A Newsies Story: A new friend

 It was a cold and dark night. Just few stars were shining in the black sky. Some snowflakes were shyly falling on the sleeping city. Nickel, one of the most famous Brooklyn’s newsie, was chitchatting with other boys in a small alley. He had his hands in his pockets , caressing the little change he kept in them.

  Emmy was walking around the streets during this dark night. She loved taking walks in the moonlight to take her mind off things. She got to the small alley that a few boys were in. She sees them and stops. She was curious and decided to hide behind the corner and eavesdrop. She was peaking over at them from behind the corner and was close enough to probably hear them.

 “ You said that last week. I want it now , Laces", Nickel said in an aggressive tone. Of course they were talking of money. When Nickel was around it could only mean one thing. " I... I had to pay for food … you’ll have it next week... I promise...", The other Newsie squeaked. Nickel spitted on the ground , just next to Lace’s shoes and growled," you better keep your promise.... y’a a good guy , Lac, I give y’a that. And I don’t want to take that money from y’a myself."

  Emmy shakes her head. She walks over."Don't be rude to him, he needs to eat like everyone else. How much does he owe you?" she knew that she would have enough money to help. She crosses her arms.

  Nickel turned back and faced Emmy. He looked at her with a semi-smile. " It’s between him and me , fellow. But if y’a insist." He took a piece of paper he had in his pocket and read out loud, ” Laces Haggins, from Brooklyn, lost 5 pennies for bidding on the wrong dog durin’ a canine fight."

  Emmy took five pennies out of her pocket and gave it to Nickel."You've got five pennies now leave people alone" she kept her arms crossed. 

  A little spark of satisfaction lit his eyes for a second. He took the money quickly , hiding it in his pockets. " Thank y’a , madame..." He turned to Laces now in a menacing way. He said in a gentle tone, "off you go Higgins b’fore I tell everyone that a random payed your debts...a total dishonour..." The guy didn’t stay for long , he walked off with some friends he had brought with him.

  "You're welcome" Emmy stayed. "You really think doing that to people is ok?" she kept her arms crossed. 

  ”doin’ what ? He made his own trouble…", He slightly chuckled, ” And Higgins’ not the best at keepin’ his promises anyway... everyone knows that...”

   "You were going to take his pennies by force if you didn't get them. That isn't right whether he can keep his promises or not. You listen here, if you mess with one person again I'll take all your coins and give them to people who actually care about others"

   He rose his eyebrows. Deep inside , Nickel was a little scared of what this girl could do. He just said calmly without showing his emotions,” I bet y’a 2 nickels that y’a wouldn’t dare layin’ one finger on me..." The adolescents were about the same heights. Nickel wasn’t the healthiest newsie but could clearly run for a while. 

  "I'm not here to take your money. I'm here to teach you a lesson. I refuse to lay a hand on you and I do not owe you two nickels. I'm not a bank"

  " hmm... I see... well since we just met , I’ll obey your will. Let’s forget ‘bout that , shall we ?”,He presented his hands , expecting a handshake as if they were concluding a bet or other things like that.

   "I'm not shaking a bad person's hand unless you actually prove you can be a good person", Emmy starts walking away. 

  “ wowww... it takes that little to be a bad person... and who are y’a to say this ? A tiny pocket sized Brooklyn’a police ?“, He didn’t bother catching up with her. He simply stayed where he was , putting again his hands in his pockets. 

   Emmy ignores him and kept walking. The next day, she was going to start her new job as a newsie. She grabs her bag and starts heading to where they all meet to get papes.

  Nickel quietly sighed, and eventually walked up to her. He couldn’t just stay there and let Emmy be alone. Anyway, he had to get papes too.

  Emmy noticed him. She looks at him. "Why are you following me? Are you a newsie or something?"

   He looked back at her , with a little smirk on his face," well, of course I'm a newsie. I ain’t gonna follow a girl just for fun. I got better things to do, if y’a ask me.”

  Emmy rolls her eyes as she got in line to get papes. She stayed silent trying to avoid conversation with him.

   He got in line too, just behind her. He insisted , he knew that Emmy was annoyed by him. ” Are you in the newsies because your parents couldn’t stand y’a? This’ll be not surprisin’, heh. At all... no no lemme guess... you hated school ? Or it’s just a fun activity... just for the joy of sellin’ with friends around..."

   "I'm a newsie because my parents got arrested thats all I wish to say about them. I had a private tutor until my parents couldn't pay the tutor anymore. I don't have friends", Emmy replied. 

  " cool.. I mean heh... you got a great backstory. Did they gave you a name before becomin’ criminals ? What do you call yourself,heh ? Don’t have friends ? Tsk’ I can help ya with that."

   "I'm Emmy. I choose not to make friends because of my parents." Emmy looks down. She really didn't want to talk about her parents.

   “ Emmy ? Just Emmy ? Not Sleeves or Chair... Nor Eyes... just Emmy ? Alright that’ll be easy to remember. Oh I see heh... well I wish y’a good luck, buddy. Not havin’ friends around can be very dangerous, if y’a ask me, heh.", The adolescent always said" if y’a ask me" even if no one had the intention to ask him anything. He put on his newsie cap and gave a confident smile.

    "Do not call me eyes. Don't even acknowledge the existence of the color of my eyes." Emmy moved up in the line as the line moved. She had one eye that was blue and the other was brown. 

   "Alright alright I didn’t even noticed you had weird eyes...... the name will be Emmy , even if Chair would fit you perfectly.... or Table.... heh....hah Spoon ! Nahhh.... let’s go with Emmy...", He stayed just behind Emmy, waiting impatiently. Glancing at the others from time to time.

   "Don't call my eyes weird. Can you just shut up for one minute or is that impossible for you?", Emmy got to the front of the line soon and got her papers. 

   "Sorry, mate. I’ll be completely honest with y’a, I don’t have a large lexical of words... the only adjective that came up in my mind was weird,heh.... shut up ? Yes I can do that... wait now that I think of it... nah just kiddin’...", Hé got his papes too, showing off all his pennies on the desk , paying what he owed and putting back his dear change in his pockets. 

    After getting her papes, Emmy puts them into her bag and sighs."Why are you trying to be nice to me? You trying to get money from me or something?"

   He nodded and walked next to her. " Very good question, Emmy. Well y’a see , I hate y’a and y’a hate me. Let’s face it. I’ve never hated some one that much in 30 minutes and I want to know why.... I have so much hate and money is a splendid option too but nah … I got other money friends...."  

   "I never said I hated you, nor did I say I liked you. I have no emotion towards you. Now I'm curious to ask why do you hate me?"

    " Well it’s difficult to see any emotions on that serious face of yours. T’was just a gut feelin’ but I guess twas wron’....Why do I hate ya.... That’s exactly what I’m tryin’ so figure out. You’re a surprisin’ littl’ person."

    "You make no sense. I don't actually think you hate me, you just say that because you feel hate towards so many people around you"

   " Ya think so ? Maybe..: He looked at the rising sun. He was so obsessed that his hands were always in his precious pockets. "heh, we lost enough time. Tell me where ya want to sell papes today. I’ll tell ya if it’s safe...”

   Emmy looks at him."You say you hate me yet you care if I go into a dangerous area?"

   He shrugged always keeping his hands in his pants pockets," y’a said it earlier, Em , I make no sense..."

   Emmy nods, "no sense at all. If you "care" so much why not just tell me a good street to go on."

   " If that’s what ya want... hmm... Welp, ya could go on King Edward’s street. There’s a lot of stupid business men there and there’s not very much newsies.... heh..."

    " Welp , I’ll let y’a do your work. Y’a can yell my name if y’a need me. See y’a, Emmy." He then walked away , not even taking time to tell her his name

   "Alright then." Emmy starts walking towards that street with her bag in her hand.

    When Emmy walked in the street , she realized that the place was nothing like Nickel’s description. There were a lot of newsies in gangs, fighting each other like animals. One group was coming up to her in a menacing way. 

   Emmy looks around. She saw the group heading her way and stopped walking. She knew that something was off. She walked over to the group."Hello. Would you like to buy papes?"

   One muscular boy stepped up , probably the leader. He scared her with his dark eyes , a stick in one hand." Look what we have here... a little new-newsie...." She was clearly not welcomed. The air was heavy and you could feel that something bad was going to happen. 

    Emmy looked up at the tall boy. She looks down at the stick in his hand."I I should really get going unless you would like a pape."

   He nodded with a horrible smile on his face." Nahh... no thanks... you can go... like... NOW." He then hit the ground violently, just to scare off the girl. 

   Emmy looked at him trying to not seem scared "Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry if I offended you in some way."

   The gang laughed and let their leader talk." Y’a see , your on our territory. You ain’t gonna sell papes on this ground..." 

   "But this is a public street. I was told I could come here"

   He kept that aggressive smile , all the newsboys around him laughing like monkeys." Ya shouldn’t listen to everyone, little one. This is our last warning... go back where ya come from."

   "Don't call me little. Plus you can't do anything. If you try anything I can just pay someone around here to get help. I'm just here to sell papes" Emmy tries to walk past them to continue on the street. 

    The little crowd surrounded the girl , restricting her from every tentative of escape. The monkey started by spitting at her shoes. " Call whoever y’a want , littl’ girl."

    ".... Fine I'll leave just leave me alone", Emmy tries to leave the street. 

    The boys laughed and let her pass. Their leader growled a last mean comment in a menacing tone and walked back at their dirty street. Still watching her with one eye. 

    Emmy left the street. She looks around. She saw nickel not to far and walked over"You lied to me."

   He turned around , he almost sold all his papers. He was playing with a nickel, throwing it and catching it repeatedly. "Well hello, Emmy. How was it, heh ? Did y’a make new friends?"

    Emmy punches him in the face out of anger."I try to give you a chance and you've just ruined it."

    He received the punch on his eye then his nose. He dropped his nickel while falling on the back. He quickly got up. Really humiliated by Emmy." What was that for !? Y’a damn girl !"

    "I gave you a chance to be kind for once yet you still act like an idiot." Emmy crosses her arms. 

    "Will y’a just tell me what happened, Heh ! Did y’a go on that Edward’s street?" He had one hand on his nose. It wasn’t bleeding yet but it was really red. Nickel started the search for the nickel he dropped while falling. 

    "Yes I went on that street and a group decided to surround me and they threatened that if I didn't leave they would do something."

    He didn’t really listened to her , obsessed by the idea of losing his nickel." Uh-huh... well you find me very sorry... it wasn’t like that in my memory... there must be two Edward’s street now that I think of it...." 

    "After that I don't think I should believe you" Emmy kept her arms crossed. 

    "Well I apologize, dear Emmy, heh... I can accompany y’a next time..."He found his nickel just beside Emmy’s shoes and smiled like a proud father. He whispered, " There y’a are me baby..." He reached for the money with a large smile on his face. 

   Before he could get the nickel, Emmy steps on it."What's your name?"

   He looked at her with an intense staring. "My poor baby... ya stepped on it like it twas a vulgar trash... whatcha gonna do with that information ?"

   Emmy stoops down to his level still keeping her foot on the nickel."You know my name, why can't I know yours?"

   He gave her a semi-smile. His eye and nose were very painful and the girl had succeeded at annoying him." Ya gotta point , Em. Me name’s Nickel. Hope you’re happy now."

   Emmy steals The nickel from under her shoe."You won't get this back until you prove you can be kind."

   He was astonished by Emmy’s audacity. He tried to grab his dear nickel but Emmy was too fast. He growled between his teeth, " YA LITTLE HEH... thief! It’s mine ! Ya can’t take it like that!"

   "Oh but I just did. Again, you won't get it back until you show real kindness."

   " And how do ya want me to show that ? Give ya all me money !?"

   "I don't want your money. Youll get this nickel back when you show kindness. I don't care how as long as its real kindness."

    "... Like... right here ? Right now ? Ya want real kindness? How am I supposed to give ya that !" He tried to get the money back by force again , unsuccessfully. 

    "Will you stop being an idiot? You know what kindness is."

     Nickel tried to think , stopping all his movements. He looked at the ground , thinking harder and harder. Nothing came in his mind." Heh... would it be kind to heh... tell ya... ya have a pretty littl' nose ?" Other than that the only"kind" thing Nickel could think of was sharing his newspaper or always a situation implying giving a material object. 

    "Complements and presents don't count." Emmy looks at the nickel in her hand. 

    He sighed." I’m sick of this... will ya please give it back to me , please Emmy ? I’m sorrey for what I did earlier I acted like an idiot. I’m sorry to have broken the bond of trust that was formin’ between ya and I. I hope you’ll heal soon enough. But please gimme back my money..."

   Emmy throws the nickel to him."No more lies."

   He caught it with one hand , the other still on his hurting eye." Not even... tiny jokes...?"

   "Why are you trying so hard to please me?" Emmy tilts her head. 

    ”... I’m tryin’ to be kind so that you’ll never steal my children again, Emmy. Now let’s work, we lost enough time with ya littl’ circus…"

    Emmy realized she hasn't sold any of her papes. She looks down. It was getting late and none of them were sold. 

    He started to walk around always checking on Emmy. Nickel was Tryin to find a good spot. " Now, Em , it’s time to sell papes. You’ll have to make more money than that in the future. Here lemme do it for ya and I will have 30% of your profits."

     "Who said I'm giving you any of my profits?"

     “ If I help ya to sell papes , I can have financial benefits , heh ? We can make a deal ?"

     "I'm not making any deal with you. You already tried to force someone to give you money just because they had to use it for food."

     " Alright alright... let’s say I’ll help ya for..." He paused and concentrated to croak the word," f-f-f-ffree...." He took a deep breath, " as a Christmas present.."

     "It's not a present. But I will allow you to help me"

     " Ahh stop it ! Can ya just... accept? And ahh... forget it we need to found ya some preys... ah here here." He pointed at the front of a bakery. A tiny family of two parent and one daughter was walking away from it. ” When people buy pastries or sweets like that , They always have some left changes... it’s perfect for us..."

    Emmy nods. She stayed silent as she started selling papes in front of the bakery. 

    He watched her sell and shook his head few minutes later." Here, I’ll take half of it. It’ll be quicker." He took half of the papers she had left. The duo almost sold it all around 2 hours and 30 minutes later. 

    Emmy yawns a bit. She sighs and sits on the curve taking a break. 

    Nickel counted the money he had made and gave it to Emmy , sitting next to her. " $7,25. You’re rich , Em. I hope you enj

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oyed that... not-a-gift help..."

    Emmy gives him half of the money." I don't need a lot. Thank you for helping."

    He took it with his large smile. He didn’t even hesitate and put the money inside his pocket." Ya such an unpredictable gurl...‘Twas a great day, heh? Ya liked the job ?"

    Emma nods. "Yes I enjoyed it, but how am I unpredictable?"

    " Y’a just said that y’a didn’t want to give me a percentage of your profit and y’a just gave me half of it ! That’s unpredictable, If y’a Ask me !"

    "That's because you wanted money from me. I'm giving you money to be kind not because you want it"

    " Alright alright I believe y’a..." He laughed a little and look at Emmy with a smirk.” I can’t believe ya went on that street... pffft... Now now it’s gettin’ late...I’ll go back to the buildin’..." He got up. 

     "Youre an idiot Nickel." Emmy says with a smirk. 

     He laughed louder, putting his hands in his pockets." Ya’re the silley one !" He started to walk, and glanced at Emmy." Y’a have a house of your own or y’a sleep at the buildin’ ?..."

   "I can't stay at my parents house because they aren't there and I don't got the money to pay taxes"

   " No need to tell me y’a life , I just wanted to now if y’a stay in the Buildin’... haha... Neat, you’ll enjoy the full life of a Newsie." He started to walk to the newsies building, not even waiting for Emmy. 

    Emmy soon caught up with him. 

    He glanced at her. " I bet y’a 2 pennies that y’a will not survive one week in the Newsies buildin’."

    "Again, I'm not betting you anything" Emmy crossed her arms. 

    " Do y’a even know how to have fun ? Ya’re ruinin’ it all !" He was still smirking. 

    "I'm not wasting money on stupid bets." Emmy glanced at him. 

    "In that case, how do ya amuse yourself ?! Ya're a dull bein'..."

    "I don't bet. There are other ways to have fun you know."

    " Ya’re sayin’ that because y’a never really tried !" The duo was almost there, just few streets away. 

    Emmy looks down."It's not a big deal."

    " Lemme present ya the joy gamblin'. I have some friends that could help us with that." They finally arrived at destination, Nickel opened the door and went inside.

    Emmy followed him. She looked around. 

    The building was so dirty that it was almost scary. It smelt like a mix of sweat and dust. Inside Emmy could see several bunk beds, some with a newsie sleeping or sitting with a friend.

    ".... Alright then" Emmy was used to the fancy house she stayed at with her parents. 

    They got to one particular bed with disgusting blankets that were grey. " Here’s my personal palace !"On his side of the wall, there were part of the newspapers Nickel had cut. It was all about finances and other stuff like New York bank news. " Y’a can choose the bed y’a want , if it’s empty and smells good , it’s all yours."

   "Why do you have papes about bank news?"

   " To stay informed , of course. So I can read it before goin’ to bed … the question should be" why you not have papes about bank news ?" He sat on his bed , the other newsies were starting to get back from their working day. 

   "Ok?, but aren't they kind of old?" Emmy sat on a bed that was obviously not used. 

   “ Stop questionin’ me habits, young lady ! Maybe they old but they’re not useless.” He looked at the boys arriving. Some of them were saying little things. " Wassup Nick ? Not on the streets tonight, heh?" Nickel answered with short respond and always went back with the discussion with Emmy. 

   Emmy smirks a bit. She sets her bag down on her new bed. She lays on the bed staring at the bottom of the top bunk. She was lost in thought. 

   Nickel laid on the dirty blankets too. He was still looking at Emmy. He whispered, just to annoy her, ” Watcha thinkin’ ‘bout Em ?"

   "Why should I tell you my thoughts when you never tell me yours?"

   " Y’a never asked me ! That’s why..."

   Emmy sighs. She closes her eyes focusing on her thoughts.

   " Alright then ! Keep your dark little’ secrets !..." He continued to look at her for 10 minutes , before closing his eyes too. 

   "Why do you want to know so badly?" Emmy opens her eyes, looking at him. 

   ” Have no idea... maybe... because heh... y’a look always so serious... I wanted to heh... check if y’a had serious thoughts... heh too ?"

   "I'm "always so serious" because I don't have anything to be happy about"

   ” Woah... that’s really deep... well... in that case heh... stay in your melancholy...” He took the money he had in his pockets and started to count it again and again , even if he was almost sleeping. He had clearly an obsession and didn’t stop one second to think about it.

   Emmy soon fell asleep. She didn't snore. She was very peaceful. 

   Nickel almost spent all the night counting the money he had. He got in bed just at 3 am. He often talked in his sleep and looked very anxious when he was dreaming.

   In the morning, Emmy rubs her eyes as she yawned. She opened her eyes and sat up, looking around. 

   Nickel was still sleeping. Moving from time to time and mumbling, " Y’a liar... nah heh.... more than 50 pennies ! A house.... no way....”

   Emmy looks at him and smiles a bit at him talking in his sleep.

   He suddenly woke up shouting"Noo twas mine!". The poor Nickel was covered in sweat, like a child coming out of a bad dream. He was out of breath and looked around him frenetically. He spotted Emmy and some other Newsies that were used to his nocturnal terrors. He sighed and put his hands on his face, trying to calm down. 

   Emmy's smile faded."are you alright?" she walks over to him. 

   " No ! Not at all ! I mean uh yeah... wait..." He looked in his socks with shaking hands , where he kept most of his money. He sighed with relief. " Twas just a bad dream....heh...yeah... I’m alright..." 

   Emmy sits next to him on his bed."Are you sure? You look pretty scared."

   He laughed nervously And put one shaky hand in his blond hairs. "Me ? Scared ? Heh nah..." He swallowed his saliva with difficulties. Nickel tried to retake that confident and arrogant look he had when they first met. 

  "You don't have to act like you're ok you know."

   He stood up and answered with a quiet, " nah I’m heh... I’m good... " He then walked away, going to the bathroom. He was Getting ready to start another day. When he stepped out of it , he looked like this same snob and menacing teen.

   "I know this may sound weird but can you not be... Rude? People will like you better and you might even gain real self confidence."

   He sighed while putting on his shoes. " What does rude even mean to ya ? People already like me…if not they wouldn’t hang with me..." He put on another layer of cloth. It was starting to get very cold outside. 

    "They're either scared you'll take their money with they don't hang with you or they want to see how much money they can get by hanging around you."

    He looked at her, straight in the eyes. He rose his eyebrows. " Y’a think so ? We met one day ago and ya’re already sure that everyone thinks I’m a rude scum bag ?" He laughed a little. 

    "N No that's not what I'm saying...."

    He sighed again. He hesitated to ask help from Emmy. He thought I don’t understand what she means... It would probably be great to have some help... I don’t even know what’s wrong...." What are y’a tryin’ to say in that case ? Y’a want me to be nicer? How can I do that if I already don’t know how am I bein’ rude ?"

    "You were nice yesterday when you helped me. Your problem is your obsession with money."

    " So y’a want me to help y’a today, too ?" He put on his cap on his curvy blond hairs and looked at Emmy, waiting for an answer. 

    "No, I want you to get rid of your obsession with money."

    He smiled, he was really amused by the idea that Emmy thought she could do that. He took that as a joke." Haha... that’s a funny one Emmy..."

    Emmy crosses her arms."This isn't a joke."

    He definitely didn’t want to talk about that. He tried the change the subject." Hah... it’s heh... gettin’ late... we... we should start our work. Heh..." 

    "Nickel, I know you heard me. Don't ignore me."

    " But How... how am I supposed to answer that ? Oh yes of course Emmy i will totally forgot all the joy that money brings meh ? I don’t want to talk ‘bout this... it’s not the time..."

    "Yes it is. Money can't bring you all the joy."

    " Maybe not to y’a ! I’m pretty satisfied with all the benefits it gives me … I’m feelin’ enough happy with what I’ve got. Period. But thanks for worryin’" He walked away , in direction of the paper manufacture. 

    Emmy takes his arm to stop him. "No, you're going to spend a day with me. No money included."

    He stopped and looked at her. He was starting to get annoyed. " No money include ? But what’s the point in sellin’ if y’a don’t make money ? Y’a want me to do that just for fun ?"

    "After selling, you put your money away and I'm taking you to have some actual fun."

    "... Alright … let’s try it... ugh I hate y’a … more and more... cmon let’s go."

    "Alright" Emmy smirks a bit. 

    He sighed and walked up to the paper factory mumbling to himself again and again," I hate y’a... damn gurl... my poor babies... why am I even acceptin’ that... it’s unacceptable... I can’t uh..."

    Emmy looks at him. "Calm down jeez."

    He ignored her and got his papes. As usual he showed off his money while putting it on the wooden bar in front of the paper clerk. He payed for his papers and put back the extra money in his socks.

     Emmy sighs as she buys her papes. She puts them in her bag and goes off to sell them. 

     Nickel asked a last thing to Emmy before going his own way, " so how’s this gonna work? We sell everythin’ and meet at the bakerey? Or y’a had another plan in mind ?" 

     "Meet in front of the bakery and I'll lead the way from there."

     He said with no conviction, " alright... then heh.... have a nice day... I guess..." He walked away , playing with a penny as usual.

    Emmy walked away and went to sell papers. 

    Nickel spent the day bidding, selling and hanging around with fishy looking newsies. He finished quickly selling all his papers. 

    Emmy finished selling her papes and waited at the bakery. 

    Nickel didn’t came the first minutes. Emmy was starting to think that he wouldn’t show up. 40 minutes after , he came with a serious expression. He didn’t want to be there and it showed. 

    "Oh so you did come" Emmy crossed her arms. 

    " Yeah... heh..." He took a deep breath, " sorry... I guess... for bein’ that late. I had to heh... do things..." It was around 4 in the evening , they still had time to enjoy the rest of the day. 

    "Alright then, come with me" Emmy lead the way. 

    He followed her, his hands in his pockets. 

    Emmy lead him to the theater. She bought tickets with the money she earned that day.

    " Where... where are we ? That’s ridiculous..." He looked around, noting every details around him.

    Emmy grabbed the tickets and lead the way into the theater. "Showing you real fun."

    He rose his eyebrows and he smirked. " Okay.... let’s see that" real fun" heh..." The duo arrived inside the theatre , and got a seat.

    Emmy sits down with a smile.

    " If we don’t like the show will we have our money back ?"

    "Our money? I used my own money."

    "Why do you care about my money?"

    "Why are y’a askin’ so much questions? You’re unbelievable!"he paused, " just because ! There’s no particular reason...heh..."

    "Exactly, so calm down."

    Nickel looked around. He had never seen a theatre from the inside. The room was starting to be full of rich people and excited children. 

     Emmy looks at him."No pick pocketing. I'm not going to bail you out of jail."

     He laughed a little. " Y’a think I’m the kind to pickpocket hahah..?" The room got darker and the crowd started the whisper with excitement. 

     Emmy shrugs and whispers,"You never know."

     " Y’a have completely no trust in me haha... okay okay... when does it begin ? Like... we have to wait ? Oh okay...." A man was on the scene, he presented the show in a loud voice.

    Emmy ignored Nickel and looked to the stage.

    The boy looked at the stage with his eyes wide open. A lady came with a splendid dress and started to sing. Nickel looked hypnotized. " What in the world..."

    Emmy continued to ignore Nickel.

    He laughed a little. He was really enjoying it but didn’t want to show it. " Woah... y’a y’a saw that ? No way haha...." 

    Emmy smiled at the fact he was having fun. 

    Around one hour later , the crowd was cheering and applauding with happiness. Everyone in the room was impressed by that woman’s amazing performance. Nickel stood up and whistled briefly before going back to his seat.

    Emmy was applauding. She had a bright smile on her face when he whistled. She pulled him back out of his seat."Its alright to enjoy something."

    He stood up again and looked at Emmy. " I’m not enjoyin’ it. I’m just heh... cheerin’ her up..."

   Emmy smiles."Come on I know you're having fun!"

   He smiled too. " Not even a littl’ bit !"

   Emmy grabbed both his hands in a begging way."Come on, please?" She smiles. 

   He looked at her with a big smile. " Alright alright twas incredible !" He laughed and took a penny from his socks. He tossed it on the stage as he whistled again. 

    Emmy smiled brightly."Told you you don't just have fun with money."

    He gradually lost his smile and stammered,  " but heh... I... money... can... if y’a didn’t have money y’a wouldn’t have been able to buy the tickets... soooooooooo... technically... money brought that happiness..." He stood up with Emmy , starting to walk away from the lousy public. 

  "You can also sneak In through the back door without paying." Emmy followed him. 

   "... Welp... y’a won... for this time... " They got out of the theatre. It was around 6pm , Nickel stopped and turned around to be in front of Emmy. " What are ya’re plans for the rest of the day ? Do ya want do see... how I make my usual fun...?"

   "Nickel you need to stop thinking about money. We are getting you away from your"usual fun"."

   " Awwww C’mon! Y’a could just try ? Just for tonight ? After... I will... try to heh... yeah... regulate... my love for these little sparks of joy... my babies..."

   "No exceptions!" Emmy takes his hand and partially drags him to their next destination.

   " Alright... we’ll do it... heh... for Christmas... yeah... it’ll be fun... a Christmas gamblin’... where are y’a brinin’ me now ?"

   "We aren't going gambling." Emmy brought him to a party next to her parent's house.

   He got so confused at first. Nickel didn’t really went to school and hadn’t been in parties like that with his grandparents. He didn’t know what a real party looked like. " W-what !? What’s that ? Some sort of heh... I don’t even know what to say..." He looked at the people there. He didn’t recognize anyone. 

   "It's a party, you'll have fun trust me."

   " Okkkk... what are we supposed to do ? Talk with... people ?"

    "You can talk to people. There are games. You can dance. Almost anything that's not gambling."

     Book Two Coming soon