Newsies and Orphans

4

The walk to the circulation gate is fairly uneventful. As they got breakfast from the nuns, I took the opportunity to stop by the apple seller and bargain for four.

"Well if it isn't my favorite orphan!" He chuckles as I approach. "You're out early, aren't you?"

"Yeah, well, things are changing," I smile.

"Changing? You been adopted?"

"No, but I'm in a better place. However, small problem, I don't have access to food at the moment, and I've only got about 10 cents."

"Well I think we can work with that. Normal price is five for two, I can lower it to four for you. So four apples for eight cents, that sound fair?"

"That sounds perfect. Thank you Louis, I really appreciate it." I pull out the eight pennies and hand them to him. "And I'd also appreciate it if you kept this little interaction quiet, I kind of ran away."

He raises an eyebrow at this. "Finally getting a sense of independence, huh? Well don't worry, I take customer loyalty very seriously."

I let out a sigh of relief and gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you."

"Anything for my favorite orphan, just stay safe."

"I'll do my best. Bye Lou!" I take the apples and head back towards the group, joining in on a conversation with Race and a few of the other guys as we walked through the circulation gate.

"Fire sirens is like lullabies to me. The louder the siren, the better the headline, the better the headline the better I eat! And the better I eat-"

Race interrupts him, "The further away from you I sleep."

"Mornin' everyone! Sorry we're late, we had to help out mom with something," A guy runs in, hand in hand with a younger boy, who I assumed was his brother.

"Oh, they've got a mother?" Race chuckles, "I was gonna get me one."

"What'd you do with the one you had?" Tessie asks.

"He traded her for a box of cigars," Finch sneers.

"Hey, they was Coronas!"

"Alright, let's not fight about drugs in front of the children," I say, breaking up the conversation before approaching the new boy. "Hi, I'm Duffy."

"I'm Les, and this is my brother David." The younger of the two boys sticks out a hand for me to shake and I take it.

"I assume you're new? I haven't seen you on the streets before."

"Our dad had an accident at work so they laid him off. While he gets better, Les and I are working to earn money," David explains.

"A mother and a father? Hey, ain't we the hoi polloi?"

"Oh lay off of them Race, just cause you're jealous don' mean you have to voice it," I say, turning to give him a disgusted look.

"Why would I be jealous when we seem to have gained a mother? You certainly act like it." I roll my eyes and give David an apologetic look.

"Ignore him, he doesn't quite understand the concept of inside and outside thoughts."

"Noted. And speaking of new, not to be rude, but why are you here?"

"Um, I'm an orphan. So are all of the little girls here. Our caretaker was abusive, and last night, Jack convinced me to get the girls out, so now we're staying with the newsies and I figured small, orphan girls would make sellin' papes easier," I explain. "I'm just here to walk them to the circulation gate, and now I'm headed back to the lodge. So, it was nice to meet you David."

"Good to meet you too Duffy." I give him a nod before leaving.

"Well, he was nice. Cute too," I think to myself as I return to the lodge.