you probably won't enjoy this one
It seemed that the only joy Jon could ever find
in his life was found in how great the headline of the paper was. If it was just some lousy 'turtle wins race', he'd be miserable all day. But even then, nothing could take his mind off of the excitement of being a newsboy.
Jon became a newsboy at a very early age; as soon as he began to take his first steps, a paper was always found in his hand, ready to be sold. Everyone swears that Jon's first phrase was "extra! Extra! Get ya papes!". He can't help but smile at the thought of his first words being so.
Being a newsboy was an everyday routine that only changed depending on the headline. The routine consisted of: Hearing the circulation bell ring, getting up, buttoning his flannel, pulling up his suspenders, tying his laces, paying the paper distributor 50¢ for his bundle, placing his papers in his satchel, and making his way towards the city.
Usually Jon's paper route involved him selling at the pier, where local sailors who had just arrived in New York and who were also eager to see what the fuss was all about in the "big apple" were. That and his persuasiveness was able to make him enough cents to buy more papes for the next day and a small lunch.
For some reason however, Jon decided to take a different route that day. One that wasn't even close to the pier. He had a sudden urge to move more into the city where one of the newsboy had said that their was a huge neighborhood filled with rich people, waiting for their daily pape. With his ears perked up, Jon made sure to catch the directions of the neighborhood.
There he was making his way into a "gold mine", hoping that the newsie hadn't lie. He reached the corner of the neighborhood and decided that would be a perfect spot to sell his papes.
"Extra! Extra! War breaks out between the US and Philippines! read all about it in today's pape!" Jon shouted, using one arm to wave the paper around and the other to help make his voice louder.
An elderly woman who had been water her tulips rose her head as soon as she heard Jon. She opened the gate of her house and began to make her way towards him.
"Extra! extra! War breaks out! Read all about it!" Jon chanted once more.
"War has broken out?" The women asked Jon.
"That's what it says in the papes. You can read all bout it if ya pay the fee." Jon responded, hoping that the women would buy his paper.
"How much?" The women said reaching into her pocket for her wallet.
"A nickel should do ma'am." Jon handed the women the newspaper as she handed him his nickel.
"What's your name boy? How come I haven't seen you selling at this corner before?"She asked him.
"My name is Jon. A colleague of mine was talking about how no one gets papes round here. Wanted to change that." He responded.
"Well Jon, I hope from now on I'll be able to count on you for delivering all my paper."
"I'll deliver your papes persunally miss."
"Good boy." She said, reaching into her pocket once more and handing Jon a dime.
Jon was awestruck.
-
That day Jon made a total of 90¢: 90¢! Including a dime! Jon's very first dime! Selling at the pier no longer became Jon's place. The pier would usually make him a total of 70¢, leaving him with only 20¢ to spare for lunch and 50¢ for papes. Now that 70¢ daily lifestyle was behind him.With the neighborhood people being desperate for the news, he was able to double his lunch money.
