Newsies Middle School - High School AU

Chapter 47 - Complicated Plans

"I'm going to convince Mr. Pulitzer to let us start a news club," Jack announced at lunch one Friday afternoon.

"We had to get signatures in middle school, you really think he'll just let us?" Albert pointed out.

"I'll have help," Jack looked at Katherine.

"I've already talked to my dad, he said no," Katherine shook her head.

"I've been working on a plan since last week, when you told me we gotta act like we're still dating. I think I've got one," Jack shrugged, "we just need to go into his office together,"

"Well, if you're sure it'll work," Katherine stood up, she and Jack started walking to the Principal's Office.

"Good luck!" Davey called, Jack looked back and winked at him.

"Dad, are you in here?" Katherine opened the door to the Principal's office.

"Hello, Katherine," Mr. Pulitzer was at his desk reading something.

"Um... so there's someone you ought to meet, and he has a quick question for you," Katherine stepped aside and let Jack into the room, "this is Jack Kelly, my... boy-friend,"

"Good afternoon, sir," Jack had his hands behind his back.

"Ah, yes, I've heard about you, went to Sun Middle School, detention average is 2 times a month rounded, middle school GPA is 3.8, you're Medda Larkin's adopted son," Mr. Pulitzer took his reading glasses off and set them on his desk.

"What's this about Medda Larkin?" Hannah entered the room.

"She's my mom. Well, adoptive mom," Jack shrugged.

"THE Medda Larkin? Like... the preformer?" Hannah questioned.

"That's her," Jack nodded.

"Hannah, you are dismissed, Mr. Kelly wanted to speak with me," Mr. Pulitzer made a shooing motion with his hand.

"Yes sir," Hannah set a stack of papers on top of a file cabinet and left the room, closing the door behind her.

"Mr. Pulitzer, sir, I'm sure you've been asked this question before by Katherine," Jack started, "our friends, us included, would like to start a school newspaper,"

"Absolutely not," Mr. Pulitzer shook his head.

"But sir," Jack argued, "think of it this way. At our middle school, each of us gave five dollars a week to keep the news club going, now multiply that by the amount of people selling newspapers, and you've got yourself... depending on how many people actually sell newspapers, an extra 75-ish bucks going to the school every week,"

Mr. Pulitzer seemed to be adding things up in his own head, "You make a fair point," 

"And I don't want you to think I'm just doing it for my own sake, no. Your daughter is an excellent reporter, and I know that she loves writing for the school newspaper, I'm doing it in her best interest," Jack smiled at Katherine, "and I know that you of all people want what's best for Katherine,"

"Alright, alright, you can have a news club," Mr. Pulitzer gave in, "but it's going to be slightly different than in your middle school,"

"Of course," Jack nodded.

"First thing, given this school is twice the size of your middle school, you would be earning double what you earned there, so I expect you to pay twice as much to keep the club running," Mr. Pulitzer squinted, "second thing is that it's not going to be student governed. I can't trust you  to keep things organized,"

"So, who's going to run it?" Katherine asked.

"Hmm... I think Mr. Weisel should be able to handle the job," Mr. Pulitzer decided.