Okay, it's finally time for the trial. I hope you like it, please let me know!!
I don't own the newsies, only the characters not in the movie that I created do I own. Enjoy!!
"Oh, Marty, it looks so becoming on you!" Mary exclaimed when I stepped out of my bedroom. "What do you think?"
I smiled at her enthusiasm and looked down at the simple dress I was wearing. If I had to pick out a dress, this would probably be it. It wasn't too fancy or frilly, just plain white and with a fairly straight skirt and scooped neck, with only a thin layer of lace covering the skirt. The band around my waist was a light pink to add a little color. The skirt was long, so it covered my old worn-in boots and hid the fact that I was not wearing any tights, which I will not tell Mary. She surprised me with the dress this morning, saying that dressing nice for the trial would make a good impression. I had to agree with her after spotting my worn in and faded clothes still on the floor from the night before.
"It's…perfect Mary. Really, I don't know how to thank you."
"This is just my way of thanking you. For being as helpful as you were when keeping house became so difficult." She smoothed my neatly combed hair that I tied half back with a pink ribbon. I rarely recognized myself, but I didn't look overdone like I had when I was living with my last foster family. I actually kind of looked, well, pretty I guess.
"Breakfast is ready," Drew said as he walked into the living room. He had been doing most of the cooking lately considering I am a terrible cook. Trust me; my cooking is not pleasing to the senses. The best I can prepare is a sandwich and bland oatmeal.
"Well look at you! Marty you look wonderful; I think you actually look sixteen." He teased. I had turned sixteen only about two weeks ago, in the middle of August, but Drew and the boys always liked to tease me because of my small size; I've seen a few twelve year olds that were bigger than me.
"Let's just hope we fool that judge into thinking I am a responsible young lady." I joked, but only because I was trying to cover up how nervous I was. We would be leaving for court right after breakfast and I wished more than anything that this day was already over and done with, without an adoption going through. I shivered at the thought, I had nothing against the permanence of a family unit, but this family and I were in no way suited for one another, putting it nicely.
"It will all be fine, don't be nervous," Mary assured me, seeing right through my cover. She rubbed her belly and turned to Drew. "Now let's go have breakfast, your child is hungry." Drew laughed nervously; at least I wasn't the only one that was nervous. Truth is we all were, it's just that Mary and Drew are better at hiding it than me. I wish Mary wouldn't worry; it couldn't be good for the baby, which was already a week overdue.
I set the table for breakfast, even though I knew I couldn't eat a bite. I just pushed my food around until it was time for me to clear the table, where I noticed Drew had done the same thing. I fiddled with my dress as Drew gathered up everything he would need, which was laid out in neat piles on his desk. How on earth does he stay so calm?
Drew turned to his wife. "You're sure you will be okay by yourself all day?"
"Don't worry, I think Ruth was planning on coming over for a visit." She was referring to her older sister Ruth. She smiled at the concern etched on her husbands face. "I'll be just fine, now go do you job." Drew kissed her and looked at me.
"Ready?"
I was about to answer, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Drew opened to door and I about cried. "Jack!" I sighed relieved.
"Take a look at youse," Jack whistled. "Ya look like a real lady, fer once." He grinned and pulled me in for a hug.
"You have NO idea how glad I am to see you, for once." I kidded.
"What, ya taught I would just let youse go tru dis widout me?" He feigned a hurt look. I smiled up at him, grateful that he would be there to calm my nerves.
"I wish I could be with you today," Mary said as we were leaving the apartment.
"Just take it easy, okay?"
After giving Mary a long hug we left the apartment, and I wondered how long it would be before I would see it again. What if we lost? I would never get to meet Drew and Mary's baby, or even see the newsies again. Tink positive, tink positive…
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After the case was announced I followed Drew through the big double doors into the crowded courtroom. The place was packed, which didn't do anything to help my nerves. When seated in the front I scanned the crowd, and located where Jack and the other newsies were sitting, which was in the back with Brian Denton, who had his pad of paper ready. A few guys from Brooklyn were with them. Somebody was missing though, and I knew exactly who it was. That exact someone slipped through the door, and made eye contact with me. I held his gaze and felt a blush creep up my neck. The judge broke my trance by pounding his mallet, and I quickly turned my attention to him with a beat red face.
"Now, let me get this straight," the judge said clearing his voice. "Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Wellington desire to adopt Miss. Martha Campbell, but Miss. Campbell objects to this motion?"
"That is correct sir," Drew replied.
"Miss Campbell, may I ask, why would you want to deny yourself the opportunity to become a Wellington?" The judge gave me a puzzled look. "They are a very well-respected family and could offer you anything that you want."
I glanced over at my former foster family, the Mr. and Mrs. and their two grown sons. My former foster mother seemed pleased with the judge's remark. I about said something but Drew signaled me to stay silent.
"My client believes that the reasoning for the adoption is unconventional to the reason that adoptions were designed to take place. In addition to that Miss. Campbell was not happy or comfortable in the Wellington home." Drew spoke for me, which normally I would have an objection to but my words would never sound like that. In fact, my words could possibly get me booted out of the courtroom.
The judge nodded and looked at the Wellingtons. "What exactly is your reasoning Mr. and Mrs. Wellington?"
Their lawyer, a middle aged, immaculately groomed man spoke for them in a well practiced, smooth voice. "The Wellingtons have two sons that are at the marrying age. Mrs. Wellington has always wanted a daughter, and since her sons will be leaving home shortly to develop their own lives, The Wellingtons desire another child in the home. Also, they take pity on poor young Martha and want to provide a stable home and future for the young lady."
I heard sounds of disagreement coming from the back of the room where the newsies were sitting, and almost laughed until the judge silenced them with a stern glance. Drew spoke up.
"Your honor, I would like to bring up the fact that Miss. Campbell is now sixteen years of age, which also makes her of marrying age. If the adoption were to go through it would not be long until she, too, would leave her would-be home."
I heard a few pleased murmurs coming from my friends before they were again silenced.
"At least if she were to become a Wellington she would have a better chance of finding a suitable husband that could provide for her. What chance would she have on the street?" The opposing lawyer said.
"Please continue," permitted the judge.
"Your Honor, the only exposure she has to young men her age is the newsboys. On top of that, what kind of influence could that have on a young lady? It certainly will not aid her in becoming a refined woman, but the rambunctious girl that she is."
I heard the newsies asking Denton what rambunctious meant, and then laughing and agreeing that is was true. The judge nodded at the insult of the newsies, which I took offensively. They may not be princes but they certainly treat me better than the Wellingtons ever have. Drew seemed to read my mind and requested to speak. I'm sure he took the other lawyers comment the wrong way too being a former newsie himself.
"I would like to bring up the point that newsies have just as much potential as anyone else does, but unlike many other upper class young men, they tend to have more drive."
It was obvious the boys agreed with him, since a few hoots came from the back. On the inside, I was cheering too.
"Would you please clarify what you mean, Mr. Albright?" The judge asked Drew.
"What about the strike that occurred about a year ago? They had the drive to get something they truly desired. The strike could stand for many things, like maybe wanting to be a lawyer to defend the working class they once came from. They have the determination to do anything; I think they have proven that."
"Sure they got what they wanted, but in an immature way." The other lawyer contested, and in return received hushed insults from the back. "Besides, I have never heard of a newsie becoming a lawyer, no such case exists."
"Can you argue that, Mr. Albright?" The judge asked him. Drew nodded.
"There is one case I know of when a newsie became a lawyer." The judge urged him on, asking him the name of the boy. I smiled, knowing exactly what was going through his head at that moment.
"Well, sir, that would be me."
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The trial continued in a similar fashion, sometimes I would think for sure we lost, and other times that we had this in the bag. Words cannot describe how nerve wracking the whole thing was. After a short break for lunch we were back in the courtroom. Drew appeared calm on the outside; unfortunately I can't say the same for myself.
"You okay?" He asked me before the procedure began again. I nodded and he gave me a skeptical look.
"I don't know what is going on, Drew." He smiled.
"It's going fine, don't worry."
The judge called for silence and it all started again. The Wellington's lawyer began.
"You honor, this whole trial is absurd. This young lady, Miss. Martha Campbell, is under the age of eighteen and lacks a guardian…"
Drew objected to this statement. "Your honor, Miss. Campbell does not lack a guardian. Her brother, Mr. Arnold Campbell, is still her legal guardian."
"Then why are we even here discussing this?" The judge questioned.
"Mr. Campbell is in the state penitentiary."
The opposing council spoke, "Then he is obviously not able to act on his right to guardianship."
"That still does not make her eligible for adoption," Drew retaliated. The judge rubbed his chin.
"I see where you are coming from, so in order for this adoption to be legal Mr. Campbell must sign over his guardianship to the state." The judge said. "So we will call for a short recess while we bring Mr. Campbell here to testify."
I could feel my eyes widen, I hadn't seen Arnie in nearly five years. I couldn't visit him in prison because I was always on the run, and it wouldn't be sensible to actually go to the headquarters of the police department. I felt my pulse rising again, would Arnie do it? Or would he let me make my own decisions?
I stood up and paced in front of the table where we were seated during the trial. It felt so good to move! I hated sitting still for long hours, and it was already past lunch. I looked at Drew, who was busy sorting and labeling papers.
"Can I ask you something?"
Drew looked up from his work. "Of course you can."
"Would it be possible for me to talk to Arnie before we started up again?" I asked. "I mean, it's been years since I have seen him last and I probably won't get to afterward and I would just hate it if I didn't seize the opportunity…"I dragged on and on until finally Drew stopped me.
"I'll see what I can do."
I smiled my thanks and tried to think of what I was going to say to him. What do you say to a brother you haven't seen in five years?
"Hi Arnie, uh long time no chat," I said aloud without realizing it. No, a simple hello won't do the trick. I tried a few other thinks but nothing seemed to make the cut. Drew was smiling and shaking his head, which made me realize how silly I probably looked which made me blush. Glad dat odder lawyer isn't in here right now.
About half and hour went by before the courtroom started to fill up again. I tried not to look around; I didn't want to make eye contact with the Wellingtons, something I had luckily avoided. Where would Arnie come from? What did he look like? I sat up straighter and took a deep breath…I would find out soon enough.