Chapter Sixteen

                                    

                                          
Now that the papes had been produced and distributed, phase two of the plan was set into motion. Jack, Davey, Spot, and I need to talk to Pulitzer.
                          
We don't bother waiting outside the office. Jack just opens the door and runs inside. Inside is Pulitzer himself, with many assistants surrounding him.
                          
"You can't just barge in here!" One of the assistants protests, chasing us inside.
                          
"Mornin', gents!" Jack exclaims merrily, slapping a copy of our pape onto Pulitzer's desk.
                          
"You're behind this." Pulitzer looks up from the pape to Jack. "We had a deal."
                          
 Jack nods, as if he had forgotten about the deal. "And it came with a money-back guarantee." He tosses the stack of dollar bills into the air in the general direction of the desk. "Oh, and thank you, for your lesson on the powers of the press." 
                          
"Did you read this, boss?" A man with glasses asks as he examines the pape. "These kids put out a pretty good paper. Very convincing."
                          
"No doubt written by my daughter." Pulitzer glances at the pape.
                          
Jack sits in one of the chairs in the office, draping his legs over the arm of the chair and lounging sideways. "Oh, I would sign her before somebody else grabs her," he adds.
                          
Pulitzer stands at his desk. "I demand to know who defied my ban on printing strike material!" 
                          
"Oh. No, we're your loyal employees, we'd never take our business elsewhere," Jack says, feigning surprise. 
                          
"That old printing press in the cellar," the man with glasses realizes.
                          
"Oh," the woman on the other side of Pulitzer says, drawing out the word.
                          
Jack just grins and gives a small shrug, waiting to see what Pulitzer'll do.
                          
"I made you the offer of a lifetime." He steps out from behind the large desk. "Anyone who does not act in his own self-interest is a fool."
                          
"What's that make you?" Davey shouts from across the office, startling me and making me jump slightly. "This all began because you wanted to sell more papers. But now, your circulation is down seventy percent. Why didn't you just come talk to us?"
                          
"Oh," Jack answers, "'cause guys like Joe don't talk to nobodies like us." He stands up. "But, a very wise reporter told me a real boss don't need all the answers. Nah. Just the smarts enough to snatch up the right one when he hears it."
                          
In the background, the voices of the newsies below us waft up through the window.
                          
Now is the time to seize the day!
Stare down the odds, and seize the day.
Minute by minute
That's how you win it.
We will find a way,
But let us seize the day.
                          
As they sing, we move over to the window to look at them. Jack laughs, and Spot removes his cap. "Have a look out there, Mr. Pulizter," my brother speaks up. "In case you ain't figured it out, we got ya surrounded." The four of us raise our arms and wave to the boys below, who return the gesture. Race gives me a wink, and I let out a soft laugh.
                          
Jack turns to Pulitzer with a smug grin. "New York is closed for business," he states. "Paralyzed. You can't get a paper or a shoe shine. You can't send a message, ride an elevator, or cross the Brooklyn Bridge. You can't even leave your own building. So, what's your next move?" 
                          
~~~~~
okay yeah, this was a short chapter. 
you guys!!!!!! 300 reads!! what?! that's crazy. thank you to everyone reading this, whether you're commenting and voting or not. 
as I always say, I appreciate any and all feedback or just commentary on the story, so feel free to comment. 
stay safe and stay healthy!