3rd POV
Once again it was time for Jesse and Miles Tuck to leave Treegap for another ten years. After the family's adventure with whinnie foster, they were ready to for a little bit of normality and what better that the bustling streets of manhattan where nobody takes the time to know your name and its so busy that miles and Jesse could stay there for the whole ten years and no one would even notice a thing. Or so they thought.
Their plan worked for about five years. In the eyes of their neighbors Jesse should be 22 and Miles should be 25 but they both looked 17 and 20. Neighbors started to snoop and figure out why the boys weren't aging so Miles decided that it was time for them to leave. But Jesse didn't want to go. He loved New York. He remembered telling Winnie about the brooklyn bridge and he liked that every time he stood on the bridge he would remember the adventures the two shared and he could hope, though he found it unlikely that Winnie would drink the water and he would go back to treegap and they could live together forever.
With the boys disagreement they went their separate ways. It was only after Miles had left that Jesse relized that he had no money and no place to stay. As he wandered the streets he noticed the boys that stood on almost every corner selling newspapers. He studied them for about a month. He noticed things like how the younger ones and the ones with limps and other such disabilities sold more than the healthy or older ones. So he got himself a crutch and decided to try it out. It took a while for him to get the whole pretending to be a crip thing down but when he did it was almost second nature to him. He huddled in a side alley debating weather or not to go through with his plan, when he heard footsteps coming towards him and stoping right above him. He tentatively looked up and saw a boy no older than 17 standing in front of him.
Jack POV
Extra Extra i yell into a crowd of people. A kind looking old woman walked up the sidewalk and slide up beside her and make my move. "Why hello miss, may i just say you look beautiful today, not a day over thirty would you like a paper" the woman blushed and handed me a quarter in exchange for my last pape. Old people are so easy i thought to myself as i walk down the street my pockets heavy with coins. As i walked back towards the lodging house i saw a boy. He couldn't be any older than me huddling in a dark alley. I also noticed a crutch laying down by his side. I sized him up before i decided that he would make a perfect newsie. He had a kind looking face which was sure to win the hearts of all the ladies and the crutch was an added bonus.
I made my way over to him and he looked up cosiously. He looked scared like i was going to hurt him which made me internally chuckle. "Hi I'm Jack, Jack Kelly. What's your name" i ask as i hold a hand out to him. He reaches out for his crutch and takes my hand as i pull him up. "I'm Jesse, Jesse Tuck". I furrow my brow thinking. "No" I finally decide, "no? What do you mean by no?" He asks. " i mean from now on your name is Crutchie". "Crutchie" he says out loud. "What's wrong with my name" he asks. I look at him amused. "Well by the looks of it you have no money, no family, and no where to go. Kids like that either end up in the refuge or working in a sweatshop. I myself am a newsie which is better than either of those options and i guess i just assumed you would come back with me and be one too but i guess not." Jack said looking at me out of the side of his eye. "I'll go with you but that still doesn't explain the name" the boy says looking at me. "Well all newsies have names, its a way of putting your past behind you and starting fresh, most of us dont have very good pasts and real names are just reminders of what has happened to us." I say looking down sadly . "Oh" he says softly "well then Crutchie it is" he says more cheerfuly making it impossible for me not to let out a small laugh. We dont really talk much as we make our way to the lodging house.
Crutchie POV
As we approach the lodging house i see another boy entering from a different direction. "Hey Racer, how was your day at the track" jack asks the other boy. "Good" the boy says in a strong brooklyn accent which confuses me a bit but i just brush it off. "Who's this you got with you today " the boy asks pointing at me. Jack looks over as if he forgot i was there. "Oh, this is Crutchie i found him on the streets so now hes going to be a newsie" the boy looked at me for a long time before shrugging and spitting on his hand and putting it out for me to shake. I look at jack who just nods and i grimace before spitting into my own palm and shaking his hand.
"Racetrack Higgins but you can call me Race" the boy, Race says to me before turning around and walking inside. "Wow people here do have weird names i mutter to myself before following Jack inside.
A/N
I'm considering doing a second part comment down below if you think i should.
Thanks
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