Give Us A Good Assassination!

Give us a good assasination

"Extra! Extra! Read all about it, President McKinley Assassinated!"

These words rang out early on the morning of September 15, 1901. The news had shocked the nation and left and right you would see a young women wipe her eye on her sleeve, or a young man squeeze his sons shoulder a little two tightly as the voices of the Newsies reminded them of what had happened. Even the Newsies had taken the time to take off their hats in remembrance of the late President, but as the morning went on you could almost taste a certain excitement in the air as paper after paper was sold. By lunch time the boys -young and old- were grinning ear to ear as they giggled the coins in their pockets, for the headline hadn't been that good sense the Spanish-American war, and their pockets as full sense the end of the Newsboys strike two years previous. Yes, those boys would not go hungry tonight.

Jack Kelly, union leader, artist, and (not so young) Newsie sprinted down the crowed side walk hitting shoulders with angry Newyorkers. "Sorry, excuse me, sorry" he appolgised as he shouldered his way through a group of fancy dressed girls. Some blushed and smiled at him while others gathered their skirts impatiently as he passed through them. When Jack was free of the girls he took two strides before running into a man wearing an expensive looking suit.

"Get off the side walk you street rat!" The man called after Jack as he dogged out of the way of a horse drawn carriage trotting next to the side walk. The mans words didn't even phase Jack as his eyes darted to the back of the carriage as it rode off toward the direction he needed to go. With out hesitation he leaped at the carriage grabbing hold of the metal railing on top while landing lightly on the rails holding the two back wheels together. Jack smirked at his cleverness and ignored the dirty looks people gave him as he passed by. The sun shone high above his head making his head hot, and his hair sweaty, he wiped a hand across his brow as a certain apartment building came into view. Seeing his path was mostly clear of passing pedestrians Jack jumped off the carriage and hit the ground at a run making a beeline for the building. His paper bag smacked against his knee as he ran up the steps toward the second floor, he slowed to a walk as he searched for number 12. He reached into his bag and pulled out a paper, he stopped in front of Katherine's door and set four sharp knocks. Jack knew she would be home writing an article but he couldn't wait any longer to tell her the news... even if she'd already herd the news, Jack still couldn't resist telling her about how much the boys were making today. The door handle rattled slightly then was pulled open reveling a beautiful girl in a white blouse and a red skirt, she blinked a few times confused then her face split into a grin.

"Buy a pape Miss?"

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Katherine was seriously getting sick of writing, which was saying a lot sense writing was her favorite thing to do. Finally, after an hour of starring blankly at the typewriter she decided to do something useful and got up to make a sandwich. That plan was quickly spoiled when she relished she had no bread, lettuce, and cheese basically the main things when eating a sandwich. She groaned and buried her head in her folded arms in exasperation at her lack of at-home skills. A few moments later a quick knock came at her front door, she got up mumbling about how far away the door was. Katherine pulled it open the bright sun filling her eyes with light and she winced as her eyes adjusted to the figure standing in her door way, Jack. Her face split into a grin as she saw her boyfriend grinning down at her a paper clutched in his hand, he was breathing hard like he had just ran a mile and beads of sweat dotted the skin below his hat. A sort of radiant excitement glowed off his body as he held up the paper.

"Buy a pape Miss?" He said his blue eyes shining in the afternoon light.

"Jack!" Katherine screeched as he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off her feet spinning her around. She giggled as he set her back down on her feet, she wobbled a little clutching Jacks sleeve.

"Have ya herd?" Jack asked

"Herd what?" Katherine asked suddenly worried that she'd missed something important.

"McKinley's been assassinated!" He said holding up the paper to show her the headline. Katherine frowned at him. She had herd about his death that morning, she worked for The Sun after all, she was just confused as to why Jack was happy about the nations president being killed.

"Why are you happy about that Jack?" She asked warily, Jack shook his head.

"I'm not happy the guys dead, I'm happy we's got a good headline! Oh youse shoulda seen the look on da boys faces when hey relished theys was gonna be eatin good tonight!" Jack said shaking the paper in his hands as if it were obvious. Katherine turned and shut the door behind him suddenly relishing it was extremely dark in her small apartment. Katherine had never been big in politics but ever sense she had moved out of her fathers mansion when she was 18 and started her career in journalism she started getting more involved with the nations affairs. Katherine placed a hand to Jacks arm and smiled at his bright face, it had been a while sense shed seen him this happy.

"You shoulda seen them, we got our papes and almost instantly people were rushing up wanting to hear the news. Left and right people were payin' for one a these" He said once again shaking the paper.

"Oh I could just see it" Katherine said grabbing the paper from Jacks hand. "the Newsboys of Manhattan yelling 'McKinley brutally murderd by a psychopathic" She said holding it up to an invisible crowed.

"That was pretty good Ace, I thinks I might use that one" Jack said smirking. Katherine rolled her eyes and tossed her hair over one shoulder as she went to sit back at her desk. She crossed her legs and unfolded the paper scanning it quickly. He walked over to her his bag swaying at his hip as he walked, she glanced up at him he was still wearing that same grin on his face.

"Yea well, don't get to full of yourself Kelly." She said siting up as he kneeled in front of her.

"What's the fun in that?" He asked leaning toward her. She rolled her eyes at this. Jack placed his hands to her hips and grinned wickedly. "I'm gonna take you to dinner tonight" he said his face beaming. Katherine giggled at his excitement.

"You sure? Food doesn't come cheep you know" she said. Jack took a handful of coins out of his pocket and showed them to her, they glinted in the light of the living room.

"Don't worry, I'm covered, all thanks to Mr President." Jack said. Katherine slapped his arm.

"Don't say that Jack, he was a wonderful person." She scolded, Jack shrugged in response knowing he hadn't been all that interested in politics. He got up and pulled her with him.

"Come on, help me sell the rest of these papes so we can go to lunch or something." He said, Katherine smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Ok Cowboy" she said linking and arm through his "Take me to lunch" Jacks eyes lit up with excitement and they headed out into the September afternoon.

AUTHORS NOTE: So I was staring at a time line that wraps around our Social Studies class room when I noticed William Mckenly was assassinated right around the time of the Newsies strike, while this was happening I was singing Carrying the Banner in my head when an awesome thought hit me! "I bet thoes newsies ate good that night!" And then a plan started forming in my head and one thing led to another... I actually did research on this I was pretty proud. Hope you enjoyed as always comment and tell me what you think. I own nothing.