Chapter one

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Jumper aka Alice Delancey slept peaceful in the newsie lodging house. Her hat covered her face, shielding her from the boys. She was closer to the roof, hearing movement caused her to wake up. Jumper opened the hatch , climbing up to the roof. Crutchie was putting on his vest.
"Where ya going? What are ya...the bell ain't rung yet. Go back to sleep." Jumper heard Jack's tired voice call from the other side of the roof, the looking over. "I want to beat the fellas down to the street." He said, grabbing his crutch. "I uh don't think the guys should see but uh...I ain't been walking so good." The boy replied. Jumper laughed softly, making her presents known. "Quite your grippin'. You know how many fellas fake a limo for sympathy? That bum leg is a gold mine." Jumper told him in a joking way, she looked over at Jack as he pulled on his hat. "If anyone think that I can't make it on my own I'd be locked in the refugee for good." Crutchie told the two. He sat down by the opening that led to the latter. "Now be a pal and help me down." Crutchie lowered himself down slipping. He clung on to the side bar. "Crutchie?!?" Jumper yelled, rushing over. Jack ran over, grabbing one of Crutchie's arms while Jumper got the other. "Whatcha trying to do bust your other leg?" Jack asked him, frustrated. "No I'm trying to go down." He said with the most innocent face. "You'll be down soon enough." Jumper told him, sitting on her heels, to look him in the eyes. "Take a moment, drink in my penthouse. High above the stinkin' streets of New York." Jack said. Jumper smiled, acting as if she held a glass in her hand, she took a sip of the fake liquid. Crutchie laughed slightly. "Your crazy." He said. "Yeah, highly." Jumper agreed with Crutchie "Why cause I like a breath of fresh air? Cause I like seeing the sky and stars." Jack said as he walked over to the other side. "Your seeing stars alright." Jumper told him, she crossed her arms over her chest. Jack leaned against the railing, looking down at the street. "Them streets down there, they sucked the life right out my old man. Years a' rotten jobs, gettin' stomped on by bosses and when they finally broke him, they just tossed him to the curb. Like yesterday's paper." Jack said before pushing himself up. "Well they ain't doin' that to me!" He yelled over the side. "But everyone wants to come to New York." Crutchie said in a small voice, he was standing by this time. "New York is fine for those who have a big strong door to lock it out. I'll tell you personally. There's a whole other way out there. So you can keep your small lives in a big city. Give me a big life in a small town." Jumper sighed as he said that, she agreed. She wanted to get away from her, but she wanted her brothers to come

" They say folks are dyin' to get here
Me, I'm dyin' to get away
To a little town out west
That's spankin' new."

Jack sung, laughing a bit at the last part. He looked over at Jumper and Crutchie, smiling, his smile disappered as he turned back to the view of New York.

" And while I ain't never been there
I can see it clear as day
If you want, I bet'cha could see it to."

Jack walked over to the two. He wrapped his arms around them.

" Close your eyes
Come with me
Where it's clean, and green, and pretty
And they went and made a city otta clay."

He had them close their eyes, waving a hand in front of their eyes. Jumper smiled softly, her brown hair blowing around her face.

" Why, the minute that you get there
Folks walk right up to ya and say
Welcome home son
Welcome home to Santa Fe."

Jack let go of them as they opened their eyes. He moved away from them.

" Plantin' crops
Splittin' rails
Swappin' tails around the fire
Cept for Sunday where you lie around all day."

Jack looked at Jumper as she moved closer.

" Soon your friends are more like family
And theys beggin' you to stay."

She sang, smiling widely. Together they sang the next part.

" Ain't that neat?
Livin' sweet
In Santa Fe."

"You got folks there, Jack?" Crutchie asked looking at the taller boy. He scoffed. "I ain't got no folk nowhere. You?" He looked over at her and Crutchie. "We don't need folks cause we got friends. Ain't that right Crutchie?" Jumper asked, looking to the sweet Crip. He nods with a huge smile. "Hey! Why don't yous come with me?" Jack turned to Jumper and Crutchie. "No one cares about no gimp leg in Santa Fe. You just hop a Palomino. You'll ridin' in style." He said, trotting as if he was riding a horse. "Yeah. Picture me ridin' in style." Crutchie said nudging Jumper. "Hey I bet a few months of clean air and you, you could toss that crutch for good!" Jack said excitedly.

" Santa Fe
You can bet
We won't let those b*** beat us
We won't beg anyone to treat us fair and square!"

The three sang together. Jumper looked out at the horizon, climbing up on the rail some, arms out to her side.

" There's a life that's worth the living
And I'm gonna do my share."

Jumper sang a dreamy look on her face, her brown eyes catching the faint sunlight.

" Work the land."

Jack sung looking at the two beside him. Jumper smiled, climbing down, leaning against the railing.

" Chase the sun!"

Crutchie sang out, he too was smiling a huge smile. The three looked between each other.

" Swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun."

Jack made swimming motions with his arms, making the girl laugh.

" Watch me stand!
Watch us run!"

Crutchie sang. His smiles slowly faded, sadness over coming his face. Crutchie turned away from them. "Hey, hey." Jack said walking over, he put his arms around the two.

" Don't ya know that we's a family?
And would I let you down huh?
No way."

Jack sang, leaning against the two. They stood together, looking at one another.

" Just hold on kids,
Till the train makes Santa Fe."

Jumper hugged the crip. The morning bell chimed out through the air. "Hey! Specs, Race, Henry, Elmer, Albert get a move on! Them papes don't sell them selves!" Jack shouted down from the 'penthouse' as he pulled on a shirt. Jumper climbed down as Jack and Crutchie got ready.

She got pulled her newsie's cap over her brown hair. She heard the footsteps of the boys as they got ready, Race walked over to where she was. "Delancey." He nods to her, he was the only one who knew who her family is. "Higgins." She smiled. She stole his cigar but he was used to it by now and didn't complain. She placed it in her mouth for a bit, before he stole it back. She playfully glared at him. "There there Alice." He said using her real name. "It's Jumper. I'm a newsie not a soakin' Delancey." She informed him.

Who should she end up with?

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