Kit had just finished her story when she heard clapping behind her. As she turned to look she saw Spot standing there. "Good story Kit Ise not seen those two boys so quiet in a very long time. So youse ready to go find something to eat or is Kit going to tell youse more stories?"
"Ise hungry, Kit can tell us another story later." Jolly said standing up. "Kit are youse going to have a lesson today? Wes haven't had one is such a long time." Jolly pulled the same puppy dog face that Two Bit had pulled.
"A lesson? It has been a while hasn't it? Sure, why not. Tack do you think Lacy and Bitty would want to be part of my class? I have been teaching some of the newsies how to read and write and stuff." Kit turned to Tack as they began walking back to the lodging house.
"I don't have a problem with it. I am sure that Lacy wouldn't mind, but don't you think Bitty is kind of young to be learning this stuff?" Tack said with some concern.
"Nah, she would probably feel left out any way. And it give you some time by yourself, unless you want to help." Kit grinned slyly.
"Help? Me teach? No thanks I can read or something." Tack turned down Kit's offer with a note of panic.
"Maybe me and the older guys can start teaching youse how to defend youse self." Spot offered, "Hold it Kit wes never got around to teaching youse how to fight and defend yourself did we?"
Kit had to think for a less than a second, "No you didn't. It would have been a good thing to know like last week." Kit dead paned.
"Okay then wes gonna teach youse tonight after the kids have their school lessons. That work for youse?" Both girls nodded. "Good, but Tack get some pants, Ise not gonna teach youse to fight in a skirt." Tack wrinkled her nose in disgust but agreed.
They stopped for food at a pretzel vendor's stall. The vendor looked about ready to close up so they were able to get their food cheep, even if it was pretzels. For the younger set this was a treat but Kit wasn't so sure it was a good thing, She really didn't care for pretzels and felt they didn't have much of a taste. But they were food and that was all that mattered to her stomach at the moment, and 3 pretzels for a penny wasn't bad at all.
Kit and the kids got down to business as soon as they got back to the lodging house. Kit decided a review lesson was in order for the boys and saw it as a way to teach the girls some of the basics. After giving the boys some problems to work on she turned her attention to the girls. Since neither could read or knew what the numbers were she started back at the beginning. Lacy did catch on quicker than Two Bit, but by the end of the night everyone had learned something.
Kit and Tack then sent the girls off to bed and after some consideration made the boys share the cot in their room, with Spot's promise that he would help them move the boys before he went to bed. After what seemed like twenty stories and one hundred trips to the wash room all four children were down. As the girls came out of their room dressed in pants and undershirts they borrowed from Spot and Rounder, Spot called them over the to fire escape and led them up to the roof.
Spot chose Rounder and Hook to help him teach the girls self-defense. All three guys took off their shirts and huddled to talk leaving the girls to themselves. "So Kit you ever seen any of these guys without a shirt before?" Tack asked admiring the physiques of the three guys.
Kit pulled her eyes off of Spot, "Yeah I've seen them when we've gone swimming."
"So what should I expect, from this fighting lesson I mean."
"They'll probably teach us how to punch right, and how to keep from getting punched. Don't expect to master this stuff, they've been doing this for years."
"I figured that so how did Rounder and Hook get their names?"
"You ever hear of a roundhouse punch? Or a left hook?" Tack nodded, "Well from what I have heard, and seen Rounder can KO a guy with one well placed roundhouse and Hook, well lets just say he's got a mean left hook. That is probably why Spot chose them."
Tack looked a little afraid, "Don't worry they won't hurt us, they are here to teach us how not to get hurt."
The guys came back then and motioned the girls over, "Wes gonna start with some easy stuff. First youse got ta know you can hurt a guy by going for 4 places, nose, stomach, balls and insole. First step as hard as you can on his foot on the inside part, then go for the nose youse take your hand and hit him with the bottom of your palm. Then you go for the balls, youse ain't gonna practice that one, easiest way is to just knee a guy. Kneeing a guy normally causes him to double over, this makes it easy to hit him again in the stomach, go higher and just push him over. Then run. Guys ain't happy to get kneed trust me." Spot calmly explained trying hard not to flinch as he spoke.
Kit looked unimpressed, "That all you gonna to teach us? We can't even practice it."
"No youse use that stuff when a guys got youse like this." Spot went up behind Kit and grabbed her arms holding her against his chest. Kit reacted on instinct and went for his insole, nose, balls and stomach.
Spot laid on the roof curled up in a ball till he caught his breath. Kit bent down and rubbed his back as he was regaining his breath, "Spot you okay? I just reacted. I didn't mean to hurt you."
As she helped him up Spot rubbed his stomach, "Ise guess that youse don't need to practice that one any more." This caused both guys to laugh, even though inside they were wincing in sympathy. "Okay so lets see what youse know about fighting."
Spot stood back watching while Rounder faced off with Kit and Hook took on Tack. It became apparent that Kit had picked up some fighting skills from Swan and Cray but she wasn't skilled in doing them. Tack on the other hand couldn't fight at all.
Spot and Hook decided to start out by teaching Tack the basics while Rounder would teach Kit the finer points of street fighting. It was around 11 when Spot called it a night and everyone began to head down. By end of the night Spot had recovered from his run in with Kit and the girls had learned enough to help the guys feel better sending them off to sell on their own. The girls were sore beyond belief but they were comfortable with fighting. Spot hung back and Kit decided she needed to apologize to him with out anyone around.
Kit hesitantly went up to Spot, "Spot you okay?"
"Yeah Kit Ise okay, too bad we didn't teach youse this last week, youse could have handled Chair on your own." Spot said as he stared off into space.
"Well if you had known you would have taught me. We can't change the past. I am really sorry though, I don't know what happened, I just reacted that's all." Kit tried to reassure Spot.
"Ise should have taught youse earlier. Ise just didn't cause Ise could defend youse." Spot was being hard on himself and Kit felt she needed to correct him.
"Spot Conlon listen to me, Chair would have just waited till you were gone. There was nothing you could have done. I didn't tell anyone but I thought someone was following for the past couple of weeks. I should have insisted that you teach me this stuff, I didn't so it was just much my fault as it was yours." Kit pulled Spot's face around too look into his eyes. "Don't blame yourself or he'll win. He wanted to cause me to fear, and if he succeeds then he won, even if he is in jail."
Spot looked down at Kit as she spoke, hurt along with concern filling his eyes. "It still is my fault. Youse were hurt and it was my fault."
"Spot I am fine, yes I have some things to work through before I am totally back to normal, but it wasn't your fault I was hurt." Kit told him, as she forced him to look at her.
They stood like that for close to five minutes before Spot leaned down till their noses touched. Their breaths mingled and Kit's eyes closed. It wasn't a long kiss by any stretch of the imagination. Spot broke it off and pulled back minutely, he looked at Kit before leaning down to kiss her again. (AN: We all go awww, and in the back ground someone yells FINALLY ;)
A cough inturrputed them, "Sorry Spot, but Jolly woke up with a bad dream and is asking for you or Kit." Both turned and looked at the person who had dared intrued. It was Falcon, who at least had the decency to look a bit ashamed. After delivering his message he turned to go down but stopped. He grinned checkishly, "It's about time." Then went hurried down the stairs before Spot could come after him.
"I guess that is my cue to leave." Kit took a step back then turned to go down the fire escape.
"Kit, Ise wondering, would youse be my goil?" Spot's voice caused Kit to pause and his question brought a smile to her lips.
"Well I let you kiss me didn't I?" Kit smiled shyly and then headed down to go comfort Jolly.
Spot stood looking after her a bit confused, then a slow smile crossed his face as he pumped a fist in the air "Yes. Ise still the man."
"Ise hungry, Kit can tell us another story later." Jolly said standing up. "Kit are youse going to have a lesson today? Wes haven't had one is such a long time." Jolly pulled the same puppy dog face that Two Bit had pulled.
"A lesson? It has been a while hasn't it? Sure, why not. Tack do you think Lacy and Bitty would want to be part of my class? I have been teaching some of the newsies how to read and write and stuff." Kit turned to Tack as they began walking back to the lodging house.
"I don't have a problem with it. I am sure that Lacy wouldn't mind, but don't you think Bitty is kind of young to be learning this stuff?" Tack said with some concern.
"Nah, she would probably feel left out any way. And it give you some time by yourself, unless you want to help." Kit grinned slyly.
"Help? Me teach? No thanks I can read or something." Tack turned down Kit's offer with a note of panic.
"Maybe me and the older guys can start teaching youse how to defend youse self." Spot offered, "Hold it Kit wes never got around to teaching youse how to fight and defend yourself did we?"
Kit had to think for a less than a second, "No you didn't. It would have been a good thing to know like last week." Kit dead paned.
"Okay then wes gonna teach youse tonight after the kids have their school lessons. That work for youse?" Both girls nodded. "Good, but Tack get some pants, Ise not gonna teach youse to fight in a skirt." Tack wrinkled her nose in disgust but agreed.
They stopped for food at a pretzel vendor's stall. The vendor looked about ready to close up so they were able to get their food cheep, even if it was pretzels. For the younger set this was a treat but Kit wasn't so sure it was a good thing, She really didn't care for pretzels and felt they didn't have much of a taste. But they were food and that was all that mattered to her stomach at the moment, and 3 pretzels for a penny wasn't bad at all.
Kit and the kids got down to business as soon as they got back to the lodging house. Kit decided a review lesson was in order for the boys and saw it as a way to teach the girls some of the basics. After giving the boys some problems to work on she turned her attention to the girls. Since neither could read or knew what the numbers were she started back at the beginning. Lacy did catch on quicker than Two Bit, but by the end of the night everyone had learned something.
Kit and Tack then sent the girls off to bed and after some consideration made the boys share the cot in their room, with Spot's promise that he would help them move the boys before he went to bed. After what seemed like twenty stories and one hundred trips to the wash room all four children were down. As the girls came out of their room dressed in pants and undershirts they borrowed from Spot and Rounder, Spot called them over the to fire escape and led them up to the roof.
Spot chose Rounder and Hook to help him teach the girls self-defense. All three guys took off their shirts and huddled to talk leaving the girls to themselves. "So Kit you ever seen any of these guys without a shirt before?" Tack asked admiring the physiques of the three guys.
Kit pulled her eyes off of Spot, "Yeah I've seen them when we've gone swimming."
"So what should I expect, from this fighting lesson I mean."
"They'll probably teach us how to punch right, and how to keep from getting punched. Don't expect to master this stuff, they've been doing this for years."
"I figured that so how did Rounder and Hook get their names?"
"You ever hear of a roundhouse punch? Or a left hook?" Tack nodded, "Well from what I have heard, and seen Rounder can KO a guy with one well placed roundhouse and Hook, well lets just say he's got a mean left hook. That is probably why Spot chose them."
Tack looked a little afraid, "Don't worry they won't hurt us, they are here to teach us how not to get hurt."
The guys came back then and motioned the girls over, "Wes gonna start with some easy stuff. First youse got ta know you can hurt a guy by going for 4 places, nose, stomach, balls and insole. First step as hard as you can on his foot on the inside part, then go for the nose youse take your hand and hit him with the bottom of your palm. Then you go for the balls, youse ain't gonna practice that one, easiest way is to just knee a guy. Kneeing a guy normally causes him to double over, this makes it easy to hit him again in the stomach, go higher and just push him over. Then run. Guys ain't happy to get kneed trust me." Spot calmly explained trying hard not to flinch as he spoke.
Kit looked unimpressed, "That all you gonna to teach us? We can't even practice it."
"No youse use that stuff when a guys got youse like this." Spot went up behind Kit and grabbed her arms holding her against his chest. Kit reacted on instinct and went for his insole, nose, balls and stomach.
Spot laid on the roof curled up in a ball till he caught his breath. Kit bent down and rubbed his back as he was regaining his breath, "Spot you okay? I just reacted. I didn't mean to hurt you."
As she helped him up Spot rubbed his stomach, "Ise guess that youse don't need to practice that one any more." This caused both guys to laugh, even though inside they were wincing in sympathy. "Okay so lets see what youse know about fighting."
Spot stood back watching while Rounder faced off with Kit and Hook took on Tack. It became apparent that Kit had picked up some fighting skills from Swan and Cray but she wasn't skilled in doing them. Tack on the other hand couldn't fight at all.
Spot and Hook decided to start out by teaching Tack the basics while Rounder would teach Kit the finer points of street fighting. It was around 11 when Spot called it a night and everyone began to head down. By end of the night Spot had recovered from his run in with Kit and the girls had learned enough to help the guys feel better sending them off to sell on their own. The girls were sore beyond belief but they were comfortable with fighting. Spot hung back and Kit decided she needed to apologize to him with out anyone around.
Kit hesitantly went up to Spot, "Spot you okay?"
"Yeah Kit Ise okay, too bad we didn't teach youse this last week, youse could have handled Chair on your own." Spot said as he stared off into space.
"Well if you had known you would have taught me. We can't change the past. I am really sorry though, I don't know what happened, I just reacted that's all." Kit tried to reassure Spot.
"Ise should have taught youse earlier. Ise just didn't cause Ise could defend youse." Spot was being hard on himself and Kit felt she needed to correct him.
"Spot Conlon listen to me, Chair would have just waited till you were gone. There was nothing you could have done. I didn't tell anyone but I thought someone was following for the past couple of weeks. I should have insisted that you teach me this stuff, I didn't so it was just much my fault as it was yours." Kit pulled Spot's face around too look into his eyes. "Don't blame yourself or he'll win. He wanted to cause me to fear, and if he succeeds then he won, even if he is in jail."
Spot looked down at Kit as she spoke, hurt along with concern filling his eyes. "It still is my fault. Youse were hurt and it was my fault."
"Spot I am fine, yes I have some things to work through before I am totally back to normal, but it wasn't your fault I was hurt." Kit told him, as she forced him to look at her.
They stood like that for close to five minutes before Spot leaned down till their noses touched. Their breaths mingled and Kit's eyes closed. It wasn't a long kiss by any stretch of the imagination. Spot broke it off and pulled back minutely, he looked at Kit before leaning down to kiss her again. (AN: We all go awww, and in the back ground someone yells FINALLY ;)
A cough inturrputed them, "Sorry Spot, but Jolly woke up with a bad dream and is asking for you or Kit." Both turned and looked at the person who had dared intrued. It was Falcon, who at least had the decency to look a bit ashamed. After delivering his message he turned to go down but stopped. He grinned checkishly, "It's about time." Then went hurried down the stairs before Spot could come after him.
"I guess that is my cue to leave." Kit took a step back then turned to go down the fire escape.
"Kit, Ise wondering, would youse be my goil?" Spot's voice caused Kit to pause and his question brought a smile to her lips.
"Well I let you kiss me didn't I?" Kit smiled shyly and then headed down to go comfort Jolly.
Spot stood looking after her a bit confused, then a slow smile crossed his face as he pumped a fist in the air "Yes. Ise still the man."