Hey everyone! All I have to say is R&R! LOL. :) Oh, notes!
elleestJenn: Yeah, sorry about that spelling error. LOL. :) The thing on Jenna's name. I use her name when I talk about her instead of using the nickname "Toothpick" all the other newsies call her to show how she's different from them, not only in the physical aspect, but also in her emotions, how she feels different from them. She feels as if she doesn't have anyone to relate to and that she is different in many ways, and in that way I use her name to specify that she is in fact a girl, before they find out, and when they find out I still use it to show her separation from them. She still doesn't really feel like one of the group. See? I hope that makes sense. :)Chapter 6
"Sista?" Jack asked once he finally found his voice.
"Yeah, I got a sista, we got separated a long time ago after me parents died. We was put in an orphanage but I ran away, she was only three then. I hoid that you knew where she was," Spot explained, staring at Jack harshly, demanding an answer.
"What's her name?" Jack asked.
"Connie," Spot replied.
"I don't know nobody named Connie," he said.
"Well, I hoid you knew where she was," Spot repeated.
"I don't know nuttin', Spot," Jack assured him. The two stared at each other for a long time, Spot to try and see if Jack was lying, and Jack to assure Spot that he wasn't. "Sorry I can't help ya, Spot." Jack sighed and shrugged as Spot nodded slowly, knowing that for once there was nothing more he could do. Spot was used to usually getting what he wanted right when he wanted it, but there was nothing he could do if Jack had no information to give him.
"Hey, Cowboy, what's this, a street rat meeting?" came the teasing voice of a boy behind Jack. Jack rolled his eyes and turned to see the Delancy brothers standing behind him. Oscar and Morris Delancy were the nephews of Mr. Wisel, the grouchy man who handed out the papers to the newsies. All the newsies called him "Weasel," which was exactly what he was, though not in shape. Weasel was a large man with graying hair and a horrible smirk. His two nephews were constantly picking on the newsies.
"I wouldn't be callin' people street rats, Oscar, where do you sleep at night again?" Jack retorted smartly as the rest of the newsies laughed hysterically. Everyone knew that the Delancys had barely as much as they did now.
"You askin' for a fight, Cowboy?" Oscar asked.
"You axed for one the minute you came ova here, I'm just finishin' it," Jack replied.
"What's a matter, Cowboy, to chicken ta do this?" Oscar cried, punching Jack square in the jaw.
"Ya shouldn't a done that, Oscar," Jack said, rearing back and punching the boy in the stomach. Morris stepped in now to punch Jack back as Oscar recovered but Crutchy hit him over the head with his crutch, knocking him to the ground.
That was all it took for a full fledge fight to break out. The boys were throwing punches left and right at the Delancys until a few scabs came in to make the fight even larger. Scabs were the newsies' term for other newsies who worked for Weasel and sided with the Delancys. The scabs were usually stuck up and wore nicer clothing than the average newsie. Spot and the Brooklyn newsies were now in on the fight too, shooting at the scabs with their slingshots. For Jenna this was what she'd been waiting for, a chance to prove that she could look out for herself, more to herself than to the other newsies. The newsies celebrated another victory as the scabs and Delancys finally retreated.
"We'll get you later, Cowboy!" Morris cried as they disappeared into the distributing office where Weasel handed out the papers.
"Yeah, dat'll be da day," he said, rolling his eyes. The rest of the newsies were busy cheering and as Jenna came into his vision Jack slapped her on the back. "You ain't bad, Toothpick." He gave her a smile and just as she began to smile back Boots ran into her in all the commotion of their victory, and before she knew what was happening her hat had tumbled off of her head. Time seemed to stop as all of the newsies turned to see her bright red hair falling down her back.