The Distribution Center -- Crates

[davidjacobs]

"Mabel Fitzpatrick. I - I work around here."

"David Jacobs," he said, shaking her hand. "I used to." Then he contemplated her statement a little more closely and couldn't help wondering if her employment was entirely - well - wholesome.

"What kind of work do you do?" he asked, giving her the benefit of the doubt. "I used to push papers."

[mabel]

Mabel, surprised to hear he used to sell papers, no longer felt quite so embarrassed. Clearly, the boy had done quite well, considering his paper selling past. Mabel was equal parts relieved and encouraged.

"What kind of work do you do?" he asked, giving her the benefit of the doubt. "I used to push papers."

Mabel laughed nervously, nodding her heads towards the distribution window. "I guess we have a bit in common... I used to sell papers, too. Until very recently, as a matter of fact. Either I misplaced a penny or two or the prices have gone up."

[davidjacobs]

I guess we have a bit in common... I used to sell papers, too. Until very recently, as a matter of fact. Either I misplaced a penny or two or the prices have gone up."

David smiled. "Great! I learned a lot selling - wait, the price has gone up?" His eyes snapped over to the window.

"Not again," he groaned, clutching his book tightly in his hand as he stared at the new price. "This is an outrage! They think they can just wear us down bit by bit." He sighed, passing a hand across his face. "And they're probably right." He had been so sure they had made a difference last time, but maybe it had all been for nothing.

Realizing Mabel had no idea what he was talking about, he forced a weak smile. "Anyone complaining yet?"

[mabel]

Mabel realized that this David fellow had probably been around when the prices went up before and that explained his little outburst. She didn't know much about the previous strike--only that the newsies had been successful in getting the prices brought back down. The short-lived victory gave Mabel little hope for a resolution this time around, though.

"Anyone complaining yet?"

Mabel shrugged, "I suppose people are mumbling... I wouldn't really know." She still wasn't comfortable intruding on the other Newsies conversations. "But I'll tell you one thing: no one's doing anything about it... that Mr. Kelly seems to be the go-to guy, but I'm not convinced he's doing anything."

[davidjacobs]

"I suppose people are mumbling... I wouldn't really know." She still wasn't comfortable intruding on the other Newsies conversations. "But I'll tell you one thing: no one's doing anything about it... that Mr. Kelly seems to be the go-to guy, but I'm not convinced he's doing anything."

David blinked. "Mr. Kelly - ? Oh, you mean Jack." David chuckled. He was unable to imagine anyone calling Jack, "Mr. Kelly." His smile faded. "Jack's not doing anything?" He couldn't imagine Jack letting this pass without a fight.

Then again, he thought as he looked up at the window, the newsies were generally an army of urchins and orphans; they could only take so much abuse without breaking. And Pulitzer knew that, damn him.

He looked down at the the book clutched in his hands. "They can't do this to us again."

[mabel]

Mabel raised her eyebrows incredulously, "Well, with all due respect, David, apparently they can." She motioned to the distribution window, "They have. And, until that changes, I'm going to be very hungry." Mabel sighed heavily, turning to return to her crate before pausing.

"But..." She put a finger to her lips and turned her gaze back on David, "But you know Mr.- Jack. You seem to have your wits about you--maybe you could knock some sense into him. You are his friend, aren't you? I bet he's in the lodging house right now, waiting for someone like David Jacobs to push him to action."

It was unlike Mabel to be so forward with a stranger, but, as much as the prospect of a strike frightened her, the waiting around drove her up a wall. Maybe this David fellow could take it up with the powers that be reasonably--maybe his education provided him with the kind of connections that could get them out of this rut.

[Dodger Samuels]

"Aye he knows Mr. Jack as ya call him well, my gel. This here is the great walkin mouth!" Dodger he walked up behind the girl and grinned at David. Before he'd become the leader of the Bronx he'd been a Manhattan newsie, and was no stranger to most of them.

"Hey Davey, I'm hearin things I'm not sure I like-- ya know where I can find Cowboy?" seeing and hearing, his own kids were starting to get restless. He could only protect so many at a time and with a strike-- it settled badly on his shoulders as well.

[davidjacobs]

David couldn't help laughing. "Jack listen to me?" he scoffed. "Not unless it suits him." In his heart, David knew that was unfair. Jack had always been sensible in his way, which was why it so surprising that he was lying low. The only way to win this time was to act before the high prices starved the newsies into submission.

"Aye he knows Mr. Jack as ya call him well, my gel. This here is the great walkin mouth!"

David couldn't help wincing at Dodger's interesting introduction. He appreciated the sentiment, but it really was unpleasant to be primarily known as a walking body part - mouth or otherwise. He forced a smile. "Sorry, Dodger," he said. "I haven't seen Jack lately. I've been spending most of my time at school. I'm surprised he kept this to himself, though." He waved his book at the window. "How are you handling it?" David knew some newsies would make it through the price hike easily; others wouldn't be so lucky.

[mabel]

"Aye he knows Mr. Jack as ya call him well, my gel. This here is the great walkin mouth!"

Mabel turned so that she could look between both David and Dodger. Though Mabel had never spoken to the Bronx leader, she had heard his name tossed around quite frequently. Yes, this was what they needed: a coming together of the boroughs--some kind of meeting to get something going, strike or otherwise.

Smiling slightly at David's nickname, Mabel nodded at him, "The walking mouth? How'd you earn yourself that nickname?" Truth be told, The Walking Mouth wasn't that unusual when there were Cowboys and Snoddys and Racetracks running about.

"Sorry, Dodger," he said. "I haven't seen Jack lately. I've been spending most of my time at school. I'm surprised he kept this to himself, though." He waved his book at the window. "How are you handling it?"

"Well, there is the simplest solution: find Jack and, well, talk to him." Mabel interjected with a certain frankness. "You're all reasonable gentlemen... I do believe a reasonable meeting is an order." She nodded at David, "I bet he'd be happy to see an old friend, too."

[Dodger Samuels]

Dodger lifted a brow at the wince and just grinned, giving David hell seemed to be something the Londonite had enjoyed for a great stretch of his time at the Manhattan Lodging House. Heckling in his own way but never making it to complete upset.

"The walking mouth? How'd you earn yourself that nickname?"

Dodger had to laugh, answering before David could speak, "Because he has a way with words, love. He's a smart lad, I'll give him that much-- but he lets that mouth of his run a mile quick.."

Nodding the Bronx leader tipped his hat, tipping it off of his head and then tapping it back into place, "Well that seems to be the general like minded thinking around here, and I happen to be one of the minds-- We'll have ta talk to JackJack... and probably Spot and Prince too.."

[davidjacobs]

"Well that seems to be the general like minded thinking around here, and I happen to be one of the minds-- We'll have ta talk to JackJack... and probably Spot and Prince too.."

David nodded. "That's exactly what we have to do. We'll all have to work together again."

David flipped open his book and reread a familiar passage. "What we have to do first is try to peacefully negotiate with Pulitzer," he said. "And if that doesn't work, well..." he trailed off, pretty sure that he didn't have to finish that sentence. If Pulitzer didn't listen, then he didn't know what they would do. Some people would want to strike, of course, but others couldn't afford to be out of work. Why couldn't Pulitzer just do the right thing for once? David thought. He snorted. Why not indeed?

With a sigh, David turned back to the others. "We should find Jack, then move on to the other leaders. We need to know where everyone stands before we do anything."

[mabel]

"We should find Jack, then move on to the other leaders. We need to know where everyone stands before we do anything."

Mabel nodded with a confident smile, "That's what I've been saying all along." That said, Mabel would have never confronted the Manhattan leader on her own--she did not have that kind of initiative. Untying the ribbon of her sun hat, she used it to fan herself, swiping the back of her hand across her forehead. The bloody heat would be the death of her.

She was impressed with David's calm plan of action. He was exactly the voice of reason the newsies needed (had Mabel known him during the first strike, she would have already known this, of course.)

"So," She began with a deliberate slowness, "I don't suppose you two are off to see Jack now."

Mabel was terribly impatient.

[les]

After Les had some breakfast at his apartment, he was going to The World Building to see David, knowing that he was probably there. Les saw David with the leader, Dodger and another girl that he hasn't met before. He kept walking forward, looking up at the price board. As most people already knew, the price for the papers was soaring yet again.

"Hey Davey, what are ya tawkin' 'bout?" He asked with a smile on his face looking at his brother, then turning to the girl. "I'm Les, Davey's little brother. What's yoah name?"

[Dodger Samuels]

With a sigh, David turned back to the others. "We should find Jack, then move on to the other leaders. We need to know where everyone stands before we do anything."

Dodger nodded, "You do that lad, I'm going to go and see how me girls are fairin... I'll check back with you tomorrow afternoon at the lodging house, hopefully Jack'll be there.." He gave David a fond pat on the back and sighed. "I know what you're sayin', but I think this time-- we might need to think a bit smarter then last time, never try the same card trick on the same street corner, it always ends badly.."

With a soft smile to Mabel he tipped his hat, "I'll see you at the lodging house, love.." Parting by ruffling Les's hair he made his way for home. This set him ill at ease.

[davidjacobs]

"I know what you're sayin', but I think this time-- we might need to think a bit smarter then last time, never try the same card trick on the same street corner, it always ends badly.."

"But what else is there to do?" David sighed. Either Pulitzer would listen to them or he wouldn't. They had no other recourse. There was no one else to turn to. The newsies could only bargain themselves. It was all they had.

Turning to Mabel and Les, David shrugged. "I suppose I should find Jack," he said. "And maybe I can see what other newsies are saying about this."

He gave Les a firm look. "Now you, what are you doing here by yourself?" His brother had become pretty streetwise over the years, but David still didn't like stumbling across him in the middle of the city with no supervision in sight - especially not in these troubled times.