A redheaded boy, around the age of 16, but looking like he was 14, walked through the gates. He walked slouched over, hands in his pockets, cap pulled down over his face. Unruly hair stuck out from beneath the cap. His shirt was green, although so dirty and worn you couldn't tell. The parts of his face you could see looked almost coal streaked, and he had no shoes on his feet. Most of the newsies didn't even notice the newcomer, until the Delancy brothers cut in front of him.

"Lemme thru." His voice was as rough as his looks.

"What's ya name?"

"Lemme thru."

"Gimme yer name."

"Should it matta?" Jack Kelly stepped in. The Delancys looked at him, shrinking back a little. "Stop harrassin' da poor kid, ya lousy little shrimps."

"Ya feel like pickin' it today, dontcha, wise guy?" Morris barely squeaked out.

"Ya. I do. Now get yer sour faces outta here before I rearrange 'em."

"Ya wanna make something of it?" Oscar's voice shook.

"Ya wanna face me for once instead, Oscar?" All of a sudden, 4 guys assembled behind Jack, making a formidable formation. The Delancys started to sweat.

"We'll letcha go dis once, Jack, but next time, ya gonna pay big, ya know."

The Delancy brothers quickly made an exit.

The redheaded boy talked first.

"Tanks fo' ya help dere. But I coulda handled it meself, ya know."

"No prob, kid. Don't bodda wit da Delancy brudders, dey's jus' like makin trouble. But don't go lookin fo' a fight wit dem eida." Jack didn't even seem to notice the last sentence. The redhead's temper started to flare up. He took a step towards Jack, flames dancing in his eyes.

"I ain't no kid. Do I look younger den ten ta ya?"

Jack smiled at the kid's temper. "Well, ya shoah are scrawny. Whadda dey call ya?"

"Torch."

"Stick might've been betta. Good ta meetcha." Jack spat in his hand, and held it out. Torch paused a moment before taking it. "Da name's Jack. Dis is Mush, Kid Blink, Dave, and Race." Jack pointed to a Hispanic looking guy, a blond with an eye patch, a kid with curly brown hair, and an Italian with a cigar.

"Awlright." Before anyone could say anything, Torch walked up to the counter. The newsies looked at each other, shrugged, then followed him.

He bought 40 papes, expecting the other newsies to leave him alone. He was wrong.

"So, where ya from? We ain't neva seen da likes of you'se here before."

"Just got in off da train." Torch didn't offer any more. There was an awkward pause.

"So, Torch, ya need a place ta stay? Plenty o' room at da House."

"Nah. Tanks, tho. I gotta place o' me own."

"Suit yerself."

Normally, Jack would have offered to have Torch sell with him. But the kid didn't seem too friendly. Or just wanted his privacy. Either way, Jack decided to send Kid Blink to spy on him. Just to make sure he ain't no spy or anytin' like dat.

The other newsies walked off, Blink slyly slipping off, leaving Torch almost alone. He walked out of the gates with his 40 papes in his hand and a limp good enough for stage. He found an empty corner, and started singing out the headline. Soon after two he had sold all his papers and walked off to find something to eat. But he didn't get anywhere soon.

"Hey, newbie." Torch froze. A leaf crunched under an unseen foot. "I see ya got a pocket full o' money. Whatcha gonna do wit it?" The voice came from behind him. He whirled around, and saw the two guys who had held him up earlier.

"Whadda ya tink?"

"Hmm. I think," at this, Morris Delancy was in his face, "that you're gonna give it to me." Oscar was pulling him into a nearby alley.

"I don't tink so." Before Torch even finished his sentence, his fist was up and swinging. Morris got the wind punched out of him and a few nasty bruises on his chest. Oscar received a bloody nose and a black eye. They ran off, yelling, "You'll pay for this, newbie! You'll pay!"

"I have no doubt I will." Torch turned around to exit the alley, walking out into the sun, and ran smack dab into one of the newsies he'd met earlier. The other newsie staggered a little, then admiringly commented,

"Ya shoah kin take care o' yerself, Torch, was it?'

"Yah. You'se Kid Blink, aintcha?"

"Yeh." Just as Torch stepped to go around Blink, he spoke. "Hey, ya eaten yet?" Torch stopped.

"I'm starvin'. Jus' finished sellin' today."

"Ya already sold all ya papes? Man, you'se good."

"I was good in…" Torch suddenly stopped talking.

"Where?"

"Neva mind." There was a slight pause. Blink jumped in.

"Good ting dat you'se got a unused corna. Uddawise, sum o' us might've had ta soak ya."

"Good. Tanks fo' not soakin' me when I foist stepped inta da pick-up alley." There was a pause. "I gotta get goin'. I'll see ya." Torch turned to leave, but Blink grabbed him before he could go.

"Well, I was gonna ask if'n you wanna eat wit da udda newsies taday. We usually is at Tilly's. Ya new in town, right?"

"Yah."

"Well, follow me. I'll show ya where it is." And before Torch could protest, Blink was leading the way to Tilly's, almost dragging Torch along behind him. As the bell over the door tinkled, all the newsies turned to see who was coming in. Torch became stiff and scared as a pigeon when all those newsies started staring at him, but Kid Blink just jumped in and began introducing him to his friends.

"Hey, evrabuddy, dis is Torch. He's new in town, jus' off da train. Torch, dis is Crutchy, Skittery, Snipes, Boots, Specs, Les (he's Davy's little brudder), and Sarah, Dave's sista. Ya know evrabuddy else, dontcha Torch?"

"Yah."

Race spoke up. "Heya, Torch, how many papes didja sell taday?"

"40" Race was surprised at the amount and that they were already sold.

"Dat many? Clear yaself out?"

"Yah."

"Dis guy's good for a foirst tima, Jack. Betta keep 'im."

Pretty soon Race was cracking jokes and making the place roar with laughter. Torch had become a bit more comfortable, but he hadn't even cracked a smile yet.

As Blink watched the new kid interact with the other newsies, he noticed that he didn't act like a newsie, even though he kinda picked up that he'd done it before. Dere's sumptin strange 'bout dis one, he decided, and I'm gonna find out what it is.