Ok, soooooo sorry I wasn't able to get this out sooner. But my computer crashed and then we went to my grandparent's house for the fourth of July so I couldn't update then so, this is the first chance I got. Yeah, yeah, I know, you don't want to hear my excuses, you want the read the story, so here it is:
Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of the Newsies, the songs, or the plot line in anyway. Anything or anyone that you recognize from the movie belongs to the movie. I am not claiming ownership in any way, shape, or form. I'm just a girl who loves the movie and wants to write about it.
Chapter 5
Rebecca's Point of View
"Everyone up! Time to get up! You too! Up! Up! Up! Yes Cowboy, you too! Sell the papes!" I rolled over and covered my head with my pillow, trying to block out that annoying voice. "Yes Miss Rebecca, you too! Get up!"
I rolled over to see Kloppman, "I don't wanna." I said burrowing farther under my blankets.
"You gotta make money somehow, the lodgin' house ain't exactly free ya know," He said. How could anyone be so cheerful this early?
"Well, I ain't plannin' on stayin' heah very long, so I might as well leave later today," I said sitting up, "which means, I won't be needin' to sell no papes." With that I dove under the blankets again. Suddenly I felt my mattress being lifted up and I tumbled off onto the floor. "OUCH! What was that for?!" I yelled sitting up and looking into the face of a very pleased Jack Kelly.
"It's called gettin' a sleepyhead outta bed." He shrugged and walked away.
I picked myself up from the floor and brushed myself off.
"Need some help?" I looked up to see one of the taller kids, he had curly brown hair and brown eyes, I tried to remember his name but couldn't.
"Uh, sure" I grabbed his hand and he helped me up.
"Becca right?"
"Yeah, and you are?"
"Skittery" I quickly made a mental note of his name.
"Hey Skitts!" called the short Italian kid from across the room, "quit flirtin' with Rapunzel and get over heah!"
"My name ain't Rapunzel" I muttered.
Skittery blushed "Comin' Race!" and hurried over.
I quickly braided my hair and tucked it inside my cap and quietly made my way downstairs.
"And where do ya think you're goin'?" I spun around to see Kloppman standing right behind me. For being so old he could sure sneak up on you quickly and quietly.
I had two choices. One, I could play innocent and wait until the newsies came downstairs and go to the distribution office and be stuck selling papers that day or I could play the "proud and defiant" and tell him straight out that I was leaving. I decided the second option would be better. I stood as tall as I could and squared my shoulders. "I'm leavin', and there's nothin' that you can do about it." With that I headed for the door.
"Fine by me" he said and stepped away. I was surprised. I had expected a fight or a small argument at least. But I shook the feeling of surprise off and walked purposely toward the door, opened it, and stepped outside without a backwards glance. I munched on the leftovers of the piece of bread that had gotten me into this whole mess as I walked, keeping a careful eye out for newsboys. I knew I couldn't go to back to Brooklyn, the bulls would still be looking for me, and so my best bet was to stay in Manhattan.
Around eleven thirty I found myself in Central Park. I used to love going to "the park" when I was younger. Sometimes the kids at the orphanage that I lived in would get to have outings and go to the park, or I would walk there after school with Nellie or Elizabeth. Nellie and Elizabeth, I wonder where they are now.
But, as much as I had loved it when I was little, I felt out of place now. Rich children ran through the grass while their nannies looked on protectively. Couples wandered through the tree shaded avenues. Some people sat alone by themselves, reading, writing, drawing, painting, or just thinking. There was one thing that all these people shared in common, they were all rich or well off. You can see why I felt out of place. A poor orphan girl dressed in boy's clothes with nothing but the clothes on her back and the stolen piece of bread in her hand. Of course I had my notebook, but what good was that? I flopped down on the grass and closed my eyes, wishing that I was anywhere but here.
"Well if it ain't our little runaway."
I opened my eyes to see Skittery standing next to me. "Huh? I ain't no runaway."
He crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at me, "oh yeah? So what are you? Really?"
I shrugged, "What does it look like?"
"Well, ya look like an orphan or a runaway in need of a job."
"Well, I ain't bein' a newsie" I said standing up.
"Why not? It ain't exactly easy but it's better than stealin'"
"Who said I was stealin'?" I said, turning around and starting to walk away, quite ready to be done with this conversation.
"Well ain't that what the bulls were afta' you for?" he asked jogging to catch up to me.
"No, of course not!" I said quickening my pace.
"Well then what?"
"Uh" I stopped short, then turned to face him, "A'right, fine, I stole a piece of bread. One itty bitty piece of bread! Okay! I'm sure you've stolen stuff durin' your lifetime too!" He looked stunned, almost hurt. "Listen Skittery, I'm sorry, but I didn't even want to come here in the foist place and then that stupid Spot Conlon made me and I'm in an all-together bad mood right now, a'right?"
He nodded, "it's fine, trust me, I'm known for bein' in bad moods a lot meself." We walked in silence for a few minutes then he stopped. "But why don't ya give it a chance?"
"Huh?" I stopped walking too.
"Bein' a newsie, I mean, ya seem so against it, but you haven't even tried it yet."
I sighed, would they ever leave me alone? But he did have a valid point. "I…I guess I could, just for one day" I finally stammered out.
He grinned, oh God, he's so cute when he smiles. "Great! You can even sell the afternoon edition with me if you want too."
I smiled, "sure, I'd love to."
Athena (my muse in case you haven't already figured that out) was most happy with the last reviews…unfortunately, each chapter we write makes her hungry again. So…Please review! FEED THE MUSE!
Shout-outs:
Sam: Thanks so much! I'm glad you like the story!
Eruptingfender9: Yup, she's going to get matched up with someone and yup, you were right in guessing that it wasn't Spot, maybe you can guess who it is now? lol, thanks for reviewing!
NarniaRulz: Well...I didn't exactly post soon but I did post lol. I'm glad that you think I did a good job describing Spot, I was a little worried about that...thanks so much!
Racerchick: Thanks so much! It made me so happy to read your review. About Spot's height, I have no idea how tall he is and I tried to show that he was taller than Becca when she says (or thinks) "not like I can talk" after commenting on his height. Um, yeah I have no idea how tall Spot is but he always seemed short to me, I dunno, oh well. Thank so much for reviewing!
