"Where's David?" George, one of the school bullies, asked Charlotte the next day during lunch. "He never misses school."

Charlotte shrugged. "No clue. Must be sick at home." She knew if that group of boys knew David had to drop out of school to support his family, he'd never hear the end of it. She didn't look up from her book.

"Aww, and you're not taking care of him?" George mocked with a fake pout.

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Get lost, George."

"Oh, don't be so sensitive." He lightly tugged on her braid.

Charlotte casually moved her braid so it was over her other shoulder.

"Whoa," said a new voice, walking up to them. "Stop the presses! It's Fuller without Jacobs!"

Charlotte didn't have to look up to know it was the rest of George's posse. Not wanting to deal with any of them, she kept her head down and continued reading.

"Ah," said one of the cronies. "Not so feisty when you're not defending little dopey David, are ya?"

Charlotte cleared her throat and pointedly ignored them.

"I'm not sure we can get a rise out of her if David ain't here," said George. "Although it's too bad. It was funny seeing her try and punch Peter last time."

"Even funnier when that got her suspended for a day and little David bear cub was here without his mama bear to protect him," said another.

Charlotte clenched her teeth, trying her best to focus on the words on the page and not let them get the best of her.

"Yeah, she's a model student, except when defending dopey David," said another of the boys. "I fink it's because she wuvs him," he added in a baby voice.

To Charlotte's relief, the bell rang. She slammed her book shut and walked into the school building. As she walked away, she could hear George and his cronies snickering.


As soon as school ended, Charlotte rushed home and put her books away.

"I'm going out, Aunt Mae!" she called as she walked out the door. "Tell Uncle Ben I'll get him an evening edition!"

"Be back soon," Mae called. "You won't get into nursing school if you don't study!"

Once Charlotte was on the street, she took the all too familiar route to the Jacobs' neighborhood. After hopping off the trolley, she navigated the streets until she reached their block. From down the street, she could hear a newsie shouting a headline, but it didn't sound like David. She walked down the street, keeping an eye out.

She zigzagged through the streets looking for David and Les, but never finding them. She eventually made her way back to the Jacobs apartment and walked up the stairs. She knocked on the door and Mayer Jacobs answered.

"Charlotte," he grinned. "So good to see you, but David's not here."

"Oh," Charlotte said, disappointed. "I was going to buy a paper from him, but I can't find him anywhere."

"Hmm," Mayer frowned. "He said he's be selling somewhere between here and Newspaper Row."

Charlotte nodded. "Maybe I missed him," she grinned. "Thanks!"

With that, she took off back down the stairs and out onto the street. She zigzagged through the blocks, heading toward Newspaper Row, but never seeing or hearing David or Les.

Finally, she gave up and found a newsie leaning heavily on a crutch selling near City Hall Park.

"One please," she said, holding out a penny. The newsies handed her a paper. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know of two boys who just started selling today. One's tall with brown curly hair, about my age, the other's a little younger…"

"Oh, you mean Davey and Les?" asked the newsie.

Charlotte's face brightened. "Yes!"

"Oh, sure, I seen 'em this mornin'," said the boy. "They was off selling' with Jack today."

"Do you know where I can find them?"

"Nah," said the newsie. "Jack likes to roam around the city. Hardly sells in the same place twice. Sorry."

"Alright," Charlotte said, disappointed. "Thanks anyway."

The newsie tipped his hat to her with a pleasant grin.

Charlotte hesitated and then dug into her purse and got a nickel. "Here," she said. "Because you were so helpful."

"Aw, thanks, lady," the boy grinned. "Have a nice night."

"You too," Charlotte said before turning away and walking toward the nearest trolley stop. She'd been so excited to buy a paper from David and hear about his first day of selling. She just hoped this Jack person hadn't decided to take advantage of a nervous guy like David.