A Change in Brooklyn Chapter 1: Freedom, a newsies fanfic

A Change in Brooklyn

Part One of the Cherished Union trilogy

Disclaimer: This story is in no way affiliated with Disney, and I do not claim any characters thereof, such as Spot Conlon, Racetrack, Boots, Jack Kelly, etc. I do, however, claim ownership of my own characters (Brigid Nelson/Sketch, Tower, Stealthy, Mudpie, Daisy, Karen, Samantha, and Mark), and you may not use them in any which way unless you get my permission first.

Author's Note: This is, as written above, part one of a trilogy. If you were looking for romance, it ain't here. J I will work hard on getting the next two installments up before the end of the year, but please be patient considering I am still a student. Also, many of you read this story before I did major revamping to my Newsies stories, and I must let you know that there are many, many changes. Please re-read it if you have not yet done so. Also, if you want to know what Brigid looks like, I can picture the actress Emily VanCamp of WB's Everwood playing the role perfectly. J

Chapter One: Freedom

"I's leavin' an' I ain't comin' back," Brigid whispered to herself as she hurriedly packed her few but precious belongings. She glanced around cautiously to make sure no one saw her and closed the large draw-string bag, slinging it over her shoulder and creeping out onto the fire escape. After she landed noiselessly on the ground, she clapped as quietly as she could and smacked her lips. A tiny Yorkshire puppy raced out from an abandoned crate and followed Brigid closely on her heels. The young girl tore away in haste, leaving the repugnant orphanage behind her.

Brigid sighed with relief when she was a good distance away. "I's free! WE's free, Mudpie!" She rubbed the top of the puppy's furry head and looked around. "Now we's jus' gotta find a place ta sleep fa da night. A SAFE place ta sleep, mind ya..." Her eyes wondered around the street. The lamps were lit dimly, and hardly anyone could be seen out anymore. Of course, what else was to be expected at almost 12 o'clock at night? Brigid couldn't believe she'd stayed up this late, but to escape like this was worth it, even if she was tired. She needed rest, sleep. After scouting around a bit more, she found no good place besides a slightly covered fire escape. Shrugging, Brigid got as comfortable as she could on it using the blankets she'd taken from her bed at the orphanage. It was a cold October night, and she shivered slightly, but remembered that the orphanage would get colder than this at times, so she didn't complain. Mudpie snuggled up next to her, and they both let out a small but contented sigh.

"Dis is bettuh den dat dang oiphanage," Brigid mumbled to her adopted companion. She had found the cute female puppy wandering alone on the street one day, but she wasn't allowed to have pets. So she'd fixed up a little area for the dog in the neighboring alley and kept her there secretly for two months. Now that was all behind them. Brigid rejoiced internally at the very thought of no longer being at the orphanage. She'd been there since she was five, being brought there by her parents who couldn't "afford" to take care of her, though they always happened to have enough for drinks and nights out. They hadn't even seemed to love her, either. And the orphanage was their solution, that terrible place. Strictly sticking to rules and regulations, it was like a training camp for soldiers more than anything. Kids were severely punished (usually in the form of whipping) when even the smallest rule was broken, or was assumed to have been broken. Everything had to look orderly and precise or you'd get a sound rebuke. It was cold and unfeeling. Brigid had started secretly calling it the "ordernage." She was positive it was the worst place in Manhattan.

Where was she? Brigid suddenly realized that she'd run away with no set goal in mind and no straight path. Okay, the orphanage was in Manhattan, and she had run north. Or was it south? Southeast? Or even east? All the confusing thoughts jumbled in Brigid's brain were too much for her to handle at that moment. She pushed all questions out of her tired head and went to sleep.

~*~

After waking up and getting her things together again, Brigid walked up to a grocery store and asked the owner, "'Scuse me, suh. What pawt of New Yawk am I's in?"

The man looked at her in surprise. "Don't ya know, missy? Dis is Brooklyn!"

Brigid blushed and replied, "I ain't too familiuh wid dese pawts. But t'ank ya fa da infuhmation." As she strolled off, she noticed a group of dark and haunting boys staring at her. She casually tried to act normal, but their stares bored into her. Then they started following her. Brigid felt drops of sweat starting to trickle down her brow, and her heart started to beat faster and faster. She lost her nerves and took off, Mudpie following. She heard the boys running behind her. Oh, please help me, God! Get dem off me, I BEG ya! Brigid screamed in her mind to her Lord. She ran blindly down the streets and through unfamiliar alleyways as she tried to lose the nasty boys. She was getting exhausted, and so was Mudpie. The little Yorkshire started lagging, so Brigid picked her up and carried her as she ran. Picking up her speed as best she could, Brigid hurled around a corner, almost running right into three policemen. They looked startled, but she shoved past them and turned into an alley. Opening the closest door she could find and slamming it shut after going in, she put an ear up to its wood and listened. She heard scuffling and muffled shouts and realized she'd tricked the boys into running straight into the hands of the cops.

Heaving a sigh of relief, she chuckled, closed her eyes, and leaned her back up against the door, panting hard. Mudpie breathed heavily as well, but then started barking and squirming at the sound of a laugh. Brigid's eyes flew open and she looked around in terror.

There stood a huge band of boys, some young and some older, and some not even awake yet. All wore similar ragged clothes and hats and seemed so angry and tough it scared the living daylights out of Brigid. She pressed herself as hard as she could against the door as Mudpie kept yapping in her arms. A good-looking young man who had been at the front of the group the whole time stepped forward, chuckling and waving a gold-topped cane around in circles.

"Well, whadda we gots heah?" he spoke sarcastically. "Hey, fellas! A visituh! An' wid 'er scrappy little doggy, too!"

Despite her fear, Brigid got angry at the boy's comment. She quickly quieted Mudpie. "She ain't scrappy, ya bum!" she squeaked. "If anyone is, it'd be you!"

The brown-haired boy looked absolutely shocked at being insulted, and the other guys couldn't believe their ears. Their fearless and infamous leader had been insulted! They all became quiet, waiting to see what he would throw at the girl. "Well! May I asks who ya might be ta snap at da leaduh of da Brooklyn newsies?"

Brigid hesitated. "I's... Brigid Nelson. An' which Brooklyn newsie might ya be?"

"Spot Conlon, me lady," the young man informed her, jokingly bowing in front of Brigid. "I's da leaduh, so if ya gots any questions, come ta me."

"Actually," Brigid said slowly, "I DO have-"

"Foist, I gots a question fa ya." Spot pointed his cane at her, which only made Mudpie growl threatingly. The boy rolled his blue eyes and continued, "Why aw ya heah, an' 'specially wid dat t'ing?"

Brigid glared at the cute leader as she straightened up. "If ya gots ta know, I ran away from da oiphanage in Manhattan an' came heah. Dis moining some guys were eyeing me and stawted followin' me as I ran. I came around da coinuh, down dat side alley, an'... jus' came in. I lost 'em and da cops grabbed dem at da coinuh. I didn'ts figuh anyone'd be livin' in dis dump. An' 'bout dat t'ing, me puppy is mine, so why SHOULDN'T she be wid me?"

Spot shrugged, defeated. "Reasonable story. An' ya puppy's fine. What's 'er name?"

"Mudpie."

"Mudpie?"

"She's brown an' black, so why not?" Brigid argued. "Now on ta me question. Why aw ya all livin' heah?"

"No one's built us a lodgin' house. Evah. Dey probably don't t'ink we's desoive it," Spot explained, situating his blue hat on his head.

Brigid nodded understandingly. Judging by the newsies' foreboding appearances and Spot's rather rude behavior, she wasn't surprised. Looking around, she realized the building was a big warehouse. No, not big; huge was more like it. It was at least three stories tall with broken apart walkways barely hanging from the walls. Boxes and crates were everywhere, being used as seats, tables, and even beds. Guys were obviously just getting up as some moaned and grunted in the background. "Why ain't ya sellin' papes yet?" Brigid asked, puzzled.

"We's jus' wakin' up, really, 'cause we gots no one ta tell us when ta git up," Spot said.

"Wow," Brigid murmured. After a few moments of silence, she spoke, "So... um, do ya mind if I's become a newsie? I gots nowheh ta go an' ya look like ya got enough room heah."

Spot paused. "We don't have goil newsies heah."

She groped in her mind for an excuse. "Well… maybe ya could stawt wid me."

"Ya smawt; I give ya dat," Spot declared, "but aw ya tough? Dis life ain't always easy."

"I believe I can be when da situation calls fa it."

"Ya know ya will be da foist an' only goil newsie heah."

"Fine! Bring on da men."

Spot smiled, which for some reason made Brigid's knees go weak, and replied, "Den why not? Mudpie's welcome, too, as long as she don't piddle in heah!"

Brigid laughed. "I'll train 'er. Don't worry."

"How old aw ya?" Spot questioned curiously.

"Thoiteen," she answered, still holding Mudpie and her belongings.

"Dat's too old. Say ya ten or eleven, k?" Spot grinned.

Wrinkling her nose, Brigid asked, "Why?"

"Den ya sell mo' papes 'cause ya younguh. An' ya could use Mudpie ta git mo' sympathy, as well." Spot sighed as Brigid put her things down. "Ya got a lot ta loin, Brigid. Ya came ta da right place. All right, guys! Let's git out deh an' sell some papes!" Spot turned to Brigid as newsies tumbled past them. "Come wid me today! Ya don't know how lucky ya aw!"