Boys, Meet Twitch

Chapter 13

     "What have you done now, Joseph?" Asked Roosevelt
     "I can explain." He said
     "No need. Your daughter already has. Graphics included." He said, "Now give those kids the good news."
     "What good news?"
     "That you'll roll back the prices. Unless you want a full state investigation on your establishment." Roosevelt threatened
     "You wouldn't-"
     "I'd do it with a smile! Think of the happiness you'd bring those kids." He looked at the small group, "He doesn't do happiness, does he?"
     "Mr. Kelly, may I speak with you. Alone." Said Pulitzer
     Everyone else left the room. "I can't put the price back where it was. I'm sorry. I can't. There's-"
     "I get it. But I got constituents with a legit gripe." Said Jack
     "What if I reduce the raise by half and everyone else does the same? It's a compromise we can all live with."
     "But you can eat our losses. From now on, any papes we don't sell, you buy back. Full price."
     "What's to stop the newsies from buying hundreds they can't sell?"
     "No one is gonna break their back hauling papes they can't sell. But if they take a few with no risk, they might sell em. It's a compromise we can all live with." Jack explained
     Jack spot in his hand. "Deal?" He asked
     Pulitzer looked at him like he was insane. "That's disgusting!" He said
     "It's the price of business." They shook hands
     They went out on the balcony to see all the newsies. "Newsies of New York," Jack shouted, "we won!"
     Everyone cheered! In the back of the crowd, Jack saw Crutchie. "Crutchie!" Several newsies shouted
     "Hiya, fellas. You miss me?" He asked
     Everyone hugged him. "Look what I brought straight from the Refuge." He said
     Snyder was in handcuffs. "So long, sucker!" They shouted