"I'm guessin' you heard about me touchin' his cane," Anne groaned.

"Yeah, you're lucky your punishment was all you got. You shoulda known betta than ta even dare ta do what you did," Jack replied.

"I know, but for some reason I jist had dis deep desire to look at it and hold it. I know dat dat sounds weird, but it's da truth."

"Well, I think dat you jist did dat because dat is one of his most prized possessions. Since you feel so highly towards Spot you wanted to find something that was close to him so that you could see it and also be close to him."

"Lord! What is with you people and me and Spot. I'm not close to him. I hate him! I hate him more than anyone in the whole world!"

"Hold on, let me move aside before lightning strikes down and kills us both. It'd be a shame ta loose da famous leada' of da Manhattan newsies," Jack laughed.

Anne sighed bitterly.

"You love him, Anne. If only you would stop lying ta yourself."

She brought her hand up quickly to her face to wipe away the tears that had suddenly began to drift down her cheeks, "I would prefer we not talk about dis anymore."