𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 // 𝘫𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘺

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 // 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴

The summer was coming to an end, as it always did. Les was the most upset about it. He loved being a newsie, while Davey? He loved the newsies, or more specifically their ex-strike leader.
He had always found Jack a wonder; a dreamer trapped in a cage painted with the illusion of freedom.

Les kicked his older brother awake, "Pssst! Daveyy! Da-veyyy!" He hissed, shaking him on the shoulders.
David's face crinkled up. He rubbed his eyes and swatted his little brother away. "'M up, I'm up,"

"Good!" Les chirped, "we's got a lotta people to say bye to,"

He tugged the covers off of his brother leaving Davey to shiver. "Good Lord, Lesley. Warn me before you do that!" He heard the creaking of floorboards and felt something slap over his face. Opening his eyes left Davey with mottled darkness, picking it up revealed the newsboy cap Jack had given him.
Les was already dressed, which was surprising but made Davey smile. He was wearing the shirt he wore so proudly on his first day of the strike, the same hat and suspenders.
"Was that on purpose?"
Les looked down at his shirt, "Mhm!"

The mix of dread and excitement distracted Davey from his usual morning routine. He wanted the day to last forever but at the same time? He wanted it to end. So it would be over and he wouldn't have to see the ache in Jack's eyes.

Sarah and their mother met Davey and Les at the table. "Look at you, my handsome boys!" she crooned as she pinched Les' cheeks, much to his dismay.
"Mooommmm," Les groaned. "Stop! We'll be late! Jack might hold a spot in line for us but Race won't!"
Sarah shoved a floppy piece of bread into Davey and Les' hands which they both gratefully bit into. "Have it on your way,"

After clasping her hands together and cooing "Now out!" Esther shooed. "And David, make sure Lesley's home before sundown. You've both got busy days tomorrow."
Les wasn't too happy about that.
They greeted neighbours with grace as they trudged down the stairs and into the familiar Manhattan street. Kids were with racing sticks in gutters, betting a few cents on the outcome. Clearly, these children had met and picked up the gambling habits of Racetrack Higgins.

Davey nodded to a shoeshiner boy he had met during the strike. "Mornin' Mister Newsie!" the boy greeted.
"Good morning!"

"Hey," Davey gave Les a playful nudge, "you wanna race there? If you win, you can have our bed to yourself."
Les raised an eyebrow, "What about you?"
"Floor."

Les hummed. "Deal!" he decided, holding on to his messenger bag and dashing off. Davey yelled at him to wait and followed. Running in his worn-down leather shoes was comforting like it wouldn't be the last time. He could be a Newsie again next summer or maybe hang around Jack's selling spot on weekends.

Davey was just letting Les win. He slowed to a walk as Les got tired up ahead and saw a few newsies. He recognised them as Tags and Laces, a few boys from the strike. They were waking up, clearly curious as to if they were late, "When's the bell, Davey?" Tags called out as he pulled his vest on.
"It'll be in a few, so you don't have to worry. You can walk with us if you'd like?"

"Us?"

"Les is just up there," Davey gestured up the street.

The brothers looked at each other and nodded. "Sure," They clambered down rather gracefully and joined Davey on the sidewalk. Laces grinned. "Little scrap's pretty quick,"
"Little Spitfire," Tags bantered.
"Suits 'im."

Tags and Laces walked closer to each other than to Davey, he wasn't close to them so it made sense. Laces kicked a stone along the path and tipped his cap to a few strangers.
Davey remembered what Albert had told him about this pair, both had gained their names from stealing. Laces got his from stealing shoelaces and Tags snuck some clothes out with their prices still on them.
They had a sister, Pocket, but she had skipped over to Brooklyn or the Bronx, Davey didn't remember.