Stray on Strike

Slezes and Seizing

Early this morning Jack left to get Davey and Les to talk to Spot Conlon.  I kinda held Davey and Les up last night anyways. Others went last night after the talk in Jacobi's Deli.

What I really want to know is what Katherine and Jack talked about after we all left.

We are all currently standing around the World gates. No one wanted to even enter the place. Duh! We are striking here!

Davey passes back and forth nervously. He looks over at Jack and asks, "Is anyone else coming?" You can hear the jitters in his voice.

Jack doesn't even try to sugar coat it he just says. "I got no clue."

Race takes the cigar and holds holds in his hand. He looks between our two leaders. "You seen Spot Conlon, right? What'd he say?" He's right they haven't told us how it went with Brooklyn. And I am curious to find out what exactly happened.

Jack being the smart mouth he is says, "Sure we've seen him." He says this and turns his back on us.

Davey looks at Jack and sighs. Then he says. "Him and about 20 of his gang." Les pops out from behind his brother and with excitement says. "And dem Brooklyn boys is big." I know this. I've seen him too. I wonder if they talked to Clyde and Victor at all? They could help. I should visit them. Reunite the Refugees.

Jack turns around and looks at all the newsies. " And I gotta say, Spot was very impressed, wasn't he?" He flings his hand up in Davey's direction. Davey nods and says, "I'd say."

I cross my arms and pop my hip out. "So they're with us?" I say.

Davey walks up to me real dramatic like. "Well that all depends on how you look at it. If you look and see Brooklyn, then they're with us." He says this all with a large amount of pride.

I uncross my arms but keep my hip popped out. "Well I don't see them." I say in a sassy tone.

Jack walks over to me and puts his hand on my shoulder and points with his other hand. "They want proof that we're not gonna fold at the first sign of trouble."

I reply with "Are we?" Generally worried. 

Jack starts to talk louder. "We are not! Dares us, we got Harlem-"

Mush steps forward. "Not so fast, boss. Harlem wants to know what Brooklyn's gonna do."

Jack takes of his hat and rubs the back of his neck. "What about Queens?" He says motioning to the crowd.

Specs calls over to Jack. "Hey, Queens'll be right here backing us up, as soon as they get da nod from Brooklyn."

Race comes up from behind Jack and Davey. "I got the same fish eye in Midtown."

Jack pulls me back from behind and all the guys get instantly angry. We all now who can do that. The Delancey Brothers.

Jack snobs at the one who is getting a little too close. "Oh, hey, Oscar." Oscar the one who is a flirt and a total jerk. I hate his stupid scab guts.

Davey doesn't know about the history, so doesn't understand why Jack is hiding me.

Oscar walks up to Jack. "Looks like it was bum information we got about a strike happening here today. Not that I'm complaining, my skull-busting arm could use a day of rest."

I am disgusted by that stupid Delancey. Just then with no common sense. I pop out from behind Jack and get in Oscar's face. "You scab. You just wait till we win this."

He plasters a smirk on his face and says, "Aw Stray. Where des boys been hiding yous? Or are you still thinking  that gimp was a better choice than a so called 'scab' like me." He pokes his lips out for a kiss. I slap and him and he pushes me to the ground. Les runs up to me with fear in his eyes.

Oscar snaps at me. "I've told you once. I will tell ya again. You're gonna get in trouble with that big mouth of yours."

Oscar leaves us walks into the gates and I turn towards the boys. Davey pulls me up. And Les tries to brush off the dirt off me.

Les looks at me and Davey and after witnessing what just happens says, "Are we doin' da right thing?"

Davey pulls his little brother into a hug and says. "Sure we are."

Race waves his hand and says, "Maybe we just put this off a couple days." What? No! Not on my watch.

I yell at the guys, "No, we can't just put this off..." I walk over to Jack and plead with him. "Say something! Tell them if we back off now, they'll never listen to us again."

Jack nod and he walks to the center of the crowd. He shouts at the newsies. "Hey, we can't back down now, alright, no matter who does or doesn't show. like it or not, now is when we take a stand."

Elmer speaks up. "How's about we just not show up for work? That'll send the message." True. But not right.

As a few boys walk through the World gates. Jack runs in after then me and the Jacobs kin. Jack loses it.  "They'll just replace us! They need to see us stand our ground! Davey, you tell 'em..." He gives up and passes the torch to Davey.

Davey walks over to me worried. "I don't what to say." He whispers to me.

I whisper back to him. "Just give them hope."

Davey walks up to the front of them.
"Now is the time to Seize the Day. Those odds aren't in our favor but we will stare them down. Minute by minute we will this. We will find a away. Seize the Day!" Even though he's speech is good the guys don't care.

Crutchie comes running in. Just seeing him make me happier. I can feel it. He walks and stops right in between the gates.

"Hey Jack. Look what I made. " he holds his crutch out and there is a tag the says STRIKE in red paint hanging on it. I give him and a small smile trying to cheer him along.

Race gives a thumbs up to Crutchie and says, "That's great." He then turns to me and Davey and Les. "That's horrible." He says changing his tune.

Les walks up to Race. "Don't be so quick to judge. Maybe Pulitzer will see it from out his window and feel sorry for us."

I face palm and look over to Jack. He gives me the same look that I am giving him. Worry. Pure worry.