottie, what are you talkin' about?" Lindi said sweetly.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe your knack at matchmakin'!" Spot exclaimed.
"Now why would you'se bring dat up?" She mused. "I mean someone might t'ink you want them to match make you and Connie."
"Lindi Nicole Conlon, if you'se evah even try ta get us togethah I'se will get ya back so bad!"
"I'se don't t'ink Mush'll like dat mush." She said, happily thinking about her boyfriend.
"Just promise me you won't do anythin'"
"I'll do my best." Lindi off-handedly remarked, grinning mischievously and batting her eyelashes at her brother.
Looking at her suspiciously," Whatevah, jus' get yer papes so we can go sell."
Then Connie and Anne ran up alongside them, totally out of breath, "Will you teach us how to sell again, Spot?" Connie asked hopefully.
"Well, I s'pose I could, but before we do dat we should get you'se nicknames if you'se want ta be newsies. 'Cause not even Davey goes by David." He responded as his sister elbowed him rather hard in the ribs to get her point across.
"Okay." Connie answered brightly.
"How are you going to make nicknames for us?" Anne queried.
"Well, could be you'se's hobby, or favorite t'ing, like Jack's is Cowboy, 'cause he likes cowboys and Santa Fe, somet'in' like dat."
"Oh, well Anne already has one, in that case." Connie snickered remembering the day she caught Anne sitting in a pile of petals with a flower in her hand saying 'he loves me, he loves me not.'
"Oh, no, Oh, no, no, no! I refuse to go by that, and well you know it!" Anne said, suddenly remembering the reason why Connie had named her Petals.
"Well, I think Petals is a perfect name four you." Connie said, as she began to giggle.
"Hey, dat's a great name for you'se." Spot declared.
"It fits you'se poifectly, I'se t'ink you'se should keep it." Lindi piped up.
"But-"
"Your nickname'll be Petals." Spot pronounced. "Now for Connie."
"Well, if I must go by Petals, then I think Connie should go by Manders." Anne smirked.
"Just because my grandfather had a hard time remembering my real name doesn't mean I should go by the nickname he made for my supposed nickname of Amanda which of course isn't my middle name."
"You know a name based on a name not even yours would be best if ya end up needin' ta hide for some reason or othah."
"Wha-"
"It doesn't mattah, now dat you'se goils gots names we can woik on you'se sellin' techniques." Spot said not wanting to get into a discussion about why one would want to hide for any reason.