Disclaimer: I do not own any original newsie characters.
Fwee! Summer break is finally here :D
And with it comes another chapter and a new character. Enjoy
"Up! Come on!"
Kid Blink rolled on his side and slammed his pillow over his head.
"The presses are rolling!" Kloppman yelled. Kid Blink moaned along with the rest of the newsies that were stumbling out of bed. He heard the boys grumbling and moving about the lodging house, but he didn't budge. Kloppman must of caught him, however, because in the next moment, his pillowed was yanked back and someone whacked him in the head.
"Don't make me get da water, boy!" Kloppman warned. Kid Blink shot up in bed.
"A'ight! A'ight! I'm up!" he said, glaring up at the elder man. "Sheesh."
Kloppman chuckled and then moved on to his next victim. Kid Blink yawned and threw his head into his hands, rubbing the sleep out of his eye. Another day of selling was ahead of him and he was not looking forward to tramping through puddles all day. He grimaced. Why was that the first thing he had to think about in the morning?
As he ambled over to the washing room, he noticed that everyone seemed to be in a good mood, especially Jack who had seemed pretty bummed the last couple of days. Their stupid jokes and laughter was contagious and soon he was smiling and humming one of Medda's songs.
Racetrack came up to Kid Blink just as he was pulling on a shirt.
"No! No!" Racetrack exclaimed, making a 'tsk-tsk' sound. "It's: 'So you're old lady don't love you no more; so you're afraid there's a wolf at your door!" Kid Blink snorted as Racetrack broke out into full song, accent included, and several of the newsies in the room joined him. Kid Blink put on his hat, chuckling, and walked out of the bunk room, leaving his friends singing the chorus while making poor imitations of Medda's dancing.
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Not much later, Kid Blink was behind Jack in line at the distribution center. The office hadn't opened yet and the newsies were comparing false headlines while waiting.
"Grand Central getting a new front is great 'nd all, but it sounds too boring to hawk," Mush mused.
"Yeah, won't turn heads," Dutchy agreed. Several of the boys nodded.
"It will if you say it right," Racetrack said.
"Can't say it right widout changing it, dough," Kid Blink pointed out.
Jack scrunched up his nose. "Can too. Just hafta use da right woids."
"Like what?" Racetrack challenged, pulling his cigar out of his mouth and letting out a puff of smoke.
"Twenty dollar woids, no doubt," Dutchy muttered.
Jack smiled. "Don't hafta use big, long woids...just stuff like...demolished, or, um, flashy and modern."
"Grand Central Station demolished," Kid Blink tested the words on his tongue. He saw Boots glance back at the big chalkboard.
"Only da front got demolished, but what you said woiks even better," Boots said with a big smile.
Racetrack laughed. "Hah, think I'll use dat too."
"You better run as soon as you sell dat paper den," Jack warned, "because that's a big stretch."
"Hey!" Kid Blink said with a mock frown. "You guys make up your own headlines!"
Racetrack rolled his eyes. The conversation ended, however, as the office opened and the newsies started purchasing their papers.
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Just as Kid Blink was about to go over and ask Jake if he wanted to sell together, Racetrack came up.
"Heya, Blink. I was thinkin' we should sell togedda today," he said with a smile.
"Actually, I was just going to ask-"
"Awuh, come on. I don't get to sell at Gold Street dat often," Racetrack interrupted in a pleading tone.
Kid Blink looked over at Jake who appeared to be wandering off with Bumlets at his side.
"A'right," Blink sighed. Racetrack grinned and led the way out of the distribution center.
As soon as they exited the big gates, however, Kid Blink took the lead. He had a feeling that Racetrack could find the selling spot just as well as he could, though, since it was located so close to the Brooklyn Bridge.
On the way there, the two boys talked about everything from Miss Elizabeth Tyler to the new horse at the Manhattan track. When Kid Blink started to talk about what was going on with Spot Conlon, however, Racetrack quickly changed the subject to the day's headlines. Kid Blink didn't understand Racetrack's reaction to the topic, but decided that it wasn't his business to pry.
After that, the two walked in silence for awhile. As they turned down another street, Kid Blink began to worry. They were drawing close to Knives's territory.
He glanced nervously over at Racetrack who was peering down alley openings as they passed them. Why hadn't he thought of this before agreeing to sell with Racetrack? Kid Blink stayed on the look out and tried to walk faster. They had just to get past this street and they were safe.
Now, Kid Blink didn't usually worry about Knives. He had no business with that devil, but Racetrack on the other hand...
"Race! Come on! Please!" Blink begged. Racetrack only smiled at him briefly with a look that said 'Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.' Kid Blink stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down as they passed an alley.
"Do my eyes betray me, or is that Racetrack Higgins?" The smooth and feminine voice that made its way to Kid Blink's ears from behind made the two boys freeze mid-step and turn around. Kid Blink wanted to groan at the person who greeted his vision, but refrained.
There she stood, leaning against the brick wall with her arms crossed, all five feet and six inches of her. She looked the same as she had the last time Kid Blink had 'accidentally' bumped into her. She had dark brown hair that was pulled into a loose bun under her newsie cap(though she was anything but a newsie). A white, long-sleeved shirt with a worn vest adorned her top half while ragged black plants covered her lower half. Despite her boyish apparel, her facial features screamed 'female'. And despite her reputation and street name, she looked everything but intimidating. Kid Blink would even go so far as to say that five foot and two inches Spot Conlon, who was as skinny as a bean pole, looked far more threatening than this girl.
But Kid Blink knew, just as any street kid knew, that it wasn't her appearance that earned her reputation and name. No, it was the multiple knives that she hid in her boots and belt that made thieves stay their distance and kids hold their tongue. Kid Blink knew that if he asked anyone around these parts for a good story, they'd probably tell of the day that Knives had targeted six cans with her blades and shot them all down with almost perfect aim while Spot had tried the same with his slingshot and had hit all but one can.
But that wasn't all. Racetrack could care less about the skill of throwing a dagger. It was the skill of rolling a perfect dice that Racetrack cared about. And as long as Kid Blink could remember, these two had been at each other's throats, whether it be for the title of Manhattan's best gambler or just another victory in poker. Either way, Kid Blink knew he was in for a long haul when Racetrack replied, "I see you're still in Manhattan."
Knives pushed herself off the wall with her shoulder and took a small step forward.
"'Course. Where else would I be?" she asked.
Her brown eyes flickered over Kid Blink briefly before returning to Racetrack who replied, "Brooklyn."
Knives let a dry laugh. "Manhattan's my home. Always will be. Besides, Spot won't let me step foot in Brooklyn." She paused and looked behind her into the alley when a loud boom resounded. Kid Blink raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side while trying to get a glimpse behind a tower of crates. Knives shrugged and turned back to Racetrack.
"Then again, I heard things aren't going too well between you and Spot either."
Kid Blink glanced over at Racetrack. He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked in another direction. He didn't reply for a moment; he seemed to be trying to come up with a good answer.
When he finally spoke, Racetrack said, "How 'bout a game of craps real quick?"
Her question forgotten, Knives's eyes flashed with competitiveness and she smirked. Kid Blink let out a loud groaned.
"Awuh, come on, Blink! I won't be dat long, promise!" Racetrack pleaded. Blink chewed on his bottom lip, looking back and forth between the two gamblers.
"Race, don't you wanna at least sell one pape before you play?" Kid Blink reasoned. "Do you even have any money?"
Racetrack opened his mouth to answer, but Knives quickly said, "Don't worry. It'll be just for fun."
Racetrack looked over at her suspiciously, but said, "Shoah. Fun."
"Fine! But only one game!" Kid Blink said with a warning glare at Racetrack. The two looked at each other with a terrible grin on their faces.
"This way, gentlemen!" Knives then said, bowing dramatically and gesturing toward the alley. Racetrack gladly entered the place, but Kid Blink stayed put.
"No thanks. I'm gonna try and sell here. Just come get me when you're done," he said to the retreating pair. Racetrack waved a hand to signal that he heard him. Only when Blink saw the two kneel down on the cobblestone did he wander over to the other side of the street.
For the next fifteen minutes or so, Kid Blink hawked the headline. He had decided not to use his Central Station idea, since this street wasn't exactly teeming with crowds of people to slip into in case a angry customer decided to chase him.
He was just beginning to lose his patience with the World's headline writer and Racetrack when he heard yelling and screaming coming from the other side of the road.
Kid Blink let out a 'uh-oh' when he turned and saw Racetrack being thrown from the alley's opening. His friend scrambled to his feet in fury.
"You cheated! I saw you with my own eyes!" Racetrack shouted at the opening where Knives obviously stood. Kid Blink ran over to Racetrack when people began turning heads.
"You think I don't know my own trick?!" Racetrack yelled in response to whatever Knives had said. Kid Blink covered Race's mouth with his hand and forced both of them to duck when a chunk of wood came sailing through the air. Racetrack quickly shoved Kid Blink aside and was just about to storm over to the girl, but Blink caught him by the arm and cried, "It's da bulls!"
Racetrack froze and looked down the street. Sure enough, there was a blue coat trotting towards them on horseback. Racetrack looked back at Knives, but she had already fled the alley.
"Come on!" Kid Blink said frantically, tugging on Racetrack's arm. The two burst into a run down the street. They wove their way in between people and carts, getting separated at times, but somehow always finding each other again. Only when they had taken turns down a couple alleys did they bother to look behind them.
"We...we lost him," Kid Blink panted and stopped his legs. Racetrack stopped also and put his hands on his knees.
They didn't say anything for awhile, trying to catch their breath. Kid Blink plopped to the ground. He took of his newsie hat and ran a hand through his hair.
"What in da world was dat all about, Racetrack?" he finally managed to ask. Racetrack wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
"She was using my trick against me!" he said, his eyes turning a darker shade. Kid Blink rubbed his temples in aggravation.
"Blink! My trick!" Racetrack emphasized. "She beat me bad. I'll never live dis down!" He let out an irritated sigh and leaned against the wall.
"Racetrack, how's dat even possible?" Blink reasoned. "You don't show anyone your cheats!"
His friend seemed to consider this for a moment while blankly staring in front of him.
Kid Blink was getting to his feet when Racetrack suddenly sat up straight, new anger flashing in his eyes.
"Oh, I'm gonna soak that kid!" he exclaimed loudly. Then Racetrack stood up and marched out of the alley.
Kid Blink tagged after him. "What kid?" he asked curiously. Racetrack's wheels were running on angry steam.
"Danny!" he spat.
"That little kid?" Kid Blink asked, puzzled. "What's he got to do wid dis?"
"Dat little kid has been makin' my life a livin' hell," Racetrack ranted. "Foist, he gets Spot to block off Brooklyn so I can't go to Sheepshead. Now, he's probably going around and showing everyone my tricks! Which I told him in da strictest confidence!"
Kid Blink was still confused. "Why would he do dat, dough? I thought Danny really liked you."
Racetrack opened his mouth to spill some more angry words, but his expression changed as if he had just remembered something.
He looked down and muttered, "Probably didn't like what Jack said."
"Ohhhhh," Kid Blink let out. This whole situation reminded him of what had happened a couple of days ago, back when he had been selling and that kid had stolen – Kid Blink's eye widened. Could that brat have been...Danny? Then Kid Blink remembered what Mush had been telling him the other day. Jake had also said something about an annoying little kid.
"Racetrack..." Kid Blink said. "Danny's been botherin' all of us lately."
Racetrack looked up and over at his friend. "Really?"
"Yeah. Stealing selling spots, customers, and even throwing rocks at us wid a slingshot," Kid Blink explained, his brow furrowing. "He would do all dat just because Jack didn't like him or something?"
Racetrack looked distressed now. "I guess..." he said. "Kids are moody."
Kid Blink nodded in agreement.
"We need to tell Jack 'bout dis," Racetrack said in a tone of conviction.
"Shoah. I still got a bruise from dat kid." Kid Blink rubbed the back of his neck. Racetrack smiled.
"But foist, we gottah sell dese," he said.
"Where yer papes?" Blink asked, noticing that Racetrack didn't have them under his arm as he usually did.
Racetrack just shrugged, but when they came to Knives's alley, he quickly ran inside and came back out with his papers.
"Its still hard to believe that she beat you," Blink commented with a smirk.
Racetrack whacked him with a paper. "Come on, bonehead, let's get to Gold Street while it's still mornin'."
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The next evening, Racetrack was walking back to the lodging house with Snoddy and Crutchy. Since he didn't have the track to look forward to anymore, Racetrack found himself taking longer than usual to sell all his papers. His drive and motivation to quickly sell was gone. He had the whole evening to do virtually nothing.
Snoddy opened the door for them and Racetrack padded slowly into the lobby. Most of the newsies had turned in for the night and had already started a game of poker. He sank into a couch and watched Specs and Dutchy play a game of checkers with a bored expression.
"Dutchy, whose dis guy?" Specs suddenly asked, giving a chin-up gesture in Racetrack's direction. Dutchy glanced up only long enough to see who Specs was talking about before returning his eyes to the board.
"Dunno. But it can't be Racetrack, 'cause he would be at da track now," Dutchy replied with a small smile. He moved a red piece across the board.
"Yeah, 'nd Racetrack would be crackin' a joke about how stupid a move dat was," Specs snickered and jumped one of Dutchy's pieces. The blond frowned and looked as if he was trying to calculate where he went wrong.
"You're right. But Racetrack can't go to the track and that's why he's stuck here watching you chums play a sorry game of checkers," Racetrack grumbled, continuing their third person talk. Specs and Dutchy looked up simultaneously.
"Whadda ya mean you can't go to da tracks?" Specs asked, looking somewhat surprised.
"I mean--" Racetrack began, but was abruptly cut off when the door to the lodging house burst open and Pie Eater stormed into the room.
"That's it!" he nearly yelled, making everyone look up from what they were doing.
"I'm sick of that kid!" Pie Eater marched over to where Jack was playing cards with Skittery.
"What's a'matter, Pie Eater?" he asked, standing up. "Someone steal your hat again?"
Pie Eater stared at Cowboy for a moment and then almost broke out laughing.
"My hat?" Pie Eater snorted. "No. More like my money! Now I don't got anything left for my papes or food tomorrow!"
Jack frowned. "Why didn't ya chase after him and get back your money?"
Pie Eater scowled. "I did chase him! All da way to da Brooklyn Bridge! But he got away somehow and I couldn't find him anywhere."
Racetrack then noticed how the newsie was trembling like crazy and sweat caked his forehead.
Jack grunted and was about to sit back down, but Dutchy spoke up.
"Hold up. Der was some kid who stole my selling spot da udder day."
"Yea and someone was throwing rocks at me just a couple days ago," Mush threw in.
"Same here!" Bumlets exclaimed.
Racetrack was surprised to see several other newsies stand up and testify against the mysterious attacker.
"A'right, Aright," Jack cut in. "Who is dis guy?"
The boys shrugged and the rooms stayed silent for a moment.
"Danny," Kid Blink stated in a simple voice when he realized that Racetrack wasn't going to say anything. All the gazes in the room flew to Kid Blink.
"Who?" Jack asked, confused.
"Da kid who blabbed to Brooklyn and got Spot mad at ya," Racetrack replied. Kid Blink nodded in agreement.
"Dat little twerp?" Jack asked. "I thought he stayed in Brooklyn."
"Who knows. He probably is in Brooklyn, just comes to Manhattan to bug da crap out of us," Racetrack said in an even tone. The newsies started murmuring and grumbling amongst each other.
"Jack, go soak da kid!" Someone called out angrily.
"Why can't you guys?" Jack asked.
"'Cause you'se da only one he's afraid of," Racetrack answered with a smirk.
A couple of boys called out their agreements.
"Yeah, Jack. Besides, you're da leader," Boots said. Jack smiled faintly as he realized what Boots had said was true.
"Come on, Jack! He's da one who got us in straits wid Spot," Pie Eater added.
Jack looked around the circle of newsies that had formed. All of them had begging faces and pleading eyes.
Finally, Jack sighed and said, "Alright, where can I find dis kid?"
Yayyyy. Thanks for the reviews, guys! They were loverly!