Chapter 2: The Morning Edition
James fumbled with his keys and tried jamming one into the lock. He cussed quietly when it didn't fit, "Damn it.. too many stupid keys.." He shoved another in and forced to turn and flip the lock with a faint 'click'. A triumphant look smeared across his face and he shoved the door, which had "BOOK STORE" neatly painted in block, open.
The store was small and crowded. Each wall was covered in books from floor to ceiling (which were only in addition to the bookcases set up all over the floor). It was dimly lit and rather dusty; some cobwebs were hiding in the corners and across books on the higher shelves.
James was a tall man. He was neatly dressed, clean and tidy, other than the raggedy derby that rested a-top his head. He went behind the front desk and prepared the cash register for the day's business.
The door chimes rang and James adverted his attention to the woman who entered the shop. She too was cleanly clothed in a grey dress and her brown hair pulled tightly back into a bun, a few wisps fell over her ears. James grinned at her as she approached the desk.
"I brought your breakfast, you left again without eating." She huffed at him in an irritated tone.
He ignored her comment and picked up a stack of books. "Meg, can you manage those books?" He flicked his head towards another stack, "We've got a whole bunch of fiction to be shelved." Meg nodded and proceeded to pick up the novels and follow James to the fiction shelves located in the opposing front corner. James set out to shelve the books immediately. Meg stared at him for a minute as she set down her cumbersome load. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a muffin wrapped in some white butcher paper.
"James..you need to eat. I swear your gonna starve yourself.." She shoved the muffin at him.
He swatted it away and thrust a book onto a self. "I don't want it..I aint hungry." She glared at him with a 'don't question me' look and he sighed. "Fine! I'll take the stupid thing!" He snatched it out of her hand and adjusted his spectacles. He took a big bite "Mmmmmmmmmm!" He rubbed his stomach mockingly at Meg.
"Oh shut up!" She shoved him playfully and his derby flew off. They both dove for it but Meg snatched it before him and out of his reach. "HAHA! Its mine! Your never gonna see your ugly hat again!" She giggled holding a hand to her mouth.
"Hey hand it over!" He reached for it but she hugged the chunk of felt and turned her shoulder so it was out of reach. "Common I need it!" He pleaded.
"Hodge podge!" Meg huffed, "It is rude to wear a hat indoors. Any TRUE gentleman would be aware of this."
He twisted his face at her comment referring to the etiquette he never learned. "Well I guess I ain't gentle enough for you, so hand it over." He thrusted a hand out towards her.
"No!" She objected and perched herself on a stack of novels.
"My hairs not combed, I look unsightly--"
"This ugly HAT makes you unsightly! Don't be giving your hair too much credit!" James patted his brown hair with his hands trying to calm it. Meg looked at the ugly hunk of beaver pelt in her hands. It was at one time a quality derby, but over time and continued use, and misuse for that factor, had turned it into a fashion crime. The ribbon around the crown was fraying, the lining half missing, and the felt itself was torn, ripped, thin, bent, and warped. There was nothing attractive about the hat. She flipped it over and looked at what was left of its silk entrails. The word "specs" was messily printed along the rim and she brushed her finger over it.
"Can I please have it? I feel naked with out it.." James broke Meg's concentration.
"Can I buy you a new one?" She replied, "This is a disgrace to the beaver that was used to make it!"
The horrified look on James' face was priceless. It looked as though he was between lunging at her and crying at the mere thought of leaving the stupid thing. "No! I am never giving that thing away, or replacing it!" She held it out for him and he quickly grasped it and planted it back on his head. He then added, "It's one of the only things I have from my childhood..."
Meg smiled at him and rested her head on her hand. She studied James who had gone quiet and contently placed books on the shelves. She watched him intently with dreamy eyes for a few moments. Finally, her high voice broke the silence, "Specs.." She addressed him simply.
Slowly James turned. His face had a half smile and Meg looked at his eyes which had a happy gleam in them. "I haven't been called that in so long.." He signed and pushed his glasses back up his nose.
Meg just smiled back at him without making a word. James too stared at her. He scooted closer to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. Meg let out a giggle then in one fast motion pulled the derby off his head again and skipped across the store. James..er Specs, ran after her laughing as well and caught her waste. She pushed the hat back over his hair and he stole a quick kiss. They both laughed and pushed their foreheads together.
"Ew...I nevah wanna get old.."
The couple quickly let go of each other and turned their attention to the door. Two small newsies were staring at them with disgusted expressions. One was short and rather stout, looked like he was about 8 years old. The other, the one who spoke, was a boney runt, he too looked 8. They both were holding a bundle of papers under their arms.
James was bright red, as was Meg, as he approached the boys.
"Yer delivery fer taday, mistah.." The boney one said and James took the bundles form their arms and set them to his side. He fished through his pockets and gave each of them a few silver coins. They counted it and grinned, "Thank ya mistah!" and ran out of the store as fast as they had arrived.
James turned around and started laughing. Meg covered her mouth with her hands and giggled as well.
"Your always getting me into trouble!" Meg hit James lightly on the arm and vanished back to the fiction corner.
He grinned at her as he untied a bundle of papers. "That's what you get fer marryin' a hoodlum like me!" He snickered and started to study the days headlines. He thumbed through the pages looking for anything remotely interesting. On about the fourth page there was an article about a fire somewhere in Manhattan. James looked it over and the address caught his eye, "234 Dune Street.." he read it aloud. His face was in pure shock. Could it be? It couldn't...His knees started to shake and James toppled over bringing a desk down with him.
Meg ran back over to him. "James! What the happened? Are you ok?.."She went on with twenty questions and tried to hoist her husband up.
Meg looked into James's eyes. Tears started to well up in the corners. "James.."she started quietly placing her hand on his cheek, "what's wrong?" She was utterly confused. One minute he was laughing and making jokes the next he fell over on the verge of tears.
A tear streamed down a cheek and he quickly wiped it away with his sleeve. He looked at her and took a deep breath. "Watch the store. I have to go..I have to find Dutch.."He grabbed his wife's hand and get himself to his feet helping her as well.
"I don't understand James. Why all of a sudden? What happened?"
"I just..its..I just gotta go!" He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. Tears started to stream down his cheeks and he looked once more at Meg before darting out of the store.
Meg stood there dumbfounded. She didn't understand what caused the change in his emotions and why he had run out so fast and without an explanation for that matter. At this point all she could do was wait.
"EXTRY! WHOLE CITY BLOCK EATIN' BY BOININ' FLAMES! HUNDREDS FALL VICTIM TO DA CONFLAGRATION! POLICE ACCUSE MAYOR OF ARSEN!" A newsie scram the headlines violently waving a paper above his head.
"I'll take one.." Eddie approached the boy holding out a penny. He had wisps of blond hair sticking out from under his hat and a brown eye patch covering his left eye. He smilled down at the younger boy.
The newsy snatched the coin and stuffed it deep in his pocket and forked a newspaper to Eddie. He turned and yelled his headline again, not very interested in Eddies company.
"So how's Pulitzah treatin' you these days?" Eddie asked looking over the front headline of the "World". The newsie raised an eyebrow at him, let out a huff and went back to selling.
"MAYER PLOTS WIT FIRE DEPARTMENT TA BOIN DOWN CITY BLOCK! HUNDREDS DIE!" The newsie tweaked his story a bit this time.
Eddie looked curiously at the kid and then back at his paper. "Hey where's that story you'se "improvin'"?"
The newsie spun around and snarled. "Are you callin' me a liar, mistah!" His face was contorted so it looked like a rabid dog. Eddie started to laugh and the boy glowered even more.
"I ain't callin' you a liar! I know all your little tricks," He let out a laugh again. "I used to be a newsie fer the woild."
The newsie's expressions softened and he even had a brief smile. "Nice ta meet ya, I'se Ratchet." The newsie spit in his hand and extended it to Eddie.
Eddies face lit up and he spit in his hand and shook Ratchet's. "I used to be called Kid Blink. So where's the story?" He face went back to his paper.
"Page four, second column."
"Thanks, nice meetin' ya Ratchet. Tell Oscar Delancey he stinks for me, would ya?" Blink opened his paper.
Ratchet looked at him confused. "Who da hell is Oscar?"
Blink thought for a minute. "Sorry before your time, don't worry bout it.." Ratchet shrugged and walked away continuing to yell his ever-changing headline. Blink looked at the page and gasped. He started to sprint towards Lower Manhattan; the pages of his paper flew out behind him slowly drifting back to the ground. He didn't care; all he could think about was Kloppman.
So that's Chapter 2. I'll update it soon once I get the 3rd chapter up and running.