An hour later…

“You ain’t done yet Cowboy?”

“What do ya mean?”

“I mean I’m done.”

“Impossible!”

“Got da money ta proves it.”

“Come on.”

“I’m serious. I sold 50 papes for a penny each right? And here I’se gots 50 cents.”

“How many headlines did ya use?”

“Three a da best ones.”

“Well go ta Tibby’s an’ wait fer me dere.”

“Why don’t I’se help youse sell yer papes?”

“Yeah, but den I’se need da money.”

“I’ll give ya yer money when I sell yer papes.”

“Awright!”

“Ok give me 23.”

“Dat’s all I have.”

“Right. I’ll sell ‘em for ya. Kay?”

“Here.”

20 minutes later…

“Ok I’m done.”

“In 20 minutes?”

“Yeah. You got a problem wid me sellin’ fast? Oh yeah here’s yer money.”

“‘Ey but dis is twice da money?”

“Right. I sold ‘em for twice da price.”

“How’d ya do dat?”

“Well if ya wanted ta double da price o a penny, den you charge 2 cents.”

“No I mean how’d ya sell wid double da price?”

“People bought the papes fer double.”

“Nobody eva’ does dat.”

“Ya jist gotta loin how ta handle people.”

“Are ya hungry?”

“Yeah.”

“Ya wanna go ta Tibby’s?”

“I’m sure no ones dere yet.”

“Right. But afta’ I gotta take ya ta meet someone.”

“Awright.”

After lunch at Tibby’s, Jack took Mel to Brooklyn. It was a long walk. About 30 minutes later they crossed the bridge.

“Hey Spot!” Jack called to a guy who seemed to be the leader of the Brooklyn Newsies.

“Hey Jack! Who’re you?” Spot looked at Mel as if he’d seen her before.

“Names Melanie Blake, but ev’rybody calls me Mel. Nice ta meet ya.” Mel said getting the same feeling Spot had.

“Name’s Spot Conlon.” Spot said shaking her hand

“Hi!” She said. “Conlon, Conlon, now where ‘ave I ‘eard dat name ‘afore?” She thought.” Uhh Jack c’n I talk ta Spot in priv’te real quick?”

“Sure.” Said Jack

Spot led her to his room in the Brooklyn Lodging House. It was nothing near the one in Manhattan. It wasn’t as clean as the one in Manhattan, but she guessed she’d seen worse.

“What’d ya want ta talk ta me about?” Spot asked her

“Well, it’s jist dat da name Conlon sounds so familyer, and I’se was wonderin’ If ya new me cousin Thomas Conlon. But den Conlon is a populer name so well do ya?”

“Melanie ain’t yer real name huh?”

“Well yeah.”

“What’s yer name den. Yer real one.”

“Ya really wanna know.”

“Yeah I do.”

“Name’s Stephanie Kristenson.”

“Well nice ta meet ya again, cuz.”

“Oh my God! I don’t believe it’s you! I knew I hoid dat name somewheres ‘afore! I ‘aven’t seen ya in a long time!”

“So how long ya been stayin’ in Manhattan?”

“A good 4 years, dat’s fer sure.”

“How long ya been a Newsie?”

“8 hours.” She muttered under her breath

“How long?”

“8 hours.”

“’Scuse me?”

“Ya heard me 8 hours. What’s da matta, ya gone deaf all dese years?”

“So what ya been doin’ all dese years?”

“Woikin’ at a dress shop.”

“Where’d ya run away from? Da mansion, er what?”

“Ze Rose Garzen Finishing School.” She said in her fake French accent “Six yeahs a plannin’ da poifect escape. An’ dey ‘aven’t found us since.”

“Us?”

“Me an’ me sistas.”

“Ya mean Alex an’ Chel are heah too?”

“Yeah, ya don’t think I’d desert me own sistas, do ya.”

“So where are dey?”

“Dey’s out sellin’ papes.”

“So ya part a Jackie-Boy’s Newsies now?”

“What d’ya think?”

“Well I um…

“Ya don’t ‘afta answer dat question. I was bein’ sarcastic stupid.

They hugged each other and walked out of the Lodging House. Spot had his arm around her shoulders. Jack on the other hand glared at Spot

“Relax Jacky-Boy, nuttin’ ta git so woiked up about.” Mel said

“Why didn’t ya tell me she was me cousin?” Spot said to Jack

“How was I s’pposed ta know. She neva’ told me.”

“Well now ya know.”

“So, Spot ya comin’ ta Medda’s wid us tanight?”

“Sure.”

The Newsies went over to the Irving Hall, where Medda Larkson performed. As the guys took their seats, the girls snuck backstage to where Medda was. The show didn’t start for thirty minutes so they decided to talk to Medda.

“’Scuse me Ms. Larks’n?” Mel said

“Yes dear? How may I help you?” said Medda

“Me names Melanie Blake, but everybody calls me Mel. Well see wese been lookin’ fer a job, and well wese are pretty good at performin’ an’ stuff so wee was wonderin’ if wese c’n woik here.”

“Well certainly dear. Talk ta me after the show all right an’ we’ll see what you’ve got.”

“Dat’s fine.”

“I’ll see you after the show then okay.”

“Okay.”

With that, the sisters went back to their seats. Medda was great. She never messed up once. By watching her, the girls would pick up the number as if it were a feather. After the show the girls went backstage to meet up with Medda.

“Hello girls.”

“Hey.”

“Well I have some questions fer you.”

“Shoot.”

“Do ya have any experience performing?”

“Yea.”

“Where was that?”

“At the Moulin Rouge in Paris.”

“You performed there?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright. Auditions are next week at this time. I’ll see ya then.”

“Great.”

As the girls started home…

“Yes wese did it!” Chris exclaimed

“We shoa did.” Replied Mel

“I jist don’t believe it.” Said Melissa.

“Well da guys ‘ill be surprised.” Said Chris

“Right. Don’t tell ‘em till we perform.” Said Mel

“How’d you know we’d get da part?” Said Melissa

“Well we’ve performed before, rememba’?” said Mel

“Right getting’ dat part’ll be a sinch.” Said Melissa

“So ya wanna woik on our dance?” said Chris

“We’ll do dat tammorah kay, Chris.” Said Mel

“Alright afta’ woik?”

“Shoa.”

The next day after work…

“Awright let’s practice.” Said Mel

“Ok. Chris put the record on.” Said Melissa

“Awright.” Said Chris

“Ok take yer places. 1-2-3” Said Mel

“She stole your heart. Only did it because she could. Chewed you up an’ spat you out. That girl never was no good. Baby I would never do that. I’ll love you faithfully. But your suspicions might think I’m gonna repeat her story.” Melissa sang

And they continued practicing their song every day, before anyone got home. The only person who knew about it was Kloppman. He served as an audience so they wouldn’t be afraid to perform in front of people. Then the time came for the auditions.

“Alright everyone take yer places.” Said Medda

“Nice to see you again Melanie.” Said Sarah in a sarcastic tone

“Youse too.” She replied

“I hope you know I’ve been qualified to enter this competition 6 times, but I’ve been so busy I couldn’t get to enter.”

“How nice.” Mel said in a sarcastic tone. “I hope you know that me an me sisters have performed in Paris, France at the Moulin Rouge.” Mel said with a big smile on her face

“Well good four you.” Sarah said in a sarcastic tone

“Alright girls let’s start the auditions. First ahem Sarah Jacobs.”

“Thank you Miss Larkson.”

“Don’t even try to butter me up. I know you.”

“Well it was a nice try wasn’t it?”

“Just hurry it up.”

“Ok. Deep I Denial Ville

Tryin’ a’ fight the way I feel

I go Jell-O when you smile

I start blushing--- my head rushing…”

“Alright that was * cough * horrible * cough * great. Anyway up next is a new trio, the Blake sisters!”

“Thanks Medda.” Said Mel

“Yer welcome.” Replied Medda

“Awright. A 1-2-3.” Said Mel

“She stole your heart.” Sang Melissa

“Only did it because she could.” Sang Mel

“Chewed you up and spat you out.” Sang Chris

“That girl never was no good.” Sang Melissa

“Baby I would never do that. I’ll love you faithfully.” Sang Mel

“But your suspicious mind thinks, I’m gonna repeat her story.” Sang Chris

“It’s makin’ you crazy, makin’ you erect, makin you follow me, makin’ me a suspect. Seem to think I’m playing’ her game don’t you know my name. That was her; this is me. We’re different as can be. She and I are nothin’ alike. You’re confusing day with night. That was then this is now. You wanna trust me but ya don’t know how. I’m never gonna mess around, let you down, can’t you see. That was her; and baby this is me…” They all sang

“Alright! You girls are great. I’ll be seeing you at tonight’s performance. Rehearsal is at 6:00. Be there.” Said Medda

That night at the performance…

“Everybody’s heah I’m so noivous.” Said Chris

“What’s dere ta be noivous about? Its just da guys an’ a couple a odda’ people dat’s all.”

“I guess yer right.”

“Alright girls yer up next.”

“Thanks Medda.” Said Mel

“Yer welcome.” Said Medda

“Alright take yer places da coitains are ‘bout ta open.” Said Mel. “Awright dis is just like practice. A 1-2-3.”

“She stole your heart.” Sang Melissa

“Only did it because she could.” Sang Mel

“Chewed you up and spat you out that girl never was no good.” Sang Chris

And they finished their song and changed to their regular clothes. Then they went to Medda to get paid for their performance.

“Alright girls here’s your pay. I’ll call you when we need an extra act ok. See ya next time.”

“Thanks Medda.”

“Don’t mention it.”

They waited for the guys back stage. When the guys came, Jack stayed to talk to Medda. Mel decided to wait for him. When he was through talking with Medda, Mel met up with Jack and they decided to take walk in Central Park.

“So what was your life before the strike.”

“Well ya know everythin’ I told ya, well all of it wasn’t true. I sort a was improvin’ da truth a liddle.”

“So tell me da truth.”

“Well after me an me sisters ran away from dat finishin’ school, we bought tickets ta Paris. We woiked at da Moulin Rouge. We were performers. Then the cops found out about us bein’ in Paris and dey went dere ta find us. Den we moved ta Manhattan, and all da things I told ya afta’ dat was true.”

“So dat’s what yer life was like? Da thing I want ta know is why ya didn’t ye tell me da truth.”

“Well it’s because we don’t want nobody ta know so dey wouldn’t call da cops on us.”

“Ya know I would nevah do dat.”

“I’se really sorry Jack. It’s jist dat my life so far has been a dream come true fer me and I didn’t want it ta end. Especially when I met youse everythin’ in my life became poifect. And if da cops did come afta’ me, I didn’t want ya involved. Ya might’ve gotten in deep trouble cuz a me.”

“Ya know what Mel? It’s been a dream come true fer me too.”

At that moment, they stopped walking and Jack pulled her close to him and brushed her hair from her face. For both of them, the whole world seemed to be empty and they were the only ones there. And Jack’s lips touched Mel’s and she deepened the kiss and when they finally pulled apart, little did they know that the conniving, Sarah Jacobs had been following them. She had seen the whole thing.

“Why that little twit!” She thought “I’ll get you for this Melanie Blake!” She yelled. Then she ran home to plot her first plan to get back at Mel.

“So she was following us dis whole time?” Said Mel

“Guess so.” Said Jack

“And youse was ‘er boyfriend? How da hell did you eva’ put up wid ‘er?”

“How should I’se know? Probably got bewitched er somethin’.”

“Well wese betta’ get goin’. It’s getting’ late.”

“Yeah.”