My newsie ~ Spot Conlon [newsies fanfic]

3: Medda

"I don't want your papes. I don't even know you. I don't want to. Here are your papes."

"Cowboy they call him cowboy." Les says to his brother excitedly.

"Yeah that and a lot of other things, including Jack Kelly which is what my mudda called me. What do they call you kid?"

"Les and this is my brother David. He's older" This kid really did have a permanent smile huh.

"Oh no kidding. So how old are you Les?"

"Near 10" I got kinda bored of the conversation and wandered off until everyone starts walking away. I quickly run to join Jack in front of the group.

"Hey David why'd you only buy 20 papes?" I ask trying to get to know the freckled boy.

"Bad headline." That makes everyone laugh even me.

"Headlines don't sell papes" Jack interrupts our conversation making me glare at the side of his head.

"Newsies do." I state rolling my eyes at him for stealing the line I came up with a month ago. The conversation end when they stop to swoon of a girl walking by. I roll my eyes and yell EXTRA EXTRA 3 HEADED BABY TERRORIZES CITY! Then everyone else joins in and separates.

I was down to my last 15 so I went to the wrestling pit there was always good money there.

"EXTRA EXTRA THOUSANDS EVACUATED FROM RAGING FIRE" I yell and 4 men raise there hands. I hand them there papers and collect 2 quarters and 2 dimes. These men really didn't look at how much they were giving you. As I walk around I see Jack and David in the other side so I quickly make my wag to them and plop next to Jack.

"How much you sold lips?" Jack asks putting his papers down.

"Down to mys last 11, made 70 cents here for 4 papes."

"Yous one of the best." He says patting my back before looking back at the match. I smile at Les and place him on my knee so he could see the match too.

"Is he a friend of yours?" David points out. Shit it's the bulls.

"Jack it's the bulls!" I put Les on the ground while grabbing David and Les's hands pulling them in between the ropes of the fight and the 3 of us follow Jack. I let go of there hands once they catch on and make a run for it following Jack. We run and run and run until we make it to Meddas.

"I want some answers!" David yells at Jack.

"Shhh" I whisper yell at him, he was gonna disrupt Meddas show.

"Who is he? why is he chasing you? And what is the refuge?"

"Refuge is a jail for kids. That guy chasing me is Snyder the warden." I knew the whole story so I again wandered around finding a old dusty box.

I couldn't help myself so I opened it and it revealed tons of corsets and skirts and blouses. They were beautiful, most were pink which was the colour I most definitely despised but there was one. It was mind blowing.

Ocean blue long sleeved blouse with a matching corset and a modest skirt. It wasn't to large but there was some tool just enough to give a bit of curve. The ruffles at the bottom were a more teal then the rest and the pattern was a shimmering aqua.

"What is going on there?" I here Meddas voice ring through my ears. I smile and run over to the stairs where she was shooing the boys.

"You wouldn't kick me out without a kiss goodbye would ya Medda?" Jack says

"Oh Kelly. And Josephine my god you get more beautiful by the day." She says hugging me tightly.

"Medda this is David and Les. And this is the greatest star of the vaudeville stage today." I zone out again the conversation didn't invoke me putting my two cents in so I just look around.

"Toby just give my guests whatever they'd like." I snap out of my daze to see and clown appear behind startling me slightly. I grab a lollipop from the stand and stuff it in the belt of my skirt. Little something for Mush.

I walk up the stairs to hear the angelic voice of Medda begin. She starts singing her most definitely raunchy song she knew. Thank goodness Les didn't understand. After she finished the boys and I were about to leave.

"You both could come over for dinner if ya like." David invites both Jack and I but before I could answer Medda interrupts me.

"Josephine will stay with me for the night here"

"I will?"

"Yes you need time away from boys." She smiles and I simply nod back with a smile.

"See ya at the lodge lips."

"Bye boys." I wake as the 3 of them walk out.

"So Josephine how have you been holding up." She asks sitting down in her chair as she begins to take her makeup off with a wet rag.

"As good as I can bein a newsie." I shrug taking a piece of popcorn from the table.

"I've got an amazing idea!" She stands up in a rush.

"I'm going to give you a makeover!" She yells running over to boxes tugging them over and I consistently refuse.

"Medda I'm alright really"

"Nonsense this'll be fun just trust me Josephine." I sigh and nod making her squeal and run over to a box as she pulls out powders and bottles. She spends roughly 45 minutes doing my makeup then adds a blue hat on my head.

"Now for that dress I saw you eyeing." She wasn't really going to let me try that on was she. She pulls it out from the box and hands it too me

"Go go." She pushes me behind the separate wall. I quickly slide into the dress and tie up the corset top. I felt like a princess as I walk out to face her and her jaw drops.

"That's made for you. Keep it keep it."

"No I couldn't possibly." I say shaking my head.

"It has no use hear it wouldn't fit me anymore even if I tried." She says with a laugh making my smile widely. I look over to the clock above the door to see it read 11:55. I gotta get home Mush is probably worried.

"Thank you so much Medda but I gotta get back to the lodge." I smile grabbing my maids dressing and quickly getting it on. I was about to hand her back her dress when she pushes me out the door and locks it.

"Have a good night Josephine enjoy the dress." She yells through the door making me let out a loud sarcastic huff as I run to the lodge trying my best to keep the dress away from any dirt. Once I arrive I enter quietly not waking a soul.

I quickly dust under the mattress and neatly put the dress there to keep it away from the mice. Well and boys. I kiss Mush's forehead and place the lollipop on his bed before changing into my raggy pyjamas and dozing off.