Chapter summary:
Gemini suspects something is up with Crooks but doesn't know what. She also gets her first one-way trip to the refuge. The chapter after this one is where she finally gets to meet the real newsies!
Chapter two:
My stomach growled, thrusting my attention back in to the present. It was now around dinnertime and I was still in Queens. As I headed back to the Bronx I kept my eyes open for a place that might meet the requirements for my "free meal". A few blocks later I inhaled the overwhelmingly wonderful smell of freshly baked bread. Nonchalantly I walked over to the bakery and picked a roll up shoving it up my sleeve, praying to God that I didn't get caught. I approached the next street and realized my prayers were answered when I didn't hear "the whistle".
With my mind at ease I savored the mouthwatering bread roll all the way back to the Bronx, taking my time to really take it all in. The city so far had not ceased to amaze me. The bright lights all around you and the easy access to everything it was even easier to get a "free meal" even though there were quite a few more sheriffs or bulls as they call um. In Santa Fe everything is more difficult, first of all you have to take a train to get anywhere and then you still were in the middle of nowhere, then once you got into town if you had no money it was pointless unless you had a gang that lived outside the city. Then you would have to steal and raid the city and then as if that wasn't enough you had to take your stuff all the way back to your hide out where you had to make sure you weren't followed by the sheriff.
New York was deffiantly an improvement. In the city everything was just at your fingertips. I loved it more than anywhere I had ever lived before. It had big buildings and great views, plus its a lot easier to survive here.
I finally reached the street that Crooks told me to meet him at. I turned the corner and noticed two large groups of people, some I knew and some I didn't. I figured the ones I didn't know must have been the Bronx newsies. I concealed myself in the shadows not wanting anyone not even Crooks to see me. Then I watched as Crooks proceeded to kick the Bronx newsies out of the Bronx.
Crooks had said something that morning about living in the Bronx LH. I hadn't taken him seriously, which was my first mistake, I should know by now that when Crooks says something he always means it. We had been living in an abandon building for the past week, but I am sure we could have stayed in the Bronx if we would have just asked. He always did stupid things like this. He took everything to the limit never knowing when to stop.
I mean I knew he wanted to get back at that Conlon kid, but didn't he live in the Brooklyn? Why kick the Bronx newsies out, and why didn't the Bronx fight back? This turn of events was unsettling. Crooks had never been a great guy, but he was no bully. Was he? I mean yes I took a few beatings from him, but nothing I didn't deserve. We were a team. I waited for all the newsies to disperse before coming out of the shadows.
"What's going on?" I inquired innocently concealing my doubts.
"Hey Gem I missed ya." Crooks grinned slightly his golden eyes glinting happily. That meant he was in a good mood and things were going his way. He put his arm around my waist. "So where ya been?"
"Just around lookin' at da city." Small talk was never our relationships strong point, I knew something was coming.
"So Gem now dat you'se know da city an all. I'se gots something for you ta do." He looked down at me with an evil gleam in his eye. "I'se need you ta go ta Brooklyn, watch da newsies sell dere papes and tells me where dey sells." I waited for him to go on but he didn't.
"Dats it, watch da newsies?" to my astonishment he nodded and kissed my forehead. Then let go of my waist and walked into the Bronx logging house yelling out orders to the gang.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, after having a sleepless night, I walked away from the lodging house trying to figure out the scheme Crooks really had in mind. He promised me that once he took back his territory from Spot that we could live in Brooklyn together and sell papes, no more stealing, no more running from the bulls, an honest living. But for some reason I still had my doubts. Not that I didn't trust Crooks, I trusted him with my life, I just couldn't shake that feeling where he still wasn't telling me the whole truth.
I approached Brooklyn from Queens, which was the long way from the Bronx, but the safest way to go unnoticed. Crooks had warned me about the many spies that Spot would have placed on the bridge and other entrances to his territory. I walked around keeping a low profile.
While watching out for any newsies, I realized how beautiful Brooklyn really was. The smell of salt water when you were near the docks the nice neighborhoods on the north side, and the many shops lining the streets it was great. No wonder Crooks talked about it so much.
"Extra, Extra Mayors daughter found beaten in alley way, Extra, Extra, thank you ma'am."
I spotted a newsie down the street, and to my surprise I actually recognized him. He was the one of the ones I saw last night being kicked out of the Bronx, he had dark skin and was wearing a blue shirt with black suspenders. I also noticed a small silver cross-hung around his neck. If the Bronx newsies went to Brooklyn then Crooks would want to know about it. I watched him for a few minuets more.
A boy about his height approached him. This one was very good looking. He had a gray newise hat and wore red suspenders, which held a gold tipped cane, and a slingshot stuck out of the side of his brown pants. "Spot Conlon" I thought smiling to myself. Crooks had told me all about him. He didn't look all that mean, like Crooks said he had, he actually looked kinda nice. Eventually I stopped following them. They got to be quite boring to watch.
Despite the exciting news I had to offer Crooks I still took my sweet time to get back. I figured why not site see plus I felt my stomach growl, and if I was going to eat I needed money fast, if I stole something to eat I might cause a scene and since I didn't want to be recognized that was out of the picture. I thought about it some more then decided that pick pocketing would be the safest. I looked around for a likely pickpocket target.
"No too old," I thought looking at a rich old couple. I continued to look at the people passing me by.
Young,
old,
nice looking,
she needs it more den me.
What kinda alfit is dat!
Don't stare at me ya bum!" I yelled in my head at the unsuspecting people.
Finally I spotted one. An elderly man with gray balding hair in a black suit his eyes were almost a blue transparent, and he looked rich. He looked around at the people passing by like a predator hunting his prey. Since the man was so interested in looking a head of him he wouldn't notice me coming up behind him to borrow a few coins.
Casually walking toward him, making sure he no one was looking of course. I stared to stick my hand into his coat pocket. It's supposed to me a quick move, quicker then lightening if you're lucky, but today wasn't my lucky day.
"Hello Mr. Snyder." Someone from behind me waved. Snyder turned around to wave, knocking me to the ground in the process. He looked down at me his face smiling like he just hit the jackpot.
"Well what do we have here?" there was thirst in his eyes. He slowly blew a whistle that made a shrilling noise I knew like the back of my hand. The bulls. I jumped to my feet and began to run, but he already had my arm in a tight clasp. I was about to hit him when police officer came running and grabbed my other arm.
"Hey watch it!" I yelled still struggling to get away. They said nothing and threw me into the back of a coach. "Where are you taking me?" I demanded. Still there was no answer.
After trying to kick the door down and break through the metal bars for what seemed like hours. I gave up realizing there was no way to get out. Lying on the wooden bench I let my mind wander I needed to devise away out of this, but kept drawing blanks. Slowly I shut my eyes and fell fast asleep.
The coach jolted me awake when it stopped. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. It was just before sunset and the sky was pink. It would have looked pretty if I was in a good mood, but I wasn't. The two officers lead me into a large building, and through a few gates. They handed some papers to a guy at the desk then lead me to the front of the room.
"All rise, Judge E. A. Monahan presiding." Is he for real? This must be a joke. I thought skeptically.
"Are you represented by any counsel?" he asked and didn't wait for me to respond. "Good then, Warden Snyder will you hurry this along."
"Wait," I couldn't think of what else to say, it was all happening so fast.
"I'll speak on behalf of this young lady." The old man named Snyder approached me leaning his elbow on the podium.
"What I can't speak for myself, don't you hear da words that are coming out my mouth.?" They ignored me.
"This young lady, was caught pick pocketing. We ask that for her safety and the safety of the people that she stay in the house of refuge so we can correct her misguided ways," He was very good at this, I even started to think I was guilty.
"Hey, this aint right. Don't I gets to plead my case or somthin'" I protested, still they went on with their conversation like I wasn't even there.
"So ordered, a sentence of five months." The judge slammed his hammer down and they took me away again. This time it was only right across the street. As they lead me through a pair of large gates my mind was racing with ways I could escape. Finally I stopped struggling and accepted my fate.
Gemini suspects something is up with Crooks but doesn't know what. She also gets her first one-way trip to the refuge. The chapter after this one is where she finally gets to meet the real newsies!
Chapter two:
My stomach growled, thrusting my attention back in to the present. It was now around dinnertime and I was still in Queens. As I headed back to the Bronx I kept my eyes open for a place that might meet the requirements for my "free meal". A few blocks later I inhaled the overwhelmingly wonderful smell of freshly baked bread. Nonchalantly I walked over to the bakery and picked a roll up shoving it up my sleeve, praying to God that I didn't get caught. I approached the next street and realized my prayers were answered when I didn't hear "the whistle".
With my mind at ease I savored the mouthwatering bread roll all the way back to the Bronx, taking my time to really take it all in. The city so far had not ceased to amaze me. The bright lights all around you and the easy access to everything it was even easier to get a "free meal" even though there were quite a few more sheriffs or bulls as they call um. In Santa Fe everything is more difficult, first of all you have to take a train to get anywhere and then you still were in the middle of nowhere, then once you got into town if you had no money it was pointless unless you had a gang that lived outside the city. Then you would have to steal and raid the city and then as if that wasn't enough you had to take your stuff all the way back to your hide out where you had to make sure you weren't followed by the sheriff.
New York was deffiantly an improvement. In the city everything was just at your fingertips. I loved it more than anywhere I had ever lived before. It had big buildings and great views, plus its a lot easier to survive here.
I finally reached the street that Crooks told me to meet him at. I turned the corner and noticed two large groups of people, some I knew and some I didn't. I figured the ones I didn't know must have been the Bronx newsies. I concealed myself in the shadows not wanting anyone not even Crooks to see me. Then I watched as Crooks proceeded to kick the Bronx newsies out of the Bronx.
Crooks had said something that morning about living in the Bronx LH. I hadn't taken him seriously, which was my first mistake, I should know by now that when Crooks says something he always means it. We had been living in an abandon building for the past week, but I am sure we could have stayed in the Bronx if we would have just asked. He always did stupid things like this. He took everything to the limit never knowing when to stop.
I mean I knew he wanted to get back at that Conlon kid, but didn't he live in the Brooklyn? Why kick the Bronx newsies out, and why didn't the Bronx fight back? This turn of events was unsettling. Crooks had never been a great guy, but he was no bully. Was he? I mean yes I took a few beatings from him, but nothing I didn't deserve. We were a team. I waited for all the newsies to disperse before coming out of the shadows.
"What's going on?" I inquired innocently concealing my doubts.
"Hey Gem I missed ya." Crooks grinned slightly his golden eyes glinting happily. That meant he was in a good mood and things were going his way. He put his arm around my waist. "So where ya been?"
"Just around lookin' at da city." Small talk was never our relationships strong point, I knew something was coming.
"So Gem now dat you'se know da city an all. I'se gots something for you ta do." He looked down at me with an evil gleam in his eye. "I'se need you ta go ta Brooklyn, watch da newsies sell dere papes and tells me where dey sells." I waited for him to go on but he didn't.
"Dats it, watch da newsies?" to my astonishment he nodded and kissed my forehead. Then let go of my waist and walked into the Bronx logging house yelling out orders to the gang.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, after having a sleepless night, I walked away from the lodging house trying to figure out the scheme Crooks really had in mind. He promised me that once he took back his territory from Spot that we could live in Brooklyn together and sell papes, no more stealing, no more running from the bulls, an honest living. But for some reason I still had my doubts. Not that I didn't trust Crooks, I trusted him with my life, I just couldn't shake that feeling where he still wasn't telling me the whole truth.
I approached Brooklyn from Queens, which was the long way from the Bronx, but the safest way to go unnoticed. Crooks had warned me about the many spies that Spot would have placed on the bridge and other entrances to his territory. I walked around keeping a low profile.
While watching out for any newsies, I realized how beautiful Brooklyn really was. The smell of salt water when you were near the docks the nice neighborhoods on the north side, and the many shops lining the streets it was great. No wonder Crooks talked about it so much.
"Extra, Extra Mayors daughter found beaten in alley way, Extra, Extra, thank you ma'am."
I spotted a newsie down the street, and to my surprise I actually recognized him. He was the one of the ones I saw last night being kicked out of the Bronx, he had dark skin and was wearing a blue shirt with black suspenders. I also noticed a small silver cross-hung around his neck. If the Bronx newsies went to Brooklyn then Crooks would want to know about it. I watched him for a few minuets more.
A boy about his height approached him. This one was very good looking. He had a gray newise hat and wore red suspenders, which held a gold tipped cane, and a slingshot stuck out of the side of his brown pants. "Spot Conlon" I thought smiling to myself. Crooks had told me all about him. He didn't look all that mean, like Crooks said he had, he actually looked kinda nice. Eventually I stopped following them. They got to be quite boring to watch.
Despite the exciting news I had to offer Crooks I still took my sweet time to get back. I figured why not site see plus I felt my stomach growl, and if I was going to eat I needed money fast, if I stole something to eat I might cause a scene and since I didn't want to be recognized that was out of the picture. I thought about it some more then decided that pick pocketing would be the safest. I looked around for a likely pickpocket target.
"No too old," I thought looking at a rich old couple. I continued to look at the people passing me by.
Young,
old,
nice looking,
she needs it more den me.
What kinda alfit is dat!
Don't stare at me ya bum!" I yelled in my head at the unsuspecting people.
Finally I spotted one. An elderly man with gray balding hair in a black suit his eyes were almost a blue transparent, and he looked rich. He looked around at the people passing by like a predator hunting his prey. Since the man was so interested in looking a head of him he wouldn't notice me coming up behind him to borrow a few coins.
Casually walking toward him, making sure he no one was looking of course. I stared to stick my hand into his coat pocket. It's supposed to me a quick move, quicker then lightening if you're lucky, but today wasn't my lucky day.
"Hello Mr. Snyder." Someone from behind me waved. Snyder turned around to wave, knocking me to the ground in the process. He looked down at me his face smiling like he just hit the jackpot.
"Well what do we have here?" there was thirst in his eyes. He slowly blew a whistle that made a shrilling noise I knew like the back of my hand. The bulls. I jumped to my feet and began to run, but he already had my arm in a tight clasp. I was about to hit him when police officer came running and grabbed my other arm.
"Hey watch it!" I yelled still struggling to get away. They said nothing and threw me into the back of a coach. "Where are you taking me?" I demanded. Still there was no answer.
After trying to kick the door down and break through the metal bars for what seemed like hours. I gave up realizing there was no way to get out. Lying on the wooden bench I let my mind wander I needed to devise away out of this, but kept drawing blanks. Slowly I shut my eyes and fell fast asleep.
The coach jolted me awake when it stopped. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. It was just before sunset and the sky was pink. It would have looked pretty if I was in a good mood, but I wasn't. The two officers lead me into a large building, and through a few gates. They handed some papers to a guy at the desk then lead me to the front of the room.
"All rise, Judge E. A. Monahan presiding." Is he for real? This must be a joke. I thought skeptically.
"Are you represented by any counsel?" he asked and didn't wait for me to respond. "Good then, Warden Snyder will you hurry this along."
"Wait," I couldn't think of what else to say, it was all happening so fast.
"I'll speak on behalf of this young lady." The old man named Snyder approached me leaning his elbow on the podium.
"What I can't speak for myself, don't you hear da words that are coming out my mouth.?" They ignored me.
"This young lady, was caught pick pocketing. We ask that for her safety and the safety of the people that she stay in the house of refuge so we can correct her misguided ways," He was very good at this, I even started to think I was guilty.
"Hey, this aint right. Don't I gets to plead my case or somthin'" I protested, still they went on with their conversation like I wasn't even there.
"So ordered, a sentence of five months." The judge slammed his hammer down and they took me away again. This time it was only right across the street. As they lead me through a pair of large gates my mind was racing with ways I could escape. Finally I stopped struggling and accepted my fate.