Newsies Oneshots

The Boots

I am so sorry you guys!!! Apparently I haven't updated in 2 1/2 months!!! What even??? I'm usually not that person! I feel awful, I've just been so busy with shows and exams and I have so many half written drafts.... I feel terrible. I'll do better. I promise. I promise I haven't abandoned this. Like I said, I literally have fourteen half finished one shots. I counted. I'll work on those.

Anyways.... I'm actually kind of proud of this one, so I really hope you guys like it!!!! (This is another of my own invention). Also, I posted it on my 12 Days of Christmas story, so if you read that there's no point in you reading this one again. Unless you really liked it. Then by all means read it again!

***

Buttons wasn't the best newsie in Manhattan, nor did he claim to be. However, he was good enough to make enough money to live. He had just enough to buy daily meals and to stay in the lodging house, but not much extra.

That had never bothered the boy too much. In fact, he barely even noticed until the July following his thirteenth birthday.

Buttons had known for a long time that his boots were getting too small. How could he not notice the pinch in his toes every time he laced up his boots?

Yet there was nothing he could do about it. A decent pair of boots would cost him a good three dollars, and he didn't have that kind of money.

Buttons would just have to survive another year or two until one of the older boys outgrew their pair. He could wait.

At least, he thought he could. That belief began to falter in mid-July, when Buttons experienced a long awaited growth spurt. However, his excitement  faltered considerably when he got around for work that morning.

"Well, would ya look at that," Romeo whistled lowly as Buttons entered the washroom. "Heya, Specs! Come check this out!"

Specs dried his face with a towel and squinted as he looked at Buttons. "Gosh Buttons, what've you been eatin'?"

"The usual," Buttons shrugged. "Why?"

"You mean you ain't noticed?" Romeo asked. "I think you grew about two inches overnight!"

"Man, you gotta be nearly as tall as Elmer now!" Specs agreed.

"Really?" Buttons grinned.

"Mmhmm," Romeo hummed. "About time too. I was thinkin' you'd be short forever!"

Buttons threw a towel at Romeo, who caught it and shot him a cheeky grin in response.

"What's goin' on in here?" Albert yawned as he ambled into the room.

"I'm growin'!" Buttons said proudly.

"Wow, how excitin'!" Albert snarked, rolling his eyes.

Buttons' face fell and Specs, having taken notice, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry Buttons. He's just jealous 'cause he ain't no bigger than the new kid, what's-his-face..."

"Thomas," Romeo supplied.

"That's it! Thomas. He's almost as big as Albert, and the kid's ten!"

"Whatever," Albert scowled, heading to the sinks to wash his face.