"Up an' attem boys, time to sell papes!" Race shouted as he ran around and tore off the blankets from each newsie's bed. Mush muttered something about pie, and rolled back over. Race shook his head, and threw his clothes at him. "Get up!"

"Fine," Mush responded, and threw his pillow at Sniper. "You heard 'im, get up!"

"I'm up, I'm up!" Sniper yelled, frantically hopping out of bed and going to find his boots.

"Hey, Jack," Crutchie rubbed a hand through his hair as he limped over to Jack's bed. "Some fellas and me was thinkin' we could go down to the docks later. You know, to see the boats. Wanna come?"

Jack yawned, grabbing his hat. "Who was thinkin' this?"

"Me, Dave, Elmer an' Albert," Crutchie caught the yawn, and limped off to find his shirt. "But if ya don't, keep a eye out fer Peter an' Mace, awright?"

Jack cupped his hands around his mouth, calling after Crutchie as he made his way downstairs with a few of the other newsies. "You're like my mother!"

Crutchie just chuckled, and limped downstairs in the crowd. Jack turned his head as he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. It was Tommy Boy. "Ya better listen to him," Tommy pointed out. "The last thing Manhattan needs is its leader beaten tah a pulp."

Jack scoffed, quickly lacing up his boots. "What, does nobody think I can handle myself?"

"They jus' don't want ya gettin' hurt, Jack!"

"Mace, wait up!"

"Whaddaya want?!"

"I said-" Peter panted. "Wait up for me!"

"But we's almost to the docks!" Only Mace's eyes could light up with happiness when the matter of beating someone up was at hand. "You know those newsies said-"

"I know what the newsies said!" Peter responded angrily. "Ain't as dumb as I look, okay?!"

"But we look exactly the same-"

"Shut it," Peter growled. The closer they got to the docks the more agitated he became. He didn't know what Mace had in mind for Jack Kelly; he didn't want to know, either. Peter and Mace had followed the group of newsies (who knew there could be so many!) as they left their lodgings until they got to that Distribution Center by the World. They had hid behind a wall, watching the boys as they bought their papers, and by chance, had overhead a few saying they were going down to the docks later that day. That 'few' had included Jack Kelly. What had been a dumb comment by Mace had turned out to be pure luck, as Peter wasn't really sure that black-haired newsie had even said the docks in the first place. So Mace had pulled him along until they were now rushing to the docks, hoping to get there before the newsies came.

"Pete, you gettin' some funny ideas again?" Mace asked him.

"No," Peter said stolidly. "Shut it."

"Pete, we got a booty-"

"It's a duty, Mace!"

"-to Uncle Cromwell!" Mace stopped, glaring at Peter. "Ya can't forget. Ya can't go soft now. We gotta get rid of this guy."

"Don't call me Pete," Peter tried to shove past his brother, but Mace pushed him down into the road.

"I mean it, Pete! D'you wanna sleep on the streets?!"

Peter glared up at him, and suddenly rose from the mud with an angry yell. He rushed at his twin, punching him. Although he knew his blows just felt like nothing to his brother, Peter needed to do something. "This is all your fault!" he yelled into Mace's face, who kicked him away. "We just slept on the streets last night!" Peter yelled again. "What makes ya think if we do this for Uncle that he won't just kick us out again?!"

Mace stared at him, processing this statement through his sluggish brain. "'Cause I trust him more than you," he growled. "Now get on your feet, wimp. We got a Jack Kelly to beat. Shouldn't be fightin' each other."

"Easy fer you to say," Peter mumbled, rolling over to his feet.