I like putting serious names on things that I wrote before I was up to this part of the book-

"C'mere ya little rascal!" Ethel chased her little brother around the court yard.

"Never!" Thomas shouted, sticking his tongue out.

Abruptly Ethel stopped, panting as she caught her breath. She watched the quick boy hustle up the tree.

Thomas watched his older sister from his high branch.

"How'd ya get up there?" Ethel crossed her arms.

"I climbed." Thomas crossed his arms too, sticking his to tongue out once more.

"I know that silly!"

"I'm a survivor!" Thomas stood up, striking a pose.

"My hero." Ethel smiled.

Ethel knew what was to come. She just didn't have the heart to say it.

She knew one day she would have to leave her brother to fight for himself.

But she knew he was a survivor.

He would make it.

He just didn't know that with every blessing there was a curse.

Actions had their consequences.

That every rose had it's thorns.

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"We must hurry Ethel." Her mother said as Ethel got ready to bound out the door.

Like every cliche book Ethel had ever read, rain was pounding against the windows as her and her mother got ready to flee.

"But I must say goodbye to Thomas-" Ethel's eyes filled with tears.

Her baby brother.

She was leaving her baby brother with the monster known as her father.

"It's for the best." Ethel's mother tried for a smile.

To be strong for her daughter.

And her son.

Who she must leave behind.

It's for his own good...

Maria tried to reassure herself.

She and Ethel were going to flee the monster she married.

For you can not put out the fire from inside the house.

She and Ethel were going to go and make a living for themselves. So one day, when Thomas is older, they can live the life they were meant to live.

After they face their mountains.

"Goodbye brother." Ethel whispered softly as she stroked Thomas's hair.

"I'm not tired yet Ethie!"

Thomas didn't know that the two most important people in his life were leaving him.

He didn't know that this was goodbye.

All he knew was he didn't want to go to bed.

"Shhh." His sister hushed him, fighting the tears knowing this would be the last time she'd see him for a long time.

Her baby brother.

"Can you sing for me?" Thomas smiled brightly.

"Of course." Ethel said softly.

She kneeled down next to his bed and stroked his hair soothingly.

"Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight." Thomas giggled as Ethel bopped his nose. "Creep into thy bed, there pillow thy head. If God will thou shalt wake, when the morning doth break. If God will thou shalt wake, when the morning doth break."

Ethel choked back a cry knowing this would be the last song she'd sing to her brother.

"Those blue eyes close tight. Bright angels are near, so sleep without fear." Thomas closed his eyes, relaxing. "They will guard thee from harm, with fair dreamland's sweet charm. They will guard thee from harm, with fair dreamland's sweet charm."

Once sure her brother was asleep a sob released from Ethels mouth.

"Goodnight little bro, I'll- I'll-" Tears cascaded down her face. "I'll see you again someday."

With a final kiss on the forehead for good measure, Ethel left the room, wiping her tears.

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Thomas woke up the next morning unusually sluggish.

"WHERE ARE YOU B*TCHES!" The deep voice of his father rang through the house.

Thomas smiled, knowing that his mother and sister were most likely at work.

With a drunk man like his father around who else would support the family?

Thomas?

The small six year old boy?

No, it was up to the women.

"GET DOWN HERE BOY!"

Thomas smiled.

Even though he'd have to endorse a painful day, it's all worth it.

For after he'd see his mother and his sister.

The two most important people in his life.

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Ethel and Maria did not return that afternoon.

Or the night after.

Or the night after that.

Soon a month had passed and Thomas knew they weren't coming back.

They were gone for good.

Soon, Thomas's love filled memories were clouded with hate and anger.

How could they just leave him?

How could he put all his trust and love into a box that only they had the key?

How could he-

The list, was endless...

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Not long after that did Thomas find himself curled out in the rain, shivering.

Now was one of the rare times he missed Ethels beautiful voice. Her soft lullabies that helped him sleep peacefully.

A loud boom clashed through the sky, causing Thomas to jump back in fear.

He never liked thunder.

"Is someone dere?" The voice of an older boy came through.

Thomas shrunk back, trying to make himself as small as possible.

"Are you okay?" Suddenly a young man crouched down in front of Thomas.

He looked to be about 17 years old.

Thomas continued to try and make himself less noticeable, curling up in a ball. For warmth, and comfort.

"Hey!"

Thomas peeked his head out.

"Hello." Thomas said in a small voice.

"Are you okay?"

More lighting flashed making Thomas jump and flinch in fear.

"Look, I'm gonna- I'm gonna get ya out of 'ere."

Thomas looked at the boy, his eyes wide.

"Are you- are you helping me?"

"Sure am bud."

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From that day on, Thomas was no longer Thomas.

He was Temper.

The feisty newsboy who has the bravery of men twice his size.

"Ever think about getting a goilfriend?" Fox asked him one day. Fox was his best friend.

"Evah think about shutting up?"

"Geez! It's just a question, no need to get all rude."

"Uh huh."

"Maybe you should get a goil." Grizzly suggested.

Grizzly was the one who had taken Temper to the lodging house when he was young.

"Maybe I shouldn't!" Temper huffed.

"Whatcha gonna do den? Get a guy?"

"Maybe I will!"

Everyone in the lodging house chuckled at him.

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From then on, Grizzly set him up with every girl in Manhattan.

"Alright, alright, enough already!" Temper exclaimed.

"Wait! One more goil!"

"Hi! I'm Alice." The girl smiled sweetly and immediately Temper crumbled.

"H-hi I- I'm Temper." Grizzly smirked, knowing he had found a good match.

Alice had curly blonde hair that fell perfectly down her back. She dressed rich with a long purple dress, and pearly white teeth.

Definitely rich.

Temper, had fallen in love.

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Temper had taken Alice on many dates, all of which she just smiled.

It seemed like she enjoyed it.

Alice didn't.

Well, she did.

But not the way she was supposed too.

She enjoyed her hobby.

Making boys bend to her will, only to break them apart.

Brick.

By brick.

By brick.

"A- Alice." Temper asked one day.

"Yeah Temper?" She smiled, fluttering her long eyelashes.

"Can you- will you- will ya do me the honah of being my goilfriend?"

Alice blinked.

Once.

Then twice.

Before she broke into laughter.

"I- I don't understand what's so funny."

"Me- you- you think I'd wanna be your girlfriend."  She pointed to herself, still cackling.

"Well I-"

"Let me show you the picture." She moved her right hand from left to right as if painting a scene. "I used you. I don't love you." She poked his chest. "And I certainly don't want to be the girlfriend of a street rat."

"I don't understan-"

"What's so hard to understand, huh?" She smiled in a sickly sweet way. "You're worthless. Useless. Get that through your uneducated brain. I'm rich, smart, and pretty, and rich." She flipped her blonde hair. "Goodbye Temper."

And with that, she left the devastated boy.

Alone.

Just as he was once before. 

"Temper! Mah bud! Mah man with a pl- whoa, you good?" Fox's smile slid off his face, seeing Temper slouched with his head down as he approached the lodging house.

"Leave me alone." Temper snapped, keeping his head down.

"Yeah sure, when me mudda rises from her grave I will."

"I said leave me alone Fox." Temper yelled, snapping his head up.

Fox was taken aback by his friends tear stained face.

Instead of saying anything Fox walked up to him and gave him a hug.

"I got your back, okay Temp? I have it."

A sob escaped the eleven year old boy as he clung onto his friend. Warm tears dripped onto Fox's shoulder.

"She used me... I- I thought she loved me. I really- I really thought we had somethin' special." Temper rested his chin on top of Fox's shoulder.

"You don't need Alice." The taller boy spoke softly.

"Why is it always me?" Temper whimpered. "I- I let people in and then- and then goils just push me away... my mom, E- Ethel, Alice..."

"You don't need them." Fox reassured. "Ya have me."

"Thanks Foxy." Temper mumbled.

"Anytime..." Fox smiled.

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"Temper, Fox." Grizzly made a 'come here' motion with his finger.

"Heya Grizzly!" Fox piped cheerfully, but Grizzly's serious look made the boys' happiness falter.

"Boys..." Grizzly kneeled down. "You know how I said one day I won't be a newsie anymore."

Both children nodded slightly.

"Well," Grizzly looked away slightly. "that day is tomorrow... I'm leaving."

"That's good for you!" Temper tried a small smile. "You'll be rich or something!"

"Yeah but..." Grizzly trailed off. "so are the rest of the older boys. All of us down to- well... you guys."

"So does that-" Temper's eyes widened.

Grizzly nodded. "You'll be da new leaders of Manhattan."

"But we can't-" Fox began.

"We're just eleven-"

"I believe in you both." Grizzly nodded. "You'll do amazing... both of you."

"I'll miss you." Temper whispered.

"We'll miss you." Fox corrected.

ACK!

This is worse than I remembered-

THE SECOND PART IS BETTER! I SWEAR

So I couldn't wait to write this, so I wrote it separately and I procrastinated a lot on this.

Like, I started when I was in quarantine (February) and I ended when my parents were in the Philippines (early may-ish?)

When I gave the final product to beta she said she liked it (she kept falling out of her chair... a lot) so I assume that it's good? I remember being real proud of this! After these two chapters (this one and the next) I've become really proud of temper's character!

Originally, Temper had been this semi antagonist who I had used to get Anastasia away from the Manhattan newsies- but now he has a lot of depth and character (I hope-)

His name was Temper because I planned on him having a short temper which was why he reacted so terribly in the original version. Now, I made him a lot more human (which you would soon see in the second part) and him and Fox hold a very dear place in my heart <3

I really hope you guys have grown to like Temper as well!

That was a ted-talk with Izzy-

SORRY, RANTING-

BUT BEFORE YOU GUYS GO

DON'T FORGET TOOOOOOOOO:

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SAVE THE WOILD!

AND TRY NOT TO DIE!

This is Izzy,
Over and out!