Crazy Goil: A Spot Conlon Love Story

Chapter 5: Strike

The next morning, I woke up to all the boys getting ready for the day. I slept in a little. I have never done that.
"Good morning Sleeping Beauty!" Mush exclaimed.
"Shut up!" I said and playfully punched his arm. Like a normal day, I took my cap and shoved my hair inside it. Jack and I met outside the lodging house. We took in the New York air because it's all we had. The bright sun shone in my face as Jack and I walked to the distribution center together.
I heard yelling and shouting coming from the distribution center. I took off running.
"They jacked up the price of papes!" I heard someone yell. "10 cents a hundred!" I groaned. It was already hard for Jack and I to provide for the both of us. We'll be sleeping on the streets for sure.
Jack stomped over the Weasel. "Why the Jack-up Weasel?" He asked.
"Why not? It's a nice day. Why don't you ask Mr. Pulitzer?" He teased. I scowled.
"Aye everybody!" Jack yelled, signaling all of the newsies to gather around him while he thought of a plan. "If we don't sell papes, nobody sells papes. Alright?"
"What, like a strike?" Davey asked.
"Yeah! Like a strike!" I yelled. I punched my fists into the air. Everyone cheered.
"No! We can't strike!" Davey yelled. "We're not a union!" I looked at him with my persuasive puppy dog eyes.
"Come on Davey! Just tell us what we 'ave to do, then we'll do it!" I replied.
Davey looked at me straight in the eyes. "Well we'll need to let all the other newsies that we're going on strike."
Jack then stood up and started picking out newsies to go to certain buroughs in New York. "Who wants Brooklyn?" He asked. Everybody avoided eye contact. "Come on! Spot Conlon's turf!" Brooklyn caught my attention. Maybe this is the chance to meet the mysterious shadow boy I met last night!
"I'll go!" I said as I stepped up to the front of the large crowd. The
"No, you will not!" Jack yelled back immediately. All of the newsies continued to avoid eye contact with anyone. A sibling fight was sprouting up. I glared at Jack with so much force that he just sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine. But you will say nothing to anyone and stay by my side the whole time." I groaned and rolled my eyes, but eventually nodded. At least I can still look for my shadow boy.