Newsies One Shots

A Striker's Story

June 1890

"Is he from the Refuge?" one voice asked.

"I's dunno," another replied. "Just found 'im shiverin' in a box an' lugged his tired bum here."

"Nah Snipes," a third said. "Look at the bandages. No way that kid coulda gotten his hands on 'em in that place. Maybe he ran away from home or somethin'."

"Well we's won't know nothin' till the kid wakes up ya know."

And, it was in that moment, he finally woke up. His eyes quickly darted around the room, meeting at least several pairs staring back at him. A shiver ran down his spine from the sudden cold he felt. That's when he realized he wasn't wearing his shirt anymore. Ok what was going on and where was he? The last memory he had was talking to some kid about taking him to some safe place. Was this it? Or had he died. He didn't die right? He never should've ran away from home, he should've stayed put. Been more stubborn instead of doing what's right all the time! And yet, he could never bring himself to do it. Stand his ground that is. Not to say he's a soft push over, it's more along the lines of not wanting to start any trouble.

"Hey calm down kid," a boy, who was much older than he said, "No one's gonna hurt ya. Just tryin' ta patch ya up is all."

"Did ya run away from the Refuge?" a younger boy asked.

"What's the Refuge?" he slowly asked. Never in his life had he heard of a place like that. "An' where am I's? An' who are you'se?"

"Relax kid," another, older boy piped up. Seriously, why where there so many boys here? Is this an orphanage? Nope no just no, now he really had to get home! "Blink was the one who found ya. You'se at the Lodge now. An' completely safe from any harm. Now, can ya let us dry ya off fore ya get sick."

Ok well, that was sort of a relief to hear. He wasn't in a orphanage...but he might as well be an orphan at this point. Great, what was he going to do with his life now? But, the young boy was too tired to care at this point, so he only nodded in reply and let the older boys dry him off and help get him into some warmer clothes. Which were a bit big on him, but at least it was warm and dry. All the while the rest of the group kept asking him a million questions at the same time.

"What's yer name?"

"Where are ya from?

"Why did ya run away?"

And many more like that. But it all went in one ear and out the other. Everything was so confusing...new...it made him home sick actually. Especially when they would say how he was now their brother. The only sibling he has is a sister, who he'll probably never seen again. It hurt to think that, but there was a reason why he was told to run and never look back. As nervous as he was to be around these boys, they seemed alright for the most part. He took note of each and every one of them. Or at least tried too. There was a boy with a crutch and a wide smile. One with dark skin and glasses. Another was tall and lanky with a slingshot in his pocket. A blonde boy with a cigar that never seemed to shut up, and a redhead with a backwards cap that made a lot of jokes (bad ones at that). The list went on and on.

"You'se can ask the kid questions in the mornin', now off ta bed." there was a chorus of "Aww Wolf", "C'mon Wolf it ain't even late." rang through the air, but the boy, Wolf, ignored all the protests and sent them all to bed before turning back to him and said, "Top bunk over Jojo's is yers."

He looked at...Wolf in pure confusion. And what was with that name anyways? Rather strange if you ask him.

"C'mon kid, just follow me," a burnette who he assumed was Jojo said and he gestured him to follow. Which he did. "If ya happen ta roll outta bed, try not ta land on me, alright?"