Chapter One
Raindrop gazed out the window at rainy New York City in early October. She lay on a bunk next to her best friend, Mush.
"Jist look at dat fellah!" laughed Mush, pointing to an upper-class snob who had been caught in the unexpected rain. A furious scowl disorted his face as he hurried to his carriage as quickly as he could without appearing ungentlmanly. Raindrop was oblivious to Mush's laughter. She was intently watching a young mother try to keep her three small children together as she walked as quickly as she could. The oldest, a six-year-old boy kept splashing in puddles of rain water. The four-year-old girl scolded the boy as if she were a mother herself, until one of his jumps were a little vigorous, and splashed the little girl with dirty street water. The girl burst into tears and tugged at her mother's skirt, who was juggling a small, wailing baby and a full basket of groceries. Mush moved his eyes to the family. He shook his head.
"City's rough, even when it ain't bad out." Raindrop nodded absently.
"Wish I could do sumpt'in' ta help." Mush smiled.
"Dat's why I like ya so much." Raindrop laughed.
"Ya mean cause I'se on yer side when Blink 'n' Race gang up on ya!" Mush acknowledged that and grinned.
"I must say, dat shoah does 'elp!" Raindrop rolled over and looked at the ceiling.
"I hate da rain. I hate bein' trapped inside, an' not bein' able ta do nuttin'."
"Now dat ain't da truth, Raindrop. Ya know we ain't trapped," said Race. Blink and he had just joined the two on the bunk. Raindrop sat up and eyed him.
"Are ya suggestin' what I t'ink yer suggestin'?" she asked warily. Blink shrugged innocently.
"Gee Raindrop, what would make ya t'ink we'd suggest sumpt'in' dat you seem ta t'ink is 'orrible?" Raindrop grinned.
"Hold on now, I ain't nevah said it was a 'orrible idea." They all laughed, and Mush and Raindrop got up. The foursome walked excitedly towards the door, pausing at Jack's bunk.
"We'se goin' out," Blink informed him.
"Out where?" Jack asked suspiciously. The four shrugged.
"Out," Blink repeated. Jack started shaking his head.
"I don' t'ink so. Not in dose clothes. I ain't a fool, I know ya plan on gittin' in trouble, an' doity too. Weah some real old clothes. Da rest of us don' wanna heah yer complainin' tomorrah when ya ain't got no decent clothes ta weah." The four laughed.
"Awright Jack," Mush agreed, "Fair enough." They walked to the corner their four bunks were in and grabbed some clothes to change into. Raindrop took hers and headed to the washroom. When she was half way across the room the door opened. Everyone in the room looked up. Spot Conlon stood, grinning, in the doorway. Raindrop's eyes lit up and she ran to Spot and hugged him. Almost immediately he broke the hug.
"Now what kinda way is dat, ta greet me?" he asked her, his face and voice unreadable. All the newsies who up until then hadn't been paying attention looked up. It wasn't a smart idea to tick the leader of Brooklyn off. Raindrop watched him with an equally unreadable expression. After a moment of utter silence Spot grinned wickedly and laughed. He wrapped his arms around Raindrop and kissed her hard. He had just finished when he hugged her tightly. Raindrop smiled radiantly. Spot grinned crookedly.
"Now dat," he whispered to her, "Is a hello." She leaned against the wall, in a corner, and Spot leaned on the wall next to her.
"Where ya been?" she asked him, "'aven't seen ya in ferevah." Spot shrugged.
"Jist been real busy," he said offhandly, "An' in wasn' ferevah, jist two weeks." Raindrop shrugged as well, and smiled.
"At any rate, it shoah felt like ferevah." Spot grinned and kissed her lightly.
"Well, I'se heah now." Raindrop nodded.
"How long ya stayin'?" she asked. Spot shrugged.
"Till tamorrah night, maybe da next day." Raindrop smiled.
"Sounds great ta me."
"So how ya been?" Spot asked. Raindrop shrugged.
"Jist fine," she said, purposely avoiding his real question - how she was handling her brother's death threat to her and his own death. Spot looked at her, but didn't push it. In a few minutes they turned to the rest of the newsies.
"Heya fellahs!" Spot said, grinning.