Hi. Well, I am currently 'banned' from my room today-_- So now I am hiding behind my house writing! Gods it is hot out.

Review and read on!

Emily

Maia jumped out of bed bright and early. She quickly brushed her hair and teeth, then hustled into the kitchen to say goodbye to her parents.

"I told Miss. Smith I would be there early." She said. They nodded and she skipped back to her room. After changing back into her newise outfit she climbed out of the window and headed down to the Smith apartment.

"Hello dear! Good luck today." Miss. Smith said, pressing the dime into her hand.

"Thank you!" Maia said, beaming. She bounced out of the building.

That smile did not last for long, however, because as soon as she got there, a vibe told her something was wrong. The boys weren't laughing and goofing off as they did yesterday. Instead, they wore grim facial expressions and were sitting on the hard floor, not running around. She walked up to Race.

"Race. What's up with everyone? What happened?" She asked. He turned toward the billboard.

"They jacked up the prices!" He yelled.

"What! They can't do that!" She said, outraged. Sure, she hadn't been a newsie for long, but this affected her as well, she had as much right to be mad as anyone.

"They can do whatever they want! It's their paper." Said one newsie.

"But that doesn't make it ok! Do they know how bad this will be on all of us? Heck, we sell da papes! We should get a say!" She said.

"Flame's got a point, but come on. This has to be a joke. Come on." Said Jack, who had just arrived. He dug a dime out of his pocket and walked up to Wiesel.

"Wiesel, Wiesel, Wiesel. That was a mighty good prank, my friend. But game time is over. Why don't you spot me my papes and we will be on our way?" Wiesel laughed.

"Nice try, Cowboy! But the jack up is real. Pay full price or get off my property." He said. Chaos broke out, everyone was screaming.

"That's not fair!"

"You can't do that!"

"Wiesel you suck!" It stopped, however, when Jack raised his hand.

"Come on boys, we ain't worth it." He walked down the steps and sat.

"Jack, we can't let them get away with this! Why have to something!" Maia told him.

"I know that, Flame! Let a guy think." She rolled her eyes and smiled. Suddenly, he perked up.

"I got it! We gotta pound 'em! We gotta make 'em know dat we ain't gonna take dis anymore! We workin' boys need rights! Hey! New kid, David, come' ere!" David walked up to Jack. David and his little brother just started today, but man did they have mouths on them!

"What?" He asked.

"I need a word. What's da word? When people stop workin'?"

"A strike?" He offered.

"Yeah! We gonna strike!" Everyone started clapping and cheering, including Maia.

"Whoa! You can't strike! You don't have a union!" David said.

"Well how do we become a union?" Maia shouted out. David thought for a moment.

"Well, you have to have members."

"What do you call these guys?" Jack said, pointing to us. We smiled and waved. Maia chuckled.

"Um…"

Huh, for once the walking mouth has nothing to say. Maia thought.

"That's what I thought! Now guys! We have ta work togethah! We gotta stay togethah! But if anyone get's in ya way, soak 'em!" Jack yelled.

"What! No! We can't just beat kids up on the street! That will give us a bad name!" David said.

"Who cares? They do it to us all the time!" Spec yelled.

"Davey, be a dear and hold my sack." Jack thrust his sack into David's chest and jumped up onto a stack of papers.

"Pulitzer and Heartz, dey dink dey we're nothin'! Are we nothin'?" Jack preached.

"No!" We yelled.

"They think they got us! Do they got us?"

"No!"

"Even though we ain't got hats or badges we are a union! Why? Because we say so! That's why! We'll do until we break the will of mighty Bill and Joe! And the will know that we been here!"

"Oh, Heartz and Pulitzer do we got news for you!" Maia yelled the fire building inside of her.

"We have been hawking headlines, but we are makin' them today!" Crutchy said, smiling as usual.

"The world will know!" The boys (and girl) chanted over and over again. When they finally settled down, Jack spoke again.

"Ok! We gotta spread the word! You, get da Bronx! You three go get Richmond! Now, who had Brooklyn?" Everyone turned and acted busy. Jack sighed.

"Come on! Spot Conlon's territory! What's da mattah? You scared of Brooklyn?"

"No! Conlon, he makes us a little nervous." Said Mush. Jack laughed.

"Fine. Mush, me, you, and Flame will get Brooklyn. Spread out! Tell 'em we won't put up with it any longer!"

"Oh sure, Jack. But right after you take our demands to Pulitzer." David said.

"Demands?"

"Yeah. Go tell 'im about what we want." Jack looked around.

"Fine. But maybe the kid will soften 'im up." He said, grabbing Les. They marched inside, everyone cheering them on. Suddenly, Race tapped on Maia's shoulder.

"Hey, Flame. You ok, buddy? If ya can't take Brooklyn I'll go." He said. Maia just realized that her face must have looked fearful, and that she had clammed up.

"No. Thanks, but I got it."

"Ok." Race said, not fully convinced.

Oh no! Conlon, Brooklyn, that is where Andrew is! What if he noticed me? What if he tells dad! No, no! She thought, worried. Andrew could not find out! He couldn't! Suddenly, the doors flew open and a man came out, holding Jack and Les by the collar of their shirts. He tossed them forward and Maia caught Jack just before he hit the ground.

"Thanks Flame." He said.

"No problem." She responded.

"Mr. Pulitzer is not taking visitors! Now stay out!" Boomed the man. He slammed the door shut.

"Well," Jack said, "let's go! Flame, Much, Brooklyn ain't gonna come to us!" Jack said, beginning to walk.

"Ain't that the truth." Mumbled Mush, who was clearly not happy about the arrangement.

"Good Luck." Race said.

"Thanks." She replied. She caught up to Mush and Jack, so nervous she could have puked on the spot.

There it is! I know, horrible chapter. I'll update soon! Thanks guys! Review please!

- Emily