Brian Denton bit off a chunk of his chicken leg and
smiled to himself. How he loved Tibby's big, greasy,
fried chicken legs! He ripped off another hunk, grease
dribbling down his chin.
"Mmm!" he exclaimed loudly.
Several dine-in customers looked his way in annoyance.
This spectacle had gone on for hours; Denton was on his
fifth plate of chicken legs and showed no signs of
being even halfway full.
Denton was never seen without a chicken leg. He
showered in chicken grease, he slept holding a chicken
leg in his hand, and he even dreamed about - what
else - chicken legs! Chicken legs were Brian Denton's
LIFE.
He ripped off another gooey hunk or meat and gristle.
This was heaven.
Suddenly, the front door of Tibby's swung open and in
sauntered Jack Kelly, Sarah Jacobs, and the rest of the
newsies. They all crowded around Denton's table.
"Heya, Denty!" Jack said loudly, grabbing a chicken
leg and taking a bite.
"Ya gained weight, Denton?" Mush asked, punching Denton
in the arm. It jiggled slightly and Mush burst into
loud, obnoxious laughter.
"Denty's packin' on the fat," Davey joked, slapping
Denton on the back.
"Yeah, maybe you oughta lay off them chicken legs,"
Race grinned.
Denton's eyes glowed red as he gripped his half-eaten
chicken leg tightly. "Lay off my chicken legs?!" he
roared.
Race held up his hands. "Hey, hey, I'se just kiddin',
Dent!"
"LAY OFF MY CHICKEN LEGS?!!!"
Denton was scaring the boys now. He towered over them,
the half-eaten chicken leg still in his hand. "NOOO!"
Denton lunged at Race, using the chicken leg as a
dagger. He jammed it into Race's chest.
"Hey, whaddoya think you're doin'?" Race asked angrily.
"I just washed this shirt!" He tried in vain to
wipe off the large spot of chicken grease.
Denton started hurling chicken legs at the newsies.
"HA!"
Ducking, the newsies stared at Denton, more than
slightly disturbed. He had gone downhill since he
had refused that job as the Sun's Ace War
Correspondent.
After a moment, Mr. Tibby personally escorted Denton
out, but not after he'd been nailed in the face with
a chicken bone.
Still in a fury, Denton cried, "The chicken legs will
have REVENGE!!!"
Jack looked to Race after Denton was out of sight.
"You were right. He definately needs to lay off the
chicken legs."