The bird of Manhatten

Chapter 19 - in which the Newsies are soaking scabs... twice

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

The boys ain't as sure, as Jack and I.
Skittery and Mush even want ta back out.
That makes Jack a bit mad. Her scrolls the boys harshly, what don't really do anything.
What eventually convinces 'em is Davey, who gave a speech about seizing the day an' answering the call.
As he's done the circulation bell rings.
"Do ya hear that?", Jack screams.
His question is answered by a general "NO!". Also screamed.
I chuckle. They'se so easy to thrill.
But then... it gets a bit outta hand.
Because dey decide to, well... soak 'em.
The boys storm the circulation gate.
A bit dumbfounded I stay behind.
Realisin' what they'se about to do I run after 'em.
The boys is standing there, blocking the exit for the scabs. Poor guys.
They... more or less.... Convince the scabs to join 'em. Well, the fist on is convince and some others... yield.
But then there are some who ain't convinced. The newsies startin' crowdin' him. Davey tries to calm 'em down and then Jack slaps the papes outta the others hand.
A fight breaks loose.
Vegetables and papes begin ta fly through da air.
The boys start rippin' the papes apart, Jack climbs onto the papes house, Wiesel and the Delancey's quickly close the doors and windows... and I... Well, I's standing in the middle of all this, unable to move a limb.
I's so overwhelmed by all this.
And then a sharp pain shoots through my head. I turn, but no one just hit me. It's just the headache.
I squeeze my eyes shut and cover my ear, hoping to make it better.
Suddenly Davey's with me.
"Hey.", he looks worried. "You ok?"
I nod and smile at him. "Yeah. I's ok.", I lie. Then I suddenly hear something, that clearly isn't da boys.
A whistle.
"Davey!", I almost scream. "Da bulls!"
His eyes grow wide. "I'll go tell Jack. You get out of here."
I begin ta run. Behind me I hear Jack scream: "Da Bulls! Cheese it! Cheese it!"
I find Tumbler and Les and quickly take 'em wit' me.
I's just outta the gate when the hell breaks loose. The bulls arrive. The boys running outta da gate. Everyone's screamin'.
I try ta count 'em, what is simple impossible. But even wit'out counting 'em I can tell someone's missin'.
Crutchie!
"Go wit' da others.", I tell the kids. "I'll go get him."
I begin ta run, but Race catches me half ways.
"It's ta late.", he says.
"I can't leave him there."
"No, you can't help."
I reach out foa Crutchie. He looks up. Our eyes meet.
"I's sorry.", I mouth as Race drags me away.
The last I see of him is as the Delancey brothers drag him away.

Race P.O.V.

Mags an' I's the last ta reach da Lodge house.
Jack's already waiting for us.
Mags nearly in tears an' when he hugs her, she loses it.
"I left him.", she cries in Jack's shirt. "I could have helped. I-I..."
A bit helpless he pads her head.
"No, you couldn't. We all was stupid. You know what? We'll visit him."
Mags looks up, her eyes puffy.
"No.", she says determined. "I won't go back there."
"But we'll visit Ten-Pin an'... an'-"
"No! Take Davey wit' ya, or Race here. But not me! The last time you almost let me fall off da roof."
"That was one time."
"I won't go. Tell Crutchie I said hi."
And wit' that she stands up and vanishes through the bunk room door.
Jack sighs and stands up.
"Have an eye on her, while we'se gone."
I nod and follow Mags into the bunk room.
Da others laying on they'se beds. Some is still catching their breath. Tumbler sitting next to Mags on her bed and listens to something she's sayin'.
She ain't lookin' like she jus' cried anymore.
I can be a bit scary how good she's at hiding feelings.
Suddenly Albert's standing next ta me. Surprised I jump.
"Al! Ya scared me."
"Sorry, man.", Albert answers. "Wanna play go fish wit' the fellas?"
"Is Mags playin' too?"
"Nope.", he answers poppin' the "p". "She promised Tumbler to tell him a story. Why?"
"Nothin'. I'll join in later."
"OK.", the redhead shrugs and leaves.
I walk over ta Mags an' Tumbler.
The little boy is completely under the girl's spell. He listens closely to every woid that leaves her mouth.
I sit down on the floor to their feet and listen too.
Mags is telling a fairy tale.
"... An' da man began ta pick the Rapunzel plants in the witches garden. But da witch saw him and said ta him: "What is ya doin' in my garden?" An' the man was scared of the witch an' told her, that if he wouldn't bring da Rapunzel plants, his wife would die. An' the witch said he could pick 'em, but she wanted the baby, when it was born. An' da man said: "Yes. You can have da baby." But when he came home and had to tell his wife she was very sad, but they couldn't disobey the witch, because she was very powerful..."
An' so the night went by.

Da next mornin' we tried again.
This time peacefully. We went to the woild buildin' an' began ta sing and shout and try to stop da wagons. We build drums for the younger ones and they'se playin' them good.
Unfortunately, we'se not really successful, because... they'se wagons. Wit' horses.
An' we don't wanna be crushed by horses.
When they'se gone, only the scabs is left.

Davey's P.O.V.

"All right, everyone jus' remain calm!", Magpie shouts.
"Hey!", I playfully slap her shoulder. "That was mine to say."
She just smiles. "Ya was too slow, Davey."
Jack just ignores us completely and shouts: "Let's soak 'em foa Crutchie!"
The boys let out a... um... war cry? And storm ta circulation gate.
"Well,", Mags lets the air pop out her cheek. "Looks like we both failed."
"Yeah.", I agree. "Looks like it."
"Should we help 'em?"
"We probably should..."
"Ok, I'll ask different. Do we help 'em?"
"We probably should."
"Dat's exactly what ya jus' said, ya know?"
"Not exactly. I emphasized it different. With a determined ending, you know."
She looks at me confused before she bursts in laughing.
"What?", she asks.
"Jack!", I hear Race shouting. "It's a trick!"
"Well, shoot." Mags abruptly stops laughing and begins to walk toward the gate, but I snatch her arm.
"When you go in there, they'll kill you... and Jack's gonna kill me, for letting you go. So, please, stay here. In safety."
"But we have ta help 'em!" She tries ta free her arm.
"Never fear!", I hear a familiar voice. "Brooklyn's here!"
And really. Everywhere on the roofs, Brooklyn Newsies appear.
Mags makes a little happy and relieved noise.
Spot smirks winks at her and disappears in the crowd of fighting newsies.
Behind us a group of Brooklyn Newsies appears. Spots opens the gate letting the back up in.
They have sticks and stones with them. Looks like they're about to break some bones.
And shortly after they begin to cheer.
"Looks like we won.", I say.
Mags not, a big smile on her face. "Let's go congratulate 'em."