The boys ran back to Manhattan. Spot brought a few of his newsies with him to keep the counsel even. This is one of the things that had come out of Manhattan and Brooklyn's alliance. Since they were the strongest boroughs in New York, together they made most of the important decisions and kept the peace.
Inside the Manhattan lodging house, Racetrack, Mush, Skittery, Kid Blink, Crutchy, and some of the other older boys were still up playing poker. Helena and Denton were still there too, but Helena's parents had returned to their hotel. Racetrack was teaching her how to play poker.
Everyone looked up as Spot and Jack and the other boys burst in the door.
"What's goin' on?" Racetrack stood up.
"Pie Eater, Snoddy, go and get Dave. We're havin' a meeting." Jack said. "Put away the cards."
Blink and Mush brought in more chairs from the dining room. Denton pulled out two notebooks and pens. Helena joined her uncle on the couch to take notes and Skittery followed to take his place next to her.
"Do you guys always have meetings like this?" Helena asked Skittery.
"Only when it's really important."
Spot tapped his cane on the ground and three of his newsies brought him the biggest chair in the lodging house. He sat watching Jack expectantly.
Jack stood in the center of the circle. He surveyed the audience. Usually there were more girls because Chase, Spark, Story, and a few of the other Brooklyn girls were supposed to be involved with the counsel. It was for the best that they weren't here now.
The lodging house door burst open for the second time that night and David, Pie Eater, and Snoddy came in.
"Alright, we can start now." Said Jack.
"What's this about?" David was obviously confused.
"I'm gettin' to that," Jack answered. "Somebody get Dave a chair."
Spot tapped his cane on the ground again. A few of his newsies popped up and went in search of another chair.
"Alright," Jack started. "Somethin' strange happened tonight when I was takin' Story home."
All eyes were on Jack. "I think we were bein' followed." and then the room erupted with whispers.
"I know there's a lot a' shady figures in this town, have yous noticed anything like that recently?"
The whispers crescendoed as each boy had something to say.
"Hey!" Spot wanted a turn to speak. "SHUT UP!" he banged his cane on the ground. The room went silent again. "Now, I've noticed when the girls are out selling, one guy always buys papes from them twice in the same day."
"That could be a coincidence." Skittery said. Spot was just being too protective.
"More than once?" Spot glared at Skittery.
Helena raised her eyebrow as she took notes. It seemed like it was always Spot verses Skittery and vice versa.
"Plus, not too long ago I was walkin' with the girls and I could hear someone followin' us."
And then Mush remembered what he said he would tell Spot. "Hey, guys, remember the other night when we were comin' back from the races with Spark?"
Jack and the others turned to Mush. He didn't usually add much to the discussion.
"I didn't see anything different." Racetrack commented.
"Well Roselia did. She said that she and Story thought they were being followed. Well- not just followed, chased is more like it. That's why they ran into us."
Spot went a little pale. "Why didn't they tell us this?"
"Rosie didn't want you to worry."
Before Spot could speak again, the boys started talking. Loudly.
"I've been living in this side of town my entire life," David said over the commotion. "We've never had a problem before. There's something strange going on. We have to figure this out."
Jack thought about Sarah and how she walked to work every day. He also remembered when she was harassed by the Delanceys toward the end of the strike. "In the meantime, we gotta figure out a way to keep the girls safe."
Spot regained his composure. "One a' us has to be with them at all times, them goin' together isn't enough."
"Sounds like a plan." David nodded.
December 26, 1899
Chase was not going to be happy. She had just gotten her freedom back and now it would be taken from her again. And then Spot would have to deal with her complaining from now until forever, or at least until they figured out who was stalking them. That was the price of love.
Spot sat on the steps of the girls' lodging house trying to figure out how he would break the news to her. Good thing the girls took forever to get ready. He'd have a few more minutes to think.
"Morning, Spot." Or not.
He stood up. "Morning Chase, ladies."
Spark scoffed. "What, you don't have time to say our names?"
"Hey," Spot said as he put his arm around Chase's waist. "Do you know how long it would take if I had to call yous all by name?"
"Well a little effort would be nice." Spark was always a little disagreeable in the morning.
"How did you sleep?" Chase asked Spot. There were dark circles under his blue eyes.
"Not that great. Bad dreams."
"About what?"
"You."
"Oh... sorry." Chase wasn't sure what to say.
"Nah, not your fault." After the meeting last night it was almost impossible for Spot to fall asleep. And when he finally did fall asleep, he dreamt of the night Chase got hurt. It was worse watching it happen the second time because then Spot knew there was nothing to do to save her. Plus, there was a new twist to the story. The Delanceys dragged her away as she screamed. And Spot could only stand there and watch her horrified cries.
He shuddered at the thought.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.
"No! I- I don't think that would be a good idea."
"Ok." She squeezed his hand to comfort him. It helped a little.
"Hey, wait." Story said as they turned down a different street than normal . "Aren't we gonna buy papes?
They were walking toward the docks, where the Brooklyn newsies had long claimed their spot, the complete opposite direction of the circulation gates.
"Yeah, it's kinda part of our job." Spark added.
"Meeting this morning."
"Couldn't it wait until later?" Chase cocked her head. She wanted to get started selling so she could go to Medda's earlier. She had some ideas for the show. "I mean, it would make more sense."
"Stop complainin'. I'm the leader here and when I say there's a meeting, there will be a meeting." Spot bit his tongue as soon as the words came out of his mouth. He was so used to being the only Brooklyn leader that he spoke to everyone in a commanding tone like that. But Chase was his queen. He had to remember that they were equals.
Chase turned her eyes back to the road and exhaled sharply.
The morning was already not going well.
When they arrived at the docks, Chase let go of Spot's hand and climbed up the scaffolding to the "throne". She sat down and crossed her arms.
"Great," Spot breathed.
"It's your fault she's mad." Spark said.
He saw Jack, David, and Crutchy coming down the dock. "Oh, just wait, it's gonna get much worse."
"Hey, David." Said Story when she saw him approach the group. "What brings you to Brooklyn this morning?"
"Council business."
"Wait, aren't meetings usually at night?"
David looked away. "Uh... the meeting already happened."
Story took a step back. "What? Why did-"
"Alright, everybody over here!" Spot banged his cane on the ground, scanning the group. He looked up to the throne. Chase hadn't moved from her spot. "Everybody!"
Chase glanced down from her perch. If Jack, Crutchy, and David weren't there she would have stayed where she was. Rolling her eyes she jumped down, pouting. Instead of standing next to Spot like she normally did (as the queen of Brooklyn), she joined Story and Spark with the rest of the Brooklyn newsies. Clearly she wasn't any more special to Spot than the rest of them. She wanted to make sure he understood her message.
Spot shook his head as he began the announcement.
"We've run into a bit of trouble lately. A lot a' people are bein' followed. Not sure why, but it ain't a good sign." Spot panned the crowd, capturing the attention of every newsie there.
"I talked to some guys from the other boroughs and they haven't noticed anything, so it's mostly between Brooklyn and Manhattan." Jack added. "And the targets seem to be the ladies."
Almost all of the girls shifted uncomfortably. Chase looked down at her shoes. Her brother must have told Spot what had happened a few weeks ago. It was a memory she was trying to forget and she hoped the whole thing would just blow over. Obviously not. Story had come home the night before quite shaken. Chase hadn't had the chance to ask her why because Story went to sleep immediately after changing her clothes for the night. Chase wondered if she and Jack had been followed.
Spot spoke again, "We had a council meeting last night. We gotta set some rules to keep yous safe. Girls have to be accompanied by a boy at all times. Groups of girls ain't workin'. I won't be sendin' out any girl birds for a while neither, so find your spot and stick with it. Everybody meet back here after sellin'. No one leaves until we're all counted for. That clear?"
There was a hush over the group that Spot took as understanding.
Chase looked up abruptly, her eyes flashing with anger. They had a meeting without her? Without even letting her know?
"Another thing," David added. "If you see anything strange, report it to a council leader."
Spot dismissed the group. He did send out several male birds to watch the boroughs.
"Hey, Chase," he went back to his girl. "Where are you-"
"I don't know." She cut him off.
"Aw, come on Chase. I wanna talk to you. Thought we'd spend the day together."
"Really, because if you wanted to talk to me so bad, you should have invited me to the council meeting. I am a council leader, after all." She snapped.
"It was late at night."
"So? Last time I checked, you didn't care what time it was."
Spot tried to think of an intelligent response. "I- I didn't-"
Chase was angry. No one had seen her this mad before, not even Spot."Tu es impossible!" she cried. "Je ne peux pas le croire!"
Spot hated it when Chase went French on him. It made him feel inferior, which was a feeling he tried to avoid.
Chase turned, still ranting in French.
"Where are you going?"
"Je vais vendre avec Jack et Crutchy!" She grabbed Jack's arm and dragged him behind her before he could protest. Crutchy followed close behind, nodding his head apologetically at Spot.
Chase spent the next hour or so raving all the way to the park, never giving Jack or Crutchy a chance to speak (not that they could add anything since they couldn't understand a word she was saying).
"Il pense qu'il est le roi mais il est très bête! Spot est un idiot!"
"Hey," said Crutchy. "I understood that last word-"
"Je le déteste! Il est un menteur!"
"Ok, Never mind..."
"Je le déteste! Je déteste que je l'aime beaucoup! Je l'aime beaucoup mais il est vraiment bête!" Angry tears began streaming down her face. Chase was making a bit of a scene. A few businessmen bought papers from Jack and Crutchy out of pity, patting them on the back and saying, "Good luck." as they left.
"Il est le roi bête mais je l'aime beaucoup! Il me fait si fâché!"
"I don't care what time of the day it was. Nothing has ever stopped him from coming to our window at all hours of the night!" She sat down on the bench and twirled her hair like she did when she was angry or nervous. She quickly wiped her tears.
Jack snapped back when he recognized English. "Chase."
"I should have been there. My girls should have been there."
Crutchy sat down and nudged her. "Chase."
"He promised we would be equals when he first found me. It shouldn't be any different now. Actually, now that I'm his girl, we should be more equal!"
"Chase!" Jack grabbed her shoulders and shook her to get her attention. "Do you hear yourself? You don't make no sense!"
Her eyes stared right into his and her expression changed.
"I'm sorry. He just- he makes me-"
Jack raised an eyebrow. "You and I both know nobody can make you do anything."
Jack sat down on the bench on Chase's other side. Chase snuggled closer to the boys because it was cold and she was tired from all of her raging.
"It's not fair. I'm tired of him treating me this way."
"You know he's doin' it because he loves you." said Crutchy.
"Maybe that's the problem, maybe he loves me too much."
"Now you're really talkin' crazy." He said sternly, making Chase smile. Crutchy was a sweetheart. "You wouldn't get out of it that easy. Are you forgettin' me and Jack and Mush?"
She sighed, her brother was really protective. "But I don't understand why we couldn't be involved in the meeting. We're supposed to be at every meeting. That was the agreement."
"Chase, you wanna know somethin'?" Jack asked. "I was the one who called the meeting last night, me and Story were bein' followed, and I didn't invite yous because I didn't want yous to get upset. Bad idea, I know."
She blinked at him and then she sat straight up. "Why?"
"Because it was late and I felt like it was our job to decide how to protect yous."
"Oh," she paused, laying her head down on his shoulder.
There was a moment of silence. Jack watched the people walking the park. Sparkly icicles hung from the tree branches and almost everything was covered in snow.
"Whoa, wait a second." Something occurred to Jack. "You were just mad at Spot for not invitin' you to the meeting. You just found out I called the meeting and you're not mad. Does that make any sense to you?"
Chase bit her lip. "No..." She gave a half smile, realizing it wasn't right she was only mad at Spot.
"Ha," Crutchy laughed. "Sometimes I think yous the same person. You and Spot, I mean."
She smacked his arm. "What do you mean by that?"
"You're both stubborn and quick-tempered. It's a wonder you haven't killed each other yet."
Chase sighed. "Je l'adore beaucoup. Il est très bête mais je l'adore beaucoup." The boys didn't have to think too hard to figure out what she meant.
December 27, 1899
David burst through the door of the Manhattan lodging house early the next morning "Have you seen the article about us in The Sun?".
Chase, Spark, and Story had just arrived themselves. They had spent the night at Medda's again.
"None of us sell The Sun, Dave." Mush said.
"Well pardon me for reading for fun." several of the newsies, including Racetrack, laughed at David's rare sarcasm.
"Gimme that," Racetrack snatched the paper out of David's hand. "'Christmas with the Newsies: A Mezzanine Seat to See the Flickers and Other Dreams Come True' what a stupid title." He began reading the article.
Those same newsies, who made headlines last summer, have yet another lesson to teach us: charity. They live off little more than pennies a day, hawking "papes" through any weather, and still, they manage to afford Christmas tidings. Most recently, Christmastime has been associated with material possessions. Greed has overcome service and charity. This is not the case with the newsies. They're family. They eat together, they sleep together, they stick together. They do everything they can for each other. Every newsie at the Manhattan lodging house received a present this Christmas. There were no benefactors. No Christmas angels to bestow gifts. The newsies payed for them out of their own pockets.
The picture below was of all of the newsies, the picture Denton had taken the night before.
Besides the wonderful gifts, the older newsies had something else up their sleeves. BELOW: Chase Meyers, of Brooklyn (middle); being blindfolded as Mush Meyers (left), Spot Conlon, of Brooklyn (right); and Jack Kelly (back); prepare her for the surprise of her dreams. The boys escorted Chase, along with the rest of their girls, to 41st street to see a picture show. The night was a success.
By the time Racetrack was finished reading, everyone was crowded around him to look at the group picture.
"Wow, lookin' good, Chase." Kid Blink commented.
"What did you say about my girl?" Spot smacked him in the back of the head.
"Oh- sorry, Spot. Didn't see you there."
Mush changed the subject. "So... who wrote this article? Was it Denton?"
"No," David said, "It's a name I've never seen before, H. Darling."
"Who's that?"
"Me," Helena was standing in the open doorway.
"You wrote this?" Skittery broke from the group.
She smiled, nodding sheepishly.
"Why the name change?" Race asked. "We never woulda known of you didn't tell us."
"Because the editors wouldn't even read my story because of my name. Uncle Denty is one of their best journalists, they said they didn't want to perpetuate nepotism. They did, however, tell me there was an opening to review Vaudeville shows."
"That's not fair." said Skittery.
"Yeah," she frowned. "But it does protect me a little. No one at my school will ever be able to know it's me. If the headmistress found out, I would be expelled."
"Why?"
"Ms. Trenton disapproves of anything considered unladylike or masculine." Chase chimed in, doing an uncanny impression of her former headmistress. "This is a man's world."
Story, Helena, and Spark nodded with frustrated agreement.
A/N: I tried to come up with all of the French on my own. I took three years of French in high school and I am continuing to study. I did use Google Translate a little bit for some help conjugating some words so I hope this makes sense to the 1 French person I have that's watching this story =)
At beginning of her rant Chase says, "You are impossible! I don't believe this! I am going to sell with Jack and Crutchy!"
Later on she says, "He thinks he's the king but he's really stupid! Spot is an idiot! I hate him! He is a liar! I hate him! I hate it that I love him so much! I love him so much but he is really stupid! He is a stupid king but I love him a lot! He makes me so angry."
After her rant she says, "I love him a lot. He is really stupid but I love him a lot.
(I changed the line "Je l'aime beaucoup. Il est très bête mais je l'aime beaucoup." to "Je l'adore beaucoup..." because adorer means love/adore whereas aimer is closer to "like".)
Yes it is all very repetitive but I wanted it to feel like she was really angry. Originally the chapter started with Chase speaking English again but I really wanted to have her yelling some more. I wanted her anger to feel real.