Disclaimer (which should have been posted on the last chapter…in my excitement for posting my first fanfic I forgot!): I do not own any of the Newsies or the Newsies places mentioned in the story…even if I wish that I did. I only own Genevieve, the members of her family, Mrs. Ford and any other characters that come from my mind along the way.

Author's Note: The Teutonic is an actual, White Star Line, passenger ship that left Queenstown, Ireland in 1899, carrying an 18 year old passenger named Mary O'Malley. I discovered the record of this ship on the Ellis Island Archives website. If anyone is interested in finding the records of relatives who immigrated to America via Ellis Island, I highly recommend checking out that site! Yes I am pretty much a geek and proud of it. You should be proud of my fairly prompt updating considering that I am in college and should be studying…. Now, on with the story!

Chapter Two

April 29, 1899 Dublin, Ireland

My dearest friends,

You have no idea how much has happened to me in the past week. Not to be cliché, but I could never have imagined this in my wildest dreams (well a dream that turned bad) Alright, that is not truthful. I have wished and hoped for this for the whole of my existence, but look at me now. Now, you may be wondering what exactly "this" is and why things have gone bad and I will tell you, but first I have a rather sad story to pen. In my last entry I told you about the elderly woman that I read to every day, remember? Well she passed away two weeks ago and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I know that sounds awful and I am now going to burn in hell for all eternity, but I couldn't care less! I suppose I should explain.

One morning I walked into Mrs. Ford's library, went over to the shelf where she kept the Iliad (which we were reading that week) and took my place on the crushed velvet covered chair that I usually sit in when I read to her. She, as was her custom, was already in her chair and ready for me to start reading. I opened up the book and began to read "…yes and Hector knew the truth in his heart and the fighter cried aloud..."

"Genevieve, my dear, you can stop for now. There is something that I wish to tell you" she started.

"There is something that I wish you to have. Take this key, go over and open the top left drawer in the cherry desk near the fireplace. Bring me the small blue envelope." She said.

I obeyed and pulled the envelope out of drawer, brought it to the old woman and kneeled at her feet.

"My children in America sent me this for my 87th birthday this year and it was a present that I truly did not want. They wished to uproot and old woman who has lived all of her life in the same place. What is all the fuss about streets paved with gold? The only gold is what you hold in your heart and that is what is truly important in life. Do you understand me Genevieve?

I nodded, not knowing what else to do, but understanding what she was trying to tell me.

"I think that you have gold in your heart child and unfortunately this country has never suited you that well. Do not think that I do not see the stifling of your imagination and intellect and your unfulfilled desires. You think that I am blind, deaf, dumb and always asleep, but I hear, I see and I know. Genevieve, you are a special girl and I want you to have the world."

I could not even believe what I was hearing. Mrs. Ford had barely spoken to me, in anything more than a grunt, in all the years that I had read to her. What did she mean that I was special and that she saw all my heart's desires? I mean, I dream a lot of things, mostly things that I would never want anyone else to find out (especially things that are boy related…do not tell me that I am the only one who thinks like that! I know you do too and do not deny it!). I once had this fantasy where I was kidnapped by a sinister troop of passing gypsies who forced me to be their sex slave until I was rescued by a tall, dark handsome, well built man who made me forget all the gypsies had done to me. But that is beside the point. Excuse me; I should not be speaking like that. I think I may have wandered a bit on this story.

"Genevieve" she said "I want you to have what is in this envelope and think of it as your chance to shine and be who you want to be. You know I had a perfect older sister once and I always thought that I was second best." Her eyes began to mist as she continued.

"I never thought that I was worth anything until someone gave me a push in the right direction and taught me that I was beautiful too. I wanted to be that person for you before it was too late and you lost your spirit and I, mine. Now take this and go. I do not want to see you moping about around here."

I managed to stammer a quick "thank you" before racing out of the library. I reached the door, but stopped and ran swiftly back into the room to give her a peck on her wrinkled cheek before dashing out again.

Mrs. Ford leaned back, surprised but at peace. I found out later that she passed away in that moment, knowing she had spread a little cheer into the heart of a young woman.

Now you are probably wondering what exactly was in the envelope (though it is not too hard to figure out). It took me a long time before I even opened it. I ran and ran for what seemed like miles until I reached a little pond that is hidden in the woods behind my house. Breathing heavily, I sat down on one of the large rocks and opened the little blue envelope with shaking hands. I pulled out a small piece of paper and read exactly what it said: Queenstown, Ireland to New York, USA: a ten day voyage on White Star Line's Teutonic. Sails on the 10th of May, 1899. The holder of this ticket is entitled to a second class cabin, free roam of all decks and dinner with the first class passengers. My breath caught in my throat. Mrs. Ford had given me her ticket to America! She wanted me to travel on a ship and make a new life in America. Was I dreaming?

I was dancing on clouds when I entered my house.

"What you got there little sis?" asked Peter, ripping the ticket out of my hand.

I should have known that I could not keep anything to myself.

"What is this?" he asked

"Something I got from Mrs. Ford" I replied "It isn't anything important"

"Sure is isn't.

I tried unsuccessfully to yank back the ticket; Peter is 6'3.

"Peter, if you promise to give it back I will tell you what it is."

"Deal"

"Honestly Pete. I swear you are ten years old sometimes"

"Seven, if you please"

"Whatever you say."

"Now you're just wasting my time Gen. Tell me what has got you so happy, yet gives you cause to be so secretive?"

I must admit that I hesitated to tell Peter. In my ecstasy I neglected to think realistically about the whole situation. There was no way that my parents were going to let their 17 yr old daughter travel thousands of miles across the ocean, by herself, to live in a whole different country, by herself.

"Well…" I began. "It's a ticket."

"Well I can see that. Where'd you get it?"

"Mrs. Ford"

"That crabby old lady who never talks to you? I thought she hated you"

"Thank you for your faith in my wit and charm, Peter. Do you want me to tell you or not?"

"Yes, yes I do"

"Well she gave me her ticket to America, turns out she does like me and wants me to have a future and the boat sails in 2 days and I am going on it" There, I got it all out.

"What?" he yelled. "You're kidding right?" I did nothing. "Do have any idea what Ma and Pa are going to say about this?"

"Truthfully, I was rather hoping that they wouldn't mind it. I mean I know the whole thing sounds ridiculous, but I've already figured it out. You see I can find some other "crabby" old lady and talk her into letting me accompany her on the journey and then I wouldn't be traveling alone" And that, my friends, is thinking on your feet. I never actually thought about that plan before, but as it came out, it actually sounded as though it might work.

"Traveling alone where, Genevieve?" my mother asked as she slipped into the kitchen carrying a large basket, stuffed with clothes.

"America" stated my brother, with a bit of a smirk on his face.

I will spare you the fine details but let's just say that the laundry hit the floor, my mother screamed and hit me and my brother had to stifle his triumph and laughter.

Now, I am seated on my bed, writing all of this in my journal. My mother sent me to bed without any supper and she has not done that since I was ten years old, maybe nine. So, I guess this is it. The Teutonic sails in two days and Genevieve Elizabeth O' Malley will not be on board. Sorry for the little wet spots on the paper but I can't help thinking that I was "like taking me to the top of the mountain and showing me the world, and then marching me back down, and saying, "That's what you can't have Genevieve, you silly great fat article". Well good night for now and thank you for your patience and albeit, silent, support

Sadly,

Genevieve

Manhattan, New York United States of America

Jack Kelly and his gang of Manhattan Newsies, were taking a well deserved break from peddling papes, at Tibby's restaurant.

"What do you guys think of this?" asked the tall, handsome leader of the newsies, pointing to yet another headline covering the arrival of the ocean liner from Ireland.

"Says here that the Teutonic, that's its name…"

"Way to point that out for us Jack!" a short, but loud spoken boy named Racetrack, interjected.

"Eh, shut it Race and lemme finish, or I'll soak ya!" Jack shot back. "It says here that it will be carrying one thousand Irish immigrants to New York."

"That's nothing new Jack. You know how many ships arrive at Ellis Island each day, carrying many more poor people than this ship will?" asked a curly haired boy, David, who was considered to be the smartest in the group.

"No I don't, but this one is different."

"How Jack?"

"This one is said to be carrying mostly women and children and you know what that means: more boys trying to take over our selling spots!"

"And more pretty girls!" shouted Mush, a good looking, dark curly haired boy who had a weakness for anything that batted an eyelash at him.

"You can have 'em Mush. There isn't anything good about them Irish girls anyway, they all look the same to me." declared Jack

"Here, here!" agreed the pessimistic one in the group, a tall, dark haired boy, called Skittery, who would gave been good looking, had he ever been anything but depressed and moody. "There isn't any goils for me here so why should there be one anywhere else"

"Aw, cheer up Skittery" soothed the always smiling Crutchy, who had been aptly named so, for his dependence on a wooden crutch to walk.

"That's like telling Oscar and Morris to get some brains. It ain't never gonna happen!" joked Racetrack

"Real mature" Skittery shot back

"Hey Jack, if you don't mind me asking, why do you hate the Irish so much? Aren't you Irish too?" Crutchy questioned.

"I don't know Crutch. I think it might have something to do with hating my mother and she was an Irish immigrant. Came here for a better world for her and children, see how well that turned out?" Jack answered. "Come on you bums, we gotta get selling again unless you wanna eat the rest of your papes!"

There was a collective groan and everyone filed out of the restaurant and back onto the streets of New York.

Jack took one final glance at the article and shoved his papes back onto his makeshift belt.

"like taking me to the top of the mountain and showing me the world, and then marching me back down, and saying, "That's what you can't have Genevieve, you silly great fat article" this quote was taken from the 1995 film Circle of Friends and adapted a bit to fit my needs

This chapter will be the second to last time that Genevieve's story will be told in the form of a journal entry. Once she is on the ship and when she meets the Newsies, then the narration becomes omnipotent, just as it is when the Newsies are discussed in these first two chapters. I may utilize her journal at some point so everyone can see some of the things that are going on in her head, but you will just have to wait and see. I have so much planned (with multiple plot lines swimming around in my head…I have no idea how this is going to end…I have two main routes but you'll just have to wait) and I hope you guys will enjoy what you read. I know you all were dying to know all of this…Feel free to review, let me know what you think, like and dislike.