Author's note (IMPORTANT):

So guys, this is it. This is that big story I always tell myself I'll write but never do. All Newspaper headlines I use are actually from real newspapers at the time (I will list the sources, but I can't list the actual links because the site won't let me) Newspaper excerpts are real, although I'm not sure which paper Spot worked for (or if he even did at this time in his life, when he was probably 14 or so) so I am assigning him to The Brooklyn Eagle/Times (Two Newspapers so I have more headlines to work with. I'll choose one eventually:) Although seriously, Spot never sells papers ever, so lets be real… he just picks money off trees I guess.

Now some facts you might not know that you might need to know to understand some random characters in this story: the Newsboy strike of 1899 was not organized or led by Jack Kelly, but inspired into action by a Jack Sullivan, who went on to disappear after only one appearance in a newspaper. How ever Blind Diamond- you might know him better as Kid Blink- was an Irish boy who gave some speeches to the guys to spur on the two-week event and was also part of the committee that ran the strike, along with some other newsboys, a kid who was apparently a prize fighter, and a pretzel seller named Crazy Arborn. Spot Conlon was not the big cheese as the voice of Brooklyn during the 1899 strike, but rather, some guy you all have heard of…. Racetrack Higgins was. He was quoted in the papers for his rousing speeches and such. That being said, while they are both in the story, the focus is on Spot. He was named for his freckles and famous for his pink suspenders (all real life stuff guys). The reason you need to know this is because I've decided for this story, which actually only lasts for a few days, I need some of these characters (obviously Spot, but I'm talking about the real life 1899 strikers. However, Jack Kelly still exists, and everyone else. I'm just adding some real life guys). And also, Race will be a little younger than usual, for story purposes. He's nine here, which will make him only 12 in 1899… but we'll ignore that for now. I've spread out the story since the strike of 1896 only lasted two days or so, so we're starting on March 21st, while the strike starts on March 29th or 30th (depending on how you look at it)

I don't know if there is an actual cannon story out there for why Kid Blink is blind, but just bear with me, please, and let me know if there is. I'm also taking the liberty to invent a leader of Brooklyn so we can see Spot's rise to power. These are summary points, not spoilers. This in mind, I hope you enjoy the story and please let me know if you catch any errors (I'm an infant Fansie, don't hurt me, please!) I apologize for the length of this note thing, so lets get on to the juicy stuff. Oh, and this is not slash.

Enjoy! (next chapter is number 1)