CHAPTER 4:
The next day dawned bright and sunny. Michaela sat slumped against the wall of the building, curled into a sleeping ball. Soon, people began to come and go on the streets and open up their stores. A man walked towards the shop she was at and kicked her out of the way in order to open the door. As he did, delicious smells filled the air. Michaela lifted her head sleepily and peered around the door.
The store was filled with goodies and sweets, and it made Michaela's mouth water just to look at them. I've got ta get money and buy some, she thought greedily.
She eyed the crowd and speculated on the elderly gentleman with the cane. I am way too prejudice against robbing people with canes. Geez, half the rich people in New York carry canes! If only that stupid memory wouldn't pop up every single time I get ready to pounce on a guy with a cane. ARRGHH!!!!!!
Mrs. Conlon walked into the room, carrying the cake and singing Happy Birthday while the two kids watched the candles, which flickering brightly.
Michael and Michaela looked at each other and grinned. As one, they blew out the candles and closed their eyes.
Michaela turned to her brother, "What did you wish for?"
"I can't tell, or it won't come true."
Michaela giggled, "I forgot."
"So, who's going to open the first present?" Mrs. Conlon asked, cutting the cake.
"Michaela!" Michael announced as he pulled out a small present. Michaela smiled and opened it, revealing a new slingshot.
Michael pointed to the wooden handle, "Look! There is our names carved into it, I've been working on it for the past week or so."
Michaela hugged her brother and picked it up. Michael handed her a couple of marbles that he had forgotten to wrap, and she put one on the band and aimed.
"No, Michaela! Not inside!" Mr. Conlon said with a laugh at her impatience.
"Oh, all right, but Michael now has to open my present." She handed him a long package wrapped sloppily in paper.
Michael eyed it happily, and grinned at his sister. He quickly picked it up and ripped the wrapping paper off it. For a moment he just sat staring at his gift, eyes wide and disbelieving.
A beautiful black cane with an intricately-carved gold top lay inside. Michaela watched his face with pleasure, "I knew you would love it, and even if you don't need it after awhile, I know you would love just walking around with it, because it's so neat."
Michael flashed a delighted grin at her and stood up with the cane, testing it out. "I'll always bring it with me wherever I go."
Nope, not happenin'. Michaela thought, putting her hands over her ears and humming to herself. Soon a blonde woman dressed in silks and jewels stepped out of a carriage daintily and floated toward an upper-class restaurant across the street. Michaela quickly moved into position and lightly brushed by the woman. Just as her fist closed around the woman's purse, the woman happened to turn around.
"Roger, remember to..." Michaela looked wide-eyed into the woman's face and panicked. She was starving, jittery, and immediately took off, clutching at the purse. "STOP!!! THIEF!!! COME BACK HERE!!!!" the woman screamed.
Uh oh, Michaela looked back over her shoulder as whistles filled the air. She caught a glimpse of blue uniforms on horses before she turned the corner. There goes breakfast.
A group of police came up the alley behind her, and Michaela scrambled over the fence. The purse strap got caught and she tugged at it frantically. "Come on, come on! COME LOOSE, STUPID STRAP!!!"
Finally, it gave and she grabbed the purse and ran from the alleyway as fast as her legs could take her.
~*~*~*~
Spot woke up to bright sunlight streaming into his room. Outside the door was complete and total silence. Awright, dis had gotta end right now. He jumped out of bed, changed, and stepped into the other room. Everyone looked at him silently, and then turned back to getting ready for the day.
"Awright, everyone. Youse have all had yer day of fun, now youse all need ta start talkin'. Right now. No more givin' me da silent treatment, unless youse wanna be kicked out." Spot looked around and pinned each boy with a glare that made them squirm. With that, every newsie in the room began chattering loudly, each worried for his own sake.
Good, now dat is done. But somet'ing is still goin' on. Maybe Jack'll know somet'in'.
~*~*~*~
Spot reached Manhattan quickly and went to the Circulation Office in hopes of catching Jack there. The last newsies were getting their papers, and Jack was always the first. Spot ran to Jack's selling area, and searched the crowds wildly. There he is!
"Jack! Hey, Jack!" Jack spun around and grinned when he saw Spot.
"Need sellin' tips, Oh So Fast One?"
Spot smiled sarcastically. "Haha, very funny. I need ta talk ta you."
Jack shook his head. "I'm sellin'. Couldn't it wait? All da customers will be gone by da time we're done."
"No. I need ta talk ta you now."
Jack shrugged, giving up. "C'mon. Let's go ta Tibby's."
Spot quickly led the way, with Jack following half-heartedly, looking at the swarms of people wistfully.
~*~*~*~
Michaela ran across the Brooklyn Bridge, away from the police. Ya know, come ta t'ink of it, I like Brooklyn bettah. Brooklyn, here I come!
~*~*~*~
Jack looked at Spot. "So, what is it?"
Spot twirled his straw around on his fingers. ""Ummm...Jacky-boy? Ya see, I'm having a slight problem. Me boys are going crazy." He looked up to see how Jack would respond to that.
Jack stared at him. "Whadda youse mean by dat?"
"I mean jist dat. Dey are givin' me da silent treatment, ignorin' me, not respondin' ta my tempers, and yesterday mornin' I found out dat Clips, Kix, and Flash, all have injuries."
"So?"
"So, I didn't know 'bout dem. Spinz didn't even tell me." Jack leaned back in his chair. Dat is pretty amazin'. Spot usually knows everyt'ing before it even happens. And da Brooklyn newsies are too scared of Spot ta ignore him…What's goin' on?
"I don't know, Spot. Seems pretty weird ta me." Spot rolled his eyes.
"Ya t'ink?" Spot sipped from his drink, and ran his fingers through his hair. "I got dem ta talk dis mornin', I basically had ta force dem ta speak. Dey seemed scared ta, as if dey would get in trouble if dey did."
Jack stood up and looked down at Spot. "Has it occurred ta youse ta jist ask dem? Dey'll have ta answer now."
Spot straightened and stood up. "Yeah, I'm gonna get ta da bottom of dis right now!" He pushed through the door and down the streets. Okay, I'm gonna tell dem dat dey bettah explain ta me what's goin' on, or I'll…or I could say dat… Just as he was about to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, he heard shouts.
"KID! WATCH OUT!!!"
Spot twisted around in time to see a carriage coming at him, full speed.
BAM!!!
~*~*~*~
Spinz, Clips, and Kix walked down No Man's Land, selling papers sulkily. "Does it evah feel ta youse two dat you can nevah do anyt'ing right?" Spinz asked, growling out a headline.
"Well, recently." Clips nodded his head and shoved money into his pants.
Kix looked around speculatively. "I t'ink da customers are avoidin' us. Maybe dey can tell we're in bad moods."
"I wouldn't be surprised. Jist one more t'ing ta add on ta dis horrible day." Clips kicked a rock and watched it roll over to a group of boys standing a few feet ahead of them. He nudged the others and Kix and Spinz looked up swiftly.
The Queens newsies looked down at them condescendingly. Their leader stepped forward. Fists stared at them smugly. "Tell Spot we changed our minds. We don't wanna share dis place anymore. Tamorrow, da Bridge, be dere, if yer not chicken."
Spinz straightened up, immediately feeling proud he was the second. "We'll be dere. Bettah say yer prayers."
A few of the Queens newsies laughed. "We don't need ta."
The next day dawned bright and sunny. Michaela sat slumped against the wall of the building, curled into a sleeping ball. Soon, people began to come and go on the streets and open up their stores. A man walked towards the shop she was at and kicked her out of the way in order to open the door. As he did, delicious smells filled the air. Michaela lifted her head sleepily and peered around the door.
The store was filled with goodies and sweets, and it made Michaela's mouth water just to look at them. I've got ta get money and buy some, she thought greedily.
She eyed the crowd and speculated on the elderly gentleman with the cane. I am way too prejudice against robbing people with canes. Geez, half the rich people in New York carry canes! If only that stupid memory wouldn't pop up every single time I get ready to pounce on a guy with a cane. ARRGHH!!!!!!
Mrs. Conlon walked into the room, carrying the cake and singing Happy Birthday while the two kids watched the candles, which flickering brightly.
Michael and Michaela looked at each other and grinned. As one, they blew out the candles and closed their eyes.
Michaela turned to her brother, "What did you wish for?"
"I can't tell, or it won't come true."
Michaela giggled, "I forgot."
"So, who's going to open the first present?" Mrs. Conlon asked, cutting the cake.
"Michaela!" Michael announced as he pulled out a small present. Michaela smiled and opened it, revealing a new slingshot.
Michael pointed to the wooden handle, "Look! There is our names carved into it, I've been working on it for the past week or so."
Michaela hugged her brother and picked it up. Michael handed her a couple of marbles that he had forgotten to wrap, and she put one on the band and aimed.
"No, Michaela! Not inside!" Mr. Conlon said with a laugh at her impatience.
"Oh, all right, but Michael now has to open my present." She handed him a long package wrapped sloppily in paper.
Michael eyed it happily, and grinned at his sister. He quickly picked it up and ripped the wrapping paper off it. For a moment he just sat staring at his gift, eyes wide and disbelieving.
A beautiful black cane with an intricately-carved gold top lay inside. Michaela watched his face with pleasure, "I knew you would love it, and even if you don't need it after awhile, I know you would love just walking around with it, because it's so neat."
Michael flashed a delighted grin at her and stood up with the cane, testing it out. "I'll always bring it with me wherever I go."
Nope, not happenin'. Michaela thought, putting her hands over her ears and humming to herself. Soon a blonde woman dressed in silks and jewels stepped out of a carriage daintily and floated toward an upper-class restaurant across the street. Michaela quickly moved into position and lightly brushed by the woman. Just as her fist closed around the woman's purse, the woman happened to turn around.
"Roger, remember to..." Michaela looked wide-eyed into the woman's face and panicked. She was starving, jittery, and immediately took off, clutching at the purse. "STOP!!! THIEF!!! COME BACK HERE!!!!" the woman screamed.
Uh oh, Michaela looked back over her shoulder as whistles filled the air. She caught a glimpse of blue uniforms on horses before she turned the corner. There goes breakfast.
A group of police came up the alley behind her, and Michaela scrambled over the fence. The purse strap got caught and she tugged at it frantically. "Come on, come on! COME LOOSE, STUPID STRAP!!!"
Finally, it gave and she grabbed the purse and ran from the alleyway as fast as her legs could take her.
~*~*~*~
Spot woke up to bright sunlight streaming into his room. Outside the door was complete and total silence. Awright, dis had gotta end right now. He jumped out of bed, changed, and stepped into the other room. Everyone looked at him silently, and then turned back to getting ready for the day.
"Awright, everyone. Youse have all had yer day of fun, now youse all need ta start talkin'. Right now. No more givin' me da silent treatment, unless youse wanna be kicked out." Spot looked around and pinned each boy with a glare that made them squirm. With that, every newsie in the room began chattering loudly, each worried for his own sake.
Good, now dat is done. But somet'ing is still goin' on. Maybe Jack'll know somet'in'.
~*~*~*~
Spot reached Manhattan quickly and went to the Circulation Office in hopes of catching Jack there. The last newsies were getting their papers, and Jack was always the first. Spot ran to Jack's selling area, and searched the crowds wildly. There he is!
"Jack! Hey, Jack!" Jack spun around and grinned when he saw Spot.
"Need sellin' tips, Oh So Fast One?"
Spot smiled sarcastically. "Haha, very funny. I need ta talk ta you."
Jack shook his head. "I'm sellin'. Couldn't it wait? All da customers will be gone by da time we're done."
"No. I need ta talk ta you now."
Jack shrugged, giving up. "C'mon. Let's go ta Tibby's."
Spot quickly led the way, with Jack following half-heartedly, looking at the swarms of people wistfully.
~*~*~*~
Michaela ran across the Brooklyn Bridge, away from the police. Ya know, come ta t'ink of it, I like Brooklyn bettah. Brooklyn, here I come!
~*~*~*~
Jack looked at Spot. "So, what is it?"
Spot twirled his straw around on his fingers. ""Ummm...Jacky-boy? Ya see, I'm having a slight problem. Me boys are going crazy." He looked up to see how Jack would respond to that.
Jack stared at him. "Whadda youse mean by dat?"
"I mean jist dat. Dey are givin' me da silent treatment, ignorin' me, not respondin' ta my tempers, and yesterday mornin' I found out dat Clips, Kix, and Flash, all have injuries."
"So?"
"So, I didn't know 'bout dem. Spinz didn't even tell me." Jack leaned back in his chair. Dat is pretty amazin'. Spot usually knows everyt'ing before it even happens. And da Brooklyn newsies are too scared of Spot ta ignore him…What's goin' on?
"I don't know, Spot. Seems pretty weird ta me." Spot rolled his eyes.
"Ya t'ink?" Spot sipped from his drink, and ran his fingers through his hair. "I got dem ta talk dis mornin', I basically had ta force dem ta speak. Dey seemed scared ta, as if dey would get in trouble if dey did."
Jack stood up and looked down at Spot. "Has it occurred ta youse ta jist ask dem? Dey'll have ta answer now."
Spot straightened and stood up. "Yeah, I'm gonna get ta da bottom of dis right now!" He pushed through the door and down the streets. Okay, I'm gonna tell dem dat dey bettah explain ta me what's goin' on, or I'll…or I could say dat… Just as he was about to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, he heard shouts.
"KID! WATCH OUT!!!"
Spot twisted around in time to see a carriage coming at him, full speed.
BAM!!!
~*~*~*~
Spinz, Clips, and Kix walked down No Man's Land, selling papers sulkily. "Does it evah feel ta youse two dat you can nevah do anyt'ing right?" Spinz asked, growling out a headline.
"Well, recently." Clips nodded his head and shoved money into his pants.
Kix looked around speculatively. "I t'ink da customers are avoidin' us. Maybe dey can tell we're in bad moods."
"I wouldn't be surprised. Jist one more t'ing ta add on ta dis horrible day." Clips kicked a rock and watched it roll over to a group of boys standing a few feet ahead of them. He nudged the others and Kix and Spinz looked up swiftly.
The Queens newsies looked down at them condescendingly. Their leader stepped forward. Fists stared at them smugly. "Tell Spot we changed our minds. We don't wanna share dis place anymore. Tamorrow, da Bridge, be dere, if yer not chicken."
Spinz straightened up, immediately feeling proud he was the second. "We'll be dere. Bettah say yer prayers."
A few of the Queens newsies laughed. "We don't need ta."
