A New-sie Beginning

Chapter 1

Jack's POV:
"You sure it aint to soon? I just don't want to rush anything." I ask pacing are our around the rooftops of the newsie boarding house, then sit with my feet dangling off the edge. "Jack, you and Katherine have been dating for 3 years now. Besides you've already asked Pulitzer for permission and he said yes." Crutchie says coming over to sit next to me. "I know Crutch, I'm just scared." I say  putting my head in my hands. "Jack Kelly, scared? Since when?" Crutchie says playfully punches my in the arm. I can't help but smile. "Thanks Crutchie. You always know what to say to cheer me up." I say pulling him into a hug. After a few seconds he pulls away and looks at me. "Anytime Jack. It like you always say 'we're family and family looks out for each other." We hear the morning bell ring in the distance and glance once more at the rising sun. "I guess it's time to hit the streets. Racer, Henry Albert, Specs get a move them papes don't sell themselves." I yell down the fire escape as I help Crutchie down the ladder. The boarding comes alive as crutchie and I walk in. "Morning, Jackie boy. Have you seen my cigar anywhere?" Race asks walking up to me. "Can't say I have, Race. How about you check with Albert." I say glancing over at Albert who is imitating Race with the cigar hanging out his mouth. "Morning boys!" Katherine says walking in. "Morning Kath. Any good stories this morning?" I ask planting over a kissing her cheek. "You know I can't say until the headline is posted." Katherine says with a wink. "And if you two lovebirds don't hurry up, we're going to be late to the circulation gate." Albert says walking between us. "Yeah, yeah I'm coming. See you tonight Kath." I say before planting a kiss on Kathrine's lips. As I walk out the door I check pocket one more time just to make sure the ring is still there. "Tonight's the night. I've gotta do it tonight." I think to myself walking to newsies square. "Mornin' Jack" Davey greets me as I walk up to the circulation gate. "Mornin' Dave, mornin' Les. What's the headline today?" I respond walking over the Davey and his little brother, Les. "Nothing all that exciting, just election results." Les says. I nod, I already knew that Governor Roosevelt hard won so this was no news to me. "Hey Davey, can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" I ask as we both collect our papes. "Sure. Hey Les, why don't you sell with Cutchie today. I'm gonna sell with Jack." Davey says looking at his little brother. "So what did you want to talk about?" Davey ask once we break apart from the other newsies. I reach in my pocket and pull out the small box holding my ring for Katherine. "Jack is that what I think it is?" Davey asks with a surprised look in his eyes. "Yeah it is. I'm finally gonna do it. I'm finally going to ask Katherine to marry me." I respond with a small blush coming to my cheeks. "Jack, oh my god, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you! But what about Pulitzer? He'll never let you marry his daughter." Davey says handing out his last paper to a little girl holding onto her mother's hand. I finished selling mine shortly after. "I actually talked with Pulitzer and he said 'Now that the strike is over and I know Katherine won't stay away from you, I think we should try to get a long.' So he gave me his blessing to marry Katherine. I'm gonna do it tonight on our date" I explain as Davey and I walk back to lodge house. I walk through the doors and see Crutchie on Albert's shoulders and Les on Race's. I watch the scene unfold in what seems like slow motion. One second Albert and Race are charging at one another and the next Davey is diving to catch Les as I dive to catch Crutchie. "Crutch are you crazy!? You wanna bust your other leg too!?" Ask as I help him over to the couch. "Jackie, I'm ok. We hard mattresses layer out just in case. Besides this wasn't the first time I had done this. Les and I do it all the time." Crutchie says smiling over at Les and Davey. "Wait, Davey, You knew they do this!?" I ask making my way over to Davey and Les. I take off me hat and hit both Race and Albert on the arm with it as I pass them. After talking to Davey for a while I decide to head to the showers to wash the salt and grime off before getting dressed in the suit Pulitzer gave me for the occasion. As I'm finishing getting dressed, I hear a knock on the door. "Jack, Katherine's here!" I here Specs yell through the door. I check the mirror one more time and my pocket for the ring before leaving the bathroom. I open the door and see Katherine standing in front of my in the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. "Kath, you look gorgeous!" I say walking over to her and putting my arm around her waist. "You clean up nicely as well." She responds smiling up at me. As we head over to the restaurant I slip my hand in hers. When we arrive, I give the hostess me name and she leads as to a private rooftop table that I specifically reserved for the two of us. Pulitzer told me when I asked for permission to marry Katherine that no matter what the cost he would be happy to pay for the meal. "If you're going to do this, you gotta do it right," he said handing me the suit. He told me that it was so good to see Katherine smile like that again. 'I haven't seen that smiles in years. Ever since her mother died, her smile had lost that spark. Thank you for bringing joy back into my daughter's life and I'd be honored to have you as a son-in-law.' Pulitzer had given my his blessing and now I'm ready to take this next step with her. After dinner and desert, we just sit and talk enjoying the moment away from her craziness of the city. I clear my throat breaking the silence. "Hey Kath, there's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while now. I know the first day we met you were just another stranger on the street, someone sweet passing by. It wasn't until I saw that night at Medda's theatre glowing in the lights from the stage that's when I knew you weren't just another person passing me on the streets. Kathrine Pulitzer, I love you! I love you more than words can describe." I stand up cross over to her and get on one knee in front of her. "Katherine, you have not only become the love of my life but also a constant reminder that you can find happiness right where you even when you feel trapped. You have become my Santa Fe. I may not be the richest person but what I lack in money I make up in love. I promise to love you till the day I die." I pull the ring and look in her eyes and see that she's crying. "Katherine Pulitzer, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" I ask opening the ring box. "Yes... A MILLION TIMES YES!" She exclaims as it slip the ring on her finger. I pull her into a deep passionate kiss as fireworks going off behind us. After a minute we both pull away. We stare at at the sky and watch the bursts of colors go flying by. "Jack, how did you manage to plan the fireworks so perfectly?" She asks with a questioning look on her face. "I didn't. I never planned any fireworks." We both looks at each other and start laughing. "It's late, we should be heading home." I say slipping her hand in mine as I walk her to her house. "Thank you for such an amazing night, Jack. I'll see you in the morning." She says as we kiss one last time on her doorstep. I walk back to the lodge it house with an extra skip in my step that night.