Elizabeth

"Wha'dya fink Spotty an' Blinky Boy's tawkin' bout?" I ask ringing the mud out my hair. "Shh, let's finds out," Snake whispered. We put on pajamas and run out of the washroom. We sneak back to the door and crouch down behind some boxes to spy on Spot. "Well did youse get him out yet, how's he doin?" Spot asked. "They messed with his bum leg, he ain't even make it to the window," Blink said. "Crutchie," I whispered. "Theys soaked him real bad Spot, youse gotta help us," he begged. "How bad?" Spot asked. "Jack saw em from da window yestaday, he could barely move," Blink explained. "Youse shoulda carried him out, he won't last long in there," Spot said. "Youse know how he is," Blink said. "Don't like nobody carryin' him," Spot sighed. "Tell Jack I'll consida it," he said.

I tried to stop myself from crying, but I couldn't take it anymore, Crutchie was hurt now. He's like my older brother. When my nightmares were really bad he and Jack used to take me to the rooftop. They'd grab all our blankets and we'd sit out there while he and Jacky would tell me about the stars. I didn't want him to be in that place. "Youse okay?" Snake asked. I shook my head and walked back to the bunk room.

I was sitting in the bunk room, in Snake's bunk that I was sharing with her. By now a lot of the newsies were out, hanging around at the docks. Maybe swimming in the lake, or shoving people in. Snake was sitting in the other corner of the room and looking at a book. Spot taught her how to read, I wish I knew how to, but I don't. Kloppman tried teaching me when I was younger, but it was hard.

"Hey, what're youse doin here?" Spot asked sitting down on the bed. I didn't answer. "Don't youse wanna go swimming in da lake wit the others?" He asked us. "Is Crutchie gonna die?" I asked him. "No, what makes youse ask dat?" Spot asked. "He's in da Refuge and theys hoit him bad," I said. "So youse hoid dat, Ise was really hoping ya wouldn't," he said. I looked down and waited for his answer. "He's gonna be okay, I'll make sure of it," Spot told me. "Promise?" I ask. "I promise, we'll get him out," he agreed.

Snake came over too. "What ifs youse go to da Refuge to?" She asked. Spot put an arm around each of us and pulls us into a hug. "Ise don't get hoit, Ise won't get caught, and this will turn out okay," he said. I look at him. "This will be okay," he said again. "How can youse be sure?" Snake asked. "Ise can't, but a Brooklynite always gets their way remember," he said. "But Crutchie ain't a Brooklynite," I whined. "But I am, and you and Jack are," he said. "But wese live in 'attan," I said. "Once a Brooklynite always a Brooklynite," Spot said.

"So what's gon happen?" Snake asked. "Imma get my boys and wese gon go ta 'hattan and join the strike," he said. I looked at Snake and then Spot with shock. "While dat happens youse stay here and youse can't leave for a bit," he said. "And wese get Crutchie back?" I ask. "And wese get Crutchie back," he answered with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He ruffled Snake's hair and with a flick of his stick he left.