When The Ink Dries ~Newsies Fanfic'

Chapter Eleven

Skip P.O.V

I sit on top of the bunk bed in the lodging house, watching Jack round up every newsie. They chatter excitedly. "Who's brave? Who's willing to risk... the refuge?" He asks, looking around. Race, Mush, and Romeo step forward. Davey, too. I climb down from the bunk. "Poifect'. The rest of ya, don't carry ANY strike mattas' till we've got Crutchie. Okay?" Everybody mutters in agreement and nods. "Race, Romeo, Mush, Davey, and Skip. Follow me." We trail behind him like lost puppies. He stops at the fire escape door and leads us out. We gather around, preparing the plan. "Okay, here's how it goes. Davey and I are gonna bust in dere' and create a distraction. Skip will be hiding outside the window with a wrench, breakin' the bars off. Once her and him are out, we'll take off with Snyda' in pursuit. Davey, you'll carry Crutchie." He says, drawing a sharp breath. We nod. "Race. You, Romeo, and Mush are going to attract Snyda's attention, and we'll hide back here. Run around the back alleys and climb the nearest fire escape, or just hide out. When he's gone, come on back." He explains to the gambler. He nods, the cigar in his mouth bouncing.

MEANWHILE IN THE REFUGE...

Crutchie P.O.V

I'm thrown back into the lodging quarters after a long day of work. I hope the fellas will come soon. I'm alone, so I do something I'd never expect to. I pull a scrap of paper and a charcoal stick from my pocket and write. To Jack:

How are you? I'm okay.
Guess I wasn't much help yesterday. Snyder shoved me real good with my crutch. Oh yeah, Jack!
This is Crutchie, by the way...
These here guards, they is rude.
They say "jump boy, jump or you're screwed."
But the food ain't bad so far. Cuz so far they ain't brought us no food.
Ha....
I miss the rooftop, sleepin' out in the open in your penthouse in the sky, there's a cool breeze blowin' even in July.
Anyway, so guess what? There's this secret escape plan I got. Tie a sheet to the bed, toss the end out a window, climb down and take off like a shot. Maybe though not tonight. I ain't slept and my leg still ain't right.
Hey, but Pulitzer, he's goin' down. And then Jack, I was thinking...
we might just go like you were sayin', where it's clean and green and pretty. And no buildings in your way, and you're ridin' palominos every day! Once that train makes... damn this place. I'll be fine, good as new.
But there's one thing I need you to do.
On the rooftop, you said that a family looks out for each other.
So tell all the fellas for me... to protect one another.

The end,

Your friend,

Your best friend,

Your brother,

Crut-chie

I look over the note, scowling. My handwriting could be better. But hey, at least I can write! I wobble to the window and toss the note out into the night air. Keep your promise, Jack.... I think to myself.

((Whoop whoop! And yeah, Letter From The Refuge because it's officially two more days until I see Newsies! Tomorrow marks... ONE DAY MORE!!! #lesmis))