New York Royalty
By: PrinceOfNewYork
Chapter Eighteen: That Much Closer to 15
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!
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For a long time life as a newsie was fairly quiet. Poker happened once a week, and sometimes Queens would go, other times they wouldn't. Sometimes Bronx would come as well, and Brooklyn, and there were times when Manhattan had it on their own, or didn't have it at all. And the letters continued flowing between Prince and Millie, and Avalanche never said a word to anyone about what he and Red had talked about.
Summer's warm breezes quickly turned the leaves in the parks to bright warm hues that decorated New York beautifully, and the cool winds told the citizens that autumn was no longer on it's way, but it had arrived. And time pressed on still as the cool winds grew colder, and the colors of the leaves faded to browns as winter rang in its arrival once more. And with winter came Prince's birthday, Christmas, and New Years, and this winter she could add a new occasion, because it would mark her one year anniversary of being a newsie.
"Hey Priiiiiiince," Avalanche said staring her in the face. "Wake uuuuuuuuuuuuup."
"Cain't you evah jus lemme sleep? Or at least not be so cheery in da mornin' huh? Please, jus dis once?"
"Nope! Especially not today, December 17. Come on Prince, ya cain't sleep in on ya boithday! Ya toinin' 14! Dat's one ta celebrate… sorta."
"Why? Jus means I'm dat much closah ta 15… which is only dat much closah ta 16."
Avalanche laughed. "I think if I didn't stop you you'd just go on forever."
"Which is only dat much closah ta 17."
"Alright, seriously, get up, and stop with da numbers."
"I'se could do it in Gaelic instead."
"Let's not," he said walking away. Prince laughed and sat up in bed.
"G'mornin' Prince!" Keys called. "How're ya doin'?"
"I'm great Keys, thanks, and how're youse doin'?"
"I'm good," he said nodding. "So, ya toinin' 14 huh? Yeah, I did that once… it was fun."
"Fun was it?"
"Yeah… well have a good day Prince." Prince had to smile. Everyone was being so nice to her today. She got out of bed and went through her usual morning routine, getting dressed, putting her hair up, and doing everything else, and everyone at the lodging house was really nice to her the whole time, more than usual.
All the boys were heading out the door when Avalanche turned back to Prince. "Shoot, I left my hat up stairs. Will ya do me a favor, and run up and get it? I gotta get dese guys outside."
"Sure, no problem," Prince said and dashed back up the stairs. She ran over to Avalanche's bunk and picked up his hat. As she came down the stairs she twirled it around her finger. She reached the door and opened it. "Okay, Avie I got-"
WHAM!
She was slammed with exactly 14 snowballs. "HAPPY BOITHDAY!" the boys chorused as they laughed and turned to go get their papes to sell.
All the boys, that is except for Avalanche who stood laughing as he took his hat from Prince's hand. "Thanks," he said putting it on his head after shaking the snow out of it.
"Dis was your ideah."
"No it wasn't! We do it ta everyone. Ya just lucky ya boithday wasn't in da summah, dat's all I gotta say."
"Why didn't ya tell me? How did I not know dis?"
"Guess ya just missed it is all," he said with a shrug. He laughed a little then said, "Nah actually the guys used ta make sure dat you wasn't around when evah it was someone's boithday in da mornin' b'cause dey really wanted ta catch ya off guard."
"Well, they did a real good job," Prince said still getting the snow out of her shirt, which Avalanche found to be very funny.
"Well, I promise ya no more boithday pranks," he said. "Swear, dat's all da boys do. You won't get no more trouble from dem," he promised her.
Avalanche and Prince walked to Distribution together and got their papes, and sent out and started selling like the rest of the boys.
Prince had set up a system with the familiar messenger boy, and they'd set up a deal long ago. Since the Snyder house was always on his route anyway, Prince paid him about a nickel a week. The boy's name was Thomas Johnson, and he was a fairly good looking boy who'd come to be rather congenial with Prince. But, he knew not to tell anything about Prince to Millie, who also has learned the boy's name, but never asked questions beyond that.
"Hey Prince!" Thomas called to her as he came walking down the street.
"Heya Thomas," she said meeting him in the usual place. "Wha' da ya know? Wha' da ya say?"
"Millie said to give this to you," he said handing her a package.
Prince smiled. "It's my boithday," she explained.
"Ahhh… I wondered why she'd ask me to come early and deliver it. Well open it! I wanna see what it is!" he said, his curiosity stronger than hers.
Prince laughed. "Alright, I'll open it!" She took the twine off of the box, and took off the plain brown wrapping. She then opened the box, and on top was a card.
We remembered that you were always making up stories. We didn't know if you had anywhere to write them down. Breithlá sona duit (Happy Birthday) Mary Ann – Millie, Julia and Adam.
Prince put the card under the box and lifted up a sheet of tissue paper to find a leather bound journal. To the eye of a newsie it was expensive, and would be a priceless thing. Almost to the extent that Prince was afraid to write in it.
Thomas let out a low whistle. "Wow, what a beaut. Looks real nice Prince," he said nodding. "You got a lettah for Millie?"
Prince shook her head no. "But, if ya come back dis aftah noon I will," she reassured him.
"Youse can count on it. See ya den," and with that he walked off to continue his errands. Prince set the card in the box and pulled out the journal. She thumbed through the pages. On the first page she found a message:
Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasach. (An awkward colt often becomes a beautiful horse.) I'm sure this is especially true in your case. – Millie
Prince smiled at the message and even laughed a little. It was then that she really started to miss her deirfiúir
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"Millie…"
"Yes Miss Snyder."
"Do you think there's anyway that you and I could be… friends forever. And stay together?"
"Aye miss, but not in the way ye might be thinkin'. Ye be thinkin' that I'm a nevah gonna leave ya, and stay in this house with you and ya fathah forevah."
She nodded sadly. "But you won't, will you?"
"Everythin' musta come to an end, Miss Snyder."
"So, how will you stay with me then, like you said you would?"
"Because, you'll be right here," she said putting a hand to her heart. "In mo chroí. Means, in my heart."
"Mo chroí."
"Aye, and it's there ye'll find me."
The room went silent for a moment. "Millie, how do you say friends in Gaelic?"
"Cairde."
"How do you say forever?"
"Go síoraí."
"Hmmm… how do you say sister?"
"Deirfiúir."
"Yeah… I like that one best."
"Aye, me too."
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Okay, it's a rather short chapter this friday, bit it won't be come monday! I hope you enjoyed it none the less. I can't believe we're already here! Yikes! There acctually isn't that many chapters left! If you can believe it. Well, if you have a moment, and wanna drop me a line, as coment, criticisum, ramblings, or just to say hi I'd appreciate it! Also, if you've been following this story I'd appreciate a reveiw, be it signed or unsigned. I'm just a bit curious how many people have been reading this. But, if you don't want to submit a review... I can't exactly make you can I? Anyway, I hope you all come back on Monday to see what happens next!