𝚁𝚄𝙽𝙰𝚆𝙰𝚈 ° racetrack higgins

It's Over...

Jack, Pulitzer, Roosevelt and myself stood on top of the paper stand, with all the newsies gathered down below. My brother patted me on the shoulder. "You do de honors, Tate."

I smiled at Jack before walking over to the railing. I stood on one of the bars and shouted out to the crowd. "Newsies of New York....we won!"

The crowd below burst into applause. People jumped up and down, while some tackles their friends excitedly. I locked eyes with Race and saw him smiling brightly at me, and I smiled back.

As I stepped down, Jack stepped forwards. "And now, I'd like to introduce my very own personal pal, Governor Theodore Roosevelt himself."

With that, Jack and I climbed down from the paper stand and joined our friends. Race gave me a tight hug when I reached him. Before either of us could say anything, Roosevelt started to talk to the crowd.

"Each generation must, at the height of its power, step aside and invite the young to share the day." The governor said. "We have laid way to our world. Now, I believe the future, in your hands, will be bright and prosperous." Roosevelt then turned his attention towards my brother. "And your drawings, son, have brought another matter to end. Officers, if you please."

Just then, a whistle blew through the air. The newsies stepped aside in slight panic and fear, knowing that a police whistle never meant anything good.

Race stepped forwards and a large smile overrode his panicked look. "Hey, Jack, look! It's Crutchie!"

The boy in question came hobbling into the paper stand. He wore a bright smile, causing most of the other newsies to either smile with him or cheer.

"How ya doin, fellas? Did ya miss me?" He said. "Oh, and look. Look what I go yas! A gift, straight from the Refuge! Hey, bring him in boys!"

A couple of bulls dragged none other than Warden Snyder into the area. The boys hollered excitedly and 'ohh'ed when they saw him arrested.

"It's Snyda the Spida!" Race shouted happily.

Mush spoke up next. "He ain't so tough no more, is he?"

"Jack," Roosevelt spike up, causing our attention to turn towards the governor again. "With those drawings, you made an eloquent argument for shutting down the Refuge. Be assured that Mr. Snyder's abuses will be fully investigated. Officers, take him away."

The bulls were about to pull the man away when Crutchie spoke up. "Please, your highness, may I do the honors?" Amused, Roosevelt nodded.

"You gotta be kidding me." Snyder groaned.

Crutchie took the cuffs form the cops and started to put Snyder in them, an amused look on his face. "Then you'll be laughing all the way to the pen, little man." The bulls started to drag Snyder away and Crutchie hit his rear with his bad leg. "So long, sucker."

The newsies all rushed forwards and engulfed Crutchie in hugs and expressed how much they missed his smiling face.

Jack turned towards Roosevelt again. "Thank you, Governor."

Pulitzer seemed impressed by all that just happened. "Hey, is one of your drawings convinced the governor to shut down the Refuge, what about a daily political cartoon to expose the dealings in our own government back rooms? What do you say, Teddy? Care to have this young man's artistry shine a light behind your closed doors?"

"Hey, hey." Jack spoke up before Roosevelt could answer. "Gov, don't seat it. With the strike settled, I should probably be hittin the road."

Instantly, I knew what Jack was talking about. He was leaving for Santa Fe, his dream. I had to admit, for years it was mine, too. But I couldn't leave these boys. Not after all we've been through.

I gave up on Santa Fe a while ago.

"Don't you ever get tired of singing the same old tune?" Davey asked, shocked that Jack held onto this dream for so long. "What's Santa Fe got that New York ain't?"

"Tarantulas?" I asked, scrunching up my face in disgust as I looked towards Jack.

"Better yet." Sarah said, stepping up front he crowd to stand by Jack. "What's New York got that Santa Fe ain't?"

Crutchie spoke next. "New York's got us. And we're family."

"Didn't I hear somethin about a strike getting settled?" Wiesel's voice cut through the paper stand. "Papes for the newsies! Line up, boys! These papes aren't gonna sell themselves."

As I stated walking towards the stand, where all the boys were lining up, my arm got snatched and I was pulled towards someone. Looking over, I saw Race standing there.

"Hey." I said, smiling.

"Hey." He replied. "So, no Santa Fe, huh?"

I shook my head. "I got too many reasons to stay."

Race smiled and was about to lean in when I stopped him. "The boys..." I said softly, glancing over at the line before back at him.

He nodded in understanding. I don't know why I don't want them to know, but I just don't. I think it's cause I just don't want them to mess with me or Race about it. I'm not really sure.

Before Race could say anything, Les's voice cut through the crowd. "Guys!"

I looked to where the kid was pointing and my mouth dropped in shock when I saw what Les was so surprised about. Jack and Sarah were standing a little ways away, kissing one another.

"Woah!" Many of the guys shouted at once.

"Oh, what the hell." I heard Race mutter.

Confused, I turned to face him again, only to immediately have him cup my face in his hands and kiss me passionately.

"Woah!" The boys yelled again, probably looking at Race and I this time.

"Bout time, Higgins!" Albert yelled, making the others laugh

As we pulled away, the other newsies turned back to my brother. Davey stepped forwards, a smile on his face. "Well, Jack. Are you in or you out, huh?"

Jack shrugged as he slowly started walking towards the paper stand, newsies cheering him on. "Look I've been busy, right?"

"Oh, sure Cowboy." Someone said as the boys continued to push him towards the stand.

As Jack got close to the window, the newsies were no hollering things at him that I couldn't make out over everyone speaking at once. My brother suddenly dig into his pocket and pulled out some change, slamming it onto the counter. The distribution center filled with the excited and happy cheers of the newsboys.

"We'll all be out there," Everyone sang together. "Carrying the banner man to man! We're always out there, soakin every sucker that we can! Here's the headline: newsies on a mission. Kill the competition. Sell the next edition. We'll be out there, carryin the banner. See us out there, carryin the banner. Always out there, carryin the banner!" All of us got into a line, linking arms with bright smiles on our faces. I was set in between my brother and Race.

"Look at me!" We all sang, unlinking our arms as we threw them outwards. "I'm the King of New York! Suddenly, I'm respectable. Starin right at ya, lousy wit statcha. Glory be! I'm the King of New York! Victory! Front page story, guts and glory. I'm the King....." We all did stupid little dance moves before we threw our arms out again. "Of New York!"

All of us froze in our spots. My face was just inches from Race's and I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face.

"I love ya, Tatum Kelly." Race said softly, his arms wrapped around my waist.

My hands were placed onto the blonde boy's cheeks, cupping his face gently. "I love you too, Racetrack Higgins."

And from that moment on, nothing would be the same. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

Fin.