Chapter 2

"What do you mean?!" Heather shouted-asked.

"What else could I mean by 'New York, 1899'?" Daisy repeated.

"But-but-but…how? I mean, stuff like this only happens in movies and stories," Delilah was also freaking out.

"I don't know. Maybe because we're so obsessed with Newsies the universe decided to be nice and put us there?"
Heather gasped. "That's why that lady looked so familiar. She was David's mom!"

"Omigod, you're right. We're IN Newsies! I don't know whether to be more excited or more freaked out," Daisy said.
"Well I know one thing you should freak out about," Delilah told her.
"What?"
"Jack Kelly is walking right towards us." Daisy looked over her shoulder and, sure enough, there was the famous Cowboy coming at them.

"Eep!" Daisy squeaked. But she didn't have time to say anything else because he was now right in front of them.

"Aftanoon ladies," he greeted them. "I noticed dat you three seem ta be a little lost and was wonderin' If I could be of soivece."
"Um…well…I…" Daisy tried to say, but all words were failing.

"What my friend means to say is that we're new in town," Delilah covered.

"And we really don't know where anything is," Heather added. Daisy just nodded.

"Well, do you three got anywhere ta stay?" Jack asked. They just shook their heads. "Alright den. You'se two come wid me."

"Where are we going?" Daisy wondered, finally finding her voice.

"Ah ha! She speaks!" Jack teased, and Daisy turned bright red, crossing her arms. Her friends just laughed.

"That didn't answer my question," Daisy mumbled.

"We'se is goin' ta my place: Da Newsboys Lodgin' 'Ouse."

"You're a newsie?" Heather questioned.

"Yep. All us boys are. And if ya like da place, you'se guys could be too."

"I mean, we do need jobs."

"Yeah? Lets see 'ow ya get along wid da rest of us. And dat should be easy. We'se is all real nice. Now lets go. We're burnin' daylight." With that, he started to walk with the girls following him. "I'm Jack by da way. Jack Kelly."

"I'm Heather and this is Daisy and Delilah."

"Daisy? Like da flower?"
"Dorky right?" Daisy said.

"Not at all. It's pretty." He smiled at her and then turned to face forward. Heather just looked to her friend and gave her a smirk.

Daisy rolled her eyes and mouthed, "Shut up." But couldn't help but smile slightly herself.

"'Ow old are you three anyway?"

"We're all 16," Delilah answered. "Why?"

"Just checkin' ta see where ya are in relation ta de ouddas."

"And?"
"You'se about average."

Soon, they arrived at the Lodging House. It was smaller than the girls expected it to be. It was just a small brick building in between two shops. Jack led them inside and up the stairs to a room filled with bunk beds.

"Welcome ta my 'ome sweet 'ome!" Jack announced when they walked in. Again, it was smaller than it looked in the movie. The beds were all very cramped together and there was not a lot of open space. But it was just as messy as they anticipated. None of the beds were made and there were clothes everywhere. But the girls didn't mind. They knew it was just the way of the newsies.

"Cozy," Daisy commented.

"Now are there any open beds available for us or…?" Heather wanted to know.

"You goils actually get ya own room," Jack informed them.

"Wow, well aren't we special," Delilah replied.

"C'mon, it's right nest door." He brought them out of the boys' room and to the room next door where there were a few small beds. "Dis is da room we use whenevah we take a stray kid in until he wants ta leave. We hadn't had any in a while, so it's free for you'se."

"Thanks. This'll be great," Heather said.

"Where's everyone else?" Daisy wondered.

"Dey'se all finishin' up dere sellin' for da day. I was actually just about ta meet 'em all at Tibby's. You all wanna come and meet 'em?"
"Well if we're gonna be living here I think it would be best if we knew them."

"You'se a little smart-ass ain't ya? Ya tough. Dat's good in a goil." He winked at her then walked out, gesturing them to follow him. Before they did, Daisy just grabbed one of each of her friends' hands and silently squealed over what had just happened. Heather and Delilah tried to keep their laughter quiet. But they quickly ran after Jack before we would realize they weren't there.

Soon enough, they were at the restaurant. And through the windows, the girls could see all the newsies packed in there. They'd be lying if they said they weren't nervous and a little scared. But they pushed those fears away and followed Jack inside.

"'Ey boys!" Jack called out. The noise quieted down, and the three could feel every eye on them. They huddled closer together. "We got some new goils joinin' us in da Lodge 'Ouse. Dere names are 'Eathah, Daisy and Delilah. Dey'se is also gonna loin 'ow ta be newsies. Now goils," he turned to the three, "go mingle wid ya new friends." He pushed them forward. They stopped and just looked around.

"Over 'ere!" a voice cried out. They looked and saw one of the tables had brought over three extra chairs. Nervously, they walked over and sat down.

"So which one of you is which?" one of the newsies at their table asked.

"I'm Heather."

"Delilah."

"And I'm Daisy."

"And what are your guy's names?" Heather asked, playing dumb.

"I'm Mush."

"Kid Blink."

"Skittery."

"Racetrack. But you'se can just call me Race."

They chatted a little until the waitress came over to take their order. They all told her what they wanted to eat. But when it was Heather's turn, she just said, "I'm good. I'm not hungry."

"Heather, you barely ate anything today," Daisy scolded.

"I had a big lunch."

"You had an apple!"
"Seriously, don't start going crazy on us," Delilah told her.

"Fine. I'll have a salad, no dressing," Heather settled.

"With french fries," Daisy added. Heather just rolled her eyes.

When the waitress was gone, Delilah said, "You're not actually listening to that crazy woman right? Cause she is seriously wacked up."

"What woman?" Mush asked.

"Her aunt," Daisy answered. "She tells Heather here all the time that she's fat."

The boys upraised with arguments against that. Heather just gave her friends a look that read, "What did you start?"

After lunch, everyone headed back to the Lodge House. The boys scattered all over the house. Jack, at one point, took the girls aside and asked if they wanted to come with him to see their friend Medda perform that night. As much as they didn't much care for the character of Medda, they decided to go to see if they could get to like her as a person.

"One oudda thing," Jack warned them. "Spot Conlon will be dere."

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