The day had started so normal until the boys reached the World Office and Weasel told them the price was raised! Jack was the last to show. Blink filled Jack in on the news "They jacked up the price! Ya heah dat Jack? Ten cents a hundred!" Blink ranted "You know, it's bad enough that we gotta eat what we don' sell, now they jack up the price! Can you believe that?"
The price raise hit Blink harder than the other Newsies. What with Race's gambling habits "They can't do this to me Jack." Blink sighed. "They can do what they want." Race said grudgingly "It's their stinkin' papah." Blink leaned against the wall lost in thought trying to figure out how to make this price change work. He had nothing.
"Give 'im some room let 'im think." Les said as he broke through the crowd. Blink handed Jack his cigarette. Silence reigned for a moment. "So uh, Jack, ya done thinkin' yet?" Race asked starting to get impatient. "Hey! Hey! Hey!" Weasel shouted "World employees only on this side of the gate!"
"AH put a lid on it, pipe down!" the boys shouted back. "Well, listen. One thing for sure, if we don't sell papes, then nobody sells papes." Jack said clearly having finished thinking. "Nobody comes through those gates until they put the price back to where it was."
"what like a strike?" Dave asked "Yeah, like a strike" Jack said clarifying. It didn't sound like a bad idea to Blink but he listened as others teased Jack for the idea. "Are you outtah your mind?" Race asked. To be honest Blink kind of wanted a strike; to show the World and Journal where he stood on the matter. "Dave's right. Pulitzer and Hearst and all dem othah rich fellas, I mean, dey own this city, so do dey really think a bunch of street kids like us can make any difference? Da choice 'as gotta be yours. Are we just gonna take what dey give us, or are we gonna strike?" None of the boys answered, afraid of being the only one to speak up. "Strike!" Les broke the silence for the boys and they all murmered in agreement. "Keep talking Jack, tell us what to do!" Boots urged. "we gotta stick togetah. Newsies gotta stick togetah." Skittery explained to Pack Rat. "Hey listen! Pulitzer and Hearst have to respect the rights of the working boys of New York!" Jack shouted to the group. "Blink there's som'in' I'se gotta tell ya." Pack Rat tugged at Blink's sleeve. "Not now." Blink pushed the boy away. "Blink it's important!" Blink ignored him. Minutes later plans were forming. "We 'se gotta get woid out ta all da Newsies of New
York." Jack explained " I need some of those….what'dja call 'em?" he asked Dave. "Ambassadors?" Dave suggested. Jack nodded "Yeah, right. Okay, you guys, you gotta be ambastards an' go tell the oddahs dat we're on strike." Blink was the first to volunteer "Say, Jack, I'll take Harlem" Jack nodded and off he went with Pack Rat in tow. Blink realy didn't think Trapper would join without a good reason. Knowing Jack, he'd already sent someone to Brooklyn. In fact he probably went himself. It wasn't Brooklyn that bothered the boys. It was the Brooklyn leader Spot that had everyone nervous. ..
"Do you think da Harlem Newsies will join wid us?" Pack Rat asked. " ' course, Trapper'd be stupid if he didn't" Blink told him. Just as soon as Blink finished his sentence the two boys were surrounded. "I'd be stupid if I didn' do what?" the leader asked. "We'se goin' on Strike. You's be stupid if you didn' join." Blink taunted. "da way I sees it, You'se da one bein' Stupid Louis "Kid Blink" Ballatt." Not many people knew Blink's real name but Trapper was one of them. "ya see. If you'se go on strike an' I still sell, I'd be makin' money. See? So why should I join?" he asked. "Da woild an' joinal been pushin' us 'round too long." Blink said. He shoved out of the grip of some boys that had grabbed him. "Ain't dat ten cents worth as much ta us as it is ta Hearst and Pulitzer who are millionaires? Well, I guess it is. If dey can't spare it, how can we?... I'se trying to figure out how ten cents on a hundred papes can mean more to a millionaire dan it does to newsboys, an' I can't see it." Trapper looked at Blink for a moment "I guess your right Blink…" and before he could stop himself Blink added "'cides Jack's getting' Spot." Trapper raised an eyebrow. "alright. If Cowboy can get Conlon, den we're in. If he don't you'se on ya own." And with that he sent Blink in his way. I sure hope Jack got Spot…