Chapter 12

      The day of the rally Kloppman had taken me shopping.  Apparently my new school had a dress code and everything. 

      "Pop… this is way to expensive!"  I told him as he held up a dress for me to try on.

      "Babydoll, haven't you noticed that I have more money then I led the rest of you to think?" He asked me.

      "No… we are poor.  We can't even afford to get me a corset!"  I told him.

      "Yes, actually we can afford a corset and a lot more."  He told me.  "Now go try this on with a corset.  I'm sure the sales lady would be glad to help you find one."  I took the dress from Pop and walked over to the sales lady.  She helped me find and put on the corset and dress. 

By the time we were done shopping I had seven new dresses with matching shoes and hats, plus a corset.  We went back to the lodging house and I went up to my room to decide what to wear that night to the rally.  I finally picked a lavender dress with a corset back of its own.  I was about to put it on when I thought about my hair and decided to go wash it for the first time in a few weeks.  While it dried I put it in ribbons to let it get curlier then usual.  Then I put on the dress with the matching shoes.  I had to run into the hall and find Racetrack to help me tie my dress. 

"Babydoll!  You look great!"  Racetrack told me as he tied up my dress.  "Well except your hair… you're not gonna wear it like that to the rally are you?"  I laughed.  I had forgotten that my hair was still in ribbons.

"No!"  I exclaimed as I started to take the ribbons out.

"Ok.  Good."  Racetrack told me.  I laughed again.  "Babydoll, I'm gonna miss ya when ya leave."

"I'm gonna miss ya too, Racetrack!"  I turned around and hugged him.  "I just hope dat in London I find a friend half as good as you are ta me!"  I hugged him again.

"Well I's gonna head down ta Medda's place ta get me a good seat!"  Racetrack told me.

"Ok… I'll see ya down dere den."  I told him giving him one last hug.  I watched Racetrack as he left then put my hat on and tied the bow into a perfect ribbon.

"Wow!  'Doll… ya look… beautiful…" I heard Spot say.  I turned around to see Spot with his mouth gaping open.  I gave him a kiss. 

"Are ya ready ta take me out ta da rally?"  I asked him.

"I would be honored ta have ya on me arm." Spot told me putting his arm out for me to take.  I put my arm through and then we walked over to Irving Hall. 

Once we got there almost every newsie was curious to meet/see the girl on the arm of the famous Spot Conlon.  Even Brooky came over to make sure I was still the same girl she had met the week before.  Spot sat me next to Sarah, Davey's sister, while he went up on stage to make announcements with Jack and Davey about the strike and soaking the scabbers.  I was in awe of how well Spot really could get the attention of a room.  He said 'hey' and every newsie in the room got quiet.  After their announcements, Spot, Davey and Jack all came back over to where Sarah and I were sitting to watch Medda perform. 

The next thing I knew the bulls were breaking up the rally.  Spot and Jack pushed Sarah and I out a back entrance and said to go home and that they would see us later.  Sarah and I stood outside for a while until we decided to go around front to see what exactly was going on.  When we got to the front we saw Jack, Spot and numerous other newsies being arrested.