Extry, Extry

by Blokewatcher

As I looked at my uncle Denty, I began to laugh. He had a sour look on his face. I did not know if it was from the dinner I had made him, or just the thought of eating something I had made. All I knew was that if I did not take the plate away (and fast) my uncle Denty would be ill. I took the plate away from him and told him that I was sure that we could get something to eat in America. America! My new home. I would be so glad when uncle Denty took me back to New York with him, because I was bored with London (my home of all 15 years of my life). When my mum told me that I was going to live in America with my favorite uncle, I got very excited. I had never been to America, and had always longed to.

I could hardly sit still as uncle Denty told me stories of the New York Newsies and their strike. It seemed to me that these boys (especially Jack Kelly) were very brave. I would never have the courage to go up against someone as powerful as Joseph Pullitzer. Just hearing stories about him frightened me!

"Emma honey, are you ready to leave?"

I turned around to face my mum. She had tears in her eyes. I felt as if I was leaving forever!

"Oh mum! Don't cry. I won't be gone that long. Just until I am 20. By then, you will have already forgotten my name!"

I teased my mum to make her smile. It worked, because the next thing I knew she was teasing me back. You see, my mum is one of my best mates, and we always tried to cheer each other up by getting cheeky.

"I better go tell uncle Denty that I am ready, before he tells all the blokes in New York that I am too old to walk."

I said. I went to find uncle Denty, and we were on our way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"There she is uncle Denty! There is the Lady of the Harbor!"

I pointed to the Statue of Liberty, excited.

Uncle Denty laughed and said, "Oh just wait until you see her upclose! She is a site!" He then added "What I really want you to do is meet the newsies. They are all good kids," he paused and looked at me for a second "and I am sure they will all take a liking to you." He teased with a wink.

"Oh uncle Bryan! You are so kind!" I blushed. My mum always teased me about my looks saying that my silky brown locks and almond shaped blue eyes could surely find me a great suitor. I always answered modestly. I did not know what I was supposed to say when someone told me that I was beautiful, so I always blushed and said "Thank you".

"Next stop, New York City!" The captain yelled. I was finally going to New York! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"When's he comin'?" asked an exasperated Mush. "I can't wait to meet that goyl he's been tawkin' 'bout for so long!"

"Setta down, Mush!" Kid Blink commamded, "Theyse is comin' as fast as theyse can!" He winked at Race who continued the teasing.

"Mush, youse is one goyl crazy bum, ya know dat?" Race loved to tease Mush about being in love with every girl he saw. "What if da goyl...." Race did not finish, because at that moment Bryan Denton walked into Tibby's with a broad grin on his face. Behind him was the most beautiful girl any of the newsies had seen. (Discluding Sarah)

"Boys, I would like you to meet my favorite niece, Emma. Emma, these are my boys, the newsies. This is Jack, Spot, Race, Davey, Kid Blink, Mush....."

As my uncle Denty went on, I smiled and said hi to the newsies, but I never took my eyes off of the one he called Mush. He was very attractive.

He also had his eyes on me. I looked away quickly when he caught me staring at him. He laughed. I felt very feverish, but managed to keep my cool.

After the introductions, uncle Denty order us all something to eat, and I asked the newsies about the strike.

They all looked at Davey, who was busy looking after his little brother, Les. He was too busy, so I looked at the one named Spot.

"Can you tell me about it, Spot?" I questioned feeling very out of place with my British accent.

"Shoy! Heh goes:" He proceeded to tell me all the details (including how he single-handedly fought a street gang to save Crutchy's life).

When he was finished, all the newsies were laughing very hard! I did not see what was so funny, so I asked.

"This lyin' bum!" Kid Blink exclaimed. "I should soak ya for that!" He told Spot.

"Wha? She asked me to tell her and I did!" He declared innocently.

"Jack did all that stuff you said you did!" Davey accused. He started to laugh again, and this time I could not control myself, I started laughing with him.

"Mush, help me heh! Tell her I did dem things!" Spot pleaded.

Mush just laughed and said, "I can't lie to a pretty goyl like dat! Ya know betta, ya bum." Mush's comment got alot of laughter, but this time I did not join in. I was too happy! Mush said I was pretty!

"Heh is the real happenins" Race said. He took his cigar out of his mouth long enough to explain the strike. After he was done, all the blokes agreed that that was the real story (except Spot, who insisted that he was the real hero).

"So, Denton tells us that youse is from London?" Mush questioned me, smiling. I could not help but smile back. His smile was so heartwarming!

"Yes, I am. I left all of my mates behind to come and live with uncle Denty." I explained. Getting a puzzled look from the blokes.

"All your what?" Boots asked.

"My mates, ya know? Like you blokes are mates, and I hope that we all become mates...." I trailed off.

"She means friends, guys." Davey explained. Getting a chorus of "Oh"s and "We can be more than friends"s.

"Well," uncle Denty started, "it's time for us to head home. Emma has to unpack and I'm sure she is tired from are long trip."

"Bye blokes!" I said. "That means boys." I explained, putting to rest more puzzled stares.

"Oh!", Mush exclaimed. "Can I walks ya back to Denton's place?" He asked with another heartwarming smile.

"Look at dat!", Kid yelled. "Mush likes da new goyl! Mush, be nice, that is Denton's favorite niece ya know?" He teased. And even I had to smile at the look on Mush's face.

"Look at dat!', Spot said, "Mush is all red! Mush, does ya feel sick or sumthin'?" He teased.

"Aw, shad up!" Mush commanded with an angry look on his face. "I am gonna soak all of youse if you don't stop!" He threatened. "C'mon," Mush said to me, "wese gotta get you back to Denton's befo dese bums make ya wanna go home! We wouldnt wan' dat, now would we?" Mush asked me with a sparkle in his beautiful brown eyes. "After all, we jus' met. Ya can't jus' leave me like dat now could ya?"

"No, I guess not." I said uncertainly. I could barely understand his thick New York accent, but it was not nearly as bad as some of the accents I had heard on the boat over. I could not even make out half of what the people on the boat were saying!

"Le's get goin' 'fore it gets too dawk for me to seese ya!" Mush said. I took ahold of his hand (not without noticing how strong he was) and we were on our way! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Get off me bed ya lazy bum!" Jack slid off.

"Heya Emma! Howya doin'?" He asked me smiling. Since moving to New York half a year ago, I had managed to lose some of my British accent. Now I was always trying to copy Jack's. It was not that easy, but with alot of work, I pretty much had it down.

"Heya Jack! Ya seen me bloke anywheh? I've been lookin' everywheh for 'em!" I asked Jack. Since we'd first met at Tibby's, Mush and I became kinda close. I was "Mush's goyl" to all of the newsies, and I loved it!

"Mush? Ay! Any of youse bums seen Mush? Emma is lookin' for him." Jack declared. A chorus of "No"s followed by "Heya Emma"s came.

"Heh I am." I heard Mush answer. "How's me goyl?" He asked, coming up to hug me.

"Ah Mush! I'm fine! How's ya doin'?" I asked looking up into his beautiful brown eyes. My hand went up to the back of his neck, and I pulled him towards me for a kiss. As I ran my hand through his curly brown hair, I heard whistles and catcalls. I turned toward the blokes. "Whatcha starin' at?" I asked. "Aintcha gonna leave me and me bloke alone for a bit sose we can tawk?" I questioned, batting my eyelashes because I knew that got on the newsies' nerves.

"Shoy, shoy Emma! Just as long as I get the next kiss!" Kid joked getting an annoyed look from Mush.

"Stay away from me goyl, Kid or I'm gonna soak ya!" Mush commanded only half kidding.

"Yea, me too!" Jack yelled. "Mess wid Emma, and mess wid me! That's me favorite goyl newsie this side of Harlem!" He warned. "Any of ya bums mess wid her, Mush and me 'll both soak ya! Ya bums got it?" I could tell Jack was serious. (If he wasn't, he woulda been laughing by now)

Read other stories

Go back to the Square!

Read the rest

This page hosted by

Get your own Free Home Page