~ One ~

I'm Corinne Queen. Or, Cory to my boys. I'm a Newsie. This is my story as the only girl in the Manhattan Newsies...

I grew up in the Newsie life. My older brother, Jared, was a Newsie too. But that changed when I was fourteen. Jared met a woman named Medda Larkin. She was a singer at a bar. After a few nights of seeing her perform, he was just straight up terrible to me. He became a drunk. I had nothing left after he was kicked out. Except for three years without him next to me.

It used to be we would be caught dead if we weren't together. Let alone selling papers.

A few weeks of being seventeen just made everything better. I didn't know what it was. Maybe it was the "freedom" I suddenly gained. Maybe it was the respect I received. Maybe it was the feeling of being one step closer to being an adult. But I went to see Medda on my birthday. She did a special performance for me and she bought every single Manhattan Newsie a ticket to her show. That might have been what made being seventeen a treat for me. Medda. My mother figure. She was all I had after my brother left. She may have changed him, but we were still really close. I loved Medda. She was so kind to me after everything that had happened.

I vividly remember the night when he left. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Kloppman throw him out. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard that he was on his last strike as a Newsie.

But, it doesn't matter now. I refreshed after he left.

I have new friends.

New hopes.

A new life.

Davey Jacobs. He was one of my good friends. He and his little brother, Les, became Newsies after his father was injured at his factory. He had to sell papers to support his family. Davey is really sweet. Such a great friend. Just being around him makes me feel happy.

My other guy, who was a Newsie, Jack Kelly, was also a great friend of mine. He was my best friend and he stood by me through everything. From Jared leaving, to figuring out new paper-selling ideas. My Cowboy. I really don't know what I would do without him.

But I probably should figure that out soon. He always talks about leaving New York one day. Going somewhere else. It was a brand new town out West, called Santa Fe, New Mexico.

I honestly didn't know what he saw in it. It was so tiny and the population was only up to 135 people. I wondered if he would take me with him. If I meant anything to him. It's not like I don't want to get out of this town too. He always said that once he had more money he was out of here. He would be on a train bound for Santa Fe. He never mentioned anything about another passenger.

He never mentioned me in his plans.

I never assumed that I was in his plans.

I'm not one of those people.

I figured that out when I was fourteen.

❤️ 📰 🎵 ❤️ 📰 🎵 ❤️ 📰 🎵 ❤️ 📰 🎵

Welp. There it is. My very first chapter of Queen of New York! Wow! I'm so glad I finally posted it. I've been writing this story for a while. I can't wait to see what you all think! Thank you so much for reading. Please tell me what you think. I'm pretty excited to see where this story goes.

Stay Musical. Love, Hayden Beth ☺️❤️