Chapter 5
It was a Saturday and I didn't have to work because my boss was sick and couldn't open up the fruit stand. Mother and Pa had an argument last night about his drinking and it ended with Pa barging out the door and not coming home. He wasn't home when I left the apartment at 9 this morning and Mother was worrying, as usual. Jude's got a little cold, so Pa's drinking has been taking the backseat to Jude's health. It's just a small baby cold, the old woman on the front stoop says. Today she was peeling corn on the cob. I don't know where she got it, that can be pretty expensive down at the market, or so Mother says.
I just nod and wave as I wander down the street. I'm going to the docks today to learn how to shoot 'Brooklyn style.' Mother seems happy I have friends, no matter that they don't have any parents or rules like I do. I made my way down Doughty, then Everit then Water street and walked along the Brooklyn Bridge till I reached the docks where I could see dozens of boys in just swimming trunks diving into the water. I saw Spot down at the edge of the dock talking with a taller, older teenager. I headed down towards them, passing a few girls who gave me suspicious looks on the way down.
"Hey kid, what you doin' down heah. This is Strike's territory, get goin' not allowed heah." One of the girls shouted after me but I kept going. Spot nodded at my arrival and the older boy turned around and looked up and down my small figure. I was wearing a dress but seemed very out of style here, all the boys and even girls in shirts and trousers.
"What we got heah Conlon, anothah one of yer recruits? I dun see how she's genna sell wearin' one of dem purdy dresses. What's yer name kid?" He had a rough scratchy voice and squinty eyes. I wondered if he was squinting because of the bright sun or whether he just always squinted, like Spot smirked.
"Brenna O'Reilly, sir"
"Well ain't that dandy, she called me sir. No need for that Brenna, me names Strike, and I'm the leadah heah in Brooklyn. You'se gonna sell papes wid us?" He had dirty blond hair, I noticed, tucked into his cap. He was tall, maybe around 16 or17 years old and had a muscular build. Like Spot he had a certain look about him that said he could beat the crap out of you if he didn't like you.
"Sell papes? Like be a newsie? Naw I'm a fruit stand seller." I said looking up at him, having to squint because of the sun. I realized that he squinted on his own, since the sun was behind him.
"Spot wheah the hell did you find this one if she ain't genna work fer us?" He slapped Spot on the backside of his head. "Girl we ain't got time fer kids who ain't genna help us out, right Spot?" Spot didn't seem too intimidated by Strike but I could see the other newsies being a little scared.
"She's jist my friend. I was gonna show her how ta shoot a slingshot." Spot answered, thankfully taking my side. Didn't really feel like getting kicked out of the docks just because I wasn't a newsie. Strike eyes narrowed even more (if that was even possible) and took another look at me.
"Alright. You stay outta trouble ya heah?" He was talking to me and I just nodded. He then took off, newsies parting like the Red Sea for Moses. He had quite the power here I could tell.
"Don't be intimidated by him. If you are, he won't like ya, if you ain't, he'll be yer friend fer life." Spot motioned in Strike's direction. "He's a good leadah though, gets us our pay fair and square. I'se think that he'll be givin me da leadahship when I'se older." He had a proud look to him, he even stood a little taller.
"Spot Conlon the leader of Brooklyn. Sounds pretty important." I said.
"Yeah, but I'se gotta few and he ain't given up his position fer a while. I think he likes ta be da intimidator. I hope I can have the kind of rep he has." Spot took out his slingshot, the one I always see him with, and started shooting at some of the other newsies. I laughed when one got hit in the ankle and went hopping off squealing in pain. "Why don'tcha become a newsie?" Spot looked over at me handing me the slingshot.
"Well I'se got a job already."
"Sellin fruit? That ain't no job. You wanna bring home more dough to yer family you gotta be a newsie." I took the slingshot and looked at it strangely and Spot just laughed. "Heah, you gotta hold it in yer left hand—you are right handed ain't ya?" I nodded. "And you take dis rock in yer right hand and pull it back in the rubber. Then you aim and let go!" I managed to shoot one of the older newsies, luckily not Strike, but got a good laugh when the guy realized it was a girl who shot him.
"You'se pretty good fer a girl. But I ain't liken to be shot down by a girl." The boy who had to be 15 said wandering up the slop of the beach and climbed on the dock. He had shit brown hair and torn clothing. He was rather good looking but in a rough sort of way, sort of like Strike. Not quite as rough as Strike, but he was getting there if he stayed out in the sun any longer. "What's yer name kid?"
"Brenna."
"Pleased ta meetcha, me names Joker, but you can call me Joker." I smiled at that.
"Sorry about hitting you."
Joker laughed. "Don't fret sweetheaht. Now, please don't be telling me that you'se learnin how to shoot from Spotty heah. He ain't got nothing against me." He snatched the slingshot outta me hand, and I glanced over at Spot. He seemed a little tiffed but acted like he was used to it at the same time.
"Lets see whatcha got on me Jokah." Spot folded his arms across his chest and looked amused at the thought of Joker actually being any better than him. Spot definitely had an ego; that I could tell without anyone saying anything about him.
Joker took position with the slingshot and aimed first at me, and when I flinched and started to duck away from his aim, he winked and turned it around to one of the younger newsies. "You think I was actually gonna shootcha? Sure you shot me an' all but I ain't dat cruel." Joker aimed and hit the newsie and with a grin, he turned to Spot. "I'se da best at dis Spotty boy. Leave it to the older boys to teach the goils what dey need ta know." He winked at me and handed me back the slingshot. "You need anything that this boy can't give ya, you come straight ta Jokah. I'll take real nice care a ya." He winked again and jumped off the dock into the water.
Spot was shaking his head. "He thinks too highly of himself. Don't let him get to ya, he's a flirt wid all the goils he meets and he can bait ya faster than a fisherman can get a fish to hook his wormy line."
"He's just being friendly." I said, handing Spot back his slingshot. Spot started to walk away from the docks and I followed along side him.
"You sure you don't want to be a newsie? We'se got some really nice girls you'd get along wid." I said I'd think about it.