A Newsie Story

Chapter 33

The next two days are just as horrendous as day 6. But, on day 3 my actual life ends and I know that I no longer have a place among the newsies.

On day 3 Race fires me from being a leader and my own brother fully supports the decision that Race has made.

Race stands up on one of the boxes by the newsstand, " Mornin Newsies! I have a quick announcement ta make. I have decided that lately Liv has not been the best newsie she could be. She has been too withdrawn and too worried about men to do her job as leada. In her place, I am assignin Swift. He has been doin a marvelous job of sellin and works real hahd. I am sorry if this is an inconvenience to anyone."

With his speech, some of the newsies seem distraught, but half look at me and laugh. They look into my eyes and laugh at me. I'm just a silly girl to them. I'm nothing more than a stupid whore. Race just reminded them all that I'm nothing.

Maybe Meaghan's perfectly beautiful hair will do a better job than my own ever could. I run away sobbing without a care in the whole world. Morris looks at me with Pity, but I'm sure he's bursting with joy.

I run to Brooklyn to see my wonderful big brother and he's waiting for me with his arms crossed.

"Don' even try to beg me ta get ya position back. Race ain't wrong on this one. You ain't been good lately Olivia. Sure, he is jus upset because you wen with Morris, but you ain't been a good leada," he says without a hint of taking any of it back.

I stare at him blankly, "But Anthony, you once tol me I was a betta leada than you'se ah."

"Well maybe I was wrong! Somethin ain't right wit you Liv! You'se need ta figure things out befoah you'se can become a leada. Race had wrong reasons, but he had right ones too," Anthony finishes, looking only slightly upset.

When he sees my tears he changes his tune. He starts to protest against his words, begging to take them back. The damage has already been done.

He attempts to hug me and I run from him. I run from everyone.

*THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SHORT CHAPTER, BUT LIV IS EMOTIONALLY UNRAVELING AND THE SHORT CHAPTERS MAKE SENSE I SWEAR. BESIDES, I WON'T LEAVE YOU ALL FOR A YEAR AGAIN*