Ok Guys, you got what you wanted. But this time only. The other times, they need to come out at least a week after the last chapter was put out. Or else I won't get the Next chapter done. Usually by the time I was supposed to have this one out, I'd have half of chapter four done, but I posted this one as soon as it was finished, And I haven't started on the next chapter.

Thanks for the reviews: SilverRain1.3

Scout! Glad to have you back for another story. And I'm very sorry that I haven't put out the next chapter for 'Another Word for Reality' but my brain has practically stopped on that story. I'm trying to fix that, so don't be too mad at me. (Knew you were going to ask me soon enough, so I wanted to get that outta the way)

Oh, and just to tell people, Most of this chapter is in a kinda 3rd person, 1st person thing. You'll get it once you read it. Least I hope you do. Please review, and I'm sorry if there's any mistakes with words put in there for no reason, commas are inserted at inapropriate times, or everything in one sentence is messed up a bit. I can't really help myself sometimes. But hey, give me credit, I tried to fix most of them. (Key Word being Tried)

For the most part, it was silent throughout the bunk room. Snores were heard from a few of the bottom bunks, and movement was heard from some of the top ones. Clothes were hung up on posts next to the beds. Blankets were thrown on the floor, probably kicked off in the middle of the night. A deck or two of cards had strayed away from their owner, and a cigar innocently sat in a tin cup next to one of the beds, hidden by a jacket that had been laid over it.

Jack reveled in the almost silence. When he had been in the Refuge, silence was always too much for him, but now, he cherished it every chance he got. Ever since the strike, things had been going very well for him. He lived his life with his boys, sold his papes, and got a meal at least once a day.

It was always loud and uproarious. It was a good thing, but every once in a while he needed time to himself, to think. David and his kid brother Les were always with him. David with his blue shirt and Walkin' Mouth, and Les with his round face and childish ways. Jack could admit that he himself was still childish, even with being seventeen. He could also admit that David needed to cut loose once in a while. Last time he had actually had fun was during the strike, but even then he was a little... reserved.

Somebody across the room yawned, and Jack knew that soon Kloppman was going to be walking through the doorway, pounding on the bunks, and waking the kids up. He threw the thin blanket off him and jumped from his top bunk. He dressed quickly, and let his cowboy hat hang down his back. He walked to the bunkroom's bathroom and used the facilities. When he was finished, he combed his hair back, and at this time he could hear Kloppman starting to yell for the boys to get up. He snorted as he heard Racetrack shout, "Alright! Who took my cigar this time?"

Boys of all ages entered the washroom, some yawning and rubbing eyes, others pulling those who were yawning and rubbing their eyes towards the sinks. A tall gloomy lookin teenage boy ended up next to Jack. He grumbled something under his breath before taking off. Jack grinned, Skittery just wasn't a morning person. He finished up what he was doing, and then left for the bunkroom. A dark curly haired boy was trying to pull his best friend from his bunk, having no such luck.

"Ey Mush."

Mush turned around and smiled, his face lifting. "Hey Jack. Get a good night's sleep?"

Jack scoffed. "Course I did. If I hadn't I wouldn't even be outta bed now would I?"

Mush shook his head while laughing. "Yeah you would Jack. Kloppman woulda pushed you out of the bunk." He turned back to his sleeping friend.

Jack motioned towards the sleeping kid. "Just push him out Mush. I don't think Kid'll mind, he'll probably congratulate you on actually waking him up."

Mush looked thoughtful and just as he was about to push him off the bed, Kid Blink turned over and looked at the two sleepily with his one blue eye.

"You do that and you won't be sellin papes for a week."

Mush and Jack grinned at each other, and Jack started for his own bunk as Kid Blink nearly rolled off his bed.

Jack barely dodged a twelve year old boy rushing past him, holding something in his fist.

"Snipeshooter I'm gonna kill you! Get back here!"

Jack dodged another person who ran by him. He tilted his head and saw Racetrack finally drag Snipeshooter to his knees. He forcefully grabbed the item in the kids hand, which turned out to be his cigar, and then smirked proudly.

"What have I told you bout stealing my cigars?" Race stared the kid down as he stood up.

Snipeshooter just shrugged his shoulders, and then dashed around the older boy with a laugh. Racetrack tried to grab out for him, but lost his footing on a loose piece of clothing and toppled to the floor with a loud 'thump'.

Boys along the bunkroom laughed at the Italian, and Jack, laughing the hardest held his hand out to the poor kid. Once Racetrack was on his feet he shook his finger at the laughing boys. "Yeah, you just wait till I come for the money that most of you owe me."

The others slowly stopped laughing, not giving in to the threat.

Race glowered at them all, and then grinned up at Jack. "How's your mornin been Cowboy!"

"Its goin just fine Race, probably better then yours had been."

Race rolled his eyes. "Jus been splendid Jack."

Jack sniggered. "How bout we go and sell us some papes, yeah?"

"Sure thing, just let me get my cards."

Jack rolled his own eyes as his friend rushed around the room, trying to find the missing deck of cards. Mornings just never changed.

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It had been an hour after David, Les and himself had gotten their newspapers. Les ran past Jack for the sixth time in the past ten minutes and caught up to an older couple. Jack smirked as the kid coughed and asked them if they wanted a paper. The couple, looking sadly at the small boy, gave him a nickel, took the paper, and without another glance, shuffled down the street.

Les grinned as he passed Jack once again.

"Oh! Jack!" David patted Jack's arm with a folded up newspaper as he took a penny from another customer. "Sarah said she couldn't go out tonight. Something about working late. She say's she's really sorry, if that helps."

Jack glanced down and sighed. That would make the third time this week. "Nah, it's ok. I can understand that."

David looked at him out of the corner of his eye, and then hawked another 'improved' headline.

The Manhattan Leader took to selling another paper, and just as he was about to yell out another headline, (one that included the Mayor with his daughter) a semi-loud boyish voice got to it first.

"MAYOR SEEN WITH PROSTITUTE! WIFE IN A RAGE!"

Jack's eyes searched the crowd for the unfamiliar voice. As they passed the Streetcorner Bookstore, his eyes rested upon two boys who looked a year or two younger then Les. They looked exactly the same from what he could see; Short black hair spiked out from beneath brown newsie caps, dark blue eyes searching each face as they passed, and each with a paper in one hand up in the air.

Jack nudged David, who then turned to where Jack was obviously pointing. "Who are they?" Was his simple question.

David studied the two boys, his face scrunched in concentration. "I'm not sure. Their definitely not from around here. Brooklyn?"

Jack shook his head. "No, Spot woulda told me he had recruits. Sides, look at how they stand. Laid-back. With Brooklynites they stand tall and have a rough edge around em."

David shrugged. "Maybe their new, and just didn't know they had to ask you to become a newsie or something."

"Who's new?"

Jack and David turned to see Racetrack standing behind them. Cowboy nodded at him, getting the same in return, and then gestured towards the two look-alike boys.

Racetrack looked them over and then said while nodding. "Yep, I seen those two. They got their papes after you left Jack, had an older girl with them. Looked a little older then Snipes an Boots. Don't know where they came from, wouldn't talk to anybody but themselves." He turned and yelled out a headline, then took papers from customers.

Jack set his papes down on the street. He pointed at them while walking towards the two smaller boys. "Watch those for me."

David caught up with him, "Jack, you can't just go right up to them. Are you gonna say that they can't sell?"

-------

As David was saying this, Racetrack noticed that he was by himself with a stack of papers near his feet. With a confused look on his face, he turned to see Cowboy and David hurrying away, Les running to catch up with them. Race raised his hands in defeat and groaned. "Just Great!"

The Italian just grumbled to himself, put his cigar between his lips, and then went on with his papes, looking over his shoulder every few minutes at his friends.

Three minutes later he finally just stopped selling his newspapers, his hand half raised with a paper in his hand, and watched as Jack slightly pushed one of the look-alike boys. Race raised his eyebrows as the boys twin brother, as he assumed that's who he was, pushed right back. Jack took a step off the curb and into the street with his hands raised and a mock smirk on his face. Les looked about ready to go at the other kid while David held him back with an arm, looking back and forth between the three boys. Finally the Manhattan leader stepped back onto the sidewalk and let the kid have it. Race couldn't hear exactly what Jack was saying but could hear the sound of his voice over the crowds loud murmur. His hands were motioning first towards the boys, and then towards the small stack of papers next to their feet.

Racetrack shook his head slowly in disbelief. Jack was actually yelling at two younger kids because they were selling papers.

"Excuse me?"

The gambler ignored the voice, thinking the person was pardoning for someone else.

"Excuse me?"

Race glanced over his left shoulder, not seeing anybody standing there, except for the people hurrying down the street, he went back to watching the argument across the street.

Somebody jabbed him in the shoulder. "Excuse me!"

He spun around and was taken by surprise by seeing a girl standing there with a small girl in her arms, a small smirk on her lips.