I Never Planned on This (A newsies fanfiction)

Chapter six

The Newsies had absolutely no idea what they were supposed to do. They had no backup, no friends in high places, no help whatsoever.

They looked at each other, then at the paper, then back at each other. What were they supposed to do? Pulitzer thought that it was okay to raise prices while Jack was away? Didn't he learn his lesson from last time? Apparently not. So, what were they supposed to do? None of them really wanted to pick up their papers for today. In fact, they didn't have sixty cents to pay for the papers. They had only brought as much as they usually did. Fifty cents at the most. They all looked at Wiesel, who was standing there impatiently.

"C'mere, guys." Davey said. They all huddled around Davey.

"What are we s'posed to do???" Mush asked. "We got no help this time. Jack and Katherine are away, and Roosevelt and Medda are busy. We got no one to back us up."

"Not entirely true." Davey pointed out. "We still have Spot Conlon and Brooklyn."

"Yeah, but they's still just kids." Splasher sighed. "I dunno how they would be able to help us."

"Well, we hafta think of something." Said Race. "I ain't gonna sell twenty-five more papers just to get the same amount of money. If they's gonna raise the prices for us, why can't they raise the prices for the buyers, too? That would be fair."

"Well, for one, it wouldn't make sense." Albert said. "We would be selling the same amount of papes, only we would pay more and receive more. It would be the exact same thing we've been doing for years. Plus," he added, "Money-making Pulitzer wouldn't make more money. He knows that the buyers would most likely move on if they had to pay more, so he's having us pay more while Jack's away."

"But he's been gone for a year and three months, now." Henri said. "Why hasn't Joe done this sooner?" She asked.

"Probably was waiting for the perfect moment." Finch said, crossing her arms. "That moment's now. Jack and Katherine are away, and Roosevelt and Medda's busy. No one's gonna have time to listen to us." She said.

The Newsies all looked at Davey. "Anything?" Mike asked. He shook his head.

"Nothing." He answered. "I mean...we could rally the union again." The Newsies looked at each other. Another strike? Now? Without help?

No Katherine to make them front page news. No Jack to lead them. No Medda to help them hold their rally. No Roosevelt to come in the end if there was trouble. They had no idea what could be in store for them. And with The Wall opening up recently, it made it an even bigger risk. But it was a risk they were willing to take.

Davey walked back up to the cart and yanked his cash back from Wiesel, forcing his papers into his hands. Wiesel just looked at him in shock. Davey then turned around and led the Newsies away from the cart and over to Jacobi's.

Once they got there, Davey sat down and put his hands together as if he were about to pray. He then took his pointer fingers and put them against his mouth, leaning forward. He was thinking.

The Newsies silently filed in behind Davey, taking seats in the diner and whispering amongst themselves.

"What do ya think he's gonna have us do?" Ike asked Romeo. He shrugged.

"Ya can't tell with Davey, I ain't never seen him this quiet." They all looked at him, anxiously awaiting him to tell them what they were going to do.

"Okay." Davey said very faintly. All of the Newsies leaned in closer to him. "Here's what we're gonna do: we are not gonna sell more papers, and we are not gonna pay extra for the same amount. The best thing that we can do is strike." The Newsies murmured and Davey held up a hand to shush them. He wasn't finished. "And hope for a miracle."

"But what about the cops?" JoJo asked. "What about Kennedy and The Wall?"

Davey shrugged. "We're just gonna have to avoid them to the best of our ability. And listen here." The Newsies leaned in further. "This time, no one gets left behind. No more 'every man for himself.' we're all gonna stand together. If there's trouble with Kennedy, we don't just run off. That's how Crutchie got taken last time." They all looked at Crutchie, and some of them hugged her protectively. "I want you guys to at least try to protect each other. No one said that strikes are easy. Come on, we're a family." The Newsies looked at each other and nodded. "We look out for each other." They looked back at Davey and nodded. Davey smiled. "Let's split up and spread the word." They all smiled.

"I got Midtown." Henri called.

"I'll take the east side." Said Specs.

"I got the Bronx." Announced Mush.

"I've got the Bowery." Said Finch

"Davey and I will get Queens." Said Les.

"And we've got Brooklyn." Said Race, motioning to Finch and Buttons along with himself.

"Okay, Newsies of lower Manhattan." Davey called. "Let's spread the news of the strike!!!"