Boys, Meet Twitch

Chapter 9

     "Katherine, Lindsay, sit down." Said Pulitzer
The two did as he said. He held out the newspaper that Katherine wrote. "Care to explain?"
"Dad, I-" Katherine started
"Dad, I nothing!" Pulitzer shouted, "You completely went against me! I want both of you in the corner!"
"Are you really going to do this in front of me, Joe?" The mayor came in
"Oh no. Come in."
The girls moved their chairs to a corner in the room. "I've read your editorials, Mr. Pulitzer. How can you express so much sympathy for the trolley workers but none for the newsies?" The mayor asked
"Because the trolley workers are striking for a fair contract. The newsies are striking against me!" He explained
"I'd spare you embarrassment if I could, but the burlesque house is private property."
"He can't order a raid without a legal cause." Said one of Pulitzer's men
"What about an escaped convict? He's a fugitive from one of your own institutions. A thief." Said Pulitzer
Twitch looked at Katherine. "What?" She asked her
Katherine shrugged. Twitch was moving every which way. She was so unstable, she couldn't even here what they all were saying. "Mr. Pulitzer!" Hannah rushed in, "The boy- Jack Kelly- he's here!"
"Send him in." He said
Jack came in. "Afternoon, boys." He said
"And which Jack Kelly is this? The strike organizer or the escaped convict?" Pulitzer asked
"Which one gives us more in common?" He asked
"Impudence is in bad taste when crawling for mercy."
The two passive aggressively bickered back and forth for a while. "You may run this city, but there's some of us who can't be bullied. Even some reporters. And mothers." Jack said
"Such as that young woman and her cousin who made yesterday's news. Talented girls. And beautiful as well, don't you think?"
"I'll tell them you said so." Jack said
"No need. They can hear for themselves."
The two of them stood up and stepped forward. "Hey." Said Twitch
"I trust you know my daughter Katherine and my niece Lindsay." Pulitzer said
Jack looked at Twitch. "How does your family tree work?" He asked
"You have my mom and uncle Joe, then you have my dad and my aunt Carol. Now you have my ex and me and my kid." She explained
"Ah, yes. How did Oscar take it by the way?" Pulitzer asked
Jack's eyes widened. "Oscar who?" He asked
"Oscar Delancey. My ex boyfriend." Twitch explained
"He's your- he- but- and you-"
"I get it! Hard to take in." She said
"Lindsay, dear, don't trouble him. He has a plateful of his own. Right, Snyder?"
"Hello, Jack." Said Snyder
Jack tried to run, but was caught by the Delancey brothers. " Mark my words, boy: defy me and I will have you and all your friends locked in the Refuge. Think about all the ones that are already struggling. How will they ever be able to thank you?"