A lone newsie

A pape for a nickle

November 5th, 1900.

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(Y/N) sat up in her bed, drowsy. She had been selling papers late the night before, and had only gotten around four hours of sleep. It didn't matter to her, though. She stretched out, her back cracking. She glanced over to the small vent that operated as a window.

It was past sunrise.

Crap!

She was going to be late, and another newsboy would take her spot. In a flurry, he tossed on her pants, a button up, her suspenders, then pulled her cap on over her head, covering her forehead with shadow. Last but not least, she tossed on a coarse brown jacket. It was getting cold, after all.

She whistled for Lilac to come. The dog got up from under the bed that (Y/N) slept in. She went to (Y/N)'s side immediately, and the two dashed out of the lodging house and to get her papers for the day.

____

Crutchie was making his way to his spot for selling. Since the strike, it had changed. He now sold near the local bakery, always seeing that strange girl with her dog, leaning against a wall. He would see people flock to her, and shed get food and other goodies if the buyer didn't have money on them.

But today, he didn't see her.

Odd. He thought. She was always there. He would've continued his thoughts, but a force suddenly slammed into him, knocking him down.

He heard the faint sound of a female grunt as she hit the ground. He didn't see her face, but assumed it was some ditz.

"Aye, watch where ya going!" Crutchie grumbled, his hands searching for his crutch, which got knocked aside.

He was going to get himself up when the girl offered him a hand, which he reluctantly took. She helped him up without a word, then kept running off, a dog at her side.

It then hit him.

The girl newsie had just been the one to slam into him and help him up just moments ago.

____

(Y/N) finally made it to her spot, where some of her consumers were already waiting. She made her way through the people wanting to buy her papers, and to her regular spot. Lilac stood against her legs, her eyes giving a steely look for a dog.

(Y/N) held out her hand to each person, who would give her their pay for a paper. If (Y/N) accepted the deal, she'd hand them a paper and they'd be off. If she didn't accept the deal, shed keep her hand out until she got what she wanted.

Once the main crowd had gotten their papers from (Y/N), she counted up the money she got.

One dollar, four cents, along with a bread roll, a ball of yarn and an old bottle cap. A smirk grew across her face. She had made very good money. If she wanted too, she could stop selling right now and would probably be set for the rest of the week. But she still had papers left, and she wanted to sell as many as she could. So, she went back to work pulling in customers.

She had around four papers left when Lilac started growling. (Y/N) turned her head to see the small boy, Les, running towards her.

She sighed. She wouldn't consider herself friends with Les, or his brother Davey, but they were friendly. Although Les could be annoying, she would always give him a penny or a piece of bread if he would let her be for the day.

"(Y/N)!" He shouted as he dashed down the street, his shoes smacking against the pavement.

"Les." (Y/N) replied, her voice completely monotone as she clenched her fists. She was going to have to sacrifice a penny or some food for this kid to leave her alone.

"Can I hang out with you today?" The little boy asked with enthusiasm. Why he would want to was completely beyond (Y/N), so she always had him buzz off with his penny.

"Id rather be alone today, kid." (Y/N) replied coldly, earning a pout from Les. (Y/N) sighed and fished a cent out of their pocket. "Here, ill give you this penny if you leave me alone.." (Y/N) said, grudgingly with a cringe. She hated to give up her penny, but didn't want this kid by her side all day. She wasn't the fondest of kids.

Les smiled wide, nodding his head. (Y/N) tossed the penny to him, which he attempted to catch but ended up on the pavement. He picked it up, then turned and ran back to his selling station.

(Y/N) sighed. Same old, same old.

_____

Five PM. Crutchie usually still had papers by now, but there was a captivating headline that day and he had them all sold by four thirty. He needed more, because people kept coming over to ask if he had them. Apparently the other newsboys had also sold out and gone back to lodging, because he couldn't see them anymore.

He looked around once more. Maybe Jack was still selling? He could borrow some papers from him, then pay him back later. He spent around fifteen minutes searching, to no avail. He did notice somebody still selling, though.

The girl.

He took a breath. He would have to ask her for papers, which was not the best thing to ask someone as intimidating as them.

He started hobbling over to her.

____

(Y/N) wasn't focused as of then. She didn't have many papers left, but she was tired of selling. She decided she could go back to lodging, maybe hang around in her room for a bit and read Shakespeare's complete works, the only book she owned - aside from the Bible.

She adjusted her strap and prepared to head off when she felt someone tap on her shoulder, making her flinch unnoticeable.

"Oi, its jus' me." A boy's voice said from behind her. She turned to see the boy with the crutch that she had nearly run over earlier. "What, no hello?"

(Y/N) snarled, making the boy tense up and take a step back.

"Aight, I guess I better cut to 'da chase." He continued, his accent seeping through his voice ever so slightly.

"What do you want?" (Y/N) replied to him, annoyance in her voice. Lilac growled.

"I was jus' lookin' to take your papes off your hands!" The crutched boy said, timid.

(Y/N) raised an eyebrow, not noticeable from under her hat, then let out a snicker.

"Whattya laughin at?" He responded to the laughter.

(Y/N) shook her head gently.

"Take my papers. I was heading to lodging anyways." She said, taking the papers out of her sack and handing it to the boy, who put them in his messenger bag.

She started to walk off, when Cruchie yelled to her.

"I didn't catch ya name!"

"I didn't throw it!" She shouted back at him as she started jogging down the street without looking back.