Stuck in the Middle
Chapter 3: A Disturbing Wakeup Call
I woke up to the click of a door down the hallway. As I sat up, I could hear Kloppman making his way to the lobby. Slowly, I got up and headed into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. I returned just as he found the menagerie of newsies sprawled on everything from chairs to the steps. He let out a long sigh and was about to wake them up when the front door swung open, cracking as it hit the wall. The cold wind from the streets began to fill the room, causing the newsies to stir from their slumber.
The figure was undistinguishable because my eyes were still clouded over with sleep. That is until he spoke.
"Get us Jacky Boy!" That Brooklyn accent was unmistakable.
"Spot?" Jack asked, stretching as he sat up. "Whatya need?"
Spot slowly stalked from the doorway, allowing me to see him more clearly. As he passed me, he shot me a cold, angry look. "We need to talk… Alone."
All the others sat up in turn, curious to find the purpose of Spot's early morning visit.
"Whatever you got to say, you can say it in front of the boys. We's aint got any secrets from them," Jack said calmly.
"It's not the boys I'm worried about," Spot said, shooting me an even colder stare than before. Every muscle in my body went numb; Spot wasn't the type you wanted cross with you.
Skittery jumped in front of me protectively, mirroring Spot's vicious expression. "You leave her alone. She aint done nothing to you."
"What's this all about Spot?" Jack stepped in, recapturing Spot's attention.
"Shinah's been causin trouble. He's been beatin up my boys Jack, real bad. I aint gonna stand for it no more…"
Internally I cursed my brother's actions, but I didn't dare move from my safe haven behind Skitts.
"…I need your help. They's talkin weapons Jack, knives and such."
Jack sat down and ran his hands through his hair, thinking it over slowly. "I can't help ya. Nothin has happened to make me think Shiner's out to get us. I'm sorry."
"So am I," Spot shot back, headed for the door. "So am I."
Once the door had closed behind him, Jack took a deep breath before turning to us. "Let's go git sellin."
"What if Spot's right?" Kid Blink asked quietly.
"Tanglin with Shiner aint no game," Jack said weakly. "If trouble comes we'se ready for it, but I aint goin looking for it. Come on, let's go."
As Kid filed out of the door with the other newsies, I heard him mumble, "Somethin just don't feel right."
*************************************
By lunchtime, the weight of Spot's news had lifted a little, and the newsies were socializing (as always) at Tibby's.
Suddenly Mush rushed in, almost throwing the door off its hinges. "Jack, come quick, it's Kid!"
Jack bolted down the street just behind Mush, the entire clan following close in toe.
Chapter 3: A Disturbing Wakeup Call
I woke up to the click of a door down the hallway. As I sat up, I could hear Kloppman making his way to the lobby. Slowly, I got up and headed into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. I returned just as he found the menagerie of newsies sprawled on everything from chairs to the steps. He let out a long sigh and was about to wake them up when the front door swung open, cracking as it hit the wall. The cold wind from the streets began to fill the room, causing the newsies to stir from their slumber.
The figure was undistinguishable because my eyes were still clouded over with sleep. That is until he spoke.
"Get us Jacky Boy!" That Brooklyn accent was unmistakable.
"Spot?" Jack asked, stretching as he sat up. "Whatya need?"
Spot slowly stalked from the doorway, allowing me to see him more clearly. As he passed me, he shot me a cold, angry look. "We need to talk… Alone."
All the others sat up in turn, curious to find the purpose of Spot's early morning visit.
"Whatever you got to say, you can say it in front of the boys. We's aint got any secrets from them," Jack said calmly.
"It's not the boys I'm worried about," Spot said, shooting me an even colder stare than before. Every muscle in my body went numb; Spot wasn't the type you wanted cross with you.
Skittery jumped in front of me protectively, mirroring Spot's vicious expression. "You leave her alone. She aint done nothing to you."
"What's this all about Spot?" Jack stepped in, recapturing Spot's attention.
"Shinah's been causin trouble. He's been beatin up my boys Jack, real bad. I aint gonna stand for it no more…"
Internally I cursed my brother's actions, but I didn't dare move from my safe haven behind Skitts.
"…I need your help. They's talkin weapons Jack, knives and such."
Jack sat down and ran his hands through his hair, thinking it over slowly. "I can't help ya. Nothin has happened to make me think Shiner's out to get us. I'm sorry."
"So am I," Spot shot back, headed for the door. "So am I."
Once the door had closed behind him, Jack took a deep breath before turning to us. "Let's go git sellin."
"What if Spot's right?" Kid Blink asked quietly.
"Tanglin with Shiner aint no game," Jack said weakly. "If trouble comes we'se ready for it, but I aint goin looking for it. Come on, let's go."
As Kid filed out of the door with the other newsies, I heard him mumble, "Somethin just don't feel right."
*************************************
By lunchtime, the weight of Spot's news had lifted a little, and the newsies were socializing (as always) at Tibby's.
Suddenly Mush rushed in, almost throwing the door off its hinges. "Jack, come quick, it's Kid!"
Jack bolted down the street just behind Mush, the entire clan following close in toe.