Arrival

1.2K 25 6
                                    

Alexandra arrived in front of the newsies lodging house one cold and bleak night, covered in dirt and tears, blood and sweat with a little bit of pain etched across her face.

She had her brother's old shirt, stained pants, and suspenders on, and a little bit of money and other provisions in a small sack around her shoulder.  The shoes she wore were nothing but a mess of shredded leather. All in all, she looked just plain awful.

She had cut her raven black hair short and wrapped her chest up tightly so any evidence was gone. She looked exactly like a boy, just like her brother. This way, someone might think twice before encountering her in  a dark alleyway.

She took a deep breath, tucked her hands in her pockets, and walked in. This was her only chance at a life besides begging on the streets.

An old man was at the counter writing in a book, and looked up when she walked in. "Do you have a place for me to sleep, and a job? I need somewhere to stay." She asked quietly. 

He nodded, "We got room. You're lucky, we don't usually. Beds are upstairs, rent is ten cents a week, and the other boys can show you the ropes. They'll teach you everything you need to know." 

She thanked him and went upstairs, shaking the whole time. Who knows what would happen? Would they accept her? Would they throw her back out?

 All the boys paused in various states of undress as they were getting ready for bed as they saw her come up the stairs, head tilted down.

She, in her best boy New York voice, said, "Mah name is Alex, but people call me Storm, cause
I gotta attitude like one. I'm heah tah join da newsies, Hoid dat I could eoin money dis way. Seems bettah than beggin on the streets"

They nodded. "Sho, welcome to da newsies, Storm." She then slipped into pajamas, being careful not to let them see her change, and the boys gave her a bed.

They all came over when she was finished and shook her hand. "I'm Mush" "Jack Kelly, da leadah" "Kid Blink" "Skittery" "Boots" and more. A cute Italian boy with a cigar in his mouth came up and said, "I'm Racetrack."

She grinned and responded, "Un altro fratello di Italia?" He smiled, "Si. Si em metterio d'accordo bene." She grinned again. "Bene Fratello." They all looked at her, with confused looks on their faces. "I was born into a family of immigrants from Italy. Italian was my first language" 

She smiled and laid down in her bed. She just knew she would love it here with the Newsies. Her father and brother had already been forgotten, just a bad dream. She could be happy here.

A/N: Un altro fratello di Italia?= Another brother from Italy?

Si. Si em metterio d'accordo bene= Yes, i think we will get along just fine

Bene Fratello=Good Brother


Love is a Gamble(A Racetrack Higgins Love Story)Where stories live. Discover now