Newsies Imagines(1992)

Nonna- Spot Conlon

Description: While walking around New York, (Y/N)- a Manhattan newsie- runs into a sweet old lady struggling with her groceries. They offer to help her carry the bags home, and are invited to stay for dinner. The two become fast friends despite the age difference, but (Y/N) never would have guessed who the lady's grandson is.

It had been a long day of selling papes. Crutchie was always your favorite selling partner, but his bad leg started acting up and he had to go back to the lodging house early, leaving you selling alone for the rest of the day. You managed to sell all fifty of your papes, but it took forever, and now you couldn't bring yourself to go home just yet. You decided to wander the streets for a little while, despite the risk of running into trouble. As you turned the corner, you saw a little old lady stumble out of a nearby market, a bag falling out of her arms as she did so. In an instant you ran across the street to help her, catching as many rolling fruits as you could on the way. As you helped her pick up the bag and the runaway groceries, she started to beam at you.

"Oh thank you! What a kind young newsie you are!"

"It's no problem, ma'am." You smiled, "Can I help you carry these?"

"Oh yes, yes! Thank you, dear!" She chirped, grinning at you, "But ma'am is so formal, please, call me Nonna!"

You chuckled slightly, "Are you sure?"

"Of course, dear. I prefer Nonna. Anything else just makes me feel old." She laughed, "Would you mind helping me bring these back to my apartment?"

You shook your head, smiling, "Lead the way, Nonna."

She beamed brightly at your use of the name, before turning in the direction of her apartment and gesturing for you to follow her. She was quite fast for a woman of her age, but you managed to keep up. The two of you talked about everything under the sun, enjoying each other's company, but your conversation came to a halt when Nonna ever so casually waltzed onto the Brooklyn bridge. You gulped, frantically looking between her and your feet which remained planted just before the edge of the bridge. Having noticed that you'd stopped, she turned around and gave you a questioning look.

"Is everything alright, dear?"

You pursed your lips before slowly replying, "You live in Brooklyn?"

She nodded, giving you a reassuring smile, "Yes, my apartment is in Brooklyn. The markets in Manhattan have better ingredients for cooking though, so I tend to shop there. Is there a problem?"

You took a deep breath. You hadn't been in Brooklyn since the strike, when you went with Jack and Davey to inform the newsies on the other side of the bridge about your plan to take down Pulitzer. You'd met the infamous King of Brooklyn that day, and all through the strike he gave you mixed emotions. You hadn't met him before the strike, and you hadn't seen him since, but you'd heard the stories of what happened to newsies who wandered into his turf. You pondered your options, and all the possible outcomes, and you realized that if you went in with Nonna, the Brooklyn newsies couldn't really get mad at you, could they? You decided to take your chances and stepped onto the bridge, marching right up to Nonna.

"Nope. No problem at all. How much further 'til your apartment?"

"Not much farther, dear." she chuckled, "It's just right up the street. Come."

You follow her lead, waltzing off the bridge with a newfound confidence, and walking down the sidewalk to a large apartment building. The building was at least 18 stories tall with a large purple canopy out front. As you approached the door, a tall man in a polished suit greeted you, but he gave you an odd look until Nonna assured him that you were with her. He welcomed you both as you walked inside and straight to the elevators. You both walked in, greeting the kid who operated the machine, and rode up to the tenth floor in silence. You thanked the kid, picked up the bags, and followed Nonna out into the hallway. It wasn't long until you made it to her apartment and she unlocked the door.