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Living Spirits
Chapter 3
I hadn't been given a lot of time to think about the story I just made up. It was maybe five minutes when Jack came up to me.
"Yea, it figures you'd be back fah da pokah game at Brooklyn tanight." Jack smiled when he said that, as if it were some kind of inside joke. I turned my head and whispered to myself, 'I play pokah?' I realized I said it a little bit to loud when Jack started laughing uncontrollably. "Yeah, you'se play pokah. You lose everytime, but you play." That came as a relief. At least I didn't have to fake being able to play something I've sucked at my whole life.
It wasn't long before all of the guys started to get ready to leave. I walked over to Specs and Skittery. I just assumed they were Splash's better friends. Plus it didn't hurt that they were my favorites from the movie.
"So you'se guys up fah some pokah?" Skittery gave me a challenging glance. "Always" He smiled as he said it. I looked over at Specs. "Oh common, you know me an' Dutchy don't play dat. We'se jus' wait fah you ta lose all yer money an' den come ovah ta tawk ta us."
You know how girls do that real girlish giggle and act all stupid. Yeah, I did that. I didn't know why I did that, I'm ashamed of that, I made fun of people for doing that, but that's what I did.
It was a long walk to Brooklyn. The main reason was Race. I couldn't even count how many times I felt like punching him for bragging about his 'pokah skills'. That was the one moment when I wished I actually paid attention when people played cards around me, just so I could stop his mouth.
When we finally arrived, the place was already packed. My group broke off going to one table or another to play cards. I watched for a while considering my options. 'I could play and waste most of my money. Or I could just sit and talk with Specs and Dutchy. But is that what Splash would do?'
I stood there silent for a few moments when somebody pushed me from behind. "Common, you'se jus gonna stand dere all night. Ya need ta join me pokah game so I know I'se can make at least some money tanight."
My jaw dropped when I heard the voice. The first boy whose spirit was trapped in my house. I now also recognized it as belong to the infamous Brooklyn Newsie Leader.
"Hiya Spot," I blurted out trying to cover up the long silence that was between us. He gave me a look that made me wonder if I was crazy as I guess I came off to be. With that he grabbed my arm and pulled me to one of the open tables.
It was only a little while before Spot cleaned me out of all my money, which was not a hard task to accomplish. But by the way he bragged, you'd think it was a complicated thing to do.
"So whad made you'se decided ta come back?" I searched for a way to answer while not giving away that I didn't know half of what I was saying. "I didn't really decide, umm, dat guy you know..." I paused hoping he knew who I was talking about. I certainly didn't. When he nodded his head I continued. "Well, he knocked me out cold while I was hidin' in dat hole. You'se know da one when we'se runnin' from da bulls. Specs an' Skitts found me dere an' carried me back."
"Why won't you tell us who 'e is, othah den jus dat guy?" I responded only with one of Spot's emotionless glares that I had learned to mimic from after seeing the movie countless times. "Why won't you'se let us help?" I cast my gaze towards the end of the table away from Spot. My attention now going to the piece of paper I twirled between my fingers. "You of all people know why."
I didn't know why I had been so touchy with this subject. I confused me for a bit but I noticed the silence growing between us again. I didn't really want to start up another conversation like the previous one so I decided to make the conversation about him. Knowing his ego this seemed like it would be easy. "So how's it been ovah heah?"
It was awhile before Spot realized he wasn't making much money sitting there bragging to me. He said a quick good bye and set out for a table that had card players with money to lose.
I walked over to Specs and Dutchy. "Well look who decided ta join us." I rolled my eyes and gave Dutchy a fake punch.
I pulled over the nearest chair and sat down next to them. "You know if I'se not wanted I'll leave." I pulled off my best offended look and shot it at them. Dutchy obviously recognized the routine. "So you'se would actually leave?" I smiled and sat there for a minute. "No, I'd probably still sit here."
About an hour or two later, everybody was cleaned out of money or ready to return to the lodging house. The trip back was as bad as the first; only this time Race had specific examples from the night to talk about.
I saw Skittery walking slightly behind me and decided to join him. "Doesn't 'e evah get enough of hearin himself tawk?" Skit rolled his eyes and gave me an annoyed look. "I wish 'e would. I t'ink 'e said about how 'e beat me wid dat full house five times already."
The night was late enough and I was already beat. I crawled into my bunk and slid under the light sheet. I turned my head slightly to see over to Specs' bunk. He looked so sweet and innocent just lying there. My eyelids then grew to heavy to hold up and I slipped into a fast sleep.