DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the newsies except for Spunks Gerberre,
ooo, big surprise there. The newsies unfortunately belong to the all-great,
all-powerful DISNEY!
So don't sue me, huh? Oh, Robert and Loraine and Matthew are mines too. So there!
A Brand New Start
Loraine selected a strand of her hair to study before her eyes and played with it between her fingers as she spoke with Spunks. "Why the sudden interest in a new look? It could not possibly be that you are falling for Robert, could it?"
"Indeed not!" Spunks declared as she sat down in a chair in front of her best friend, ready for a haircut. "You very well know that I have been wanting a haircut for quite a while now. Can you please get it over with already?"
"All right, just keep telling yourself that." She smiled and began cutting Spunks'
ordinary strands, styling her hair into a more layered look to give it volume. When she was done, she insisted that she give Spunks a makeover and the latter girl agreed. Ten minutes later, Loraine presented her friend with a mirror and Spunks suavely looked at her reflection, before she gasped.
"Oh my, I look almost as wonderful as you!" Spunks loved her hair and the fact that Loraine had made her eyelashes look longer with mascara. She adored her blushed cheeks and the small dab of gloss on her lips was enough to make her glow. Just then, her father walked in her room after knocking.
"Dearest," he said without looking at her. "A missionary program will be coming over for a dinner we will be hosting. You are welcome to invite any friends you wish to attend." He looked up then. "Oh! Mack, you look lovely!"
The girls giggled and Spunks rose to give her father a hug. "A missionary program you say? Where is their church located?"
"As a matter of fact, the church is in Manhattan. Perhaps some of your newsie friends will be a part of the event." He smiled warmly.
"I doubt it," the girl said. "The newsies do not strike me as the devout type." Her father shrugged his shoulders and left the room.
* * * * * * *
"One question," Robert asked as he followed Spunks to her locker. "Why all the hostility?"
Spunks turned to face him with a gleam in her eyes. Robert had been her practical shadow for the past week! It grew frustrating and while countless other girls would have died to be in her position, she honestly was not the least bit flattered. "I am not interested in any kind of relationship with you. I do not appreciate your stalking me. And I do not convey hostility to you! You see, hostility would be me striking you square in the jaw with my fist, which I will not hesitate to do if the time calls for it. What I am doing to you know is called 'ignoring he who I wish would go away'. I practice the strategy often, and it has yet to fail. So I hope you will go about your business now and leave me at peace."
Robert actually smiled and arched his eyebrows. "Rumor has it you are from New York. I would not doubt it if it turned out to be true."
"It is," she said as she began to walk away. "I was raised learning the rough life. Newsies were my teacher, and an especially fierce newsie taught me all I needed to know right in the heart of Brooklyn." She said no more as she disappeared into a classroom wearing a smirk.
* * * * * * *
Spunks was studying over her chemistry notes at lunch when someone suddenly sat beside her. She looked up at the person and at the sight of Robert, she groaned. "Can you not take a hint or is your head too dense?"
"Rough words, Miss Brooklyn," the young man joked.
"Ugh! Do not call me that. It makes me sound as if I am engaged to Spot!"
Robert looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Forget I said that, okay? Look, this chemistry rubbish is Greek to me. If I do not study now, I will most likely fail the test I have next class. So can you just leave me alone?" She turned her head back to her notes and rested her forehead on a hand as she sighed. She had a feeling Robert would not even move.
"Why are you so afraid to open up? I only want to get to know you better. You seem like a really cool individual."
Spunks looked at him again, surprised to see sincerity in his eyes. She sighed again. "I have been hurt very badly by young men in my past, that's all. Nothing physical, it all had to do with relationships. Are you satisfied now? Are you going to leave me alone finally?"
"What happened?" He stared at her intensely as if he actually cared about all she would say, and yet, Spunks felt as if he would. So she told him the whole story about how she had met Spot and how they had given themselves to each other. About how they had fought countless times only to make up again just as much. She told him about her father having come to take her home and how Spot had been jealous so terribly. Then her story ended with Spot's fiancé having paid the Brooklyn leader an unpleasant visit.
"Ouch, I am sorry to hear that. But you know what? At least you do not let it get to you. I mean, sure you are rough around the edges and all, but that's only because you are cautious. But I know plenty of girls who would still be sobbing after having gone through stuff like that. You have a tough spirit, Mack."
Spunks smiled. Maybe she had been wrong in judging Robert before she got to know him. He had turned out to be a kind person after all. "You know," she said softly, "My dad is hosting a dinner for this missionary group that's coming all the way from my home town. He said I could invite whoever I pleased. Would you like to come?"
Robert's eyes widened. "Mackenzie Gerberre is actually asking me if I would like to dine with her one evening?" He looked up as if he were searching for something. "Did a shooting start just pass by?"
Spunks laughed and playfully pushed him.
"I would love to attend."
* * * * * * *
Spot looked all about the building that made up his mother's church like a curios animal sneaking through a forest it had suddenly found itself in. He always ran into a nun or two throughout his looking around, and he always made it routine to smile politely at them and nod as the whispered their 'God bless you' phrases at him. The church was a fascinating environment to him. No one ever argued or disagreed within its walls; it was as if everyone was under some magical spell.
He wished his family had taken refuge here while his real dad was still alive. The surroundings were so peaceful that perhaps Spot's dad would not have died of the horrible illness he had caught while at work. But even if he did pass, Spot's mother would not have fell into the hands of Clyde Rochklerr, the man who had wooed her and made her his wife. Spot hated Clyde with every last bit of his being! The man was a drunk and had no clue as to how to treat a woman right. Clyde often would beat his mother and him as well whenever he interfered. At least Matthew was never hurt, for he was always in school. Spot, of course, had dropped out because of being emotionally distraught. His grades had begun to drastically plummet and his teachers feared the worse. But he never spoke a word about what happened at home. He would control his own life. So he ran away one night, never to return.
He knew his mother and brother were well for one day, as he was passing through the neighborhood, he caught a sight of them sneaking out of the house with packed suitcases. He followed them all the way to the church which had been their home ever since. He could not bring himself to enter in after them, but he vowed someday he would. And alas, that day had finally come.
While he passed the open door of a small room, he saw a girl around his age sitting on the edge of a bed, with a book in her hands. He slowly made his way into the room and smiled when she looked up. The girl was startled and scooted backwards on the bed to put distance between her and the stranger.
"Sorry if I'se scared ya," Spot said quickly. "Me name's Spot Conlon. I'se Patricia's daughter, ya know, the head nun lady?" He received no response. "Uhm…I aint gonna hoit ya if that's what youse is thinking. I just wanted tah say hi cause I'se haven't seen you around heah before."
The girl calmed a little. "My name's Ebony. I am an orphan and your mother adopted me three nights ago. She's a kind woman so I'm sure you are just as kind. I wasn't afraid of you; you just gave me a fright." She grinned then and waited for Spot to say something.
He answered her by walking over to her and sitting beside her on the bed. He could feel her tense a bit. "Ah, don't worry. Me days as a floit is likely gone. 'Sides, youse don't look like the type who would go out wid a guy like me. Ya look like the good goil type."
Ebony glared at him. "Yes, well the good girl types don't get pregnant at unbelievable ages and don't get stalked by vulgar men! I rather live a life of purity than walk straight to hell!" She slammed the book she was holding shut and rose from the bed.
"Whoa, whoa, sorry!" Spot snapped. "Youse make it sound like people who do all those kinda things is gonna end up in hell. I'se distinctly remember there being sumthin in the bible about forgiveness."
"Forgiveness for those who ask for it, yes." She threw the book she held at him. "Read it for yourself." She walked out without saying goodbye. Spot looked down at the binding of the book and found the words 'Holy Bible' staring back up at him.
* * * * * * *
At dinner that night, Spot watched as his mother prayed over the food being served on the long table of the church fellowship hall that seated twenty. The guests were mostly nuns and guys- Spot did not know what the men were called. There was a priest too on one end, and Matthew sat with two other altar boys. Ebony was alone between two nuns and she briefly made eye contact with Spot. He smiled at her but she lowered her gaze to her plate. When the prayer was said, Spot leaned in to his mom.
"Heya ma, is that goil always so quiet?"
The woman looked up at Ebony and then at Spot. "Patrick, you better not be using your charms on that girl! She is rather shy, but such a wonderful child. She has vowed to maintain celibacy for the rest of her life."
Spot grimaced. "Damn, I wouldn't be able tah do that fer a week." He broke a piece of bread and laughed but his mother looked at him gravely.
"I am serious, Patrick! Do not bother her!" Spot rolled his eyes and continued eating in silence. Of all places, ya had tah come tah a church didn't ya? "Oh, I forgot to tell you. A kind man in Pennsylvania has agreed to host a little missionary program we will be having for all the missionaries nationwide. It should prove to be a remarkable event. I would like you to come."
Spot's ears perked up at the mention of the state where Spunks was now living. "I don't know, Ma. I'se don't wanna take up any room er anything. Maybe it'd be best if youse went without me. I'll just go back tah me same newsie routine."
"You certainly will not! The train leaves tomorrow! I'm sure I speak for the entire church body when I say your presence will be most welcomed."
The Brooklyn leader sighed. Why was he making such a big deal out of this? The chances were slim that he would even catch a glimpse of Spunks anywhere. He might as well get on with his life and stop thinking about her. He nodded a yes. When youse get back from Pennsylvania, ya gotta get over her no matter what. He would give it a few more days. Something told him he would indeed see Spunks in her new environment.
More to come…
So don't sue me, huh? Oh, Robert and Loraine and Matthew are mines too. So there!
A Brand New Start
Loraine selected a strand of her hair to study before her eyes and played with it between her fingers as she spoke with Spunks. "Why the sudden interest in a new look? It could not possibly be that you are falling for Robert, could it?"
"Indeed not!" Spunks declared as she sat down in a chair in front of her best friend, ready for a haircut. "You very well know that I have been wanting a haircut for quite a while now. Can you please get it over with already?"
"All right, just keep telling yourself that." She smiled and began cutting Spunks'
ordinary strands, styling her hair into a more layered look to give it volume. When she was done, she insisted that she give Spunks a makeover and the latter girl agreed. Ten minutes later, Loraine presented her friend with a mirror and Spunks suavely looked at her reflection, before she gasped.
"Oh my, I look almost as wonderful as you!" Spunks loved her hair and the fact that Loraine had made her eyelashes look longer with mascara. She adored her blushed cheeks and the small dab of gloss on her lips was enough to make her glow. Just then, her father walked in her room after knocking.
"Dearest," he said without looking at her. "A missionary program will be coming over for a dinner we will be hosting. You are welcome to invite any friends you wish to attend." He looked up then. "Oh! Mack, you look lovely!"
The girls giggled and Spunks rose to give her father a hug. "A missionary program you say? Where is their church located?"
"As a matter of fact, the church is in Manhattan. Perhaps some of your newsie friends will be a part of the event." He smiled warmly.
"I doubt it," the girl said. "The newsies do not strike me as the devout type." Her father shrugged his shoulders and left the room.
* * * * * * *
"One question," Robert asked as he followed Spunks to her locker. "Why all the hostility?"
Spunks turned to face him with a gleam in her eyes. Robert had been her practical shadow for the past week! It grew frustrating and while countless other girls would have died to be in her position, she honestly was not the least bit flattered. "I am not interested in any kind of relationship with you. I do not appreciate your stalking me. And I do not convey hostility to you! You see, hostility would be me striking you square in the jaw with my fist, which I will not hesitate to do if the time calls for it. What I am doing to you know is called 'ignoring he who I wish would go away'. I practice the strategy often, and it has yet to fail. So I hope you will go about your business now and leave me at peace."
Robert actually smiled and arched his eyebrows. "Rumor has it you are from New York. I would not doubt it if it turned out to be true."
"It is," she said as she began to walk away. "I was raised learning the rough life. Newsies were my teacher, and an especially fierce newsie taught me all I needed to know right in the heart of Brooklyn." She said no more as she disappeared into a classroom wearing a smirk.
* * * * * * *
Spunks was studying over her chemistry notes at lunch when someone suddenly sat beside her. She looked up at the person and at the sight of Robert, she groaned. "Can you not take a hint or is your head too dense?"
"Rough words, Miss Brooklyn," the young man joked.
"Ugh! Do not call me that. It makes me sound as if I am engaged to Spot!"
Robert looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Forget I said that, okay? Look, this chemistry rubbish is Greek to me. If I do not study now, I will most likely fail the test I have next class. So can you just leave me alone?" She turned her head back to her notes and rested her forehead on a hand as she sighed. She had a feeling Robert would not even move.
"Why are you so afraid to open up? I only want to get to know you better. You seem like a really cool individual."
Spunks looked at him again, surprised to see sincerity in his eyes. She sighed again. "I have been hurt very badly by young men in my past, that's all. Nothing physical, it all had to do with relationships. Are you satisfied now? Are you going to leave me alone finally?"
"What happened?" He stared at her intensely as if he actually cared about all she would say, and yet, Spunks felt as if he would. So she told him the whole story about how she had met Spot and how they had given themselves to each other. About how they had fought countless times only to make up again just as much. She told him about her father having come to take her home and how Spot had been jealous so terribly. Then her story ended with Spot's fiancé having paid the Brooklyn leader an unpleasant visit.
"Ouch, I am sorry to hear that. But you know what? At least you do not let it get to you. I mean, sure you are rough around the edges and all, but that's only because you are cautious. But I know plenty of girls who would still be sobbing after having gone through stuff like that. You have a tough spirit, Mack."
Spunks smiled. Maybe she had been wrong in judging Robert before she got to know him. He had turned out to be a kind person after all. "You know," she said softly, "My dad is hosting a dinner for this missionary group that's coming all the way from my home town. He said I could invite whoever I pleased. Would you like to come?"
Robert's eyes widened. "Mackenzie Gerberre is actually asking me if I would like to dine with her one evening?" He looked up as if he were searching for something. "Did a shooting start just pass by?"
Spunks laughed and playfully pushed him.
"I would love to attend."
* * * * * * *
Spot looked all about the building that made up his mother's church like a curios animal sneaking through a forest it had suddenly found itself in. He always ran into a nun or two throughout his looking around, and he always made it routine to smile politely at them and nod as the whispered their 'God bless you' phrases at him. The church was a fascinating environment to him. No one ever argued or disagreed within its walls; it was as if everyone was under some magical spell.
He wished his family had taken refuge here while his real dad was still alive. The surroundings were so peaceful that perhaps Spot's dad would not have died of the horrible illness he had caught while at work. But even if he did pass, Spot's mother would not have fell into the hands of Clyde Rochklerr, the man who had wooed her and made her his wife. Spot hated Clyde with every last bit of his being! The man was a drunk and had no clue as to how to treat a woman right. Clyde often would beat his mother and him as well whenever he interfered. At least Matthew was never hurt, for he was always in school. Spot, of course, had dropped out because of being emotionally distraught. His grades had begun to drastically plummet and his teachers feared the worse. But he never spoke a word about what happened at home. He would control his own life. So he ran away one night, never to return.
He knew his mother and brother were well for one day, as he was passing through the neighborhood, he caught a sight of them sneaking out of the house with packed suitcases. He followed them all the way to the church which had been their home ever since. He could not bring himself to enter in after them, but he vowed someday he would. And alas, that day had finally come.
While he passed the open door of a small room, he saw a girl around his age sitting on the edge of a bed, with a book in her hands. He slowly made his way into the room and smiled when she looked up. The girl was startled and scooted backwards on the bed to put distance between her and the stranger.
"Sorry if I'se scared ya," Spot said quickly. "Me name's Spot Conlon. I'se Patricia's daughter, ya know, the head nun lady?" He received no response. "Uhm…I aint gonna hoit ya if that's what youse is thinking. I just wanted tah say hi cause I'se haven't seen you around heah before."
The girl calmed a little. "My name's Ebony. I am an orphan and your mother adopted me three nights ago. She's a kind woman so I'm sure you are just as kind. I wasn't afraid of you; you just gave me a fright." She grinned then and waited for Spot to say something.
He answered her by walking over to her and sitting beside her on the bed. He could feel her tense a bit. "Ah, don't worry. Me days as a floit is likely gone. 'Sides, youse don't look like the type who would go out wid a guy like me. Ya look like the good goil type."
Ebony glared at him. "Yes, well the good girl types don't get pregnant at unbelievable ages and don't get stalked by vulgar men! I rather live a life of purity than walk straight to hell!" She slammed the book she was holding shut and rose from the bed.
"Whoa, whoa, sorry!" Spot snapped. "Youse make it sound like people who do all those kinda things is gonna end up in hell. I'se distinctly remember there being sumthin in the bible about forgiveness."
"Forgiveness for those who ask for it, yes." She threw the book she held at him. "Read it for yourself." She walked out without saying goodbye. Spot looked down at the binding of the book and found the words 'Holy Bible' staring back up at him.
* * * * * * *
At dinner that night, Spot watched as his mother prayed over the food being served on the long table of the church fellowship hall that seated twenty. The guests were mostly nuns and guys- Spot did not know what the men were called. There was a priest too on one end, and Matthew sat with two other altar boys. Ebony was alone between two nuns and she briefly made eye contact with Spot. He smiled at her but she lowered her gaze to her plate. When the prayer was said, Spot leaned in to his mom.
"Heya ma, is that goil always so quiet?"
The woman looked up at Ebony and then at Spot. "Patrick, you better not be using your charms on that girl! She is rather shy, but such a wonderful child. She has vowed to maintain celibacy for the rest of her life."
Spot grimaced. "Damn, I wouldn't be able tah do that fer a week." He broke a piece of bread and laughed but his mother looked at him gravely.
"I am serious, Patrick! Do not bother her!" Spot rolled his eyes and continued eating in silence. Of all places, ya had tah come tah a church didn't ya? "Oh, I forgot to tell you. A kind man in Pennsylvania has agreed to host a little missionary program we will be having for all the missionaries nationwide. It should prove to be a remarkable event. I would like you to come."
Spot's ears perked up at the mention of the state where Spunks was now living. "I don't know, Ma. I'se don't wanna take up any room er anything. Maybe it'd be best if youse went without me. I'll just go back tah me same newsie routine."
"You certainly will not! The train leaves tomorrow! I'm sure I speak for the entire church body when I say your presence will be most welcomed."
The Brooklyn leader sighed. Why was he making such a big deal out of this? The chances were slim that he would even catch a glimpse of Spunks anywhere. He might as well get on with his life and stop thinking about her. He nodded a yes. When youse get back from Pennsylvania, ya gotta get over her no matter what. He would give it a few more days. Something told him he would indeed see Spunks in her new environment.
More to come…