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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 16:15:26 GMT -5
Mousey was waiting in line to buy her papers like usual. She could have been at the front of the line, but she was much too shy. Most of the more popular and louder newsies were up there. She didn't think they'd like her to join them so she lingered toward the back of the line. While she waited, she glanced up at the headlines being written. She needed to get a head start on them so she'd be ready once she bought her papers. She really had to sell well today... She was getting a little behind on her payments at the lodge. Ms. Campbell said it was fine, but Mousey felt bad if she didn't catch up on the payments soon.
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 16:22:02 GMT -5
Mush had been a bit later with getting ready that morning, having stayed behind briefly to help one of the younger newsies finish bathing since everyone else was already leaving. Needless to say, when he got to the distribution center, the line was already quite long, and there was no way that he was just going to cut up to the front with his close friends. That wasn't the kind of person that he was. Instead, he made his way to the back, shifting his cap on his head slightly and shifting his weight slightly. He knew perfectly well that he could be getting a later start that day, but he was typically pretty good at selling all of his papes, normally getting done about mid-afternoon to early evening. However, as he shifted a bit to see if he could get a good idea of how long it would take, he nearly ran into a smaller girl. "'M sorry." He flashed her an apologetic smile, once again removing his cap.
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 16:27:28 GMT -5
"'M sorry."
Mousey let out a small squeak of surprise when someone bumped her. She hadn't been expecting that. Her eyes widened a bit as the boy apologized a bit sheepishly.
"It's f-fine," she murmured, tucking a hair behind her ear and looking down shyly.
She had seen Mush from afar, never this close. It was slightly intimidating to see one of boys she admired up close. Maybe too close... She was feeling very exposed with his attention, brief though it was. Most people didn't notice her even if they did bump her. She just didn't stand out. It wasn't a problem though. She didn't like too much attention. It made her a little nervous. Though... it would be nice to have a friend.
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 16:35:53 GMT -5
"It's f-fine."
The girl's voice was quiet, and slightly shaky. It was obvious that she was nervous, and most likely shy, as well. Those were things that Mush completely understood. When he had first come to be a newsie, he had been one of the shyest things on the face of the earth. It was meeting Blink that had brought him out of his shell. Anyone could get a friend like that, and he was suddenly determined to be that one friend for her. He knew how much it helped, especially with selling.
"What's yer name?" He grinned at her again, sticking out his hand for her to shake, despite the fact that he was probably still a bit dirty. "I'm Mush."
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 16:40:12 GMT -5
"What's yer name?"
Mousey looked up at him in surprise. She hadn't expected that he'd stick around to talk with her. "Ali-I mean... Mousey," she answered quietly and blushed. It probably wouldn't be the best idea to be spouting off her real name. She hoped she wouldn't slip up or anything. It wasn't every day she got to meet one of the guys who helped with the strike.
"I'm Mush."
She smiled shyly, revealing her dimples as she timidly shook his hand. It was rather small compared to his. "Nice to meet you."
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 16:42:53 GMT -5
"Ali-I mean... Mousey."
Mush grinned slightly, although he figured that he probably shouldn't bring up the small slip up that she had towards the beginning of her sentence. "Nice ta meet ya." He shook her hand, her hand being small and shy, almost like she seemed.
"Nice to meet you."
"Ya don't need ta be noivous." He smiled a bit. "I ain't gonna hurt ya. I ain't like that. None of us newsies are." He wanted her to feel a bit more comfortable with him, so he figured that it was a place to start. "Where do ya do yer sellin'?"
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 16:50:56 GMT -5
"Nice ta meet ya."
Mousey felt her blush creep back up her cheeks. It was weird, but very very nice to hear that he felt like it was nice to meet her. She hadn't heard nice words like that in awhile.
"Ya don't need ta be noivous."
She lowered her eyes and looked down at her feet sheepishly. "'M sorry..."
She didn't mean to be nervous. It just came so naturally at times. And since she had no friends, she was always on her toes.
"I ain't gonna hurt ya. I ain't like that. None of us newsies are."
She quickly nodded. She didn't think Mush would hurt her or any of the others. They were just a little scary at times. She had seen them fight with others, and well, she didn't want to ever be caught in that sort of mess.
"Where do ya do yer sellin'?"
She gave him a light shrug. "Near the park mostly..." Her cheeks reddened. "I'm really bad at sellin' and don't go out too far from the distribution center."
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 16:55:58 GMT -5
"'M sorry..."
Mush felt a bit bad about making her feel as though she had something to apologize for, so he quickly shook his head. "You didn't do anythin' wrong. There's no need for apologizin'." He added quickly. Suddenly, he wished that he had remained the shy person that he had been for just a little bit longer so that he could remember what Blink would do to get him to come out of his shell. He didn't seem to be doing all that well.
"Near the park mostly..."
Mush smiled a bit. He had heard plenty of good stories about people selling in the park. Blink had gone there for a day once and he had been done selling his papes before the end of the lunchtime rush. The redness on the girl's cheeks sent a bashful smile to his own lips, although he did his best to push it away. Now ain't the time ta be mushy.
"I'm really bad at sellin' and don't go out too far from the distribution center."
Perfect. That would work.
"Well, why don't ya come sellin' with me taday? I could help ya out with some things and ya could make some more money. Just buy like ten extra papes an' we could work out way up from there." He suggested, trying his best to seem friendly and not terrifying, although it was a bit of a shot in the dark, at that point.
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 17:18:49 GMT -5
"You didn't do anythin' wrong. There's no need for apologizin'."
Mousey shifted from foot to foot some. "S-sorry..." She looked up at him shyly and apologetically. "For... apologizin'..."
"Well, why don't ya come sellin' with me taday?
Her silver blue eyes widened in surprise. "You... want me to sell with you?"
She never thought anyone would want to sell with her. She wasn't good at it and barely had a yell in her.
"I could help ya out with some things and ya could make some more money. Just buy like ten extra papes an' we could work out way up from there."
Her cheeks were pink, and not just from shyness. He wanted to help her! It was such a strange feeling. She really did need help, and he offered so sweetly.
She gave him another shy smile. "I'd like that... I'd like that alot."
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 17:25:06 GMT -5
"For... apologizin'..."
The boy let out a light laugh, shaking his head. "Don't be. I used ta be just like ya, y'know? Ya can get over it after a while. It jus' takes someone ya trust enough ta open up ta." He shrugged a bit. It was harder than it sounded, but he had been through it before, so he knew that all too well.
"You... want me to sell with you?"
Mush didn't laugh this time, instead shooting the girl a sympathetic smile and continuing to move up with her in the line. "Yeah, absolutely. You're nice, ya just gotta show it off in a different way, y'know? I'll show ya for a while, and then I'll help ya along. By the end of the week, ya could be peddlin' fifty papes a day easily." He stated confidently.
"I'd like that... I'd like that alot."
Her smile brightened his features quite easily, his brown eyes lighting up. "Good! Good, that's great." He grinned, his own cheeks turning a bit pink. "It'll be fun. I promise. Maybe if we're done by lunch we could go ta Tibby's or somethin'." He replied. It would be a good way to use his money. He had been saving up just a tiny bit extra for a while to take him and Blink to Tibby's for lunch one day, but Blink had been looking around for new places to sell lately, so he figured that it would be a good idea to bring Mousy along with him. It could be good for getting to know her, too. "How many papes do ya usually get?"
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 17:35:16 GMT -5
"Don't be. I used ta be just like ya, y'know? Ya can get over it after a while. It jus' takes someone ya trust enough ta open up ta."
Mousey looked up at him curiously. It was hard for her to imagine him being anything like her. After all, she had seen how brave he was over the past year. There was no way he could have been shy like her. He seemed to have a purpose and knew what it was. She didn't really have a purpose... She was struggling to keep up with one day at a time.
"Yeah, absolutely. You're nice, ya just gotta show it off in a different way, y'know? "
She found herself blushing once more. Her heart was all fluttery. She swore Mush could probably hear how fast it was beating! She could hardly believe he was wanting to sell with her. He even thought she was nice! It was like a crazy but good dream come true.
"Good! Good, that's great."
She mustered up the courage to meet his eyes and smile back. "Gl-glad you think so."
"It'll be fun. I promise. Maybe if we're done by lunch we could go ta Tibby's or somethin'."
Mousey's stomach almost rumbled at the thought of going to Tibby's. She hadn't eaten there in forever! The food was really good, but she really couldn't afford it. She gave him a weak smile. "Yeah... it'll be fun, but um... I don't know about Tibby's," she admitted quietly.
"How many papes do ya usually get?"
Her face was now red with embarrassment as she mumbled, "Twelve..."
It was a sad little number, but it was all she could really afford. And well, that was the best she could do. She had tried selling more when she had the money. It just didn't work and was a waste on the little money she did have.
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 17:43:42 GMT -5
"Gl-glad you think so."
Upon finally seeing her raise her eyes to his again, Mush was grinning despite himself. Normally, he was perfectly fine talking to girls and being cool. It was how he sold most of his papes, since he had always been told that his charm and romantic nature were going to be things that girls loved. Sure enough, it was true, although he hadn't found a girl for him yet. He saw that as a problem. Now, he had met a girl who seemed shy beyond belief, and he wandered if she was going to be best at selling in the same way.
"Ya haven't given me any reason not ta think so. Ya should be thankin' yourself." He smiled a bit, determined to keep her feeling as though she could look up into his eyes without there being any problem with it.
"Yeah... it'll be fun, but um... I don't know about Tibby's,"
Mush was shocked. She didn't know about Tibby's? How was that possible? "Oh, well I'm just gonna have ta take ya there then. It's real good. The food's great, 'n' it's cheap enough ta pay for sometimes." He grinned at the thought.
"Twelve..."
Mush nodded. If she wasn't confident with her skills, then such a small number made sense. Since it was so small, though, he wasn't going to push her to order as many as he did right away. "Alright, sounds good. Try orderin' twenty taday, alright? I'll help ya sell 'em all." He smiled kindly.
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 17:49:21 GMT -5
"Ya haven't given me any reason not ta think so. Ya should be thankin' yourself."
Mousey lowered her eyes slightly, but not as much as she had bee doing. She was feeling a little overwhelmed but ratehr grateful for his praise. It was nice... to be appreciated.
"Oh, well I'm just gonna have ta take ya there then. It's real good. The food's great, 'n' it's cheap enough ta pay for sometimes."
She laughed ever so softly at his misunderstanding, something she hadn't done in ages. "Ah no... I um," she tried not to rush her words due to her nervousness. "I've been... to Tibby's once. Just um..." She looked down at her hands in embarrassment. "I can't really afford it."
"Alright, sounds good. Try orderin' twenty taday, alright? I'll help ya sell 'em all."
She looked up at him slightly surprised he hadn't mentioned how small the number was. The other girls teased her about it. She nodded slowly. Twenty seemed reasonable enough. She could afford that and with Mush helping it wouldn't be a total waste. "Th-thank you."
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 17:53:30 GMT -5
"I've been... to Tibby's once. Just um..."
Mush let out an audible sigh of relief. She had been to Tibby's. That was definitely good.
"I can't really afford it."
Mush frowned, "Well, what kind o' gentleman would I be if I told ya that you were gonna pay for yourself? It's on me. My treat. All ya have ta do ta pay me back is try your best when you're out sellin' with me this mornin'." He smiled a bit.
"Th-thank you."
Mush grinned, finally stepping up to the counter. "No problem." He smiled a bit, walking up to Mr. Wiesel and laying down his money. "Sixty papes, please." He mumbled, promptly receiving them as he stepped down a few steps, turning to watch Mousey.
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 19:34:10 GMT -5
"Well, what kind o' gentleman would I be if I told ya that you were gonna pay for yourself? It's on me. My treat."
Mousey found her eyes widened in surprise. He was offering to buy for her? But why? She was grateful... but how could she pay him back?
"All ya have ta do ta pay me back is try your best when you're out sellin' with me this mornin'."
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Ah.. thank you," she said softly. "I'll do my best... but um I'm not really good."
"No problem."
Her cheeks were a light pink as she made it up to the counter behind Mush. He was really sweet and nice. It almost made her wonder why she hadn't tried talking to him or one of the other boys before. She quickly realized why she did when she spotted the Delancy brothers. They made her very nervous.
"Tw-twenty papes!" she quickly said, sliding her money over to Mr. Wiesel. She bit her lip nervously, hating how slow they were at getting her papers. She lowered her eyes, wishing the Delancys would jsut go away.
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 19:44:18 GMT -5
"I'll do my best... but um I'm not really good."
Mush smiled sympathetically, "If you're terrible, then all ya can do is get better at it, right?" He shrugged a bit. Mush was known for a positive and slightly naive attitude at times amongst the boys, although sometimes he would find ways to cheer people up that they had never thought about before. He figured that something like that was special enough for him to be happy about it.
"Tw-twenty papes!"
Mush nodded briefly, watching as the Delanceys slowly began counting out her papers, as though they were teasing her about it or something like that. He walked back up the steps, standing beside her and shooting the boys a dark glare. While Mush was - well, mushy - there was no denying that the boy knew how to fight, and he was strong. Much stronger than either one of the Delancey brothers.
Sure enough, the papers were out in no time.
"If they keep botherin' ya like that, just tell me. I can fix things." He replied, although he wasn't even referring to using violence. Just glaring at them and scaring them worked just as well when it was someone like Mush. He was one of the strongest and most muscular newsies in Manhattan, despite being younger.
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 19:57:13 GMT -5
"If you're terrible, then all ya can do is get better at it, right?"
Mousey cocked her head to the side, smiling slightly as she nodded. She hadn't thought of it that way before. You couldn't get any worse when you're terrible. You could only get better.
"If they keep botherin' ya like that, just tell me. I can fix things."
She looked at Mush once again in surprise before sneaking a glance at the Delancy brothers. It seemed like they were intimidated by Mush. That was something she had never seen from the Delancys when she was buying papers.
"Th-thank you," she said quietly, straightening her papers. It was odd carrying so many. She gave him her brightest smile. "I appreciate it."
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 20:06:03 GMT -5
"Th-thank you."
Mush nodded slightly, nodding briefly towards the gates in an attempt to make a smooth motion telling her to follow him. "I guess there's one good thing about havin' someone like me around. I can scare people." He shrugged, laughing softly. "So how do ya normally sell your papes?" He asked, wanting to see the foundation that she had so that he could know where to start with teaching her.
"I appreciate it."
The smile on her face was quickly mirrored on his own, as well as the pinkish tint on his cheeks flushing just a bit darker. "It's nothin', nothin' ta thank me about. It's what any respectable person would've done." He smiled a bit.
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 20:26:42 GMT -5
"I guess there's one good thing about havin' someone like me around. I can scare people."
Mousey gave him a small smile and shook her head some. "I don't think you sc-scare people... you are just a little um, intimidating at times?" She blushed not sure if she had chosen the right words.
"So how do ya normally sell your papes?"
She pursed her lips some. "Well... I just pick out the good headlines. At least, um the ones I think are good."
"It's nothin', nothin' ta thank me about. It's what any respectable person would've done."
She smiled back. "It really ain't nothin'... at least not to me," she added shyly.
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 20:51:50 GMT -5
"I don't think you sc-scare people... you are just a little um, intimidating at times?"
Mush laughed loudly, shaking his head. "No, I scare people. It's kinda the same thing, I think. I don't really mind." He shrugged, "Besides, intimidatin' someone when the guys get near goils like ya is always a good thing ta be able ta do. I don't want any guy hurtin' ya." He confirmed firmly.
"Well... I just pick out the good headlines. At least, um the ones I think are good."
Mush smiled a bit, gesturing to the bustling streets, full of people heading off to work for the day in the factories or wherever their jobs were. "Show me what ya do." He smiled kindly. "If ya need help, I'll help ya. Then we can get to my place and I can give ya more advice on the way."
"It really ain't nothin'... at least not to me."
Mush smiled. He liked Mousey. She was sweet, and kind. She wasn't like most of the girls were around him, and he really liked that. It was nice not to feel like an object to someone for once, although he often times had to put himself in that position to sell papes anyway. He had gotten used to it after a while. "Well, then thanks for thankin' me. But it's not a problem. We newsies have ta stick together."
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 21:27:50 GMT -5
"No, I scare people. It's kinda the same thing, I think. I don't really mind."
Mousey was slightly startled by his loud laugh, but she had to admit it was a nice laugh. "You... don't scare me," she mentioned quietly.
Mush had never scared her. After all, she had been admiring him and the other boys from afar. If there was anyone that scared her, it was probably Spot Conlon and the Delancy brothers.
"Besides, intimidatin' someone when the guys get near goils like ya is always a good thing ta be able ta do. I don't want any guy hurtin' ya."
She nodded slowly. It was really nice knowing that Mush wanted to look after her. It was comforting and made her actually look forward to selling for once.
"Show me what ya do. If ya need help, I'll help ya. Then we can get to my place and I can give ya more advice on the way."
Mousey nodded again, grateful for the support and help Mush was offering her. She already felt like she could sell all twenty papers by herself. She adjusted the papers in her arms once more and glanced back up at the headlines. "Well... this one um looks good." She lifted up the newspaper some so Mush could see. "Says somethin' about the harbor floodin' near the bridge."
"Well, then thanks for thankin' me. But it's not a problem. We newsies have ta stick together."
She found herself grinning (and probably rather stupidly, but she didn't care). "Y-yeah..." She shyly met his eyes. "We do need to stick together."
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 21:35:04 GMT -5
"You... don't scare me."
Mush chuckled a bit at her words, taking his cap off once again and running his fingers through his hair. "Thanks, Mousey. Ya don't scare me, either... And I haven't seen any reason ta scare ya, so that's probably a good thing." He shrugged a bit.
"Well... this one um looks good."
Mush glanced over her shoulder at the article, seeing the tiny words of fine print, but above all, the headline. It was catchy compared to some of the others, especially with the fact that there was danger involved in it. That always seemed to sell more papes just on its own. "'S a good one." He nodded a bit.
"We do need to stick together."
Mush nodded in confirmation, his own goofy grin settling over his lips. "Yeah, so I'm not about ta let ya keep goin' on sellin' twelve papes a day for the rest of your life. Although I've done lower before, so don't feel bad. Now I've made my way up, and you can, too." He smiled.
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 21:51:45 GMT -5
"Thanks, Mousey. Ya don't scare me, either... And I haven't seen any reason ta scare ya, so that's probably a good thing."
Mousey giggled softly. It was weird to think someone small like her could ever scare anyone as brave as Mush. She was glad she didn't scare him, even though she highly doubted she ever could. Well, maybe if she snuck up on him, but that wasn't likely. "Glad... wouldn't want to scare anyone."
"'S a good one."
She was practically beaming at Mush's praise. It was sweet, and she was savoring every moment with him, because she wasn't sure when something like this would happen again.
"Yeah, so I'm not about ta let ya keep goin' on sellin' twelve papes a day for the rest of your life."
Mousey blushed a little. Twelve papers was pretty bad, wasn't it? But things would get much better now that Mush was helping her sell.
"Although I've done lower before, so don't feel bad. Now I've made my way up, and you can, too."
She returned his smile, grateful that he didn't think badly of her for selling such a low number. And with his help, she might be able to reach a bigger number. "I sure hope so."
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Post by Mush on Jul 6, 2016 21:57:08 GMT -5
"Glad... wouldn't want to scare anyone."
Mush laughed. She was one of the only people that he had met who didn't like scaring anyone, along with maybe Specs and Dutchy, but it was just because they were far too nice. She was as sweet and meek as a mouse, from what he could tell, so her name seemed to suit her extremely well.
"I sure hope so."
Mush grinned playfully at her slightly insecure words, shaking his head. "Can I tell ya a secret?" He leaned in to her ear, brushing her hair aside gently before whispering quietly, "I know so."
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Post by Mousey on Jul 6, 2016 22:12:41 GMT -5
"Can I tell ya a secret?"
Mousey looked at him curiously. He wanted to share a secret? With her? She tried not to nod too eagerly. She was very curious at what sort of secret he'd be willing to share with her! Not matter if what stupid or not, she'd keep his secret real good.
"I know so."
She swore Mush could feel the heat of her face in response to his words. Her heart was almost literally beating out of her chest. She looked up at him eyes wide. "You really think so?"
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