The Goils from 'Hattan

Chapter 5

The next day started like every other sellin day. It was warm out, the was sun high in the sky and not a cloud in sight. Kid Blink was the first one up to Weasel to buy his papes, “The usual, weasel,” Weasel gave him a smirk, “60 cents, Kid.”. Tori and I's were standin right behind Kid when weasel said that so we marched our way to the window and stood on either side of Kid. “What's the big deal weasel?” I's asked grabbin 2 of the bars on the window. “You's can't just hike up da price like dat.” Tori said defending Blink. "I can actually because Pulitzer demanded the raise,” no matter how much bickering we did Weasel refused to lower the prices. Tori and I's sat down on the steps of the distribution building with Kid. Race was pacing back and forth, "Jacks not here, We’s gotta tell Jack when he gets here he’ll know what to do.” Race mumbled. After about 10 minutes of restlessly waitin, Jack shows up. “What's goin’ on?" Kid jumped up when he heard Jack, "Jack! Dey's raised the price, 10 cents per 100!” “It's bad enough that we’s gotta eat what we don't sell! Now they's went and jacked up the price! Can you believe that?!” Skittery stood behind Tori and I smoking a cigarette. “This’ll bust me, I'm barely makin’ a livin’ right now.” He flicked the burnin end off his cigarette and passed it to me. I took the cigarette and drew a puff, "Jack I’s can't handle this, I’s gonna be back sleepin on da streets where you’s found me.” I's said handing the cigarette to Tori so she's could take a drag. "It don't make no sense,” Tori said letting smoke escape from her mouth. "Yeah wid all da money Pulitzers makin’ why would he gouge us?" Mush finished. “Cause he's a tightwad that's why.” Race said, panic erupted from the other newsies at this. Jack went up to the distribution window and slammed his hands down. “So why the jack up weasel?" Weasel “why not?” , he licked his finger to ‘testin’ the air, "It's a nice day; Why don't ya ask mista Pulitzer?” Weasel and the Delancys laughed. "They's can't do this to me, Jack.” Blink complained. “They's can do whatever they want.” I's stated. Race nodded. "It's their stinkin’ paper.” Jack sat down infront of Tori and I next to Boots who complained, "It ain't fair. We's got no rights.”. Race stepped up to the front, “C’mon it's a rigged deck, they got all da marbles!” I nodded taking another puff of Skittery’s cigarette. "Let's just get our lousy papes while they's still got some.” Mush said with a defeated look. Jack blocked Mush’s way "No, nobody’s goin’ anywhere; not till dey put the price back where it belongs!” chaos has once again erupted. Les pushed his way to the front of the newsies where Jack was, “Clear out, clear out, give him some room, give him some room,” he sat down next to Jack, “Let him think.” everyone backed up a bit even Tori and I's while Kid gave Jack a cigarette. There was a long silence for a second before Race became impatient, “Jack, ya done thinkin yet?” weasel bangs on the counter in the booth causing Tori and I's to jump, “Hey, hey, hey, World employees only on this side of the gate!” we all yelled at him. “Shove a sock in it, weasel." Tori yells causing me to giggle. “Okay listen, if we don't sell papes, then nobody sells papes; nobody comes through those gates until they put the price back where it was.” Davey finally spoke up, "What do you mean? like a strike?” Jack’s eyes lit up, "Yeah like a strike.” protest came from all the newsies. “Jack I's don't think that's a good idea.” I's said. “ Are you’s out of your mind?!” Race asked. “It's a good idea!" I's hit jack in the back of the head not lightly but not too hard either. "Are you’s trying to get us all killed?!” Tori nodded, "Or worse thrown into the refuge?" Davey came down and kneeled near Jack in front of me. “Jack, I was just joking. We can't strike we don't have a union.” Jack then went on a rant on how the newsies were now a union and that if we went on strike then we were a union. The boys back Jack’s ideas of a strike and we walk out to the city square. “Tell us what to do Jack!” Boots said. “what's it gonna take to stop the scabbas? Can we do it?” Tori and I's pushed our way towards Race and Kid. “Yeah!" we all said. ”we’ll do what we gotta do 'til we break the will of mighty Bill and Joe!" Jack broke a stick over his knee. Everyone was smiling and liking Jacks ideas more and more. “and the work will know and the journal too. Mr. Hearst and Pilots we have we's got news for you. Now the world will hear what we's got to say. We been hawking headlines but we's making 'em today and our ranks will grow-”. Crutchie turned to jack," - and we'll kick their rear.” Tori giggled at Crutchie. “and the world will know that we's been here.” everyone cheered as jack came down from the statue. He marched around with the newsies in tow. "When the circulation bell starts ringin’ will we hear it?”  we followed Jack around cheering behind him, “NO!" Tori was cheering the loudest which made Kid look at her and smile. "what if da delancey’s come out swingin’ will we hear it?” Jack sang in a funny voice. “NO! When you got a hundred voices singin’ who can hear a lousy whistle blow? And world will know that this ain't no game.”. The delancey’s closed the distribution gates. Race and blink looked at each other and ran up to the gate and jumped on it. “that we got a ton of rotten fruit and perfect aim. So they gave their word but it ain't worth beans now they're gonna see what stop the presses really means when the day has come and the time is now and the fear is gone.” Boots stopped his dancing, “and their name his mud and I can't stand blood” Jack stepped forward, “Pulitzer may own the world but he don't own us.” he grabbed Dave my the shoulders and shook him, “Pulitzer my crack the whip but he won't whip us.” we continued to sing and some of the newsies broke out in a dance break. Jack climbed the ladder to the headline board and wrote strike in huge letters and with that the strike. Everyone cheered as Jack climbed down and ran up to Davey. “We’s got to get the word out to all the newsies in New York. We need some of those… what do you call em?” Dave gave Jack a confused look, “ Uh, Ambassadors?” Jack jumped up onto Pulitzer’s building steps. “Alright , you’s guys gotta be Am-bastards and go tell the others we're on strike.” Kid was the first to speak up, “Say, Jack, I’s’ll take Harlem.” Tori gave Kid a dirty look but he didn't notice as he headed towards Harlem. I's gave her a sympathetic pat on the back. Everyone volunteered to go to all of the burroughs but Brooklyn. “ What ‘bout Brooklyn? Who wants Brooklyn? C’mon, Spot Conlon’s territory. What's the matta you’s all afraid of Brooklyn?” Boots tried to act tough, “Hey, We’s aint scared of Brooklyn. But Spot Conlon makes us a little nervous.”everyone stayed silent. "I’s’ll take Brooklyn.” I said. Everyone looked at me with a mix of fear and surprise. "Anyone else? Anyone at all?” I crossed my arms, "What you’s don't think I’s can handle Brooklyn?" Jack sighed. “Fine. You’s, Tori, Boots, Dave and I’s’ll all go to Brooklyn.” Tori gave me a high five. "Sure, just as soon as you take our demands to Pulitzer.” Jack looked taken aback, "Me? Ta Pulitzer?” Dave smirked, "You're the leader Jack” Tori and I giggled at Jack's frustrated face. "Well, maybe the kid’ll soften ‘im up a bit.” Jack grabbed Les by the shirt and dragged him into Pulitzers building. “We’s best be heading back to da lodgin’ house so’s we can get ready ta meet dem Brooklyn boys.” Tori said grabbing my hand and dragging me back to the lodging house.