A Newsie Story

Chapter 20

"Morning Morris,"I sing as I use my crutch to twirl into the living room. One of the tricks Crutchie taught me.

Morris is just waking up rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Davey and Race are making breakfast which smells wonderful. The world seems just beautiful today. Morris raises one of his perfect eyebrows up,"Morning Princess."

I sit down on his bed smiling at him,"How did you sleep?"

"Pretty well actually. No one came ta get ya and you'se have a pleasant little place heah,"He says touching my arm gently. I shiver a little at his touch.

Morris lifts me off the bed and carefully places me back on the floor. We walk over to the kitchen with the table already set. 4 old plates are set out along with glasses of water, freshly baked bread, and eggs. Davey is a wiz at baking bread and we found an old chicken coop on the roof already with roosters. The man who used to own it died of old age and now the whole building uses the eggs.

It's so delicious that none of us make a sound except for our chewing. Finally Davey speaks up quietly,"Morris. Uh thanks foah staying heah and keepin us safe. Race and I were wonderin if you'se would possibly move in foah the month to help us out. We ah totally willin ta pay.."

"No pay. I will do it because I don't want anyone ta hurt her anymoah than you do,"He says patting my leg gently under the table.

"Well then that's settled. We betta get goin soon,"Race says looking outside at the sky.

I feel something touch my leg from on my other side under the table. It's a little note from Davey.

'SELL WITH ME TODAY.'

It says in Davey's big letters that he uses. I nod slightly so that only he can see it.

* * *

We go to the newspaper stand quietly just kind of looking around at the city. Once we arrive only Oscar is there selling papes. Wiesel and I have been being nice to eachother lately and it's kind of a shock to not see the crazy man sitting behind the desk. I go up to Oscar,"Where is the Weasel today?"

He leads the leaders and Morris over to behind the stand so that the other newsies can't hear. He breaths a deep breath,"Weasel is in critical condition in da hospital. I found him this mornin in his house with a pool of blood around him. A little note said that others will follow if ya don't follow his rules. Seems Weasel might not make it."

I stare at the ground willing the tears not to come. The newsies are just looking for signs of me cracking and I can't look weak to them. Not after everything but poor Weasel.

* * *

I grab 70 papes and head off with Davey to start the working day. Davey watches everything making sure that nobody in all black with the voice of the devil comes out of the shadows suddenly.

"Why did ya want to sell with me today,"I ask Davey quietly.

He smiles,"I need ta talk to ya about somethin important. I heard you'se and Race talkin last night. Is it true that you'se like me?"

"Umm yes. That is true,"I say softly.

He grins even bigger,"Well that time I told ya that I loved ya hair I really meant that I loved you're but I chickened out."

"I kind of got that,"I say giggling.

I punch him on the arm and take his hat hobbling away. Boys seem to really hate when you take their hats. Davey catches up to me quickly taking his hat back grinning,"Before you'se get rid a that crutch you'se can't outrun me."

"I can't outrun anyone Davey,"I say suddenly cringing from the word.

He clenches his teeth and his fists,"You'se won't have ta run from anyone. Morris, Race, an I will make sure a it."

I give him a hug and it reminds me of hugging him under the bridge just weeks ago. So much has changed in so little time and it makes me sad. He kisses my face lightly as if to seal the promise.

We sell our papes really well together. We play off of each other well enough. The city seems to flock to me as they hear rumors of the previous day. Davey goes off to get lunch seeing that so many people are around me that the man wouldn't dare.

But he does dare. I hear the voice as he asks for a pape quietly. I glare at the man still dressed in all black,"Why in the world would I sell a pape ta you?"

"You wouldn't turn down family would you," the man asks as I finally recognize him.