And Clink Said... Let There Be US!
Out in the middle of nowhere (actually, it was in Brooklyn) in the lost essence of time, which seems to always be absent (it was kinda early in the morning) there was an evil plot afoot... (foot?) against the powerful (cocky) leader of Brooklyn. Among other things that would take place in the lives of three (abnormal, teen, hormonal, loud) girls... one day would stand out. A day of, well, fun. We take you back to a cloudy, cool day in... wait, when was it? Oh well, it was in some month that ended in "er". Or was it "y"?
Clink sighed loudly in annoyance, her voice echoing over the strangely abandoned Brooklyn docks. "UCKGH!" She flung her papers down onto the wooden planks in front of her.
"You got a problem, chicken?" Came a taunting voice from above her.
"It's too damn oyly ta be awake!" Clink wailed in response, throwing her arms above her head. Her pony tailed, brown hair bounced off her back as she whirled around to face her friend. "July... why're we doin' dis?" Whining was maybe the only thing she couldn't stop herself from doing at seven o'clock in the morning. That and yawning.
July smirked down at her. "Well, Clinkeroonie. We'se gunna give mutt-boy a surprise." She said proudly.
"Unless it's me fist embedded into his front teeth, I don' wanna know what it is." Clink muttered, leaning against a wooden pole and then collapsing in a heap at the bottom.
"Come on, ya know you do!" July laughed.
The other girl sighed. "Nope." She could care less if July wanted to tick Mr. Spot Conlon off. Again. It was her favorite hobby. It happened all the time. Almost daily. If she made him any madder he'd be dead.
"Hi!!" Rang a cheerful voice from the other side of the docks. A tall red-head appeared, her eyes wide and awake. Clink groaned inwardly. Morning people. Uckgh. "Clinker! July!" She called as she began to jog lightly up to her chums.
July jumped down from her crate, stumbling for a second and then regaining her balance. "Copper! Guess what I'se..."
"AHH! Make her STOP!" Clink wailed dramatically, covering her ears.
Copper looked down at her strangely, but July didn't even miss a beat. "I'se gunna pull da BEST prank on da mutt!" She exclaimed, beaming at the two in front of her.
Copper and Clink stared blankly at July for a second and then went into a round of laughter.
"What?!" July demanded, frowning.
Calming down slightly, Copper took a breath to answer. "Is dis like when ya tried to steal his slingshot, an' ya dropped it in a BIG..."
"...tank of dead fish!!" Clink finished for her, hooting with laughter.
"Yah," July rolled her eyes. "But dat was a bad plan." She pointed out.
Clink stood up, putting her cap on backwards and taking a "Spot the Warrior" stance. "JULY!!" She roared at Copper in her Spot imitation. "You get me slingshot outta dat smelly fish thing!"
Copper put her hands on her hips and stuck her chin out in her July impression. "No, I ain't gunna be smellin' like a fish! YOU get it! You already stink!" She screeched.
"Okay, dats enough." July muttered, crossing her arms. "We all know what happened next."
Clink and Copper went off into another fit of laughter. "PLOP goes Spot an' July into da fish tank!" Clink choked out, hanging onto Copper's shoulder so she wouldn't fall over.
"Not to mention dey had to take FOAH showahs to get da smell off a dem!" Copper screamed, snorting lightly with her giggles.
July frowned again. "Dis is a DIFFERENT plan!" She yelled at them.
"I say ya do da fishy t'ing again. I need anudder good laugh." Clink giggled, straitening up, pulling habitly at her worn cuffs on her shirt.
"Next time it'll be YOU in da fish tank, chicken." Came the retort.
"Uh huh." Clink rolled her eyes.
Copper smiled at both of them. "So whats dis plan?" She asked July.
The one scheming girls' face lit up at the question. "See, I was t'inkin dat we could..."
"An' he swam an' he swam all ovah da dam!" Clink sang loudly. She ended her song with a puckered up fish-face and then another round of laughter.
"Dats it!" July screamed, as she lunged at Clink.
"Uh... bye!" Clink sprinted out of her clutches, running towards the lodging house in the distance.
Copper laughed. "Dis might take a while." She walked slowly after the two, lightly humming to herself as she looked around at the scenery.
"NO NO NO!" Clink giggled as she ran around a large crate full of hay, with July on her heels.
"YES YES YES!" July yelled after her. She finally gave up with running around in circles, and she instead jumped over the crate and grabbed the other girl by the back of her pants. Then with a grunt she pulled hard, hearing a faint stretch of cotton. Clink gasped as she fell into July, who in turn fell backwards into the crate that they were circling.
"Yowww!" Clink breathed harshly as she landed hard on her back.
"You okay?" July asked from underneath her.
"Yah, I just..."
"...den get off me!" July pushed her off of her and over to the other side of the crate. Clink protested and began to slap July with her cap, while July poked her head out of the crate to look around.
"Why I oughtta..." Clink began, but was disrupted by July who put her hand quickly over Clink's mouth.
"Shh!" She hissed, pointing up and mouthing the word: "SPOT!" Clink got the gist. SNOTtie-boy was out there, and July wanted to try another trick. Go figure.
"Copper, whatcha doin' heah?" Questioned a familiar voice as Copper neared the crate.
Copper in turn shrugged. She had seen July and Clink fall into the crate, but Spot hadn't. "Not'tin much. Just takin' a walk."
Spot rose an eyebrow at her. "In Brooklyn? By yaself?"
'Boy, Conlon sure is nosy.' Clink thought with a light snort. July glared at her, mouthing the words "Shut up!". Which she did. She sighed and plopped noiselessly down into the hay, closing her eyes. July rolled her eyes.
"Yah, in Brooklyn." Copper answered defiantly, ignoring his other question.
Spot smirked at her girl in front of him. "May I ask why?" He asked in a snotty voice.
"You may." Copper answered just as snottily.
A frown fell over the boys' mouth. "Why." He stated.
"I felt like it." She retorted, not even thinking about it.
"Dat ain't a reason, goil." He growled at her, getting impatient.
"Look, if I had anyt'ing important ta tell ya, I would. But I don't. So dere. Can I go now?" Copper made as if to walk past him.
"Wheah ya goin'?" Spot asked, stepping in her path again.
Copper's mind flew with possible answers. "Uh..."
"Spot, leave her alone!" Demanded a voice from behind the Brooklyn leader.
Spot turned around with a smirk on his face. He tipped his cap up so he could get a good look at Luna, who was walking towards him and Copper. "An' why should I?" He retorted.
Luna smirked back at him. "Cause she's heah to see me."
Copper couldn't help but want to giggle at her savior, but Luna just shot her a glance that told her to keep her mouth shut. From her place by the window in the lodging house, Luna had seen Clink and July fall into the crate. Not to mention Copper trying to cover up for them.
"Dat roight?" Spot turned to Copper, who nodded her head solemnly.
"Yep. So you can go now, Conlon." Luna said quickly, almost TOO quickly. She then laughed at the startled look that graced the Brooklyn leader's face.
He over came the look and smirked. "What if I want ta keep you goils comp'ny?" He nudged Luna playfully. She just pushed him back and shook her head.
"Den I'll tell ya ta get a life, an' quit buggin' us." She laughed at his mock-anger.
July heard the sound of Spot's voice change. He had his back turned to the crate. She looked over at Clink who was now curled up in the hay, sleeping lightly. July grinned, then slowly she poked her head out of the crate.
"Dat hoits, Luna!" Spot placed his hands on his chest, making a sad puppy face at his friend. "I'se deeply wounded!"
Luna snorted and rolled her eyes. "Oh. I feel da pain." She said sarcastically.
Copper was getting bored with the entire show. She faked a yawn, and then when the two still didn't notice, she took a few steps back to peek into the crate. July was looking up at her with a mischievous grin, slowing letting her head appear over the edge. 'That little evil doer!' Copper thought, giggling lightly to herself. Spot saw the giggle and egged on his performance even more.
"Doctah Luna, help me! I'se in need a medical attention." He moaned, covering his face with his hands and shuffling his feet.
Luna grinned. "You can say dat again."
"Doctah Luna, help me! I'se..."
"Oh, quit it!" She laughed, making a fist and taking a step towards him, which made him take a step back towards the crate.
July grinned as he crept closer into her claws. ((AN: *muhahaha!* uh. yah. back to story)) And she grinned even more so as she noticed his slingshot sticking out of his back pocket. 'Just a little moah...' She thought to herself.
Spot put his fists up playfully, taunting Luna who shook her head and crossed her arms. "Uh huh. Sure." She said sarcastically.
"You'se afraid a me, eh?" Spot smirked, taking his cane out of his belt loop and tapping it on the ground for sheer enjoyment.
July reached her hand slowly out of the crate... she was SO close.
"Yah. I'se afraid a you'se. Oh. Copper. Save me." Luna stated flatly, then she burst into laughter when she saw Copper's confused look. At that moment Luna noticed the hand reaching out towards Spot. Her laugh faltered for a moment, and then she picked it up again. "You'se so full a yaself, Spot. I don' even know why I stay in Brooklyn."
Copper whistled softly to herself, trying not to laugh at the demented gleam in July's eyes.
Clink woke up with a light start, knocking some of hay around her. A cloud of dust and pollen rose into the air, slightly clouding her eyesight. She blinked her eyes so she could get a better look at her crate-buddy. She observed July reaching out towards... Spot?! 'And so da fued continues...' She thought to herself, sighing softly. Then she took in a breath of the dust. 'Uh oh...' she thought as she felt her nose tickle.
"It's cause of me looks, ain't it?" Spot beamed at Luna. "Ya can't get 'nough a me."
Clink tried to wave the dust cloud away from her, but the movement just succeeded in bringing up more dust from the hay. 'Damnit!'
Luna grinned at him, almost seductively. "Why, no." It's cause a da good lookin' STRONG, Brooklyn boys heah." She declared.
July's hand brushed softly against the slingshot, and then was grasping air again when Spot moved his hips slightly to the right. 'Mutt, stop fidgeting!' She thought frustratingly.
"Which includes me." Spot smirked at Luna, in all of his stuck-up glory.
Clink held her hands tightly around her mouth and nose. She could feel the sneeze coming on. 'Uuuuuckgh!'
"Uh huh. You just keep on t'inkin dat." Luna clapped him on the shoulder, smirking.
July reached out again to where Spot now stood. Her fingers extended to grab one of the boys' most prized possessions.
Copper looked down into the crate, again. She rose her hand halfway up to wave to Clink, but then noticed that she was...
"Ahh-choo!!!" Clink sneezed, violently throwing herself into July. July, who was still reaching for the slingshot, screamed in surprise and jolted forward into the crate. A wave of pain made her gasp as the wind was forced out of her lungs.
Spot heard the sneeze and turned halfway around, towards the crate. With his movement, July ended up clutching his rear end rather then what was her intention.
"EEEEEK!" He welped in surprise, jumping into the air.
"AAAHH!" July yelled likewise, realizing that she had SPOT'S butt clenched in her hand. She hurriedly let him go and stood up, fuming and bright red.
Throughout the entire scene, Copper and Luna were laughing hysterically, clutching onto each other for support. Copper tried to say something, but broke down into giggles again. Luna was holding onto the other girl's shoulders as her black hair bounced around her head.
Clink stood up, sniffling, and rubbing her watering eyes. "Dis ain't me fault." She declared before sneezing again.
Spot began sputtering sentence fragments at random. "Er... she... YOU.... my.... JULY!!"
"Yessss?" July asked innocently. She looked around at the faces before her and then pointed to herself.
"Yes. You." Spot took a step towards where July still stood inside the crate.
"Wait up, hold yaself..." Luna stepped between them, finally done with her laughing fit. Copper remained on the ground as a quivering puddle of giggles.
Clink ran her palm across her nose, sniffling loudly. "EWW!!" She proclaimed, disgustedly.
July frowned. "Luna! I t'ought you was on my side!" She wailed.
Luna sighed. "An' I'se s'pposed ta let ya beat him in an' not leave anyt'ing foah me?!"
Spot leaned to one side to look around Luna, so he could glare at July. July just smirked at him.
"See anyt'ing ya like, mutt?" She asked.
Spot snorted. "Not on you."
"Oooooh! Dat makes me wanna cry!"
"Copper, you got a tissue?" Clink asked, breaking through the heated moment. Copper just continued to giggle, shaking her head vigorously. Clink looked at her like she had grown a tail.
"Oh, yeah?" Spot narrowed his eyes at July "I can make ya..."
"Hold it right dere, lovah boy!" Luna sighed exasperated. "NOW! Are we gunna play nice, or do we gotta send your play toys home?"
Spot glared at Luna. "Play toys?"
"You wish!" July retorted, crossing her arms on her chest.
"I wish you'd..."
"I HATE DUST!!" Clink wailed, trying to get into the conversation. Luna, Copper, Spot AND July all looked up at her.
"Uh huh." July said to Clink, nodding her head. "C'mon, lets go, goils." She flashed one more evil glance at Spot, and then jumped out of the crate. She walked over to Copper, where the former puddle was just composing herself, and took her arm to help her stand up. "Clink? Ya comin'?" She asked.
Clink groaned. "An' heah we go off into da sunset..."
"It's seven thoity in da mornin', chicken!" July laughed.
"Dats what I meant." Clink grinned stupidly to herself, climbing oh-so-gracefully out of the crate and in front of Spot. With her red nose, Clink grinned at him. "Nice toosh!" She proclaimed, laughing uproariously as she walked away from him.
Spot smirked at all of them, not saying anything as to their departure. He held his slingshot protectively in his hands, just in case July got any ideas.
"Bye Lunas!" Clink waved to Luna as she jogged over to where she had left her papes.
"BYE!" July called behind her shoulder, keeping her eyes off of Spot.
"Yah, bye Luna! T'anks foah tryin' ta save my life." Copper grinned at her.
"You'se welcome. See ya 'round!" Luna smiled and waved to them, watching the three walk to the end of the docks.
"I knew dey was dere." Spot said proudly once they were gone.
"Sure. An' July doesn' have a t'ing foah your behind." Luna laughed at Spot, and then turned to walk back to the lodging house, leaving Spot to look after the three figures.
"So wheah we goin'?" Clink asked as she balanced her papes on her hip, digging in her back pocket for a handkerchief which wasn't there.
"No wheah." July said, her eyes fused to the street in front of her.
Copper looked around her, oblivious to July's growing anger and Clink's absent mindness. Carriages ran their course through the streets, venders yelled out to the folks who were passing by, and Brooklyn newsies hawked the improved headlines all around them.
"Dat would 'ave woiked!!" July burst out suddenly, slamming one of her fists into her palm. "ARRGH! If it wasn't foah Clink ovah dere, we would have got Spot GOOD!"
Clink shrugged and blew her nose on the tail of her shirt. July crinkled her nose at her, and then chuckled. Clink just grinned and tucked her shirt in again.
Copper laughed. "I t'ink you aughta blame Clink's allergies, instead of her."
"Well, I wanna blame da goil, not da nose!" July giggled.
"July, ya know it wouldn'a woiked. If it weren't foah Luna, we'd all be dead and rotting along side the Harlem Rivah." Copper continued.
"An' dat would NOT be any fun." Clink added with a giggle. The three had reached the Brooklyn bridge now, and they began to cross it.
July sighed and looked up at the sky, which was becoming more cloudy. "Den lets have some fun!" She turned and grabbed Clink's papers from her hands.
"HEY! Dos're mine!" Clink jumped up to snatch her papers back.
"Ya said ya wanted ta have fun today, so lets do it!" July laughed and tossed the papers over the railing of the bridge. Copper leaned over the railing and watched the papers flutter down and then land on the water. A few remained on the surface, but most of them sank.
"Dat was real smart." She muttered with a smile.
"Da way I see it, we'se gunna have ta give up sellin' taday in ordah to have fun." July crossed her arms over his chest, feeling proud of her idea.
"No sellin'?" Clink frowned, tilting her head to one side.
"NO sellin'." July confirmed.
"Den what are we gunna do?" Copper asked, feeling a great rush of power within.
"We can... rule da city!" July yelled, throwing her arms up and twirling around. A man who was pushing a wheel barrel noticed the three girls and stopped to stare in bewilderment. Clink looked over to the man and stuck out her tongue, blowing raspberries at him.
"Nanner nanners!" She yelled out at him. July laughed and then followed suit with the raspberry blowing.
Copper laughed. "We'se da queens a New Yawk!" She announced bouncing up and down. Her red hair bounded around her shoulders.
Clink giggled and began prancing around Copper and July. The girls laughed and sang whatever came into their heads, not caring about the people around them.
A while later they were out of breath and they collapsed on the side of the bridge, leaning against the railing. "So..." July breathed. "What are we doin' instead?" She turned to her friends, who just looked back at her dumbfounded.
"Dis was YOUR brilliant plan, remembah?" Copper pointed out, brushing her hair out of her face.
Clink moaned and covered her face. A few waves of brown hair tumbled out of her pony tail. "I'se stuck heah... wit' no papes... no ideahs... an'..."
"Boy, dis is SAD." Mocked a voice next to the group.
"CAKEY!!" Copper yelled, jumping up and practically attacking Cake.
"Whoa, whoa, take it easy. I can only take so much lovin'.." Cake laughed, hugging Copper back. "So whats goin' on?" She grinned at the three.
"We'se takin' a... uh..." Clink thought, trying to think of a word.
"A wha?" Cake raised an eyebrow at her.
"A BREAK." July finished for the brain dead girl. "We ain't sellin'."
Copper laughed. "You mean, we ain't doin NOTHIN'."
Cake frowned. "You mean... you'se not gunna sell. But ya don' have any ideah whatsoevah what you'se gunna do instead?" She looked up at the forming black clouds and then yawned. Mornings sucked.
Clink processed all that had been said. "Ummn. Yeah."
July sighed. "NO! I know what we'se doin'!" She insisted, standing up beside Copper.
"No ya don'." Copper grinned at her.
"Yah I do."
"Nope."
"UH HUH!"
"NUUUH UUUH!"
"UH...."
"Shaddup!" Cake and Clink screamed at the same time. All was quiet for a moment.
"UH HUH!!"
"NUH UH!!"
"Oy... Cake. Save me!" Clink held her face in her hands as she continued to sit Indian style.
Cake shrugged. "Ain't me problem. Hey, any a you'se seen Mush?" She grinned, a far away look taking residence in her eyes.
July glared at Copper, who glared back at her. "We'll find somet'in ta do." She said.
Cake sighed to herself. "No Mush, eh?" She thought for a moment and then snapped back into reality. "Well, why doncha guys just take a walk in da park?" She suggested. "It ain't all dat excitin', but hey. It's bettah den sellin'."
July ended the feud with Copper and turned to Cake. "Brilliant!" She screamed, and then giggled at the sudden echo that surrounded them.
"Uh huh. You'se welcome, July." Cake shrugged, heading towards Brooklyn, again.
"Cake! Wheah ya goin?" Clink called after her.
"No wheah. Like you guys." She shrugged, turning back to smile at her.
"You ain't sellin'?" Clink questioned, standing up beside Copper and July.
"Wha, an' actually DO somet'in today? Fuhgetaboutit...." Cake smirked at them and continued her walk.
Copper grinned after Cake. "Queens.... lets go!" She whirled around and began to run to the other side of the bridge. Clink and July looked at each other and then shrugged. They both took off running after their friend. And towards... wherever it was.
"Oh, I ain't da kinda goil ta lift up me skoit!" Clink sang, twirling around a random lamp post.
"Ta any kind a guy... dat is!" Copper chimed in, shaking her hips around, feeling extra happy this particular day. ((AN: shake shake shake... hehe))
"BUT!" July screamed, totally off key, as she grabbed Clink by the shoulders and shook her dramatically. "Foah you, I might make an..."
"EXCEPTION!!" They all sang together, their laughter ringing around Central Park. Singing even more fragments of songs that they couldn't remember all the way, they watched as people, squirrels, and even pigeons ((AN: PIGE!! HI!!)) scurried away from them in sheer horror.
"Ow, my ears!!" Complained a voice from... a tree?
"Uh. Dat trees tawkin' to us..." Clink pointed up into the leaves of the tree above them. A light giggle echoed down to their ears.
"Hmmn. Talkin' trees is definitely wheah I draw da line of communication." Copper laughed. Rustling could be heard from the large dogwood tree, now, and the entire frame shook. Just then a wild beast jumped down upon the un-expecting girls!! ((AN: run away, run away!! hehe)) Lucky for them, Copper and July moved out of the way before they were ambushed. However, Clink was unfortunate.
"CHEEEEKYYY!!" Clink yelled from underneath the girl.
Copper grinned down at the two. "Da element a surprise, eh?" She asked Cheeky, who just so happened to be the evil wild beast that had pounced Clink.
The small blond laughed helplessly and stood up. She brushed some of the leaves out of her hair and then looked down at the shattered persona who was sprawled out before her.
"CLINK! You okay?" She asked, giggling again.
"Oh yah, I'll die soon an' it'll all be ovah." Clink sighed, closing her eyes. Nothing like being stampeded by a flying, raving-mad woman early in the morning.
July laughed, holding her hand out to Clink, who glanced at it and rose an eyebrow.
"I can't move, an' ya want me to get up?" She asked smartly.
"Fine den, stay down dere!" July smirked at her.
Clink didn't like being on the dirty ground all that much. Besides, a tree root was sticking painfully into her back. So, she got up to glare at Cheeky, instead.
"Whats da big ideah?" Clink puffed out her chest, trying to act all big and bad. Bad role for her; she didn't play it off too well. Besides, Cheeky had an inch on her.
"OOOh Cheeky!" July jumped up and down, clapping her hands together excitedly. "I'se gotta tell ya bout..."
"You grabbin' Spot's behind?" Copper joked, laughing, quickly joined by Clink. Cheeky just looked around her, her brow creased with a confused look.
"Uh," she muttered, very lost.
"Nevah mind dat. I gotta t'ink of somet'in else.." July said more to herself, sitting down on a nearby bench.
"OH! Look at da pretty smoke comin' outta her ears!" Clink sat down next to her, pretending to look into one of July's ears.
"Lay offa me!" July slapped Clink's face away from her ear.
Cheeky looked up at the trees around her. "So, anyone wanna tell me whats goin' on so I don' say somet'in an' look like a moron?" She asked
"But, dats your trademark!" Copper chided, punching her lightly in the shoulder.
"Oh yah, I foahgot." Cheeky shrugged. "Any a you seen Cats?" ((AN: meeeemorrrieeees!))
Clink looked up from her occupation of staring into July's ear. "Ain't you guys jointed at da hip?" She asked, turning back to her specimen.
"Yah, but she ran away." Cheeky replied, scratching her head, finding a few more leaves in her hair.
"You scared her away!" Copper giggled. "Maybe she's back in Brooklyn?" She offered, pulling a twig out of the other girl's hair. "You got a forest in heah?"
"Brooklyn... yaaah..." Cheeky said and then cringed in disgust as Copper leaned in to grab something else from her hair. "Stop pickin' at me, I feel like a monkey!!"
July awoke from her dream-like state. "Why else wouldja be climbin' in trees?" She grinned at her.
Cheeky grinned back. "I like leaves."
"Okaaay." Clink giggled.
Copper shrugged and leaned against the dogwood. "What are ya doin' in Central Park anyway?" She asked Cheeky. "I mean, besides bein' one wit' da leaves."
"Oh, I was deliverin' a message ta some old broad in Manhattan." She shrugged.
"Yah?" Clink tilted her head, feeling the need to ask a nonsense question.
"Yep." Cheeky smiled at them. "I bettah be goin, Cats wanted me ta... uh..."
"....pick da veggies outta your hair?" Clink asked, derisively grinning at her. ((AN: ooh a big word!)) She leaned back comfortably on the bench.
"Har har!" Cheeky mock-laughed. She gave a quick wave. "See ya guys round!" Then she turned and fled from the scene, her arms flailing about her and a few twigs and leaves flying to the ground from her hair. She left three thoroughly amused girls behind her.
"I love dat monkey goil!" Clink giggled once she was gone.
"She shoah is... unique." Copper stated and then broke into laughter. "Monkey goil!"
"Ah, it's okay." July shrugged, still configuring her evil plan. It's not her fault, she was a space cadet... therefore she had no idea what she was saying. ((AN: heehe))
"It?" Copper laughed. "Oh boy, send me a postcard from Mars..."
"You'se just sayin' dat cause she ain't got any doit on ya. Unlike ME." Clink grinned at July.
July glared evil, icy daggers at her friends. "I hate you."
"AAWW!" Copper gushed. "Group hug!!"
They all laughed and hugged. It was a moment, what else is there to say?
"So... whats gunna happen now?" Clink asked, looking around her. More people were around them, now. Central Park was beginning to get busy at 10:00 in the morning.
July and Copper pondered for a moment. "Lodgin' house?" Copper suggested.
"Foah what?" July asked, standing up and stretching.
"Money! I'se starvin' I need ta eat somet'in." Came the reply.
Clink just shrugged. "Sounds kay ta me. I can always eat."
"We know!!" July slapped her friends cheek, playfully.
The three walked from the park, and towards the lodging house. July was to the left, Copper in the center, and Clink to the right. Not like it matters all that much, but you get the point.
Becoming bored with the quiet around her, Clink began to hum slightly to herself. Soon Copper joined in, and then July. Pretty soon they were singing at the top of their lungs.
"OOOOOH!" July wailed in her awful screeching voice, bouncing around into random people on the streets. They snorted in disgust and walked quickly away from the three, utterly insane, girls.
Itey and Snitch, who were selling their papes on a corner not too far from The World building, noticed the three.
"Uh..." Itey stumbled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
Snitch chuckled, shrugging his shoulders and turned back to an old lady; easy prey.
The three girls pranced their way further into Manhattan. Finally, they ended their escapades in front of the old building which was the Lodging House.
"Home sweet home." Clink declared, throwing her arms out as if she wanted to hug the sign that said "Boys Lodging House." Then she made a not-too-discrete gagging motion with her finger in her mouth.
"When is Kloppman actually gunna change dat sign?" Copper shook her head. "I mean, goils have been livin' heah for yeahs now!"
July nodded, distractedly. At that time, the heavens above opened up, and behold, the three girls were soaked with rain water. Copper and July shrieked and ran for the door, while Clink stood where in place, glaring at the rain drops that were falling rapidly in front of her.
"I love life." She muttered, pulling her wet pony tail off of her shoulder.
"Doncha, doh?" Copper grinned at her through the sheets of rain. "Get ya tail ovah heah!!" Clink sighed and trudged up the steps into the lobby after her friends.
"Kloppman!" July called, peering into the lone room that the old man called his home. He wasn't there, and he didn't answer her, so they headed up the winding stair case to the bunk room.
After a moment of silence, July growled in frustration. "I can't figuah out what I'se gunna do!" She complained.
"Move ta Mexico?" Copper suggested with a grin.
"July, just give it up!" Clink said tiredly, yawning slightly. She could see her bunk from the doorway of the bunk room.
"NO! I'se gunna get on mutt's noives if it's da last t'ing I do." She stuck out her lip.
Copper just shook her head. "Haven't we already been t'rough dis?" She noted.
"Dis time I wanna make it so big, dat he'll nevah foahget it." July's face became a mask of deception. Clink and Copper looked at each other, both on the verge of giggle fits. "If ya wanna do somet'in else, why doncha just stay heah? Ya don't have ta follow me." July concluded as they entered the room.
"An' let ya have all da FUN? Hell no!" Clink giggled.
"Look what da cat dragged in... t'ree little wet kittens." A cocky voice from the far side of the room announced. Race sat all by his lonesome at a small table, that was used late at night for card games, with a usual cigar in his smart mouth. Unlike the girls, he was high and dry.
"Race," Clink stated. "Bite me." She collapsed onto her bunk, burying her head into the flat and worn pillow.
"Touch-ee!" Race took a drag off his cigar and picked up his "lucky" deck of cards. "Whats eatin' you, wet ones?" He asked, shuffling the thin cards in his hands.
Copper sighed and sat down heavily next to Clink as she squeezed some of the water out of her hair onto the dampening floor boards. "Nothen. What're you doin' heah?" She asked him.
"I decided dat since I sold so many papes yestahday, dat I needed ta take a little break an' go to da races. But since it looks like I'se not goin' any time soon," He paused to smirk at the soaked Clink and Copper. "I decided ta come heah an' wait foah da odders, so I could..." he trailed off as he noticed the far away looks on the girls' faces. "Mind enlightening me?" Smirking up at July as she passed him, he chewed lightly on his vice.
"Yah, I do." July retorted as she continued to walk to the washroom to clean up.
"Geez, you goils shoah are moody." Race rolled his eyes, frustrated. Then his face lit up as if someone had turned on a switch. "Wanna play some pokah?"
Clink snorted and turned over on her bed to look up at the bunk above her. "One track mind." She muttered to herself. Copper giggled.
"Ah, it ain't all on one track." Race grinned at her in a mischievous manner. "I got odder t'ings on me mind, ya know." This comment got a shoe thrown at his head. "Hey!"
Copper shook her head, spraying water from her hair all over Clink and her bed. "Ahhh!" Clink yelled, picking up her pillow and slamming it into the side of Copper's head.
"Ya bettah watch out!" Copper laughed. "Dis means WAR!" She threw herself at the smaller girl, knocking her off the bunk. July emerged from the washroom, dryer then before.
"Act yer age!" She said in a gruff voice as the perfect impression of Kloppman. She stepped over Clink and Copper, who were now rolling around on the floor.
"Oh looky heah! We'se got July tellin' people to act deir ages. How ironic is dat?" Jake grinned as he entered the room, his dimples standing out on his cheeks. Mush entered soon after him. They both tread water all over the wooden floor.
"You sure ya know what ironic means, Jake?" July smirked at him, putting her hands on her hips. Race motioned for Mush to come over to him, waving his cards around in the air. Mush just grinned and shrugged, pulling his wet cap off of his equally soaked hair.
Jake laughed at July. "No. But it sounded roight."
"EEK! Dats me haaaaair!" Clink yelled, rolling over quickly into Jake in her attempt to get away from her assassin (Copper). Jake stumbled, almost falling onto her. "Oops." Clink giggled. "Heyas, Jake!" She waved meekly up at him.
July laughed and sat down next to Race and Mush, looking distractedly at the addict's cards that were in his hands.
"Clink just knocked into me... hmmn. What ta do, what ta do." Jake grinned down at her evilly. Clink threw a terrified glance to Copper, who just laughed and stood up. Leaving her buddy stranded, as she walked over to her bunk to lay down.
"You up foah a game, July?" Race's eyes twinkled with the thought of competition.
Jake's dimples grew even deeper into his cheeks as he held a hand out to Clink. Once she was standing, she tried to pull away from hi,, but he wouldn't let go of her hand. "No, Jake. Don't you even dare." Clink tried to push him away from her, but he continued to hold on fast, taking hold of her shoulders. "I sweah! Let me go, or ya nuts are gunna regret it." She warned.
July shrugged. "I might be."
Jake considered on behalf of his nuts. "Hmmn. But foist," He said to his captive "You'se gunna get it BIG TIME!!" He laughed evilly, going in for the kill.
"NOOOO!" Clink wailed as his fingers grabbed her quickly around the middle, tickling her furiously. "AHH!!" She choked with laughter, falling to the floor again.
"You might be, eh?" Race pondered for a moment, blowing the cigar smoke around the three. "Whats da catch?" Mush blinked at both of them, bored. He decided he was too wet for comfort, ((AN: ha, i'm sure i could think of some people who would like him to be uncomfortably... hehe!)) so he walked into the wash room, grabbing a shirt from a random bunk on the way.
Tears ran down Clink's face as she melted into a lumpy mess of giggles at Jake's feet.
Copper looked around her, licking her lips. Everyone was occupied! "BARU!!" She yelled, trying to get the attention of someone.
"Did I hear baru?" Asked a new, giggling, voice from the window.
"CONE!" Copper jumped up and ran to the window, pouncing onto the girl.
July shrugged. "No catch. You just gotta tell me some stuff, dats all."
Coneflower laughed, hugging Copper. "Heyas goil!"
Copper smiled at her. "Wheah ya been?" She asked.
"Ah," Cone shrugged. "Heah an' dere." Jake stood up from his latest victory and grinned at Cone. "Jakey baby!" She yelled, hugging him to her. She looked over his shoulder and over at Clink, who was gasping for breath on the floor. "Uh oh, what'd you do to her?"
Race rose an eyebrow at July. "Like what?" He asked
"Not'tin!" Jake secretly crossed his fingers behind his back.
"GET back heah you chicken!" Clink choked out, scrambling to her feet. Cone laughed, Copper laughed, they all laughed at poor little Clink who was momentarily blinded by her wet hair that was hanging in front of her eyes.
"Aww, poor Clink!" Jake said sympathetically, softly hugging the defenseless girl.
Clink growled and pushed him away from him, glaring. "Pay back!" She yelled, grabbing his wet bowler off of his head and dodging out of his grasp.
"HEY!" Jake took off after her. Copper and Cone watched bemused from their place near the window.
July leaned back in her chair, folding her hands behind her head. "Oh, not'tin much. Just some key facts 'bout Conlon, dats all." She smirked at Race.
"Ey, watch it!" Mush muttered as he was almost run down by Clink and Jake as they bounded into the wash room. He ran a hand through his hair one more time and then emerged into the bunk room. Cone's eyes grew to the size of baseballs at the sight of Mush in his skimpy muscle shirt.
"YOWZA!" She yelled, breaking the independent conversations that were happening around the room. July and Race looked up from their heated conversation, Clink skidded to a stop making Jake fly into her, knocking her into one of the bathroom stalls, Mush looked at Cone as if she had lost all of her marbles, and Copper burst into laughter. "Ummn. Oops." Cone turned a bright shade of red.
Mush grinned at her. "Wouldja like ta dance, me lady?" He held out his hand.
"Whats Conlon gotta do wit' anyt'ing?" Race chuckled, switching his cards from hand to hand. "I mean, I know you want him an' all, but damn!"
Cone grinned in return. "YAH!!" She responded, almost breaking Copper's ear drums.
"Oww!" Copper laughed even harder, holding her hands over her ears. Cone just shrugged at her and took Mush's hand. Soon they were waltzing around the bunk room, their shoes squeeking from the water they left behind them.
Clink smacked Jake with his own bowler. "You bum, you moron, you poor excuse foah a livin' being, you get offa meeeee!" She wailed, stuck between the toilet and the wall. Jake groaned and grabbed his bowler, putting it on top of his head which was pounding from where he had hit it on the toilet bowl.
"Aw, shaddup already! It's yer fault ya know." He muttered.
July frowned. "Bite ya tongue! I don't want Conlon. All I wanna do is tortcha da boy." She grinned at Race. "An' dats wheah you come in."
"MY fault?! Nuh uh, you'se da ticklin' machine!" Clink protested, standing off with Jake. She was only four inches shorter then him, so she had a slight chance of kicking his bum.
"One, two, cha cha cha!" Cone counted gleefully as Mush and her glided around the room. Copper sat down on the window sill, tilting her head as she looked at the couple.
"Aww ain't dat sweet..." She sighed softly. Then she realized what she was doing and she almost slapped herself. "OY!"
Race rolled his eyes. "Foahget it, I ain't helpin' ya do any'ting." He put his cards back in his vest pocket. "I ain't gunna get in trouble wit' Brooklyn 'cause a you'se."
Jake grinned down at Clink. "Change a subject... ya wanna dance?" He tilted his hat back on his head so he could look at her more easily.
"No." Clink folded her arms across her chest.
"C'mon, Jake! Clink! Dance wit' us!" Mush called as he twirled Cone around.
Jake took that as an invitation and grabbed Clink's arms, pulling her out of the wash room.
"NO NO NO!" Clink protested and then quickly gave up as Jake pranced around the room, holding onto her still. She sighed and gave into the need for speed, and shuffled around the bunk room with him
"Ah, c'mon Race!" July whined I'll play pokah witcha every night, I sweah it!" July knew she needed to get back at Conlon. She would even give into Race's sick need to gamble.
"La de da da!" Mush sang almost drunkenly, swaying around with Cone in his arms. She just smiled and nodded at him in reply.
Clink laughed and began a fast moving jiggish dance with Jake, almost falling over her feet and onto her face. They laughed it off and continued to fly, jumping around.
"Hey! Copper! Join in!" Clink laughed, grabbing her friends' wrists and pulling her to her feet. Copper laughed along with her as she was whirled into Jake's arms.
"Welcome to da land a da livin'." Jake smiled down at her. Copper grinned and grabbed Clink's arm, dragging her over to the two. They all laughed and started another fast paced jig.
"Every night?" Race asked devilishly. "Well, what do ya wanna know?"
Cone and Mush went off in their own little world, staring dreamily at each other in that sick way that would make anyone want to throw up. ((AN: just kidding :))
Moments went by, and finally Jake collapsed on a nearby bunk, sweating lightly. Clink laughed at him and tried to pull him to his feet. "No ya don't!" She said. Jake just unlatched her fingers from his arm and grinned up at her. She pouted at him, but it seemed to be ineffective.
"Aww! Ain't she cute!" Jake joked, removing his bowler and placing it lightly on her head. "Dats bettah." He grinned at her. Clink giggled and pushed it down further onto her head, happily.
July leaned in towards Race, taking the cards out of his vest pocket. She put them into his hands. "Deal." She ordered. "I wanna know what makes him TICK." Race opened his mouth for a wisecrack, but then he was cut off by July again. "Not like dat. I wanna know what makes him real mad, like what gets his goat."
Copper was dancing around by herself, her eyes blissfully closed, when she suddenly collided into someone from behind.
"Hey, you... Copper!" The boy's voice exclaimed. She turned quickly around, and then found herself looking into Davey's eyes.
"David!" Copper giggled, hugging him. Dave grinned, looking around the room. "Whats going on?" He asked her.
She let go of him and looked around the room along with him. Cone and Mush were still in their own little world, Jake and Clink were laughing up a storm as they jumped up and down on a bunk, and Race and July were talking evilly over a game of cards. "Beats me." She shrugged.
Race pulled his cigar out of his mouth and squashed it onto the table, which was over run with cigar marks already. "Well, YOU shoah do get on his noives..."
Davey laughed. "It stopped raining outside, you know." He said to Copper, as he stuffed his hands inside his pockets. "Do you want to head down to Tibby's? Jack and some of the guys and girls are there. I left Les with mom today, so it's just me." He explained.
Copper smiled and nodded to him. "Why not!" Then she ran over to where Cone and Mush were dangerously close to one another and ripped the two apart. "LETS GO!" She yelled almost frantically.
"ARGG!" Cone moaned heavily, letting Copper drag her towards the door behind her. Mush jogged over to Davey, hugging him quickly and then heading out the door.
July smirked at Race. "No kidden." She then looked up at Copper and Cone and shrugged. "I'se comin' too, I guess!" She put her cards back down on the table.
"Hey, you promised me a game!" Race frowned at her.
"Latah." July grinned at him. "CLINK, c'mon! Tibby's now!" She yanked Clink, who was in mid leap, from the bunk she and Jake were jumping on.
Clink landed hard on her feet, and then blinked. "Ah, wha?" She asked.
Cone laughed. "We'se gunna go get food!" She yelled as Copper pulled her out the door way of the bunk room.
"Alrighty!!" Clink bounded for the door, Jake's bowler flying off her head. She turned around to fetch it, but July laughed and pulled her towards the door. "Uh, bye Jake!!" Clink called before they clambered out the door.
"Strange goils..." Race muttered, going back to shuffling his cards in his hands.
Jake grinned over at him and shrugged. Then he bent down and picked up his dark brown bowler. Smiling softly to himself, he put it back on his head. "Strange indeed."
Out in the middle of nowhere (actually, it was in Brooklyn) in the lost essence of time, which seems to always be absent (it was kinda early in the morning) there was an evil plot afoot... (foot?) against the powerful (cocky) leader of Brooklyn. Among other things that would take place in the lives of three (abnormal, teen, hormonal, loud) girls... one day would stand out. A day of, well, fun. We take you back to a cloudy, cool day in... wait, when was it? Oh well, it was in some month that ended in "er". Or was it "y"?
Clink sighed loudly in annoyance, her voice echoing over the strangely abandoned Brooklyn docks. "UCKGH!" She flung her papers down onto the wooden planks in front of her.
"You got a problem, chicken?" Came a taunting voice from above her.
"It's too damn oyly ta be awake!" Clink wailed in response, throwing her arms above her head. Her pony tailed, brown hair bounced off her back as she whirled around to face her friend. "July... why're we doin' dis?" Whining was maybe the only thing she couldn't stop herself from doing at seven o'clock in the morning. That and yawning.
July smirked down at her. "Well, Clinkeroonie. We'se gunna give mutt-boy a surprise." She said proudly.
"Unless it's me fist embedded into his front teeth, I don' wanna know what it is." Clink muttered, leaning against a wooden pole and then collapsing in a heap at the bottom.
"Come on, ya know you do!" July laughed.
The other girl sighed. "Nope." She could care less if July wanted to tick Mr. Spot Conlon off. Again. It was her favorite hobby. It happened all the time. Almost daily. If she made him any madder he'd be dead.
"Hi!!" Rang a cheerful voice from the other side of the docks. A tall red-head appeared, her eyes wide and awake. Clink groaned inwardly. Morning people. Uckgh. "Clinker! July!" She called as she began to jog lightly up to her chums.
July jumped down from her crate, stumbling for a second and then regaining her balance. "Copper! Guess what I'se..."
"AHH! Make her STOP!" Clink wailed dramatically, covering her ears.
Copper looked down at her strangely, but July didn't even miss a beat. "I'se gunna pull da BEST prank on da mutt!" She exclaimed, beaming at the two in front of her.
Copper and Clink stared blankly at July for a second and then went into a round of laughter.
"What?!" July demanded, frowning.
Calming down slightly, Copper took a breath to answer. "Is dis like when ya tried to steal his slingshot, an' ya dropped it in a BIG..."
"...tank of dead fish!!" Clink finished for her, hooting with laughter.
"Yah," July rolled her eyes. "But dat was a bad plan." She pointed out.
Clink stood up, putting her cap on backwards and taking a "Spot the Warrior" stance. "JULY!!" She roared at Copper in her Spot imitation. "You get me slingshot outta dat smelly fish thing!"
Copper put her hands on her hips and stuck her chin out in her July impression. "No, I ain't gunna be smellin' like a fish! YOU get it! You already stink!" She screeched.
"Okay, dats enough." July muttered, crossing her arms. "We all know what happened next."
Clink and Copper went off into another fit of laughter. "PLOP goes Spot an' July into da fish tank!" Clink choked out, hanging onto Copper's shoulder so she wouldn't fall over.
"Not to mention dey had to take FOAH showahs to get da smell off a dem!" Copper screamed, snorting lightly with her giggles.
July frowned again. "Dis is a DIFFERENT plan!" She yelled at them.
"I say ya do da fishy t'ing again. I need anudder good laugh." Clink giggled, straitening up, pulling habitly at her worn cuffs on her shirt.
"Next time it'll be YOU in da fish tank, chicken." Came the retort.
"Uh huh." Clink rolled her eyes.
Copper smiled at both of them. "So whats dis plan?" She asked July.
The one scheming girls' face lit up at the question. "See, I was t'inkin dat we could..."
"An' he swam an' he swam all ovah da dam!" Clink sang loudly. She ended her song with a puckered up fish-face and then another round of laughter.
"Dats it!" July screamed, as she lunged at Clink.
"Uh... bye!" Clink sprinted out of her clutches, running towards the lodging house in the distance.
Copper laughed. "Dis might take a while." She walked slowly after the two, lightly humming to herself as she looked around at the scenery.
"NO NO NO!" Clink giggled as she ran around a large crate full of hay, with July on her heels.
"YES YES YES!" July yelled after her. She finally gave up with running around in circles, and she instead jumped over the crate and grabbed the other girl by the back of her pants. Then with a grunt she pulled hard, hearing a faint stretch of cotton. Clink gasped as she fell into July, who in turn fell backwards into the crate that they were circling.
"Yowww!" Clink breathed harshly as she landed hard on her back.
"You okay?" July asked from underneath her.
"Yah, I just..."
"...den get off me!" July pushed her off of her and over to the other side of the crate. Clink protested and began to slap July with her cap, while July poked her head out of the crate to look around.
"Why I oughtta..." Clink began, but was disrupted by July who put her hand quickly over Clink's mouth.
"Shh!" She hissed, pointing up and mouthing the word: "SPOT!" Clink got the gist. SNOTtie-boy was out there, and July wanted to try another trick. Go figure.
"Copper, whatcha doin' heah?" Questioned a familiar voice as Copper neared the crate.
Copper in turn shrugged. She had seen July and Clink fall into the crate, but Spot hadn't. "Not'tin much. Just takin' a walk."
Spot rose an eyebrow at her. "In Brooklyn? By yaself?"
'Boy, Conlon sure is nosy.' Clink thought with a light snort. July glared at her, mouthing the words "Shut up!". Which she did. She sighed and plopped noiselessly down into the hay, closing her eyes. July rolled her eyes.
"Yah, in Brooklyn." Copper answered defiantly, ignoring his other question.
Spot smirked at her girl in front of him. "May I ask why?" He asked in a snotty voice.
"You may." Copper answered just as snottily.
A frown fell over the boys' mouth. "Why." He stated.
"I felt like it." She retorted, not even thinking about it.
"Dat ain't a reason, goil." He growled at her, getting impatient.
"Look, if I had anyt'ing important ta tell ya, I would. But I don't. So dere. Can I go now?" Copper made as if to walk past him.
"Wheah ya goin'?" Spot asked, stepping in her path again.
Copper's mind flew with possible answers. "Uh..."
"Spot, leave her alone!" Demanded a voice from behind the Brooklyn leader.
Spot turned around with a smirk on his face. He tipped his cap up so he could get a good look at Luna, who was walking towards him and Copper. "An' why should I?" He retorted.
Luna smirked back at him. "Cause she's heah to see me."
Copper couldn't help but want to giggle at her savior, but Luna just shot her a glance that told her to keep her mouth shut. From her place by the window in the lodging house, Luna had seen Clink and July fall into the crate. Not to mention Copper trying to cover up for them.
"Dat roight?" Spot turned to Copper, who nodded her head solemnly.
"Yep. So you can go now, Conlon." Luna said quickly, almost TOO quickly. She then laughed at the startled look that graced the Brooklyn leader's face.
He over came the look and smirked. "What if I want ta keep you goils comp'ny?" He nudged Luna playfully. She just pushed him back and shook her head.
"Den I'll tell ya ta get a life, an' quit buggin' us." She laughed at his mock-anger.
July heard the sound of Spot's voice change. He had his back turned to the crate. She looked over at Clink who was now curled up in the hay, sleeping lightly. July grinned, then slowly she poked her head out of the crate.
"Dat hoits, Luna!" Spot placed his hands on his chest, making a sad puppy face at his friend. "I'se deeply wounded!"
Luna snorted and rolled her eyes. "Oh. I feel da pain." She said sarcastically.
Copper was getting bored with the entire show. She faked a yawn, and then when the two still didn't notice, she took a few steps back to peek into the crate. July was looking up at her with a mischievous grin, slowing letting her head appear over the edge. 'That little evil doer!' Copper thought, giggling lightly to herself. Spot saw the giggle and egged on his performance even more.
"Doctah Luna, help me! I'se in need a medical attention." He moaned, covering his face with his hands and shuffling his feet.
Luna grinned. "You can say dat again."
"Doctah Luna, help me! I'se..."
"Oh, quit it!" She laughed, making a fist and taking a step towards him, which made him take a step back towards the crate.
July grinned as he crept closer into her claws. ((AN: *muhahaha!* uh. yah. back to story)) And she grinned even more so as she noticed his slingshot sticking out of his back pocket. 'Just a little moah...' She thought to herself.
Spot put his fists up playfully, taunting Luna who shook her head and crossed her arms. "Uh huh. Sure." She said sarcastically.
"You'se afraid a me, eh?" Spot smirked, taking his cane out of his belt loop and tapping it on the ground for sheer enjoyment.
July reached her hand slowly out of the crate... she was SO close.
"Yah. I'se afraid a you'se. Oh. Copper. Save me." Luna stated flatly, then she burst into laughter when she saw Copper's confused look. At that moment Luna noticed the hand reaching out towards Spot. Her laugh faltered for a moment, and then she picked it up again. "You'se so full a yaself, Spot. I don' even know why I stay in Brooklyn."
Copper whistled softly to herself, trying not to laugh at the demented gleam in July's eyes.
Clink woke up with a light start, knocking some of hay around her. A cloud of dust and pollen rose into the air, slightly clouding her eyesight. She blinked her eyes so she could get a better look at her crate-buddy. She observed July reaching out towards... Spot?! 'And so da fued continues...' She thought to herself, sighing softly. Then she took in a breath of the dust. 'Uh oh...' she thought as she felt her nose tickle.
"It's cause of me looks, ain't it?" Spot beamed at Luna. "Ya can't get 'nough a me."
Clink tried to wave the dust cloud away from her, but the movement just succeeded in bringing up more dust from the hay. 'Damnit!'
Luna grinned at him, almost seductively. "Why, no." It's cause a da good lookin' STRONG, Brooklyn boys heah." She declared.
July's hand brushed softly against the slingshot, and then was grasping air again when Spot moved his hips slightly to the right. 'Mutt, stop fidgeting!' She thought frustratingly.
"Which includes me." Spot smirked at Luna, in all of his stuck-up glory.
Clink held her hands tightly around her mouth and nose. She could feel the sneeze coming on. 'Uuuuuckgh!'
"Uh huh. You just keep on t'inkin dat." Luna clapped him on the shoulder, smirking.
July reached out again to where Spot now stood. Her fingers extended to grab one of the boys' most prized possessions.
Copper looked down into the crate, again. She rose her hand halfway up to wave to Clink, but then noticed that she was...
"Ahh-choo!!!" Clink sneezed, violently throwing herself into July. July, who was still reaching for the slingshot, screamed in surprise and jolted forward into the crate. A wave of pain made her gasp as the wind was forced out of her lungs.
Spot heard the sneeze and turned halfway around, towards the crate. With his movement, July ended up clutching his rear end rather then what was her intention.
"EEEEEK!" He welped in surprise, jumping into the air.
"AAAHH!" July yelled likewise, realizing that she had SPOT'S butt clenched in her hand. She hurriedly let him go and stood up, fuming and bright red.
Throughout the entire scene, Copper and Luna were laughing hysterically, clutching onto each other for support. Copper tried to say something, but broke down into giggles again. Luna was holding onto the other girl's shoulders as her black hair bounced around her head.
Clink stood up, sniffling, and rubbing her watering eyes. "Dis ain't me fault." She declared before sneezing again.
Spot began sputtering sentence fragments at random. "Er... she... YOU.... my.... JULY!!"
"Yessss?" July asked innocently. She looked around at the faces before her and then pointed to herself.
"Yes. You." Spot took a step towards where July still stood inside the crate.
"Wait up, hold yaself..." Luna stepped between them, finally done with her laughing fit. Copper remained on the ground as a quivering puddle of giggles.
Clink ran her palm across her nose, sniffling loudly. "EWW!!" She proclaimed, disgustedly.
July frowned. "Luna! I t'ought you was on my side!" She wailed.
Luna sighed. "An' I'se s'pposed ta let ya beat him in an' not leave anyt'ing foah me?!"
Spot leaned to one side to look around Luna, so he could glare at July. July just smirked at him.
"See anyt'ing ya like, mutt?" She asked.
Spot snorted. "Not on you."
"Oooooh! Dat makes me wanna cry!"
"Copper, you got a tissue?" Clink asked, breaking through the heated moment. Copper just continued to giggle, shaking her head vigorously. Clink looked at her like she had grown a tail.
"Oh, yeah?" Spot narrowed his eyes at July "I can make ya..."
"Hold it right dere, lovah boy!" Luna sighed exasperated. "NOW! Are we gunna play nice, or do we gotta send your play toys home?"
Spot glared at Luna. "Play toys?"
"You wish!" July retorted, crossing her arms on her chest.
"I wish you'd..."
"I HATE DUST!!" Clink wailed, trying to get into the conversation. Luna, Copper, Spot AND July all looked up at her.
"Uh huh." July said to Clink, nodding her head. "C'mon, lets go, goils." She flashed one more evil glance at Spot, and then jumped out of the crate. She walked over to Copper, where the former puddle was just composing herself, and took her arm to help her stand up. "Clink? Ya comin'?" She asked.
Clink groaned. "An' heah we go off into da sunset..."
"It's seven thoity in da mornin', chicken!" July laughed.
"Dats what I meant." Clink grinned stupidly to herself, climbing oh-so-gracefully out of the crate and in front of Spot. With her red nose, Clink grinned at him. "Nice toosh!" She proclaimed, laughing uproariously as she walked away from him.
Spot smirked at all of them, not saying anything as to their departure. He held his slingshot protectively in his hands, just in case July got any ideas.
"Bye Lunas!" Clink waved to Luna as she jogged over to where she had left her papes.
"BYE!" July called behind her shoulder, keeping her eyes off of Spot.
"Yah, bye Luna! T'anks foah tryin' ta save my life." Copper grinned at her.
"You'se welcome. See ya 'round!" Luna smiled and waved to them, watching the three walk to the end of the docks.
"I knew dey was dere." Spot said proudly once they were gone.
"Sure. An' July doesn' have a t'ing foah your behind." Luna laughed at Spot, and then turned to walk back to the lodging house, leaving Spot to look after the three figures.
"So wheah we goin'?" Clink asked as she balanced her papes on her hip, digging in her back pocket for a handkerchief which wasn't there.
"No wheah." July said, her eyes fused to the street in front of her.
Copper looked around her, oblivious to July's growing anger and Clink's absent mindness. Carriages ran their course through the streets, venders yelled out to the folks who were passing by, and Brooklyn newsies hawked the improved headlines all around them.
"Dat would 'ave woiked!!" July burst out suddenly, slamming one of her fists into her palm. "ARRGH! If it wasn't foah Clink ovah dere, we would have got Spot GOOD!"
Clink shrugged and blew her nose on the tail of her shirt. July crinkled her nose at her, and then chuckled. Clink just grinned and tucked her shirt in again.
Copper laughed. "I t'ink you aughta blame Clink's allergies, instead of her."
"Well, I wanna blame da goil, not da nose!" July giggled.
"July, ya know it wouldn'a woiked. If it weren't foah Luna, we'd all be dead and rotting along side the Harlem Rivah." Copper continued.
"An' dat would NOT be any fun." Clink added with a giggle. The three had reached the Brooklyn bridge now, and they began to cross it.
July sighed and looked up at the sky, which was becoming more cloudy. "Den lets have some fun!" She turned and grabbed Clink's papers from her hands.
"HEY! Dos're mine!" Clink jumped up to snatch her papers back.
"Ya said ya wanted ta have fun today, so lets do it!" July laughed and tossed the papers over the railing of the bridge. Copper leaned over the railing and watched the papers flutter down and then land on the water. A few remained on the surface, but most of them sank.
"Dat was real smart." She muttered with a smile.
"Da way I see it, we'se gunna have ta give up sellin' taday in ordah to have fun." July crossed her arms over his chest, feeling proud of her idea.
"No sellin'?" Clink frowned, tilting her head to one side.
"NO sellin'." July confirmed.
"Den what are we gunna do?" Copper asked, feeling a great rush of power within.
"We can... rule da city!" July yelled, throwing her arms up and twirling around. A man who was pushing a wheel barrel noticed the three girls and stopped to stare in bewilderment. Clink looked over to the man and stuck out her tongue, blowing raspberries at him.
"Nanner nanners!" She yelled out at him. July laughed and then followed suit with the raspberry blowing.
Copper laughed. "We'se da queens a New Yawk!" She announced bouncing up and down. Her red hair bounded around her shoulders.
Clink giggled and began prancing around Copper and July. The girls laughed and sang whatever came into their heads, not caring about the people around them.
A while later they were out of breath and they collapsed on the side of the bridge, leaning against the railing. "So..." July breathed. "What are we doin' instead?" She turned to her friends, who just looked back at her dumbfounded.
"Dis was YOUR brilliant plan, remembah?" Copper pointed out, brushing her hair out of her face.
Clink moaned and covered her face. A few waves of brown hair tumbled out of her pony tail. "I'se stuck heah... wit' no papes... no ideahs... an'..."
"Boy, dis is SAD." Mocked a voice next to the group.
"CAKEY!!" Copper yelled, jumping up and practically attacking Cake.
"Whoa, whoa, take it easy. I can only take so much lovin'.." Cake laughed, hugging Copper back. "So whats goin' on?" She grinned at the three.
"We'se takin' a... uh..." Clink thought, trying to think of a word.
"A wha?" Cake raised an eyebrow at her.
"A BREAK." July finished for the brain dead girl. "We ain't sellin'."
Copper laughed. "You mean, we ain't doin NOTHIN'."
Cake frowned. "You mean... you'se not gunna sell. But ya don' have any ideah whatsoevah what you'se gunna do instead?" She looked up at the forming black clouds and then yawned. Mornings sucked.
Clink processed all that had been said. "Ummn. Yeah."
July sighed. "NO! I know what we'se doin'!" She insisted, standing up beside Copper.
"No ya don'." Copper grinned at her.
"Yah I do."
"Nope."
"UH HUH!"
"NUUUH UUUH!"
"UH...."
"Shaddup!" Cake and Clink screamed at the same time. All was quiet for a moment.
"UH HUH!!"
"NUH UH!!"
"Oy... Cake. Save me!" Clink held her face in her hands as she continued to sit Indian style.
Cake shrugged. "Ain't me problem. Hey, any a you'se seen Mush?" She grinned, a far away look taking residence in her eyes.
July glared at Copper, who glared back at her. "We'll find somet'in ta do." She said.
Cake sighed to herself. "No Mush, eh?" She thought for a moment and then snapped back into reality. "Well, why doncha guys just take a walk in da park?" She suggested. "It ain't all dat excitin', but hey. It's bettah den sellin'."
July ended the feud with Copper and turned to Cake. "Brilliant!" She screamed, and then giggled at the sudden echo that surrounded them.
"Uh huh. You'se welcome, July." Cake shrugged, heading towards Brooklyn, again.
"Cake! Wheah ya goin?" Clink called after her.
"No wheah. Like you guys." She shrugged, turning back to smile at her.
"You ain't sellin'?" Clink questioned, standing up beside Copper and July.
"Wha, an' actually DO somet'in today? Fuhgetaboutit...." Cake smirked at them and continued her walk.
Copper grinned after Cake. "Queens.... lets go!" She whirled around and began to run to the other side of the bridge. Clink and July looked at each other and then shrugged. They both took off running after their friend. And towards... wherever it was.
"Oh, I ain't da kinda goil ta lift up me skoit!" Clink sang, twirling around a random lamp post.
"Ta any kind a guy... dat is!" Copper chimed in, shaking her hips around, feeling extra happy this particular day. ((AN: shake shake shake... hehe))
"BUT!" July screamed, totally off key, as she grabbed Clink by the shoulders and shook her dramatically. "Foah you, I might make an..."
"EXCEPTION!!" They all sang together, their laughter ringing around Central Park. Singing even more fragments of songs that they couldn't remember all the way, they watched as people, squirrels, and even pigeons ((AN: PIGE!! HI!!)) scurried away from them in sheer horror.
"Ow, my ears!!" Complained a voice from... a tree?
"Uh. Dat trees tawkin' to us..." Clink pointed up into the leaves of the tree above them. A light giggle echoed down to their ears.
"Hmmn. Talkin' trees is definitely wheah I draw da line of communication." Copper laughed. Rustling could be heard from the large dogwood tree, now, and the entire frame shook. Just then a wild beast jumped down upon the un-expecting girls!! ((AN: run away, run away!! hehe)) Lucky for them, Copper and July moved out of the way before they were ambushed. However, Clink was unfortunate.
"CHEEEEKYYY!!" Clink yelled from underneath the girl.
Copper grinned down at the two. "Da element a surprise, eh?" She asked Cheeky, who just so happened to be the evil wild beast that had pounced Clink.
The small blond laughed helplessly and stood up. She brushed some of the leaves out of her hair and then looked down at the shattered persona who was sprawled out before her.
"CLINK! You okay?" She asked, giggling again.
"Oh yah, I'll die soon an' it'll all be ovah." Clink sighed, closing her eyes. Nothing like being stampeded by a flying, raving-mad woman early in the morning.
July laughed, holding her hand out to Clink, who glanced at it and rose an eyebrow.
"I can't move, an' ya want me to get up?" She asked smartly.
"Fine den, stay down dere!" July smirked at her.
Clink didn't like being on the dirty ground all that much. Besides, a tree root was sticking painfully into her back. So, she got up to glare at Cheeky, instead.
"Whats da big ideah?" Clink puffed out her chest, trying to act all big and bad. Bad role for her; she didn't play it off too well. Besides, Cheeky had an inch on her.
"OOOh Cheeky!" July jumped up and down, clapping her hands together excitedly. "I'se gotta tell ya bout..."
"You grabbin' Spot's behind?" Copper joked, laughing, quickly joined by Clink. Cheeky just looked around her, her brow creased with a confused look.
"Uh," she muttered, very lost.
"Nevah mind dat. I gotta t'ink of somet'in else.." July said more to herself, sitting down on a nearby bench.
"OH! Look at da pretty smoke comin' outta her ears!" Clink sat down next to her, pretending to look into one of July's ears.
"Lay offa me!" July slapped Clink's face away from her ear.
Cheeky looked up at the trees around her. "So, anyone wanna tell me whats goin' on so I don' say somet'in an' look like a moron?" She asked
"But, dats your trademark!" Copper chided, punching her lightly in the shoulder.
"Oh yah, I foahgot." Cheeky shrugged. "Any a you seen Cats?" ((AN: meeeemorrrieeees!))
Clink looked up from her occupation of staring into July's ear. "Ain't you guys jointed at da hip?" She asked, turning back to her specimen.
"Yah, but she ran away." Cheeky replied, scratching her head, finding a few more leaves in her hair.
"You scared her away!" Copper giggled. "Maybe she's back in Brooklyn?" She offered, pulling a twig out of the other girl's hair. "You got a forest in heah?"
"Brooklyn... yaaah..." Cheeky said and then cringed in disgust as Copper leaned in to grab something else from her hair. "Stop pickin' at me, I feel like a monkey!!"
July awoke from her dream-like state. "Why else wouldja be climbin' in trees?" She grinned at her.
Cheeky grinned back. "I like leaves."
"Okaaay." Clink giggled.
Copper shrugged and leaned against the dogwood. "What are ya doin' in Central Park anyway?" She asked Cheeky. "I mean, besides bein' one wit' da leaves."
"Oh, I was deliverin' a message ta some old broad in Manhattan." She shrugged.
"Yah?" Clink tilted her head, feeling the need to ask a nonsense question.
"Yep." Cheeky smiled at them. "I bettah be goin, Cats wanted me ta... uh..."
"....pick da veggies outta your hair?" Clink asked, derisively grinning at her. ((AN: ooh a big word!)) She leaned back comfortably on the bench.
"Har har!" Cheeky mock-laughed. She gave a quick wave. "See ya guys round!" Then she turned and fled from the scene, her arms flailing about her and a few twigs and leaves flying to the ground from her hair. She left three thoroughly amused girls behind her.
"I love dat monkey goil!" Clink giggled once she was gone.
"She shoah is... unique." Copper stated and then broke into laughter. "Monkey goil!"
"Ah, it's okay." July shrugged, still configuring her evil plan. It's not her fault, she was a space cadet... therefore she had no idea what she was saying. ((AN: heehe))
"It?" Copper laughed. "Oh boy, send me a postcard from Mars..."
"You'se just sayin' dat cause she ain't got any doit on ya. Unlike ME." Clink grinned at July.
July glared evil, icy daggers at her friends. "I hate you."
"AAWW!" Copper gushed. "Group hug!!"
They all laughed and hugged. It was a moment, what else is there to say?
"So... whats gunna happen now?" Clink asked, looking around her. More people were around them, now. Central Park was beginning to get busy at 10:00 in the morning.
July and Copper pondered for a moment. "Lodgin' house?" Copper suggested.
"Foah what?" July asked, standing up and stretching.
"Money! I'se starvin' I need ta eat somet'in." Came the reply.
Clink just shrugged. "Sounds kay ta me. I can always eat."
"We know!!" July slapped her friends cheek, playfully.
The three walked from the park, and towards the lodging house. July was to the left, Copper in the center, and Clink to the right. Not like it matters all that much, but you get the point.
Becoming bored with the quiet around her, Clink began to hum slightly to herself. Soon Copper joined in, and then July. Pretty soon they were singing at the top of their lungs.
"OOOOOH!" July wailed in her awful screeching voice, bouncing around into random people on the streets. They snorted in disgust and walked quickly away from the three, utterly insane, girls.
Itey and Snitch, who were selling their papes on a corner not too far from The World building, noticed the three.
"Uh..." Itey stumbled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
Snitch chuckled, shrugging his shoulders and turned back to an old lady; easy prey.
The three girls pranced their way further into Manhattan. Finally, they ended their escapades in front of the old building which was the Lodging House.
"Home sweet home." Clink declared, throwing her arms out as if she wanted to hug the sign that said "Boys Lodging House." Then she made a not-too-discrete gagging motion with her finger in her mouth.
"When is Kloppman actually gunna change dat sign?" Copper shook her head. "I mean, goils have been livin' heah for yeahs now!"
July nodded, distractedly. At that time, the heavens above opened up, and behold, the three girls were soaked with rain water. Copper and July shrieked and ran for the door, while Clink stood where in place, glaring at the rain drops that were falling rapidly in front of her.
"I love life." She muttered, pulling her wet pony tail off of her shoulder.
"Doncha, doh?" Copper grinned at her through the sheets of rain. "Get ya tail ovah heah!!" Clink sighed and trudged up the steps into the lobby after her friends.
"Kloppman!" July called, peering into the lone room that the old man called his home. He wasn't there, and he didn't answer her, so they headed up the winding stair case to the bunk room.
After a moment of silence, July growled in frustration. "I can't figuah out what I'se gunna do!" She complained.
"Move ta Mexico?" Copper suggested with a grin.
"July, just give it up!" Clink said tiredly, yawning slightly. She could see her bunk from the doorway of the bunk room.
"NO! I'se gunna get on mutt's noives if it's da last t'ing I do." She stuck out her lip.
Copper just shook her head. "Haven't we already been t'rough dis?" She noted.
"Dis time I wanna make it so big, dat he'll nevah foahget it." July's face became a mask of deception. Clink and Copper looked at each other, both on the verge of giggle fits. "If ya wanna do somet'in else, why doncha just stay heah? Ya don't have ta follow me." July concluded as they entered the room.
"An' let ya have all da FUN? Hell no!" Clink giggled.
"Look what da cat dragged in... t'ree little wet kittens." A cocky voice from the far side of the room announced. Race sat all by his lonesome at a small table, that was used late at night for card games, with a usual cigar in his smart mouth. Unlike the girls, he was high and dry.
"Race," Clink stated. "Bite me." She collapsed onto her bunk, burying her head into the flat and worn pillow.
"Touch-ee!" Race took a drag off his cigar and picked up his "lucky" deck of cards. "Whats eatin' you, wet ones?" He asked, shuffling the thin cards in his hands.
Copper sighed and sat down heavily next to Clink as she squeezed some of the water out of her hair onto the dampening floor boards. "Nothen. What're you doin' heah?" She asked him.
"I decided dat since I sold so many papes yestahday, dat I needed ta take a little break an' go to da races. But since it looks like I'se not goin' any time soon," He paused to smirk at the soaked Clink and Copper. "I decided ta come heah an' wait foah da odders, so I could..." he trailed off as he noticed the far away looks on the girls' faces. "Mind enlightening me?" Smirking up at July as she passed him, he chewed lightly on his vice.
"Yah, I do." July retorted as she continued to walk to the washroom to clean up.
"Geez, you goils shoah are moody." Race rolled his eyes, frustrated. Then his face lit up as if someone had turned on a switch. "Wanna play some pokah?"
Clink snorted and turned over on her bed to look up at the bunk above her. "One track mind." She muttered to herself. Copper giggled.
"Ah, it ain't all on one track." Race grinned at her in a mischievous manner. "I got odder t'ings on me mind, ya know." This comment got a shoe thrown at his head. "Hey!"
Copper shook her head, spraying water from her hair all over Clink and her bed. "Ahhh!" Clink yelled, picking up her pillow and slamming it into the side of Copper's head.
"Ya bettah watch out!" Copper laughed. "Dis means WAR!" She threw herself at the smaller girl, knocking her off the bunk. July emerged from the washroom, dryer then before.
"Act yer age!" She said in a gruff voice as the perfect impression of Kloppman. She stepped over Clink and Copper, who were now rolling around on the floor.
"Oh looky heah! We'se got July tellin' people to act deir ages. How ironic is dat?" Jake grinned as he entered the room, his dimples standing out on his cheeks. Mush entered soon after him. They both tread water all over the wooden floor.
"You sure ya know what ironic means, Jake?" July smirked at him, putting her hands on her hips. Race motioned for Mush to come over to him, waving his cards around in the air. Mush just grinned and shrugged, pulling his wet cap off of his equally soaked hair.
Jake laughed at July. "No. But it sounded roight."
"EEK! Dats me haaaaair!" Clink yelled, rolling over quickly into Jake in her attempt to get away from her assassin (Copper). Jake stumbled, almost falling onto her. "Oops." Clink giggled. "Heyas, Jake!" She waved meekly up at him.
July laughed and sat down next to Race and Mush, looking distractedly at the addict's cards that were in his hands.
"Clink just knocked into me... hmmn. What ta do, what ta do." Jake grinned down at her evilly. Clink threw a terrified glance to Copper, who just laughed and stood up. Leaving her buddy stranded, as she walked over to her bunk to lay down.
"You up foah a game, July?" Race's eyes twinkled with the thought of competition.
Jake's dimples grew even deeper into his cheeks as he held a hand out to Clink. Once she was standing, she tried to pull away from hi,, but he wouldn't let go of her hand. "No, Jake. Don't you even dare." Clink tried to push him away from her, but he continued to hold on fast, taking hold of her shoulders. "I sweah! Let me go, or ya nuts are gunna regret it." She warned.
July shrugged. "I might be."
Jake considered on behalf of his nuts. "Hmmn. But foist," He said to his captive "You'se gunna get it BIG TIME!!" He laughed evilly, going in for the kill.
"NOOOO!" Clink wailed as his fingers grabbed her quickly around the middle, tickling her furiously. "AHH!!" She choked with laughter, falling to the floor again.
"You might be, eh?" Race pondered for a moment, blowing the cigar smoke around the three. "Whats da catch?" Mush blinked at both of them, bored. He decided he was too wet for comfort, ((AN: ha, i'm sure i could think of some people who would like him to be uncomfortably... hehe!)) so he walked into the wash room, grabbing a shirt from a random bunk on the way.
Tears ran down Clink's face as she melted into a lumpy mess of giggles at Jake's feet.
Copper looked around her, licking her lips. Everyone was occupied! "BARU!!" She yelled, trying to get the attention of someone.
"Did I hear baru?" Asked a new, giggling, voice from the window.
"CONE!" Copper jumped up and ran to the window, pouncing onto the girl.
July shrugged. "No catch. You just gotta tell me some stuff, dats all."
Coneflower laughed, hugging Copper. "Heyas goil!"
Copper smiled at her. "Wheah ya been?" She asked.
"Ah," Cone shrugged. "Heah an' dere." Jake stood up from his latest victory and grinned at Cone. "Jakey baby!" She yelled, hugging him to her. She looked over his shoulder and over at Clink, who was gasping for breath on the floor. "Uh oh, what'd you do to her?"
Race rose an eyebrow at July. "Like what?" He asked
"Not'tin!" Jake secretly crossed his fingers behind his back.
"GET back heah you chicken!" Clink choked out, scrambling to her feet. Cone laughed, Copper laughed, they all laughed at poor little Clink who was momentarily blinded by her wet hair that was hanging in front of her eyes.
"Aww, poor Clink!" Jake said sympathetically, softly hugging the defenseless girl.
Clink growled and pushed him away from him, glaring. "Pay back!" She yelled, grabbing his wet bowler off of his head and dodging out of his grasp.
"HEY!" Jake took off after her. Copper and Cone watched bemused from their place near the window.
July leaned back in her chair, folding her hands behind her head. "Oh, not'tin much. Just some key facts 'bout Conlon, dats all." She smirked at Race.
"Ey, watch it!" Mush muttered as he was almost run down by Clink and Jake as they bounded into the wash room. He ran a hand through his hair one more time and then emerged into the bunk room. Cone's eyes grew to the size of baseballs at the sight of Mush in his skimpy muscle shirt.
"YOWZA!" She yelled, breaking the independent conversations that were happening around the room. July and Race looked up from their heated conversation, Clink skidded to a stop making Jake fly into her, knocking her into one of the bathroom stalls, Mush looked at Cone as if she had lost all of her marbles, and Copper burst into laughter. "Ummn. Oops." Cone turned a bright shade of red.
Mush grinned at her. "Wouldja like ta dance, me lady?" He held out his hand.
"Whats Conlon gotta do wit' anyt'ing?" Race chuckled, switching his cards from hand to hand. "I mean, I know you want him an' all, but damn!"
Cone grinned in return. "YAH!!" She responded, almost breaking Copper's ear drums.
"Oww!" Copper laughed even harder, holding her hands over her ears. Cone just shrugged at her and took Mush's hand. Soon they were waltzing around the bunk room, their shoes squeeking from the water they left behind them.
Clink smacked Jake with his own bowler. "You bum, you moron, you poor excuse foah a livin' being, you get offa meeeee!" She wailed, stuck between the toilet and the wall. Jake groaned and grabbed his bowler, putting it on top of his head which was pounding from where he had hit it on the toilet bowl.
"Aw, shaddup already! It's yer fault ya know." He muttered.
July frowned. "Bite ya tongue! I don't want Conlon. All I wanna do is tortcha da boy." She grinned at Race. "An' dats wheah you come in."
"MY fault?! Nuh uh, you'se da ticklin' machine!" Clink protested, standing off with Jake. She was only four inches shorter then him, so she had a slight chance of kicking his bum.
"One, two, cha cha cha!" Cone counted gleefully as Mush and her glided around the room. Copper sat down on the window sill, tilting her head as she looked at the couple.
"Aww ain't dat sweet..." She sighed softly. Then she realized what she was doing and she almost slapped herself. "OY!"
Race rolled his eyes. "Foahget it, I ain't helpin' ya do any'ting." He put his cards back in his vest pocket. "I ain't gunna get in trouble wit' Brooklyn 'cause a you'se."
Jake grinned down at Clink. "Change a subject... ya wanna dance?" He tilted his hat back on his head so he could look at her more easily.
"No." Clink folded her arms across her chest.
"C'mon, Jake! Clink! Dance wit' us!" Mush called as he twirled Cone around.
Jake took that as an invitation and grabbed Clink's arms, pulling her out of the wash room.
"NO NO NO!" Clink protested and then quickly gave up as Jake pranced around the room, holding onto her still. She sighed and gave into the need for speed, and shuffled around the bunk room with him
"Ah, c'mon Race!" July whined I'll play pokah witcha every night, I sweah it!" July knew she needed to get back at Conlon. She would even give into Race's sick need to gamble.
"La de da da!" Mush sang almost drunkenly, swaying around with Cone in his arms. She just smiled and nodded at him in reply.
Clink laughed and began a fast moving jiggish dance with Jake, almost falling over her feet and onto her face. They laughed it off and continued to fly, jumping around.
"Hey! Copper! Join in!" Clink laughed, grabbing her friends' wrists and pulling her to her feet. Copper laughed along with her as she was whirled into Jake's arms.
"Welcome to da land a da livin'." Jake smiled down at her. Copper grinned and grabbed Clink's arm, dragging her over to the two. They all laughed and started another fast paced jig.
"Every night?" Race asked devilishly. "Well, what do ya wanna know?"
Cone and Mush went off in their own little world, staring dreamily at each other in that sick way that would make anyone want to throw up. ((AN: just kidding :))
Moments went by, and finally Jake collapsed on a nearby bunk, sweating lightly. Clink laughed at him and tried to pull him to his feet. "No ya don't!" She said. Jake just unlatched her fingers from his arm and grinned up at her. She pouted at him, but it seemed to be ineffective.
"Aww! Ain't she cute!" Jake joked, removing his bowler and placing it lightly on her head. "Dats bettah." He grinned at her. Clink giggled and pushed it down further onto her head, happily.
July leaned in towards Race, taking the cards out of his vest pocket. She put them into his hands. "Deal." She ordered. "I wanna know what makes him TICK." Race opened his mouth for a wisecrack, but then he was cut off by July again. "Not like dat. I wanna know what makes him real mad, like what gets his goat."
Copper was dancing around by herself, her eyes blissfully closed, when she suddenly collided into someone from behind.
"Hey, you... Copper!" The boy's voice exclaimed. She turned quickly around, and then found herself looking into Davey's eyes.
"David!" Copper giggled, hugging him. Dave grinned, looking around the room. "Whats going on?" He asked her.
She let go of him and looked around the room along with him. Cone and Mush were still in their own little world, Jake and Clink were laughing up a storm as they jumped up and down on a bunk, and Race and July were talking evilly over a game of cards. "Beats me." She shrugged.
Race pulled his cigar out of his mouth and squashed it onto the table, which was over run with cigar marks already. "Well, YOU shoah do get on his noives..."
Davey laughed. "It stopped raining outside, you know." He said to Copper, as he stuffed his hands inside his pockets. "Do you want to head down to Tibby's? Jack and some of the guys and girls are there. I left Les with mom today, so it's just me." He explained.
Copper smiled and nodded to him. "Why not!" Then she ran over to where Cone and Mush were dangerously close to one another and ripped the two apart. "LETS GO!" She yelled almost frantically.
"ARGG!" Cone moaned heavily, letting Copper drag her towards the door behind her. Mush jogged over to Davey, hugging him quickly and then heading out the door.
July smirked at Race. "No kidden." She then looked up at Copper and Cone and shrugged. "I'se comin' too, I guess!" She put her cards back down on the table.
"Hey, you promised me a game!" Race frowned at her.
"Latah." July grinned at him. "CLINK, c'mon! Tibby's now!" She yanked Clink, who was in mid leap, from the bunk she and Jake were jumping on.
Clink landed hard on her feet, and then blinked. "Ah, wha?" She asked.
Cone laughed. "We'se gunna go get food!" She yelled as Copper pulled her out the door way of the bunk room.
"Alrighty!!" Clink bounded for the door, Jake's bowler flying off her head. She turned around to fetch it, but July laughed and pulled her towards the door. "Uh, bye Jake!!" Clink called before they clambered out the door.
"Strange goils..." Race muttered, going back to shuffling his cards in his hands.
Jake grinned over at him and shrugged. Then he bent down and picked up his dark brown bowler. Smiling softly to himself, he put it back on his head. "Strange indeed."