Governor's Daughter (A Mush Meyers Love Story)

Chapter 3: More Than Tea and Butlers

The next day after school, I was sitting on the steps waiting for Grace. Jane was busy talking to John and I was alone. Sydney came over to me. I looked around to see if she had mistaken me for someone else, but she was standing there smiling.

                “Hi, Anna,” she said sitting down next to me.

                “Hi, Sydney,” I said huffing, “What are you doing over here?”

                “Well, I came over here to tell you that one of my friends has taken a real liking to you.”

                “If you’re talking about Mush…”

                “I am talking about Mush. Come on, Anna, you could just get to know him. He’s really nice.”

                “He’s a newsie. Not in a million years would I be caught dead with him.”

                “I know newsies are supposed to be bad, but they’re all just kids. They’re sweet and nice and funny. If you just hung out with them for a bit…”

                “I don’t want to hang out with them and I can’t believe you can stand too.”

                “I can because they’re nice kids, unlike most of the kids that go to this crummy school.”

                “They made a strike against your dad.”

                “It was my dad’s fault. You know what your problem is, Anna? You’re simple minded. You’d rather believe everything everyone else says instead of finding things out for yourself. If you change your mind, the newsboys lounge is right next to the Pulitzer building.”

                She stood up and walked away. Grace came down the stairs. She looked after Sydney then back at me. “What did Sydney want?” she asked.

                “To tell me that kid from the diner was into me.”

                “Ew, gross.”

                “And she basically invited me to go hang out with them at the newsboys lounge next to the Pulitzer building.”

                “You’re not thinking of going are you?”

                “Well…”

                “Anna, are you serious? They’re newsies. The lowest of the low. Who knows what they’ll do to you if you go? What if someone sees you there?”

                “Aw come on, Grace. Haven’t you ever wanted to see what newsies do when they’re not selling papers? I mean, they are kids. They have to do something.”

                “I’m sorry if my plans don’t involve hanging out with criminals.”

                “You only think they’re criminals because your dad works for the refuge. Maybe we should go to the newsboys lounge. Just for a minute.”

                “I can’t believe you are seriously considering this.”

                I got up and started to walk away. I turned around and walked backwards. Grace still wasn’t moving. I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m going with or without you so you better decide.”

                Grace looked around her and let out a big huff. She jogged slightly to catch up with me. She scowled at me as I smiled at her. “I hate you for this you know.”