I know it's short, but I should have more up soon[er]. Some of you have inquired as to their ages; Spot is almost 18, Jeans is almost 17. Young to marry, perhaps, by today's standards, but kids grew up faster then. They had to.
"So, um, I always heard," Ella began cautiously, "that Brooklyn was a dangerous place to be walking around back alleys in."
Spot tossed her a smirk. "Yeah, but you're with me now, doll. Nothing happens to you I won't know about."
"You just knowing about me getting attacked in some alley isn't very comforting; I'd rather you did something to stop it." Ella replied pointedly.
Jeans laughed at Spot's disgruntled look and he grumbled at her, "Jeans, you got a mean sister."
"'Jeans'?" Ella asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My name. Remember, Cocky?"
Ella blushed and changed the subject. "So where are we going again?"
"Manhattan." Spot answered, "gonna get one of Jacky boy's newsies to be another witness."
"Eva! I, um, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"I...I really don't want to go to the lodging house."
"Well, all right." Jeans gave her sister a puzzled look. "You can just stay outside and we'll-"
"No, I don't even want to go to the same street. Please, Eva. It...it's complicated."
"I'll talk to Spot." Jeans caught up with him and Ella heard only snatches of their -ahem- conversation.
"No! You know I said..."
"...please, it's just..."
"...I can't know..."
"...only a block..."
Finally Spot sighed and shrugged. "All right, but Cat's going to go with you."
"Fine." Jeans looked pleased.
When they got to Manhattan, Spot and Ella stopped a block away, and Jeans, with Cat following unseen, went on to the lodging house.
Me- Of course, darling, you needn't review every chapter. I understand, and whenever you want to, go right ahead. I love hearing from you. (Yes, it would be incredibly awkward. :-))