Not Want, But Need (A Racetrack Higgins Love Story) COMPLETED

Chapter 28: New And Improved

Meg P.O.V.
Sunday came around quicker than I thought, and I had been thinking of pros and cons. If I DO become leader, I wouldn't live in Manhattan anymore. If I didnt, I would be stuck here forever! Things like that.

I was thinking of these things as I walk to Brooklyn. Once I get there I believe I made up my mind.

"Heya Ace!" He looks disappointed. "Meg, please say youse gonna say yes, because if youse only hea and actin all happ-"

"No worries, Ise sayin yes!" He engulfs me in a hug, "Thank God! Ise dunno how much longer Ise can take of these bums!" I laugh, "Ace!" He scratches the back of his neck, "Sorry, did Ise say dat out loud?" I nod my head.

I run up to the throne and whistle. All of the boys pay attention. "Heya newsies! What's new?" They all start hollering and cheering. "Ise accept ta be ya new leadah! And Ise promise ta be betta than Spot!" They get louder.

"Now! Ise need Pip, Snitch, and Leech to go and grab my stuff and grab Race as ya doin so! Pop, grab Race's stuff too!" The boys nod and run off to 'hattan.

An hour later the boys come back with Race, and a very disturbed looking Blink. The bo- no, MY boys grab him and is about to shove him off the dock when I stop them. "No! That's me brudda let 'im on!" They nod and let him onto the docks.

"Whatcha think ya doin?" He stands with his hands on his hips. "Well, Ise controllin' Brooklyn!" He squints at me. "Youse? Youse da new leadah?" I nod my head. "Fine, but youse coulda at least told me foist."

I roll my eyes. "Ise sorry, Ise couldn't tell ya and hear ya reaction cause youse was too busy smoochin Mush!" He points up to me, "Leave Mush outta dis!" I laugh and jump down. "Yeah yeah whateva, but get off me docks. I'll see ya later." I kiss him on the cheek. He rolls his eye and walks away. I order the boys to grab our stuff and we head to the Brooklyn Lodging House.

By the time Race walks in the room, I have put away all of my stuff. "Ise neva believed dat Ise would be hea eva again!" I laugh. "Yeah, well youse put ya stuff away, NEATLY, and youse can watch as Ise choose out me cabinet." He nods.

I walk to the bunk room. "BOYS! MEET ME ON THE DOCKS IN FIVE!" I grab Race's wrist and run to the throne.

Everyone gets there shortly afterward. I stand up and help up Ace. "Okay, time ta choose me new cabinet! I choose Ace as me second hand, I choose Muddy, as me third hand, and Race as me king! Tomorrow morning we will all get up and get ready and miss woik! I'll pay for everyone's dinner, and we will tell the rules and go over how the NEW BROOKLYN will be!"

Everyone cheers. Muddy thanks me when we get down from the throne as we head back ta the lodging house.

That night Race hops into bed first and holds up the blankets for me to snuggle in under. "Ise love youse," "Ise love youse too babe."

Next Morning:

The next morning I wake up the boys. I whistle as high and as loud as I can. They all groan and get up. "WAKE UP BROOKLYN!" They all get up and start to get ready. "YA BETTA BE ON THE DOCKS IN FIFTEEN MINUTES!" I laugh as Ace rubs his eyes and walks right into Cheats. "Hey watch it!" I roll my eyes and go to the docks.

Fifteen minutes later I am standing on the docks and I have stations set up. "Okay! To make Brooklyn great and unstoppable, we will split up into groups and teach new and old things. I will IMPROVE Brooklyn!"

I put a crate down that is filled with new slingshots, "Everyone will keep there old ones, but take new ones jus for emergencies!"
Everyone takes one. "Ise set up targets over there to practice aiming."

I walk over to a different part of the dock. "This hea is a map of all of New Yawk. Ise gonna update the spy organization thing. Ise need ya ta memorize it and if ya can't, write it down on these hea papes! If youse do spying youse go hea."

I walk to the middle of the dock. "Right hea is where we will practice and learn fist-fighting, cause everyone needs ta learn."

I walk over to the area underneath the throne. "There will be leadahs in charge of each section, and will meet hea every morning."

I walk over to the last half of the dock. "All of hea is where yall would be swimming, and sometimes if we need ta practice on something we gonna take up dis space. There are places for everything, and before we go ta bed, we do all these things."

I walk back up to the throne. "All of the spies will be in a pool of some sort. People will rotate every day and will sell papes for them and will put their money in a bin under their name. I will be in charge of the bins so nobody gets any ideas." I pace back in forth, "Youse got?" They all nod their heads.

I ask for all of the spies and I have them start to memorize the state. I know that Muddy knows New York, the Island, and Jersey like the back of his hand, so that's why he's in charge of that. He will give out tips and they will drill once a week.

I put Cheats in charge of the slingshot area. He is great at aiming and accuracy. He can explain things really well and should be fine in that position.

Race is in charge of fist-fighting. He will teach them their set-up, righty and lefty. All of the newsies will take that course, everyday at different times.

Everyone swims for the rest of the day. I will also take the classes and will learn WITH them, and not make fun of someone because they mess up, unlike Spot.

I promise that the Brooklyn Newsies would be better than ever. And they will still have time to run around and be free, like they should.

That night I order everyone to take showers. After everyone goes, I make sure everyone goes to bed before laying down myself. I sing the little ones to sleep, and tuck them in. I let the older ones stay up a little later as long as they stay quiet. I tell the eldest stories and let them wander around wherever, as long as they come back in one piece and is ready to work hard in the morning.

After all of that I walk into the room I share with Race and slip under the covers. "Youse did great taday." He tells me. "Youse too. Goodnight." He wraps his strong arms around me, and makes me feel protected, and safe, and everything will be okay.