A/N: This is the same story, I promise, though for the first few chapters it may not seem like it. If you bear with me for a couple chapters, I promise it will all come together!


Part 2


"…and now Les and I have to sell papers, because they just fired father," David sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, looking down.

"That's terrible!" said Charlotte as she walked alongside him. They turned onto Orchard Street, heading towards the Jacobs's apartment. She paused, thinking. "Now, are we talking just a regular fracture, or was it open with the bone sticking through the skin?"

David made a disgusted face. "Charlotte…"

"I'm sorry, but I'm interested!"

"I'll let Papa tell you about it," said David. He shook his head as they walked approached the door to the building. He opened the front door for her. "I don't know how you can stomach details like that."

"I think it's fascinating," she grinned, walking inside and up the stairs. "Uncle Ben says he knows someone on the board at Bellevue, and they're opening up a school for nurses at the hospital. He says he can get me in if I graduate with good enough grades."

David sighed. "Meanwhile, I'll get behind in school. The doctors said Papa won't be able to go back to work for at least two months. Les and I will sell papes, and Ma and Sarah have to take in laundry in addition to making lace just so we can make ends meet."

Charlotte watched her friend as he spoke. He was stressed. He was stressed about their family making enough money. He was stressed about having to go out and sell papers. He was stressed about missing school.

"It won't be that bad," said Charlotte. "School gets out in a week anyway, and you'll only miss the first month of school. You won't be too far behind."

David gave her a small grin. "I'd appreciate that."

Charlotte grinned and looped her arm through his. "That's what friends are for."


"You see, there was this traction device," Mr. Jacobs said, using his hands to illustrate to his captive audience of Charlotte and Les. "They had to pull my arm away in order to set the bones right."

"Eeeewwwwww," said Les, with the disgusted fascination of a typical 10-year old.

"I wish I could have seen it," said Charlotte, her elbow resting on the table and her chin resting on the heel of her palm.

Sarah winced at the story, trying to focus on her piecework instead of listen.

"It would have been quite interesting, had I not been in excruciating pain," said Mr. Jacobs, with a slight grin.

"Enough of the gruesome tales, Mayer," said Mrs. Jacobs, drying the last of the dishes with David. "David, why don't you walk Charlotte home."

"Thank you for dinner," Charlotte said as she stood up.

"You are welcome anytime, dear," Mrs. Jacobs grinned. "We appreciate you helping David out while he works."

Charlotte gave David a small smile. David grinned and looked down at the dish he was drying. He put the dish away and walked toward the door.

"Shall we?" he asked, grabbing his hat and opening the door for her.

Charlotte nodded and followed him out the door.

Mrs. Jacobs watched the door close. "When do you think our boy will start courting that girl?"

"Never," said Sarah with a chuckle.

Mr. Jacobs chuckled. "Probably around the time someone else takes an interest in her and he gets his head on straight."

"I'll court her!" said Les. "She likes gross stories like I do." Then with a mouth full of cake, he asked, "What's courting?"


"Nervous about tomorrow?" Charlotte asked as they boarded the trolley.

"Not really," said David.

Charlotte rolled her eyes and looked up at him. "Come on, David. It's me."

David looked over at her. "Okay, maybe I'm a little nervous."

Charlotte looped her arm through his as they sat down. "You'll do great. Where will you be selling? I want to buy a paper from you!" She grinned.

"I don't know," said David, glumly. "Probably somewhere close to home."

Charlotte nudged him in the ribs. "Come on. It won't be that bad. You'll get to be outside instead of the sweltering classroom. See the city…watch the people…hey! Maybe you'll make some new friends."

"In the newsies?" David gave her a look. "I doubt it. They're rough and tough and will probably punch me as soon as look at me."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "They're not all that bad."

"How would you know?"

Charlotte sighed softly. There was only so much she could do to try and make him feel better about the next morning.

They rode the rest of the way in silence. Charlotte watched out the window at the passing city as they left the Lower East Side and traveled uptown to Gramercy.

David bounced his knee and chewed on his lip. Charlotte glanced over at him. "You're a wreck," she chuckled sympathetically.

David chuckled nervously as the trolley slow to a stop. They got off and headed toward Charlotte's townhouse.

"Thanks for escorting me back," she said.

David nodded. "You'll really come see me tomorrow?"

Charlotte gave him an encouraging grin and nod. "I'll come find you as soon as school lets out."

David genuinely grinned for the first time since they'd left the house.

"Goodnight, Charlotte," he said as they stopped in front of her front stoop.

"Goodnight." Charlotte grinned at him as she walked up the stairs and inside. "I'm home, Aunt Mae!"

Charlotte went to the window and watched David walk down the street.

"Is that Jacobs boy courting you yet?" her aunt asked, walking into the room.

Charlotte smirked wryly. "No."

"What's wrong with him?"

Charlotte turned away from the window after David had turned the corner and rolled her eyes.

"You keep doing that and one day they'll stick that way!" her aunt warned.

"No they won't." Charlotte rolled her eyes again, just for good measure.