Hey guys, so this is just something I wrote when I was bored. It could go on as a multi-chapter if you want more. It's just an idea I had floating around in my head.

"Everybody shut up and sit down!" Davey bellowed.

The Lodging House was filled with loud, rambunctious boys and Davey was trying to take control. Jack could have helped, of course, but he was more content to sit back and laugh at Davey's attempts.

"Try taking someone's hat," Jack chuckled. "That'll get them to listen."

Davey glared. "Nice try." He resumed his shouting. "Newsies! Do you want to do this or not?"

"Sure we do," Les said, running by, "We just ain't ready yet."

It took a while to get them all to cooperate. After Jack had pulled Race off Henry, given Romeo his hat back, and Davey had calmed everyone else down, they sat in a lopsided circle, ready to begin. Boys rested on the floor, against beds, in old chairs, on pillows...everywhere there was an open spot. Davey was at the head of the group, sitting beside Jack on a bunk. Les sat on the floor and rested his head against his older brother's knees. Davey waited until everyone was quiet before speaking. "Okay. Everyone remembers how this works, right?"

They did. They'd done this once before. Going around the circle, each boy asked a question. Then everyone answered the question individually. It sounded simple, but of course there were always problems. Arguments broke out, everyone felt the need to comment on everyone else's answer, and Davey had to call for order every other minute. It was chaotic, but the newsies loved it for some reason. Everybody got really into it, too. The questions were varied. Some were stupid, some were funny, and then there were the ones who got really deep. Last time, three newsies had confessed what they described as the darkest secret of their hearts, and four newsies had burst into tears when it was their turn. And yet, when Davey brought up the suggestion the day before, everyone had voted to do it again.

"Okay. So who wants to start?"

There was a burst of movement and almost everyone started shouting. "Me! Me! I wanna start! Pick me! Me!"

"I'll start," Davey said, rolling his eyes.

After some grumbling, the boys quieted down again and looked at Davey expectantly. He gave Jack a pompous look. "All right. My question is: if you had the option of remaining youthful for eternity, would you?"

There was silence. Davey turned to Jack, who glanced around at the others. Everyone shrugged.

"Uh, Davey? Wanna say that again in English?"

Davey sighed, clearly expecting a better reaction. "If you could stay young forever, would you?"

A murmur of understanding passed around the room. Jack nodded thoughtfully.

"Hmm...like, never grow up, you're saying?" Davey nodded. Jack thought a little more. "Would I never die, then?"

Davey gave a little snort of impatience. "Whatever you like. I'm just asking if you'd rather stay young forever or grow up to be a man."

"You saying I ain't a man?" Jack asked.

"Jack, just answer the question already!" Davey said in exasperation.

"Alright, alright, keep your pants on. I'm gonna have to say no. I wanna grow up."

There was an outbreak of angry shouts.

"What?"

"Jack, you'se our leader!"

"You can't leave us!"

"I ain't saying I'm growing up right now!" Jack exclaimed, looking a little surprised at the protests. "I ain't leaving you yet! But hold on, think about it! When I'm a man, the adults are gonna take me seriously! I'm not gonna be looked down on anymore!"

"It's Jack's answer!" Davey yelled before more protests could break out. "Next! Race?"

"I'm with Jack," Race declared loyally. "We'se gonna make the older folks treat us with respect!"

A few mumbles of agreement greeted this statement. Davey had to call for quiet again before moving on to Romeo.

"Well..." He looked nervous. "I think I'd take it. Just think, you'd never have to get married..." A shout of laughter came from across the circle. "I'm serious!" Romeo said defiantly. "I'm all for hanging on a lady's arm...talking one up a little...but ladies get scarier when you get older. I don't wanna be married to some old lady who yells all the time!"

"Next!" Davey bellowed into the arguments.

Buttons stood up, yelled "I'm with Romeo. Not growing up!" then sat back down. This prompted an even bigger round of arguing, and it took a full five minutes to get Race to stop shouting at Buttons.

Albert, Specs, Henry, and Finch all declared that they did want to grow up. In fact, as the question was passed around the circle, everyone seemed to think it was better to grow into men than to stay young and be bossed around for the rest of their lives-even though they had all been so opposed at first. Their loyalty to Jack overruled any first thoughts they'd had. Eventually, even Romeo and Buttons changed their minds, and under the influence of peer pressure, announced together that they had reversed their answers, which made Davey angry.

"That's not the point! Everyone is supposed to have a different opinion!" he burst out in frustration.

"Well, at least we can agree on some things," Jack said, looking smug since he had started the popular answer.

"New rule," Davey said, "There's gotta be at least one person with a different answer than anyone else."

"Stupid rule," Race said, to a chorus of agreement.

"I think it's a good rule," Davey said.

"Let's vote, then," Jack said with a sly grin, his eyes sweeping mischievously around the room. "All in favor of Davey's rule?"

Davey thrust his hand into the air and looked around. Seeing no other hands, he slammed his hand down on the bed. "All right, fine," he said in surrender, to snorts of laughter. "I thought it was a good question, that prompted some thought, but if everyone's going to be like this..."

"Whatever. We're not even done. You and Les still haven't answered."

Les lifted his head with a nervous look at the sound of his name. He looked torn between wanting to please his brother and wanting to please the rest of the newsies. "Well...um..." He hesitated. Jack nodded his encouragement. "I dunno..."

Jack switched his gaze over to Race, staring meaningfully. He started chanting. "Les. Les. Les."

Race joined in right away. "Les. Les!" In moments, everyone else had picked up on the chance. "Les! Les! Les! Les!"

Les grinned in spite of himself, then tried to hide it when he saw the scowl etched on Davey's face. He avoided his brother's eyes and instead looked at Jack.

Les shook his head vigorously. "I wanna grow up!" The chant turned into a cheer, and Jack leapt to his feet, as if a great victory had been won. Davey buried his face in his hands. When he emerged, he was laughing, to Les's visible relief.

"You guys are impossible," Davey moaned.

What question do you want the newsies to answer next? Review and please tell me! Hope you liked it!