The Queen of New York

7

Madi's POV

The next morning, I changed out of my bloody, tattered clothes from yesterday and put on a new, clean shirt and skirt. Pretty soon, the Jacobs brothers and Katherine arrived at the lodge. The four of us ran out of the lodge and Davey and I ran up ahead. Jack was going to be at Miss Medda's theater, I was sure of it.

Davey and I ran in. Miss Medda was talking to Jack, who was painting Santa Fe.

"How 'bout letting a pal know you're alive?" Davey asked.

"How about I leave you with your friend and your sister?" Miss Medda asked.

"Thanks, Miss Medda," I smiled.

"Where'd you go?" Davey asked. "We couldn't find you!"

"Ever think I didn't wanna be found?" He inquired.

"Hey, is that a real place, that Santa Fe?" Davey questioned.

Of course it's real! And I thought he was the smart one!

Davey suddenly remembered the headline from earlier and once more spoke to Jack, "Hey, did you see the pape? We are front page news, above the fold. Oh yes, above the fold!"

"Good for you," Jack sighed.

"Oh come on!" I exclaimed. "Everyone wants to meet the famous Jack Kelly! Even Spot Conlon sent over a kid just to say: next event you can count on Brooklyn. How about that?"

"We got stomped into the ground," He growled.

"Yeah, they got us this time, I'll grant you that," I replied. "But we took round one. And with press like this, our fight is far from over."

"Every newsie who could walk was out there selling papes this morning, like the strike never happened," Jack stated.

"And I was right out there with them!" Davey exclaimed. "Look, if I don't sell papes, my folks don't eat."

"Save your breath! I get it! It's hopeless!" Jack retorted.

"But then I saw this look on Weasel's face!" Davey told him. "He was actually nervous. And I realized this isn't over. We've got them worried. Really worried. And I walked away. Lot's of other kids did too. And that is what you call a beginning!"

Les ran in, Katherine right behind him.

"There he is! Just like I said!" Les exclaimed.

"For goodness' sake! Where's a fellow got to go to get away from you people?" Jack asked.

"There's no escaping us, Jack, we're inevitable," I said.

"So, what's the story? Can we have the theater?" Les questioned his older brother.

"Pipe down, I didn't ask yet," Davey replied.

"What's the hold up?!" Les exclaimed. "I need to let my girl know we've got a date!"

"Your girl?!" Davey asked.

"You heard me!" Les retorted. "I've been swatting skirts away all morning! Fame is one intoxicating potion. And this here girl Sally, she's a plum!"

Jack noticed Katherine and said, "Word is you wrote a great story."

"Hey, you look like hell," Katherine says.

"Hey Jack, where's that supposed to be?!" Les asked, indicating the picture.

"It's Santa Fe," I told him.

"Oh, I've got to tell you Jack, this 'Go west young man' routine is getting old," Katherine sighed. "Even Horace Greeley moved back to New York."

"Yes he did," Les agreed. "And then he died."

"Ain't reporters supposed to be non-partisan?" Jack asked.

"Ask a reporter?" She replied. "Pulitzer's had me blacklisted from every news desk in town."

"Can we table the Palaver and get back to business? Will Medda let us have the theater?" Les wondered.

"It's what I've been trying to tell you," Davey said to Jack. "We want to hold a rally, a city-wide meeting where every newsie gets a say and a vote. And- we do it after working hours so noone loses a day's pay. Smart, huh?"

"Yeah, smart enough to get you commited to a padded room," Jack replied.

"The guy who paints places he's never seen is calling us crazy?" Katherine wondered.

"You wanna see a place I've seen, huh?" Jack asked. He turned his painting around to show us a characature of Pulitzer's boot stomping on newsie square. "Newsie square thanks to my... my big mouth. Filled to overflowing with failure. Kids hurt, others arrested -"

"Lighten up! No one died!" Davey cut him off.

"Is that what your aiming for?" Jack inquired. "Go ahead. You call me a coward. You call me a quitter. No way I'm putting them kids back in danger."

"We're doing something that's never been done before! How could that not be dangerous?!" I exclaimed.

"Specs brung me a note from Crutchie... at the Refuge," Jack started. "I went to see him. I-I went up the fire escape. They busted him up so bad he couldn't even come to the window!" I gasped. Jack continued. "Now what if he don't make it? Are you willing to shoulder that for what? Half a penny a pape?"

"It isn't about pennies, Jack!" Davey yelled. "You said it yourself! My father wouldn't be in the mess we're in if my father had a union! This is a fight we have to win!"

"If I wanted a sermon I would show up for church!" Jack exclaimed.

"Tell me how quitting does Crutchie any good?" Davey asked. When Jack couldn't answer he continued. "Exactly!" [Insert Watch What Happens Reprise here]

"And I've got a date!" Les yelled.

He hit Jack with his hat. Jack did the same thing back and Davey scolded his younger brother.