Author's Note: Thank you soooooooooooooooo much for reviewing, Duchess!
You're the best! Sorry it took so long to update, but like I said I was on
break. Now to answer your question…I can't tell you too much (it would give
everything away) but those girls will become important in later chapters,
but now on to this chapter.
Chapter 10
The next day the newsies were getting ready to go to Medda's. They all got a few less papers so that they had less to sell and would be through early enough to go to Medda's. They all met at the Lodging House and began to get cleaned up. They put on their nicer clothes and combed their hair. Going to Medda's was the most formal event the newsies attended.
Dodger sat on her bunk watching the boys get ready for their night out. She played with Beauty until Jack came over to her bunk.
"Hey, Dodger, what are you waiting on? Why aren't you getting ready?" he asked.
"I am ready," she told him.
"Well, we usually get dressed up to go to Medda's," he told her, looking down at the drab brown skirt she was wearing and the stained shirt.
"These are the only clothes I have," she explained.
"Oh, yeah, well it doesn't matter you look great," he told her. "Listen I forgot about something I was going to do so I'll be back in a minute."
Jack left the bunkroom and went outside. He headed down the street in the direction of the Jacob's apartment. He got there in a few minutes and knocked on the door. Sarah opened the door.
"Jack, you're early. I thought we weren't going to Medda's for awhile yet," she said puzzled.
"We're not, but I need a favor," he told her. "You know I told you about the two newest newsies."
"Of course, Les's new friends, Smarts and Dodger," she said with a nod.
"Yeah, them. Well, you see, Dodger, she's always lived on the streets and she only has one set of clothes. So she doesn't have anything to dress up in to go to Medda's. I was wondering if maybe you had some things left over from when you were little that she could have."
"Sure, Jack, just give me a second, and I'll see if I can find anything. What size is she?"
"I don't know, little girl size," he said with a shrug.
"Well, compared other girls her age is she smaller or bigger or what?"
"She's a little smaller than Les," he said trying to be helpful.
"Okay, I think I know just the thing for her," she said as she disappeared into the other room. After a few minute she emerged with a small package. "This may be a little big for her, but it should do."
"Thanks, Sarah, this means a lot to me. I'll be back to get you soon, okay?"
"Okay, Jack, I'll be ready," she told. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," he said leaning in to give her kiss. He hurried back to the Lodging House and ran into the bunkroom.
"Hey, Dodger I got something for you," he told her handing her the small package.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it and find out," he told her. She ripped it open and pulled out a bright blue dress. It was only slightly wore and looked almost new. It was the newest thing that Dodger had ever owned in her life.
"Oh, Jack, thank you," she said. She jumped up on hugged him. "Thank you so much!"
"Well, David's sister, Sarah sent it to you. I told how you didn't have anything to dress up in," he explained slightly embarrassed. "Well, don't just stand there, go try it on!"
She ran into the washroom and then into one of the stall. She changed into the dress quickly. It fit her just right. She ran back into the bunkroom.
"How do I look?" she asked. The boys all began whistling at her and clapping. She turned in a circle.
"You'll be the prettiest girl there, Dodge," Smarts told her.
"May I have the honor of escorting you?" Race asked, holding his arm out.
"Yes, you may," she said with a grin taking his arm.
With that the newsies headed off down the street toward Medda's. They stopped along the way to pick up Sarah, David and Les. The group walked into Irving Hall and up to the balcony, the newsies' reserved seating on the nights they came. They crowded into the balcony and talked loudly while waiting for the curtain to go up on the opening act.
There was a magician, a comedian, a juggler and a ventriloquist. Finally it was time for Medda to take her place on stage. The newsies became absolutely silent as they waited for her act to start. Dodger was on the edge of her seat. She had heard about Medda from the other newsies and she could hardly wait. The music started and the curtain rose and the music for "High Times, Hard Times"
Dodger watched as the woman began to sing. She was dressed in pink from head to toe. Before long she had finished and everyone began filing out of the theater. The newsies waited until the other audience members had left. They then went back stage.
"Hey, Medda!" the newsies called out.
"Hello, boys! What's new?" she asked. Several newsies laughed at was obviously an old joke.
"Hello, Medda," Jack said.
"Hello, Kelly," she said, as he kissed her hand. "It was good to see you in the balcony again. It's been too long, since I've seen you boys."
"We've missed you too, Medda," Jack told her. Dodger pushed forward to get a better look at the woman.
"Well, who do we have here?" Medda asked as she caught sight of Dodger.
"This is Dodger one of the newest newsies in Manhattan and over there is her partner in crime, Smarts. They joined us about two weeks ago."
"Well it's nice to meet you two," she said with a smile. "Did you enjoy the show?"
"Yes! It was wonderful!" Dodger exclaimed, hopping up and down. The newsies laughed at her enthusiasm. Before long the newsies began to head toward the lodging house. They got there just in time for curfew. Sitting on the stoop of the building was a boy just a few years older than Dodger. He had bright red hair and a face full of freckles.
"Hey, Robin, what's up?" Jack asked the boy.
"Hey, Jack, I was wondering when you were going to get here. Where have you been?" he asked.
"Medda's" he answered.
"Oh, well, I got a message for you guys from Spot," Robin told him.
"We guessed that much, Robin, what does he have to say?" Jack asked.
"He wants to invite you boys to an all night poker game next week. He's inviting everyone from all the boroughs. Every newsie in New York is invited," Robin told them.
"Thanks for the message, Robin. You want to spend the night here tonight or are you headed back to Brooklyn?" Jack asked.
"I'll head on back. See you boys next week," he told them as he headed off. The Manhattan newsies headed toward the bunkroom.
"Who's Spot?" Smarts asked Boots.
"Who's Spot?! Well, he's Spot Conlon. He's the most respected and famous newsie in all of New York and probably everywhere else," Boots told him. "He's the leader of the Brooklyn newsies. That makes him the most powerful newsie ever."
"Oh, he sounds scary," Dodger said.
"Well, he is," Snipeshooter told them. Snipes had been sulking for the last week, ever since Smarts and Dodger had been allowed into the Lodging House. "He's six feet tall and has arms the size of trees. He soaks little newsies for fun, especially little girl newsies. He likes to throw them in the river after he's done soaking them."
"He does not, Snipes. Quit trying to frighten them," Boots told him. Snipes glared at Boots for ruining his fun then turned and walked off.
"To bed! To bed! Go to bed!" Kloppman yelled. The newsies scattered to their bunks. Dodger picked up Beauty off the middle of the bed, where she had curled up then Dodger got ready for bed and climbed under the covers.
The newsies were excited. It had been a long time since Brooklyn had hosted an all-night poker games. All the newsies in New York came to them, even the younger ones, who were usually excluded from such events. Finally the newsies drifted off to sleep all of them looking forward to the game.
Another Author's Note: Yep that's right everyone in the next chapter Smarts and Dodger will meet the famous SPOT CONLON!!!! Yea! You didn't think I had forgotten him did you? Well, never fear Brooklyn's here (or at least he will be!) While you wait in anxious anticipation for his arrival please (please, please, please, please, please, please) review!!
Chapter 10
The next day the newsies were getting ready to go to Medda's. They all got a few less papers so that they had less to sell and would be through early enough to go to Medda's. They all met at the Lodging House and began to get cleaned up. They put on their nicer clothes and combed their hair. Going to Medda's was the most formal event the newsies attended.
Dodger sat on her bunk watching the boys get ready for their night out. She played with Beauty until Jack came over to her bunk.
"Hey, Dodger, what are you waiting on? Why aren't you getting ready?" he asked.
"I am ready," she told him.
"Well, we usually get dressed up to go to Medda's," he told her, looking down at the drab brown skirt she was wearing and the stained shirt.
"These are the only clothes I have," she explained.
"Oh, yeah, well it doesn't matter you look great," he told her. "Listen I forgot about something I was going to do so I'll be back in a minute."
Jack left the bunkroom and went outside. He headed down the street in the direction of the Jacob's apartment. He got there in a few minutes and knocked on the door. Sarah opened the door.
"Jack, you're early. I thought we weren't going to Medda's for awhile yet," she said puzzled.
"We're not, but I need a favor," he told her. "You know I told you about the two newest newsies."
"Of course, Les's new friends, Smarts and Dodger," she said with a nod.
"Yeah, them. Well, you see, Dodger, she's always lived on the streets and she only has one set of clothes. So she doesn't have anything to dress up in to go to Medda's. I was wondering if maybe you had some things left over from when you were little that she could have."
"Sure, Jack, just give me a second, and I'll see if I can find anything. What size is she?"
"I don't know, little girl size," he said with a shrug.
"Well, compared other girls her age is she smaller or bigger or what?"
"She's a little smaller than Les," he said trying to be helpful.
"Okay, I think I know just the thing for her," she said as she disappeared into the other room. After a few minute she emerged with a small package. "This may be a little big for her, but it should do."
"Thanks, Sarah, this means a lot to me. I'll be back to get you soon, okay?"
"Okay, Jack, I'll be ready," she told. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," he said leaning in to give her kiss. He hurried back to the Lodging House and ran into the bunkroom.
"Hey, Dodger I got something for you," he told her handing her the small package.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it and find out," he told her. She ripped it open and pulled out a bright blue dress. It was only slightly wore and looked almost new. It was the newest thing that Dodger had ever owned in her life.
"Oh, Jack, thank you," she said. She jumped up on hugged him. "Thank you so much!"
"Well, David's sister, Sarah sent it to you. I told how you didn't have anything to dress up in," he explained slightly embarrassed. "Well, don't just stand there, go try it on!"
She ran into the washroom and then into one of the stall. She changed into the dress quickly. It fit her just right. She ran back into the bunkroom.
"How do I look?" she asked. The boys all began whistling at her and clapping. She turned in a circle.
"You'll be the prettiest girl there, Dodge," Smarts told her.
"May I have the honor of escorting you?" Race asked, holding his arm out.
"Yes, you may," she said with a grin taking his arm.
With that the newsies headed off down the street toward Medda's. They stopped along the way to pick up Sarah, David and Les. The group walked into Irving Hall and up to the balcony, the newsies' reserved seating on the nights they came. They crowded into the balcony and talked loudly while waiting for the curtain to go up on the opening act.
There was a magician, a comedian, a juggler and a ventriloquist. Finally it was time for Medda to take her place on stage. The newsies became absolutely silent as they waited for her act to start. Dodger was on the edge of her seat. She had heard about Medda from the other newsies and she could hardly wait. The music started and the curtain rose and the music for "High Times, Hard Times"
Dodger watched as the woman began to sing. She was dressed in pink from head to toe. Before long she had finished and everyone began filing out of the theater. The newsies waited until the other audience members had left. They then went back stage.
"Hey, Medda!" the newsies called out.
"Hello, boys! What's new?" she asked. Several newsies laughed at was obviously an old joke.
"Hello, Medda," Jack said.
"Hello, Kelly," she said, as he kissed her hand. "It was good to see you in the balcony again. It's been too long, since I've seen you boys."
"We've missed you too, Medda," Jack told her. Dodger pushed forward to get a better look at the woman.
"Well, who do we have here?" Medda asked as she caught sight of Dodger.
"This is Dodger one of the newest newsies in Manhattan and over there is her partner in crime, Smarts. They joined us about two weeks ago."
"Well it's nice to meet you two," she said with a smile. "Did you enjoy the show?"
"Yes! It was wonderful!" Dodger exclaimed, hopping up and down. The newsies laughed at her enthusiasm. Before long the newsies began to head toward the lodging house. They got there just in time for curfew. Sitting on the stoop of the building was a boy just a few years older than Dodger. He had bright red hair and a face full of freckles.
"Hey, Robin, what's up?" Jack asked the boy.
"Hey, Jack, I was wondering when you were going to get here. Where have you been?" he asked.
"Medda's" he answered.
"Oh, well, I got a message for you guys from Spot," Robin told him.
"We guessed that much, Robin, what does he have to say?" Jack asked.
"He wants to invite you boys to an all night poker game next week. He's inviting everyone from all the boroughs. Every newsie in New York is invited," Robin told them.
"Thanks for the message, Robin. You want to spend the night here tonight or are you headed back to Brooklyn?" Jack asked.
"I'll head on back. See you boys next week," he told them as he headed off. The Manhattan newsies headed toward the bunkroom.
"Who's Spot?" Smarts asked Boots.
"Who's Spot?! Well, he's Spot Conlon. He's the most respected and famous newsie in all of New York and probably everywhere else," Boots told him. "He's the leader of the Brooklyn newsies. That makes him the most powerful newsie ever."
"Oh, he sounds scary," Dodger said.
"Well, he is," Snipeshooter told them. Snipes had been sulking for the last week, ever since Smarts and Dodger had been allowed into the Lodging House. "He's six feet tall and has arms the size of trees. He soaks little newsies for fun, especially little girl newsies. He likes to throw them in the river after he's done soaking them."
"He does not, Snipes. Quit trying to frighten them," Boots told him. Snipes glared at Boots for ruining his fun then turned and walked off.
"To bed! To bed! Go to bed!" Kloppman yelled. The newsies scattered to their bunks. Dodger picked up Beauty off the middle of the bed, where she had curled up then Dodger got ready for bed and climbed under the covers.
The newsies were excited. It had been a long time since Brooklyn had hosted an all-night poker games. All the newsies in New York came to them, even the younger ones, who were usually excluded from such events. Finally the newsies drifted off to sleep all of them looking forward to the game.
Another Author's Note: Yep that's right everyone in the next chapter Smarts and Dodger will meet the famous SPOT CONLON!!!! Yea! You didn't think I had forgotten him did you? Well, never fear Brooklyn's here (or at least he will be!) While you wait in anxious anticipation for his arrival please (please, please, please, please, please, please) review!!