Shout outs:
Kora: What's a brain fart? ha ha.. never heard of that one. ::smiles:: Thanks for reviewing..
Vioshine: The newsy with the pocket knife is Dandy O'Reily... Thanks for the review!
Rae Kelly: That's a cool song that you sent me.. Thank for reviewing.. ::smiles::
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"And your name is?" Anne asked the Brooklyn newsy.
He glanced at her, but kept walking. "D.C.," he muttered.
"How long have you been a newsy?" she questioned.
D.C. shook his head and ignored her.
They walked to a nearby cafe where the Brooklyn newsies spent most of their meals. Anne had a vague recollection of the small three-story building. Towards the front of its bottom level was a built in bakery and in the back was a small restaurant known as Ainsley's Deli. At the street corner where a towering ornamental lamp stood had been Anne's first selling spot in her past career as a newsy.
"He's in here," the scout muttered to her, and she slowly followed him inside. Nearly every booth was full throughout the quaint deli. D.C.'s eyes scanned the crowds as did Anne's, but there was not a trace of the infamous Brooklyn leader in question. She sighed as her hopes plummeted dramatically. He walked over to a corner booth that was filled with several young men and women.
"What's up, D.C.," one man asked.
"Some goil's lookin' for Conlon," D.C. replied.
"Well, tell her he ain't here," Bua said.
D.C. took the untouched half of the sub sitting on Luna's plate. "You tell her, Bua. I've gotta get back to the post," He turned bitterly and left.
Sprite and Karo looked up from their game of Go-Fish. "I win again!" the later of the two announced proudly.
"Yeah, cause you cheat," Sprite groaned as she shuffled the pile of scattered cards.
"You can't cheat in Go-Fish," Karo shrugged. She took the deck from her friend and dealt out each player a new hand.
"Well, you can cheat in anything if there's a mirror or something like it behind your opponent," Bua grinned. He pointed to the small window behind the booth.
Sprite threw her cards up in despair. "Karo!"
Heath O'Brien from Queens blissfully rested his chin in his hand. "I've n-never seen that g-girl around before." He stared at Anne with great interest.
Sprite lightly patted his cheek. "Give it a rest, Heath ole boy. You're going to give yourself a heart attack."
"Do you know her, Luna?" Bua asked, motioning to Anne.
Luna shrugged and shook her head.
Anne crossed her arms over her chest from the cool breeze entering the cracked window near her. The flowing white gown trickled like mercury around her legs.
Bua tapped Anne gently on the shoulder. "Spot Conlon's not here." He ran his hand through his dark brown hair.
"Do you know where I could find him?" she whispered.
"Why do ya need to see him?" he replied.
"I'm an old friend."
Bua eyed her with a smirk the size of Texas. "Spot's got many 'old friends,' but he's never been real good at keeping in touch, ya know - once he's done with 'em."
"It's not like that," Anne spat bitterly.
He waved his hand doubtfully, "Yeah, yeah, what ever, doll."
Luna got up from the booth and walked over to the door where Anne and Bua stood. "What's going on?" she asked.
Anne looked at the girl with raven-black hair and commanding blue eyes. "Luna?" she whispered.
"What? You know her?" Bua asked Anne.
"I-" she began, but Luna cut her off.
The newsgirl leader eyed Anne with grave speculation. "- knowing my name doesn't mean a thing. Many people that I have never met in my life, know my name."
"What's your name?" Bua asked.
"Anne," she whispered, her eyes closed; her lip shuttered as she fought against the forming tears.
Luna and Bua took a step back in unison. They stared at her with wild eyes and gaping mouths.
Anne took a breath and opened her baby blue eyes. The tables are beginning to turn - she thought.