One day Jack Kelly came into the Lodging House, where he was greeted by Kloppman, who was holding a big package.

"Hey Kloppman, what's dat?" he looked at the brown package.

"For you, you might be surprised to see what it is," Kloppman winked and gave Jack the package. Jack carried it upstairs and he put it on his bed and started opening it. All the other Newsies were still somewhere around, so he was the only one. He tugged at the strings and wrapping paper- and out came out a bunch of white envelopes, each one addressed to Jack.

"What...?" Jack held up one envelope and tore it open. Inside...

Letter One

Dear Jack Kelly a.k.a. BEST NEWSIE THERE EVER WAS!!!,
Jack, you are soooo cool and you're my favorite, favorite, FAVORITE Newsie! I think about you everyday and I even have pictures of you ALL over my bedroom wall! If you're not poor enough, will you be willing to buy a pen and paper and write back to me? Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo,
Shelly

Jack stared at the paper and the markings at the bottom. What did xoxoxoxoxoxo mean?? Oh well. He crumpled up the paper and opened the next letter.

Letter Two

Dear Jack Kelly,
Hello. You are my favorite Newsie. Nothing more can be said.

Sincerely,
Prefer not to tell for safety's sake

By this time, Jack was becoming confused until his head began to ache. He passed out and woke up few hours later by the sounds of the other Newsies.

"'ey, look at dis one, have any clue what dis is about?" he heard Racetrack laugh.

Letter 56 (This is few hours later, so by then, all the Newsies had read all 55 letters, and so they are on the 56th one)

Dear Jack,
You are like so awesome, dude! Rock on forevah, Cowboy! And write back puh-lease, dude! Rock on,
Britney

"Who in da woild does she mean?" Boots yelled out.

"Don't know, but who cares?" Skittery shrugged. Jack sat up.

"Hey, Jack's awake! What's wid all dis, Cowboy?" asked Mush, holding up a few letters and envelopes.

"I dunno, Kloppman jus' gave 'em to me today. Got a headache readin' 'em so kinda blacked out I guess," Jack opened a letter. Unfortunately, to Jack, it didn't make much sense.

Letter 57

Dear Kelly-san,
My name is Yuriko Masaya. I am Japanese. And I like to read books. What kind of books do you like to read? You are my favorite Newsie. All the others are bad. Bad! Bad! Bad! I do not like them. (here Kid Blink and Racetrack snarl at the letter) Especially the one that smokes like mad. (Racetrack snatches the paper away)

"I ain't gonna let dis letter live if it keeps on sayin' rude stuff 'bout me!" Racetrack crumpled up the paper and threw it out of window. It landed on someone's head but it was soon forgotten.

"Okay, next letter Cowboy," Kid Blink handed Jack a rather bulky letter.

Letter 58

Dear Francis Sullivan,

I think you will want to know what I have been doing in jail all this while. I still do not like you and I will take revenge when I am allowed to get out of jail. Enough of this talk- I am sure you know I hate all of you Newsies.
As Crutchy as ordered me, I have met the rats. They are very sociable but they need sanitary service. They also chew everywhere and have chewed up my mattresses. So now, I have nothing to sleep on. At night I shiver and toss and turn, and I am freezing. And it is all your fault.
The food is sick. They serve squishy broth that is already cold. I do not like it. I am sending along some leaves that have been blown inside the cell.

Remember now: I will get you, Sullivan!

From,

Snyder

There was a long pause, and then Les broke it.

"That was dumb."

"Wait a second- how come Jack got fan letters, and we all didn't get any?" whined David.

"The last one didn't sound like a fan letter!" Swifty said.

"Good point," added Jack. Suddenly, a bunch of men barged in, each one carrying brown packages. They put each of them in front of each Newsie- one package for each. Then they turned around and marched out, but Jack stopped them.

"'ey, who are you guys?" Jack stared at their interesting outfit. Blue and white cap, white shirt, blue pants, interesting shoes...what was up with them?

"We work for the 2004 to 1899 Air Mail Company," one of them said and they marched out. When Jack turned around, all the Newsies were holding envelopes.

"Fan mail for US!" Snoddy squealed in happiness.

Racetrack opened a letter.

"'ey, I'm goin' ta read dis letter, so listen' up!"

(to be continued)