John 3:16-18

Crimson Tears: Chapter 2- What Jack Found

Spot lay on the floor in a pool of blood where he had slit his wrists with a shaving razor.

"Oh my gosh, Spot! What da hell did ya do dis for?"

Spot just moaned in response. Jack bent over and scooped Spot up in his arms (for Spot was much smaller and skinnier than Jack.) and bounded down the stairs, yelling at Kloppmen "Get a doctor dammit!"

*~*

A half an hour later, in the bunk room, the doctor was wrapping an un-conscious Spot's wrists in gauze when Jack asked:

"Is he gonna be ok Doc?"

"Well that depends," the doctor answered, "He's lost a lot of blood and it looks like he hasn't eaten much lately so frankly if he survives the next week I will be pleasantly surprised."

"Any special directions be for you go?" Kloppmen asked.

" Yes. He will probably sleep for the next day or two so don't wake him. When he does wake up give him soup and some of these vitamins," the doctor said getting some pills out of his black bag and giving them to Kloppmen, "twice daily and get me if he gets worse."

The doctor pushed his way out through the throng of boys that had gathered since Jack had found Spot. Jack motioned for Snipe Shooter and said, "Snipe Shootah, run ta Brooklyn an tell dem what happened an get some a Spot's stuff cuz I think he's gonna be here awhile." Snipe Shooter nodded and ran out of the lodging house.

"All right, every body out. Ya got papes ta sell." Kloppmen yelled. Most of the boys filed out of the lodging house but David stayed behind.

"Jack why did he do this? Just out of the blue? I don't know him very well but he doesn't seem like a suicidal type."

"He wasn't," Jack said" until last night. Did ya know he tried ta jump off da Brooklyn Bridge last night.

"He what?!" David gasped

"Yeah I know. I saw him so I stopped him. I thought it was cuz he was drunk. I nevah thought he'd do somthin like dis."

David just nodded and looked at the sleeping boy. Spot was the most powerful newsie in all of New York and yet they didn't know if he would survive the night.

*~*

Spot did live through the night-barely. Jack posted a rotating watch so that if Spot woke up and tried to finish the job that he almost succeeded at, some one would be there to stop him. During Jack's watch a day and a half later, Spot woke up.

"Heya' Spot, welcome back."

Spot tried to sit up and failed.

"Take it easy Spot. Don't try ta get up. Ok?"

Jack saw Spot's lips move and Jack bent down to hear Spot whispering,

" Why didn't it work? Why?"

Even though Spot was not asking him, Jack answered him anyway.

"Because I was the one that found you on the floor and I wouldn't and won't let you die."

"Bloody hell, why not?" Spot asked

"Because you're my friend and you have more ta live for even if ya can't see it."

Jack got up as Race walked into the room for his watch. Race's face lit up in a huge grin.

"Heya Spot glad yer up!"

The past few days had not been joyous ones for Jack and his newsies. All the Manhattan and Brooklyn newsies knew about the Brooklyn leader's suicide attempt. All except Les. Even though he didn't know Spot very well, Les still admired and looked up to Spot because all of the other newsies respected and listened to him. No one had the heart to tell Les that Spot was sick and maybe dying. The past two nights had been somber. A few newsies had been coming in just before lights out because they couldn't stand to see Spot lying in the bed looking small and forlorn with tape and gauze wrapped around his wrists. Race was one of these. While he slept he breathed very shallowly and the first night he stopped breathing altogether and not once but twice. But despite what every one feared, Spot lived. Over the next few days he continued to slowly get stronger. Some of the Brooklyn newsies came to see him and other than talking to them about Brooklyn matters Spot was closed and wouldn't talk to any body about what had happened, why, or any thing else.

Days became weeks and Spot started selling again but always with a partner. Jack insisted that he stay in Manhattan for a while longer. They argued and yelled at each other but Jack won.

One day Jack came back from a late lunch at David's to find Spot gone again.

"Aw, crap. Not again."

Jack found Spot on the roof but this time he was not trying to kill him self for a change.

Jack climbed up onto the roof as the sun was beginning to set. Jack turned to face Spot and said,

"Spot ya gotta tell me what's goin on. I know somthin happened an it's killin ya, literally. Just tell me please."

Spot shouted "She's dead that's what happened!"

"Who's dead?" Jack asked

"Me little sistah." Spot whispered.

What happened to Spot's sister? If you review you will find out! TTFN!

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