~II - Soakin Every Sucker That We Can~
(possibly maybe ever so slightly just a little bit of Javey?? (Davey is stressing about his kids))
Everyone woke up earlier that morning.
Crutchie and Jack got ready and were in the circulation gate first, where half an hour Davey showed up with Les, and Katherine met them shortly after.
They all went over the plan - They would each sell 100 newspapers a day, with Katherine still writing and earning her money, they would recount at the end of the week. They were all super confident, truly believing this dream will come true, unlike at first, when Jack just presented it as a crazy dream. They were working this time, and they were working hard. Though, the Delanceys still got in their way every now and then.
[HERES THE HEADLINE: NEWSIES ON A MISSION! KILL THE COMPETITION! SELL THE NEXT EDITION!]
Jack, Crutchie, Davey, and Les split up today, deciding to cover more ground. Jack was closer to the Brooklyn Bridge, Davey and Les a bit closer to their neighborhood, and Crutchie stood a bit closer to the Lodging House to not strain himself.
The sun seemed to beat down on Jack. He was definitely sweating bad, but he worked through it. Folks in carriages drove by, buying from the famous strike leader, who they called Mr. Kelly. Oh how he hated that. Jack never liked formalities, especially with customers, or people he barely knew. But whatever, these were rich folks, and Jack knew better than to correct them.
One lady and her son, about ten, stop to chat. He tells them about his plans for Santa Fe, as they were regulars. Mrs. Jamie and her son, Elijah. Mrs. Jamie smiles, pulling out a five dollar bill from her wallet.
“Its not much, but I certainly hope it helps! Enjoy Santa Fe, Jack.” Mrs. Jamie smiles softly, handing the bill to Jack - who tries refusing at first - then eventually gives up, as there is no convincing this stubborn mother otherwise.
Jack smiles gratefully, taking the money with two hands.
“It means the world, Mrs. Jamie.” He says, tucking the money in his pocket.
“Please, Jack, just call me Sally!” She says, handing the newspaper she bought to her son.
“Mamma, I want to be like Jack when I’m older!” Elijah grins, showing off his missing teeth.
“Aw, kid. Maybe one day when you're a bit older. Wouldn’t want anything happenin’ to ya.” Jack says gently.
“Okay! I’ll work really hard and get super strong!” Elijah exclaims.
“Elijah sweety, we have to head home. Sorry about him, Jack. He looks up to you like an older brother.” Sally apologizes, smiling.
“Ah, don't worry none! Again, thank ya tons for the extra money. It means the world.” Jack grins, adjusting his newsboy cap.
“Alright then, Jack. We’ll see you around then. Good luck with Santa Fe.” Sally says, starting to walk.
“Bye, Mrs. Jamie!” Jack calls, preparing to sell to the next customer.
Race appears, acting like a lady.
“Oh darling! I’ll take a paper” He says, joking around with Jack.
“Quit it, Racer!” Jack laughs, though there’s no real bite in his voice.
Race laughs, chewing on his cigar.
“Ill be at the Sheepshead if ya need anythin’. Have fun sellin, Jack!” Race grins, waving as he walks back over the Brooklyn Bridge.
Jack smiles, waving back, then returning to selling again.
[WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW SO THEY SAY, ALL I KNOW IS I DONT KNOW WHAT TO WRITE OR THE RIGHT WAY TO WRITE IT!]
This was so much easier when she was writing for the strike.
Jack motivated her for that, it's that kind of thing where you're writing like you're running out of time.
Same old boring headlines…
Trolley strike, injuries, flights, wars. It gets boring after a while.
But wait! This week will be interesting.
Jack had recently gotten interviewed about the strike, and was promised the front page in The Sun! Kind of familiar.. Like the strike he led almost a year ago…
“Focus!” Katherine scolded herself, trying to focus on her work.
STRIKE AND UNION LEADER JACK KELLY TALKS ABOUT THE STRIKE: WHY AND HOW IT HAPPENED.
Katherine liked it. She always wrote true, what happened. But hyperboles, metaphors, and similes are her best friends when it comes to this stuff. Just think, the whole ‘NEWSIES STOP THE WORLD’ thing from the strike? Genius!
Katherine typed for what felt like hours. Which was about three hours. She couldn’t help but wonder how the boys were doing. Today was particularly hot, so probably sweating. She felt bad. She was in a nice cool office in her dad’s building, and they had to suffer like this. At the same time, they're all probably used to it.. But she still feels bad nonetheless.
She thought about Jack. She worried about him a lot, especially with the Delancey’s. They still don’t like him, and probably never would, and that definitely didn’t ease her nerves. But she kept writing, praying for his, and the others’ safety today.
The two boys walk along the streets, selling to whoever will buy. So far, Les sold 47 papes, and Davey sold 39. Today was actually flowing pretty peacefully. Too peacefully. They’re used to seeing at least some sort of scuffle on the streets. Or maybe in an alley. Sometimes even just two horses who don’t like each other. But nothing was happening, which put Davey on edge. Les was none the wiser, trying to sell out quickly, smiling widely.
“Les, don’t wander too far. Just make sure I can see you, okay” Davey said, a hint of worry in his tone.
“Okay! So if everyone sells out this week, how much longer until Santa Fe?” Les asks innocently, not catching onto how alert his brother is.
“Well.. Everything combined, including Katherine’s paycheck.. Should total at $19.68. Which, taking that away from 179.3, would be 159.62. So we'd only have to make $159.62 dollars. And we’d have enough in about 8 months and 11 days.” Davey answers, calculating everything.
“Yay! I’m super excited!!” Les exclaimed, bouncing on his heels.
[GO AND LOOK IT UP THE POOR GUYS HEAD IS SPINNING!]
The two brothers continued to work, but Davey’s thoughts drifted to Jack. As far as he knew, Jack never sold alone. So the fact he all the sudden decided to split up, made Davey’s nerves go absolute haywire. For crying out loud, this was the man who taught him and his little brother how to fend for themselves, to stand up for what’s right. Davey couldn’t imagine how heartbroken him and Les would be if something bad happened to Jack.
“Hey? Are you okay?” Les called, gaining his brother’s attention.
“Huh? Oh. Yeah. I'm fine, just a bit stressed out from all the hard work.” Davey replied, brushing off his brother's concern.
[COURAGE CANNOT ERASE OUR FEAR. COURAGE IS WHERE WE FACE OUR FEAR]
Davey also worried about Crutchie. Albeit, he’s close to the Lodging House with Albert, Mush, and the twins, Mike and Ike. But still. Davey was shaken up about what happened during the first act of the strike, with the Refuge and everything. But things seemed to be better. Right? He hopes so.
“Ah, okay then! Maybe mom can make some tea when we get home!” Les spoke quickly.
Les is young, but he isn’t stupid. Jack taught him valuable lessons on the streets, one of them being how to read people. Well. One look at Davey, and Les knows it's not because of work that he’s stressed. Stress and worry are two different things, but presented similarly. You can tell the difference if you look close enough, and that's what Jack taught Les to do. Les learned to read expressions, notice tone changes, facial reactions, and even the slightest furrow of the brows.
He wouldn’t lie. Les doesn’t like to lie. It stresses him out seeing his brother worry so much about their friends. Les is worried too. A lot. He remembered seeing Crutchie during the strike, the way he was caught by Snyder, beat with his own crutch, and locked up. Les noticed the way Crutchie still flinches when people raise their voice at him. Les noticed the way Crutchie backed away whenever fights broke out in Newsie Square. Les especially noticed the way Crutchie avoids the Delancey’s like the plague. This was something not a lot of the others picked up on, or just ignored - played it off as healing, but it’s necessary to see these things. Jack said because rich people try to trick you. Les saw that sometimes too. The younger, naive newsies from other boroughs without someone like Jack. Some stuffy rich man will offer them a contract, promising money. The kids sign without even reading, then they’re never seen again.
Les took a deep breath, deciding to just focus on selling with his big brother, trying not to dwell on the situation too much. Les didn’t want to worry Davey.
{With Crutchie (AND ALBERT, MUSH, MIKE AND IKE)}
Crutchie was thinking. It had been almost a year since the strike was over, and the price was lowered! That should be a good thing for him.
It didn’t stop the nightmares of the Refuge. The night he was taken. The things that were done to him. He hated feeling like this. Constantly guilty because he was the only striking kid caught all because of his bum leg.
Crutchie always caught the way Les looked at him with every flinch, slightly changed expression, or when he got quiet. Honestly, the kid scared him. Crutchie knew that Les was reading him, a skill taught very well by Jack. But he still hated it. Jack knew to turn off this quality around him, having been by Crutchie’s side for, well forever. But Les was straight up terrifying. In a good and bad way. The kid also has crazy ears.
Crutchie remembered this one time that Les heard Oscar and Morris talking about the strike. He saw how Les paid no mind. Until the brothers' tones changed slightly, and their facial expressions shifted. Les turned to them, making eye contact. Oscar nudged his brother, trying to shut Morris up.
[ON THE ROOFTOP YOU SAID THAT A FAMILY LOOKS OUT FOR EACHOTHER.]
“Crutch, you alright?” Albert nudged his friend’s shoulder, sounding concerned.
Crutchie nodded. “Yeah. Just thinking about the strike. Les has gotten scarier ever since.”
Albert raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
“How so?” Mike started. “You’ve noticed too?” Ike chimed in.
“Yeah. The kid is crazy good at reading people now. I mean just the other day, he caught Race in a lie. Only Jack has done that before.” Crutchie says, selling to a young woman.
Mush nodded. “Definitley. And he didn’t even directly call out Race, kid just stared at him until he scared Race into confessing he lied.”
“Ah, I see.” Mike nods thoughtfully, as if finally solving a puzzle.
“But don't worry, Crutch. We’ll protect ya from Les.” Albert joked, causing the group to laugh.
[SO WOULD YOU TELL ALL THE FELLA’S FOR ME, TO PROTECT ONE ANOTHER]
“But seriously, man. We’ve always got your back. Whoever dares to hurt you, has to go through us. And all the other newsies too.” Mush smiled, putting a hand on Crutchie's shoulder.
Crutchie smiles. “Thanks. It means the world, Al.”
Mike grinned “And we’ll soak them Delancey's if need be!”
The group laughed again, walking along while selling, occasionally chatting.