Brooklyn // Racetrack Higgins

Chapter Three

The sound of a bell ringing wakes me from my sleep. I groan softly and sit up. The other boys in the room stir slowly. I flatten my hair, and stretch my back. I slip my shoes on, tuck my hair into my cap, and stand up. The only one of the boys out of bed yet is Romeo.

"Mornin'," he says to me with a friendly smile. I return his smile. "Race! Albert! Jojo! Get up!" he says loudly, walking to each of the bunks and shaking them.

I lean against Race's bunk; it's closest to the door. He opens his eyes, sees me, and grins. "Hello, beautiful," he says sleepily, sitting up.

I roll my eyes. "Get up, Race. We's got a long day of sellin' ahead of us."

Romeo heads out of the room, and the other boys get up and begin to get ready. I slip out the door, making my way outside.

Race catches up with me as I walk out. "Hey," he says. "How come you's tucks your hair in that cap? It's real pretty."

"No one ever heard of a girl sellin' papes," I reply simply.

"So?"

"So, the streets ain't a place for a lady," Albert answers, coming up behind us. I nod as he continues. "No matter how tough ya are."

"Albert's right," I say. "As much as I hate ta' say it, it ain't pretty out there for a girl."

We catch up with the rest of the newsies. I decide to at least try and make some other friends. I spot Jack up ahead, walking with a boy with a crutch. I walk up to the both of them.

"Hey, Annie," Jack says with a small smile. "The boys bein' nice to ya?"

I shrug. "I think I'll survive," I joke.

The boy on the crutch pipes up. "I was plannin' on introducin' myself last night to ya, but you left too early. I'm Crutchie." He gives me a very bright smile, and I can't help but smile back.

"It's nice to meet ya, Crutchie. I'm Annie."

"Jack says you's from Brooklyn," he continues. "Why're you here? Not that we ain't wantin' you here," Crutchie adds quickly.

"Spot thought it'd be best if I stay over here. One of the boys is mad at me, and Spot thinks it'll take a bit to sort it out."

"Well, whateva' happened, I'm glad you's here. We don't get to talk to much ladies around here," Crutchie says happily. Jack smiles at the boy as if Crutchie were his younger brother.

As we reach the gate in front of the World, Finch calls out, "They're puttin' up the headline!" We watch in anticipation, hoping it's something interesting.

TROLLEY STRIKE ENTERS THIRD WEEK

Everyone groans. "The trolley strike? Not again!" Elmer complains.

"Three weeks of the same story," Race says, standing next to me.

"They're killin' us with that snoozer," Finch says.

I look over as two young men stroll past the gate. The newsies around me tense a little.

Race speaks up from beside me, "Dear me, what is that unpleasant aroma? I fear the sewer may have backed up overnight."

Crutchie grins. "Or could it be..."

"The Delancey Bruddas," the newsies chorus, some laughing. I'd heard of the brothers before, but I'd been lucky enough to never run into them. I join in laughing with some of the boys.

One of them, Morris, approaches me. "What do we have here? A new kid? And a young one, at that."

"I ain't that young!" I defend myself, realizing it would have been a better idea not to speak.