Chapter 10

+How did this happen so quickly?+ I ask myself before looking around the room at all the singing newsies.

"I don't even remember coming here!" I say to myself quietly before shaking my head and jumping up to sing with Blink and all the other newsies that had shown up for Medda's show.

"Do you know how I got here Blink?"

He just smiles at me, shakes his head and kisses the top of my head.

Medda then starts singing an unfamiliar tune, but it's quite catchy and soon I'm singing the chorus with everyone else.

'High times, hard times

Sometimes the living is sweet

And sometimes there's nothing to eat

But I always land on my feet.

So when there's dry times

I wait for high times and then

I put on my best

And I stick out my chest

And I'm off to the races again!'

The wonderful performance is soon over and everyone is leaving to return to their lodging houses. However, I start to panic when I don't see Spot among us.

"He left already. About halfway through Medda's show." Mush tells me when I ask him about it.

"Well, I thought that he'd at least say goodbye before he left." I tell him quietly.

"You'll see him in a couple of days anyways, right? So why worry?"

"Because he's never left me and not said 'bye.' It's just weird is all, I guess."

"Guess it is strange, but just ask him the next time ya see him and try not to get angry with him until he explains why."

"Nah, I'll just tear his ass to pieces AFTER he explains!" I tell Mush, jokingly.

"That a girl! You've been well taught." he jokes back.

"Well I do have a wonderful teacher! Thanks Mush!"

"Anytime Kat!" he says while giving me a hug before stepping aside to let Blink walk next to me. Mush disappears into the crowd of newsies that is entering the lodging house, leaving Blink and I outside, alone.

"Don't worry yourself too much about it, Kat. He'll be back for ya and he'll be able to explain why he left so suddenly." Blink explains.

"What do you know about it?" I ask him.

"He didn't want me to tell ya. He said it would worry you too much, but he said he'd tell ya after he gets back."

"Oh right and telling you not to tell me is going to make me NOT worry? What is he doing?"

"He's just having problems with newsies from other boroughs sellin on his turf."

"What other borough would be stupid enough to try and sell on Brooklyn's turf?"

"Harlem. They've been starting fights with some of Spot's boys and Spot had to go and talk to Steel, Harlem's leader. They just need to talk and sort all of ths out."

"Well, let's just hope Spot'll be okay and that he brought some of his boys with him, just in case. I've heard rumors that Harlem plays dirty and can't be depended on when they make pacts with other boroughs."

"He'll be fine. Spot knows what he's doing." Blink promises.

+Yeah, let's hope so.+ I think to myself. "We should go inside and get some sleep, Blink! Gotta Carry da Banner bright and early tomorrow morning." I tell him, yawning.

Blink yawns in response and leads me back inside. My head barely touches the pillow before I'm out like a light.