15 year old Danny sat outside sheepshead races. The sun beat down, he pulled his black cap further over his bright green-blue eyes. Boy did his stomach hurt he hadn't had anything to eat in three days! And this is especially not good when your only way of making a living is by doing handsprings and back flips and stuff.

    He had no parents. They had died in a fire when he was only five, he couldn't even remember what they looked like. He was then taken to an orphanage he hated it there. All the boys made fun of his somewhat longish extremely blond hair, saying he looked like a girl. When he was ten he couldn't take it anymore, he simply couldn't take it any more he escaped, and for the past five years he had been doing fine on his own, until lately that is.

    He struggled up with the little energy he had left, tried a handstand, and failed miserably. It was no use, there was no one who would even pay a penny to see him flip (and unfortunately flop)

    Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He spun around, afraid that he would see the bulls. But instead of seeing the bulls he saw a dark haired boy about his age, and about his height too (extremely short). Danny had seen him hanging around the races every once and a while the boy introduced him self "hiya, my name is Racetrack, Racetrack Higgins, Race for short, what's yours?" Danny was a bit stunned at first not too many people ever stopped to talk to him. Then replied "Danny"

    "Is dere a last name dat goes wit dat?" asked Race

    Danny looked at his feet "No my parents died in a fire when I was five and since they couldn't identify me afta' an I dinin't know what my last name was I have no idea what my last name is "

    Race (realizing that was the wrong thing to say) said "Oh, dats to bad Danny, well if it makes ya feel any betta' my parents left me at an orphanage when I was four " then added "Off that sad subject, I came over cause I just finished sellin me papes and seein as you look so hungry and all . . . "

    Danny said with a groan "Is it really dat obvious "

    "Well grabbin your stomach like that is a major hint"

    Danny looked down and realized he had sub-consciously been hugging his stomach the whole time

    Race continued "anyways I was wonderin if you would be interested in joinin' me for lunch at Tibby's, my treat"

    Danny was on his feet in an instant "would I eva"

    The two boys walked off together and as they went Race told Danny all about being a newsie and Danny told Race all about his way of making a living and how much it stunk and how much fun being a newsie sounded like.

    With Danny's new friend it wasn't hard to forget about how much his stomach hurt, that is until they got to Tibby's. "This is where most of us newsies eat "said Race

    Inside Danny met Jack, Boots, Mush, Kid Blink, and Specs. Jack seemed to be the oldest and the one in charge. All of them were extremely nice to him now he wanted to be a newsie more than ever.

    While getting to know the other newsies, jack and race went off to talk. Danny was so use to being rejected he was sure Race was saying what a pain he was, but he tried not to pay too much attention. A few minutes later they rejoined the group and they all left Tibby's.

    As they walked down the steps Jack turned to Danny and said "Danny would you like to be a newsie?" All of a sudden six pairs of eyes were on him. He turned to Jack and said "let me think about it hmmmmmm. . . YES!!!!!!!!" He shouted so loud that he was sure people in Brooklyn could here him.

    Racetrack said sarcastically "Was dat a yes or a no?" they all laughed.

    Since Race was his closest friend, he was the one who would show him around the next day, but for now they went to the lodging house where he met Klopman and most of the other newsies.

    It all worked out Jack would pay his rent for a month, and Race would spot him papes for the next day.

    That night it cooled off the newsies sat on the steps to the lodging house. Danny got bored and started doing flip-flops on the cobblestones. Lots of the newsies could do flip-flops but not quite like him. It was hard to describe but magnificent to see. then out of nowhere kid blink yelled "hey he doesn't have a nick name yet"

    Danny leaned over to race with a confused look on his face "nick name?"

    "Yeah all us newsies have nick names. Take me for example my real name is Anthony, but if ya ever call me that I'll soak ya!" said Race playfully punching Danny.

    They all yelled out names. "Flipper" said specs

    Sounds more like a fish than a newsie" Mush said (he was right)

    "How about Flip-Flop?" said Kid Blink

    "Flip-Flop?!" said jack almost mocking him. they all cracked up.

    "It was a good idea!" said Kid Blink somewhat offended. Which made them all laugh harder (Boots even fell of the steps)

    "I gots it" said Race "Skittles"

    "What does dat have ta do wit any ting?" asked Snipeshooter

    "nutin really it just seems ta describe him and da way he does flips poifectly don it?" everyone agreed. So Skittles it was.