Spot led me and Andrew to the pace where we were to buy our "papes" that morning. I didn't tell Spot what I had seen last night and I didn't intend to. He walked us up to the window, told us how many papes to buy, and leant us the money to do it.
"Dis is a one time only deal. Got it? You'se wants to be a newsie, you'se gots to buy your papes yourselves." Whatever, I thought.
Me and Andrew each bought thirty papes for our first day and spent the rest of the day selling them. It was harder than it looked. Changing headlines, earning sympathy. By the end of the day I had figured out a way to sell my papes. It was a dirty and promiscuous way but it worked. I had figured out that as a girl I had an advantage that none of the boys had.
By the end of the day I was beat. I met up with Andrew and we walked back to the lodging house. I saw Spot across the room and went up to him. He was talking to one of the other newsies.
"I sold all my papes today Spot. I," I was cut off when Spot stood up and slapped me across the face. It was so hard and unexpected I nearly smacked him back. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" I screamed at him, my hand on my face. He grabbed my arm and pulled me closer.
"Don't ever interrupt me like that again," He said it calmly but sternly and it scared me. He hadn't been like this since I had gotten here and it was a new experience to see him haul off and smack me. I stared at him in disbelief. No. I could believe it. This was the Spot Conlon I had heard about.
"Excuse me?" I asked him. I knew contradicting him would only get me into more trouble but I was feeling bold today for some unknown reason.
"Do I haft a spell it out for ya? Don't interrupt me when I'm talking." He said his anger rising again.
It was at that moment I realized he was still holding me close to him. I could practically smell him. It made me light-headed and I felt like I was going to faint. He must have realized what I had because he released me. Or more like shoved me away. I was so angry at him I could barely think straight yet another part of me, a small part of me, was sad and hurt by what he had said and done. I turned on my heel and marched upstairs. As I was walking upstairs I brought my hand to my eyes to brush away, were those tears? It couldn't be. I couldn't be falling for Spot Conlon!
