***Disclaimer***I don't own Newsies, Disney does. I don't own any of the
characters except, Leigh, Ten, (Aunt) Claire, Rick, Conlon, Donna, Charles,
and Red (There might be more, I think that's it though).
***Notes***It was brought to my attention that it's a bit confusing when the time/scene changes. Sorry about that. To try to help make it less confusing:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Means that we're going into the past/memory.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Means that we're going back to the present time.
Now here comes the tricky one, ************ means that we're already in the past, but going even further into the past (a memory within a memory).
I hope that will hope. Thanks sooo much for bringing it to my attention.
"If you look up thousands Of shining stars Ever unchanging, gaze at us." (Hoshi no Manazashi; Gaze of the Stars: Gundam Wing)
"I could tell you anything Leigh. I hadn't told anyone about me past in da longest time, and then you came along. I was always at ease when I was width you." Spot stopped his walking and took in his surroundings. He stood on the Brooklyn Bridge. "Alone." He thought to himself. He raised his head to the sky and studied the few stars that were visible. Leigh's voice began to fill his ears. "There's a star up there Spot, your star. It's waiting to guide you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The winter breeze nipped at Leigh's nose. She pulled her jacket closer to her, trying to stop the intruding wind from entering. Leigh made her way to the Brooklyn Bridge, where she had heard Spot was. She had grown concerned about him. "He hasn't been himself lately. I don't know what's da matter width him." She thought to herself as she continued to trudge through the snow, causing a crunching noise beneath her feet. "Well he's gonna tell me what it is, no objections, he's not getting around it." Leigh said aloud, while nodding her head in self-assurance.
A few minutes latter Spot's figure came into view. He was leaning against one of the guardrails while looking across the body of water, which now held an ice cover upon it, beneath him. Leigh stared at him for a few minutes. "He seems so, so lonely." Leigh decided was the way he appeared. She continued to walk toward him.
"Hey dere Leigh." She stopped due to her being shocked that Spot had known it was her. "But I guess he's always been able ta do that. Man it annoys me!" She thought to herself. "Hi Spot. What are ya doin'?" She asked as she reached his side. She began to gaze at the frozen water like Spot was.
After a moment Spot spoke. "Just thinking." He said in a monotone voice. Leigh grew concerned. She turned to him, breaking her gaze upon the ice.
"About what?" Spot looked at her. He thought for a moment, trying to think of a way to state his thoughts. Leigh waited for his response. Spot shrugged his shoulders.
"Leigh, have ya ever.wondered where your life was heading? I mean, did ya ever think that maybe there ain't no point ta anything?"
"So that's what's been bothering him." Leigh thought about his question before she answered. "Yeah. I have thought about dat before. But then I meet you and da rest of da guys, that's when I realized dat even if the woild wouldn't be any different widthout me, I still got people who care about me. Dat's why I think I'm still alive." She stopped and thought for a moment. "There were times in da past when I thought about ending it all, but I couldn't help but think ta myself that I'd miss out on somethin' if I did end it then and there. And I was right." She took Spot's hand in hers.
"I'm glade you're here den." Spot said as he brushed a kiss on her rosy cheeks. They stood in silence for a moment until Spot's sigh broke it.
"What is it?" Leigh asked.
"It's just, well, how do I know that I'm headed in da right direction? I mean, I don't know if Brooklyn needs me. I don't know if there's anything that's mine, what'll lead me in da right direction?" Leigh snuggled into Spot's chest.
"Look up into the sky Spot." Spot did as she said. "You see those stars up dere?" Spot looked closely and did see a few dim ones. He nodded his head. "Well there's a star up dere Spot, your star. It's waiting ta guide you. Whenever you close your eyes it'll always be dere, shinning inside of you. You'll never be alone Spot. There will always be someone or something guiding you." Spot wrapped his arms around her. They stood there beneath the stars and above the sleeping water in silence.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Spot lowers his head. "Leigh, I'm lost here in da dark. There ain't no light shinning anymore." Spot pulls himself upon the railing of the bridge. He stands steady upon it. His eyes close and he steps off of the railing.
"What da hell do ya think you're doin'!?!" Spot looks up at Jack from the ground, where Jack has thrown him after grabbing him from behind before he had the chance to jump.
"What does it look like? Really Jack at times ya amaze me at how dumb you can be!" Spot spat at him as he hoisted himself off of the ground.
"You're callin' me da dumb one?! Well I hate ta break it to ya, but you're da idiot standin' on the railing of a bridge!" Jack crossed his arms. Studying his lost friend.
"Yeah, and from what I'm seeing and feeling that's where I should be."
"Well then, you'se ain't seein' clearly." Jack walked over to him. "Spot you're wrong." Spot's head jerked towards Jack, his eyes glossed over with hate and rage.
"Where da hell do you get off tellin' me dat I'm wrong!" Jack was taken aback by Spot's powerful words. "You don't know shit Jack! I have no past, no future, only thing that I'se got is this!" Spot waved his arms around himself and his cold bare surroundings. "And that ain't lookin' good ta me! If I ended it now no one would care." Spot looked away from Jack.
Infuriated at the way Spot was talking and acting Jack decided he needed to do something. "What da hell was dat for you son of a bitch!" Spot shouted as he placed his hand on the side of his face, trying to reduce the pain that was brought upon it from Jack's fist.
"Dat was ta bring you to your senses." He answered pulling out a cigarette. "People would care Spot, especially Leigh." Spot raised his head at the mention of her name. Jack handed him the now lit cigarette. Spot thankfully accepted it. He drew in the smoke, then slowly released it.
"Leigh's gone Jack." He quietly stated.
"That's were you're wrong." Jack lowered himself to sit on the ground with Spot. Spot rested the back of his head against the support beam behind him.
"Don't give me that shit Jack. I'm sick of hearing that she'll always be here." Spot motioned to his heart. "Well Jacky-boy, tell me how can she be here if it's broken." Jack placed his hand on Spot's shoulder.
"Spot, that's not what I was going ta say. I was going ta tell you dat Leigh is still alive." Spot quickly turned to Jack.
"What do you mean she's still alive?!" Jack began to laugh.
"You said I could be da dumb one. I mean just what I said, she's still alive."
"But how?"
"I'll explain on our way ta Manhattan." Jack rose to his feet. Spot followed and the two began to walk.
"Hey Jack." Jack turned to look at him.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks fer bringing me back ta my senses." Spot said while gingerly rubbing his cheek. Jack laughed and lightly slapped him on the back.
"No problem." The two continued their walk. As they walked Spot began to recall the night that led him here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leigh sat on her bunk. She silently played with a key that was tied to a string. Spot slowly approached her. He sat down next to her, not saying a word. Leigh tucked her legs underneath her and placed her head on Spot's shoulder. Spot placed his one arm around her and rested his chin upon her head. He waited for her to tell him what it was that was bothering her.
"Why can't we forget da past?" Spot sighed. Maybe she finally was going to tell him what happened to her.
"Because no matter how much we don't want it, it's still apart of us." He responded then added. "Ya know, when it hurts to much ta look back, and if you are to afraid ta look ahead, just look next to ya, because dat's where I'll be."
Leigh snuggled into his shoulder more. After a few moments she began to speak again. "I miss my Dad." She said and then gave a short laugh. "Wow, doesn't dat sound pathetic?"
"Not at all." Spot rubbed his chin against Leigh's head. Leigh let out a sigh.
"Life use ta be good for me, but it only took one night ta change dat all for me." Leigh paused for a few moments to collect her thoughts. "It was always just me and my dad. We were inseparable. You see, me mudder pretty much doesn't exist." Leigh closed her eyes.
************
"Donna! Donna, don't do this!" Charles, Leigh's father, pleads with his departing wife.
"Oh, now you want me ta stay?! For the past six years you didn't seem ta care if I was here." Donna says while grabbing a warn suitcase and placing a few articles in it.
"That's not true!" Charles protests while he places his hand over the suitcase, shutting it. Donna glares at him with hate. No love exists within her eyes, and it makes Charles question if it ever did.
Unknown to the both of them, their daughter, at the age of six, stood near their door, listening.
"I suggest that you remove your hand." She waits. "Now!" Charles leaves his hand where it is. "If you think dat that is going to stop me from leaving this hell hole" She waves her arms around the small room. "well, then you've got another thing comin' to ya!" Saying that she quickly grabs the handle of the suitcase and yanks it out from under his hand and charges for the door.
"Donna! Donna!" Charles grabs her hand, preventing her from leaving the room. "What about Leigh?" Donna turns around.
"What about her?! She's the reason why I'm in dis hell hole!" Charles releases her hand due to the state of surprise he's in. Donna charges out of the door. As she leaves she sees her small daughter sitting behind the opened door. She gives her a look of disgust before she walks out of the apartment, and out of Leigh's life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"From then on it was just da two of us. We were happy, even dough we didn't have all dat much, but we didn't need a lot."
************
Sleepily Leigh rubbed her eyes as she awoke from her slumber. Once she could see clearly she stretched her arms toward the ceiling and yawned, releasing a long drawn out sigh as she did so. Charles turned, hearing his beloved daughter awakening. He stood and pushed the wicker chair, which he had occupied, back beneath the small table. He smiled as he softly walked to were his 'angel' sat.
"Good morning." He said while messing her hair up even more than it already was. Leigh giggled as she fought to remove her father's hand from upon her head.
"Daddy! Daddy." She let out between the giggles. Charles removed his hand. He looked into Leigh's eyes, as she was busy trying to fix her hair. "Her eyes are exactly like her mother's." He sadly thought.
"Come on then." He said while taking her hand and tugging her off of the sofa that she had been sleeping upon.
"Where are we going?" Curiously she asked while straightening her plain gray cotton dress.
"It's a surprise." Charles placed his hat upon his full head of black hair and the two of them left, Charles holding onto Leigh's small hand, locking the door behind them.
The two made their way to a busy market and stopped at one of the booths. Charles talked to the vendor and then looked down at Leigh, who stood upon the tips of her toes, her hands gripping the side of the vendor's table, with her head peering over the edge of it.
"Darling," Charles picked the small girl up and held her so that she could see the table. "I want you to pick one of these" he waved his hand over the large selection of keys that lay before them. "to keep for yourself."
"But why Daddy?" She asked as she inspected the keys before her. Charles shifted Leigh's position and then answered her.
"Because a key shows that you belong, that you have a home. This key will remind you, that no matter what, you'll never be lost, for you will always have this key, reminding you somewhere there is a home for you, where people love you." Leigh nodded her head, even though she did not entirely understand what her father meant.
Leigh's eyes searched and sorted through the keys. Many were large in size with several teeth and twists. All the keys were of gold or silver. Leigh continued to look until her eyes fell upon a gold tarnished key. The key was not large or intricate compared to the others that lay beside it. It had two jagged teeth coming out from the side of it, which led up to the top of the key, which was a simple loop with a small design of interlocked medal finishing it off. Leigh pointed to the key and the vendor picked it up and placed it into her hand. She studied it and then looked at her father with a smile. He exchanged her smile with another.
"We'll take this one." He said while turning to face the vendor. The vendor nodded and then stated the price. Charles put Leigh down and then reached into his pocket to pull out some money. He placed it into the other man's hand and then took Leigh's hand as they made their way home.
***Notes***It was brought to my attention that it's a bit confusing when the time/scene changes. Sorry about that. To try to help make it less confusing:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Means that we're going into the past/memory.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Means that we're going back to the present time.
Now here comes the tricky one, ************ means that we're already in the past, but going even further into the past (a memory within a memory).
I hope that will hope. Thanks sooo much for bringing it to my attention.
"If you look up thousands Of shining stars Ever unchanging, gaze at us." (Hoshi no Manazashi; Gaze of the Stars: Gundam Wing)
"I could tell you anything Leigh. I hadn't told anyone about me past in da longest time, and then you came along. I was always at ease when I was width you." Spot stopped his walking and took in his surroundings. He stood on the Brooklyn Bridge. "Alone." He thought to himself. He raised his head to the sky and studied the few stars that were visible. Leigh's voice began to fill his ears. "There's a star up there Spot, your star. It's waiting to guide you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The winter breeze nipped at Leigh's nose. She pulled her jacket closer to her, trying to stop the intruding wind from entering. Leigh made her way to the Brooklyn Bridge, where she had heard Spot was. She had grown concerned about him. "He hasn't been himself lately. I don't know what's da matter width him." She thought to herself as she continued to trudge through the snow, causing a crunching noise beneath her feet. "Well he's gonna tell me what it is, no objections, he's not getting around it." Leigh said aloud, while nodding her head in self-assurance.
A few minutes latter Spot's figure came into view. He was leaning against one of the guardrails while looking across the body of water, which now held an ice cover upon it, beneath him. Leigh stared at him for a few minutes. "He seems so, so lonely." Leigh decided was the way he appeared. She continued to walk toward him.
"Hey dere Leigh." She stopped due to her being shocked that Spot had known it was her. "But I guess he's always been able ta do that. Man it annoys me!" She thought to herself. "Hi Spot. What are ya doin'?" She asked as she reached his side. She began to gaze at the frozen water like Spot was.
After a moment Spot spoke. "Just thinking." He said in a monotone voice. Leigh grew concerned. She turned to him, breaking her gaze upon the ice.
"About what?" Spot looked at her. He thought for a moment, trying to think of a way to state his thoughts. Leigh waited for his response. Spot shrugged his shoulders.
"Leigh, have ya ever.wondered where your life was heading? I mean, did ya ever think that maybe there ain't no point ta anything?"
"So that's what's been bothering him." Leigh thought about his question before she answered. "Yeah. I have thought about dat before. But then I meet you and da rest of da guys, that's when I realized dat even if the woild wouldn't be any different widthout me, I still got people who care about me. Dat's why I think I'm still alive." She stopped and thought for a moment. "There were times in da past when I thought about ending it all, but I couldn't help but think ta myself that I'd miss out on somethin' if I did end it then and there. And I was right." She took Spot's hand in hers.
"I'm glade you're here den." Spot said as he brushed a kiss on her rosy cheeks. They stood in silence for a moment until Spot's sigh broke it.
"What is it?" Leigh asked.
"It's just, well, how do I know that I'm headed in da right direction? I mean, I don't know if Brooklyn needs me. I don't know if there's anything that's mine, what'll lead me in da right direction?" Leigh snuggled into Spot's chest.
"Look up into the sky Spot." Spot did as she said. "You see those stars up dere?" Spot looked closely and did see a few dim ones. He nodded his head. "Well there's a star up dere Spot, your star. It's waiting ta guide you. Whenever you close your eyes it'll always be dere, shinning inside of you. You'll never be alone Spot. There will always be someone or something guiding you." Spot wrapped his arms around her. They stood there beneath the stars and above the sleeping water in silence.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Spot lowers his head. "Leigh, I'm lost here in da dark. There ain't no light shinning anymore." Spot pulls himself upon the railing of the bridge. He stands steady upon it. His eyes close and he steps off of the railing.
"What da hell do ya think you're doin'!?!" Spot looks up at Jack from the ground, where Jack has thrown him after grabbing him from behind before he had the chance to jump.
"What does it look like? Really Jack at times ya amaze me at how dumb you can be!" Spot spat at him as he hoisted himself off of the ground.
"You're callin' me da dumb one?! Well I hate ta break it to ya, but you're da idiot standin' on the railing of a bridge!" Jack crossed his arms. Studying his lost friend.
"Yeah, and from what I'm seeing and feeling that's where I should be."
"Well then, you'se ain't seein' clearly." Jack walked over to him. "Spot you're wrong." Spot's head jerked towards Jack, his eyes glossed over with hate and rage.
"Where da hell do you get off tellin' me dat I'm wrong!" Jack was taken aback by Spot's powerful words. "You don't know shit Jack! I have no past, no future, only thing that I'se got is this!" Spot waved his arms around himself and his cold bare surroundings. "And that ain't lookin' good ta me! If I ended it now no one would care." Spot looked away from Jack.
Infuriated at the way Spot was talking and acting Jack decided he needed to do something. "What da hell was dat for you son of a bitch!" Spot shouted as he placed his hand on the side of his face, trying to reduce the pain that was brought upon it from Jack's fist.
"Dat was ta bring you to your senses." He answered pulling out a cigarette. "People would care Spot, especially Leigh." Spot raised his head at the mention of her name. Jack handed him the now lit cigarette. Spot thankfully accepted it. He drew in the smoke, then slowly released it.
"Leigh's gone Jack." He quietly stated.
"That's were you're wrong." Jack lowered himself to sit on the ground with Spot. Spot rested the back of his head against the support beam behind him.
"Don't give me that shit Jack. I'm sick of hearing that she'll always be here." Spot motioned to his heart. "Well Jacky-boy, tell me how can she be here if it's broken." Jack placed his hand on Spot's shoulder.
"Spot, that's not what I was going ta say. I was going ta tell you dat Leigh is still alive." Spot quickly turned to Jack.
"What do you mean she's still alive?!" Jack began to laugh.
"You said I could be da dumb one. I mean just what I said, she's still alive."
"But how?"
"I'll explain on our way ta Manhattan." Jack rose to his feet. Spot followed and the two began to walk.
"Hey Jack." Jack turned to look at him.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks fer bringing me back ta my senses." Spot said while gingerly rubbing his cheek. Jack laughed and lightly slapped him on the back.
"No problem." The two continued their walk. As they walked Spot began to recall the night that led him here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leigh sat on her bunk. She silently played with a key that was tied to a string. Spot slowly approached her. He sat down next to her, not saying a word. Leigh tucked her legs underneath her and placed her head on Spot's shoulder. Spot placed his one arm around her and rested his chin upon her head. He waited for her to tell him what it was that was bothering her.
"Why can't we forget da past?" Spot sighed. Maybe she finally was going to tell him what happened to her.
"Because no matter how much we don't want it, it's still apart of us." He responded then added. "Ya know, when it hurts to much ta look back, and if you are to afraid ta look ahead, just look next to ya, because dat's where I'll be."
Leigh snuggled into his shoulder more. After a few moments she began to speak again. "I miss my Dad." She said and then gave a short laugh. "Wow, doesn't dat sound pathetic?"
"Not at all." Spot rubbed his chin against Leigh's head. Leigh let out a sigh.
"Life use ta be good for me, but it only took one night ta change dat all for me." Leigh paused for a few moments to collect her thoughts. "It was always just me and my dad. We were inseparable. You see, me mudder pretty much doesn't exist." Leigh closed her eyes.
************
"Donna! Donna, don't do this!" Charles, Leigh's father, pleads with his departing wife.
"Oh, now you want me ta stay?! For the past six years you didn't seem ta care if I was here." Donna says while grabbing a warn suitcase and placing a few articles in it.
"That's not true!" Charles protests while he places his hand over the suitcase, shutting it. Donna glares at him with hate. No love exists within her eyes, and it makes Charles question if it ever did.
Unknown to the both of them, their daughter, at the age of six, stood near their door, listening.
"I suggest that you remove your hand." She waits. "Now!" Charles leaves his hand where it is. "If you think dat that is going to stop me from leaving this hell hole" She waves her arms around the small room. "well, then you've got another thing comin' to ya!" Saying that she quickly grabs the handle of the suitcase and yanks it out from under his hand and charges for the door.
"Donna! Donna!" Charles grabs her hand, preventing her from leaving the room. "What about Leigh?" Donna turns around.
"What about her?! She's the reason why I'm in dis hell hole!" Charles releases her hand due to the state of surprise he's in. Donna charges out of the door. As she leaves she sees her small daughter sitting behind the opened door. She gives her a look of disgust before she walks out of the apartment, and out of Leigh's life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"From then on it was just da two of us. We were happy, even dough we didn't have all dat much, but we didn't need a lot."
************
Sleepily Leigh rubbed her eyes as she awoke from her slumber. Once she could see clearly she stretched her arms toward the ceiling and yawned, releasing a long drawn out sigh as she did so. Charles turned, hearing his beloved daughter awakening. He stood and pushed the wicker chair, which he had occupied, back beneath the small table. He smiled as he softly walked to were his 'angel' sat.
"Good morning." He said while messing her hair up even more than it already was. Leigh giggled as she fought to remove her father's hand from upon her head.
"Daddy! Daddy." She let out between the giggles. Charles removed his hand. He looked into Leigh's eyes, as she was busy trying to fix her hair. "Her eyes are exactly like her mother's." He sadly thought.
"Come on then." He said while taking her hand and tugging her off of the sofa that she had been sleeping upon.
"Where are we going?" Curiously she asked while straightening her plain gray cotton dress.
"It's a surprise." Charles placed his hat upon his full head of black hair and the two of them left, Charles holding onto Leigh's small hand, locking the door behind them.
The two made their way to a busy market and stopped at one of the booths. Charles talked to the vendor and then looked down at Leigh, who stood upon the tips of her toes, her hands gripping the side of the vendor's table, with her head peering over the edge of it.
"Darling," Charles picked the small girl up and held her so that she could see the table. "I want you to pick one of these" he waved his hand over the large selection of keys that lay before them. "to keep for yourself."
"But why Daddy?" She asked as she inspected the keys before her. Charles shifted Leigh's position and then answered her.
"Because a key shows that you belong, that you have a home. This key will remind you, that no matter what, you'll never be lost, for you will always have this key, reminding you somewhere there is a home for you, where people love you." Leigh nodded her head, even though she did not entirely understand what her father meant.
Leigh's eyes searched and sorted through the keys. Many were large in size with several teeth and twists. All the keys were of gold or silver. Leigh continued to look until her eyes fell upon a gold tarnished key. The key was not large or intricate compared to the others that lay beside it. It had two jagged teeth coming out from the side of it, which led up to the top of the key, which was a simple loop with a small design of interlocked medal finishing it off. Leigh pointed to the key and the vendor picked it up and placed it into her hand. She studied it and then looked at her father with a smile. He exchanged her smile with another.
"We'll take this one." He said while turning to face the vendor. The vendor nodded and then stated the price. Charles put Leigh down and then reached into his pocket to pull out some money. He placed it into the other man's hand and then took Leigh's hand as they made their way home.