Rebuilt

Chapter 7

Elmer certainly is a fast runner, though with all of the months I spent running from the bulls and Snyder, I was certainly faster. We stop our sprint when we get a large group of people. Elmer pulls out his papers from his white pouch and hands one to me.

"Look over the headlines, see if their is anything interesting. There usually isn't so don't expect nothin' fancy. You'se job is to make it interestin' for the folks" Elmer snaps open the paper and begins to read the pages inside.

I stare at my paper confused. Looking over at Elmer, he is lost into the reading of the newspaper. Unaware of the things going on around him. I stand next to him and hear him reading aloud quietly. I pick out words and phrases. "Mayor's house gets a new paint job", "new shop replaces barber shop on main street", "man arrested for loitering in front of 'The New York World'". Elmer snaps his paper closed and looks at me.

"Why ain't you'se readin' the pape?" he asks pointing towards the folded newspaper in my arms.

"I'se was listing to you," I say.

"That wasn't all the headlines, there are still lot's mores to read."

"Mayors house vandalized."

"What?"

"Mayors house vandalized," I repeat again. "You'se said the headlines ain't exciting, so you'se 'ave to make 'em exciting. 'Mayors house vandalized'."

Elmer smiles. "You'se a natural. Now'se lets go see if da people eat it up." He pushed me out into the crowd of people. Looking at me with the you got this look. I shake my head and run back up to his side.

"I'se cant sell those papes to people I'se don't know," I say quietly, my voice still husky. "If you'se cant tell I'se cant speak all that well." I feel my cheeks burn red with embarrassment.

"No, you'se got this. I will be right here, just shout the head lines and the people will come runnin' for the papes," he smiles again. His dark eyes bright with encouragement.

I shake my head no. He nods his head yes. Complying I stuff my hands into the paper bag and pull out a stack of papers.

"Like I said," Elmer encourages. "You'se got this."

"No I'se dont."

Walking out in the street I maneuver around the people milling about. Multiple people ask to purchase a paper without even knowing what the headline is. Easier for me, I say to myself.

Gathering up the courage I raise a paper in my left hand. My right wrist still tender. "Buy a pape?" I say quietly. No one seemed to hear. I walk up next to a group of people. "Buy a pape?" I say again.

"Did you'se hear somethin'?" one of them asks.

"Nope." Then the group walks off and leaves.

"Excuse me miss," a woman says from behind me. "What would the headline be today?"

"Oh," I rasp. "Mayors house vandalized."

The woman gasps. "Oh dear, these poor Newseis. Always having the worst medical conditions." She takes the paper and hands me a penny. "Good luck dear."

I open my mouth to say something, but a sharp tug at my left hand makes me look back.

Two teenage boys were running down the street with my papers in their hands.

No, not my papes, I correct. Elmer's papes.

Before I know it I'm sprinting down the street after the two boys. I don't look back to see if Elmer is following or not.

Winding down the streets I weave between crowds of people doing my best to keep an eye on the boys. They turn sharp right down a dark alley, I round the corner at full speed-

And find myself chest to chest with Morris Delancey.

SORRY FOR THE SHORT CHAPTER