The sweltering afternoon heat bore down on the Brooklyn docks. Most of the newsies found relief swimming in the East River while others found it in small spots of shade.

"Spot come back yet?" asked Blaze, walking up behind Grace.

Grace shook her head, playing solitaire. "I think he's still in Manhattan. With Jack turning into a scab, they need all the help they can get."

"You think I should send some boys over to help?" he asked.

"Not my call. Spot left you in charge, not me."

"Well, Spot's always talkin' to you about decisions. You think he'll be comin' back any time soon?"

"I ain't his keeper," said Grace.

"Surprising, since he seems to be your keeper." He looked over her shoulder. "Black ten to the red jack." He sat next to each other. "So, you doin' okay?"

Grace rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"

"This strike ain't been easy. I know you're hungry."

"We're all hungry."

"I know you're too proud to ask Spot for help."

"So?"

"So, you probably had to dig into your secret stash to feed yourself. It's hard to live off stale bread and water once a day from the nuns."

"If you have a point, then get to it." Grace sighed.

Blaze put his arm around her, resting his forearm on her shoulder. "I still got savings."

"Good for you," Grace sighed, leaning away from him. Her stomach grumbled, as if she needed another reminder that she hadn't eaten since early that morning.

"Hungry?" Blaze chuckled and leaned in so his lips were right next to her ear. "You could work for it."

Grace paused and then looked at him.

"Come on," Blaze said quietly. "Let's get you something to eat."

"Get lost, Blaze."

Blaze chuckled. "Alright. But when you get hungry enough…you know where to find me."

With the he stood up and walked away.

Grace watched his retreating figure. She chewed on her lip, thinking. She hadn't eaten a real meal since the day Brooklyn joined the strike, eight days ago. She managed to get some food from the nuns every morning, and resorted to digging through trashcans for discarded food when Spot wasn't around.

"How many solo rounds have you played since the strike started?" said a familiar voice behind her.

Grace grinned and turned around to see Racetrack standing there.

"Too many," she said. She stood up and walked over. "It's about time you made it over here." She gave him a hug.

"Well, you know…lots of stuff going on back home," said Race. "You hungry? Want to get something to eat?"

"Um…I already ate today," said Grace.

"Ya still gotta eat dinner," said Race. "Come on. My treat. I won big at the track today."

Grace raised her eyebrows as she walked along with him. "You been on strike for over a week and still scrounge up money to place a bet?" Grace shook her head. "You're a character, Higgins." Grace winked.

Race smirked and shrugged.

"So is Spot still over there with your boys?" Grace asked.

Race nodded. "He'll probably be there the next couple days. We're trying to keep the strike goin' even though Jack went scab." He scowled at the name.

Grace shook her head. "I can't believe he did that. He was the one who came over here beggin' for Spot's help. Now Spot's doin' his job for him."

"You should come over and stay with us," said Race. "It would be nice to see you more."

Grace shrugged. "I like stayin' around here. It's home."

Race smirked. "Got a fella around here?"

Grace rolled her eyes. "No."

"You sure? Coz I heard a rumor you and Spot…"

"It's just a rumor, trust me. In fact, it's that rumor that prevents any guy from coming near me." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, her mind leapt to her earlier conversation with Blaze.

Race looped his arm through hers. "Don't worry…Spot Conlon won't be around forever…and the right guy would stand up to him for you."


Grace walked through the boys' bunkroom to the attic stairs, which led to her tiny room.

"Have a good dinner, Gracie?" Blaze smirked from his bed.

"Don't call me that," said Grace. Only Spot and Race called her that.

Blaze quickly glanced around and saw the other boys not paying attention.

"I heard Spot's gonna stay in Manhattan for the next few days," he said, walking to the foot of the stairs.

Grace stopped halfway up the stairs and turned around. "So?"

"So…." He winked.

She shook her head. "No."

"You got lucky today, Higgins probably bought your meal, didn't he?" he said. "But tomorrow will be another hungry day…"

"I'll manage." She climbed the rest of the way to her room and flopped down on her bunk.

Blaze was right. She had no idea where her next decent meal would come from. Her dinner with Race had filled her, but by morning the familiar dull ache of hunger would be back.