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| It was a warm beautiful Sunday, a perfect day to just go out for a stroll. It was about six thirty and people were just getting up and ready for the day. Some people were getting ready for church others for work. The Sunday papes were hot off the presses. The kids of New York were sleeping in, until the last minute before church. Except of course for the working kids of New York, they were just now prying themselves out of bed. They opened their eyes to a warm sunny day, full of surprises. Ah yes the pure majesty of waking to his voice every morning. "Rise n shine! Go carry da banna!" Screeched the Kloppman. Sunday papes; heavy, awkward and oh so interesting Like every morning they strolled down to the distribution alley and got their papes. Sunday mornings are the slowest really. Everyone is in somewhat of a hurry to get to church or work. But the afternoon was prime selling time, when many people had off work and church was done. The day was so great that even in Brooklyn people were sure to take a Sunday stroll that afternoon! Central Park was crowded that afternoon as predicted. You could here the sound of children running after one another laughing and giggling. Their Parents were talking amongst themselves and the newsies were hawking their headlines. "Brooklyn baby born wid 8 fingas on one hand!" "Shark infestation in the East Riva!" Despite the attractive Sunday afternoon and the crowd in the streets the day was far from perfect. The headlines were terrible. 'Baby born with 6 fingers', 'Fisherman Catches 5 inch Fish in East River'. As far as the newsies were concerned their next mission was to soak Pulitzers headline writer. However they kept in mind that headlines dont sell papes, newsies sell papes. Though for some that just didnt cut it, they knew they wouldnt be eating a meal for a while. Only the best of the best survived on days like this. "Woman found dead and naked in apartment after jealous husband finds her cheating!" "Jack, really. Dog Attack on the East Side Ends in Tragedy. How could you possibly get that-" "Hey you wanna help me wid dis or not!" Jack returned before she could finish. Sarah laughed. Then out of nowhere came Angel. Rubbing her backside with an awful look on her face. "Hey ya Angel, long times no see. Hows Brooklyn lookin' dis fine day?" "I wouldnt know, I got outta dare rather quickly dis mornin'." Angel responded still with that sour look on her face. "What's wrong with your..." "Its dem damn Brooklyn boys she lets out a heavy sigh as she interrupts Sarah one o dese days Jacky boy deys gonna wake up and wont be able ta find dare slingshots!" Jack and Sarah couldnt help but let out a giggle. "Days just floitin wid ya Ang!" Jack said still trying to hold back the laughter. "Ya well, if deys so interested in me den dey bettah stop bafore dare is nothin left ta get a peep at!" Even Angel let out a chuckle at this comment. By this time Les, David and Mush were upon them and had heard the last of the conversation. They too couldnt help but laugh. "Does this mean your going to take Spots cane away too? Dave slipped in." Angel gave him the worst Im going to get you look she could. Then her eyes went to Jack. "Hey Davey, now ya know she looks forward to dat every mornin!" "Why I'se awta one a dese days youse gonna get it Kelly!" Angel didnt seem to like the way the conversation was headed. But half was true, every morning like clockwork she had woken up to the wonderful Brooklyn air to walk out side and be bombarded by newsies. Shed lived in Brooklyn practically her whole life. She also knew most of the Brooklyn newsies. She was kind of an honorary newsgirl, in a way. Shed help them sell their papes sometime. She didnt do it for the money she just enjoyed it. Angel had become one of the best, well as far as improving the truth goes. Well known among the newsies she got her nickname from them also. Theyd always say she looked like an angel so it sort of just stuck. Sometimes shed dress up like a newsie and fool with people minds. It was exciting and she never had more fun then when she was with the newsies. When she was one of the boys theyd call her Jo. It wasnt lying it was just improving the truth, her real name was Josephine and she despised it. So in a way she liked how they called her Angel. She lived in the orphanage but was sent out to the country when she got into a bit of trouble. She just recently got back. Getting back to Central ParkSarah had yet to meet Angel; she wasnt really around during the strike, as I pointed out. Dave was pretty proud of his little remark. He had never met her either but he had heard a lot about her from the other newsies. "Well ain't you a walkin mouth. You must be Davey." Angel looked at David still with that intent look. David started to get a little nervous. "Ya dis is da walkin mouth. Davey meet Angel, Angel meet da mouth. Jack thought hed try to break the tension. And dis ovah heah is Sarah, the mouths sisdah and Les his brodah." "It's nice to meet you." Sarah reached over to shake Angels hand, half expecting her to spit in hers first, so she prepared herself. Angel didnt though and shook her hand politely. "Nice ta meet you too." Angel tried to say it in the nicest way she could. "Nice day isnt it?" Angel and Sarah started conversing about the nice weather and how many people were out and about that day. Jack pulled David aside and whispered in his hear. "Bettah be carefull 'round Angel, she can be a little testy. Besides if anyones got a problem wid her den days gotta even biggah problem wid Brooklyn, and aint nobody wants a problem wid dem." This made David even more nervous and Jack couldnt help but laugh. "If shes a Brooklyn girl then why is she over here?" David asked trying to put the conversation off him. "Oh, she woiks ovah heah, at least I think she still does." Jack replied as he leaned up against a tree and tried to get comfortable. "Thats an awful long way to walk isnt it?" "Naw, she just lives in the bordin house on da uddah side of da bridge. She used ta woik for Medda, ya know soive da customahs, run errands for Medda stuff like dat. Ise purty sure dat Medda gave hah hah old job back. Dats why wes gots to see hah so often ovah heah. Bettah be careful Spot comes ovah wid haeh sometimes, ya know ta keep an eye on his claim." "Claim?" "Ya shes sorta Spots unofficial goil. No one can even look at heh the wrong way or deys gonna get soaked or at least a good threat. She dont know it doh. Da newsies just figya dat he wants a piece a heh." "What about you?" "Me?" "Ya, you say it like you know that theres something more to it then that." Jack sort of pushes out a fake laugh. He stands up straight again and motions over to the girls. "If you boids are done tawkin then Ise gotta get back to me papes." Sarah smiled and Angel laughed when she saw how she looked at Jack. When Jack saw the look in Angels eye he playfully hit her with his papes. "Well Medda is expecting me back soon anyway. See ya Cowboy, nice ta meet ya Sarah you too Davey. Les let me know when ya wanna sell papes wid me sometime." Before Les could answer Angel headed off towards Meddas and the rest went back to the task of selling papes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Well, well, well I must have died and gone to heaven." "Excuse me? Angel didn't know who said that." "Well, you're an Angel so I must be in heaven." Oscar slipped out of the shadows of the alley. Angel rolled her eyes in disgust. "Well youre an ass so does dat mean Im out in the boondocks somewheres?" She was quite happy with her quick comeback. Oscar was not however. His smirk turned into a hurt angry expression. He slowly walked closer and she quickened her steps, but he did so also. She suddenly felt his arm around her waist pulling her into an alley with his other hand on her mouth. He shoved her into a building wall and held her there by her throat. Angel gasped for air to scream with but couldnt. Without thinking she kicked him as hard as she could in the shin. The pain shot up through his leg and he loosened his grip. With that she pushed him off and then she kneed him in the stomach and ran. None of the newsies had noticed what happened and she felt it was better if they didnt. She could take care of herself; shed lived this long without anyone and didnt need any newsies looking after her. She made her way back to Meddas and suddenly realized that she didnt even get any papes like she asked for. She spotted Mush and walked over. "Hey ya Mush, hows the headlines taday?" Though she already knew she thought it was the best way to strike up a conversation. "Headlines dont sell papes, newsiesawe who am I kiddin deys terrible taday. I'd be surprised if even Cowboys doin any good sellin taday." He seemed pretty discouraged. She felt good though, Medda asked for 10 papes that day and she knew that might cheer him up. "Well Medda wants ten papes taday. But that babe wid da 8 fingas sounds purtty interestin, so I think Ill take one too." Mush managed to crack a smile and sold her the papes. Well Ise bettah git back ta Meddas, see ya round Mush. Mush flashed her a smile and 'see ya round Ang'. "Josephine, vhat took you so long to buy the papes?" Medda tried her best to look disappointed but she wasnt doing so well. "I ran into a little trouble wid Oscah, plus I ran intah Jack and met Sarah, Dave and Les. Nice family..." Her voice trailed off. "Yes vell Ive got a lot of customers that need a drink, Im short today and need all the help I can get. Vould you mind terribly staying late? Rose is sick and I need someone to help sit people for the nine p.m. show." Medda asked almost begging, she knew that it wasnt a good idea for her to walk home in the dark but she was desperate. "Sure Meddah, then aftah woik Ill stop buy da docks and see if ders any sailors lookin for a good time." Medda didnt appreciate her sarcastic tone but knew she was right, shed have to find someone else to seat the audience. "Alright, alright Ill find someone else. Could you at least stay until she gets here?" "I suppose" Angel reluctantly agreed. "But only till then, den Im outta heah!" She hollered after Medda as she ran to the phone to find someone to come in. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nine p.m. had come and left and Angel found herself seating people and even showing them out. In some cases helped carry them out. The show went even later then it usually does. Usually it lets out about 10pm, that night it let out at ten thirty. Angel looked out the window at the dark lamp lit street. Medda sheepishly walked in. "I'm really sorry I couldnt find anyone, I tried I really did. You can stay here, I wont let you walk back, not at this time of night not with all those crazed men wandering the streets!" Angel laughed "Not even you could fend for yourself out there at night, come now Ill set you up a cot in my dressing room. Angel agreed, she knew to walk home would be beyond dangerous. She hated to admit it but without the newsies and at this time of night she didnt have a chance. " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That Sunday had been beautiful; sunny, warm, crowds around every corner, the kind of day newsies live for. If it wasnt for the headlines the day could have been described as divine. The warm day lead into a warmer night and sleeping was uncomfortable. The only thing that kept the newsies from waking was the dream of a better day. Angel slept well until she thought about Brooklyn. She rarely slept anywhere but there. She hadnt been back but a few days and now shed have to spend a night away from Brooklyn. The newsies will wonder where she is in the morning, but then again shell be able to walk outside without being shot in the backside with marbles. Or have Spot try to get a peek under her dress with that damn cane of his. Spot she thought I havnt even seen him since I got back, hell probably send someone out looking for menaw he doesnt carehell just miss giving me a hard time in the morning.just like old times.. And with that she gradually fell back to sleep. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Jo, wake up dear." Medda beckoned from the door. Angel sat up and saw that it was another beautiful day. Medda walked in and handed her a dress. "Here go wash up and put this on. You can have the morning off." Angel looked a little annoyed. "Alright the day, since you did help clean up too." Ang went into the washroom and got ready for the day. 'What shall I do today she thought to herself. Maybe Ill help Mush sell his papes today.' That made her remember how bad the headlines where yesterday. 'I hope they are better today. Maybe if theyre good enough I can get the newsies to buy me lunch.' She laughed at herself and headed downstairs. "Earthquake rocks da west coast!" Medda must have let her sleep in; the newsies were already out front hawking the headlines. They sounded much better today. She walked out the side door into the alley and headed toward the street. She caught Mushs eye and he jogged over. "Hey ya Ang what ya doin heah so eoily?" "Medda had me woik late so I stayed heah last night." She covered her eyes from the bright sun, she was still quite tierd. "The headlines sound bettah taday." "Ya, he snickered a little I dont even hafta improve the truth as much!" She smiled back and took a deep breathe. Manhattan air smelled a lot better. Though she missed the sound of kids swimming in the river not having the Brooklyn newsies pelting her with marbles helped to make her morning more enjoyable. "Think Spot'll be ovah heah lookin for ya, have you seen him since ya got back from Buffalo?" "Naw, he and the boysll just give me the thoid degree when I go home. But the good news is dat I git the day owff, cause I woiked so late." "Hey dats great." Mush didnt seem too excited for her, he was too busy trying to sell his papes. She walked with him a while, sometimes pretending to be his wife others his sister, anything to get sympathy and a few more papes sold. Then it happened. About one or two in the afternoon Mush had sold all but two of his papes. But thats not it, she suddenly felt this sharp sting on her backside... "Hey where da hell have ya been Angel! Wes been lookin everywheres for ya's!" Comments like this continued from the two Brooklyn newsies as they eyed up Mush. Then through the few accumulating Manhattan newsies came a voice that silenced them all. "Hey, hey, hey now lets not go jumpin to conclusions. Let da goil tawk!" It was Spot. He had the biggest smirk on his face. Angel rolled her eyes and began to explain. "Not that its any of your business I woiked late and stayed at Meddas." She crossed her arms playfully waiting to see how Spot would respond. His smirk started to straighten when he noticed Mush moving closer to Angel. Well Spot fished for what to do next. He new all eyes were on him. Thats not what made him nervous, it was Angel. No one but her could get him like that. "thanks to you Ive lost valuable sellin time. I'll consider it a pay back if youse sell wid me taday. I figya I'll stay heah, maybe head ovah to central pawk." All eyes went back to Angel. "Well I guess I wouldnt be able ta sleep tanight if I knew I made ya loose valuable sellin time." She replied sarcastically. This put the smirk back on Spots face. The newsies dispersed and Spot and Angel walked off towards central park. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hoid ya been back a few days, what ya do so bad dat dey sent ya back heah." Spot tried to get the ball rolling "Ya, well Buffalo isnt exactly Brooklyn, they didnt know how to handle me so they thought that it would be bettah if dey just let me come back." They were walking side by side. She noticed Spot didnt have any papes. So much for valuable selling time. But she couldnt help but smile at the fact that he came to see her. "So enough about me, where have you been, I havent seen ya the whole time Ive been back. Been off wid da flava of da moment?" She snickered, she figured that hed met some girl and was out having a good time. Spot gave her a little ya, right laugh with that famous smirk following. "Naw I'se been ovah in Queens, deys been haven some trouble wid dere distribution office since da strike. Its all taken care of now." He looked over at her and gave her his best Im so tough look as he crossed his arms. She rolled her eyes. "I'se gone for a little while and everyones getting delusions of grandeur. You, Jack and this Davey guyyouse been lettin im get away with too much, well its a good ting I'se back." Ang flashed him a smile. They wandered around silently for a while just enjoying the fact that everything was back to they way it used to be. "Well wees bettah get back bafore it gits too dawk." Said Spot. Angel just acknowledged silently. They headed off towards Brooklyn but Ang stopped short on the bridge. "Whats da mattah?" Asked Spot surprised. "I jist forgot how beautiful it is." "What is?" "The sun set heah." Replied Angel. She leaned up against the rail staring out over the water. "It's the same sun as in Buffalo." Spot uttered back in a playfully impatient tone. Angel stood up straight again, the moment had past; Spot had ruined it again. She breathed a deep sigh and continued walking. Spot suddenly had a sad sheepish look on his face, Angel didnt notice, she was out in front of him. Without another word spoken he walked her back to the boardin house for girls and they parted for the night. Her return to New York had been bitter sweet, but she was damn glad to be back. She missed the hell out of all the newsies and was looking forward to getting to know Dave, Les and Sarah. And despite how tough Spot and the Brooklyn boys tried to act all the time she knew they had missed her too. End: Part One |
| Angel Returns |
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