Disclaimer: I do not own. So sad :(

AN: This is basically my take on how Spot became a Brooklyn newsie and eventually their leader. Please Review if you want a chapter 2!

Chapter 1

Charlie Conlon stood defiantly staring at the tenement house. There was no point in trying to go back in the front door again. Mrs. Carp, the landlady, would only call the police again and Charlie did not want that.

He figured that Mrs. Carp had done all she could, allowing him to go on living in the small flat for the last two weeks of the month, since it was already paid for. But now that Papa was dead, he knew that Mrs. Carp really didn't have any other choice but to throw them out.

He had fought, and begged her to let them stay, but Mrs. Carp finally called the police and asked them to take the children to an orphanage. When Charlie heard those words, he grabbed his little sister's hand and fled.

Charlie promised his mother that he would take care of Alison, his three year old sister. If they ended up at an orphanage, they would be split up. At an orphanage, Alison would be adopted right away, because she was young and adorable. Charlie, who was already eight years old, would never be adopted. His scrawny, thin body couldn't handle heavy farm work, and his cold and dismissive attitude turned folks away.

"I wanna go home," Alison whined. Charlie looked down at her helplessly.

"We can't go home. We don't got any money."

"Why?" Alison asked in a baby sing song voice.

"Because Papa's gone to heaven."

"Why don't we go get him? Then we can all go home."

Charlie sighed, how he wished it were that easy.

"Alison, when a person goes to heaven, they can't ever come back. So we are going to have to live without Papa."

Tears filled Alison's eyes. Charlie could tell that she was getting ready to sit down and throw a fit. That had always worked whenever she wanted anything. But when she peeked up at him, Charlie gave her a stern stare. She looked frightened.

"I'm hungry," was all she squeaked out.

"I'm hungry too, but I don't know where to get any food without money."

Charlie and Alison were standing at the corner, a block away from the tenement house they called home, but everything looked strange.

The New York street was busy with people coming and going. Carts were set up along the road, with people selling all sorts of items. Kids were playing ball in front of the long row of tenement houses.

No one noticed two lone kids. No one cared. Charlie knew many of the others who lived in the tenement houses didn't have enough money or food to even pay for their own family, none of them were about to take in two more mouths to feed.

While they stood on the corner, Charlie wondered what to do next. Suddenly, Charlie noticed an older boy running down the street. He wore clothes that hung like rags on him, and a bundle of papers were under his arm. He didn't call out to the other kids on the street. Instead, Charlie saw him disappear into an alley.

He must be a newsie, Charlie thought to himself. Maybe if I ask him, he can tell me where Alison and I can get some food. Mama always told me that the kids who sell papers know everything there is to know about how to survive.

"Come on, Alison." Charlie grabbed his younger sister's hand and started to pull her along.

"Slow down, Charlie."

"I can't, you gotta hurry up."

Alison tried to run along with him, but she wasn't fast enough and before they had even crossed the street, Alison tripped and fell.

"Ouwwwww," Alison started crying.

Charlie noticed that she had scraped her knee. "You're okay." He pulled her back up.

"My knee hurts."

"I know, come on." Charlie picked the small child up and carried her, as he once again started to run towards the alley where the newsie had turned.

Charlie ran as quickly as he could, but carrying his little sister slowed him down. It wasn't long before he was out of breath and had to stop. He was glad to see that he was only a few steps from the alley where the older boy had gone.

Charlie slowed, allowing himself to catch his breath. When he reached the end of the alley, he squinted his eyes and tried to see the other end.

It was very dark in the alley. There were all sorts of boxes and bags of garbage strewn all over the place. He really couldn't see that far in.

It's funny, he thought. I've lived right across the street from this alley all these years and have never had to go into it.

A cat cried somewhere in the alley, but other than that it was very quiet. Charlie's hands felt wet. He wasn't sure if it was because it was such a hot day or because he was afraid.

"Come on," he whispered down at his little sister and began walking into the alley.

Alison gripped his sweaty hand tightly. "It's dark in here, Charlie." She looked around. "I don't like it. No, no, I don't."

Suddenly, a hand came out from the shadows and clamped around Charlie's mouth. Charlie's mind went blank. His first instinct was to scream, which he did, but it was muffled by the rough and calloused hand over his mouth. He then kicked and waved his arms around, but the hand's owner was strong. Alison was too frightened to say or do anything.

Charlie felt warm breath against his ear and then a low whisper. "Don't make a sound, kid, and everything'll be okay."

But Charlie wasn't about to follow the directions of some mysterious assaulter. He bit down hard on the hand. A short yelp of pain was heard from behind him. "Jesus Christ!" The same voice cried painfully. Charlie, now free, turned to look at his captor. It was a tall, thin, brown-eyed boy of about sixteen with straight, dark-brown hair under a newsboy cap. He had a small smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose. He cradled his hand, dropped the bundle of papers he was carrying, and looked down at Charlie in a what-the-hell expression.

Charlie took Alison's hand and pushed her slightly behind him; he was in defensive mode. "Look, I don't got any money or food, so please just let my sister and me go." Charlie said in his best intimidating voice, which for an eight-year-old, was pretty good.

The boy scrunched his eyebrows. He then shook his head in a confused manner and shushed Charlie. "Don't say anything for the next thirty seconds." He commanded forcefully. He gripped Charlie by the shoulders and placed him into a deep but snug corner in the alley and placed Alison more gently in front of Charlie. He then whispered, "Stay there and don't make a sound," and crept very secretive over to the brick wall of the alley entrance.

He watched in silence as ten or so seconds passed by. Alison drew out an impatient breath, and the boy turned sharply and put a finger to his lips. He looked back out and glanced up and down the street several times before walking back over to the two children. He helped them out of the snug corner and back into the alley.

"Why?" Charlie was able to say.

The boy looked around again and shrugged. "Why what?"

Charlie furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head in curiosity. "Why did you make us hide?"

"Who said I was hidin' ya two?"

"Well, you told us to be real quiet and stay there while you checked the street." Charlie shrugged, still wanting some answers.

The boy straightened. "There is some guys who is aftah me at the moment, so I have to be on my guard." He laughed at Charlie's disbelieving expression. "Why don't ya believe me?"

Charlie didn't say anything, but looked down at his little sister. The boy smiled slightly when his gaze rested on Alison. He bent down to her level. "Ya sure are cute. What's your name?"

Alison blushed and tried hiding behind Charlie. "Her name is Alison." Charlie answered.

The boy smiled, trying to look friendly. "Hi, Alison. I ain't gonna hurt ya," he said in a soft voice.

Charlie took her hand. "She's not good with strangers."

Standing back up, the boy spit in his hand and held it out to Charlie. "My name is Finn."

Charlie stared reluctantly at the hand. What kind of a name is 'Finn'? Yuck, shaking a hand that's been spit in? Charlie didn't want to seem like an outcast, so he shook Finn's hand. "Charlie Conlon."

Finn cracked a smile. "Youse is supposed to spit in your hand, too." Charlie's cheeks flushed at the mistake but he ducked his head so Finn couldn't see it.

"Do you know where we could get food?" Charlie asked the older boy. "I don't got any money."

Finn looked from Charlie to the little girl. "First time on the streets?" He guessed. Charlie shrugged in response. Finn licked his lips and gestured to Alison. "She your sister?" Charlie nodded. Finn shook his head. "A little advice, kid. Get her off the streets. Take her to an orphanage."

Charlie shook his head, quickly and already rejecting that idea. "No, I can't. They'll split us up."

Finn nodded. "I know. I had a little brother who was about her age. I made them promise not to let him get adopted, but one day while I was out selling papers, he was adopted. No papers for me sign or nothin'. Never saw him again."

It looked like Finn was going to start crying, but he only sniffled and plastered on a sad smile. "So, how can I'se help you two?"

"How old do you have to be to become a newsie?" Charlie asked, his blue eyes glazed in hope.

Finn tilted his head and scrunched his eyebrows. "I guess ya have to be old enough to walk and talk and read." He paused for a moment, a teasing and light sparkle in his brown eyes. "Can you do that?" He asked Charlie.

"Of course." He answered honestly.

Finn nodded, and then gestured to Alison. "But can she do it?"

Charlie glanced down at his little sister who was hiding behind his legs. "She can learn."

Alison looked up at her brother. "But I don't know how to read, Charlie," she whispered.

Finn chuckled. "Ya won't have to. Newsies make up headlines all the time. And besides, you're an adorable little girl, they'll pay ya anyway." Finn held out his hand to Alison, not spitting in it. Alison smiled a little and shook it, her hand so much tinier and smoother than his.

"Thanks," Charlie mumbled, looking down at the ground. Finn cracked a smile, for Charlie's attitude reminded him of the young child he once was.

"No problem." Finn answered, musing Charlie's hair. Charlie grimaced and fixed his hair back in place. Finn chuckled. "Seeing how neither of youse got any place to stay, ya wanna stay at the lodgin' house? Rent is only five cents a night." Finn lit a cigarette from his pocket, and then waited while Charlie thought about it.

"And food?"

"Only two cents more if ya eat dinner there. But most of us use the money we earn to eat out."

Charlie scrunched his eyebrows as he thought it over. "Can we, Charlie?" Alison's voice squeaked from behind her brother. "Please?"

Finn took the cigarette from his lips. "Look, if ya wanna do right by ya sister, here, I suggest you take my offer."

Finally, Charlie nodded, rather reluctantly. "Lead the way."

Like? Dislike? Let me know what you think so far. Reviews are always appreciated. And if you haven't already checked it out, go on youtube and look up Newsies Rap Battle and it's like Annie vs. Newsies characters. It's so cute!