Witchy, who could kick a fellow's. . .teeth. . .up between his ears, was fighting. All my girls were.
Jewels, Witchy, Sling, Dicey, other newsie girls I recognized as Bonnet, and Hoops.
They fought against Viper, Poker, Snake, and three other newsies called Sneak, Smart-mouth, and Roach.
Spot and I went into action. Wolf joined in, followed by a newsie called Cock, and a girl called Sooty.
We pulled the newsies apart.
"What's goin' on heah?" Demanded Spot. "Answah o' I'll hang ye by yer toes from the docks!"
I didn't argue with his threats. I was thinking the same.
Dicey muttered something.
"What, Dicey?" I asked. "Why were you fighting?"
She lifted her voice just a bit and didn't look at me.
"Smart-mouth was makin' jokes. 'Bout you an' Spot." She said. She didn't look at me or Spot. "Sling and I took him and when the boys joined in the girls came to help."
I clenched my fists. I looked at Spot for permission. He looked stunned and murderous at the same time. Spot can do that. But he nodded, knowing what it was I wanted.
This is Brooklyn.
And I will have satisfaction.
I socked Smart-mouth in the face as hard as I could, and stomped off.
The next day, I saw Smart-mouth with a broken nose, talking with Roach.
I didn't care.
I headed for the docks, where I knew I would find Spot after such an event.
He was waiting for me.
"Spot," I began. "I wanted to say, I'm sorry."
Spot nodded, murder in his eyes. I wasn't sure if he was angry at me, or just angry.
He took a deep breath. "Gypsy, I can't have ya heah." He looked terrible, but he pushed it away behind those stormy eyes. "Ya need ta leave Brooklyn." He bit his lip. "I'm sorry."
I nodded, blinking away tears. I get it. He's Spot Conlon, fearless leader of Brooklyn. Brooklyn is a hard place, where kids like us train with slingshots, and lie about headlines to survive. A leader of such a place has to be equally hard, but Spot's reputation was at stake if such fights broke out whenever we were seen together.
"Can I have 'till tomorrow?" I asked.
Spot nodded, and I left him there, giving way to tears.
It rained that night, fitting the mood like weather almost never does in real life.
I sat on the roof and cried, wet and soaking.
I cried and cried.
I was leaving Brooklyn, for the first time since the strike a year ago. And before that, I'd never left Brooklyn.
Not since I first came, from Manhattan.
And now I was leaving. And it was Spot who was sending me away.
I understood why he did it. It was bad for his reputation, me and him. His third in command, a girl who never obeyed his orders unless she saw the sense in them.
Especially me. I'm Gypsy. I guess I'm like a gypsy. It's about time I left.
Sling and Witchy and Dicey and Jewels and Kitty came for me.
They took me to our room, and helped me dry off.
"Where will you go?" Kitty whimpered, clutching Dicey.
I sniffed. "I've a cousin in Queens, and she's got a kid. I'll go there, see if Duchess will take me." Duchess was the leader of Queens.
"Will ya still come to the Newsie Nights that Pulitzer hosts?" Dicey asked.
I nodded. I sniffed again. "I'll try."
I fell asleep with my girls around me, Kitty in my lap, Sling and Witchy at my right, Dicey and Jewels on my left.
So? What dost thou think of mine story? PLEASE REVIEW! I know it kinda happened fast
