~ Thirteen ~

"Just think..." Les began. "If we became Newsies full time, we could make tons of money, AND we would have the time of our lives." God, help us. He was turning into Jack Kelly. And only at nine years old.

"Les, we're barely selling papers, remember the strike?" Davey reassured him.

"Ugh! This is no fun. The point of being a Newsie was so we could sell papers, and so we could have fun! Not sitting around waiting for Pulitzer to lower prices."

"But that's the way things have to be for now."

"You know, I was so excited to be a Newsie, and then the strike happened. Now I'm not excited anymore. Why can't we sell anymore papers?"

"That's kind of the point of why we're on strike, remember?"

We all sat in Tibby's Café as Les complained about why this wasn't any fun at all. I watched Davey most of the time. How he laughed, how he raised his eyebrow talking to his brother, how his eyes squinted when he smiled, the way his voice rasped when he was being serious. I committed to all of these things, and I couldn't stop thinking I made a bad decision.

Two days ago we had a huge fight, because I was scared. And now I am sitting across from him and I can't decide if I really want to be with him. I mean, Jack, I've known for forever that I wanted to be with him, and I'm with someone else.

All of the boys came rushing into the tiny café with Katherine, shouting different things all at the same time. I couldn't understand a word any of them said.

"One at a time, boys." Davey attempted to calm them down, but to no avail. I spotted a paper Katherine was waving in the air trying to swim through the ocean of boys. I climbed on a chair and snatched it from her hand, and after reading it, I suddenly remembered the day when Crutchie was taken.

~*~

"What happened? Is everybody okay?" Katherine raced through the door of the lodging house.

"Everything is alright." Davey assured her.

"Where is Jack? Did he..." She was still worried.

"No!" I exclaimed. "No, he just walked out on us. Don't know where he went."

"What's going on?" Davey asked.

"Well, I came over here, ready to show all the guys the rough draft for the headline, but then I heard word that the house was ambushed, and I-"

"Wait, the rough draft?" Davey perked up quickly.

"Yes! Just finished it this morning!" She handed him the paper, and I rested my chin on his shoulder.

"Newsies Stop the World." I smile as I read.

With all eyes fixed firmly on the Trolley Strike, there's another battle brewing in the city.

"Katherine, this is great!" Davey praised.

"It could use a little bit of editing here and there, but it should be published soon!" She gave herself silent applause and laughed.

~*~

"Newsies Stop the World!" I shouted to get the boys' attention, still standing on the chair. As I read the article, I had to swat any newsboys trying to get a peek of the picture on the pale gray newspaper.

"It sounds even better when it's read out loud!" Katherine had a gigantic grin plastered on her face. The boys grabbed the paper from my hand as I finished the last sentence. They shouted all kinds of things, like,

"Where am I?"

"Aw, Mush you'se blockin' my face!"

"I look pretty good."

"Look at your face, Boots."

Some new kid didn't see what the big deal was, and all of the boys began to yell at him.

"So what? You get your picture in the paper, what does that get you?"

"What are ya talkin' 'bout?!" They all yelled.

"What's the matter with you?" Race began to rant. "You'se in the papes, you'se famous! When you'se famous you can get whatever ya want! And that's what's so great about New York!"

"YEAH!" The boys cheered.

"You could get a pair o' new shoes," one boy began.

"WITH matchin' laces!" Another added.

They kept adding on to all of the things they would want after they'd been discovered. Davey stood up and took Katherine's hand and helped her stand on the table.

"And what about the star reporter?" He asked, raising his voice to talk over the boys.

"Am-scray, punk! She's the King of New York!" Race exclaimed.

"Boys..." Katherine blushed and we all stared at her. "Oh, alright. I'M THE KING OF NEW YORK!"

"We was gunna drown, till Miss Plumber, here, fished us out and put us in ink!"

"She got us on the front page!"

"You got yourselves on the front page. You just gotta make sure you stay there."

"What are we doin' tah celebrate?"

"Let's get drunk! But not with liquor, you all are much too young for that. Believe me, fame's much quicker, when you're the King of New York!"

We all celebrated our picture on the front page. This including dancing on top of tables, clicking spoons, and even getting Katherine to dance! You wouldn't believe how many times the boys (and Katherine) asked me to read it. It was almost a work of art, the Newsies Crusade!

I could get used to seeing my name on a front page.

~*~

"What would you want, Cory?" Little Les looked to me while we all ate supper backstage at Medda's Place.

"Huh?" I looked up, wiping my mouth with my sleeve.

"If you were famous, and you could have anything in the world, what would you want?"

"Uh, I don't know," I started. "I got everything I want." Except for... I stopped my thoughts before I even finished them. Although, I knew how I would finish that sentence.

"Really? There isn't anything that you would want?" Les asked again.

"Well, maybe...?" I stopped myself as Davey sat down next to us.

"What are we talking about?" He placed a napkin on his lap.

"Oh, nothing." I assured him. "Just...." I scan the room and see a familiar figure standing with his back towards me. Is that...?  "Jack?"

"You're talking about Jack?"

"No... He's standing there, talking to Mr. Mason. What's he doing here?" I stood up and approached our friend. "Jack? Hey!"

"Cory! I--"

"You paintin' backdrops? I didn't know you actually took Medda's offer!" I looked him up and down. "Nice apron."  Jack quickly untied it from its knot and threw it across the room.

"Jack?" Les laughed, as he neared him with Davey right behind.

"We missed you today at Tibby's." Davey told him.

"Yeah. Katherine brought us the published article for the strike!" I pulled the folded piece of newspaper from my pocket. "Look it! Front. Page."

"Wait, Katherine?" Jack's eyes went wide. I nodded in response. "She's not here, is she?" He began to look around the room frantically.

"No, she isn't," Davey began. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Jackie... This one's faded." A familiar voice came nearer to us. "I found it in the basement and figured you could retrace it?"

Medda. I smiled.

"Cory!" Medda came to give me a hug. "My, my, you haven't visited me in a while."

"Sorry, we've been a little busy--"

"With the strike?"

"Well, yes. How'd you know?"

"I saw it in the paper this mornin' and I couldn't believe it! Never thought I'd see you on the front page!"

"Yep, me neither..." I mumbled.

"Listen, Medda," Jack tapped her shoulder. "I gotta scram, Katherine's prob'ly waitin' for me at the lodging house. I'll work on that painting tamorrow, 'kay?" He immediately grabbed a roll from our basket and walked out.

"There he goes..." Medda mumbled. "I still don't understand. How come you two aren't-"

"Medda!" I stopped her and subtly pointed to Davey.

"Oh, face it, Cory. You're still in love with that boy."

I know I am.

But I can't do anything about it.

📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵

-Hey there.

-Tonight, I posted an update, and I just want to ask that you guys don't hate on me for it. That took a lot of strength to post. So, please, if possible, I would like to not talk about it at all.

-QOTD: Biggest theatre pet peeve?

-AOTD: HANGER THIEVES. HANGER THIEVES. HANGER THIEVES. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH HANGER THIEVES ANGER ME. THEY ARE SO INCONSIDERATE. I WITNESSED SOMEONE LITERALLY TAKE ONE OF MY HANGERS FROM MY CRATE. THEY JUST THINK, "OH LOOK IT'S A HANGER IN HAYDEN'S CRATE, SHE WON'T NOTICE OR MIND IF I JUST TAKE IT." *BURST THROUGH THE DRESSING ROOM DOOR* "BACK OFF THAT'S MY HANGER YO IT HAS MY NAME AND EVERYTHING. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!"DROP MAH HANGER YOU LITTLE THIEF!!" ........ I'm not a psycho, I'm just a very passionate person.

-In all seriousness, I just want to say that I love you all, you're always there when I need you most. I can't begin to thank you enough for being there when I post a strong letter to someone, or when I have writer's block, or when I need prayers. You're always there, I can't express how thankful I am for you all.

-That was mushy. Anyway, have a lovely day.

Stay Musical. Hayden Beth 💙✨