𝚁𝚄𝙽𝙰𝚆𝙰𝚈 ° racetrack higgins

Convincing Denton

The five of us rushed to Denton's apartment, the newspaper article in my hand. Davey has showed Jack and I the article that Denton wrote about the rally. And, boy, was it good.

We finally reached the place and Jack knocked quickly on the door. We waited a few seconds before we heard shuffling. The door opened up to reveal Denton, dressed in what seemed to be his casual wear.

I held up the article. "Did you mean what you wrote here? Bout all these sweatshops and these kids listening to me?"

The reporter shrugged slightly. "I don't write anything I don't mean. Come on in. I'm just packing a few things."

The man stepped aside as the five of us walked into the apartment. Boxes littered the floor as things were grouped, ready for packing. Davey shut the door as the rest of us turned towards Denton.

"So, yes, I mean it." He explained. "The city thrives on child labour. A lot of people make money that way. They're terrified that the newsies strike will spread."

"Well, there's really not much chance of dat as long as dey got the power." Jack said, scoffing softly.

"Sometimes, all it takes is a voice, one voice. Then a thousand. Unless it's silenced."

I shook my head, not wanting to accept defeat. Not after everything we have done. "Why can't we spread the strike? Have another big rally and get the word out to all the sweat shop kids? Why not?"

"What are we going to do? Print the ad in the paper?" Denton asked, shrugging.

I thought for a moment before an idea came to me; a crazy one, but an idea nonetheless. "No! We'll do better than that. We'll make our own paper. We tell em they gotta join us. Isn't dat a good idea?"

Davey nodded, but he looked unconvinced. "Yeah, it is. But what do we know about printing a newspaper?"

"Nothing." Jack said. "But our man Denton..."

"Yeah, but our man Denton has something more important to do. He's going to be an ace war correspondent, right Denton?" Davey said, putting his hand on the reporter's shoulder. I could see what he was doing; he was trying to guilt trip Denton. And it seemed to be working.

"Alright. Where do we start?"

We all sat down around a table, trying to come up with a reasonable plan. "Alright, we gotta move fast." I said. "Now, we'll need the newsies to circulate."

"There's something else that we need." Denton cut in. "We need a printing press."

I saw as a mischievous smirk came to my brother's face. "Just so happens I know a guy with a printing press."

Word Count: 450