Chapter 8

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After a night of good rest, I's felt ready to take on anything. My cuts healed a little and my bruises were still sore. Tori and I's got dressed in our usual clothes and made out way with the other newsies to newsie square. We all stood outside the gates and sang, “ open the gates and seize the day, don't be afraid and don't delay, nothing can break us, no one can make us give our rights away, arise and seize the day” some of the smaller newsies had made instruments about of can and other trash they found. They started drumming away on their home-made instruments as is newsies began to dance. We all danced in perfect sync and at the end we all linked arms. A carriage came rushing at us causin us to break apart and scatter. The scabbers all huddled in the opening of the gates; too scared to come out any farther. “c'mon you grafters cross the line” Race yelled. “ alright, everyone remain calm” Dave yelled to everyone. All of us just ignore Dave and glared at the scabs, “Let's soak ‘em for Crutchie!” Jack yelled as we all took off after the scabbers. The scabs ran up the steps of the distribution building as they tried to get away from us. They opened the doors. Of the building and revealed men with chains ready to catch us. “Jack, it's the trick!" Race yelled as he ran. The cops closed the gates and locked us in with the scabbas." heya, Jackie boi” the Delanceys back Jack up down the stairs. I's turned to Tori, “dis aint gonna be good.” just then some scab grabbed the two of us and pushed us out into the open with Jack as they barely missed us with their chains. We were pushed around the circle of men when Jack, Tori and I's all heard a familiar voice come from the rooftops. “Neva fear, Brooklyn is here.” everyone looked to the rooftops to see all of the Brooklyn boys there. Race cheered, “I’s knew he would come." Tori smiled," Nice ya boi is here to save ya Angel.” I's blushed," we’s are in the middle of a fight Tori! Is now really the time for you’s to be teasin me?” she laughed. The Brooklyn boys loaded their sling shots and fired on the Cribs." ay, Doll, you’s alright?” spot yelled down from the roof. I’s blushed redder because I's saw the looks some of the newsies gave me when he called me Doll. “ Yeah, I’s fine now that you’s here, Spot.” I's yelled back up to him. “ Hey Spot.” Jack waved to him. Spot grabbed the zip line and rode it down to the the crib fighting Jack. Jack and Spot did a spit shake. Tori and I’s were back to back fighting scabs when Race came over and helped us. “you’s glad I’s went to you’s little lova boi?" he asked kicking a guy where the sun don't shine." He ain't my lova boi” I’s said punching a guy in the face. Tori laughed," oh she's got it bad Race.” they both laughed." again, is now really the time for this?” this just made them laugh harder. “Hey Angel, can ya help me?" I's saw Spot holding on to the gates with his hat off. Again those eyes got me and now his dark sandy blond hair. "Yeah i’s comin.” I's said making my way over to him. We each grabbed one gate door and pulled allowing more newsies to rush in. Spot grabbed my hand and pulled out his cane. “you’s stayin with me for now on. I’s need to know that you’s stay safe.” my face heated up once again but I's didn't say anything and just went along with him. Eventually we had taken out all the Cribs and destroyed every pape. We were all celebrating. Denton made his way to where we all were ripping papes and cheering. He set up his camera, “Freeze!” he yelled. Spot wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I's put one arm around his back and the other around Kid who was doing the same to Tori and the camera flashed.

The next day we all meet up at Tibby’s to meet with Denton about the paper headlines. Spot and I sat at a table with Tori, Blink and Race as we all ate our food. “So’s when's this-” Race said gesturing to Spot and I's with his fork, “ gonna be official?" I looked down at my food to try and hide my red face." I’s don't know. When ever Angel’s comfortable with it.” I's looked up to see Spot smirking. “ are you being serious or just jokin’ Spot 'cause i’s don't think it's a very funny joke.” Spot looked at me very seriously," do i’s look like i’s jokin’ Angel?" I’s looked down at my food to try and avoid the topic in front of everyone. Tori snorted (same), “Now i's gets ta tease you for a change Angel“ Blink and some of da boys look at her confused by her statement but luckily their attention was pulled toward the door as Denton walks in, greetin everyone. “Heya Denty how's it goin’?" I said with a smile. “It's great Angel, you all got on the front page!" he said putting the paper in front of Jack. Everyone instantly got up and crowded Jack. Spot leaned over Jack’s shoulder, “Where’s me picture? Where's me picture?" Jack swatted Spot away like a fly which roused a giggle from me." Hey, all dem words there ‘bout us?” Boots asked. “Hey, look at you's Jack” Mush said." Yeah, you’s look like a real gentleman or somethin’” I said. Spot looked up at me from where we was crouching next to Jack with an annoyed look. “Oh, calm down, Spot.” I's say giving him an annoyed look back. Spot turned back to the pape," well, where does it say my name? Where's my name?” Jack lightly hit Spot in the chest, “ would you’s stop thinkin’ ‘bout you’s self.” Skittery adjusted his hat, “so what? You got your picture in the pape, so what's that get you’s, huh?” He asked. Tori pushes him back lightly, "What are you’s talkin’ ‘bout, huh?” Everyone looked at him, "You’s been in a bad mood all day!” Jack yelled. “I’s not in a bad mood!" Skittery shouted. “Yeah, glum and dumb. What's the matter with you's?! When you’s in da papes you’s famous. When you’s famous you’s get anything you’s want; that's what's so great about New York.” Race said slamming the table. Everyone yelled in agreement. Mush started to sing," A pair of new shoes with matching laces.”  then Race, “a permanent box at sheepshead races” Tori and I giggled at race because of course that would be what he wanted. Spot put a hand my shoulder and grabbed his cup and walked to Race and Mush, “a porcelain tub with boiling water” Blink jumped up onto the table, "a Saturday night with the mayor's daughter!" I looked over at Tori to see her with smile fall and tears start wellin up in her eyes. “He’s just needs to realize what he's missing. He’s a boi, Tori, deyz just dumb and oblivious.” she nodded and smilin again takin in a deep breath. Race jumped up on the table in front of Blink, “look at me, I’m the king of New York.” he started to tap dance, “suddenly, i’m respectable starin’ right at cha, lousy with stature” he hit Jack with his pape and Jack grabbed it and sang, “nobbin’ with all the Muckety-mucks, i’m blowing my dough and going deluxe” I grabbed the paper from him and jumped into the table with a smile, “and there I be,” I pulled Tori up from her seat getting a laugh out of her as I sang, "ain't I pretty, i’m the queen of New York.” everyone tried to grab the paper from us. The younger boys started to sing," A corduroy suit with fitted knickers, a mezzanine seat to see the flickers, havana cigars that cost a quarter” Dave eventually got the paper and stood next to Blink, “an editor's desk for the star reporter” he kicked a chair the Denton sat down in. Everyone sang, “tip your hat, he's the king of New York,” Denton smiled," how about that, I'm the king of New York.” everyone carried Denton around on this chair," in nothin flat, he'll be coverin, Brooklyn to Trenton our man Denton” Kid got on the table once again, “makin and headline out of a hunch” he jumped back down. “protecting the weak” Denton sang as his chair was placed on the ground. “ and payin for lunch” Race said and patted Denton on the back. “when I'm at bat, strong men crumble” Denton stood. “ proud yet humble” I sang and patted him on he shoulder. “he's/i’m the king of New York.” we sang together. “I've gotta be either dead or dreamin, cause look at that paper with my face beamin, tomorrow they may wrap fishes in it but I was a star for one whole minute.” everyone started to dance, Tori got up on a table and tap danced. The look on everyone's face when they saw her dance was priceless. “Starting now, I'm the king of New York. Holy cow, it's a miracle, Pulitzers cryin? Weasel, he's dying, flashpots are shootin’ bright as the sun, I'm one high falutin’ son of a gun, don't ask me how fortune found me, fate just crowned me, I'm the king of New York, look and see, once a piker, now a striker, I'm the king on New York, victory, front page story, guts and glory, I'm the king of New York.” everyone cheered once the singing was done. Tori and I were laughing when Blink came up behind her pickin her up in a hug and spinin her around, “You’s was amazing! How come you’s neva told me you’s could dance?” Tori blushed openin her mouth to respond when jack speaks up, “So let's have some ideas.” he said. “Well, we have to let people know where we stand (we stan)” Davey said. Spot put a hand on Davey and I’s shoulders and looked at me with a smirk and nodded along. “Yeah, so we’s gotta stay in that papes.” I said. “My papers the only one printing any strike news so far.” Spot wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. I felt my face burn and looked up making eye contact with Tori. She gave a me a wide smile and mouthed an awww. I tried to focus on what Jack was saying. “So, we’s need to do somethin’ so big the other papers are gonna feel stupid if they’s try to ignore us.” everyone nodded and mumbled agreements. “Like a rally?” I asked Jack. “Yeah, like a newsie rally where all the kids from all of New York and make it the biggest, loudest, noisiest blowout this towns ever seen.” All of us agreed, "Yeah, we'll send a message to the big boys” Dave said. The waiter brought us over a large tray of drinks; one for each of us. We all grabbed one, “There’s a lot of us. We ain't goin’ away. We'll fight until damn doomsday if it means we gents fair shake.” Jack said. Davey raised his glass, “To our man Denton.” we all raised our glasses as we cheers, “To our man Denton!”

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