Past Secrets and Present Times
Chapter 8
By Megan
Hotshot was up at Brooklyn time the next morning. Maybe it was because she was eager to get out or it could have been because she'd fallen asleep early the night before. Her stomach was growling slightly because she'd eaten almost nothing the day before but she was used to ignoring it. She pushed herself out of bed and pulled on her clothes. Even if Medda or Jack wanted her to stay in another day she'd be out the window before lunch. She was adjusting the last of her hair under her hat when Medda came in.
"Aahhh, ready so early," A smile was on her face. "The doors are closed and locked at eight so be in before that."
Hotshot rolled her eyes slightly. If she were late she'd just climb in through the fire escape.
"And we lock the windows so you can't come in late through the fire escape."
For that the older woman got an amazed but annoyed look. "Alright, I'm gonna head out."
"See you later."
Hotshot climbed out the window onto the fire escape. She was noticing a few newsies wandering to the depot to get their papes early. Specs was walking along with Kid Blink. She quickened her pace to catch up to them. They smiled when they saw her and Specs wrapped an arm around her waist. After a few seconds he pulled it back quickly, as though he'd been burned.
While Hotshot thought he'd pulled back because it would make it obvious that she was a girl Specs had pulled back because he could still feel the scars and it bothered him. They reached the depot just as Weasel sounded the bell.
"Miss me Weasel," she smiled.
"As always. How many?"
"Hundred." She placed money on the counter.
Just her luck Oscar was the one to bring the papers out. He raised an eyebrow when he saw her.
"I thought you'd be outta here by now." His brother moved to stand directly behind him.
"Jus' think a this boys, next time I see you you're the ones who are gonna spend two weeks recuperating. I have a secret weapon and trust me you ain't seen anything like it."
"Bring it on kid. We beat you once we can do it again." Maurice spoke.
Hotshot only made a rude gesture and walked away with her papers. She sat and waited for Specs who walked over with Jack a few minutes later.
"You stay with Specs taday," he ordered, "Don' go off at all, an' Specs walk her back to Medda's an' be sure she goes inside 'fore you leave."
The two nodded and walked away. Specs scanned the headlines and asked, "Which one you want?"
"I'll take the one about the politician." She started yelling the headline and people walked over to her to buy papers. Specs decided on another headline that had potential and did the same. By noon they'd sold all of their morning papers and walked to Tibby's for lunch. A lot of newsies were there already but it wasn't extremely crowded. Racetrack yelled for them to come sit around his table. The table was small, only holding him, Specs, Hotshot, Kid Blink and Mush. They were the only newsies from their lodging house there that early so no one else paid attention to them.
Specs was the first to notice a man walking around the restaurant talking to different newsies. When he approached their table he smiled, "Do any of you know this girl? I'm with a group of detectives searching for her."
He held out a photograph that made Hotshot inwardly wince. It was a picture of her in a long elegant dress, along with her brother in the background. While the other four at the table quickly replied that they hadn't seen her Hotshot wanted to find out more about what was going on. The detective obviously didn't recognize her. "I dunno, how old would she be now?" She asked taking the picture.
"Seventeen." The man said.
"She got a name?"
"Brooke Maria Lynn."
"An' why's her uncle so eager to get her back?"
"She has an inheritance. Why are you so interested kid?"
"She's pretty, that's all." To help her scheme work Mush and Race laughed a little.
The detective took back the photo and turned and walked out the door. The four boys immediately turned to glare at her.
"One word to Jack or anyone else," she said, "An' I'll soak you's. You know I will so keep your mouths shut."
Kid Blink, Mush, and Racetrack closed their mouths and nodded in agreement. Specs nodded but then hit her in the back of the head, "What's wrong wit' you. They coulda caught you."
"They didn't recognize me an' they sure as hell ain't gonna search me so it didn't matter. Anyway Specs now I know part of the reason my uncle wants me back."
At this he shut his mouth and quickly finished his sandwich. When they were done the group went outside to return to the depot. They passed a group of detectives, including the one from Tibby's. "I guess those newsies were tellin' the truth. All of them either don't know her, say she stopped for a night before going to Queens, or they're hitting on her." It was the detective from the restaurant speaking.
"Well then," said another, "We should move our search to Queens tomorrow."
After selling the afternoon papers Specs and Hotshot climbed to the Jacobs' roof. While Specs was correcting Sarah's mistakes on the quiz he'd given her Hotshot was convincing her to go to Medda's that night. It was easy to convince her to come. She wanted to get away from her brothers for the night.
Specs came over with her quiz, "Perfect," he said, "If you keep this up you won't need me no more."
"More time for sellin' papes," Hotshot smiled at him.
"I think not." He said, "I'se got other things planned."
She shook her head and frowned as she looked at her pocket watch. They had to start back to the theater or she'd be late. Specs saw her frown and looked over her shoulder. "See ya tomorrow Sarah," he said pushing her toward the fire escape.
"See ya. I'll be over in an hour Hotshot."
Hotshot waved, showing she'd heard. She and Specs climbed down the fire escape and walked to Medda's. Specs came inside for a minute and saw the same Spanish boys as the day before smiling at him. With a glare Hotshot sent them away, "I'll see you in the mornin' then."
Specs kissed her silently before replying, "Yeah, I'll meet you at the depot."
She tried to wrap an arm around his neck before she kissed him again, "Damn Specs, you's too tall."
Specs laughed, the fact that she was standing a step lower than him on stairs probably had something to do with it. He walked down two steps and wrapped his arms around her waist. Feeling the scars through the shirt she wore still bothered him but he ignored it since he couldn't touch her in public anymore.
"Bye," he said pulling back and turning toward the door.
"Bye," Hotshot started to climb the stairs.
The Spanish boys were standing at the top. "I did not know you have a boyfriend?" Miguel said.
"Well now you do." From her mothers' description of her family Hotshot knew the dominant glare the boys had in their eyes. "An' if you don't back off now I'll kick you all the way back to Madrid." At her threat all of the boys backed up a few steps and thanks to a simple kick they went running. "Men," she sighed.
Sarah arrived minutes later and the two of them sat around the kitchen table for hours just talking and playing cards.
"So how are things with you and Jack?" Hotshot asked.
"Great. I mean a lot of people think he's stuck up because he doesn't trust easy. He's just used to being careful about the whole 'Francis Sullivan' thing. He's really sweet once you get to know him."
"Francis Sullivan?"
"It's his real name," Sarah explained, "His mother is dead, his father's in the state penitentiary. He was in the refuge for a while but he escaped and changed his name to Jack Kelly. After the strike they said he doesn't have to go back."
"Wow," the new information shocked Hotshot; she had more in common with Jack than she thought.
"Yeah, so what about you and Specs?"
"Does everyone know about that?"
"Probably; you and Specs hid it well but it leaked to a few of them and kind of spread."
"We're doin' good." Hotshot really didn't know what to say. She'd never talked about a relationship with another girl before. There were only a few male newsies she could talk to about Spot.
"You two are so cute together."
"We are?"
"Yeah, you look perfect together and you get along so well."
Hotshot shrugged as Medda walked intro the room followed by David.
"Hey Hotshot," David said, "Sarah you ready to go."
"Sure." She stood and smiled, "Thank you Medda. I'll see you later Brooke"
Hotshot winced, "Please call me Hotshot."
David smiled at her reaction. Many of the other newsies had the same reaction if you called them by their real names. He and Sarah walked out the door, which was closed and locked behind them.
Hotshot retreated to her room. She played a few games of poker against herself before putting her cards away and going to bed. She was going back to the lodging house tomorrow and that was all she was worried about.
The next morning she was up early again, and barely greeted Medda before she left. The boys were waiting for her at the depot. Skittery had her slingshot in his hand and was bothering the others by aiming it at them. "Thanks, I was lookin' for that," she said grabbing it.
"I didn't do it," came Skittery's usual reply for when he was surprised. When he saw Hotshot he grinned. "Heya Hotshot."
She jumped down from the crate she was standing on and stood in line with the rest of them. Jack and Specs were waiting for her when she bought her papers. "What's going on?" she asked.
"You's sellin' wit' me taday," Jack said leaving no room for argument, "You an' me needs ta talk."
She nodded, "Alright, I'll see you back at the lodging house tonight Specs."
Specs nodded silently and because he couldn't kiss her before they left he patted her on the back and walked in a different direction with Dutchy and Skittery.
"What do we need to talk about?" she asked Jack when they had been walking for a few minutes and selling papers.
"What Sarah told you the other night, about me."
"Jack, It really don't matta if you don't wanna tell me. I… I dunno what to say to you's about it."
"Mos' a the othas know 'bout it so you should too."
"You don't hafta."
"Well, I wanna. I kept it from almos' everyone 'fore the strike an' den they found out an' well they forgave me for not tellin' dem but it was hard on me ta know I lied."
"You didn't lie ta me Jack," Hotshot commented, "You jus' neva told me anythin'."
"Well, I's gonna tell you now so shut up an' listen." Hotshot closed her mouth at his harsh tone and looked at him. "Go ahead then."
"It all started when I was six an' me mum got sick. She'd had me an' two otha kids who was stillborn. I think there was another 'fore me but no one tol' me. Anyway me mum would work real hard to clean, cook, an' teach me ta read, write, do math, an' all that otha stuff. Well the day she got sick she jus' didn't get outta bed. Me fatha left for work real early in the mornin' so we weren't up when he left. Well I went to my mum's room when I got up an' she was still in bed. She jus couldn't get outta bed an' her face was this awful whitish color. She tol' me to run down the street and get me dad. When I got to his office he was real mad that I interrupted him but he came home wit' me an' we got a doctor. I dunno what was wrong with her an' I still don't. The docta an' me dad neva tol' me. But my mum was sick 'til I was nine. Den one morning when I got up an' went in her room she was real cold. I was only a little kid so I though she was just real sick and tired. I sat with her all day begging her to wake up an' when my dad got home he started cursing and locked me in my room before he got the doctor. When he let me out again she was gone. They took her to the morgue. They had a funeral for her that was real nice. I ain't never gone ta visit but I remember it was real pretty."
"I'm sorry Jack," Hotshot put a hand on his shoulder.
He shrugged it off, "S'alright."
"Well after me mum died me dad got all depressed. He really didn't do his job so they fired him. We lived on our savings for a while but we didn't have much to begin with. He did all he could to keep me with him even though he didn't pay much attention to me. He yelled a lot and hit me a few times. He got some money from a friend to keep us in a boarding house but he had to steal food sometimes. The firs' time I got caught he paid for me to get out of the refuge. I sure as hell got a beating that night. He was so mad, an' a little drunk I think. Anyway, the social services came over a bunch a times 'cause neighbors told the bulls that my dad was either abusing me or neglecting me. When I was eleven or twelve some guy came an' said my dad's business partner, Mr. Snyder, told him that I was being beaten. The guy said he had to put me in the custody of the state. I didn't wanna go away from my dad an' he didn't wanna let the man take me away. I ran to my room and my dad fought with the guy; broke his jaw. They sent my dad to jail and put me in the orphanage but I ran away. I started bein' a newsie sometimes. But I ended up stealing food 'cause I couldn't afford a place to stay. Snyder found me one day an' put me in the refuge. I escaped durin' an inspection by the governor and found the lodging house here. I guess they looked up ta me 'cause a my attitude and fighting abilities or sumthin'. After Ambition, the old Manhattan leader, left he passed things onto me. I heard right after I got here that me dad got sent to the state penitentiary for fighting with other prisoners and trying to kill a prison guard."
"Jack, I really don' know what ta say."
"Then don't say nuthin," he replaced his frown wit' a grin. "Sarah said you two had fun las' night. Maybe you should spend some time wit' the goils in the dorms. We knows a few of them who woik at the other theater who'd wanna hang out wit' you."
"I dunno, I really don't care."
"I'll talk to 'em tomorrow then. It'll be good for you to spend time wit' some goils."
They finished selling their papers and walked to Tibby's to meet up with everyone. The other boys seemed to be strewn throughout the room. Hotshot collapsed into an empty chair. She was still pondering Jacks idea. She wasn't sure if it was a good one. Some of the girls were known to act like sluts and she wasn't used to hanging out with a lot of girls who were her age. She looked up as Bumlets tapped her on the shoulder.
"You're in my seat kid." He said.
She shrugged, "So."
He picked her up and dropped her into an empty seat next to Kid Blink as the others laughed. Kid Blink laughed so hard he began to cough. He continued to cough and seemed unable to stop.
"You ok, Blinky boy?" Itey asked patting him on the back.
Kid Blink only nodded as he pushed himself into a standing position and walked to the washroom. When the hacking coughs quieted people went back to their normal business. When most of them had left Blink came back out of the washroom and sat down.
"You ok Kid?" Hotshot asked. He was somewhat pale and still focusing on breathing correctly.
"Yeah," he said, "Jus' a little cold." He shrugged and looked at her and Jack as the circulation bell began to ring again. "Let's go sell some papes."
Even though he had some people worried he seemed to be back to his normal self. Jack, Hotshot and the others let his unusual behavior slide and went back to their normal routine.
That night they had all forgotten about the afternoon's events and were celebrating Hotshot's return to the lodging house. There was music playing and a large poker game started almost instantly. Hotshot and Racetrack dominating most of the games, as usual. Racetrack did his victory dance at the end of the night when Hotshot folded and let him win the last game.
"C'mon Hotshot, one more." he said smiling cockily.
"Nah Race," she said, "I'm goin' ta bed." There were only a few other newsies still in the crowd. Most of them had gone to bed long ago. Hotshot changed quickly in the washroom and crawled into bed.
Specs looked over the edge of his bunk, "You let him win," he accused.
"I did no such thing," she claimed.
"Hotshot I saw your cards and his. You had the better hand and poker face an' you knew he couldn't have beaten what you had."
"Alright, I let him win tonight. Tomorrow I won't take it so easy on him."
The next morning she woke up with the other bots in the lodging house. Everyone was grumbling and complaining about it being too early to get up but she was ready to go. Within minutes she was up and out the door. Jack caught up with her at the distribution center.
"I'm goin' to Brooklyn today," he said, "Any messages for Spot."
She looked at him for a moment, "Tell 'im I miss him an' I hope I see him soon."
"Alright, meet me at Tibby's after you sell your afternoon papers." With that he took off in the direction of Brooklyn leaving Hotshot and a few others staring after him.
Hotshot just shrugged and bought her papers. She sat down next to Kid Blink and waited for Specs to buy his.
"If you ask me how I'm feeling I swear to God I will soak you." Kid Blink warned her.
She laughed at him; "Blink a. you can take care of yourself, and b. you couldn't soak me if you tried."
He looked at her, "I guess you're right. So how's things goin' wit' Specs."
"It's not."
"You two broke up!"
"No, just nothing's happening right now."
"Well if you want my advice."
She immediately covered her ears; "I will never ask you for advice. I don't think I'll ever be that desperate."
He was shaking his head at her when Specs came over and joined them on the large crate, "So what's up today guys? Any good headlines?"
"Not great but we can improve upon 'em." Kid Blink smiled.
"Say Kid, how are ya feelin' this mornin'?" Specs asked innocently.
"Breathe," Hotshot ordered him before he could pounce on Specs. She then turned to Specs and said, "He's fine."
Specs was trying to hide his smile. Kid Blink calmed down and picked up his papers. "You mind an extra selling partner today Specs?"
Specs merely shrugged in response, "Let's go."
The three of them set off through Manhattan selling papers to whomever they could find. They used the usual tricks; pity, fake headlines, faking illnesses and so on. Not only did they sell all their papers but they reached Tibby's at the same time as most of their friends. Racetrack, however, was suspiciously absent.
"Hey Crutchy, where's Race?" Mush asked.
"You know him. Hot tip on a Race so he can't leave the tracks." Crutchy rolled his eyes at Race's usual behavior, "One a these days he'll get in ova his head if he ain't careful."
That afternoon it was harder to sell papers. There weren't as many people outside and the morning crowds were not going to be fooled again, today anyway. They slowly made their way back to Tibby's and the square. They stopped there and read their papers until Hotshot saw Jack going into the restaurant. She picked up her four or five remaining papers and nodded a goodbye to Kid Blink and Specs.
Jack was seated at a table surrounded by girls. Hotshot was smiling at the plan forming in her head. She walked over and whispered seductively in his ear. "You're getting' more and more like Mush every day Cowboy."
When he turned around and saw who it was he jumped, "Don' do that Hotshot!"
"How's Spot?"
"Misses you, and wishes you could come back but the place still has a few lurking detectives. Now down to business, this here is Hummingbird an' her friends." He introduced the rest of the dormitory girls seated around the table. "Now ladies, I will be back in a few. I gotsta get sumthin' from the lodging house." He then leaned forward and whispered in Hotshot's ear, "Try to find somethin' to talk about."
When he was gone Hummingbird was the first to speak up, "Did you really date Spot Conlon?"
Hotshot sighed and rolled her eyes remembering what girls her age talked about, "Yeah."
"I can't believe you dumped him." When Hotshot only shrugged she spoke, "Who are you going with now?"
"Specs."
A few of the girls hid laughter behind their hands. Who would dump Spot for Specs? Granted Specs was cute but Spot was gorgeous. How had Spot liked the girl in front of them dressed in boy's clothes?
Hummingbird hid her laugh well, "It's nice to meet you?" She extended her hand.
Hotshot spit in hers and raised an eyebrow when Hummingbird jerked her hand back. "Smatter!?"
"That's disgusting!"
Hotshot turned as Jack came back into the restaurant. "Later," she handed him her remaining papers and spoke quietly to him only, "I don't spend time conversing with people like them. They live on the streets yet they don't know a spit shake an' I ain't gonna put up with this crap about my clothes and my boyfriend."
Chapter 8
By Megan
Hotshot was up at Brooklyn time the next morning. Maybe it was because she was eager to get out or it could have been because she'd fallen asleep early the night before. Her stomach was growling slightly because she'd eaten almost nothing the day before but she was used to ignoring it. She pushed herself out of bed and pulled on her clothes. Even if Medda or Jack wanted her to stay in another day she'd be out the window before lunch. She was adjusting the last of her hair under her hat when Medda came in.
"Aahhh, ready so early," A smile was on her face. "The doors are closed and locked at eight so be in before that."
Hotshot rolled her eyes slightly. If she were late she'd just climb in through the fire escape.
"And we lock the windows so you can't come in late through the fire escape."
For that the older woman got an amazed but annoyed look. "Alright, I'm gonna head out."
"See you later."
Hotshot climbed out the window onto the fire escape. She was noticing a few newsies wandering to the depot to get their papes early. Specs was walking along with Kid Blink. She quickened her pace to catch up to them. They smiled when they saw her and Specs wrapped an arm around her waist. After a few seconds he pulled it back quickly, as though he'd been burned.
While Hotshot thought he'd pulled back because it would make it obvious that she was a girl Specs had pulled back because he could still feel the scars and it bothered him. They reached the depot just as Weasel sounded the bell.
"Miss me Weasel," she smiled.
"As always. How many?"
"Hundred." She placed money on the counter.
Just her luck Oscar was the one to bring the papers out. He raised an eyebrow when he saw her.
"I thought you'd be outta here by now." His brother moved to stand directly behind him.
"Jus' think a this boys, next time I see you you're the ones who are gonna spend two weeks recuperating. I have a secret weapon and trust me you ain't seen anything like it."
"Bring it on kid. We beat you once we can do it again." Maurice spoke.
Hotshot only made a rude gesture and walked away with her papers. She sat and waited for Specs who walked over with Jack a few minutes later.
"You stay with Specs taday," he ordered, "Don' go off at all, an' Specs walk her back to Medda's an' be sure she goes inside 'fore you leave."
The two nodded and walked away. Specs scanned the headlines and asked, "Which one you want?"
"I'll take the one about the politician." She started yelling the headline and people walked over to her to buy papers. Specs decided on another headline that had potential and did the same. By noon they'd sold all of their morning papers and walked to Tibby's for lunch. A lot of newsies were there already but it wasn't extremely crowded. Racetrack yelled for them to come sit around his table. The table was small, only holding him, Specs, Hotshot, Kid Blink and Mush. They were the only newsies from their lodging house there that early so no one else paid attention to them.
Specs was the first to notice a man walking around the restaurant talking to different newsies. When he approached their table he smiled, "Do any of you know this girl? I'm with a group of detectives searching for her."
He held out a photograph that made Hotshot inwardly wince. It was a picture of her in a long elegant dress, along with her brother in the background. While the other four at the table quickly replied that they hadn't seen her Hotshot wanted to find out more about what was going on. The detective obviously didn't recognize her. "I dunno, how old would she be now?" She asked taking the picture.
"Seventeen." The man said.
"She got a name?"
"Brooke Maria Lynn."
"An' why's her uncle so eager to get her back?"
"She has an inheritance. Why are you so interested kid?"
"She's pretty, that's all." To help her scheme work Mush and Race laughed a little.
The detective took back the photo and turned and walked out the door. The four boys immediately turned to glare at her.
"One word to Jack or anyone else," she said, "An' I'll soak you's. You know I will so keep your mouths shut."
Kid Blink, Mush, and Racetrack closed their mouths and nodded in agreement. Specs nodded but then hit her in the back of the head, "What's wrong wit' you. They coulda caught you."
"They didn't recognize me an' they sure as hell ain't gonna search me so it didn't matter. Anyway Specs now I know part of the reason my uncle wants me back."
At this he shut his mouth and quickly finished his sandwich. When they were done the group went outside to return to the depot. They passed a group of detectives, including the one from Tibby's. "I guess those newsies were tellin' the truth. All of them either don't know her, say she stopped for a night before going to Queens, or they're hitting on her." It was the detective from the restaurant speaking.
"Well then," said another, "We should move our search to Queens tomorrow."
After selling the afternoon papers Specs and Hotshot climbed to the Jacobs' roof. While Specs was correcting Sarah's mistakes on the quiz he'd given her Hotshot was convincing her to go to Medda's that night. It was easy to convince her to come. She wanted to get away from her brothers for the night.
Specs came over with her quiz, "Perfect," he said, "If you keep this up you won't need me no more."
"More time for sellin' papes," Hotshot smiled at him.
"I think not." He said, "I'se got other things planned."
She shook her head and frowned as she looked at her pocket watch. They had to start back to the theater or she'd be late. Specs saw her frown and looked over her shoulder. "See ya tomorrow Sarah," he said pushing her toward the fire escape.
"See ya. I'll be over in an hour Hotshot."
Hotshot waved, showing she'd heard. She and Specs climbed down the fire escape and walked to Medda's. Specs came inside for a minute and saw the same Spanish boys as the day before smiling at him. With a glare Hotshot sent them away, "I'll see you in the mornin' then."
Specs kissed her silently before replying, "Yeah, I'll meet you at the depot."
She tried to wrap an arm around his neck before she kissed him again, "Damn Specs, you's too tall."
Specs laughed, the fact that she was standing a step lower than him on stairs probably had something to do with it. He walked down two steps and wrapped his arms around her waist. Feeling the scars through the shirt she wore still bothered him but he ignored it since he couldn't touch her in public anymore.
"Bye," he said pulling back and turning toward the door.
"Bye," Hotshot started to climb the stairs.
The Spanish boys were standing at the top. "I did not know you have a boyfriend?" Miguel said.
"Well now you do." From her mothers' description of her family Hotshot knew the dominant glare the boys had in their eyes. "An' if you don't back off now I'll kick you all the way back to Madrid." At her threat all of the boys backed up a few steps and thanks to a simple kick they went running. "Men," she sighed.
Sarah arrived minutes later and the two of them sat around the kitchen table for hours just talking and playing cards.
"So how are things with you and Jack?" Hotshot asked.
"Great. I mean a lot of people think he's stuck up because he doesn't trust easy. He's just used to being careful about the whole 'Francis Sullivan' thing. He's really sweet once you get to know him."
"Francis Sullivan?"
"It's his real name," Sarah explained, "His mother is dead, his father's in the state penitentiary. He was in the refuge for a while but he escaped and changed his name to Jack Kelly. After the strike they said he doesn't have to go back."
"Wow," the new information shocked Hotshot; she had more in common with Jack than she thought.
"Yeah, so what about you and Specs?"
"Does everyone know about that?"
"Probably; you and Specs hid it well but it leaked to a few of them and kind of spread."
"We're doin' good." Hotshot really didn't know what to say. She'd never talked about a relationship with another girl before. There were only a few male newsies she could talk to about Spot.
"You two are so cute together."
"We are?"
"Yeah, you look perfect together and you get along so well."
Hotshot shrugged as Medda walked intro the room followed by David.
"Hey Hotshot," David said, "Sarah you ready to go."
"Sure." She stood and smiled, "Thank you Medda. I'll see you later Brooke"
Hotshot winced, "Please call me Hotshot."
David smiled at her reaction. Many of the other newsies had the same reaction if you called them by their real names. He and Sarah walked out the door, which was closed and locked behind them.
Hotshot retreated to her room. She played a few games of poker against herself before putting her cards away and going to bed. She was going back to the lodging house tomorrow and that was all she was worried about.
The next morning she was up early again, and barely greeted Medda before she left. The boys were waiting for her at the depot. Skittery had her slingshot in his hand and was bothering the others by aiming it at them. "Thanks, I was lookin' for that," she said grabbing it.
"I didn't do it," came Skittery's usual reply for when he was surprised. When he saw Hotshot he grinned. "Heya Hotshot."
She jumped down from the crate she was standing on and stood in line with the rest of them. Jack and Specs were waiting for her when she bought her papers. "What's going on?" she asked.
"You's sellin' wit' me taday," Jack said leaving no room for argument, "You an' me needs ta talk."
She nodded, "Alright, I'll see you back at the lodging house tonight Specs."
Specs nodded silently and because he couldn't kiss her before they left he patted her on the back and walked in a different direction with Dutchy and Skittery.
"What do we need to talk about?" she asked Jack when they had been walking for a few minutes and selling papers.
"What Sarah told you the other night, about me."
"Jack, It really don't matta if you don't wanna tell me. I… I dunno what to say to you's about it."
"Mos' a the othas know 'bout it so you should too."
"You don't hafta."
"Well, I wanna. I kept it from almos' everyone 'fore the strike an' den they found out an' well they forgave me for not tellin' dem but it was hard on me ta know I lied."
"You didn't lie ta me Jack," Hotshot commented, "You jus' neva told me anythin'."
"Well, I's gonna tell you now so shut up an' listen." Hotshot closed her mouth at his harsh tone and looked at him. "Go ahead then."
"It all started when I was six an' me mum got sick. She'd had me an' two otha kids who was stillborn. I think there was another 'fore me but no one tol' me. Anyway me mum would work real hard to clean, cook, an' teach me ta read, write, do math, an' all that otha stuff. Well the day she got sick she jus' didn't get outta bed. Me fatha left for work real early in the mornin' so we weren't up when he left. Well I went to my mum's room when I got up an' she was still in bed. She jus couldn't get outta bed an' her face was this awful whitish color. She tol' me to run down the street and get me dad. When I got to his office he was real mad that I interrupted him but he came home wit' me an' we got a doctor. I dunno what was wrong with her an' I still don't. The docta an' me dad neva tol' me. But my mum was sick 'til I was nine. Den one morning when I got up an' went in her room she was real cold. I was only a little kid so I though she was just real sick and tired. I sat with her all day begging her to wake up an' when my dad got home he started cursing and locked me in my room before he got the doctor. When he let me out again she was gone. They took her to the morgue. They had a funeral for her that was real nice. I ain't never gone ta visit but I remember it was real pretty."
"I'm sorry Jack," Hotshot put a hand on his shoulder.
He shrugged it off, "S'alright."
"Well after me mum died me dad got all depressed. He really didn't do his job so they fired him. We lived on our savings for a while but we didn't have much to begin with. He did all he could to keep me with him even though he didn't pay much attention to me. He yelled a lot and hit me a few times. He got some money from a friend to keep us in a boarding house but he had to steal food sometimes. The firs' time I got caught he paid for me to get out of the refuge. I sure as hell got a beating that night. He was so mad, an' a little drunk I think. Anyway, the social services came over a bunch a times 'cause neighbors told the bulls that my dad was either abusing me or neglecting me. When I was eleven or twelve some guy came an' said my dad's business partner, Mr. Snyder, told him that I was being beaten. The guy said he had to put me in the custody of the state. I didn't wanna go away from my dad an' he didn't wanna let the man take me away. I ran to my room and my dad fought with the guy; broke his jaw. They sent my dad to jail and put me in the orphanage but I ran away. I started bein' a newsie sometimes. But I ended up stealing food 'cause I couldn't afford a place to stay. Snyder found me one day an' put me in the refuge. I escaped durin' an inspection by the governor and found the lodging house here. I guess they looked up ta me 'cause a my attitude and fighting abilities or sumthin'. After Ambition, the old Manhattan leader, left he passed things onto me. I heard right after I got here that me dad got sent to the state penitentiary for fighting with other prisoners and trying to kill a prison guard."
"Jack, I really don' know what ta say."
"Then don't say nuthin," he replaced his frown wit' a grin. "Sarah said you two had fun las' night. Maybe you should spend some time wit' the goils in the dorms. We knows a few of them who woik at the other theater who'd wanna hang out wit' you."
"I dunno, I really don't care."
"I'll talk to 'em tomorrow then. It'll be good for you to spend time wit' some goils."
They finished selling their papers and walked to Tibby's to meet up with everyone. The other boys seemed to be strewn throughout the room. Hotshot collapsed into an empty chair. She was still pondering Jacks idea. She wasn't sure if it was a good one. Some of the girls were known to act like sluts and she wasn't used to hanging out with a lot of girls who were her age. She looked up as Bumlets tapped her on the shoulder.
"You're in my seat kid." He said.
She shrugged, "So."
He picked her up and dropped her into an empty seat next to Kid Blink as the others laughed. Kid Blink laughed so hard he began to cough. He continued to cough and seemed unable to stop.
"You ok, Blinky boy?" Itey asked patting him on the back.
Kid Blink only nodded as he pushed himself into a standing position and walked to the washroom. When the hacking coughs quieted people went back to their normal business. When most of them had left Blink came back out of the washroom and sat down.
"You ok Kid?" Hotshot asked. He was somewhat pale and still focusing on breathing correctly.
"Yeah," he said, "Jus' a little cold." He shrugged and looked at her and Jack as the circulation bell began to ring again. "Let's go sell some papes."
Even though he had some people worried he seemed to be back to his normal self. Jack, Hotshot and the others let his unusual behavior slide and went back to their normal routine.
That night they had all forgotten about the afternoon's events and were celebrating Hotshot's return to the lodging house. There was music playing and a large poker game started almost instantly. Hotshot and Racetrack dominating most of the games, as usual. Racetrack did his victory dance at the end of the night when Hotshot folded and let him win the last game.
"C'mon Hotshot, one more." he said smiling cockily.
"Nah Race," she said, "I'm goin' ta bed." There were only a few other newsies still in the crowd. Most of them had gone to bed long ago. Hotshot changed quickly in the washroom and crawled into bed.
Specs looked over the edge of his bunk, "You let him win," he accused.
"I did no such thing," she claimed.
"Hotshot I saw your cards and his. You had the better hand and poker face an' you knew he couldn't have beaten what you had."
"Alright, I let him win tonight. Tomorrow I won't take it so easy on him."
The next morning she woke up with the other bots in the lodging house. Everyone was grumbling and complaining about it being too early to get up but she was ready to go. Within minutes she was up and out the door. Jack caught up with her at the distribution center.
"I'm goin' to Brooklyn today," he said, "Any messages for Spot."
She looked at him for a moment, "Tell 'im I miss him an' I hope I see him soon."
"Alright, meet me at Tibby's after you sell your afternoon papers." With that he took off in the direction of Brooklyn leaving Hotshot and a few others staring after him.
Hotshot just shrugged and bought her papers. She sat down next to Kid Blink and waited for Specs to buy his.
"If you ask me how I'm feeling I swear to God I will soak you." Kid Blink warned her.
She laughed at him; "Blink a. you can take care of yourself, and b. you couldn't soak me if you tried."
He looked at her, "I guess you're right. So how's things goin' wit' Specs."
"It's not."
"You two broke up!"
"No, just nothing's happening right now."
"Well if you want my advice."
She immediately covered her ears; "I will never ask you for advice. I don't think I'll ever be that desperate."
He was shaking his head at her when Specs came over and joined them on the large crate, "So what's up today guys? Any good headlines?"
"Not great but we can improve upon 'em." Kid Blink smiled.
"Say Kid, how are ya feelin' this mornin'?" Specs asked innocently.
"Breathe," Hotshot ordered him before he could pounce on Specs. She then turned to Specs and said, "He's fine."
Specs was trying to hide his smile. Kid Blink calmed down and picked up his papers. "You mind an extra selling partner today Specs?"
Specs merely shrugged in response, "Let's go."
The three of them set off through Manhattan selling papers to whomever they could find. They used the usual tricks; pity, fake headlines, faking illnesses and so on. Not only did they sell all their papers but they reached Tibby's at the same time as most of their friends. Racetrack, however, was suspiciously absent.
"Hey Crutchy, where's Race?" Mush asked.
"You know him. Hot tip on a Race so he can't leave the tracks." Crutchy rolled his eyes at Race's usual behavior, "One a these days he'll get in ova his head if he ain't careful."
That afternoon it was harder to sell papers. There weren't as many people outside and the morning crowds were not going to be fooled again, today anyway. They slowly made their way back to Tibby's and the square. They stopped there and read their papers until Hotshot saw Jack going into the restaurant. She picked up her four or five remaining papers and nodded a goodbye to Kid Blink and Specs.
Jack was seated at a table surrounded by girls. Hotshot was smiling at the plan forming in her head. She walked over and whispered seductively in his ear. "You're getting' more and more like Mush every day Cowboy."
When he turned around and saw who it was he jumped, "Don' do that Hotshot!"
"How's Spot?"
"Misses you, and wishes you could come back but the place still has a few lurking detectives. Now down to business, this here is Hummingbird an' her friends." He introduced the rest of the dormitory girls seated around the table. "Now ladies, I will be back in a few. I gotsta get sumthin' from the lodging house." He then leaned forward and whispered in Hotshot's ear, "Try to find somethin' to talk about."
When he was gone Hummingbird was the first to speak up, "Did you really date Spot Conlon?"
Hotshot sighed and rolled her eyes remembering what girls her age talked about, "Yeah."
"I can't believe you dumped him." When Hotshot only shrugged she spoke, "Who are you going with now?"
"Specs."
A few of the girls hid laughter behind their hands. Who would dump Spot for Specs? Granted Specs was cute but Spot was gorgeous. How had Spot liked the girl in front of them dressed in boy's clothes?
Hummingbird hid her laugh well, "It's nice to meet you?" She extended her hand.
Hotshot spit in hers and raised an eyebrow when Hummingbird jerked her hand back. "Smatter!?"
"That's disgusting!"
Hotshot turned as Jack came back into the restaurant. "Later," she handed him her remaining papers and spoke quietly to him only, "I don't spend time conversing with people like them. They live on the streets yet they don't know a spit shake an' I ain't gonna put up with this crap about my clothes and my boyfriend."