Boys, Meet Twitch

Chapter 8

Jack was painting a set price at Medda Larkin's theater. He just finished reading the letter from Crutchie when she came in. "Here's what I owe you for this one and the last one." Medda said
"Miss Medda-"
"Jack." She insisted
He reluctantly took the money. "You're a gem." He said
He went back to painting the set. "Hey, we've been looking everywhere for you!" Davey walked in with Twitch
"Did you ever think I didn't wanna be found?" He asked
"You don't look great, you ok?" Asked Twitch
"Did you see the paper?" Davey asked, "We're front page news above the fold! Oh yes, above the fold."
"Good for you." Jack said
     "Everyone wants to meet the famous Jack Kelly! Even Spot Conlon said next time: we can count on Brooklyn! How about that?"
"We got stomped in the ground." Said Jack
"This is far from over, Jack. You know that, right?" Asked Twitch
"Every newsie who can walk showed up this morning to sell papes like nothing happened." Jack said
"And I was right there with them. So was she." He pointed to Twitch
     "Save your breath. It's hopeless." Jack said
     "But you should've seen the look on Weasel's face! He was nervous!" Twitch blurted out
     "There he is, like I said." Les came in with Katherine
     "For Pete's sake, what does it take to get away from you people!" Jack asked
     "There's no avoiding us, hun. We're inevitable." Twitch said
     "So what's the story? Can we have the theater?" Les asked
     "Pipe down. I didn't ask yet." Said Davey
     "What's the hold up? I need to let my girl know we got a date." Les said
     "Your girl?" Twitch asked
     "You heard me. I've been swatting skirts all morning. This one girl, Sally, she's a plum."
     Jack pointed to Twitch and Katherine. "Word is you two wrote a great story." He said
     "You look horrible." Katherine acknowledged
     Les looked at the set that Jack was painting. "Where's that supposed to be?" He asked
     "That Santa Fe?" Twitch asked
     "I've got to tell you, Jack, this whole go west routine is getting tired." Katherine said
     "Hush, Katherine, we all have dreams." Twitch reminded her
     "Well, even Horace Greeley moved back to New York." She said
     "Yeah. And then he died." Said Les
     "Ain't reporters supposed to be non-partisan?" Jack asked
     "Ask a reporter. Pulitzer had me blacklisted from every news desk in town." Katherine explained
     "What about yours?" Jack asked Twitch
     "He found that too. He hauled it out. I don't know where it is." She explained
     "Can we get back on topic here?" Les asked, "Will Medda let us have the theater?"
     "Jack, I've been trying to tell you: we wanna hold a rally- a citywide meeting where every newsie gets a say and a vote. And we'll do it after working hours so no one misses a days pay. Smart?" Davey said
     "Smart enough to get you in a padded room." Jack said
     "The guy painting placed he's never seen is calling us crazy?" Katherine asked
     "Wanna see a place I've seen? How about this?" Jack turned the set around to reveal a painting of Pulitzer's foot crushing newsies on strike, "Newsies square. Thanks to my big mouth, filled to overflowing with failure. Kids hurt, others arrested-"
     "Lighten up, no one died." Davey interrupted him
     Jack looked at him like he was crazy. "Oh really? Well, Crutchie might be dead. Twitch's baby could be dead!" Jack almost shouted, "Specs gave me a note from the Refuge. I tried to see him, I climbed the fire escape. They busted him up so bad, he couldn't even come to the window! What if he don't make it? You willing to shoulder that for a tenth of a penny a pape?"
     "It's not about pennies. You said it yourself: my father wouldn't be in the mess he's in if he had a union. This is a fight we have to win!" Davey said
    

     "Oh, Lindsay, my father wants to talk to both of us in his office." Said Katherine
     "Ok, let's go." She said