Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies, or any of the non-fictional places mentioned in the story that exist or have previously existed. Any characters you don't recognize from the movie Newsies, are my own.
Chapter 6: The Showgirl's Daughter
As Spot Conlon stood on the up most pier looking over the city, the cold late November air filled his lungs. His bright blue eyes gazed over Brooklyn. He was proud of all that he accomplished, considering he was only 18, and proud to call Brooklyn his own.
He was the most respected and famous Newsie in all of New York, and he knew it. All feared him, all respected him. Some loved him, some hated him. He was Brooklyn, and everyone knew that.
He led with brains, authority, discipline, honor, loyalty and a love for his boys, and that's what made him a good leader.
As he continued to gaze out at the city, some of the Brooklyn Newsboys were on the docks rolling dice, and making bets in a game known as 'Shooting craps' while others were practicing their aim by shooting down stacked beer bottles with marbles and slingshots. They were competing to see how many they could shatter.
Spot's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when two of the younger Newsies started fighting over a game they had been playing with marbles. Spot looked over and shook his head in disapproval. He jumped down from on top of the pier, and headed over to break up the fight.
"Break it up, break it up, if you can't play the game right then don't play at all." He said as he put out his arms, cane in hand, separating the two boys. The children parted and went on to another activity.
Spot took a final walk around the docks to make sure everything was under control with his boys. Once he was satisfied he'd leave for the evening.
He was planning on heading to Manhattan to visit his little sister Birdie.
He tried to meet with her at least once a week, or every other week depending on how busy things were.
Normally he'd pick her up at the Manhattan Home for Girls and they'd go for a bite to eat, take a stroll, or head to the flickers.
"Hey Fellas! I'm headin' ta Manhattan for da evenin'. Spot shouted commanding their attention, once he had it, he continued. "Striker, I'm leavin' you in charge while I'm gone." He said as he pointed at Striker with his cane.
"You got it Spot!" called Striker as his marble smashed against the beer bottle causing it to shatter into a ton of pieces.
Spot noticed Striker's good aim, and smirked as he nodded at him in approval.
Striker grinned, pleased with himself for impressing the Brooklyn leader.
"Make sure you keep dese guys in line." Spot said to Striker before leaving.
"Will do Spot." Striker replied assuring him.
With that Spot headed off to Manhattan where his sister awaited him.
Back at the Manhattan Home for Girls Ella sat at her teacher's desk lost in a web of thoughts. Class for the evening was coming to an end, and the girls were engaging in 'quiet time' and reading.
Ella began to think of her evening with Jack and the others a week prior, and how fortunate she was to have her old friend in her life again, and some new ones as well.
She remembered how Jack had asked her when the last time she was at Irving Hall was. She began to think about her days at Irving Hall when her mother had worked there, and was wondering when she would bring herself to go there again.
The theatre was Ella's favorite place growing up. She would run on the stage during practice and dance and sing along with her mother, and they were some of her fondest memories.
But once Ella got older and came to understand the dark side of theatre, the expectations and pressures that were placed on her mother, and the line ups of backstage Johnny's that waited desperately for her mother to come out of her dressing room in hopes of taking her out for the evening, or even getting a glimpse, it began to rub Ella the wrong way.
Once her mother had married again, and left she saw no reason to go back there, still the longing of being on a stage and reaching people through song and music lingered in the depths of her heart.
Ella's thoughts were suddenly interrupted, when she saw Birdie's hand go up.
"Yes Birdie?" Ella said as she looked up.
Birdie pointed to the clock "Sorry to interrupt Miss Colley, but it looks like class is ova, and my brotha should be here any minute, so I was wonderin' if we could be dismissed?" Birdie asked.
Upon hearing that Birdie's bother Spot Conlon the infamous and so called handsome Brooklyn leader was coming by, the girls ruptured into a fit of giggles and whispers, as they all gushed over him, while Birdie rolled her eyes at their reaction to her bother.
Ella noticed this, and heard some comments they were making. and thought wow seems like he has quite the reputation, she then looked at the clock and realized the time.
"Yes of course, my apologies, it seems as though I got a little lost in my thoughts again!" said Ella, she then picked up the bell and rang it.
The girls grabbed their books, said goodbye to Ella, and headed out.
Once Ella was the only one left in the classroom, she wiped down the chalkboard and began to clean up, humming a little tune to herself that she had learned from her mother at the theatre. She picked up the broom and figured she'd sweep up a little.
As she neared the window she looked out and saw Birdie running to who seemed to be her brother Spot, and embraced him. Ella put her broom to the side, and eyed him for a moment, curious to see what this mysterious and famous Brooklyn leader she had heard about actually looked like.
She knew he'd come visit Birdie some evenings, but she never actually saw him till now because she'd only work as a teacher in training during the days, before she officially became a fulltime teacher a couple months ago.
He looked to be about 5'8 in height, had a slightly tanned complexion, and the tips of his golden brown hair stuck out from beneath his Newsboy cap.
He seemed to be quite handsome from the distance, and she could see why the girls would gush over him.
She then quickly averted her eyes when she noticed him looking up for a brief moment, and she turned away from the window. A little embarrassed, she leaned her back against the wall adjacent to the window and hoped that he didn't see her gazing at him.
She shook her head as she laughed to herself, shrugged it off, and grabbed her books from the desk before heading out of the classroom.
Back outside…
"Hey Spot!" Birdie exclaimed gleefully, as she ran to give her big brother a hug. "Hey Kid." Spot said smirking.
He knew Birdie was a teenager now, but in his eyes, she'd always be his 'kid sista'. As the two embraced he looked over Birdie's shoulder and noticed what seemed to be an attractive young woman with dark hair looking out the window, before turning away once their eyes briefly met.
Birdie let go of Spot and looked behind her to see what he was looking up at and asked "What cha' ya lookin' at?"
Spot averted his gaze from the window to Birdie and smiled "Jus thought I saw someone lookin' out from the window up dere."
"Oh, that was probably Miss Colley." said Birdie upon recognizing that he was looking up at the music classroom's window.
"Miss Colley? Dere's a name I haven't hoird before. Is she a new teacha? Spot asked as the two proceeded to stroll down the street.
"Yeah she is! She teaches my music class, and she's great at it too. I've learned so much! Rumour has it, her motha was the famous showgoil Cora Deluna!" Birdie said wide eyed.
"Cora Deluna huh?" he said as he gave Birdie a look of scepticism.
He wondered if it were true, and he was quite curious to find out more about her, and asked "Ain't she a little young to be your teacha?"
Birdie laughed "She's not much olda then some of the goils in the class, but she knows what she's doin. As a matter of fact, we're havin' a Christmas concert a week before Christmas, and I have a solo part!" Birdie said excitedly.
"Looks like I'll have ta come see you singin'." Spot said smiling, proud of his sister.
"Yes! I'd love it if you came! It'll be just like when we use to watch Ma and Pa perform." Birdie said looking up at him and smiling.
Spot thought for a moment remembering how before their parents passed, they would often go to watch their performances. His mother would help with the church choirs, and sing in them as well, and their father would play the piano as she sung. Birdie had inherited the music 'bug' from them.
"I'll be dere." Spot said assuring her, he wouldn't miss it for the world.
The two continued to stroll down the cobblestone streets as Birdie chatted away, and Spot listened intently. Spot smiled as she continued 'chirpin' in his ear. He was use to it, and he gave her the nickname Birdie after all.
They never got to see each other as much as they use to, with him being in Brooklyn, and her in Manhattan, so when he picked her up, he enjoyed hearing her latest stories and news.
He loved his sister dearly and would do anything for her, they were all each other had.
After a few minutes, they decided they'd head to Tibbys for a bite to eat. The door swung open, and the bell rang as Spot and Birdie entered into the Restaurant.
Some of the Newsies were there as well, and upon noticing who had just walked in, the tension grew in some of the Newsies because Spot Conlon made them a little nervous. They wasted no time in greeting him though, as they called out things like. "It's Spot!" and "Heya Spot!" from the tables they sat at.
"Hey Fellas! How's it rollin'?" Spot called smirking as he entered, Birdie following him to where they usually sat.
They sat down, and a waiter came over as Spot quickly ordered for him and Birdie.
Crutchy was sitting at a nearby table with Kid Blink and Mush, and noticed Birdie and said what the others had been thinking upon seeing her "Is dat Boidie? I barley even recognize her, boy has she eva grown!"
The boys thought she was quite pretty, but wouldn't dare say so in fear of facing the wrath of her brother.
Birdie smiled at his comment before saying "It's me aright!"
Spot nodded over at Boots, before turning to Crutchy and the others. Laughing a little, he said "Yeah dats Boirdie, but she's still me kid sista so careful" He replied warning the Newsies.
"Spot I'm fine here in Manhattan, you know that!" Birdie said assuring him.
"We'll look out for her Spot, you aint gotta worry." said Mush smiling.
"Yeah well let's hope so otha wise you'll have Brooklyn ta deal with." Spot wise-cracked, before taking a sip of his soda the waiter had brought over.
"So, any of you fellas seen Jackey-boy aroun' lately?" Spot asked changing the subject as he put his drink down, it had been a while since he had seen him.
"Yeah we was jus at his house playin poker dere last week!" said Crutchy.
"Yeah and we even got to meet a couple new friends, right fellas?" said Mush grinning as he referred to the girls that came by as well.
"Right ta that!" replied Kid Blink, as him and Mush clinked glasses, before taking a drink.
"Oh yeah?" Spot asked wanting to hear more, upon seeing Mush's expression, as well as the other boys' expression once these so called "friends" were mentioned.
"Yeah, Jack invited his old friend over Ella Colley, her 'chaperone' Miss Nora, and Race's new goil Josie Marinos!" Kid Blink added.
"Josie's real nice, and her and Race seem real good for eachodda!" said Crutchy, speaking on behalf of Racetrack, who was most likely off at Sheepshead Races for the evening.
Spot chuckled and nodded quite impressed that Race had found himself a girl.
Birdie thought for a moment "Ella Colley? that's my music teacher's name Spot, the one I told you about!" Birdie exclaimed.
"Well ain't dat funny, small world." Spot said now quite intrigued and wanting to hear more.
"Yeah Ella mentioned something about teaching at the Manhattan Home for Goils." said Mush as the boys began to subtly tease him, since he sat next to her at Jack's.
Spot noticed this and averted their attention back to the conversation "So how does Jack know Ella?" Spot questioned, as the waiter placed his food on the table infront of him and Birdie.
"Oh dey met at Irvin' Hall as kids! Her mudda woiked dere wit Medda, she was da famous—" Crutchy began to say.
Before Crutchy could finish Spot interrupted "Cora Deluna?" he asked raising his eyebrow quizzically.
"You already hoid da story!" Crutchy replied.
Spot was taken a back upon discovering that this so called rumour his sister spoke about was true, and Birdie looked over at him "See Spot, told ya!" She replied cheekily as Spot rolled his eyes at her.
"Is she as Goigous as her mudda?" Specs shouted from another table.
"Oh she's real swell!" said Crutchy as he looked up dreamily at the ceiling.
"She sure is pretty." said Mush giggling.
"I'd say so!" Kid Blink shouted.
"You think she'd date someone like me?" Skittery cheekily called from the table.
"I dunno, she was quite a lady…" Mush said.
"Birdie, do ya think you can hook me up wit her? Maybe put in a good word?" One of the other newsboys wise-cracked, knowing Ella was Birdie's teacher.
Birdie looked down, chuckled and said "I don't know about—"
Before she could finish answering, Spot rolled his eyes and interrupted, he didn't want them coaxing his sister in on all this 'talk' about her teacher. "Hey settle down aright! Dis aint da way to be talkin' about a lady." Spot retorted, irritated with some of their remarks.
"We'se jus teasin Spot." Kid Blink said, and continued speaking louder to them all now "Ella's a good goil, and classy too."
"I hoid she sings at choich almost every Sunday!" Crutchy added.
"We're actually hosting a Christmas Concert at da home a week before Christmas, and she'll be singin' in it too. If you fellas are so curious you can drop by and speak ta Miss Colley yourselves!" Birdie boldly taunted.
Upon hearing her remark Spot looked over at her dismayed, and chuckled at her audacity.
The boys looked around nervously at the thought of randomly showing up at the home to introduce themselves to Ella, though some wouldn't mind.
Soon all the talk on the showgirl's daughter ended, and their conversations switched to other topics.
The laughter and chatter continued at Tibbys, and once Spot and Birdie were done Spot paid for their meals, and they said their goodbyes.
Before Spot headed out the door he looked back at the the table where Mush, Kid Blink, and Crutchy sat and cheekily said as he pointed his cane in their direction "Say hello to da othas for me, as for Jackey-boy, you fellas tell him next time he has a poka night, Brooklyn wants an invitation."
They chuckled and responded with comments like "Will do Spot!" and "We'll be sure ta let him know!"
With that Spot smirked and nodded in approval before Birdie and him left, and proceeded to walk back to the Manhattan Home for Girls so Birdie would make it back before the home's curfew at 9pm.
Once they had arrived at the home Spot and Birdie said their good byes to each other, and he waited for her to get inside safely, before heading off.
Birdie ran up the stairs and knocked, and Mrs. Jones answered the door to let her in.
Spot tipped his hat to them as Birdie waved before closing the door.
He turned to leave, but paused for a moment as he looked back up at the window where he had last seen Ella, and all that was there now was an empty window pane and a fragmented memory of her.
He smirked to himself as he remembered how he had caught her looking out at him earlier, before she had abruptly turned away.
With a smile still tugging at his lips, he gave a brash nod at the thought of her before he looked down, pulled out his cane, and made his way back to Brooklyn.
As he headed back to where his boys awaited him, thoughts of the Showgirl's daughter continued to cross his mind. To him, she was still a mystery.