The next day Chris and Andy were woken up by the activity of the older boys around them. It was obvious that no one wanted to be awake and that if they had the chance all of the guys would have fallen back into bed. Both boys were a little apprehensive of getting up, out of fear that they would do something wrong and earn a slap or worse from any of the much larger newsies. As they sat on the bed taking in the scene around them Spot walked over, yawning.
"Youse gonna..." He stopped his question as he got a good look at both boys. While it had been a while since their last run in with Emma they both still had ugly bruises on their faces and arms. Spot was uneasy at the idea of finding out what was hidden by the tattered shirts the boys wore. He put on a grin and decided to rephrase his question. "Youse ready to go out and go sell?"
Chris was more willing to accept Spot as a protector than Andy and jumped out of bed not even wincing that the pain that ran through his body. Andy climbed out also but seemed to hang back just a tad, ready to run if needed.
Spot looked the boys taking note of their ragged shirts, the too small knickers and the fact that their shoes were about to fall apart and they didn't have something to protect them from the winter cold. "Well first wes gonna go find Kosei and get youse two some clothing that will at least take the edge off the cold." He turned and met Rounder's eye across the room, "Rounder, here get me my usual." Spot flipped him a couple of coins, "Ise come and get them after these two are ready to go out."
After all the guys had left the lodging house, Spot took the two young boys downstairs to talk to Kosei. "Hey Kosei, youse wouldn't happen to keep some old clothes that these two could wear out today would youse?"
Kosei looked at Spot, "Youse expect me to dress them? Well Ise got some stuff that will be a bit big, but will probably keep them warm, up in that room youse claimed as youse own." Kosei ascended the stairs with Spot and the boys trailing after him. He entered Spot's storage room and began to rummage through the boxes off to the side. Spot carefully watched his stuff while the boys watched the entire operation from the doorway, careful to follow Spot's instructions.
Kosei finally found a pair of pants for both boys, shirts that were defiantly too big, some shoes that they could grow into and some socks. He also was able to pull out a coat and a jacket, along with a hat for each boy. He passed them to Spot then went back down stairs, complaining about how he was put upon to dress toddlers who should be home with their mother.
Spot gave the boys their new clothing, which they took with reverence, then sent them off to get changed. Both boys emerged about five minutes later, while their new clothes were on, buttons were out of place some clothing was put on wrong. Spot got down in front of them and rearranged their clothes till they were on properly.
Spot stood up brushing off the knees of his pants, and grabbed his warm scarf and led the boys out the door and on to the street. They were lucky enough to catch the nuns before they left and get some food, which both boys eat with a great gusto, as it was their first food in quite some time. They also drank the coffee the nuns provided, which surprised Spot, who really didn't care for the stuff. Spot then led them off to pick up his papers from Rounder, who was waiting for them about a block from Spot's usual spot.
The passing of papers was done with very little conversation just a quick nod of acknowledgement on Spot's part as Rounder ran to where he normally sold. Spot looked at the two boys, "Can either of youse read?" When they both shook their heads no Spot sighed, "Ise thought not. Okay here's the deal, youse two are going to be the bait that gets the old ladies and the young goils to buy my papes. Youse just got to stand there and look as pitiful as possible. Got it?" Both nodded, and Andy took hold of Spot's shirt and used the older newsie as a shield from the wind.
Chris on the other hand, looked at Spot, "But why can't Ise do what youse do?"
Spot was taken back, "Cause it's youse first day, that why. Youse got to watch me then youse can sell on youse own when Ise thinks youse are ready."
Chris thought about this for a second then nodded and began to walk around Spot as he called out improved headlines. Spot wasn't expecting to sell well this day, the temperature was barely above freezing and a sharp wind was blowing through the streets. Yet as lunch time drew near. Spot was surprised to find out he had sold almost all of his papers. "Youse guys were good, come on there's this place Ise knows where wes can get something warm to drink and stuff."
They headed for a small café that Spot only frequented on the days it was especially cold. As they entered a girl came up Spot throwing her arms around his waist giving him a huge hug. "Spot, where have youse been. Ise beginning to think youse didn't like me anymore." Her high pitched voice grated on the younger boys ears as they watched Spot begin to detangle himself from her arms.
He put on a smile as he answered, "Well Crystal, Ise been busy. Does youse pop have a table open?"
She giggled, "For youse Spot he always has one." Then noticing the boys for the first time she wrinkled her nose, "Whose are these two?"
"They're two new guys Ise just showing them the ropes." Spot answered offhandedly as he helped the boys with their overcoats.
Crystal pasted on a very fake smile, "Well aren't youse the cutest things. Well Spot Ise think youse can sit here and Ise can show these two boys their own table."
"No Crystal, they're barely six Ise ain't going to let them sit by themselves." Spot knew that Crystal was going to suggest she eat with him, alone, and the boys would be the perfect way to avoid that. She did seat them, and took their orders.
When she had left Chris looked at Spot, "Is she always like that?" His face showed a bit of disgust.
Spot laughed at the face Chris had pulled while Andy waited for a slap he was sure Chris would get. "Yes she is always like, annoying ain't it?" Both Chris and Andy nodded as Crystal brought their soup and warm cider. She saw that Spot was laughing and began to giggle as if she knew what was going on, which caused Spot to laugh even more.
Both boys began to laugh, the idea that this girl was laughing at herself with out knowing it was quite funny. Crystal hung around their table to the point that Spot was about ready to yell at her. She did keep their drinks filled, but even the not so subtle comments Spot would make went right over her head. Finally Spot decided that he had spent enough time in the flaky presence of Crystal and after paying the bill he led the boys back outside.
It was still just as cold but both of the boys were full for the first time that they could remember and Chris began to smile and play in the snow. Andy stayed close to Spot but even he would retaliate if Chris threw snow down the neck of his shirt. Neither of the boys played very loudly and Andy's keeping close to Spot allowed him to sell out all the rest of his papers before dark. They were the first to return to the lodging house and were able to sign in quickly. After they had gotten up to the bunkroom Spot made a pronouncement, "Wes might not bathe ever day but even wes got standards. Youse two are going to go into the washroom and take a bath."
The two boys looked at Spot like he had grown a second head. A bath? What was that? They followed him into the wash room and watched as he filled the wooden tub with water from a pump. "This is gonna be cold, Ise suggest youse get in wash off the dirt then get out." Both boys just stood there, Spot was getting a bit impatient, it was cold and he wanted to at least get back to the relative warmth of the bunkroom. "Youse need to take off youse stuff and get in."
Andy raised his eyebrows but began to follow what Spot had asked. He carefully got into the tub his teeth chattering from the cold and splashed water up onto his legs and arms, then stepped out. Spot was near the end of his rope, "No get back in Andy." After Andy complied, Spot grabbed the soap and a washcloth. "Ise can't believe Ise doing this." And began to wash Andy off, then picking up a towel took Andy out of the tub and said, "Here take this and dry off, Chris get those clothes off and get in." Spot washed both boys till they were reasonably clean then after both had dried off gave them back their shirts to sleep in and sent them off to their bed.
"Youse gonna..." He stopped his question as he got a good look at both boys. While it had been a while since their last run in with Emma they both still had ugly bruises on their faces and arms. Spot was uneasy at the idea of finding out what was hidden by the tattered shirts the boys wore. He put on a grin and decided to rephrase his question. "Youse ready to go out and go sell?"
Chris was more willing to accept Spot as a protector than Andy and jumped out of bed not even wincing that the pain that ran through his body. Andy climbed out also but seemed to hang back just a tad, ready to run if needed.
Spot looked the boys taking note of their ragged shirts, the too small knickers and the fact that their shoes were about to fall apart and they didn't have something to protect them from the winter cold. "Well first wes gonna go find Kosei and get youse two some clothing that will at least take the edge off the cold." He turned and met Rounder's eye across the room, "Rounder, here get me my usual." Spot flipped him a couple of coins, "Ise come and get them after these two are ready to go out."
After all the guys had left the lodging house, Spot took the two young boys downstairs to talk to Kosei. "Hey Kosei, youse wouldn't happen to keep some old clothes that these two could wear out today would youse?"
Kosei looked at Spot, "Youse expect me to dress them? Well Ise got some stuff that will be a bit big, but will probably keep them warm, up in that room youse claimed as youse own." Kosei ascended the stairs with Spot and the boys trailing after him. He entered Spot's storage room and began to rummage through the boxes off to the side. Spot carefully watched his stuff while the boys watched the entire operation from the doorway, careful to follow Spot's instructions.
Kosei finally found a pair of pants for both boys, shirts that were defiantly too big, some shoes that they could grow into and some socks. He also was able to pull out a coat and a jacket, along with a hat for each boy. He passed them to Spot then went back down stairs, complaining about how he was put upon to dress toddlers who should be home with their mother.
Spot gave the boys their new clothing, which they took with reverence, then sent them off to get changed. Both boys emerged about five minutes later, while their new clothes were on, buttons were out of place some clothing was put on wrong. Spot got down in front of them and rearranged their clothes till they were on properly.
Spot stood up brushing off the knees of his pants, and grabbed his warm scarf and led the boys out the door and on to the street. They were lucky enough to catch the nuns before they left and get some food, which both boys eat with a great gusto, as it was their first food in quite some time. They also drank the coffee the nuns provided, which surprised Spot, who really didn't care for the stuff. Spot then led them off to pick up his papers from Rounder, who was waiting for them about a block from Spot's usual spot.
The passing of papers was done with very little conversation just a quick nod of acknowledgement on Spot's part as Rounder ran to where he normally sold. Spot looked at the two boys, "Can either of youse read?" When they both shook their heads no Spot sighed, "Ise thought not. Okay here's the deal, youse two are going to be the bait that gets the old ladies and the young goils to buy my papes. Youse just got to stand there and look as pitiful as possible. Got it?" Both nodded, and Andy took hold of Spot's shirt and used the older newsie as a shield from the wind.
Chris on the other hand, looked at Spot, "But why can't Ise do what youse do?"
Spot was taken back, "Cause it's youse first day, that why. Youse got to watch me then youse can sell on youse own when Ise thinks youse are ready."
Chris thought about this for a second then nodded and began to walk around Spot as he called out improved headlines. Spot wasn't expecting to sell well this day, the temperature was barely above freezing and a sharp wind was blowing through the streets. Yet as lunch time drew near. Spot was surprised to find out he had sold almost all of his papers. "Youse guys were good, come on there's this place Ise knows where wes can get something warm to drink and stuff."
They headed for a small café that Spot only frequented on the days it was especially cold. As they entered a girl came up Spot throwing her arms around his waist giving him a huge hug. "Spot, where have youse been. Ise beginning to think youse didn't like me anymore." Her high pitched voice grated on the younger boys ears as they watched Spot begin to detangle himself from her arms.
He put on a smile as he answered, "Well Crystal, Ise been busy. Does youse pop have a table open?"
She giggled, "For youse Spot he always has one." Then noticing the boys for the first time she wrinkled her nose, "Whose are these two?"
"They're two new guys Ise just showing them the ropes." Spot answered offhandedly as he helped the boys with their overcoats.
Crystal pasted on a very fake smile, "Well aren't youse the cutest things. Well Spot Ise think youse can sit here and Ise can show these two boys their own table."
"No Crystal, they're barely six Ise ain't going to let them sit by themselves." Spot knew that Crystal was going to suggest she eat with him, alone, and the boys would be the perfect way to avoid that. She did seat them, and took their orders.
When she had left Chris looked at Spot, "Is she always like that?" His face showed a bit of disgust.
Spot laughed at the face Chris had pulled while Andy waited for a slap he was sure Chris would get. "Yes she is always like, annoying ain't it?" Both Chris and Andy nodded as Crystal brought their soup and warm cider. She saw that Spot was laughing and began to giggle as if she knew what was going on, which caused Spot to laugh even more.
Both boys began to laugh, the idea that this girl was laughing at herself with out knowing it was quite funny. Crystal hung around their table to the point that Spot was about ready to yell at her. She did keep their drinks filled, but even the not so subtle comments Spot would make went right over her head. Finally Spot decided that he had spent enough time in the flaky presence of Crystal and after paying the bill he led the boys back outside.
It was still just as cold but both of the boys were full for the first time that they could remember and Chris began to smile and play in the snow. Andy stayed close to Spot but even he would retaliate if Chris threw snow down the neck of his shirt. Neither of the boys played very loudly and Andy's keeping close to Spot allowed him to sell out all the rest of his papers before dark. They were the first to return to the lodging house and were able to sign in quickly. After they had gotten up to the bunkroom Spot made a pronouncement, "Wes might not bathe ever day but even wes got standards. Youse two are going to go into the washroom and take a bath."
The two boys looked at Spot like he had grown a second head. A bath? What was that? They followed him into the wash room and watched as he filled the wooden tub with water from a pump. "This is gonna be cold, Ise suggest youse get in wash off the dirt then get out." Both boys just stood there, Spot was getting a bit impatient, it was cold and he wanted to at least get back to the relative warmth of the bunkroom. "Youse need to take off youse stuff and get in."
Andy raised his eyebrows but began to follow what Spot had asked. He carefully got into the tub his teeth chattering from the cold and splashed water up onto his legs and arms, then stepped out. Spot was near the end of his rope, "No get back in Andy." After Andy complied, Spot grabbed the soap and a washcloth. "Ise can't believe Ise doing this." And began to wash Andy off, then picking up a towel took Andy out of the tub and said, "Here take this and dry off, Chris get those clothes off and get in." Spot washed both boys till they were reasonably clean then after both had dried off gave them back their shirts to sleep in and sent them off to their bed.