AUTHOR'S Note: I don't own the newsies. Please leave reviews.
"Hey Race, you ready to play some poker?" Kid Blink called as he ran up behind Race and grabbed his cap off of his head.
"Hey!" Race whirled around trying to grab it. Blink dangled it just out of reach for a minute until Race delivered a sound punch right to his gut. Blink doubled over and dropped Race's hat in his hand.
"Damn, Race. What did you do that for?" Blink grunted as he rubbed his stomach.
"What are you talking about? Poker?"
"Yeah, we are all playing poker at the lodging house with Spot and some of his newsies. Come on, you knew that." Race recalled Spot saying something about poker right before the incident where he got his face smashed, but he had forgotten about it until now.
"Oh yeah. Well, I don't think I am gonna make it tonight. I got some stuff to do on the other side of town," Race explained. He tried to fight his instincts of always wanting to play poker knowing that Spot would be there.
"What are you kidding me? You can't miss out on a game of poker! You love it, come on you have to come," Blink grabbed Race's arm and pulled him along.
When they arrived at the lodging house, Spot had not showed up yet with his newsies. Mush and some of the others were pulling a card table into the center of their bunk house and getting ready to play. Race looked over and noticed that Jack just laid out on his bunk looking at his Santa Fe pamphlet. He walked over and sat down on the bunk next to him.
"Hey Jack. Are you gonna play?" Race asked, wondering why Jack seemed so glum while everyone else seemed to be buzzing.
"No, not today, I'm not too happy with Spot right now."
"Ah, Jack I don't blame him for hitting me the other day. I probably would have hit me too if I was in his shoes."
"No. it's not that. I'm just disappointed in him."
"Oh, well, I think I might play."
Jack smirked. "You will play poker in even the most awkward situations."
"Ha, yeah well I can't help it."
"Well, it's up to you," Jack sighed. Race looked away, confused by Jack's sudden irritation with Spot.
"Hey guys," Spot called out as he entered the room followed by a few of his cronies. He was saying his hellos and Race went to take his seat at the table. Eventually Spot sat down too across from Race. Some other newsies filed into their seats at the table as well.
The game was going well. Spot had even spoken a few words to Race although he tried not to make eye contact with him. After a few rounds Spot left the game and headed outside for some fresh air. He stood against the side of the lodging house smoking a cigarette. He looked up from his cigarette when he heard some noise coming from the alley a few feet away. He walked over and turned his head around the corner.
He almost laughed out loud when he realized what it was: A couple of lovebirds. The couple couldn't seem to keep their hands off of each other. They were making out like it was their job. Then, Spot realized something was strange about this couple. They were both wearing boys' clothes, they both had short hair. They were a couple of guys! "Oh," Spot tried to stop himself from saying it out loud but he couldn't help it. The two boys stopped and looked up at him. Spot hid himself back behind the corner, but had to look again when he realized who it was.
"Skittery?"
