New York Royalty
By: PrinceOfNewYork
Chapter Nine: You Look Like a Bona Fide Newsie
Summary: In the world people are viewed in several different ways. Some are leaders, some are followers, some are somewhere in the middle, and some just get power through possessions. The concept of royalty can take on more than just one form.
Disclaimer: Most of these guys are mine, except for the few that ain't. And, if ya don't know which ones those are then you better go watch Newsies again.
A/N: Alright, this is my first shot at a Newsie fic, but I've been messin' with this character for over a year now, and it's about time she had her story put down (before I completely forget it all!) Thanks a bunch to all of ya who read this!
Once again, I borrowed the character of Collin "Red" Russiani from a fellow author of mine: AmbrLupin who has an account on this site under that name. So, if you're interested in this character go to her for info, and thanks to her for loaning him to me!
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"Right in here," he said opening the door for Mary Ann and she walked inside. It was full that was for sure. Boys some older than her, some younger and all of them were doing something or other. Some boys were sitting and talking, exchanging stories. One group had a bottle of liquor which they were passing around as they talked, and laughing at the stupidest things. There were about six playing poker in the middle of the room with all sorts of change laid out on the table. Then there were two boys who had books in their hands, and several younger boys around them, who were trying to learn to read. It was a community all in one building.
"Hey Will!" the boy who had lead Mary Ann inside called, "got any soup left?"
A man, heavy set but cheery, he reminded Mary Ann of a beardless Santa Clause, walked out of an office. "I think I got some left," he said looking at Mary Ann. "Give me ten minutes."
He nodded. "Alright, now you're going to want something dry to wear. Come on up stairs. No one'll bother you dere. You can borrow… uhhh… HEY! KEYS!" A boy across the room who was rather a bright eyed and bushy tailed fellow stood up and dashed over to them. He put a hand to his hat as a salute to the boy who had helped her.
"Mary Ann, dis is Keys. Keys, meet Mary Ann." the boy called Keys took his hat off and bowed grandly to her.
"Quite pleased to meet youse missy!" he said energetically.
"Yeah, I thought so…" the boy said looking Mary Ann and Keys over. "Keys, can M.A. here borrow some of your clothes for da night? Her bag's soaked, and so are da clothes in it, like da one's she's wearin'. You'll have 'em back in the mornin'."
Keys nodded quickly. "Yeah, sure no problem. I'll set 'em on my bed, she's can change when evah she wants!" He ran up the stairs at top speed.
"Don't worry," the boy said, "not all of dese boys are as energetic as Keys dere." Mary Ann was glad to hear that.
It had barely been a minute before Keys reappeared on the stairs. "Alright, you're all set. Mine's da bed on da left, second to the end. Hope dey fit!" And with that he was gone again.
"Go on up, and get yourself changed. Will an' I'll start ta get your clothes dry," he said with a smile to her. She tentatively started to walk towards the stairs. "Go on! You'll be fine," he promised her.
She turned and went up the stairs. When she reached the top she entered a room and closed the door behind her. There were two rows of bunk beds on either wall. Some of the beds were made, others weren't. Some had trunks sitting at the end, some had bags. Some of them were covered in heavy quilts, some just basic blankets. Some had no blankets at all. She walked down the middle of the two rows slowly until she reached the second bunk bed from the end on the left, and sure enough there were some boy's clothes sitting on the lower bunk. She walked over to them slowly and picked up the shirt. She'd worn boy's clothes before, when she'd played the Dodger in her class play Oliver Twist… that seemed years ago now. She slowly undid the buttons on her blouse, and slipped Keys' faded, light blue shirt over her arms, and buttoned it up in the front. She took her brown skirt off and put the black pants over her legs. Her hat, however, was staying on her head. He'd even put some socks out for her. She took off her shoes and her stockings, and put the socks on to her feet, then put her shoes back on. She took her blouse and skirt back down the stairs where the boy who had helped her was waiting for her.
"Wow… you look like a bona fide newsie," he said to her with a grin. Her a newsie? She hadn't thought about it until he said it. She thought she might like this.
"You think so?" she asked giving him a slight twirl.
He laughed at her. "Yeah, ya look real good kid. Now come on, Will's got your soup done. Then I'll introduce you to Avalanche," he said.
Mary Ann ran the rest of the way down the stairs. He led her into the kitchen where there was a small table that had four chairs sitting at it. He pulled one out for her, and she sat down quickly, and he sat down beside her.
Instantly, from her teachings she remembered her back straightened and she sat properly. The boy watched her closely, wondering what she was doing. She picked up her spoon slowly, and began to eat properly, despite the fact that she was hungry enough she wanted to simply swallow the soup without a second thought of how she looked, or acted.
The boy finally sighed and said, "What, ya tryin' ta do, impress me? Alright, I'm impressed, dere ain't no need for fine dinnin' here. Ya gotta be hungry," he said shaking his head at her.
She gazed at him for a moment, and without a second thought she started eating the soup as though the bowl were bottomless. He smiled at her. "I thought so," he said as he leaned back in his chair. "So, I suppose you'll wanna meet Avalanche now huh?" he asked with a sigh.
Mary Ann stopped eating suddenly and looked at him nodding. "Please," she said.
"Alright, let me go get 'im." Mary Ann watched the boy closely as he stood up and walked out of the room. Then turned right back around and walked back in. "Name's Alex Johnson, but most call me Avalanche, pleased to meet ya," he said spitting in his hand and offering it to her.
She sat dumbfounded. He'd been with her this whole time, and she hadn't even known it was him. Not only that, but it was another one of the newsies that her father had told her about, another one of the famous names in newsies. Avalanche laughed at the look on her face, and wiped the spit on his leg. "Sorry I didn't tell ya, but I was having too much fun. B'sides, I wasn't so sure dat you woulda come with me if ya'd known who I was. So I figured I'd play it safe."
"I would have come," she said in almost a hurt tone.
"I'm sorry Mary Ann," he said again sitting in the chair he had just stood up from. "So, now dat ya know it's me. You wanna explain jus what it is you're doin'?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Eatin' all proper like ya did jus now. Ya da cleanest street rat I evah seen. An' ya cain't lie ta save ya life. Though I do balieve ya when ya say dat Red sentcha. An' when ya say ya from Manhattan. But I wanna know what Manhattan goil's doin' getting herself sent ta Queens."
Mary Ann glanced at the open door. "I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to tell any of them," she said meaning the newsies sitting out in the main room.
Avalanche stood slowly. "I'll tell you what. You tell me what's so bad that made you run away from whatever home it was you came from, and then we'll decide who we tell what."
Mary Ann considered the offer for a moment before she agreed. "Deal. My full name is Mary Ann Snyder…" and that was what got her the first of many shocked looks from Avalanche's face. She explained the whole story. She explained why she didn't want to be called a Princess, and why her mother left. She told him about Millie, and Julia, and Adam, and how she had once played the Dodger in Oliver Twist at her school. She explained about the man who stole her food, and the boy who had criticized her, and eventually got to where Avalanche himself had found her at the alley.
When she was done he just stared at her. "Wow…" he said. She hadn't had the roughest life, but he understood why she did what she had.
"Please don't tell anyone. If my father found out where I was… I don't know what he'd do to me. He used to say that if his child were a newsie he'd… he'd… well he actually never finished the sentence, but I don't want to find out the end. And apparently he's got plans for me and everything… and… please don't turn me in Mr. Avalanche Alex Johnson sir."
He shook his head at her slowly. "Naw, naw I ain't gonna toin ya in kid. If anyone asks you where youse come from youse tell 'em you're a run away, dey won't ask no more questions. Newsies know when ta ask questions, an' when not ta.
"Now, since Red said you'd be safe heah, I guess I bettah make sure ya stay safe heah. We'll get ta woik on that real soon, alright? But right now it's late. Keys won' need those clothes for a while, so youse can wear 'em for a few days. I think it's bettah if ya wear 'em until we's can getcha more clothes of ya own. For now I paid for ya ta stay heah for a night. I'll teach ya how ta sell tomorrah, and tomorrah night we'll figure out how ta hide ya, okay? For now, what's say we get some sleep?"
"I don't have a bed."
"That's alright," he said with a shrug. "I always tell da boys ta leave one made, so youse can take it. It's right on top a' mine. We'll pick ya outta bed tomorrah, den ya won' hafta worry 'bout it no mores."
Mary Ann nodded as she and Avalanche went up the stairs. Before going to sleep she whispered her prayers so that no one would hear her, but Keys spotted her anyway. "Hey, whatcha doin'?"
"Prayin'…" she said quiet.
"Hey, I do that too!" he said with a smile. "Boys heah do it a lot. Pray for a good headline okay? All us guys do it every night… dunno if it helps, but we figure we could ask."
She made a mental note to pray for a good headline every night from then on. Eventually the light was turned off, she got deep under the covers and fell asleep.
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And that is the chapter for this monday! I hope you enjoyed it. If you've got a minute to spare I wouldn't turn down a reveiw! But, if you don't want to, then don't worry about it! I'm just glad you're reading the story. Anyway, I'll see you all on Friday!