A/N Hey peeps! Sorry it took me so long to update. This chapter kinda wrote itself. I didn't really see the whole... well I'll let you read it and then I'll tell you about it later. Oh, and I dunno if the newsies will be here today. Maybe later. Anyways, on with the story.
"Hey Two Bits, hows da headline taday?" Racetrack asked. "Silly Racetrack, headlines don' sell papes, newsies sell papes!" I said, laughing as I sat down next to my best friend. As I opened one of my papes to read the news, I thought about my time with the newsies. For six months I had been here, living as one of the guys. Two days after I started living at the lodge house I cut my long hair so I could take off my hat. I usually sold with Race or David. I occasionally sold with Mush or Jack. "Hey. Hey Two Bits! You there?" someone said as they waved their hand in front of my face. "Huh, what? Oh, sorry, just thinking." I said as I snapped out of my thoughts. "Good. Wanna sell with me today?" Racetrack asked me. "Sure Race." I replied. We stood up and left for Sheepshead Races.
--
About an hour later we got to the races. Race and I had both sold all of our papes on the way there. We stood at the edge of the railing, watching the race. "Go Quicksilver go!" Race called out as his favorite horse, a thoroughbred chestnut mare, pulled to the front of the pack. I stood silently as Shadow, the horse I bet on, pulled along side Quicksilver, then passed the mare. "NO!" Race howled as Shadow crossed the finish line a full second before Quicksilver. I smiled as Race threw his hands up and groaned, "That's the end of my gamblin' money if I wanna sell tomorrow." "I could give you somma (some of) da money I won." I said slyly as I started to walk to the counter where we had placed our bets. "Nope. Not taking your money. Not again. You give me money too often Lucky." Race said as he shook his head.
I spun on my heal and asked, "What did you call me?" "Umm, Lucky." Race said, confused. "Why?" I asked, demanding an answer from my friend. "'Cause you always win at da races, dats all. Why you so upset bout dat?" Race asked, now on the offensive. "No reason." I said, turning around so Race couldn't see my face as I tried to pull myself together. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around so I faced him and said, "If its no big deal, den why youse so upset?" "Upset, who's upset?" I asked. Race gave me a look, and I sighed, saying, "My brudder used ta call me dat."
"You have a brudder?" Race asked, curious. "Yep." I said simply. "Where is he?" Race pushed. "Not here." I snapped. Race looked shocked at my outburst. I quickly amended, "Sorry, it's a touchy subject for me. He ran away and left me behind. I thought he might've run to be a newsie, so I came here." "Ohh." Race said, comprehension dawning on his face. "Dija find 'im?" "I think I might've seen him, but I can' be sure." Race looked at me, confused. "I didn' talk to 'im." I said by way of explanation. Race nodded, understanding. "Now come on. I got money to get!" I said as I walked towards the counter. Race groaned as I collected my dollar fifty that I won. "Come on, lunch time, my treat." I said as I waved my money in front of Race's face. "I'm ordering da most expensive thing on da menu." Race grumbled. I laughed and hooked my arm through his, saying, "Oh, come on. Be happy." Race shook his head as he slipped his arm out of mine.
"Fine, you asked for it. I'm gonna sing." I said. "Oh no!" Race said in mock terror. "You've never herd me sing. You are really asking for it." Race just laughed, saying "You can' be dat bad." "Oh, yes I can!" I said. I looked around to make sure that no one could hear me before I started singing. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and started to sing.
Have you ever seen the sky so
Beautiful, colorful
Wide and wonderful
Have you ever felt the sunshine so
Brilliantly raining down
Over you and me
Have you ever wanted more?
Wanted more?
You've got to keep your mind wind open
All the possibilities
You've got to live with your eyes open
Believe in what you see
Think of all the days you've wasted
Worrying, wondering
Hopelessly hoping
Think of all the time ahead
Don't hesitate, contemplate
No it's not too late
Have you ever wanted more?
Wanted more?
Don't you know there's so much more
You've got to keep your mind wind open
All the possibilities
You've got to live with your eyes open
Believe in what you see
Tomorrows horizons full of surprises
Don't let them take your dreams away
You've got to keep your mind wind open
All the possibilities
You've got to live with your eyes open
Believe in what you see
You've got to keep your mind wind open
All the possibilities
You've got to live with your eyes open
Believe in what you see
You've got to keep your mind wind open
Believe in what you see
You've got to live with your eyes open
Believe in what you see
A round of applause broke the silence that had accumulated during my song. I opened my eyes and saw at least fifty people gathered behind Racetrack, who looked rather shell-shocked. I looked on the ground and saw a small pile of coins at my feet. "Umm, thank you all for listening." I said to the gathered crowd. People began to leave as I scooped the money off the ground. I walked up to Race who was talking with another boy, roughly our age.
He was shorter than Race by a hair, but taller than me. He had sandy blonde hair, pink-ish red suspenders, a gold tipped cane and a key hung around his neck. After he and Race finished talking, he turned to me. All I remember from his face were his ice blue eyes. "Who're you?" the mystery boy asked me. "A person. Who're you?" I shot back, not willing to be bested by this boy. "A person. Wanna tell me your name, punk?" the boy said, closing in on me. "Not really. Why would I tell you my name when I have no idea who you are or what you want?" I retorted. "You should tell me your name, or else", he said, getting angry. "Sorry, but the no still stands. Wanna tell me your name?" I said sweetly. "Spot Conolon, leader of da Brooklyn newsies" he said, deciding to answer me.
"So, Spotty-boy, how can I help youse?" I asked, sitting down on a park bench. Spot glared at me, then growled, "You can tell me your name." "Geeze Spotty, jus' havin' some fun, don' get your knickers in a twist. I'm Two Bits Lucky. You can call me Two Bits." I said. I spat in my hand and held it out. Spot looked at me, shook his head, spat in his hand and we shook. "Anything else?" I asked. "How'd ya loirn (learn) ta sing dat good?" Spot asked. "Good? Spotty-boy, you must be deaf. I don' sing good at all." I said incredulously. "What?" Spot exclaimed. "Race, is he deaf, or is he fishin'?" Spot asked. "I dunno, but he seems ta be delusional. Are ya sick Bits?" Race asked. "Nope! I'm absolutely fine! I jus' don' think I'm dat good. My mudder was a singer, so I jus' don' think I'm as good as her." I said, jumping off the bench I was sitting on. I looked at the sky, then said, "Race, we'se gonna be late! Da boys wanted us home an hour ago!" Race swore, then said, "Sorry Spot, gotta go. Ya know how Jack is when we're late." Spot nodded as Race and I turned and ran towards Manhattan. We stopped to breath when we got to the Brooklyn Bridge, then started walking to the Lodging House. "Lucky?" Race said, breaking the silence between us. "Yeah Race?" I asked. "You really are a good singer. But you sang pretty high." Race said. "So? I'm a high tenor. I've never had trouble singing alto before." I said. "You got up into some kinda high alto or midrange soprano in dat song though. Only a goil could hit dose notes." Race said. "You know about singing?" I asked, surprised. I was glad he gave me something to work off of to avoid the girl comment. "Yeah. My mudder sang too." Race said. "Sing me somethin' den!" I said, excited. "Fine. I'm really not dat good dough." He warned. "I'm sure your great." I said warmly. He took a deep breath and sang.
Fi la nana, e mi bel fiol,
Fi la nana, e mi bel fiol,
Fa si la nana.
Fa si la nana.
Dormi ben, e mi bel fiol,
Dormi ben, e mi bel fiol,
Fa si la nana.
Fa si la nana.
"Wow." I breathed when he finished. "That was amazing. What song was that?" Race shrugged and said, "Oh, just a lullaby my mom used to sing." "Its beautiful." I said. "Anyways, you were singin' pretty high, and you sounded a lot like a-" "Two Bits!" David exclaimed, cutting off Race. "You're late! Sarah wants to talk to you about something for Les's birthday." I turned and rolled my eyes so Race could see me and David couldn't. "Come on Two Bits!"I sighed and followed David away from the Lodging House. "See ya later Lucky!" Race called. David almost stopped walking as I called back, "Yep! See ya later, ya bummer!" "How does he know your real name?" David asked, confused. "Its a long story." I said wearily. "Its a long walk." David countered. "Fine. Well, I went with Race to da races..."
A/N
Blink: Bibbi?
Me: (wearily) Yes?
Blink: You forgot your disclaimer.
Me: Wanna do it?
Blink: Sure. Bibbi doesn't own Newsies. Don't sue her.
Me: The songs in this chappie were Keep Your Mind Wide Open by AnnaSophia Robb and Fi la nana, e mi bel fiol, which is a traditional Italian lullaby. In english it means...
Hush-a-bye, my lovely child,
Hush-a-bye, my lovely child,
Hush, hush and go to sleep.
Hush, hush and go to sleep.
Sleep well, my lovely child,
Sleep well, my lovely child,
Hush, hush and go to sleep.
Hush, hush and go to sleep.
Sleep well, my lovely child,
Sleep well, my lovely child,
Hush, hush and go to sleep.
Hush, hush and go to sleep.
So, yeah. This chapter wrote itself, and I didn't expect the siniging, until it happened.
Blink: You are gonna be late.
Me: Right. I gotta go get ready for band, and then I get to see Wind Earth and Fire in concert because I got free tickets.
Blink: Toodles!