Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Bristles, what're you doin heah? You didn't walk all da way to heah from Brooklyn!"

Jack threw his arms around me with his face full of worry. He was right, I had walked to Manhattan all the way from Brooklyn. My feet were aching and I was so tired, but that didn't matter. I didn't even realize how long I had walked. All I could think about was how Spot Conlon was just like all those other horrible men I had met. They only wanted one thing. But I had somehow fallen into another one's trap. Everybody had finished selling their papes, and they crowded around me, wondering what was going on. But Jack quickly told them to let me have some space, letting only Racetrack and Kid Blink, a blond-haired boy with a patch over left eye, stay.

Jack quickly led me to one of the bunks and asked me what happened. Being dehydrated and exhausted, I couldn't speak. Kid Blink ran out of the room and in one minute he was back with a cup of water. After I had finally been able to catch my breath, I explained what had happened, and after I told my story, Racetrack and Kid Blink looked furious. Jack's face also, but he seemed to have something else on his mind besides that.

"Da bum!"

"I'll soak 'im, I will! Don't you worry, Bristles, Blink and I'll make shoah dat Spot Conlon nevah touches you again!"

Jack said nothing. He just sat there, thinking. Then he said that I should stay here with the Manhattan newsies, and assured me that I would be much safer, although he never mentioned anything about Spot. I didn't care anyways, since I didn't want to hear the name ever again. I turned my back, and seeing that I didn't want to be questioned anymore, Race, Blink, and Jack all walked out of the door quietly. I spent a little time thinking about what life would be like here in Manhattan, and quickly fell asleep.