This is my Spot Conlon fan fic story...enjoy ^^ Sophia is 16 in when we first start out in the first chapter and Spot is 17. Tommy, Sophia's older brother is 18. Sophia has long brown hair and green eyes.
I twiddled with my dress as I heard the crowd of Medda's cheering for her. Her show was starting.
"Are you ready, darling?" she asked me, with a warm smile on her face.
I looked up and gave her an awkward smile. "I think so..." I finally said.
Medda patted me on the shoulder and walked to the stairs, before walking up to the stage she turned around. "Sophia?"I looked up at her again from my hands, waiting for her to speak again.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" I nodded slowly. "It's been two years. Think of the impact it will have on him." she told me. I knew in my heart that the moment I got back in New York I should have gone straight to Spot, but for some reason I didn't. I just couldn't. Like I had to make a grand entrance or something. As if showing up at his doorstep and scaring him shitless wasn't enough, as of right now, Spot thinks I'm dead.
Medda gave a nod and headed up on to the stage. The boy's went wild, whistling and cheering. It brought a smile to my face. I stood up from the chair and walked over to the curtains, I parted them a ways, trying to get a good look at the crowd. I spotted Jack with Sarah, David with his younger brother, Les. Boots, Race tracks and a few others. Then, from the corner of my eye I saw Spot. His hair had grown out a little more and I could tell he had gotten taller because his knees almost touched the bottom of the table he was sitting at in the back. He didn't look like he was having too much fun. Blink came over and tried to pull him up but failed in the process. Spot pushed him away slightly and rested his chin on his palm.
I put the curtains back and went to sit back down, but before I got the chance, Medda was done with her song and dance...this was my qu. After the crowed settled down I heard her speak, "My friends, I have here tonight with me a very special friend. She is here to sing for all of us tonight. I'm sure you will find her to be quite a beauty." I pulled the red hooded cloak over my head, covering my eyes. As I stepped through the curtains and on to the stage my heart beated fast. What are you doing Sophia, I said to myself. I walked on to the stage more, the crowd was quite. Before I started to sing I looked up little but not all the way. I looked at Spot, he looked at me, though he didn't know it...and I started to sing.
Chapter one.
Brooklyn.
Two years earlier.
My brother, Tommy, and I got off the train and took our first steps on New York.
"Next stop," started Tommy. "Brooklyn!" he said exaggerating a bit. I laughed.
"Let's just hope we don't get killed while we're at it, huh Tommy?" I teased.
"Yeah, yeah." he said, picking up his things. I did the same.
A year ago both of our parents died of yellow fever, so did our baby brother. So my older brother and I thought it would be best to move to a big city and start somewhere new, so we did. And here we are, New York City, on our way to Brooklyn. We hitched a ride with an old man and his wagon all the way to Brooklyn. The ride wasn't too bumpy and the little breeze felt nice with the warm weather. Summer was just starting. Tommy had told me that he heard of this guy named Spot. Spot Conlon to be exact. He told me that everyone pretty much feared him or respected him. I didn't think it was true. Not everyone can fear or respect just on guy in all of New York, but I kept my mouth shut as he told the stories about the Newsies and how we were gonna become one ourselves. To be honest, I was nervous. I had never worked outside of home a day in my life and I was going to sell papes to complete strangers!
Tommy pulled me into an alley and handed me a bag. "What's this?" I asked him.
"My clothes. I don't want you selling papes looking' like a girl, ok?"
I sighed. "Alright." I took the clothes and went behind a wall to dress as Tommy guarded the way.
"And pin your hair back too, will ya!" he hollered back. I nodded and got dressed. At times he could be so bossy but I knew he meant well. As I finished dressing I put my shirt and skirt in the bag where his clothes once were and walked back out."Ready." I told him.
He turned around and gave me a big grin. "Hope this works," he started. "You look like a pretty boy now." he laughed.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. C'mon." I told him, kicking him playfully in the leg.
When we got to this spot's place a bunch of boys were swimming and telling jokes. When they saw us approach their precious leader's territory some of them stopped and looked at us. I grew nervous. What if they can already tell I'm a girl, I thought to myself. I shook the thought away and stayed close to Tommy. One of the boys stepped in our way, not letting us pass. "And who are youse two? Whacha doin' here?"
Tommy took a breath and said, "We here to see Spot. Your leader!"
The boy smirked. "Alright, but foist...we need ta know ya names."
"Names Tommy and this here is my lil brother, Tony." Great, I thought. Tommy and Tony. You're so original, Tommy.
The boy nodded and waved his hand to have us follow him. We stopped at some docks and the boy yelled up to what looked like a watching tower. "Eh! Spot! We gots some boys here! Theys wants to see ya!" Spot turned around, looking irritated but then climbed down from his post. "Whacha want, kid?" he questioned.
The boy cleared his throat and then pointed at us. "Theys wanna speak with ya." and then stepped aside. This Spot guy didn't look very dangerous to me, but that was my first mistake about him. "What do ya twose wants?" It sounded more like an order than a question.
"We want to be part of the Brooklyn gang." he stated.
Spot gave a short laugh. "Oh really. Wells, ya both gots ta prove yo selvs foist." he crossed his arms, tilting his head to the side.
"Right," said Tommy. "What do we have to do?" he asked.
A smirk slipped across Spots face. "Ya gots ta sell papes, kid."
"Seems easy enough." I blurted out. Tommy looked back at me giving me a silent shoosh.
Spot looked back at me. "And who do we gots here?" he said, walking up to me. "Sure are pretty short, kid. Whats ya name?"I looked up at Tommy and then at Spot. "Tony." I answered, trying to sound as much like a boy as I possibly could. He gave me a small smile and then he looked at me serious again. "I think we'll call ya Smalls from now on. Dat a problem?" I shook my head. "Good," he said. "cuz every one heres got a nick name." he looked over at Tommy. "Tony and Tommy eh. " He laughed a little. "We'll call you Tom Tom." Tommy nodded. "Good, good. Now about the papes...you gta sell a thousand papes in one week. Ya both can stay here during that time, but...if ya can't make it...too bad for you. Ya outa here. Got that?" We both nodded. "Good." he said. "Hey you!" he yelled to the boy standing off to the side. "Show these boys their rooms will ya." The boy nodded and we left Spot to follow him.
He showed us to our rooms. There were a few bunk beds...there was one bunk left in the far corner. Tommy and I both eyed each other. "You take it Smalls." he nudged me, calling me by my new name.
I took my suitcase and placed it under the bunk bed. Tommy did the same. I looked around the room to see if we were left alone and we finally were. "Where will you sleep?" I asked, not having to stress about sounding like a boy or not.
"Right besides ya. On the floor."
I gave a small nod. I was worried about him. Always giving up things for my sake.
Night came and I lay in bed, unable to sleep with all the snoring going on. I tried to sleep but couldn't so I slipped out of bed, while readjusting my hat and trying to be as quiet as I could be and tip toed outside to get some fresh air. As soon as I reached the docks, I gave out a sigh and took in the smell of the sea."What youse still doin' up, Kid?"
I turned around and saw Spot. "Uh..."
He narrowed his eyes at me. "Uh...?" he repeated.
"Just gettin' some fresh air." I told him, trying to sound like a boy again.
Spot stopped narrowing his eyes at me and then said, "Awright...just be ready to sell papes foist thing in the morning."I nodded. I only stayed out by the docks for a moment longer and then went back to get a decent night sleep.
For being the last to fall to sleep I was surprisingly the first to wake up. This gave me a chance to get ready before the guys and avoid being noticed. Just as I was finishing up, Spot came down to wake all those boys. Some got up right away while others still refused to get up. This made Spot mad so he would hit them with the cane. Not hard I would expect, but enough to get them the hell up. Tommy was next to be ready. He pulled one of the suit cases up from under the bed, opened it up and handed me a quarter and himself one too. He placed the suit case back under and held on to the coin tightly. our parents had some money saved up, but before they could use it for anything everything changed and we took the last 3 dollars.
Before I knew I was waiting in line to get my papes. I saw kids younger than I. It was sad. I wanted to help them but I knew that wouldn't be able to. I had to look after myself and my brother as well. When I got to the front I bought 150 papes and then walked off. I looked down at them. How am I going to sell all these...better yet, how am I going to sell 300 papes in a week? I thought to myself. All of a sudden I felt someone tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw a black kid. "Hi! Youse look new 'round here. Whacha name, boy?"
"Smalls..."
"Ah, right, Smalls. Ya see...a good way ta sell papes is ta bend the truth a little."
"What you mean?" I asked.
He laughed a little. "Ya see here," pointed to a story in the paper. It read, 'Old man found shot to death in basement.' "Instead of sayin' that," he started. "try sayin' dis, 'Old man found shot to death in a base full of other dead bodies'." I grimaced at what he said, but then nodded, understanding the concept.
"By the way," he said. "The name is Boots. See youse around, Smalls."
By the end of the week I could hardly believe it. I had truly amazed myself. I sold a thousand papes in one week. I was able to stay in Brooklyn with Tommy and Spot's Gang.
I practically skipped my way back to Spot's place, but then stopped myself. I didn't want to look too girly.
I walked inside and saw Tommy sitting on the bunk, his head down.
"What's wrong, Tom Tom?" I asked, getting used to calling him by his nick name.
"I didn't sell all my papes..."
My heart went to my stomach. What would I do without Tommy? I asked myself.
Just then we heard footsteps come our way. It was Spot.
"So, kids...you sell all yer papes youse was suppose ta sell?" I looked up as him and nodded. He smiled. "Good, Smalls. Now what about cha brotheh?"
Tommy slowly shook his head and stood up, ready to face Spot. "No...I didn't."
Spot rose an eyebrow and then said, "Looks like I gota let ya go, Tom Tom. Don't worry, Smalls here can stay."
I looked up at Tommy who then looked at me. "Don't worry, Smalls," he told me. "It's better if ya stay here. I'll be fine." he grabbed his things and walked out. Spot turned to me and gave me one of his smirks. "See ya 'rounds, Smalls." he then left the room, closing the door behind him. I was then left alone. Completely alone. What was I going to do without Tommy here to protect me?
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