I left while Red was talking to Pint, careful not to bang the door again, though she would probably hear me anyway. Pint ran out the kitchen door and went outside; presumably to show Rev whatever Red gave him. The rest of my boys were all ready out selling.
"Spot, wait." Red called out from the kitchen. How dare she, after speaking to me like she had, just minutes before!
"What," I snapped. She was ridiculous, bubbles in her hair and no shoes. It wasn't proper. Course, she wouldn't be covered in bubbles if I hadn't startled her, but she shouldn't be so jumpy.
"I need money to go to the market. There's nothing but four and potatoes in the kitchen." Her voice was cold and her body was tensed like she was ready to fight.
"I'll have one a me boys do it." I told her, "Wha' do youse need?"
"If you'd just give me the money I'm sure I can find the market."
"Like youse said, wese can't 'ave youse roamin' da streets. Ise mean, what would me boys tink?" I smirked as her mouth opened in outrage, a gesture that was, unfortunately, lost on her.
"Fine then," she huffed, "I need vegetables, all kinds, more flour and potatoes, salt, pepper, meat if you can get it, and some fruit. Get oranges and lemons if you can, apples if you can't."
"An' if dat isn' in da budget?" I asked. Now she smirked which, even if she didn't know I did it first, still infuriated me.
"Figure it out, Conlon." she turned on her heel and walked back into the kitchen. Fuming, I left the Lodging House to go and get my papes, eating my bread as I went.
It couldn't be more than three in the afternoon, but all ready, I was ready to fall asleep. I had sorted and cleaned everything in the kitchen and the main room, and trying to make sure that I hadn't missed anything was proving to be a futile task. Dreading the thought of cleaning the bunk room and Spot's, or rather, my room; I welcomed a reprieve.
"Grocery delivery fer miss Red," a voice called from the door. I ran to answer it, by now knowing where all the furniture was after cleaning all of it.
"Thank youse," two boys came in once I held the door open.
"Where da youse want it, Red?"
"Just set it in the kitchen." I said following them in. I heard a pair of what were probably crates drop to the floor and knelt to explore their contents. As I took things out and put them away I decided to take the opportunity to get to know more of the Brooklyn newsies. "What are your names?" I asked them, they had been shifting about for a minute now, trying to figure out whether or not they should help me.
"My name is Bones an' dis is Tap." the one on the left said.
"I can hear why you're called Tap, Tap." I said, needing to hear his voice to commit it to memory.
"Sorry ma'am." his fingers stopped the jig they'd been doing on the counter top.
"Just Red is fine," I said turning to smile at him, "And thank you both for getting these for me." Even if Spot did order them to do it.
"Youse welcome," Bones said.
"Was it a good day then?" I asked, curious as to what was going on in my new city.
"Good enou'," Tap said, "Da headline was 'Presiden' ta Visit, New York City Prepare.' Notin' too hard ta sell."
"Tings get betta in Harlem, wese set." Bones said happily.
"Why?" I was intrigued, "What's going on in Harlem?"
"Notin'," said Tap quickly, he punched Bones lightly, "Youse don' need to worry 'bought notin', Red." I decided to let it go, for now.
I could smell the Lodging House from the street, and for once it didn't smell like sweaty boys, well, at least not for the most part. Walking in, half the boys were all ready eating, soup by the looks of it, and the other half were lined up at the kitchen door. Pint was handing them out bowls so I walked up to the front, as was my right.
"How goes it Spot?" Pint said, "Wanna bowl?"
"Nah let me through, Pint," that girl needed a talking to. Pint got out of my way. Red was standing at the stove ladling soup into bowls and passing them to Pint. "What da hell is goin' on heah?" I said, voice rising when she didn't react.
"Hello, Spot," she said coolly, "Do you want some soup?" she continued to hand them out.
"Half a da newsies in Brooklyn are in da otha room! How did dat happen widout me say so?"
"I don't know, Spot." she said, "Maybe they were curious. Why don't you ask them?"
"Ise ain't askin' them. Ise askin' youse." She didn't even say anything, just kept ladling. I reached around and grabbed her chin, spinning her around, "Look at me when Ise talkin' to youse!" I yelled.
"Go ahead and hit me, Spot." She said softly, her jaw tense, "See if it makes you feel better." Stunned, I lowered the hand I didn't even realize I had raised. She shook her head out of my grasp and shoved a bowl of soup into my hands.
"Red." I said quietly.
She turned her back to my, "Go and eat your soup, Conlon." I turned to walk out and barely heard her whisper, "You are nothing like what Frankie said you where."
I walked slowly back into the main room. No one spoke; I looked down at Pint glaring at me. I looked around, seeing Pint mirrored in all of them. I gulped and took a deep breath, "Eat youse soup." I said. There was nothing else to say.
The last of the boys in line were handed their bowls, and conversation started up again. Red didn't come out of the kitchen, but no one went in either. After a while, I couldn't stand all of them avoiding me, so I left to got o the dock. By the time I was close it was dark and the moon was out, but there was all ready some one sitting on my throne.