DISCLAIMER: The Newsies do not belong to me save for Honey and Flame. So
puh-lease don't sue me because you won't get very much. Muah ha ha!
Switching Spots
Honey's mind was full of rampant thoughts as she and Flame were selling papers the next day around Brooklyn. She was supposed to be listening to his talk about Staten Island goons and their intent to persuade Queens in joining the invasion of Brooklyn, but she could only think about how intoxicating Flame's voice was when he spoke of something that concerned him. She did not want to admit it, but the simple crush she had on him was gradually growing. Afraid of what she might do or say, she kept her eyes on the sights in front of them and only looked at him if necessary.
"Anyways, me boys are willin tah come tah Brooklyn's aid if youse need it. Wid Manhattan at our side, we should be able tah take out the bums easily. They's real brutal though. I sent one of me messengers tah Staten's leadah, and he sent the kid back with a bad shinah."
Honey nodded. "We'll see how bad they wanna fight soon enough." They turned a corner then and a skinny puppy caught their eyes. "Oh my god!" Honey exclaimed. "That dog must be starvin! Poor thing, and he's so cute too!" She ran up to the puppy and kneeled down beside it before cradling it in her arms. "Aww, poor baby. I'se gonna get ya some food, don't worry."
Flame looked at the Brooklyn leader with much surprise. He never knew Spot had such a mushy side to him. "Uh, Conlon? Youse don't know where that mutt's been. 'Sides, we'se gots papes tah sell. Just leave it there and let's go."
"Leave it heah? Are ya crazy? I'se aint gonna let such an adorable puppy die on the streets just cause I'se gots papes tah sell." Her eyes glared at his lack of sensitivity, forgetting for the moment that Spot probably would not do something like this, at least not in front of people who held him in high respect. "I'se gonna take him wid us and buy him a scrap of meat tah eat."
"Yer takin him wid us? He can barely walk!"
Honey grinned. "Then I'se gonna have tah hold him in me arms." She cuddled the puppy and rose to her feet, grabbing her papers from the ground in the process. Flame looked disgusted, but said nothing more. Something was definitely wrong with Spot these days.
* * * * *
"All right everybody, shut up and listen. This bit of news concerns Spot. He's been kinda sick lately and needs tah see a doctor real bad. Problem is, Brooklyn aint got enough money tah pay fer one, even when they pulled their last pennies together. So, I'se askin ya if youse can spare yer money fer jist one day so that we'se can help Spot out." Jack looked into each of his newsies' faces as he spoke to them in the main room of the Manhattan Lodging House. He knew they would agree to helping out, even if it meant going hungry for a day. Though Spot was rather irritable at times with his arrogant ways, they knew he was one of the coolest guys around with a great personality.
"Heya Jack," Race said from a chair upon which he sat. "I'se hoid a few rumors concernin our infamous Spot. People been sayin he's been actin weird lately. Ya think he's on drugs? Ya know, it might explain why he's sick."
"Yea," Blink threw in, "as a mattah of fact, he rejected this goil the other night at Medda's. As soon as the goil sat down on his lap, he threw her off as if she had a disease er sumthin. And the weird thing is, she was on of the most prettiest goils there. Since when does Spot resist the chance tah take someone home wid him?"
Crutchy nodded. "Some boys from the Bronx said that Spot turned down a slingshot contest fer another day. I think that's the foist time in history he's done that."
A loud commotion erupted then between the Manhattan newsies as they shared gossip they had heard about the Brooklyn leader. No one could explain his unusual behavior but everyone had a theory that explained what the possible cause could be.
"Shut up!" Jack yelled impatiently, and he waited until all were once again silent before continuing. "Spot aint on drugs, okay? He's just been extremely sick and is kinda losin it. I tell him tah stay inside and stop goin tah parties, but he aint listenin tah me. He's only makin his condition worse. Now is youse gonna keep yakkin like goils, are ya gonna help raise money tah help him."
Race took his cigar out of his mouth and fished inside the pocket of his vest before taking out seven cents-the entirety of his capital that day. He walked over to Jack and dropped the change into a small, wooden box Jack had placed on a table before him. It kind of resembled the charity boxes often found in churches. "Of coise we'se is gonna help, Jack. Spot is like a brother tah some of us." One by one, each newsie followed Race's lead and dropped whatever money they could into the same box.
* * * * *
That night, Honey looked at herself in the mirror that hung in Spot's room as the Brooklyn leader soundly slept. The puppy she had found during the day was snuggled up in a corner of the room with a thick blanket thrown over its body. She was sure that after a few meals, the animal would return to being lively like a puppy should be. Honey took a strand of her hair in her finger and thought about how much she and Spot resembled each other. Of course, they were twins, but often when a brother and sister were the twins in question, their similarities were not as drastic. The only difference between Spot and Honey was that the sister's nose was slimmer and her face a bit longer. She was glad she at least had some sign of femininity in her.
She looked back at Spot and sighed. His breathing was heavy, as if it was now difficult for him to do so. His forehead was also beaded with sweat. Time was running out. If they did not get a doctor for him by the end of this week, he would definitely die. She hated to imagine her last family member embracing death, but she had to face reality. Her mother had been like this during her last days. It was only a matter of time before Spot would meet her same fate.
* * * * *
Jack and Honey walked to Bronx the next day to get details about Staten Island's progress from Flame. "We'se collected two dollars and thirty-three cents yesterday. Everybody gave what they could. That should be enough tah pay fer a little exam, right?"
Honey smiled. "Yea, I guess so! That's great! And we'se still got the three dollars from Brooklyn. I'se shoah a doctor would woik out some kinda deal fer us." Soon enough, they were in the Bronx territory and nearing the Bronx lodging house. Flame was sitting outside with his newsies, practicing with their slingshots when he saw the two other leaders heading his way.
"Heya fellahs!" he called out. He met them halfway to the front door and spit shook with both of them, noticing Spot tense when their hands touched. He eyed the Brooklyn leader in confusion but Jack turned his attention to other things.
"So Flame, what's the deal?"
"Queens turned down Staten Island's offer but got a soakin in return. Their leadah is in kinda bad condition now and they's want us tah send some of our boys down there tah make shoah no one tries anything. Alotta fights have been breakin out lately." He stopped short, staring at Spot who was picking nearby flowers with a small smile.
Jack caught his gaze and followed it, and then shook his head with a hesitant smile. "Ah, don't mind him. He's uh, he's.heh, well, ya know Spot's odd at times."
Honey picked one last flower and then returned to the two young men. "These are pretty, Flame. Did youse plant them or were they already heah when youse became leadah?"
"Conlon, youse on drugs?"
"Huh?" Honey cursed when she realized what she was doing, but she quickly covered it up. "Cause I like flowers, I'se automatically classified as a drug addict? Goodness! You boys shoah have a lot tah learn about the woild. Can't a guy have a sensitive side? I think it would be sweet if youse had planted them, Flame." She obviously had done a bad job.
Flame arched an eyebrow. "Sweet?"
"Spot, youse feelin all right?" Jack said quickly pulling the Brooklyn leader away with him. "I think ya need yer medication."
Honey broke free from his grasp, not willing to leave Flame's presence so quickly. She thought of what to do. Then she threw the flowers to the ground and laughed hysterically. "Youse actually thought I'se was serious?! That was so funny! The expressions on yer faces!" She dropped to her knees and laughed harder than ever, even though it was just an act. It seemed as if the others were buying it because then Flame grinned and started to laugh too.
"Conlon, yer an idiot. Let's go inside so youse can talk wid the messenger of mines who Staten Island soaked. He can give ya more information." As they followed after Flame, Jack glared at Honey and mouthed to her that she had better be careful. Upon entering the lodging house, they saw a group of newsies engaged in fistfights. Honey and Jack gave Flame a confused look.
"Helps keep the peace," the Bronx leader said. "They's have their own arguments and instead of getting all of New Yawk involved, they just duke it out between themselves."
Honey put her hands on her hips and fumed. "This is incredible!" Her voice came out almost as a yell and all the fighting newsies stopped suddenly to look at who had said that. "We'se practically havin a war heah between newsies of all kinds of boroughs fer no reason at all! Instead of gettin along and sharin powers, Staten Island wants tah dominate. People is gettin soaked and some of yer boys is comin home wid shinahs. And rather than findin a way tah stops it, heah youse are, killin each other fer stupid reasons!"
She walked over to one of the taller newsies who had been fighting and glared at him. "Fer example, what were youse two arguin over?"
"Well, this bum stole one of me cigarettes."
"So? Don't ya know the meanin of sharin?" She walked over to another pair who had been fighting. "What's yer excuse?"
The newsie looked at the Brooklyn leader and then down at his shoes. "He cheated while we'se were playin marbles."
"Now cheatin aint nice I'll admit, but it aint no reason tah give somebody a black eye! Youse guys is gonna have tah obtain some morals!"
One newsie who had been listening to Spot talk this whole time stepped towards him with a sarcastic smile. "So youse is the infamous Spot Conlon, huh?"
"What's it tah youse?" Honey spat.
"I don't know. I just never thought that his high and mighty was such a pansy." The entire room went silent and all eyes were on the Brooklyn leader to see what would happen next. Much to everyone's astonishment, Spot burst into tears.
"So I see how it is! I'se just tryin tah help youse out and ya insult me! Well I'se sorry I'se tryin tah rid youse of the street rat image. I guess it suits you more." Then with her hands in her face, Honey ran out of the lodging house to the streets outside.
Flame shifted from one foot to another. That was it. He was officially scared. But the tension in the room somewhat broke when a newsie came forward an asked a question.
"Does anyone know wheah we'se can find the nearest asylum?"
More to come. Please Review!!! I live for reviews!!! I Love You All!!!
Switching Spots
Honey's mind was full of rampant thoughts as she and Flame were selling papers the next day around Brooklyn. She was supposed to be listening to his talk about Staten Island goons and their intent to persuade Queens in joining the invasion of Brooklyn, but she could only think about how intoxicating Flame's voice was when he spoke of something that concerned him. She did not want to admit it, but the simple crush she had on him was gradually growing. Afraid of what she might do or say, she kept her eyes on the sights in front of them and only looked at him if necessary.
"Anyways, me boys are willin tah come tah Brooklyn's aid if youse need it. Wid Manhattan at our side, we should be able tah take out the bums easily. They's real brutal though. I sent one of me messengers tah Staten's leadah, and he sent the kid back with a bad shinah."
Honey nodded. "We'll see how bad they wanna fight soon enough." They turned a corner then and a skinny puppy caught their eyes. "Oh my god!" Honey exclaimed. "That dog must be starvin! Poor thing, and he's so cute too!" She ran up to the puppy and kneeled down beside it before cradling it in her arms. "Aww, poor baby. I'se gonna get ya some food, don't worry."
Flame looked at the Brooklyn leader with much surprise. He never knew Spot had such a mushy side to him. "Uh, Conlon? Youse don't know where that mutt's been. 'Sides, we'se gots papes tah sell. Just leave it there and let's go."
"Leave it heah? Are ya crazy? I'se aint gonna let such an adorable puppy die on the streets just cause I'se gots papes tah sell." Her eyes glared at his lack of sensitivity, forgetting for the moment that Spot probably would not do something like this, at least not in front of people who held him in high respect. "I'se gonna take him wid us and buy him a scrap of meat tah eat."
"Yer takin him wid us? He can barely walk!"
Honey grinned. "Then I'se gonna have tah hold him in me arms." She cuddled the puppy and rose to her feet, grabbing her papers from the ground in the process. Flame looked disgusted, but said nothing more. Something was definitely wrong with Spot these days.
* * * * *
"All right everybody, shut up and listen. This bit of news concerns Spot. He's been kinda sick lately and needs tah see a doctor real bad. Problem is, Brooklyn aint got enough money tah pay fer one, even when they pulled their last pennies together. So, I'se askin ya if youse can spare yer money fer jist one day so that we'se can help Spot out." Jack looked into each of his newsies' faces as he spoke to them in the main room of the Manhattan Lodging House. He knew they would agree to helping out, even if it meant going hungry for a day. Though Spot was rather irritable at times with his arrogant ways, they knew he was one of the coolest guys around with a great personality.
"Heya Jack," Race said from a chair upon which he sat. "I'se hoid a few rumors concernin our infamous Spot. People been sayin he's been actin weird lately. Ya think he's on drugs? Ya know, it might explain why he's sick."
"Yea," Blink threw in, "as a mattah of fact, he rejected this goil the other night at Medda's. As soon as the goil sat down on his lap, he threw her off as if she had a disease er sumthin. And the weird thing is, she was on of the most prettiest goils there. Since when does Spot resist the chance tah take someone home wid him?"
Crutchy nodded. "Some boys from the Bronx said that Spot turned down a slingshot contest fer another day. I think that's the foist time in history he's done that."
A loud commotion erupted then between the Manhattan newsies as they shared gossip they had heard about the Brooklyn leader. No one could explain his unusual behavior but everyone had a theory that explained what the possible cause could be.
"Shut up!" Jack yelled impatiently, and he waited until all were once again silent before continuing. "Spot aint on drugs, okay? He's just been extremely sick and is kinda losin it. I tell him tah stay inside and stop goin tah parties, but he aint listenin tah me. He's only makin his condition worse. Now is youse gonna keep yakkin like goils, are ya gonna help raise money tah help him."
Race took his cigar out of his mouth and fished inside the pocket of his vest before taking out seven cents-the entirety of his capital that day. He walked over to Jack and dropped the change into a small, wooden box Jack had placed on a table before him. It kind of resembled the charity boxes often found in churches. "Of coise we'se is gonna help, Jack. Spot is like a brother tah some of us." One by one, each newsie followed Race's lead and dropped whatever money they could into the same box.
* * * * *
That night, Honey looked at herself in the mirror that hung in Spot's room as the Brooklyn leader soundly slept. The puppy she had found during the day was snuggled up in a corner of the room with a thick blanket thrown over its body. She was sure that after a few meals, the animal would return to being lively like a puppy should be. Honey took a strand of her hair in her finger and thought about how much she and Spot resembled each other. Of course, they were twins, but often when a brother and sister were the twins in question, their similarities were not as drastic. The only difference between Spot and Honey was that the sister's nose was slimmer and her face a bit longer. She was glad she at least had some sign of femininity in her.
She looked back at Spot and sighed. His breathing was heavy, as if it was now difficult for him to do so. His forehead was also beaded with sweat. Time was running out. If they did not get a doctor for him by the end of this week, he would definitely die. She hated to imagine her last family member embracing death, but she had to face reality. Her mother had been like this during her last days. It was only a matter of time before Spot would meet her same fate.
* * * * *
Jack and Honey walked to Bronx the next day to get details about Staten Island's progress from Flame. "We'se collected two dollars and thirty-three cents yesterday. Everybody gave what they could. That should be enough tah pay fer a little exam, right?"
Honey smiled. "Yea, I guess so! That's great! And we'se still got the three dollars from Brooklyn. I'se shoah a doctor would woik out some kinda deal fer us." Soon enough, they were in the Bronx territory and nearing the Bronx lodging house. Flame was sitting outside with his newsies, practicing with their slingshots when he saw the two other leaders heading his way.
"Heya fellahs!" he called out. He met them halfway to the front door and spit shook with both of them, noticing Spot tense when their hands touched. He eyed the Brooklyn leader in confusion but Jack turned his attention to other things.
"So Flame, what's the deal?"
"Queens turned down Staten Island's offer but got a soakin in return. Their leadah is in kinda bad condition now and they's want us tah send some of our boys down there tah make shoah no one tries anything. Alotta fights have been breakin out lately." He stopped short, staring at Spot who was picking nearby flowers with a small smile.
Jack caught his gaze and followed it, and then shook his head with a hesitant smile. "Ah, don't mind him. He's uh, he's.heh, well, ya know Spot's odd at times."
Honey picked one last flower and then returned to the two young men. "These are pretty, Flame. Did youse plant them or were they already heah when youse became leadah?"
"Conlon, youse on drugs?"
"Huh?" Honey cursed when she realized what she was doing, but she quickly covered it up. "Cause I like flowers, I'se automatically classified as a drug addict? Goodness! You boys shoah have a lot tah learn about the woild. Can't a guy have a sensitive side? I think it would be sweet if youse had planted them, Flame." She obviously had done a bad job.
Flame arched an eyebrow. "Sweet?"
"Spot, youse feelin all right?" Jack said quickly pulling the Brooklyn leader away with him. "I think ya need yer medication."
Honey broke free from his grasp, not willing to leave Flame's presence so quickly. She thought of what to do. Then she threw the flowers to the ground and laughed hysterically. "Youse actually thought I'se was serious?! That was so funny! The expressions on yer faces!" She dropped to her knees and laughed harder than ever, even though it was just an act. It seemed as if the others were buying it because then Flame grinned and started to laugh too.
"Conlon, yer an idiot. Let's go inside so youse can talk wid the messenger of mines who Staten Island soaked. He can give ya more information." As they followed after Flame, Jack glared at Honey and mouthed to her that she had better be careful. Upon entering the lodging house, they saw a group of newsies engaged in fistfights. Honey and Jack gave Flame a confused look.
"Helps keep the peace," the Bronx leader said. "They's have their own arguments and instead of getting all of New Yawk involved, they just duke it out between themselves."
Honey put her hands on her hips and fumed. "This is incredible!" Her voice came out almost as a yell and all the fighting newsies stopped suddenly to look at who had said that. "We'se practically havin a war heah between newsies of all kinds of boroughs fer no reason at all! Instead of gettin along and sharin powers, Staten Island wants tah dominate. People is gettin soaked and some of yer boys is comin home wid shinahs. And rather than findin a way tah stops it, heah youse are, killin each other fer stupid reasons!"
She walked over to one of the taller newsies who had been fighting and glared at him. "Fer example, what were youse two arguin over?"
"Well, this bum stole one of me cigarettes."
"So? Don't ya know the meanin of sharin?" She walked over to another pair who had been fighting. "What's yer excuse?"
The newsie looked at the Brooklyn leader and then down at his shoes. "He cheated while we'se were playin marbles."
"Now cheatin aint nice I'll admit, but it aint no reason tah give somebody a black eye! Youse guys is gonna have tah obtain some morals!"
One newsie who had been listening to Spot talk this whole time stepped towards him with a sarcastic smile. "So youse is the infamous Spot Conlon, huh?"
"What's it tah youse?" Honey spat.
"I don't know. I just never thought that his high and mighty was such a pansy." The entire room went silent and all eyes were on the Brooklyn leader to see what would happen next. Much to everyone's astonishment, Spot burst into tears.
"So I see how it is! I'se just tryin tah help youse out and ya insult me! Well I'se sorry I'se tryin tah rid youse of the street rat image. I guess it suits you more." Then with her hands in her face, Honey ran out of the lodging house to the streets outside.
Flame shifted from one foot to another. That was it. He was officially scared. But the tension in the room somewhat broke when a newsie came forward an asked a question.
"Does anyone know wheah we'se can find the nearest asylum?"
More to come. Please Review!!! I live for reviews!!! I Love You All!!!