Author's note: Hi guys! I finally decided how I was going to handle the strike… With how my story is going the original story line for Newsies won't work. Sooo I have decided to change the strike around. Just so you're forewarned.
Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies, Perch, or Gracie. But I do own the Weasels and the revisions to the strike.
Thanx to all who reviewed… sorry didn't have time to list you…
Love Across Time
Chapter 32: The Strike
By the time we leave the theater it's dark. We had sold our papes in the theater so we could stay there for a while. I had told Dave about Jessie. He had told me that that had never happened to him but he understands why I'm not 100 these days.
I sit on an empty shoe shiner booth a take a drag on my cigarette. Dave takes out a pocket watch.
"It's late. My parents are gonna be worried… how about yours?"
"They're out West looking for a place to live. Like this." I pull out a brochure and show it to them. "Once they find the right ranch they're gonna send for me."
"Then you'll be a real cowboy."
"Yep" As I put the brochure back in my pocket I hear a small explosion a few blocks away. Dave and I ran to see what it was while Les tried to keep up.
When we turn the corner I see a huge fire and men fighting each other. Dave was worried but I wasn't. These guys weren't going to hurt three kids. But Dave just wanted to get out of their.
"Jack lets head back to my place to divvy up. You can meet my folks."
"Maybe we get a good headline tomorrow Dave." I look around for Les. "Look at this… he slept all the way through it." I lift the younger boy and put him over my shoulder. Dave then leads me to his family's apartment.
۞
The next morning I find all of the Newsies were waiting for me. (I accidentally slept in oopsy…) Apparently Pulitzer raised the price… Oh great… and guess what yours truly did? I managed to talk all of the Newsies into going on strike….
I just had to get Spot to agree…
۞
"STRIKE! STRIKE!" The Newsies yell has they head off to the streets. A man walks up to David.
"Hey what is this strike what's going on?"
"It's the Newsies strike. We're taking our demands to Pulitzer."
"I'm Brian Denton I'm with The New York Sun. So do you really think old man Pulitzer's really going to listen to your demands?"
"He has to…" Then Jack comes flying out of the double doors yelling at the top of his lungs. Denton laughs then takes us all to Tibby's for a bite to eat and an interview.
۞
The Brooklyn Bridge seemed a lot bigger than usual today. Not to mention Boots and Dave were depending on me.
The Brooklyn Newsies were swimming in the river. Spot was sitting high up on some crates keeping an eye on them. This was very important because they have a tendency to
get into fights easily.
"Well if it an't Jack be nimble Jack be quick." Said Spot smugly from his perch. (Hehe no pun intended)
"I see ya moved up in the world Spot. Got a rivah view an everything." I said just as smugly. Spot easily jumped down from his seat atop the crates. I then spit into my hand and he did the same and then we shook hands.
"Hey ya Boots how's it rollin'?"
"Got a couple of real good shooters." He hands Spot a few marbles.
Spot pulls out his slingshot and aims at a bottle. "Yeah, So Jackie Boy I been hearing things from little birdies." The Marble break s the bottle. "Things from Harlem, Queens… all over. Been chirping in my ear. Saying 'Jackie boy's Newsies playin' like their going on strike.'"
"Yeah well we are."
"But we an't playing we are going on strike."
"Oh yeah, Yeah? What is this Jackie Boy? Some kind of walking mouth?"
"Yeah it's a mouth. A mouth with a brain. And if you've got half of one you'll listen to what he's got to say."
Spot sits back on a small crate. "Well we've started the strike but we can't do it alone. So we've been talking to other Newsies all around the city."
"So they told me. But what did they tell you?"
"They're waiting to see what Spot Conlon does. You're the key. Spot Conlon is the most respected and famous Newsie in all of New York and probably everywhere else. And if Spot Conlon joins the strike then they'll join. So ya gotta join because... you gotta."
۞
"WE'RE THE KINGS OF NEW YORK!" yells Race. We were walking into the LH after the meal we had had with Denton. I still can't believe he got us on the first page. We all sit down either on or near Crutchy's bunk. The Bulls had arrested him a few days ago.
"So Jack what's our next move?" Asks Blink.
I get up and stand so I know they all can hear and see me. "Well we need the people to see we mean business… and we gotta stay in the papes."
"How about a rally?" David says.
"That's perfect! It'll be the biggest, loudest, noisiest blowout this town's ever seen!" I yell.
"It'll send a message to the big boys!" Mush practically yells.
"But where should it be?" Dutchy thinks aloud.
"Medda's"
۞
"High times hard times, Sometimes the living is sweet, And sometimes theirs nothing to eat, But I always land on my feet, So when theirs dry times I think of high times and then I put on my best and I stick out my chest and I'm off to the races again!" Sings Medda.
All of the Newsies are singing and dancing. But I can't seem to focus. I look over to see Skittery dancing with his girl Gracie. Seeing them together makes me think of Jessie. Lately I have been using the strike to distract me from her memory. But now that I have nothing to plan or pretend to do my mind settles on her memory.
The Newsies try to hook me up with some girls. But none of them make me feel anything other than sadness. Dave manages to get me to dance with his sister Sarah. Once the dance finishes Medda pulls me on stage. I'm glad for a reason to get away from all of the sympathetic Newsies and happy couples that had been surrounding me.
As I sing and dance with Medda in the spotlight Dave pushes to me through the crowd. He tries to tell me something but I have a hard time hearing him over the music and yelling. But then I hear what he was saying. "JACK ITS SNYDER!"
The Bulls blow their whistles and charge in. Complete chaos breaks out. Boys with girls or younger siblings race to get them out. I try to get away from Snyder and his goons but there are just too many. I meet up with Blink near the exit. We hurry out to find Cops on horses surrounding the place. Blink ends up getting arrested. I end up arrested as well…
I see most of the Newsies at the courthouse later. I was to be tried with the other Newsies before I get my own personal sentence.
The judge looks down at a letter on his desk. "Before any of you get tried Mr. Joseph Pulitzer would like a word with you in his office." …
We are all put in a carriage and are taken to the heart of Manhattan. When we reach Mr. Pulitzer's house we are lead into his office by several officers.
The butler comes in. "Mr. Pulitzer would like to see them in his other office. Mr. Tombs if you'd be so kind?"
I look over to a man standing by the door. "Why yes I would." …