-1Chapter 2: David

David watched the marble game silently as the rest of the newsies cheered on Boots or Snipeshooter or Les. He never understood the purpose of the game but he watched anyway. After a few minutes, the marble game broke up when someone announced that it was time to go back to selling their newspapers.

"So, Dave, ya going to the poker game tonight in Brooklyn?" Jack asked after he sold one of his papers.

"Oh, I don't know. I might stay home." David said.

"How come? Are you still angry about losing three dollars to Spot last month?"

"No." David said angrily, "I just don't feel like going to Brooklyn. I feel like staying home. Why can't you leave it at that?"

"Ok, Davey. What's with you lately? You've been snapping at everyone the past couple of days."

"Nothing." David said quickly then he began shouting out the lastest headline.

David has been a bit snappy the past few says. He even went off on Crutchy for no reason at all when Crutchy asked him to pass the salt at Tibby's. They won't understand, he thought. Just last week, David found out that his family owed past rent so he had to give his parents the money he was saving for college to pay the rent. He knew that his family was in dire need of the money and if he told the guys about why he's so angry, they would say that he's being selfish but he doesn't care. My future is being taken away from me, he thought sadly. First, he had to drop out of school and now, he can't go to college. He like his friends but he doesn't want to end up like them hawking the headlines for the rest of his life. He would never tell them that in fear of getting soaked.

The rest of the day went quickly. Jack and David hardly talked to each other which helped them sell more newspapers than if they carried on conversation with each other. David felt bad about snapping at Jack earlier but he didn't say sorry. David also felt bad about not going to Brooklyn. He wanted to try to win back this three dollars which he's still angry about losing and to Spot at that. David never really liked Spot and the way he acts. David thinks everything can be solved with words while Spot thinks everything can be solved with violence. That's no the way to live life, he thought.

Everyone in Tibby's greeted Jack and David when they came in. The guys were in their usual groups but David didn't feel like sitting in his with Jack, Race, Mush, and Kid Blink. Instead, he said his hellos then sat down at an empty table away from everyone. He heard some of the guys whisper things about him but he didn't bother turning around to address them. It's not worth it, he thought.

"Excuse me but is this seat taken?" a female voice asked.

David looked up to find a young girl standing behind the empty chair that was across from him. She was holding a small suitcase. The girl has brown hair that hung straight to her shoulders and she was wearing a light blue dress that looked almost faded. Her skin was like sickly white with no sign of a smile. Her eyes seem sad, he thought which made him feel sad.

"Can you speak English?" she asked after a while.

"You better answer her, Davey." he heard Race call.

"Umm…what?" David finally asked.

"Is this seat taken?" the girl repeated.

"Oh, no, you can sit." he said quickly as he got up.

She stared at him for a few seconds before she took her seat. He was taller than her, she noticed. She hates to look up at people. Besides the little children at the organization, she was the shortest of the teenagers. He sat down quickly after her while the guys in the diner cheered for the boy for having a girl at his table. I hope they don't think I'm going to let this boy take me home, she thought. The girl looked at the menu on the chalkboard and calculated the bill. The organization only gave her money for the train ticket and five dollars to get her started in her new life. Until I can get a job, she thought, this money have to go a long way.

"Are you new to New York?" he asked which made the girl lose her concentration.

"I came in on the train this morning." she said quickly then she went back to her calculations.

"Where did you come from?" he asked.

"St. Louis." she said, shortly.

"Oh, is it nice there?"

"I guess so. I never really get out much. What taste good here that's cheap?" she asked.

"Umm…the roast beef is tasty and filling." he answered as he looked at the menu.

"I guess I'll have that. Do you know where there's a bed for rent?"

"You have no where to live?" he asked. "No family?"

"If I had family, I would be with them now, wouldn't I?" she asked, harshly.

"It was just a question. You don't have to be rude about it." he snapped back at her.

"Then don't ask stupid questions." she said. David sighed and looked away from her. The girl sighed also, "Look, I'm sorry for snapping at you like that. I'm tried and hungry and had a long train ride."

David looked back at her. The girls showed no kind of emotion since she sat down so he can't tell if she truly meant what she said. It's almost like I'm talking to Spot, he thought. He's sure that the girl had a long train ride. St. Louis is quite far away from New York. He decided to let it go this time.

"I'll pay for your dinner and, if you don't mind sharing a room with a bunch of loud guys, I could get you a bed to rent and a job tomorrow." David offered.

"What kind of job?" she asked cautiously.

"Selling newspapers. I know there's a bed open at the Newsboy Lodging House. They won't mind sharing a room with a girl. They're my friends. I know they'll be respectful toward you. You have my word." he answered.

"I don't even know you." she said.

"My name's David Jacobs. I'm a newsie too but I don't live at the lodging house. What's your name?"

"Well…my given name is Edna Kane but I prefer to be called Grim. Please don't ask. I don't feel like explaining."

Grim? That explains it, he thought, that's probably why she looks so sad. He motioned her to follow him and they went over to Jack who was in the middle of telling a wild story to Race, Mush, and Blink about what he did to the Delancys that afternoon before the marble game. David stood patiently as he waited to the story to end but he would roll his eyes once in a while when Jack made up things. After what seemed like forever, Jack was finally done.

"Jack," David said quickly before Jack had time to start another story, "this is Grim. She wants to join the newsies. Is that bed still open?"

"I believe so." Jack said while studying Grim, "That's an interesting name."

"I like it." Grim said coldly.

"We're gonna have a girl staying with us?" Mush asked.

"It's not like she's going to be the only girl that ever lived and worked with you guys." David suddenly snapped.

"We know that, Dave. It's just all the others got married." Blink chimed in.

"Or went back home because they couldn't handle the life." Mush added.

"Well…I can handle anything life hands me and I ain't getting married anytime soon." Grim said.

"Ok then sit and we'll talk. Grab a chair, Dave." Jack said.

Mush moved into the booth a little more to let Grim sit down and David pulled up a chair to the table. Maybe this David guy isn't that bad, Grim thought as she watched him for the corner of her eye.