Chapter 1

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        Three months. That's how long had passed since the strike. Mid-October. The weather in New York City was getting cooler. Soon winter would approach and would leave us shivering, but for now, I was determined to enjoy the weather. It was sunny out, and several of the people had poked their noses out of the office to head down the street for a cheerful walk.

Papers were flying out of my hands. Everyone wanted to know what was going on in the world. I only had a couple left when Blue came running up to me. He seemed excited and frantic. The little boy had just turned ten, and I could tell he carried news.

"Crown! Crown!"

"What's up buddy?"

His bright blue eyes were gleaming. "There's a newsie on our territory."

"Did you talk to him?" I asked. He shook his head at me.

"Who's with the newsie right now?"

"Lion. He sent me to get you." Lion, when he got out of the refuge, even though I had offered, refused to take back the leadership of Queens.

I nodded. "Can you take me to him?"

Blue nodded and grabbed my hand, pulling me through the streets. I shoved my papers back into the bag that was distributed at the gates and jogged back to the place where Blue had come from.

Lion stood leaning against a wall, watching the kid from under the rim of his cap. The kid was scrawny, with dark coffee colored skin and brown eyes. He shouted out headlines as people skidded around him.

I hadn't seen him around Queens before or at the gates of The World this morning. So where'd he get the papers?

I quickly checked to make sure my hair was still in my hat, then gestured for Blue and Lion to follow me. We made our way over to the boy and stood waiting.

"Can I help you, boys?" He asked, innocence in his gaze.

Lion stepped forwards. I quickly put a hand on his chest, stopping him from walking forward. "Care to explain what you're doing on my territory?"

He smirked and stepped forwards. "Selling papes."

"Ya. I noticed. This isn't your ground. Scram."

"And what are you gonna do if I don't?"

I smirked. "I'll have a bunch of well-armed newsies after you."

His eyes flashed slightly in fear. "Fine. I'm leaving." He turned tail and walked away heading back in the direction he came. Towards The Bronx.

I frowned in concentration. What was The Bronx up to now? The Bronx had always been sneaky, poking their noses where they didn't belong. I'd have to let the others know.

But, then again, it could be nothing. If one of the other groups says something, then I'll know The Bronx is up to something. I'll just leave it for now. I decided.

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It kept happening for two weeks. Sometimes even two or three Bronx newsies all the way in the middle of Woodside. It was getting increasingly harder to get them out of Queens. The boys were getting bigger too. First, they were scrawny under-fed boys, but now they were larger, well-muscled boys. I was starting to get mad. The Bronx wasn't going just take Queens.

I expressed my worries to Spot one evening after selling. We were walking along the border between Queens and Brooklyn, enjoying a quiet pleasant evening when he mentioned The Bronx.

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