Elizabeth sat on her bed taking deep breaths trying not to sob her heart
out. How could her mother make such a comment? Because she was cruel. Liz
hated her parents, not the way normal kids hate their parents, they really
had something to do with it.She lay back thinking back earlier that day:
Mrs. Parker was making measurements for Liz's dress." Oh Elizabeth! You have GOT to loose some weight, your fat and ugly,!" her mother exclaimed, going on and on.Trying to hold back tears, Liz breathed in deeply. She was always making comments like that.She finished the measurements and Liz ran into her room and sobbed into her laced Victorian pillow. Sometimes she thought she had the worst life. Then she remembered her only friend, Jennifer, that got pregnant and ran away with her"boyfriend"he was twenty-one and she was only 13! Liz never saw her again. Sometimes she wished she could get away like that, just not with a man like him. Her only getaway from life was watching the newsboys selling newspapers and playing around. They were free. She dreamed of being free, playing around with them. She decided to go to bed early, like every night. But tonight, she could barely hold it in, all the memories.everything always went wrong. "Psst!" Came a voice" Psst!" she looked up. It came from the open window. She moved over to it and looked out. A rather cute boy of about 16 was there. "Who are you?" she asked. "I's Spot Conlon." he said proudly. "And you'se?" " Elizabeth Parker." she stuck out her hand.Seeing that she was rich (well, richer then most people) he took her hand and kissed it. "Why was ya cryin'?"he asked her. I was not crying." she held her chin up. "Somethins wrong." He pointed out. She hesitated.New York wasn't exactly the place you could just blurt out your feelings to a complete stranger. "It's my parents" she finally said. "wanna tawlk 'bout it?" he seemed nice. She looked around. "Okay, let me get dressed first." She was happy. Spot sat with his back facing the wall. She put on her plainest dress, which wasnt very plain for most people. She sat on her bed buttoning up her boots. 'I'm glad I'm doing this.' she thought to herself.' He is a newsboy,maybe I'll make friends.' When she finished, she put her hair up and climbed out the window. When Spot saw her he helped her down. They sat on the steps. "Well?" Spot finally spoke. "Well, I think I should start at the beginning." She tried to sort things out. "Wait a minute, how come you were watching me?" She wanted an explanation first. Sot smirked. She smiled. He was cute when he did that! " Well I's not in Manhattan dat much and when I is, I explores, you know, check tings out. And I found dis mansion quite 'ntresting!" he replied. " this is certainly not a mansion, our last house had a maid , a nanny and a cook!" she laughed. "woa!" he gasped. "Where ARE you from?" she asked. Flabberghasted he replied, " you'se neva hoid of da famous Spot Conlon, leda of da Brooklyn newsies?!" " sorry, I dont get out much." she replied. "Ok well, now its your toin" he shifted towards her. "Well, when I was little, my father used to beat my older brother. And my mother verbally abuses us. My little brother gets whatever he wants, even after he gets deathly yelled at, he still asks, he doesnt get it. I remember my older brother used to hit me- real hard- but he didnt mean it...its my father, he taught it to him... its HIS fault!!!"A tear fell down her cheek. They moved closer together.. "How did your mudda vebally abuse ya?" he asked gently. " We'll she tells me Im dumb, and curses at me and never aknowledges anything I do andrecently well, for about a year she's been telling me how fat I am, but shes the problem, I didnt get fat until she told me I was fat!!" Tears started streaming down her face. She breathed in deeply to hold back a sob. I didnt work. He put his arm around her and looked at her but showed no emotion. He noticed that she wasnt the thinnest person in the world, but wasnt fat either. " your not fat." he said, truthfully. "She seemed to think so." She sobbed harder. "She's jus' jealous." he told her. She laughed and sobbed at the same time. "thank you" "She probly is." he blurted out. They decided to walk around. They talked for hours. At about 3 in the morning, the conversation stopped. "hey, Hows about ya come wit me, dat is, if you don wanna go home an all." Spot said. " sure, I'd love too!" she smiled at his twinkling eyes. He smirked. So Spot took her to an old building that had a sighn which read:
NEWSBOYs LODGING HOUSE.
Spot led her to the fire escape on the side of the building mumbling, " If Kloppman sees us, hell kill me, not that I cant soak the old man in one punch..." She followed him into a room wich had several bunkbeds that all had sleeping guys in them. Liz felt really akward in this situation. She looked around. "Hey who are they?" She whispered pointing to two guys in a bunk. "Dats Mush an Racetrack... Ya tink dere cute?"He ginned. They entered a small bedroom. "Dis is me room" he whispered quite loudly."when I's in Manhattan acourse!" he added. You'se can sleep up top." so she took off her boots, climbed up and fell asleep quickly. Spot followed right after her.
*********
One by one the newsies started awakining. About fifteen minutes later, Kloppman came upstairs and they all hid back under their blankets. Kloppman always wondered ehy the boys never woke up on their own. After he left, Jack sent racetrack to wake Spot up. Racetrack entered the room. Liz turned toward him, hearing but not awake. " WOA MAMA!!" Race shouted. He ran back in the bunk room. "Ey guys!" He shouted at the top of his lungs "Deres a goil in dere!"" That caught everyones attention, especially Mush's. "Where?!" Mush looked around.He ran into the room. By now Spot was awake. "Ya got a goil Spot?" Mush asked. " I guess youve seen Liz" Spot said, half scowling and half grinning. He didnt really guess, Liz had to have been the only girl. By now she was awake and fully embarassed by all of the cute guys staring at her. "Ok,OK,OK" Spot saved her. "Let da lady rest." They all backed away from the doorway and spot closed the door. "Sheesh" he sighed. She smiled. "What time is it?" she asked sleepily. He walked over to his vest and looked at the poket watch"five-tirdy" he replied. After he got dressed he went into the washroom. "Ya betta stay in here till all da necked boys 'ave cleared out." He said as he left hte room. SHe laughed, then hopped off the bunk and got her shoes on. Then Spot poked his head in the doorway. "You'se don mind if I tell em some stuff do ya?" he asked. "No of coarse not" she stood up." Oh Ive got to go home for a minute, dont leave, Ill be right back!" she shot through the window like a bullet.
Spot went into the washroom and told the guys how they met and why she was crying. After he told them, Racetrack spoke up. Mind if I take er around Man'atten today?" " I dont see why not, Race, if she doesnt go to school." Spot said. "Oh yeah I fergot bout that" Race sulked. "Besides" Spot combed his hair."Why are you askin me? Its her life. I didnt bring er fer me, I brought her for you guys. Im da leada, I cant be havin no steady goil on me arm." Spot said. Mush thought for a moment. "wow, tanks Spot!" he said sarcastically.
Meanwhile Liz ran home as fast as she could. She scrambled up the buildings fire escape, into her room. She walked into the parlor trying not to pant. "My your up early, you usually sleep the day away." her mother said. Liz frownd on the inside but smiled grimly.. "And It looks like you slept in your dress, How many times have I told you to hang up your clothes!" It wasnt a question. "I will mother." she tried to stay but her mother cut her off. "And you smell like those street rats that run around all day!" Her mother smelled everything."Go take a shower!" "Yes mother." Liz said." May I do my schoolwork outside and walk around?" she asked as nicley as she could. " Of coarse, if it will give you exercise!" her father broke in. "Thank you!" she said and ran to her room. she got a dress identical to the one she was wearing but it had green lace, and started the shower. she got in even though it was freezing cold, she didnt feel it. that was the quickest shower she ever took up to that point in her life. She got dressed, put her hair up and dashed out the door with her leather bookstrap in her hand.
When she got to the lodging house everyone was ready and some left. Racetrack walked up to her and asked "Would you like to take a walk trough central park wit me while I sell me papes? I could show you around cuz youse is new. Well if you dont have schooll an all." He smiled triumphantly. Liz smiled " Sure! I am taught school at home!" she held up her books. "great!" he said leading her out to the distribution office and she watched them get their papers.
"Good luck!" Spot called from the swarm of newsies around them. Liz smiled. "Bye Spot!" she emphasized sarcastically. he smirked. Race pulled her out of the crowd and they started walking. "Spot said you'se was eyen' me last night." Race said after they left Newspaper row. Liz blushed. "He said that?" She said trying to hide her color. "Yep, but dats okay, I tink you'se is purdy." She smiled."Where did you get your nickname, Racetrack?" She asked. He grinned "Wanna see?" he blurted out. She followed him down to the races. They stopped right in the shade of a big willow tree. "Here we are." He was still grinning. Liz smiled. " I love horses" He took her hand and walked to the betting booth. "Pick one" he said to her. "ME?" she said astonished that he would put his money on her. "Yes you, but not those two, there a little slow in the summa." She smiled and looked at the horses. "That one, Midnight Storm number three." she said. "good choice. Two dallas on numba three." He got his ticket and they went to a clear spot in the crowd.
Mrs. Parker was making measurements for Liz's dress." Oh Elizabeth! You have GOT to loose some weight, your fat and ugly,!" her mother exclaimed, going on and on.Trying to hold back tears, Liz breathed in deeply. She was always making comments like that.She finished the measurements and Liz ran into her room and sobbed into her laced Victorian pillow. Sometimes she thought she had the worst life. Then she remembered her only friend, Jennifer, that got pregnant and ran away with her"boyfriend"he was twenty-one and she was only 13! Liz never saw her again. Sometimes she wished she could get away like that, just not with a man like him. Her only getaway from life was watching the newsboys selling newspapers and playing around. They were free. She dreamed of being free, playing around with them. She decided to go to bed early, like every night. But tonight, she could barely hold it in, all the memories.everything always went wrong. "Psst!" Came a voice" Psst!" she looked up. It came from the open window. She moved over to it and looked out. A rather cute boy of about 16 was there. "Who are you?" she asked. "I's Spot Conlon." he said proudly. "And you'se?" " Elizabeth Parker." she stuck out her hand.Seeing that she was rich (well, richer then most people) he took her hand and kissed it. "Why was ya cryin'?"he asked her. I was not crying." she held her chin up. "Somethins wrong." He pointed out. She hesitated.New York wasn't exactly the place you could just blurt out your feelings to a complete stranger. "It's my parents" she finally said. "wanna tawlk 'bout it?" he seemed nice. She looked around. "Okay, let me get dressed first." She was happy. Spot sat with his back facing the wall. She put on her plainest dress, which wasnt very plain for most people. She sat on her bed buttoning up her boots. 'I'm glad I'm doing this.' she thought to herself.' He is a newsboy,maybe I'll make friends.' When she finished, she put her hair up and climbed out the window. When Spot saw her he helped her down. They sat on the steps. "Well?" Spot finally spoke. "Well, I think I should start at the beginning." She tried to sort things out. "Wait a minute, how come you were watching me?" She wanted an explanation first. Sot smirked. She smiled. He was cute when he did that! " Well I's not in Manhattan dat much and when I is, I explores, you know, check tings out. And I found dis mansion quite 'ntresting!" he replied. " this is certainly not a mansion, our last house had a maid , a nanny and a cook!" she laughed. "woa!" he gasped. "Where ARE you from?" she asked. Flabberghasted he replied, " you'se neva hoid of da famous Spot Conlon, leda of da Brooklyn newsies?!" " sorry, I dont get out much." she replied. "Ok well, now its your toin" he shifted towards her. "Well, when I was little, my father used to beat my older brother. And my mother verbally abuses us. My little brother gets whatever he wants, even after he gets deathly yelled at, he still asks, he doesnt get it. I remember my older brother used to hit me- real hard- but he didnt mean it...its my father, he taught it to him... its HIS fault!!!"A tear fell down her cheek. They moved closer together.. "How did your mudda vebally abuse ya?" he asked gently. " We'll she tells me Im dumb, and curses at me and never aknowledges anything I do andrecently well, for about a year she's been telling me how fat I am, but shes the problem, I didnt get fat until she told me I was fat!!" Tears started streaming down her face. She breathed in deeply to hold back a sob. I didnt work. He put his arm around her and looked at her but showed no emotion. He noticed that she wasnt the thinnest person in the world, but wasnt fat either. " your not fat." he said, truthfully. "She seemed to think so." She sobbed harder. "She's jus' jealous." he told her. She laughed and sobbed at the same time. "thank you" "She probly is." he blurted out. They decided to walk around. They talked for hours. At about 3 in the morning, the conversation stopped. "hey, Hows about ya come wit me, dat is, if you don wanna go home an all." Spot said. " sure, I'd love too!" she smiled at his twinkling eyes. He smirked. So Spot took her to an old building that had a sighn which read:
NEWSBOYs LODGING HOUSE.
Spot led her to the fire escape on the side of the building mumbling, " If Kloppman sees us, hell kill me, not that I cant soak the old man in one punch..." She followed him into a room wich had several bunkbeds that all had sleeping guys in them. Liz felt really akward in this situation. She looked around. "Hey who are they?" She whispered pointing to two guys in a bunk. "Dats Mush an Racetrack... Ya tink dere cute?"He ginned. They entered a small bedroom. "Dis is me room" he whispered quite loudly."when I's in Manhattan acourse!" he added. You'se can sleep up top." so she took off her boots, climbed up and fell asleep quickly. Spot followed right after her.
*********
One by one the newsies started awakining. About fifteen minutes later, Kloppman came upstairs and they all hid back under their blankets. Kloppman always wondered ehy the boys never woke up on their own. After he left, Jack sent racetrack to wake Spot up. Racetrack entered the room. Liz turned toward him, hearing but not awake. " WOA MAMA!!" Race shouted. He ran back in the bunk room. "Ey guys!" He shouted at the top of his lungs "Deres a goil in dere!"" That caught everyones attention, especially Mush's. "Where?!" Mush looked around.He ran into the room. By now Spot was awake. "Ya got a goil Spot?" Mush asked. " I guess youve seen Liz" Spot said, half scowling and half grinning. He didnt really guess, Liz had to have been the only girl. By now she was awake and fully embarassed by all of the cute guys staring at her. "Ok,OK,OK" Spot saved her. "Let da lady rest." They all backed away from the doorway and spot closed the door. "Sheesh" he sighed. She smiled. "What time is it?" she asked sleepily. He walked over to his vest and looked at the poket watch"five-tirdy" he replied. After he got dressed he went into the washroom. "Ya betta stay in here till all da necked boys 'ave cleared out." He said as he left hte room. SHe laughed, then hopped off the bunk and got her shoes on. Then Spot poked his head in the doorway. "You'se don mind if I tell em some stuff do ya?" he asked. "No of coarse not" she stood up." Oh Ive got to go home for a minute, dont leave, Ill be right back!" she shot through the window like a bullet.
Spot went into the washroom and told the guys how they met and why she was crying. After he told them, Racetrack spoke up. Mind if I take er around Man'atten today?" " I dont see why not, Race, if she doesnt go to school." Spot said. "Oh yeah I fergot bout that" Race sulked. "Besides" Spot combed his hair."Why are you askin me? Its her life. I didnt bring er fer me, I brought her for you guys. Im da leada, I cant be havin no steady goil on me arm." Spot said. Mush thought for a moment. "wow, tanks Spot!" he said sarcastically.
Meanwhile Liz ran home as fast as she could. She scrambled up the buildings fire escape, into her room. She walked into the parlor trying not to pant. "My your up early, you usually sleep the day away." her mother said. Liz frownd on the inside but smiled grimly.. "And It looks like you slept in your dress, How many times have I told you to hang up your clothes!" It wasnt a question. "I will mother." she tried to stay but her mother cut her off. "And you smell like those street rats that run around all day!" Her mother smelled everything."Go take a shower!" "Yes mother." Liz said." May I do my schoolwork outside and walk around?" she asked as nicley as she could. " Of coarse, if it will give you exercise!" her father broke in. "Thank you!" she said and ran to her room. she got a dress identical to the one she was wearing but it had green lace, and started the shower. she got in even though it was freezing cold, she didnt feel it. that was the quickest shower she ever took up to that point in her life. She got dressed, put her hair up and dashed out the door with her leather bookstrap in her hand.
When she got to the lodging house everyone was ready and some left. Racetrack walked up to her and asked "Would you like to take a walk trough central park wit me while I sell me papes? I could show you around cuz youse is new. Well if you dont have schooll an all." He smiled triumphantly. Liz smiled " Sure! I am taught school at home!" she held up her books. "great!" he said leading her out to the distribution office and she watched them get their papers.
"Good luck!" Spot called from the swarm of newsies around them. Liz smiled. "Bye Spot!" she emphasized sarcastically. he smirked. Race pulled her out of the crowd and they started walking. "Spot said you'se was eyen' me last night." Race said after they left Newspaper row. Liz blushed. "He said that?" She said trying to hide her color. "Yep, but dats okay, I tink you'se is purdy." She smiled."Where did you get your nickname, Racetrack?" She asked. He grinned "Wanna see?" he blurted out. She followed him down to the races. They stopped right in the shade of a big willow tree. "Here we are." He was still grinning. Liz smiled. " I love horses" He took her hand and walked to the betting booth. "Pick one" he said to her. "ME?" she said astonished that he would put his money on her. "Yes you, but not those two, there a little slow in the summa." She smiled and looked at the horses. "That one, Midnight Storm number three." she said. "good choice. Two dallas on numba three." He got his ticket and they went to a clear spot in the crowd.