The Goils from 'Hattan

Chapter 13

After about a week of not selling we were all getting pretty restless. Dave had told me that Jack was back on our side and that they were going to see Denton before he left. “Fellas! Fellas!” I heard Race run up the stairs of the lodging house. The door flew open as Race entered breathing heavily but with a wide smile on his face. “He's back.” Tori sat up on her bunk," What are you’s talking about Race?” He walked to the center of the room." Jack. He's back on has and plan.”

I crouched on the ground waiting for my stack of papes to be passed out from the window in the basement of the circulation building. “It’s nice to have you’s back, Jackie.” He smiled up at me. “I's’ll always have you’s back, Angel.”

“So when are the others coming?” Mush asked. “Yeah, Angel, where’s ya little boyfriend?” Jack asked. I glared at him," He'll be here. Trust him.” Jack shook his head." They ain't comin’ here ain't gonna be nobody but us.” A couple of the fellas patted Jack on the shoulders. “ Come on, Jack.”

" yeah, have hope, Jack.” Les stared out onto the streets on Manhattan and started to sing," When the circular In bell starts ringing? Will we hear it?” Race smiled at him. “Nah” he patted Les’s hat. “What if the Delancey’s come out swingin? Will we hear it?” Les shook his head and yelled no as I walked up to him. “Atta boy.” I said. Just then we heard loud but distant yelling. “When you got a million voices singing who can hear a lousy whistle blow? And the world will know” Hundreds of kids came running down the street with papes and protest signs. Everyone was cheering and celebrating. I saw Spot coming down the street as he pulled out his cane, “ BROOKLYN” I ran up to him a hugged him. “you’s came!" I felt him tighten his grip on me." of course i’s did. I’s’ll always be there for my doll.” Everyone on stood outside in newsies square. “ The world will feel the fire and finally know” the now huge crowd cheered and yelled strike. “Dear me, what have we got here?” Race asked Jack. The bulls were trapped by the crowd of protesting kids and looked worried. This is where all of our hard work was going to be paid off.

Jack and Dave came out of Pulitzers office. “Hey fellas he's over here.” Spot called over all of us. Jack walked up to Les and whispered in his ear and then put him on his shoulders. “WE WON!” The crowd erupted into cheers. We had finally won after everything, we won. I was yelling and cheering when Spot pulled me to him and smiled at me, our faces centimeters apart. “ I've wanted to do this for a while.” He closed the gap between our lips in a slow, caring kiss. I was so in shook at first I didn't hear the clapping and cheering around us. “Yeah, go Spot.”

“Hey, pay up you lost the bet.”

“ Ain't that sweet.”

Spot and I broke apart for air and smiled at each other. Tori smiled at the scene." I’s knew they would get together.” Blink said from beside her. Tori looked at him for a second and then muttered to herself," eh, now or never.” Blink turned to her," What did you sa-” He was cut off by Tori’s lips on his. Once they broke apart their faces were bright red. Once again cheering erupted. More bets were paid. Once they broke apart Blink stared at Tori, red faced and in awe. She giggled at his face. Once he was over his shock he smiled and wrapped his arms around her with a giddy smile glued to his face. After everyone had calmed down the bulls pulled up with one of their barred carriages. Jack tried to run," Jack, it's over. You don't have to run. Not anymore ” Denton said to Jack who was still scared. The bulls opened the back of the carriage, kid after kid jumped out of the carriage. The last kid took a longer time to come out but once they emerged we saw that it was Crutchie. The police were. About the place Snyder in when Crutchie stopped them for just a second. “Remember what I told ya, Mr. Snyder. The first thing you do in jail is make friends with the rats. Share what you got in common.” the officer went to close that door but Crutchie stopped him, “uh, officer, may I, please?” the officer shrugged," sure kid.” Crutchie slammed the door to the carriage in Snyder’s face and locked it. Everyone cheered and banged on the door."You won't be seein’ much of him anymore. Say goodbye warden.” we all waved as the police drove off with Snyder. “Goodbye Warden!" Crutchie tapped Jack's arm to get his attention," Aw, Jack, you oughta have seen it! He comes stormin’ into the refuge wavin’ his walkin’ stick like a sword and he's leadin’ this army of lawyers and cops-” Jack gave Crutchie a confused look, “ who comes walkin’ in?” Crutchie smiles, “ Aw, you know. Your friend. Him! Teddy Roosevelt!” he says as he points to the very Trendy Roosevelt. “The Governor's very grateful you brought this problem to his attention.” Jack just stared at Roosevelt. “ I said you might need a ride somewhere. He's glad to oblige. Anywhere you want and this time, you ride inside.” Jack thought for a second, “So could he drop me at the trainyards?” I looked at Jack. I hurt that he still wanted to leave to Santa Fe even after what we just won. “If that's what you want.”

Jack all made his way through the crowd to Roosevelt. They shook hands and Jack got in the fancy carriage. Roosevelt saluted Denton and sat down with Jack as the carriage drove off. We all chased after them as they Scrooge drove. “Goodbye Jackie. I'll miss you.” I ssid grabbing a hold of his hand for a split second. “I’ll miss you too, Avangelina.” At the sound of my real name I started to cry. I stopped chasing the carriage and waved until I couldn't see them anymore. The circulation bell rang out calling everyone back in to get their papes. “ Try bottle alley or da harbor” sang mush and he turned to go to the circulation building. “Try central park, it's guaranteed” Race lightly hit Blink and went in. “try any banker, bum, or Barber-” Crutching sang, “they almost all know’s how to read” Blink finished taking Tori by the hand as they left. “Summer stinks, and winter waitin’ welcome to New York, boy, ain't nature fascinatin’ when you’s gotta walk” we all lined up to get our papes. Dave was the first one up, he showed the man the coin and slammed it down buying his papes for the original price. Just as Dave licked up his papes we heard yelling fine outside. A carriage pulled into the circulation gate with Jack still inside. Everyone cheered that Jack was back. Jack was talking to the Governor when he looked up to Dave and I who smiled back at him. Once he got out of the carriage I ran up and hugged him. Jack looked at Dave, “ So how's the headline?” Dave smiled and looked around at all the newsies. “ Headlines don't sell papes. Newsies sell papes.” he said as he put his hat on. Everyone cheered again. Dave and Jack spit shook. I saw Sara push her way to Jack and elbowed Tori. “ It's finally gonna happen.” we smiled knowing what was about to happen. Jack and Sara kissed. The crowd of newsies made me deaf as they yelled.

Once everything was over I went back to Brooklyn in the carriage with Spot. As the years went on everyone's lives got better. We are all now adults, Spot or should I say Sean and I are now married with two kids along with Blink and Tori who have four. All thanks to Mr. Pulitzer and the Newsie strike of 1899.