I redid this chapter because I wanted a little bit more action in it. I really like how I redid it. Hope you do too.
Chapter 3
The morning sunlight was just starting to brighten the newsies bunkroom as Kloppman tiredly climbed the rickety steps to the second floor. He shook his head at the snores and sighs coming from the deep sleeping newsies. This was the part of the job he hated was waking the poor boys up for another long day of making next to nothing.
"Jack! Get up! Boots! Sell the papes! Carry the banner! Skittery! Get youse lazy butt outta bed now!"
Groans and soft curses were the only answers to the old man's wake up call. After he was sure that the boys were up and could be trusted to not go back to sleep, he marched back down to the lobby. Grumbles and yawns could be heard from every inch of the room. The half-dressed boys went about their morning routine getting ready for another full day of selling papers.
"Snipes! Youse betta give me back does cigars if youse knows what's good for ya!"
"Ya ain't nothin' but empty threats, Race!" Snipes smirked at the glowering boy.
"Youse want ta make good on me threat?" Race lunged at the smaller boy only to be held back by a hold on his collar.
A grumpy Jack stood there glaring at the two troublemakers. "Don't youse to get started. It's way too oily for youse ta be pickin' at each udda. Now get goin' Race."
Race grumbled a reply before throwing a last death glare at Snipes' smug face and heading for the noisy bathroom.
Snipes threw a nasty face at Race's back before turning toward the bed where his sister still sleeping. He gave a laugh and called Mush and Blink over. Rory was curled into a tight ball with her blankets wound snugly around her body. Her head was halfway buried beneath her pillow. A small contented smile rested on her peaceful face.
Snipes gave the newsies who had gathered around a mischievous grin before tiptoeing up to Rory's side.
"Rory? Rory? Youse awake yet?" His voice was soft and singsong in her ear.
Rory shifted a little in her sleep and gave a small grunt before lying silent again. Snipes carefully crawled onto Rory so that he was straddling her side. A groan escaped her lips as his weight settled against her side. Snipes gave a small bounce on her side making her give a breathless grunt.
"Come on, Trippah! Get up all ready!"
Rory didn't move or even seem to know that the kid was bouncing on her. The boys had nearly concluded that she was the deepest sleeper ever when a raspy voice came from beneath the goose pillow. A long line of vehement Celtic words spilled from her lips causing Snipes to blush and gulp.
"Wad she say, Snipes?" Mush's face was full of confusion.
"Uh…I'd rather not repeat it. It wasn't very ladylike."
Snipes was so startled from her voice he nearly fell off the bed. A sneaky smile filled his face as he started bouncing even harder on his sister. The smile didn't stay to long on his face as a pale arm shot out from pile of blankets and popped the boy in the face. To the ground he fell with Rory's small body jumping off after him.
"Petey! I'm gonna beat the bloody heck out of ye!" Her voice was sharp with heated temper. Her eyes flashed wickedly as she pinned her helpless little brother to the wood floor. Snipes glanced at his laughing friends for help. An evil grin crossed his face as he looked up into Rory's triumphant smirk.
"Blink, if youse would be so kind as to give dis goil a poke in da side, I'd be much obliged."
Rory glared at her brother before jumping up and away from the advancing Blink. Her fists rose up in front of her face challenging Blink and the others. Blink stared at her in surprise before continuing toward her. Snipes saw the gleam in Rory's eye as she watched Blink move closer and closer.
"Uh… Blink, I's don't tink dat's a good idea." Blink waved away Snipes warning.
"Laddie, I would listen to me brutha if ye's got half a brain." Blink grinned at Rory before taking one last step forward.
It was the wrong thing to do. In one swift movement, Rory's fist connected with Blink's stomach and her foot stomped down on his foot. Blink's howl brought every boy running from the bathroom. Jack's annoyed voice rose over the other concerned questions.
"What da heck is goin' on herah?"
"Why nuttin' Jack. Blink just got a liddle too close for me own comfort." With that Rory flipped her hair over her shoulder before heading for the now deserted bathroom. Every gaze followed her retreating form. Snipes patted Blink's back and shook his head, "I's told ya not ta get any closah. Ya just didn't listen."