Let’s set the scene.
The year is somewhere vaguely in the 1890s. It doesn’t really matter what year it is. There’s only one thing that has the newsboys of New York’s attention: the bicycle.
See, the safety bicycle is a new invention. It’s not that new, but it’s still new enough to count, and it’s new to the kids on the street. Gone were the giant tires of the ordinary, the penny-farthing—now the streets were filled with the even wheels of the safety.
Les, of course, wants one of his own, but the rest of the newsies have other concerns.
“They’re too fast,” Crutchie points out. “I thought the littles were bad. Any more of this and I won’t be walking at all!”
Kid Blink nods along. “No respect for the cripples. They run us all down.”
“Everyone should go out with partners,” Jack says with certainty. “We need to watch out for each other more.”
The sound of doors slamming open has all of the newsies turning. Blink and Mush drop into fighting positions and Crutchie tightens his grip on his crutch.
“Cowboy!” Les calls from the door. The boys relax.
“Let ‘em through!” Jack shouts.
The mild crowd parts to let Les and Davey through to where the older newsies are gathered.
“Bumlets? Specs? What do you think?”
The Jacobs brothers fall in next to Jack. “What’s going on?” David asks.
“Bikes,” Racetrack bites out. “Lost half my papes to one!”
“I think they’re neat!” Les exclaims, jumping toward Jack, who grabs him out of the air.
“Sure, kid. But they’re bad for business.”
“Safety bikes—more like safety hazards,” Mush grumbles.
“Pairs is a good idea,” Bumlets muses. “Close, so they can push each other.”
Specs nods. “Be more cautious.”
“Exactly,” Jack says, shifting Les so he rests on his hip. “And we ain’t buying any bikes. Too expensive and too dangerous.”
Coming to a realization, Crutchie groans. “The Delanceys.”
“What about them?” Davey asks, oblivious as ever.
“They’d get bikes just to hurt us,” Race says. “No sense of style or anything.”
“Like you’d know anything about style,” Jack teases. “That cigar is old now.”
“Hey!”