The bird of Manhatten

Chapter 17 - in which a pair of shoes get stolen and a new friendship is formed

July 1899
The Newsboys Lodge House, Manhattan, New York City
Magpies P.O.V.

Most of da boys is already down stairs. I walk da room up an' down, searchin' foa my cap. I's absolutely sure, I hung it at my bedstead. I's jus' lookin' under my bed, when someone tips my shoulder. I come out from under da bed ta see Romeo. He holds my cap.
"Ya found my cap.", I say happy, but as I see da smirk on his face, I know, he hid it. "Can I have it back now?"
"Um...", he pretends ta think about it. "No."
"Please?"
"No."
I sigh. "Ok, Romeo. What do ya want?"
"A kiss."
"Ya kiddin' me, right?"
"Nope.", he says wit am even wider smirk.
"No."
"Then I'll keep ya cap."
I try ta snatch my cap but he, standin' on da bed, holds it too high foa me ta reach.
Eventually I give up. "Ok.", I sigh.
"Really?"
"Yes. An' now come down."
He smiles, comes from da bed an' stands in front of me. He may be short, but somehow, I's still smaller. Ok, I's almost as tall as Spot, which is kinda unfair, because Spot is basically a dwarf.
He leans down ta me an' I quickly peck his cheek, grabbin' my cap out of his hand. I take a step back, puttin' on my head. Romeo stands there. Frozen foa a minute. Then he snaps out an' runs down da stairs, yellin': "I've been kissed by a pretty goil! I've been kissed by a pretty goil!"
I watch him smilin', shakin' my head.
"I think ya jus' made a dream come true.", says someone behind me. I turn ta see Crutchie.
"Yeah.", I answer. "Looks like it."
"Already got a sellin' partner?"
"Nope."
"Ya know, Jack wouldn't let ya sell alone?"
"Yes, I know. But why? Race's permitted. An' he sells in Brooklyn."
"I know, but everyone is sellin' in pairs."
"Yeah ya right."
"So, wanna sell wit' me today?"
"Yeah sure, let's go." I already turn ta da door, but Crutchie stays. "What?", I ask.
"Haven't ya forgotten somethin'?"
"Hm?"
"Ya shoes."
"My shoes? Oh, right." I walk over ta my bed. No shoes. I sigh. "Where did I put 'em?"
Then I hear laughin' a catch Blink an' Mush in da corner of my eyes runnin' through da door.
I groan. "Oh, Come on, guys. It's not April fools' day."
I take off my socks an' want ta go.
"Da cobblestones can be really hot in summer, ya know?", Crutchie asks.
"Yeah, I know. I'll jus' stay in da shadows."
"Ok."
Then we head down ta join da others.

Crutchie's P.O.V.

"Here ya go.", da nun says, as she hands me a piece of bread.
"Thanks", I answer. Da others around me is still waitin' ta get some. Well, everyone except foa Magpie. She's leanin' against a streetlight, daydreamin'. I walk over ta her.
"Hey Dreamer, wake up.", I greet her an' she jumps.
"Crutchie! Ya scared me ta death.", she answers.
"Sorry.", I smile, rip my bread in two pieces, hold da bigger piece out foa her an' ask: "Breakfast?"
"Ya don't have ta-"
"Take it! It's enough foa us two."
"Ok... um... thanks, I guess." She takes it an' shoves it into her pocket.
"Jack says, ya eat too little."
"So?"
"Don't wanna eat it now?"
"What?"
"Ya heard me."
"No, sorry. I wasn't listenin'. Can ya please repeat yaself?"
"I asked", I begin, but I can't finish, 'cause Albert almost runs into us an' hides behind Mags.
Race comes behind him. He looks angry.
"Come out, coward.", he yells. "Come out an' fight."
I sigh an' turn ta Albert.
"What'ya done?", I ask worn down. "Stole a cigar again?"
"A cigar?!", Race answers, instead of Albert. "A cigar?! He stole one of my coronas! My coronas, Crutchie. It's MY cigar, Albert!"
"Oh, come on, Race. Sharin' is carin'."
Da blonde stops.
"Right.", he mumbles. "Sharin' is carin'..." Then he suddenly yells: "But I don't care! Give me my cigar, Albert!"
The redhead laughs, picks up Mags, who gasps scared, an' throws her over his shoulder. (It's the Musical Albert, not the kid from da movie. In case of confusion, I'm sorry.)
"Albert!", she yells. "Put me down!"
"No! He'll kill me."
"Albert DaSilva! Put me down at once!"
"Oh no." Da redhead smirks at Race, who can't punch him anymore now without also hittin' Mags. Then he jus' turns an' walks away, with Mags hangin' over his shoulder, still arguin' wit' him.
She's rescued by Finch an' Jack, who simply takes her an' puts her on her feet again. Al is runnin' again now, wit' Race right behind him.
"Told ya ta eat more.", Jack says, as walk back ta me. "If ya would eat like a normal human bein', ya would be too heavy ta jus' pick up an' carry around."
She jus' snorts as an answer an' rolls her eyes.
Jack sighs an' shoves a piece of his own bread into her mouth. He catches her off-guard, so she chokes on it. She coughs an' spits da bread into her hands. Jack, a little worried, slaps her back 'till she stops.
As she does, she takes a deep breath an' turns ta him.
She looks really angry.
"Is ya tryin' ta kill me, Kelly?"
Jack nervously laughs. "No, of course not. I's sorry."
She gives him one of her death glares an' turns away.
"I'll get my papes not, if ya don't mind."
An' then she's gone.
"Oh-oh.", Finch says. "Now she's angry wit' ya, Jack."
"I know.", Jack sighs. "But she's right. We should get our papes now."
Finch an' I nod an' we walk over ta da woild buildin', checkin' on da headline.
"Da Trolley-strike?", Finch groans. "Not again."