Innocent Suspects, Guilty Witnesses

By Aki-wokie

Manhattan newsies Jason Masterson, Cody O’Harrison, and Micheal Guadioso has all just joined the.  They mostly kept to themselves.  Most of the newsies in the area hadn’t quite trusted the newcomers yet, so they were a bit cautious of them.

 Jason, also known as Snitch (for obvious reasons), was the first to arrive. He was a loner, until Itey (Micheal, but no known reasons for why his nickname is Itey) arrived about two moths later.

 Snitch and Itey became fast friends. They began to do everything together. Sell together, eat together, even sleep in the same bunk together, but only because their were no other bunks open.

 Cody came into the picture a month after Itey. Cody, also known as Jake because no one knew his real name, was shunned by most of the newsies when he first arrived, because of his Irish heritage. Itey and Snitch quickly accepted him in their close friendship.

 “Itey! Come heah!” Danger, the leader of the Manhattan newsies, called.

 Itey groaned and followed the voice down to the lobby. “What?” 

“Have you seen Chattah?” he questioned, eyeing Itey intently. “She isn’t wid Blink an’ she should have been home by now.”

 Itey shook his head. “I’se haven’t seen ‘er. Sorry.”

 Danger waved his hand, dismissing Itey. Itey sighed and returned upstairs to the bunkroom.

 Snitch noticed him and grinned. “What did youse do dis time?”

 Itey glared at him. “’E asked for Chattah. Askin’ if I seen ‘er.”

 Snitch shook his head. “I’se haven’t seen ‘er all day.”

 “Speakin’ of disappearin’ acts,” Itey started, glancing around, “wheah’s Jake?”

 Snitch only shrugged. Just then, the door creaked open and Jake sauntered in, sporting a black eye and bloody lip.

 “Jake, what happened?” Itey asked, jumping up and going to examine the damage done to his friend.

 Jake groaned. “I was coming home from visting Lucky, when I was pulled into an alley.” He touched his lip, noticed the blood, and grimaced before adding, “Queens are getting tougher.”

 Manhattan and Queens were in the middle of a bloody turf war. The newsies didn’t care who it was, if they were from the opposing side, they received a good soaking. No one on either side was safe.

 “Don’ let Dangah find out,” Snitch commented. 

“Jake!”

 All three newsboys flinched.  “Too late,” the mumbled in unison.

 Jake sought out the leader and sighed. “Yes?”

 “What happened?” Danger demanded.

 “Queens,” he replied in his faint Irish accent.

 Danger clenched his fists. “Queens are really asking for it.” Jake could see a furious fire burning in the leader’s commanding hazel eyes.