A Newsie's Story Five: Strike?

Nickel was trying to contain the rage he had inside. He said nothing and took back his money.

"What are we gonna do?" Emmy asked concerned.

The boy had put all his money back in his socks and pockets. Nickel exploded when Emmy talked. He faked 3 strong punches in the air and growled, " We’re gonna beat the sh*t out of Mr.Pulitzer! This! THIS! DANG THIEF! I ain’t gonna sell today! "

".... Isn't that a bit... Overboard?"

" .... Yeah ... that’s … you're right ... " He calmed down, not really knowing what to do.

"So, what should we actually do?"

He gave a furious smirk and whispered, "we should steal those papes! "

"We'll get arrested if we get caught. "

"Then ... Then! Screw this! We’ll work somewhere else! "

Emmy crosses her arms.

" Ya gotta better idea ? "

"No, but we can't just quit."

"Yes, we can! We ain’t some kind of bird strapped in a cage ..." He sighed with anger. " We could burn all the papes out there "

"I don't think that's a good idea. "

"There’s nothin’ else to do … other than still work with those horrible prices hopin’ it’ll get better !"

Emmy looks down.

“What’s cookin’ in that big brain of yours? "

"A lot. " Emmy didn't really answer his question.

"... Heh ? A lot? I hope this lot will show up one day because we ain’t gonna wait until dawn! "

"Why do you always want to know what I'm thinking?"

" I dunno! But right now, it’s peculiarly important ... heh ... "

Emmy was getting frustrated and just started blurting out her thoughts. "I don't want to go to jail because my parents are in jail and people might think I'm like my parents and things won't be good. I don't have a plan what so ever and I do not want to leave the newsies business, plus the only thing you know how to do is be a newsie, how are you gonna get a job other than that? I feel like an idiot, but you said to say my thoughts so I am. I hated you at first, but now I like you and I didn't want to tell you that because it felt too soon, but it seems you're too impatient to know my thoughts, so there you have it my thoughts."

He stayed there, calming down after all her monologue. He rose both his eyebrows. " Woah ... sure there’s a lot cookin’ inside ... Ya could make a dinner for 8 with that much thoughts! .... Woah... heh ... I do understand a lot of things now ... thanks.... "

Emmy crosses her arms. She stayed silent.

" Are ya feelin’ better after lettin’ all of that go? Here... let’s resume our goals. 1. Don’t go to prison 2. Stay in the newsies 3.Stay alive 4.find a fine way to escape from that situation

Sounds good? "

"I guess. I don't normally say what's on my mind. "

He smiled a bit and got closer to Emmy. He hugged her softly. " I’m sorry .. for all of that ..." He ended the hug just there and looked around. "Let’s see what the others are thinkin’ ‘bout ... "

Emmy nods. "Alright. "

He spotted a little crowd of newsies with a tall guy standing in the middle. He whispered to Emmy, "maybe we could have a chance there ..."

Emmy smiles a bit.

Nickel walked up to the group, listening to what the other newsies said. He whispered to Emmy while the leader talked, " This one's name is Jack, just Jack ... he’s the leader of Manhattan of course ... everyone likes him for no particular reason ..."

Emmy listens to Jack. "I guess so. He has a crowd. "

Jack looked as angry as Nickel, but he had more control. A taller boy was beside him and Oliver continued, " That’s Davey ... just Davey... it’s like the brain of Manhattan ... of what I heard ... let’s see if all of that is true! "

Emmy nods. "Yea. "

The duo listened carefully to what they said. One word was running on everyone’s lips:" a strike ?"

Emmy tilts her head. "Wait wait wait. I don't think that's a good idea. "

” I think that’s a great idea, to be honest ... " He whispered back.

"I don't know about this. "

"What’s worryin’ ya? That’s only thin’ we’ve got for now ..."

"I just have a bad feeling about it. "

" Ya do? Well, don’t worry, heh. I’m here to protect ya from anthin’ that could happen ..."

"You say that as if you can keep that promise when we both know you can't. "

He choked on his saliva. "Woahh! What makes ya think of that young lady, heh ?"

"Never mind. "

He paused and reflected. " Now that I’m thinkin’ if it ... you’re right ... but let’s not talk about it ... heh ... " He continued to listen to Jack and Davey. He liked that Jack, more than the taller one.

"Are you sure about this?"

" ‘Bout my incapacity to keep a promise? Heh ... yeah pretty sure ..."

"No not that, just about the strike in general."