Guest: You can never be too careful. ;) I was kind of the same way, as well. Thanks for reviewing!
Guest: Why, thank you! If I do say so myself, I feel like this has been such an improvment over the last version of this story. Thanks for reviewing!
I don't own Newsies.
Chapter Two
Tension within the Kelly household was gone by the time dinner rolled around. Winnie was too busy mushing her food together to notice anything wrong. She had already spilled her cup. Levi entertained the family with stories and jocks that made Laura cringe. Jack remarked that it was about time for him to practice his "Papa Jocks". Laura looked as if she'd rather die. After they had finished, the family piled into the main room for a story.
Laura had believed that she was too old for this kind of thing ages ago. But something made her go. Perhaps it was how fun it was to hear her father's stories. Or because she wanted something from the days where her mother was still alive. Levi was always into the action. No one really knew weather Theo was listening or not. He mostly sat down next to Laura and started rocking back and forth on his heals. Winnie sat on Levi's lap. She was usually given something to entertain herself. Sometimes she would get up in the middle of a tale and run around. They didn't care much anymore. Kath used to make her sit back down before Jack could continue.
"Papa, you promised to tell the story about the strike tonight," Levi informed him, "Remembered last week?"
"Did I know?" He didn't look up from the dish he was putting away.
"Swike!" Winnie yelled. Clearly, she had no clue about what was going on, but she was into it. With her father's back turned, Laura rolled her eyes.
"Alright, alright Princess Winnie of the Kelly household," said Jack, putting the rest of the plates away.
Once Levi looked over at his sister, he saw her pained expression. Jack used to call his elder daughter his princess. But ever since Winnie came along she had gotten everything. Laura never liked her. She had been whishing for a younger sister for years, but once she got one it was hard to love her. Laura Levi settled the tootler on his lap for the story.
"As you know, the pape that your Grandfather Pulitzer owned had raised the price of the pape for the newsies. So we decided to strike…"
The tale fascinated the children. Laura was hanging onto his every word. Levi's eyes were as big as the cups they used at dinner. Even Theo seemed to be enjoying himself. Winnie fell asleep.
"Papa, can we please, please be newsies for a day?" Levi begged. It was usually a wasted effort, but he let himself try again.
For once Jack seemed to consider it. "It'll teach you a thing or two about life. Sure. You can even do it tomorrow if you go to bed."
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Levi pumped his first up into the air. "Thank you so much, Pops! We're going to bed right now! Right, guys?"
Laura nodded before taking Theo into the Boy's Room. After he was ready for bed, Laura disappeared into her own room to get ready. Levi jumped inside without knocking receiving an eye roll from his sister.
"Goodness, Levi! Can't you just try knocking?" she exclaimed.
"Nah, you love me." He flashed her a grin.
Laura rolled her eyes again. "Put a shirt on, why don't you?"
"All the guys at school sleep without a shirt on now, Laurie." He laid on the bed and started throwing a pillow into the air before catching it.
She took a seat next to him, silently thanking God that she wasn't a boy who talked about wearing shirts to bed. "Theo goes to school and still wears a shirt."
"Theo is a baby, pretty much. I was talking the older guys. My friends."
Laura made Levi sit on the floor, while she took a seat on the bed, and played with his hair. Ever since he had been born it seemed like a Kelly tradition. Theo refused to let Laura touch his hair. Levi didn't seem to mind anymore.
"And to impress Mavis?" Laura teased.
His face went bright red. "No!"
"C'mon, Levi! Everyone knows you liked her."
"Not Mavis!"
"Especially Mavis. Sorry to have to break it to you, brother."
"Um, well. Are you excited to be newsies tomorrow?" It wasn't too hard to change the subject, but Levi was afraid of what Laura might say if he hadn't. Or worse if she had changed it herself.
Laura thought about it. "Yeah, I guess, so."
But a smile rose to her lips. Levi could tell that she was hiding her excitement. Sometimes, he wondered is they could read each other's minds. Uncle Race told him once that he could. After going to school for some time, Levi was about to figure out that his uncle was an idiot.
"Here comes the baby," Jack announced, with Winnie in one arm.
Laura faked a smile when he put her in the cot next to her bed. Jack gave each of them a kiss before telling Levi to go to bed. Theo was waiting for him in there. Jack left with Levi right behind him.
"Up and at 'em!" Jack called.
Levi groaned. He enjoyed the weekend for two reasons: No Mr. Deardorff and sleeping in. Theo was trying to shake his brother awake.
"Why do I need to get up?" he wined.
Theo shrugged. Levi trudged out of bed. The smell of something nice came from the kitchen was his motivation to join his sister in the kitchen. The family feasted on eggs and toast. Once they had gotten ready, the three honorary newsies lined up by the door. Jack gave them a few instructions and a little money before they headed out.
After getting their papes, Levi started yelling out fake headlines with a smile on his face. He ran everywhere he went. This was much too fun. Much better than school. Levi sold most of the papers. Laura let him. Even though she had a few ideas, she wanted to let her brothers have some fun. Theo didn't mind much.
"Baby born with three heads!" Levi shouted, holding up a pape. Then under his breath. "Must be from Brooklyn."
They sold their last pape. Levi was proud of the three dollars he held in his hand. He had been an unofficial newsie for a whole day. Done most every newsie thing they could think of. Eating at Jacobi's, Making up false headlines, Levi even got into a little fight with another newsie. They didn't get far before Laura separated them. There was still one last thing Levi had to do before heading home. He led his siblings to the market.
"Levi, what are we doing here?" Laura whispered into his ear.
"Oh, you know. Being a true newsie," he answered casually.
"What does that mean, Levi?" she replied through clenched teeth.
"Every newsie needs to steal at some point…"
In a flash, Levi grabbed a roll from a cart. He started running away with his siblings trying to follow him. Laura held on tight to Theo's hand. They made to make it away. They had to. But her cart owner was able to grab ahold of Theo. Both older siblings stopped. The roll flew through the air before landing in the mud.
"Now listen here you little, news kids. You gotta pay for that," he sneered. He noticed that Levi had stolen the food by the look on his face. Laura stood next to her brothers, shaking all over. "These your siblings? Very nice. Looks nice you won't be alone when you go to the orphanage."
"Please, sir! Let us go!" Laura begged.
Theo was struggling to breath. They were taken a few blocks away. There was no running for it. The building they stood in front of read, "Snyder's Orphanage For Any Children In Need". Once they entered, a lean man greeted them.
"Step into my office," he told them in a board tone.
His office was home to a desk with one too many papers on it. Forms and newspapers littered the area. The man took a seat in front of the mess. He shuffled through a few of the documents before settling on one and took out a pen.
"We're not orphans, sir," Laura began to explain.
"Tell me your names," he interrupted.
"Laura, Levi, and Theodore Kelly, sir."
"Kelly?" their surname seemed to perk his interest.
"Yes-"
The man stood. He walked slowly to them. A cold smile was perched on his face. Laura couldn't tell weather or not she could trust this man.
"I know your father, children. I promise that I'll personally make sure you make it back to him." He took Laura's hand and shook it.
"You will?"
"Yes, children. I swear it on my life."
The cart keeper grunted. The man gestured to him to let poor Theo go. They discussed something in the corner. The man from the orphanage gave the other a few dollars. The shopkeeper left. As the door closed, the man from the orphanage only stood there. Not facing the children.
"Now, my children. I don't think I'll pass up an opportunity to get revenge on your father."
Thanks for reading! Please review!