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!
A.N. Thanks to all those who have reviewed this story so far! Stella Puro- Sangue, lncdaydreamer, Twig, kimimay85, and baby309blue, you guys ROCK my SOCKS!
Switching Spots
Honey slapped her hand against the table in protest. "Jack, where are ya going? We'se aint done yet! Youse still gots other stuff tah teach me!" She combed her hair behind her ears and formed her lips into a pout.
"We'se played thoity-two games of pokah!" Jack exclaimed. "If youse don't understand it by now, ya hopeless."
The girl jumped to her feet and blocked Jack from walking any farther. Staring him straight in the eyes, and having to crane back her neck to do so, she almost had the temperamental fighting look her brother was renowned for. "Practice makes poifect! I'se going tah that pokah game tonight wid me bruddah's life on the line and I'se gunna do me best tah master the game so that I can save him! If he doesn't mean enough tah youse fer ya tah offer yer help, then tell me right now, 'cause I'se knows plenty of people who won't mind giving me a few lessons."
Jack knew arguing would only prove in vain. Honey had used guilt against him; how could he refuse to teach her poker when she threw in Spot's fight with dying into the equation? He sighed and sat back down at the table, motioning for her to do the same. "How is Spot, by the way?"
She frowned at the inquiry and tried to swallow down the knot in her throat that would otherwise cause tears to fall from her eyes. "His fever's breaking 100. I'se so worried that I'se gunna wake up and rush into his room only tah find him gone. Sometimes I'se have nightmares about losing him. Jack, he's the only one I'se gots!" She buried her face in her hands and let all of the worry and sorrow flood out of her without care. She loved Spot so incredibly much; he simply could not abandon her!
"Don't worry, goil," Jack said as he scooted his chair over to her and held her in his arms. "We'se gunna figure out a way tah help him."
* * * * *
Honey and Jack walked into the Queens lodging house with infamous gambler Racetrack Higgins at their side. If fortune was with them this night, they would win enough money between the three of them to afford a doctor's visit for Spot. Race looked at his two friends and raised his eyebrows. "Well, this is it. Wish me luck, huh?" He left them and approached a Craps table where he shook hands with the boys already playing and waited for the next round.
Meanwhile, Jack was scanning the room for poker tables that seemed easy enough to conquer. There was a beginner table towards the back of the room at which the novices sat, the oldest being only fourteen years of age, but the Manhattan leader had his dignity and he did not want to seem as if he was robbing money of the lesser gamblers.
That is when he saw Flame in a heated match against the Bronx's best player. The tension they suffered perforated the atmosphere and beads of sweat could be seen on the back of their hands. They were nervous, that much was apparent. Money was not the only thing they would be losing tonight, their pride drained away with the cash as well. Jack put a hand to Honey's back and pointed towards the game.
"He's gunna want tah play against youse. Ya ready?"
Her eyes were glazed over and seemed to be staring at some unseen object. "Can't ya go foist? Ya know, save the best fer last?"
Jack laughed sarcastically and led the way towards the card duel that had drawn so much attention within five minutes. At least twenty newsies were grouped around the two leaders, waiting out the results, anxious to know who would win.
"Youse wanna go any higher?" Flame asked, rubbing the surface of a coin between two of his fingers.
The Bronx leader shook his head and laid out his cards onto the table with much confidence. "Three of a kind, what do youse gots?"
Flame grinned and showed the entire crowd his cards before laying them on the table. All of one suit, he had a 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. "Straight flush," he replied, collecting his winnings from the center of the table. Queens roared into triumphant applause and congratulated their leader on his victory. "Heya, Jack! Sit down and represent Manhattan! I didn't even see youse heah. Ya just come in?"
"Yea," Jack said nervously. After that superior example of poker mastery, he was not sure he could help Spot after all. But he would try nonetheless. "I'se gunna save us the waiting, and bid all me money right now. I'se gots three dollahs heah, that too much fer yer blood?" The crowd of newsies that formed a circle around the boys whistled at the large amount of money. Jack bathed in the recognition, even though he had borrowed the money from David's father.
Flame took a long drag on a cigarette. "Three dollahs, huh? How bout we'se go all the way tah five, Jacky-boy?"
"Three is all I'se going, alright?" Honey poked an elbow into his back and he turned around to address her. "What?" He hissed.
"Go fer it! It's all or nuthin fer us! Heah's the extra two youse needs." She reached into the pockets of her pants and fished out enough money to make up for Jack's shortcoming.
"Youse crazy? Five is too much, I aint gunna risk Spot's life 'cause youse is feeling lucky!" He remembered to keep his voice down into a nearly inaudible whisper, especially now that some of the boys were giving the friends unusual looks.
Flame laughed. "Jack, take Brooklyn's advice and go all the way. It's just a game, kid. We'se all in good fellowship heah, we aint gunna run ya outta town when ya lose."
Jack turned back around, determined to prove that he was quite capable of winning the match if he put his mind to it. "Alright, have it your way. I just didn't want youse to lose so much money. Deal." The cards were dealt, five to each boy, and each boy excitedly flipped over their hands to see if luck would be their shining aura this time.
"Youse shoah ya don't wanna raise the stakes, Jack?"
Jack wished he could lower the stakes! His only chance right now was to trade in all five of his cards for a new hand. "Nah, I think I'll take four." As said before, he had his dignity. Giving in all five would make him appear not in control.
"I only want two," Flame told the dealer with a self-assured smile. "I only need two." The cards were redistributed and Honey instantly saw Jack's failure by the sudden sadness in his grey eyes.
"One pair," the Manhattan leader muttered under his breath, his eyes refusing to meet anyone else's.
"It's alright, kid," Flame laughed. "Ya win some, ya lose some." He placed his cards one by one on the table to reveal the Full House he had won by. "Who's next? Heya! Spot Conlon, why don't youse have a seat and show these bums how pokah is really played."
Honey sighed. She only had so much to wager with. She collapsed into the chair opposite Flame and looked into his intense, brown eyes. He was filled with so much buoyancy and she found that utterly admirable. If he were not her current opponent, she would occupy her mind with the sole task of studying him at such times.
Flame motioned to one of his newsies to deal the cards and when five had been given to each of the two players, the game commenced. Jack had untied his bandana from around his neck and now held it tightly between his hands in agitation. They should have never thrown away their money like this, he kept telling himself. They were only digging deeper graves for themselves and a literal one for Spot by continuing with their gambles.
Race came up beside him then, and frowned. "I'se lost it all," he said, feeling at once at fault for everything. "What are we'se gunna do now?"
Jack quieted him and pointed to Flame and Honey. Race's jaw dropped open in surprise. He could not believe Jack was letting her take the final blow in their attempts to raise money for Spot. Not to directly insult her, in the short time he had known her he thought she was great, but she was still a student at poker!
"I'll take three," Honey said, though her tone of voice conveyed uncertainty.
Flame narrowed his eyes at the Brooklyn leader and noticed that Spot's fingernails were awfully long for a guy's. Raising his gaze to Spot's face, he could not help but notice something different once again, something that was just not right. His face seemed much more...he was afraid to even think it, but the truth was that Spot's face had a femininity about it. He shook his head and focused his attention to his cards. He asked the dealer for three cards as well, and had to bite his lip to keep from smiling at his new hand. "So Brooklyn, think youse coming out richer tonight?"
Honey could only pity the boy as she showed him her cards. She had a straight, the cards of different suits in this case. She looked back at Jack, whose face had lightened up by her achievement and she laughed. "It was a good game," she commented to Flame who looked at her in disbelief. But as she leaned forward to collect her money, he stopped her.
"Not so fast, Conlon. I'se gots me..." he flipped over his cards, "a flush." Queens shouted happily at their leader's win.
"No, that can't happen," Honey said softly. It was not supposed to end this way! She was supposed to win loads of money to bring back to Spot so that he could better in health. She looked around her, her breath quickening. Amidst the applauses and exclamations of joy, she saw Race and Jack's disappointed faces, but also their grief. "Wait, I'se wants tah play another game!"
Flame laughed. "C'mon, Conlon. There's others in line waiting tah get their money taken away from them. Be a good sport and go tah another table."
"NO!" Even she was shocked by the volume of the outburst. Then again, it was a typical demand Spot would utter, perhaps she was finally resembling him. "I want tah play another game wid youse. No one else heah is woithy of me money. Now, are ya gunna woik wid me heah or what?" She glared at him, her blue eyes burning like roasted berries.
Flame held up his hands in surrender. "Shoah, we'se can always accommodate another victory. Sit down, Spotty." The poker routine was continued, and it was time for the wages to be made. "I'se only gunna raise ya up tah one price, Conlon, take it or leave it. Ten dollahs!" The only sounds were the gasps that the surrounding newsies intook.
Honey froze, and it seemed as if time froze with her. She only had a dollar left in her pocket! How was she going to finagle her way out of this mishap? As if answering her question, she felt the cold metal around her neck for the first time that night. Spot's signature key. It was the charm of a long silver chain he had received as a birthday present from their mother. It alone was worth well over fifteen dollars. She unlatched it and stared at its slender shape in her hands. She was heartbroken to have to succumb to these odds. "Flame, youse can take this tah any jewelry dealer and they's will give ya so much money fer it youse won't know what tah do wid it."
"Shoah, shoah," Flame said with a roll of his eyes. "Why don't ya throw in that stupid cane of yers too? Ya ready tah lose or what?"
Honey took a deep breath. This was it. Her future depended on this one moment. "I'll take two cards." She received the new pair and Jack thought he almost saw her wince at them.
"As for me, I'se gunna have tah take the same amount as shorty over there." There was light laughter as Flame accepted his new cards. He rearranged them in his hand and nodded when they met his approval. Then with that cocky smile of his, he looked at Spot. "Well, show us what Brooklyn is made of, kid."
"If youse say so," Honey sighed. She gave Jack and Race an apologetic look and let her cards fall back onto the table. "Four of a kind, Flame."
Flame rolled his head along his neck to relieve the stress that had built up on his shoulders. He hated having a conscious. He knew Spot's sister was sick in bed, suffering from some illness only curable through the proper administration of a doctor. He knew the Brooklyn leader was afraid of losing his only relative, so much that he had put his cherished chain and key on the line. Most of all, he knew that Spot had always been there for him when he had needed his help. Always. Flame glanced down at his Royal Flush-the highest possible hand in poker-and groaned. "Congratulations, Conlon. Youse finally learned how tah win."
Honey gasped and covered her gaping mouth with two hands. "Are youse serious?!"
Flame nodded and shuffled his cards into the deck before any newsies got suspicious. Pushing the money towards Spot, he laughed. "Like I said, ya win some, ya lose some."
"Oh my god! I can't believe this!" She was so taken aback by her triumph that she had forgotten, for the hundredth but last time, who she was impersonating. Lost in her surprise, she leaned across the table, seized Flame's face in her hands, and kissed the boy hard and long.
The Queens leader shoved Spot away and wiped his mouth with a sleeve. "Get outta heah, ya FREAK!"
Honey burst out laughing, swept all the money into her pockets, and ran out of the lodging house with an elated Jack and Race in tow. It was the most memorable poker game in their lives up to date.
* * * * *
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
A.N. Thanks to all those who have reviewed this story so far! Stella Puro- Sangue, lncdaydreamer, Twig, kimimay85, and baby309blue, you guys ROCK my SOCKS!
Switching Spots
Honey slapped her hand against the table in protest. "Jack, where are ya going? We'se aint done yet! Youse still gots other stuff tah teach me!" She combed her hair behind her ears and formed her lips into a pout.
"We'se played thoity-two games of pokah!" Jack exclaimed. "If youse don't understand it by now, ya hopeless."
The girl jumped to her feet and blocked Jack from walking any farther. Staring him straight in the eyes, and having to crane back her neck to do so, she almost had the temperamental fighting look her brother was renowned for. "Practice makes poifect! I'se going tah that pokah game tonight wid me bruddah's life on the line and I'se gunna do me best tah master the game so that I can save him! If he doesn't mean enough tah youse fer ya tah offer yer help, then tell me right now, 'cause I'se knows plenty of people who won't mind giving me a few lessons."
Jack knew arguing would only prove in vain. Honey had used guilt against him; how could he refuse to teach her poker when she threw in Spot's fight with dying into the equation? He sighed and sat back down at the table, motioning for her to do the same. "How is Spot, by the way?"
She frowned at the inquiry and tried to swallow down the knot in her throat that would otherwise cause tears to fall from her eyes. "His fever's breaking 100. I'se so worried that I'se gunna wake up and rush into his room only tah find him gone. Sometimes I'se have nightmares about losing him. Jack, he's the only one I'se gots!" She buried her face in her hands and let all of the worry and sorrow flood out of her without care. She loved Spot so incredibly much; he simply could not abandon her!
"Don't worry, goil," Jack said as he scooted his chair over to her and held her in his arms. "We'se gunna figure out a way tah help him."
* * * * *
Honey and Jack walked into the Queens lodging house with infamous gambler Racetrack Higgins at their side. If fortune was with them this night, they would win enough money between the three of them to afford a doctor's visit for Spot. Race looked at his two friends and raised his eyebrows. "Well, this is it. Wish me luck, huh?" He left them and approached a Craps table where he shook hands with the boys already playing and waited for the next round.
Meanwhile, Jack was scanning the room for poker tables that seemed easy enough to conquer. There was a beginner table towards the back of the room at which the novices sat, the oldest being only fourteen years of age, but the Manhattan leader had his dignity and he did not want to seem as if he was robbing money of the lesser gamblers.
That is when he saw Flame in a heated match against the Bronx's best player. The tension they suffered perforated the atmosphere and beads of sweat could be seen on the back of their hands. They were nervous, that much was apparent. Money was not the only thing they would be losing tonight, their pride drained away with the cash as well. Jack put a hand to Honey's back and pointed towards the game.
"He's gunna want tah play against youse. Ya ready?"
Her eyes were glazed over and seemed to be staring at some unseen object. "Can't ya go foist? Ya know, save the best fer last?"
Jack laughed sarcastically and led the way towards the card duel that had drawn so much attention within five minutes. At least twenty newsies were grouped around the two leaders, waiting out the results, anxious to know who would win.
"Youse wanna go any higher?" Flame asked, rubbing the surface of a coin between two of his fingers.
The Bronx leader shook his head and laid out his cards onto the table with much confidence. "Three of a kind, what do youse gots?"
Flame grinned and showed the entire crowd his cards before laying them on the table. All of one suit, he had a 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. "Straight flush," he replied, collecting his winnings from the center of the table. Queens roared into triumphant applause and congratulated their leader on his victory. "Heya, Jack! Sit down and represent Manhattan! I didn't even see youse heah. Ya just come in?"
"Yea," Jack said nervously. After that superior example of poker mastery, he was not sure he could help Spot after all. But he would try nonetheless. "I'se gunna save us the waiting, and bid all me money right now. I'se gots three dollahs heah, that too much fer yer blood?" The crowd of newsies that formed a circle around the boys whistled at the large amount of money. Jack bathed in the recognition, even though he had borrowed the money from David's father.
Flame took a long drag on a cigarette. "Three dollahs, huh? How bout we'se go all the way tah five, Jacky-boy?"
"Three is all I'se going, alright?" Honey poked an elbow into his back and he turned around to address her. "What?" He hissed.
"Go fer it! It's all or nuthin fer us! Heah's the extra two youse needs." She reached into the pockets of her pants and fished out enough money to make up for Jack's shortcoming.
"Youse crazy? Five is too much, I aint gunna risk Spot's life 'cause youse is feeling lucky!" He remembered to keep his voice down into a nearly inaudible whisper, especially now that some of the boys were giving the friends unusual looks.
Flame laughed. "Jack, take Brooklyn's advice and go all the way. It's just a game, kid. We'se all in good fellowship heah, we aint gunna run ya outta town when ya lose."
Jack turned back around, determined to prove that he was quite capable of winning the match if he put his mind to it. "Alright, have it your way. I just didn't want youse to lose so much money. Deal." The cards were dealt, five to each boy, and each boy excitedly flipped over their hands to see if luck would be their shining aura this time.
"Youse shoah ya don't wanna raise the stakes, Jack?"
Jack wished he could lower the stakes! His only chance right now was to trade in all five of his cards for a new hand. "Nah, I think I'll take four." As said before, he had his dignity. Giving in all five would make him appear not in control.
"I only want two," Flame told the dealer with a self-assured smile. "I only need two." The cards were redistributed and Honey instantly saw Jack's failure by the sudden sadness in his grey eyes.
"One pair," the Manhattan leader muttered under his breath, his eyes refusing to meet anyone else's.
"It's alright, kid," Flame laughed. "Ya win some, ya lose some." He placed his cards one by one on the table to reveal the Full House he had won by. "Who's next? Heya! Spot Conlon, why don't youse have a seat and show these bums how pokah is really played."
Honey sighed. She only had so much to wager with. She collapsed into the chair opposite Flame and looked into his intense, brown eyes. He was filled with so much buoyancy and she found that utterly admirable. If he were not her current opponent, she would occupy her mind with the sole task of studying him at such times.
Flame motioned to one of his newsies to deal the cards and when five had been given to each of the two players, the game commenced. Jack had untied his bandana from around his neck and now held it tightly between his hands in agitation. They should have never thrown away their money like this, he kept telling himself. They were only digging deeper graves for themselves and a literal one for Spot by continuing with their gambles.
Race came up beside him then, and frowned. "I'se lost it all," he said, feeling at once at fault for everything. "What are we'se gunna do now?"
Jack quieted him and pointed to Flame and Honey. Race's jaw dropped open in surprise. He could not believe Jack was letting her take the final blow in their attempts to raise money for Spot. Not to directly insult her, in the short time he had known her he thought she was great, but she was still a student at poker!
"I'll take three," Honey said, though her tone of voice conveyed uncertainty.
Flame narrowed his eyes at the Brooklyn leader and noticed that Spot's fingernails were awfully long for a guy's. Raising his gaze to Spot's face, he could not help but notice something different once again, something that was just not right. His face seemed much more...he was afraid to even think it, but the truth was that Spot's face had a femininity about it. He shook his head and focused his attention to his cards. He asked the dealer for three cards as well, and had to bite his lip to keep from smiling at his new hand. "So Brooklyn, think youse coming out richer tonight?"
Honey could only pity the boy as she showed him her cards. She had a straight, the cards of different suits in this case. She looked back at Jack, whose face had lightened up by her achievement and she laughed. "It was a good game," she commented to Flame who looked at her in disbelief. But as she leaned forward to collect her money, he stopped her.
"Not so fast, Conlon. I'se gots me..." he flipped over his cards, "a flush." Queens shouted happily at their leader's win.
"No, that can't happen," Honey said softly. It was not supposed to end this way! She was supposed to win loads of money to bring back to Spot so that he could better in health. She looked around her, her breath quickening. Amidst the applauses and exclamations of joy, she saw Race and Jack's disappointed faces, but also their grief. "Wait, I'se wants tah play another game!"
Flame laughed. "C'mon, Conlon. There's others in line waiting tah get their money taken away from them. Be a good sport and go tah another table."
"NO!" Even she was shocked by the volume of the outburst. Then again, it was a typical demand Spot would utter, perhaps she was finally resembling him. "I want tah play another game wid youse. No one else heah is woithy of me money. Now, are ya gunna woik wid me heah or what?" She glared at him, her blue eyes burning like roasted berries.
Flame held up his hands in surrender. "Shoah, we'se can always accommodate another victory. Sit down, Spotty." The poker routine was continued, and it was time for the wages to be made. "I'se only gunna raise ya up tah one price, Conlon, take it or leave it. Ten dollahs!" The only sounds were the gasps that the surrounding newsies intook.
Honey froze, and it seemed as if time froze with her. She only had a dollar left in her pocket! How was she going to finagle her way out of this mishap? As if answering her question, she felt the cold metal around her neck for the first time that night. Spot's signature key. It was the charm of a long silver chain he had received as a birthday present from their mother. It alone was worth well over fifteen dollars. She unlatched it and stared at its slender shape in her hands. She was heartbroken to have to succumb to these odds. "Flame, youse can take this tah any jewelry dealer and they's will give ya so much money fer it youse won't know what tah do wid it."
"Shoah, shoah," Flame said with a roll of his eyes. "Why don't ya throw in that stupid cane of yers too? Ya ready tah lose or what?"
Honey took a deep breath. This was it. Her future depended on this one moment. "I'll take two cards." She received the new pair and Jack thought he almost saw her wince at them.
"As for me, I'se gunna have tah take the same amount as shorty over there." There was light laughter as Flame accepted his new cards. He rearranged them in his hand and nodded when they met his approval. Then with that cocky smile of his, he looked at Spot. "Well, show us what Brooklyn is made of, kid."
"If youse say so," Honey sighed. She gave Jack and Race an apologetic look and let her cards fall back onto the table. "Four of a kind, Flame."
Flame rolled his head along his neck to relieve the stress that had built up on his shoulders. He hated having a conscious. He knew Spot's sister was sick in bed, suffering from some illness only curable through the proper administration of a doctor. He knew the Brooklyn leader was afraid of losing his only relative, so much that he had put his cherished chain and key on the line. Most of all, he knew that Spot had always been there for him when he had needed his help. Always. Flame glanced down at his Royal Flush-the highest possible hand in poker-and groaned. "Congratulations, Conlon. Youse finally learned how tah win."
Honey gasped and covered her gaping mouth with two hands. "Are youse serious?!"
Flame nodded and shuffled his cards into the deck before any newsies got suspicious. Pushing the money towards Spot, he laughed. "Like I said, ya win some, ya lose some."
"Oh my god! I can't believe this!" She was so taken aback by her triumph that she had forgotten, for the hundredth but last time, who she was impersonating. Lost in her surprise, she leaned across the table, seized Flame's face in her hands, and kissed the boy hard and long.
The Queens leader shoved Spot away and wiped his mouth with a sleeve. "Get outta heah, ya FREAK!"
Honey burst out laughing, swept all the money into her pockets, and ran out of the lodging house with an elated Jack and Race in tow. It was the most memorable poker game in their lives up to date.
* * * * *
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