Carry On

Chapter 2

The next morning, very early, Jack walked, slowly but surely, to Newsies Square. He sat on an abandoned bench, just sitting, and watching the world go by. The sun rose, and more and more people went out. He heard the chatter of people in the street. He managed to interpret phrases, such as,"...and he almost got run over by the horse! Thank god Michael..." From a young couple taking a morning walk, and a mother scolding her child, cried,"I told you to spend that money to buy flour, not sweets!" Jack heard the circulation bell ringing, but completely ignored it. He was observing. Within fifteen minutes, Race came down the street, fifty papers in his hands. He set down his crate across the street and started yelling a false headline,"EXTRA, EXTRA, BLOODBATH AT THE TROLLEY STATION IN TIMES SQUARE, COME GET THE FULL SCOOP!"
A group of women walking rushed up to the pathetic set-up and each bought a pape.
Jack chuckled as Race collected his earnings. The street had cleared for now, and Race spotted Jack, sitting in the corner of the square. His dark brown eyes lit up as he picked up his crate and relocated right next to the bench.
"It's a good day for sellin' Jackie, I can smell the wonderful scent of cash in the air... And not only from the papes, my friend, oh no. Today, my hoise is gonna win!"
"You placed another bet?" Jack chuckled,"Of course you did. Why am I surprised?"
Race looked shell shocked. Jack gave him a confused look.
"Why are ya starin' at me like that?"
"Cause you spoke to me. You haven't spoken to any of us in months!"
Jack furrowed his eyebrows. "Hm. I guess I haven't."
"This is amazin'! Your first words in forever, and I was the first to hear 'em!"
"Actually-"
Just then, a girl in a white shirt and a dark green petticoat with a red velvet vest set up a booth where Race was just standing. She set up a sign that read:
WOMEN ARE PEOPLE TOO!
GIVE US THE RIGHT TO VOTE!
She held a clipboard and a bell. She rang the bell and shouted,"SIGN A PETITION TO GIVE THE GIRLS THE VOTE! Would you like to sign sir? Oh, alright. Have a nice day!..."
Race growled."That girl is stealin' my publicity!"
He shouted the headline even louder and scowled at the girl. Jack listened intently, amused by the mental war. Race sold a paper and shouted to the girl,"NO ONE STEPS ON MY TURF!"
"WATCH ME!" She shouted back.
Jack sat up in his seat. That voice. It was the girl from the previous night.
Jack sat up quickly and bolted to the girl's stand.
"SIGN FOR WOMEN'S VOTES!"
Jack cleared his throat. The girl turned to look at him.
"I'll sign your petition."
The girl beamed. "Good morning, Mr. Kelly. You've taken my advice, I fancy?" She assumed as she handed Jack the clipboard.
"I have," he replied,"and to be honest, I'm sorta enjoying it." He signed his name in the first spot. "There you go, Miss...?"
She smirked,"Don't try to trick me into telling you my name, sir. I told you, that was information you will find for yourself."
"Damn." He paused, then decided to break the silence.
"Thank you. For last night, I mean. I would've died." He looked Down sheepishly at his hands.
"It was nothing," the girl smiled slightly. "It's sort of my job. I spread peace, equality, tolerance, and self love. I like helping people."
"Thank god you do."
Jack hated to admit it, but this girl was really something.
"Hey," he asked,"Would you happen to like small vaudeville shows?"
"I would. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I don't want it to seem like a date or anythin', but I would like to thank you. Would you be interested in tomorrow night, maybe?"
She thought for a moment, and her mouth slowly spread into a wide grin. "It's a date."
"Hey, Jackie, you know this girl?! SHES ON MY TURF!" Race yelled furiously. His face was red and it looked like steam was about to burst from his ears.
"I'm sorry sir. Were you selling your papers here? Cause it seemed to me that you were selling across the street."
Her eyebrows raised in the "I've got you cornered" sort of way. They made Jack melt a bit.
"But I went to go talk to-"
"You left. Finder's, keeper's."
"But... Ungh..."
The girl but on a Brooklyn accent. "Get off o' my Toif!"
Race's face fell.
"By the way, Mr. Racetrack Higgins, the race is about to start. I believed you placed yet another bet? Number 3?"
"How did you-"
"It's best not to question it," Jack interrupted. "She's right," he looked at the town clock,"It's 10:52. You better get going."
Race didn't bother to ask any questions. His horse was far more important than any girl would ever be to him.
"Well, I'll let you get back to your petition signing."
"I'm surprised you signed it. It's not a typical 'Jack Kelly' move."
"Well, today, I'm not exactly feeling like Jack Kelly."
Right then, a lady walked by and asked to sign. The two girls struck up a conversation about gender inequality, leaving Jack to feel awkward. He gave a slight wave, and decided to head back to the lodging house. As he was walking, he heard a group of men say to each other,"Look at her. There she is again. Everyday, she sits out there, vouching for women's rights." "I know," said another,"When is that Clara Nicholson going to realize that Congress will never take her silly petitions."
So that was her name.
Clara Nicholson.
A lovely name for a lovely girl.

{A/N: Just wanted to say, I based this character after Ryanne, who's my co-owner. She's a huge feminist and I love her to death. She'll be on as soon as she has time. Ryanne, if you're reading this, thank you for being awesome all the time. Love you to death! 😘}
-C ★