The next day, Blue looked at herself in the mirror. The lump under her eye was huge, black and blue. It gave a new meaning to the term 'black eye'. It was awful. "Not like I got a boy ta catch or anytin' though." She muttered as she placed lotion on her eye. She sighed and collected herself before going out to the Brooklyn Distribution Center. She approached the desk and smiled at Tinker before giving him his money. "Hunred papes Tinka." Tinker smiled as the boys in the back counted her papers. "Nice shina Blue. Heaid how ya took on Cape an' Archer. Nice woik." He said admiringly. Blue was startled. "How'd ya know 'bout dat? Does all of New Yawk know or sometin'?" Tinker smiled. "Naw, Spot was braggin' on ya da udda night. Told us how ya took on dat moose Cape, even though he had da brass knuckles. He said you was mighty brave an' I belive him. You've got guts dats what you've got." Tinker said admiringly.
Blue stared at him in a daze. "He said I was brave?" She whispered. "Yeah. Here's yer papes. Most likely ya got quite a story ta tell. Next!" Tinker said with a smile. Blue walked away from the office in a daze. Spot Conlon, the leader of Brooklyn had called her brave, and had bragged about her. She couldn't believe that, not unless she heard him herself. She got her wish as she rounded a corner. She heard Spot's voice and several other boys around him. "I don't believe dat Conlon. No goil in her right mind would stand up ta Cape." One boy said. "Yeah Spot. I seen Cape. He's huge! An' den wit' brass knuckles, well, no goil's got da guts. No goil 'sept maybe Bright Eyes." There was a silence for a moment before the same boy spoke again. "Sorry Spot." There was silence once more before Spot spoke up. "Look it's true. I saw it. She's got da mark. Windy kin testify to it." One of the boys scoffed. "Windy? I don't trust Windy. He swindled me outta two bucks! An' he cheated at poka!" The boy said angrily. "An' you don't Joe? Yeah right. If I didn't have me head on straight you would swindle me outta every penny. Don't whine 'cause ya've met yer match. An' if ya still don't believe me 'bout Blue, ask her yerself, or Archer fer dat matta. He was ceitanly dere. I gotta sell me papes." Spot said dismissively as the boy's said good-bye to him and walked off.
Blue stood still a moment, then ran after the Brooklyn leader's retreating figure. "Conlon!" Spot turned around to face her and stopped walking. "Hey, kin I sell wit' ya? Or at least in da same vicinity?" Spot's face hardened. "I don't let nobody sell wit' me." Blue sighed. "I know, but I wanna take ya ta lunch aftawoids. I need ta tawk ta ya 'bout sometin' important." She pleaded. Spot thought for a moment. "Tell ya what. You sell in any spot ya choose an' I'll meet ya at 'Antonio's' fer lunch." Spot said decidedly. Blue nodded, but stopped again. "One problem Conlon." She said. Spot rolled his eyes and looked back at her. "I neva sold papes in Brooklyn before." She said softly. Spot's eyes softened. "An' plus, who betta ta leain da ropes from dan da great leada of Brooklyn?" She said quickly. Spot looked at her a moment and began to laugh. "Yer not half bad Blue. C'mon I'll show ya some good spots, but den yer on yer own." He said firmly. "Do I have yer woid on dat?" Blue asked jokingly. "Yes ya do. Now dis spot unda da Brooklyn Bridge is good." Spot began. He didn't leave her that afternoon, but he did insist on paying for lunch, much to Blue's surprise, for she didn't believe that Spot Conlon paid for any girl, much less herself.
As the days and months went by, Spot and Blue spent more and more time together. It all started with an invitation. Blue was sitting up on her makeshift bed in the attic of the Brooklyn Boarding House when the door burst open. She looked up quickly and rolled her eyes as Spot Conlon walked in. "Who invited ya Spotty?" She asked with a joking smile. Spot smiled and walked over to her and leaned on his cane. "I invited myself Blue. I can go whereva an' do whateva I want. For I am," He said proudly. "Da key of Brooklyn. I know, but even keys kin leain ta knock." Blue said sarcastically. "Well no doors will keep me out ya know. So it's pointless ta knock when ya already know dat yer goin' in anyway." Spot said with a smile. Blue stared at him. "Yer a piece of work Spot Conlon. Whaddya want?" She asked.
Spot hesitated a moment then leaned back on his cane. "I want ya ta go somewhere's." He said. Blue looked up at him. "Where? Nowhere's bad I hope." She said with a devious smile. Spot rolled his eyes. "No we ain't gonna egg nobody's house tenight Blue, aldough doin' dat ta da skunk of a maya's house was fun." He said with a reminicent smile. "But dat ain't it." He said, sobering up. "I want ya ta go ta da Bronx wit' me. Dere's a gamblin' match down dere an' I want ya ta go." Blue looked up at Spot in surprise. "Ya want ME ta go?" She asked. Spot frowned. "Dats what I said didn't I? So c'mon. Les go. Unless ya don't wanna go wit' Brooklyn?" He said coyly. "I do wanna go! I mean, les get goin'. It'll be stawted before we've finished jawin'." She said, jumping up from her bed and running down the stairs. Spot grinned and followed her in much the same fashion.
They arrived in the Bronx with well enough time before the match. The two entered the Bronx Lodging House and signed in, then they stood back and looked around at the boys gathered. "Well whaddya know, even ol' Racetrack decided ta show! I thought he was still beat from da last time. Da guy's got persistance dats what I like. Heya Racetrack!" Spot yelled out. Blue paled and tugged on Spot's arm. "Wassa matta? Cain't a guy tawk?" He asked, his lips curled in a frown. "Yeah, jest not ta him. He's from Manhattan." She hissed as Racetrack approached. Spot's eyes widened, but the deed was done and Racetrack had seen Blue.
As Racetrack saw her, his brown eyes widened. "Blue? Whaddya doin' here? Where ya been hidin' out at? Yer brudda's been worryin' his fool head off, aldough me an' Cowboy tell him not ta. Heya Spot." Racetrack said quickly. "Well I'll stawt wit' da foist question. I came here wit' Brooklyn. As ta where I've been hidin' out, I cain't say. I don't want you boys seekin' me out or nothin'. An' fer cryin' out loud tell Blink ta stop worryin'. I'm fine. How is Cowboy?" Blue asked. Racetrack smiled and lit a cigarette. "He's okay. Nothin' new happenin' in Manhattan. But you, now you Blue, you've changed." Blue laughed. "Me? I ain't changed. I'm jest da same as I've always been. Maybe a little talla, but nothin' else." Racetrack shook his head. "No you've changed." He said firmly. "Ya have Blue. Trust me on dat. I'll be right back." Spot said quickly, walking away from the two.
Blue looked back at him curiously and then turned back to Racetrack just in time to see him shaking his head. "What?" Racetrack shook his head again. "Nothin'." Blue nodded. "How you been doin' Race? Okay?" Racetrack shrugged. "Jest takin' it one dat atta time. Cain't handle more dan one anymore. Jest tryin' ta live." Blue smiled. "Ya still like Bright Eyes?" Racetrack started, then blushed. "Yeah. I hope she comes back. She's gotta Blue." He said, his eyes gaining a dreamy look, while Blue's hardened. "Well if she does, she's got a lotta esplainin' ta do." She said harshly. Racetrack eyed her but said nothing. "How's ol' Spot been takin' it?" Blue shrugged. "I neva know. He neva shows his feelin's. He won't let nobody say her name or nothin'. It's awful. I mean, I'm mad too, but I ain't about ta quit sayin' her name or nothin'." Blue said.
Racetrack nodded and leaned in closer. "Yer livin' in Brooklyn ain't ya?" Blue took a step away but the boy's hand restrained her. "It's okay. I guessed. Actually went once or twice ta see how you was doin'. Ya seem ta be doin' okay. Don't worry I won't tell." He reassured her. Blue relaxed visibly. "I been doin' okay. How'd ya know?" She asked. Racetrack grinned. "Well Windy had a big help in it." Blue groaned. "Did he tell everybody?" Racetrack sobered up. "Naw, jest me. We're pretty good buddies. He kin trust me an' he knows it. He said he had ta tell someone or he would bust. He's good fer secrets, but tank goodness he's got trustwoithy friends or he'd be done for." Racetrack laughed, Blue joining in with him.
"Hey Blue, da games is beginnin' an' I got us some good seats! So are ya comin' or not?" Spot yelled across the crowd of boys. Blue grinned and turned to Racetrack. "Gotta go! Don't want Brooklyn ta hafta yell fer me more dan once." She said pushing through the crowd in Spot's direction. " 'Bout time you showed up. What took ya so long?" Spot asked, frowning. "Well Spot, in case ya didn't know, dere is kinda a whole Lodgin' House fulla boys here. It's not dat easy ta navigate ya know." She retorted. Spot sat back in his seat, a small smile playing about his lips as he began to watch the games begin.
It was long past midnight before Spot and Blue made it home. It was cold, December in fact. The snow hadn't come down as thickly as other years, but enough had come to soak the worn boots and shoes of the Newsies and other poor children. Spot and Blue's breath were mere puffs of white air as they breathed. Blue watched Spot and smiled. "What?" Spot asked immediately. "Ya look like yer smokin' fifty cigarettes wid all dat breathin' yer doin'. Or is dat jest all yer hot air?" She teased. Spot frowned, but his eyes twinkled. "I dunno Blue. Maybe, jest maybe, it's da coldness in da air dats makin' me breath look like dat. Ya tink?" Blue grinned and didn't say a word as she reached the Brooklyn Lodging House door. "Blue."
Blue turned around as she opened the door. "Ya wanna do dis again some udda time?" Spot asked hesitantly. Blue looked at him, and smiled. "I'd love ta. But next time yer gonna buy me some stuff." Spot rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah sure, like I've got a lotta money ta spend on a street rat!" Spot said as they walked in the door. "Ya know Spot, I've always been fond of hair ribbons. Whaddya tink 'bout dat?" She challenged. "I tink ya'd neva wear 'em in public 'cause yer hair's always unda yer hat, so it'd be a waste o'money." Spot answered. "Aw come on Spot! Jest a few ones! Jest ta wear in me room! All alone! I'll neva wear 'em anywhere else!" Blue insisted as they closed the door. If one was standing outside the closed door, they could hear Spot laughing and protesting. "No, no, an' a final times no Blue!"
Blue stared at him in a daze. "He said I was brave?" She whispered. "Yeah. Here's yer papes. Most likely ya got quite a story ta tell. Next!" Tinker said with a smile. Blue walked away from the office in a daze. Spot Conlon, the leader of Brooklyn had called her brave, and had bragged about her. She couldn't believe that, not unless she heard him herself. She got her wish as she rounded a corner. She heard Spot's voice and several other boys around him. "I don't believe dat Conlon. No goil in her right mind would stand up ta Cape." One boy said. "Yeah Spot. I seen Cape. He's huge! An' den wit' brass knuckles, well, no goil's got da guts. No goil 'sept maybe Bright Eyes." There was a silence for a moment before the same boy spoke again. "Sorry Spot." There was silence once more before Spot spoke up. "Look it's true. I saw it. She's got da mark. Windy kin testify to it." One of the boys scoffed. "Windy? I don't trust Windy. He swindled me outta two bucks! An' he cheated at poka!" The boy said angrily. "An' you don't Joe? Yeah right. If I didn't have me head on straight you would swindle me outta every penny. Don't whine 'cause ya've met yer match. An' if ya still don't believe me 'bout Blue, ask her yerself, or Archer fer dat matta. He was ceitanly dere. I gotta sell me papes." Spot said dismissively as the boy's said good-bye to him and walked off.
Blue stood still a moment, then ran after the Brooklyn leader's retreating figure. "Conlon!" Spot turned around to face her and stopped walking. "Hey, kin I sell wit' ya? Or at least in da same vicinity?" Spot's face hardened. "I don't let nobody sell wit' me." Blue sighed. "I know, but I wanna take ya ta lunch aftawoids. I need ta tawk ta ya 'bout sometin' important." She pleaded. Spot thought for a moment. "Tell ya what. You sell in any spot ya choose an' I'll meet ya at 'Antonio's' fer lunch." Spot said decidedly. Blue nodded, but stopped again. "One problem Conlon." She said. Spot rolled his eyes and looked back at her. "I neva sold papes in Brooklyn before." She said softly. Spot's eyes softened. "An' plus, who betta ta leain da ropes from dan da great leada of Brooklyn?" She said quickly. Spot looked at her a moment and began to laugh. "Yer not half bad Blue. C'mon I'll show ya some good spots, but den yer on yer own." He said firmly. "Do I have yer woid on dat?" Blue asked jokingly. "Yes ya do. Now dis spot unda da Brooklyn Bridge is good." Spot began. He didn't leave her that afternoon, but he did insist on paying for lunch, much to Blue's surprise, for she didn't believe that Spot Conlon paid for any girl, much less herself.
As the days and months went by, Spot and Blue spent more and more time together. It all started with an invitation. Blue was sitting up on her makeshift bed in the attic of the Brooklyn Boarding House when the door burst open. She looked up quickly and rolled her eyes as Spot Conlon walked in. "Who invited ya Spotty?" She asked with a joking smile. Spot smiled and walked over to her and leaned on his cane. "I invited myself Blue. I can go whereva an' do whateva I want. For I am," He said proudly. "Da key of Brooklyn. I know, but even keys kin leain ta knock." Blue said sarcastically. "Well no doors will keep me out ya know. So it's pointless ta knock when ya already know dat yer goin' in anyway." Spot said with a smile. Blue stared at him. "Yer a piece of work Spot Conlon. Whaddya want?" She asked.
Spot hesitated a moment then leaned back on his cane. "I want ya ta go somewhere's." He said. Blue looked up at him. "Where? Nowhere's bad I hope." She said with a devious smile. Spot rolled his eyes. "No we ain't gonna egg nobody's house tenight Blue, aldough doin' dat ta da skunk of a maya's house was fun." He said with a reminicent smile. "But dat ain't it." He said, sobering up. "I want ya ta go ta da Bronx wit' me. Dere's a gamblin' match down dere an' I want ya ta go." Blue looked up at Spot in surprise. "Ya want ME ta go?" She asked. Spot frowned. "Dats what I said didn't I? So c'mon. Les go. Unless ya don't wanna go wit' Brooklyn?" He said coyly. "I do wanna go! I mean, les get goin'. It'll be stawted before we've finished jawin'." She said, jumping up from her bed and running down the stairs. Spot grinned and followed her in much the same fashion.
They arrived in the Bronx with well enough time before the match. The two entered the Bronx Lodging House and signed in, then they stood back and looked around at the boys gathered. "Well whaddya know, even ol' Racetrack decided ta show! I thought he was still beat from da last time. Da guy's got persistance dats what I like. Heya Racetrack!" Spot yelled out. Blue paled and tugged on Spot's arm. "Wassa matta? Cain't a guy tawk?" He asked, his lips curled in a frown. "Yeah, jest not ta him. He's from Manhattan." She hissed as Racetrack approached. Spot's eyes widened, but the deed was done and Racetrack had seen Blue.
As Racetrack saw her, his brown eyes widened. "Blue? Whaddya doin' here? Where ya been hidin' out at? Yer brudda's been worryin' his fool head off, aldough me an' Cowboy tell him not ta. Heya Spot." Racetrack said quickly. "Well I'll stawt wit' da foist question. I came here wit' Brooklyn. As ta where I've been hidin' out, I cain't say. I don't want you boys seekin' me out or nothin'. An' fer cryin' out loud tell Blink ta stop worryin'. I'm fine. How is Cowboy?" Blue asked. Racetrack smiled and lit a cigarette. "He's okay. Nothin' new happenin' in Manhattan. But you, now you Blue, you've changed." Blue laughed. "Me? I ain't changed. I'm jest da same as I've always been. Maybe a little talla, but nothin' else." Racetrack shook his head. "No you've changed." He said firmly. "Ya have Blue. Trust me on dat. I'll be right back." Spot said quickly, walking away from the two.
Blue looked back at him curiously and then turned back to Racetrack just in time to see him shaking his head. "What?" Racetrack shook his head again. "Nothin'." Blue nodded. "How you been doin' Race? Okay?" Racetrack shrugged. "Jest takin' it one dat atta time. Cain't handle more dan one anymore. Jest tryin' ta live." Blue smiled. "Ya still like Bright Eyes?" Racetrack started, then blushed. "Yeah. I hope she comes back. She's gotta Blue." He said, his eyes gaining a dreamy look, while Blue's hardened. "Well if she does, she's got a lotta esplainin' ta do." She said harshly. Racetrack eyed her but said nothing. "How's ol' Spot been takin' it?" Blue shrugged. "I neva know. He neva shows his feelin's. He won't let nobody say her name or nothin'. It's awful. I mean, I'm mad too, but I ain't about ta quit sayin' her name or nothin'." Blue said.
Racetrack nodded and leaned in closer. "Yer livin' in Brooklyn ain't ya?" Blue took a step away but the boy's hand restrained her. "It's okay. I guessed. Actually went once or twice ta see how you was doin'. Ya seem ta be doin' okay. Don't worry I won't tell." He reassured her. Blue relaxed visibly. "I been doin' okay. How'd ya know?" She asked. Racetrack grinned. "Well Windy had a big help in it." Blue groaned. "Did he tell everybody?" Racetrack sobered up. "Naw, jest me. We're pretty good buddies. He kin trust me an' he knows it. He said he had ta tell someone or he would bust. He's good fer secrets, but tank goodness he's got trustwoithy friends or he'd be done for." Racetrack laughed, Blue joining in with him.
"Hey Blue, da games is beginnin' an' I got us some good seats! So are ya comin' or not?" Spot yelled across the crowd of boys. Blue grinned and turned to Racetrack. "Gotta go! Don't want Brooklyn ta hafta yell fer me more dan once." She said pushing through the crowd in Spot's direction. " 'Bout time you showed up. What took ya so long?" Spot asked, frowning. "Well Spot, in case ya didn't know, dere is kinda a whole Lodgin' House fulla boys here. It's not dat easy ta navigate ya know." She retorted. Spot sat back in his seat, a small smile playing about his lips as he began to watch the games begin.
It was long past midnight before Spot and Blue made it home. It was cold, December in fact. The snow hadn't come down as thickly as other years, but enough had come to soak the worn boots and shoes of the Newsies and other poor children. Spot and Blue's breath were mere puffs of white air as they breathed. Blue watched Spot and smiled. "What?" Spot asked immediately. "Ya look like yer smokin' fifty cigarettes wid all dat breathin' yer doin'. Or is dat jest all yer hot air?" She teased. Spot frowned, but his eyes twinkled. "I dunno Blue. Maybe, jest maybe, it's da coldness in da air dats makin' me breath look like dat. Ya tink?" Blue grinned and didn't say a word as she reached the Brooklyn Lodging House door. "Blue."
Blue turned around as she opened the door. "Ya wanna do dis again some udda time?" Spot asked hesitantly. Blue looked at him, and smiled. "I'd love ta. But next time yer gonna buy me some stuff." Spot rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah sure, like I've got a lotta money ta spend on a street rat!" Spot said as they walked in the door. "Ya know Spot, I've always been fond of hair ribbons. Whaddya tink 'bout dat?" She challenged. "I tink ya'd neva wear 'em in public 'cause yer hair's always unda yer hat, so it'd be a waste o'money." Spot answered. "Aw come on Spot! Jest a few ones! Jest ta wear in me room! All alone! I'll neva wear 'em anywhere else!" Blue insisted as they closed the door. If one was standing outside the closed door, they could hear Spot laughing and protesting. "No, no, an' a final times no Blue!"