Hello! Since this newsies is following more of the Broadway show than the movie, Medda is African American in this, because that is how it is in the Musical. I just wanted to clear that up in case none of you didn't know that and might be confused when i start describing Medda in this chapter. Thank you!

L.L.A.P

~Laces

Chpt.2

Jack taught Laces many important things about being a newsie. One of the most important? Well, it was to hate the Delancey Brothers.

Laces understood why too. It was her first day with the group and the Delancey's stared her down.

"What do we have here? Another rat from the street to join your little group." One of the brothers, Oscar, sneered with a sick smile on his face.

"Look at how pathetic he looks. He looks like those black little bastards that live in those poor houses. I say that he probably can't even read." The other, Morris, snickered.

Laces took a step back, wanting to hide her face. They were right. She was pathetic looking, she came from a black family, and she couldn't read or write.

However, when she backed up, she backed into another newsie who was behind her. She recognized him as a boy they called Mush. He was big for someone his age with a nice face and an impressive amount of muscles. Since he was so large, he scared her a bit, but Laces was shocked when he placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

"Why don't ya just piss off." He grunted.

Is he… is he trying to stand up for me? Laces wondered and was even more surprised when she heard another voice say,

"Yeah, besides, where does Morris get off criticizin' someone about readin'? We all know how incapable he is at counting." Jack smirked, and the group of boy laughed.

"You got that right." Racetrack sniggered. "You pay for twenty, he gives ya sixteen. Poor soul."

Morris grabbed the lapels of Racetrack's shirt and pulled him closer with a fist poised in the air. However, before Morris could strike, another newsie shoved the thug away.

The Delancey Brothers stared the group down while the newsies stared back, daring them to try to attack one of them while the entire group was there.

The Delanceys backed off, and the newsies went about getting their papers.

"Hey, don't let what the Delanceys say get to ya, okay kid?" Mush questioned and Laces wordlessly nodded.

"Good. They don't mean nothin' so don't worry what they say." He grinned kindly at her and they continued to grab their papers.

The second thing that Jack taught her was that the newsies all had their own sections of New York and that they shouldn't sell their papers in other newsies sections. As the newsies of Manhattan, Manhattan was the only place they could sell, or else it'd be terribly disrespectful if they went to different places like Midtown or Brooklyn. Especially Brooklyn.

This made sense to Laces, and she didn't question it. However, she did wonder what it was about Brooklyn that made it sound so scary.

The third thing Jack taught her was who to look for to try to sell a paper and who to avoid. If they looked uneducated, Laces learned not to waste her time trying to sell to someone who couldn't read.

Jack also told her to look for the men with chains in their pockets and were heavier set, which meant they ate well.

When it came to these men, she had to shout a headline to make something sound interesting. Usually it was whatever Jack told her, because it wasn't like she could make anything of the letters littering the flimsy newspaper.

When she sold a paper after claiming there was some sort of story in it, she was to get as far away as possible from the person she sold it to, because Jack most likely had made up the headline.

When it came to fancy looking women, Jack told her to use her age and sickness as an advantage. To walk up to the woman and cough and beg her to buy a paper, looking as sad and sickly as possible.

"Rich women are saps when it comes to sickly poor kids." Jack chuckled.

All in all, it was a good first day as a boy. Laces found that she loved every minute of it. She made a good amount of money, and when it came to giving Jack half of what she earned, she said,

"You can have it all. I still half to repay you for dinner, and lodging, and the clothes-"

"I can't take all your money, Laces." Jack chuckled as he only took his half and made sure Laces had tucked the rest into her pocket.

"We're newsies. Some days we foot the bill for each other and help with things when others are in trouble. Taking half is a fee we agreed on since you would be my apprentice. Everything else was because you're family. Who knows, I might need help with something and then you would help me. That'd be repayment." Jack explained with a smile.

"But what if that never happens?" Laces questioned, and Jack laughed at the concerned look on Laces face.

"If that never happens then you can buy me lunch when I'm on my death bed." He chuckled. Laces spat on her hand and stuck it out to Jack.

"Promise me that I will be able to make it up to you." She stated seriously. Jack looked at her, baffled, then slowly smiled, spat on his hand, and shook on it with the girl.

"I promise." He nodded. Laces looked him in the eye, making sure that he wasn't lying, then nodded, content with knowing that one day she would be able to make it up to him.

"Now, wanna come with me to Medda's? I'm gonna be paintin' some stuff for her, and I'm sure she'll let ya watch the shows." He informed.

"Who's Medda?" Laces inquired and Jack chuckled.

"She's wonderful. I'll personally introduce you." He smiled as the two walked down to the theater.

Laces had never been to a theater house, so the experience was a grand thing to her with all the seats and a large stage with painted backdrops. It was all so lavish and colorful compared to her dull life.

Jack took her backstage where there stood a large African American woman in fine fancy clothes with a large smile on her face.

All Laces could do was stare at the woman with shock and admiration.

The woman was black, like her. But this woman was finely dressed and clearly had money. Laces never saw such a thing.

"Jack, how are you sweetie?" the woman questioned and Jack smiled.

"I'm doin' just fine, Medda. While I was painting, I was hoping my friend here could stay and maybe catch a show." Jack informed, placing a hand on Laces' shoulder.

"Medda, this is Laces. Laces, this is Medda. She's owns the joint and, if I may add, very talented." He said and Laces' eyes widened in shock.

This is Medda? She owns this place and she's black? She's… she's looks like me though. I never knew that we could do things like this. I thought performing was something only white people could do. Laces thought, but then decided that she should probably say something.

"I-it's nice to meet you." She stuttered out and Medda just smiled at her.

"Aw, baby, you're such a small thing." She cooed, ruffling Laces' short fizzy hair. "Stay as long as you like." She grinned, and Laces found herself sitting in a seat and watching a show.

Laces didn't quite understand some of the jokes in it, but the women were beautiful and stunning. Medda herself had an amazing voice that made Laces grin happily.

When walking back to the lodging house with Jack, he questioned,

"How'd you like Medda's show?"

"It was wonderful." Laces smiled happily, a grin on her face from ear to ear.

"There we go." He chuckled.

"What?" Laces questioned, confused by the older boy's random statement.

"Ya don't smile much." Jack stated. "it's nice when ya finally do. Let's me know that I'm doing a good job at keeping my apprentice happy." He informed.

"Why do you care if I'm happy?" Laces questioned, still confused, and Jack met her with an equally confused look.

"Why wouldn't I?" he questioned. Laces frowned, thinking it over in her head. She honestly didn't have an answer to why he wouldn't be happy that she was happy. In all honesty, Laces wasn't entirely used to people being nice to her.

It made her a bit giddy.