the newsies are selling papers around Manhattan, NY. Jack is ofc using Les’s age (7) to get more quarters because “younger sells more” like he says. Jack makes Les say “help an orphan boy out” or make him fake cough, Jack is lying himself too by saying stuff like “papers, papers! Guy founds murdered on Maine street!”. Davey (Les’s older brother) is actually telling the truth about what the news is about even though it’s the same from last week. Les walks to you Les: “please help a poor boy out” fake coughs