Maura and Kelly followed Snipeshooter, Les, and Boots through the lodging house doors. They walked up the rickety, old staircase, which led to a bunkroom filled with noisy newsboys. The older newsies, who were from fourteen to seventeen years of age, were sitting on the bunkbeds playing cards. The younger boys were playing with their wooden swords throughout the room.
When the five walked into the room, silence fell among the group and everyone froze. Les ran up to a teenage boy who wore a red bandana around his neck.
"Jack! Jack! Come 'ere! We gotta show you something," Les said.
Jack and the older newsboys rose from the bunk and walked over to Maura and Kelly.
"Cowboy, dis is Maura and Kelly. We found them dis mornin and they said dat dey is lookin for a job," said Boots.
"Maybe you should let dem talk for demselves, Boots," Jack said as he circled the two girls.
"So ladies, is dere somethin I can help ya with?" Jack asked them.
"Well we got kicked out of our school so we need a job and these boys here said that you could help us," Maura replied.
"Okay…so what are your names?" he asked.
"I'm Maura and this is Kelly," she said.
"Hi!" Kelly chimed in.
Maura raised her eyebrows and gave Kelly a weird look.
"SO ANYWAY…"
"Okay well I'm Jack Kelly. You'se could be a newsie wit us if you want to," he said.
"Well we don't exactly know how to do that yet," said Kelly.
"Well you'se guys can stick with me and I'll show ya how it's done," he responded as he pushed his light brown hair out of his eyes.
Jack was a tall guy and stood at about 6'1. He wore a dark vest with a gray shirt. A cowboy hat was strung around his neck along with his bandana. He had strong facial features with a fair complexion and soft, brown eyes. Maura took a liking in him immediately.
"So dese are all da newsboys. This is Kid Blink, Skittery, Race, Crutchy, and Mush," he said as he pointed out each of them. Each of them said hello and tipped their cabby hats.
After introductions, Jack led everyone downstairs to see Kloppman, the lodging house runner. He gave the girls their own separate bunkroom to sleep in with a small washroom inside as well.
Then they all went outside and followed Jack to a stand behind large gates.
"So dis is where we buy our papes every mornin," Jack said as he rang the large bell which hung above the stand.
A fat, obnoxious looking man appeared behind the counter.
"Mornin Mister President. I'm here for my papes if you please…Weasel," Jack said.
"For the zillionth time…It's Mr.Wisel!" he stated.
Suddenly, two teenage boys walked up behind Kelly and Maura.
"Oh… Hiya Oscar…Morris. Aren't you two lookin swell this mornin," Jack said, sarcastically.
"Hiya Cowboy. So who's ya friends?" Oscar said, pointing to Maura and Kelly.
"I don't think dat's any of ya business boys," Jack said.
Oscar and Morris began to walk away.
"We'll deal wit you later Cowboy…and we'll be talkin to you two cupcakes very soon," They said as they gestured to the two girls.
"Who were they?" Kelly asked.
"Oh dey are just da scabs. You don't have ta worry about dem," said Skittery.
Skittery was about 6' ft. He had dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing a cabby hat. Kelly was attracted to his manly features.
Each of the Newsies spotted Maura and Kelly some money so they could buy their first stack of papes. Everyone parted their own separate ways. Jack, Maura, Kelly, and Skittery decided to sell papes together.
Maura and Kelly quickly learned how to sell papers from Jack and Skittery. After a very long morning, the four of them headed to Tibby's for some lunch.
When they walked through the doors of the restaurant, there were already several Newsies there.
"Ey' Fellas!" Jack said.
"Hiya Jack! How was ya day sellin papes?" said Crutchy, who carried a crutch under his right arm.
"It was good. Me and Skittery taught Mar and Kel here a thing or two about sellin dere papes," He replied and the four of them sat down at the table.
Suddenly a boy of about 18 years walked in through the doors with Les.
"Hey Where ya been today Dave?" Jack asked.
"I had to help my Pop at home. So who are these ladies?" David asked.
"Dis is Maura and Kelly. We found dem yesterday and dey decided to be Newsies Wit us," Jack replied.
"Nice to meet ya girls. I'm David Jacobs," he said.
"Hi I'm Kelly. This is Maura." She answered.
"So why did you girls become Newsies?" Dave asked and he pulled up a chair next to Jack.
"Well we got kicked out of our orphanage and we needed a job and a place to stay. Jack here taught us how to sell papes and that's our story basically," Maura said.
"Why'd ya get kicked out?" Les asked.
"Um…Well…. Why did we get kicked out again Kelly?" Maura said quickly.
"Oh well, we uh were getting too old and they needed more space for other orphans," said Kelly.
"So how old are ya," Jack asked.
"We are both 16. How old are you guys?" Kelly asked.
"Well I'm 18, and so are Skittery and David. Mush, Racetrack, Kid Blink, and Crutchy are all 17. And little Les over here is 10," Jack replied.
"So what do you boy's do for fun around here?" Maura questioned.
"Well we love goin to Medda's down da street. She is a vaudeville star who happens to be Jack's friend, so she lets us come in and watch the shows a lot." Skittery said.
"That does sound fun. Mar and I love vaudeville shows," Kelly said.
"Well den we will have ta take ya dere soon," said Jack.
All of the Newsies spent the afternoon at the restaurant. When it started to get dark, they all made their way back to the lodging house.
"Here goyls, We'll walk you to your room," Jack said as he and Skittery led them to their bunkroom.
"Thanks boys. We had a great day. Sweet dreams," Kelly said.
"Night!" The boys said in unison.
Kelly shut the door and jumped onto her bunk.
"God Mar! They are Cute! Especially that Skittery!" Kelly said a little too excited.
"Oh I know! And what about Jack! I so call him!" Maura replied.
"Yea he is too. Fine, then I get Skittery. You know, I could really get used to this Newsie thing," Kelly replied.
"Well I am so tired. I'm gonna hit the sac. Night Kel," Maura said.
"Night."
Newsies of all ages were running around the bunkroom getting ready for bed. The older ones were sitting on Jack's bed playing a card game, like earlier.
"Come on! Come on! I'll roll ya for it double or nuttin!" said Race, who was always looking for a good bet.
"So Jack, how do ya like da new newsie goyls?" Kid Blink asked.
"Dey are somethin, aren't they?" Jack replied.
"Yea im glad dey decided to work wit us," said Mush.
"I think I found my new sellin partner for life!" said Skittery, as he walked out of the washroom. "Kelly and I were gettin along so well."
"Yea me too! Dat Maura's an angel," said Jack with a smile on his face.
To Be ContinuedPlease Review!