The Queen of New York

1

"Specs! Racer! Henry! Albert! Elmer! Madi! Get a move on! These papes don't sell themselves!" Jack called from the rooftop.

I groaned and rolled over on my cot. It was too early to get up. Then again, I do need to sell papes today. I slowly crawled off of the stiff mattress to see the boys running around frantically trying to get dressed and ready. I peeled yesterday's clothes off and slipped into a simple brown skirt that went just under my knees, and an off-white button up shirt. I combed my fingers through my dirty-blonde hair before tying it into a loose braid.

As I was lacing up my shoes, I heard Race and Albert bickering upstairs. I heard Race yell something about his cigar, and Albert yell something about stealing another. I walked over to Elmer and started talking to him.

The boys and I all went to the church to get our weekly meal from the nuns. Old coffee and stale donuts. Delicious.

Eventually, we found our way to the circulation gate to get our papers.

"Morning Weasel!" Jack called. Wow, my brother really had no respect for authority, then again, neither did I. "Didja miss me?"

"It's Wiesel," Weasel said, as if talking to a toddler.

"Ain't that what I said?" Jack asked, faking confusion. "I'll take the usual."

"A hundred papes for the wise guy," Weasel said, sarcasm dripping from his voice at the end. "Next!"

"Morning Weasel," Race said, leaning against the wall of the gate.

"At least call me mister," Weasel sighed.

"Well I'll call ya sweetheart if you spot me fifty papes," Race joked.

"Drop the cash, and move it along!" Weasel growled.

"Well, whatever happened to romance?" Race said, before going to receive his papes from Oscar.

"Good morning, Mr. Wiesel," Crutchie said meekly, dropping his money on the collection box.

"Fifty papes for Crutchie!" Weasel called.

Then it was my turn. I went up to the gate and said, "Miss me, Weasel?"

"Pay for your papes, and move along," Weasel breathed.

I dropped 50 cents on the collection box and grabbed my 100 papes from Oscar. Then, I heard Weasel call, "Well look at this. A new kid!"

"I'm new too!" A little boy exclaimed from behind an older one. They had definite similarities, I assumed they were brothers.

"Don't worry kid, it rubs right off," Race joked.

"I'll take twenty papers," The older boy said.

"And let me see the dime," Weasel told him.

"I'll pay when I sell them," The boy responded.

"C'mon kid, cash up front," Weasel sighed.

"But, whatever I don't sell you buy back, right?" They boy asked.

"Certainly, and every time you lose a tooth, I put a penny under your pillow," Weasel exclaimed, sarcasm laced in his voice. "C'mon kid, drop the cash, and move it along."

The boy grabbed a dime from within his pocket and placed it in the collection box. When he went to go grab his papers, Oscar thrust them at his chest, knocking him backwards slightly.

"Albert, let me see your money," Weasel sighed, as Albert stepped up to get his papes.

Albert smirked. "You have a very interesting face. Ever think about getting into moving pictures?"

"You really think I could?" Weasel asked.

"Sure, buy a ticket, they'll let anyone in!" Albert exclaimed, moving on to grab his papes.

The Newsies chuckled. Then, the new kid spoke up again, "Um, excuse me. I paid for twenty but you gave me nineteen."

"You seen how nice I was to this new kid?" Weasel asked as Jack snatched the papers out of the new kids' hands and counted them. "And what do I get for my civility? Ungrounded accusations."

"I just want what I paid for," The boy sighed.

"Hey, new kid's right, Weasel, you gave him 19," Jack said. "Hey, I'm sure it's an honest mistake on account of Oscar can't count to twenty with his shoes on."

Oscar scowled and shoved the paper at the new boy.

"Hey Weasel," Jack said. "Give the new kid fifty more papes."

"I don't want more papes," The boy sighed.

"What kinda newsie don't want more papes?" Jack asked.

"I'm no charity case," The boy responded. "I don't even know you."

The younger boy stepped forward. "His name's Jack. And her's is Madison."

"Yeah, this here is the famous Kelly siblings!" Crutchie exclaimed. "They once escaped jail in the back of Teddy Roosevelt's carriage. Made all the papes."

"How old are you, kid?" I asked the young boy.

"I'm 10... almost," he stated proudly.

"Yeah, well, if anyone asks, you're 7," Jack told him. "And if we're going to be partners-"

"Who said we want a partner?" The older boy asked.

"Uh, selling with Jack and Madi is the chance of a lifetime," Crutchie responded. "You learn from them, you learn from the best."

"If they're the best, what do they need with me?" He asked.

"'Cause you got a little brudda, and we don't," I told him.

"I'm Les," The younger boy stated. "And this is my older brother, David."

"Alright Davey, my two bits come off the top and we split everything else 70-30, alright?" Jack said, turning to leave.

"50-50!" Les stated. "You wouldn't try to pull a fast on a little kid."

"70-40, and that is my final offer," Jack responded.

Les looked to Davey for advice, but after receiving none, turned to Jack and made the deal. They spit shook.

"That's disgusting," Davey remarked.

"That's just the price of doing business," Jack told him. "Newsies! Get a move on! The sun is up, the headline stinks, and this kid ain't getting any younger!"

And with that, we all went our separate ways to sell our papes.

Hey Guys! It's me! Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy! Maybe read some of my other stories, please? See you guys in the next chapter!