When you've got Friends

Chapter 2: In or Out?

I started making my way towards the news square, where the boy had said to meet. I'm lucky the man from the bakery was able to give me directions or I wouldn't have even found the place. Strolling through the last street I could already hear excited voices coming from the square. What's going on here? I stopped at the entry gate and saw that the place was filled with kids hanging around, chatting and laughing with each other. With a deep breath and a call to my confidence I stepped onto the square and headed towards the kids. I looked around, hoping I would recognize the boy from yesterday somewhere. He did want to meet me here, right? As I walked closer someone called out; "well well, what have we got here? Look Jack, a new kid!" The boy stepped in front of me, chest puffed and cap turned backward. "Whatcha doin' here, chap?" He questioned.

A boy, who I assume is this Jack fella, walked up behind him and stopped at his side. "Yeah, why is you here?" As little ducklings, others followed Jack and turned their attention to us as well. This might not have been a good idea after all.

"I- well, um.. someone asked to meet me here." It came out more like a question than a statement.

"What? You not sure?" Another kid said rather mockingly.

"And who's that then?" Asked Jack, folding his arms ignoring the other.

"That would be me!" Exclaimed someone from behind them; it was the boy I met yesterday.

"Race, you know this fella?" The two boys shifted aside and 'Race' stepped to me.

"Yo, I didn't think ya would show, kid, glad you did." He gave me a greeting punch to the shoulder and turned to Jack and the other. "Yeah, I know 'em alright, I met them afta I saw 'em pick a fight with the Delanceys yesterday."

"Well ya sure picked a fight then, the Delanceys are real chuckle-heads, but they got some fight."

"I'm guessing that's where ya got that from then, ey?" Said the boy with his cap backward, nodding to the bruise on my face.

"Indeed"

"So I thought I would invite them here, seems like our type 'a lad, dontcha think?" Race smiled to me and looked at Jack for approval. I suppose Jack might be somewhat of the leader around here.

"Yeah, maybe." Jack grinned.

"Line up, little brats!" An older, chubbier fella had shown up behind a stack of newspapers, and some boys started to form a line from there. Now I noticed they were all wearing the same type of bag. Do they work here? Jack and the others also moved towards the line.

"Wait! Who are you guys? And why am I here?" Jack turned and looked at me with disbelieve.

"You wanna tell me you don't know who we is?" I shook my head apologetically. "We'se the newsies of New York! We sell papes, spread the word, tell the tale." He said, dramatically waving his arm around. "And you don't know us? You must be fresh in town."

"That I am."

"And for the latter," Jack stepped closer "you'se here cus you'se like us," he motioned to the rest of the kids in the square, "no home, no bank, no bacon. We work with each other and we look out for eachother."

"So you're friends?"

"We is family, we is kith and kin." He turned and pointed at me. "And if you'se works with us, you'll be kith too. That's why you'se here. Us kids from the streets need to look out for one another." Now Race walked up to me.

"So, you'se in or you'se out?" He spit in his hand and extended it to me, everyone was now focused on us.

"I'se in" I spit in my hand and shook his.

"Everyone, welcome our newest newsie, Kith the Kid" Jack looked and me and smiled wide. The square erupted in loud cheering and laughing.

This was the best idea ever.