Chapter 10
In Tibby's, Denton bought them all food and they discussed the strike and their plans.
"So, tell me, what happened inside The World building?" he asked Jack.
"Well, Les and me, we walks up ta dis kid oustide'a Pulitzer's office and we says dat we needs ta talk wid da boss," Jack explained. "And den he has da noive ta ask if we has an appointment. And when I says no, dis snooty mug says ta me, 'You can't see Mr. Pulitzer, no one sees Mr. Pulitzer.' Real hoity-toity, ya know da type?"
"Real hoity-toity," Les backed him up.
"So dat's when I says ta him, 'Listen, I ain't in da 'abit of transactin' no bidness wid office boys. Just tell him Jack Kelly's 'ere ta see him now.'"
"That's when he threw us out."
"Wow, tough guys 'give no crap' words. Surprised that didn't work," Lucy teased. Jack just gave her a look.
"Does he scare you?" Denton questioned. "You're going up against the most powerful man in New York City."
"Oh yeah, look at me. I'm tremblin'," Jack stated.
"What about you two?" Denton turned to the girls. "This must be a lot for two young girls."
"We've been here for a while now. We've seen and been through a lot," Riley told him.
"We can definitely handle this," Lucy added.
He wrote some more things down, then handed David his card as he stood up. "Alright, keep me informed. I want to know everything that's going on."
"Are we really an important story?" David wondered.
"Well, what's important? Last year I covered the war in Cuba. Charged up San Juan Hill with Col. Teddy Roosevelt. That was an important story. So, is this strike important? That all depends on you." He headed for the door.
"So my name's really gonna be in da papehs?" Jack called after him.
"Any objections?"
"Not as long as you get it right. It's Kelly. Jack Kelly."
"And please don't put me in the paper as Geek. My name is Riley Piper."
"Aw, Geek, ya know ya loves dat name."
"Only because you gave it to me Jacky." She gave him a sickeningly sweet smile.
Denton just chuckled and walked out the door.
When the others were done eating, they picked up Boots and headed out to Brooklyn.
As they started across the Brooklyn Bridge, David said, "I've never been to Brooklyn before. Have you?"
"I spent a month there one night," Boots told him.
"Too many times," Lucy stated.
"What's up with you and Brooklyn?" David questioned, curious.
"Nothing."
"Oh yeah, a whole lotta nothing," Riley countered. Lucy shoved her forward. David just gave her an odd look.
She sighed. "Okay, Spot Conlon, Brooklyn's leader, and I kind of had a…thing a couple months ago. But it only lasted for a couple weeks."
"What went wrong?" David asked.
"Well, he wanted to…ya know…and I didn't. So he dropped me."
"And now he's turned his attention to me," Riley brought up. "Lucky me. But if he thinks he can do the same thing to me like he did to her, he's got another thing coming."
"Oh please, like you don't think Spot is attractive."
"I never said that. I think he's mega hot." Only Lucy noticed Jack tense up for just a second when she said that. "But he needs an attitude adjustment, and then we'll talk."
They continued walking in silence until David broke it with, "So is this Spot Conlon really dangerous." Everyone just laughed at that. "Is-is that a yes or no?"
"It's a don't worry about it Davey," Riley assured him.
"Just stay on his good side and he won't hurt you," Lucy added. David gulped, nervous.
Soon, they made it into Brooklyn and arrived at Spot's territory. They walked along the pier, weaving their way among the large amount of Brooklyn newsies. The girls always felt uncomfortable in Brooklyn because the boys there were much more crude than their friends. There were many cat calls and hollers and whistles to them as they made their way.
"Goin' somewhere Kelly?" one of the newsies got in their way as they walked across the pier. "Cause you know dere's a fine." He stroked Riley's cheek and Jack quickly put his arm around her and pushed forward, David, not acting in his character, took Lucy's hand to protect her as well. The two kept their holds on the girls.
"Well, if it ain't Jack be nimble, Jack be quick." They looked up and saw him on top of some boxes.
Jack let go of Riley to get closer to Spot. "I see you moved up in the world Spot. Got a river view and everything." Spot jumped down and went over to Jack. They spit-shook. His eyes then fell on Lucy.
"Well, well, well, what 'ave we 'ere?" He walked over to her and David. "Ya got yaself a new pawn dere Pink?" Lucy quickly dropped David's hand. David wasn't sure whether she did that because she was ashamed to be holding hands with him or if it would protect him from Spot's wrath.
"I never treated you like a pawn Conlon. You're the one who wanted me for just one thing," she spat back.
He scoffed. "Why'd I evah waste me time wid you?" he mumbled as he turned around. Then he saw Riley. "Well, well, whadda ya hear, whadda ya say Geek?" He slid his hand down her arm, taking her hand and kissing it.
"Oh Spot, you really know how to treat a girl," she said with a hint of sarcasm. "You just make me go weak in the knees."
"I 'ave been known ta 'ave dat effect on goils." He walked back to his spot passing Boots. "Heya Boot, how's it rollin'?"
"I got a couple'a real good shooters 'ere," he said, holding out some marbles. Spot took the marbles and loaded one into his slingshot.
"So Jacky-boy, I've been hearin' things from little boids. Things from Harlem, Queens." He took aim and fired the marble at a soda bottle, breaking it. "All ovah. Dey been choipin' in my ear Jacy-boy's newsies is playin' like dere goin' on strike."
"Yeah well we are," Jack told him very plainly.
"And we're not playing. We are going on strike," David stepped forward.
"Oh yeah? Yeah?" Spot came toward David, getting in his face. "What is dis Jacky-boy some kinda walkin' mouth?"
Lucy came forward and pushed Spot away from David. "Yeah it's a mouth, a mouth with a brain. And if you have half of one, you'll listen to what he has to say."
"Ooo, defensive. I remembah when you was dat defensive for me." Lucy tried not to blush at that, hopng David didn't figure out what that meant. "But I don't gotta do what you says no more."
Riley sighed, seeing this was up to her. She walked to Spot and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Listen to what he has to say Spot. It's important."
He hesitated for a moment then broke free and sat in front of David. He winked at Riley before he turned his attention to the new newsie.
Them David started speaking, "Well, we started the strike, but we can't do it alone. So we're talking to newsies all over the city."
"Yeah, so dey told me," Spot responded. "But what did dey tell you?"
"They're waiting to see what Spot Conlon is doing. You're the key. That Spot Conlon is the most respected and famous newsie in all of New York, and probably everywhere else. And if Spot Conlon joins the strike, then they'll join and we'll be unstoppable. So you gotta join, I mean…well, you gotta!"
Spot grinned smugly. "You're right Pink, brains. But I got brains too, and more den just half a one. How do I know you pubks won't run da foist time some goon comes at'cha wid a club? How do I know you gots what it takes ta win?"
"Because I'm tellin' ya Spot," Jack told him.
"That ain't good enough Jacky-boy. Ya gotta show me."
"Spot, can't you just-?" Lucy started, but got cut off.
"No, I can't 'just'. You may think dis is real but for all I know, your boys might just think dis is all a game."
"You know that's not true," Riley protested. "We're all in this all the way. You'll see."
So, a shorter chap, but still a chap. Reviews = love!