Elmer Newsies - Blog Posts

JoJo's nightly prayer was usually a comforting sound to Elmer. He may not be religious himself, but the soft murmur of his best friend's voice as he prayed lulled him to sleep most nights.

Not tonight, though. Tonight the sound distressed him.

Jack wasn't on the roof, even he had enough sense to sleep inside when it was cold. So Elmer slipped down from his bunk and crept over to the window, scuttling up the ladder. He wasn't allowed on the roof without one of the older boys, according to Jack, but right now Elmer didn't care what Jack did or didn't allow.

"Um... hullo, God. Or Jesus. Whichever of you are listening." He didn't kneel, or clasp his hands, but he did lift his head to stare up at the big white moon, faintly through the wispy clouds.

"I know JoJo's praying at the moment, and you should listen to him, but I hope one'a you can listen to me." He paused, trying to collect his thoughts.

"Romeo's dad came by again today. He scares me- not as much as he scares Romeo, 'course. Mush scared him off 'fore Kloppman even got to the door though. An' Sniper's dad came by yesterday. I dunno why Sniper keeps going home when he hurts him like that. That's what I wanted to ask you; why d'you let people hurt other people?"

A particularly sharp gust of wind bit at his bare arms. JoJo would probably say it was a Sign, that he was asking questions he shouldn't, but Elmer was tired of the questions building up inside him.

"Why- why did you let Mr. Wiesel an' the Delanceys and the police hurt us during the strike? Why did you let Mr. Pulitzer and Hearst raise their prices, when you must know how we live?" His voice was trembling now, increasing in volume unintentionally, "Why'd JoJo get sent on a ship here alone over a war that never even happened- n-not that I'm not happy he's here, but he doesn't know how to find his parents! Half my friends can't be with their family for one reason or 'nother, an' the other half are terrified of them! Why d'you let that happen? Why did you let my mama send me away? I don't know what I did wrong!"

Elmer was shouting now, his cheeks damp and vision blurred with tears. He didn't even realise. Someone was speaking to him, although he couldn't make out what they were saying. He felt warm, safe arms suddenly wrap around him, pulling him close against someone's chest and turning his face away from the moon.

The moon gave no answer to his questions, and neither did anyone else.

just got casted as elmer in a local production of newsies… let the hyperfixation begin again.

Elmer for the instrument thing?

Elmer plays flute and piccolo!

When he was in 5th grade, his school did a thing called "Try Band", which is basically where kids can go in and try different instruments to see what they want to play when the next school year came around.

He knew he didn't want to play any of the brass instruments, they just seemed too loud and in your face. So he tried woodwinds. He started with clarinet and saxes, but found that he didn't like how similar and relatively easy they were to play.

But then in the corner of the stage, he saw the flutes. He had seen people play them before and he had always thought they sounded nice, but what really sold it for him was how difficult the flute is to play. He watched so many people struggle as they tried to make a sound come out, most failing and giving up. When he tried, it took him a few tries, but he eventually got out a shaky and quiet but definite sound. They girl running the section smiled at him and told him that he seemed destined for it, and that was that.

Now fast forward about a year and a half, and he's gotten pretty good. He can play lots of pieces and he thoroughly enjoys practicing. So he decides to take up another instrument, just for fun. And the natural decision is piccolo.

He started taking private lessons and he didn't really feel the need to tell anyone because he didn't think he was all that good. In reality, he was excelling quickly for someone who just picked it up.

Fast forward again and it's junior year. Elmer's in the top band at the school and they were sight reading through a piece to see if they would play it for their upcoming concert. Everyone loved the piece. Each part was complicated and fascinating and everyone wanted to play this piece so badly. So imagine their disappointment when they learn that they need a piccolo, and they don't have one. As everyone's sulking about their lost song, Elmer quietly tells the director that he's been playing piccolo for 2 and a half years and he would be happy to play it fir the concert. From that day on, everyone praised him for saving their concert and their hearts, and every time someone mentioned it, Elmer just blushes and says it's no problem and that anyone would have done it.

As for what bands he's in, Elmer loves music so obviously he's in concert band and he loves the orchestral music, so orchestra was no question. The only band he didn't join was jazz band and not because he didn't enjoy playing the music. He just didn't want to play an instrument that wasn't similar to flute.

I hope this satisfied your ask!💜

Movie theater: Please silence your phones.

Elmer, who hasn’t taken his phone off vibrate since 2012: *double checks*

Elmer: 911. Hey I hate to be “that guy” but I glued myself to the ceiling again.

Elmer: *to Mike and Ike* Since you guys are twins do you have any twin super powers?

Ike: Yeah, everytime Mike looks at me I have this feeling.

Elmer: Feeling? What feeling?

Ike: Anger

Spot the difference: impossible addition

elmer doodle :p he's such a cutie and i've been procrastinating drawing him for forever 😭