No Fear |A Newsies Fanfiction|

11- SEIZE THE DAY《July 29, 1899》

Saturday- July 29, 1899

Chanting was heard from all around me. "Stop The World! No more papes!" I smiled in pride. This was my strike now. Not Jack's, not Pulitzer's, mine. I was the leader and I wasn't going to give up, we were too far along to stop. My smile faltered a bit as I looked around. Our numbers were low today. There were only about half of the number of boys we'd had two days ago. If reinforcements didn't come we'd be in big trouble.

Silence overcame us as a large group of newsies walked into the square with us. Many of the boys that should have been striking were getting ready to buy newspapers. I saw familiar faces in that crowd and my heart hurt for them. Looking through the bars of the gate, Jack was nowhere to be seen but I knew he was there.

The Delancey brothers walked up to us. "Oh heya, Oscar," I said, grinning.

"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," he hissed. He pounded his fist then walked away.

I felt a tug on my sleeve. "Are we doin' the right thing, Storm?" Les asked when I looked down at him.

"Sure we are," Davey answered, walking up to me.

"Maybe we could just put this off a couple days," offered Race, following him.

Dave turned to everyone and said, "No, we can't just put this off..." He turned to me. "Say something! Tell them if we back down now, they'll never listen to us again." I nodded at him and looked at the newsies.

"Eh, eh! 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. Pulitzer thinks that Jack betrayin' us will tear us apart so we gotta show him it ain't gonna," I said to the newsies.

"How's about we just don't show up for work? That'll send a message," a boy I didn't recognize threw out.

"They'll just replace us! They need to see us stand our ground! Davey, you tell 'em..."

"I don't know what to say." I gave Davey a look and he sighed. "Okay, okay."

He looked around nervously and anxiously started singing. "Now is the time to seize the day. Stare down the odds and seize the day. Minute by minute that's how you win it. We will find a way. But let us seize the day."

"Hey Specs!" I called. "Any sign of reinforcements?" Specs shook his head from up in his perch. "Alright, Davey, your plan better work..." The morning bell rang and the gates to the distribution center opened. The group here to work walked through the gates.

Davey continued singing, a little louder this time. "Courage cannot erase our fear, Courage is when we face our fear. Tell those with power, safe in their tower, 'We will not obey!'" He had walked to the gate and I joined him, laying my hand on his shoulder.

"Behold the brave battalion that stands side by side, too few in number and too proud to hide," We both sang. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jack walk out of the distribution center and get in line. I made eye contact with him as we sang our next line. "Then say to the others who did not follow through, 'You're still our brothers, and we will fight for you!'" Jack looked away from us and moved up in line.