Chapter 7
Spot kept himself up most of the day, constantly fighting back the tears of sorrow that threatened to emerge. His mind kept wandering off, to pictures of Tuesday's face and her smile and also the words he would have to say to her. Not wanting the boys to be at the Lodging House when he told Tuesday and cause a scene, Spot sold all of his papes early and headed back to the Lodging House alone.
He spent half an hour standing on the docks right outside the Lodging House conjuring up all the strength he could muster and headed inside. He found Tuesday sitting Indian style on the wooden floor playing a game of Solitaire. Feeling the movement of the floorboards beneath her, she turned and looked at him, a smile spreading across her cherry colored lips.
Getting up she walked over and began to hug him. Spot fought back the sudden urge to wrap his arms around her and not let go, and pushed her away gently. A look of hurt swept over Tuesday's face and she looked at him with her dark green eyes; pools filled with confusion. Tuesday began to sign:
"What's wrong?"
Spot hesitated for a moment, having forgotten what he was going to tell her. Spot signed slowly, not for a single moment being able to look her in the eyes.
"I'se don't know how to tell ya this but I can't be with you. You must leave tonight." Spot's arm dropped to his side and he stared at his feet.
Tuesday cupped her hands around his face and lifted his head up so that she might gaze into his eyes, but Spot averted them quickly not wanting her to see the glisten in them from the fresh tears.
"Please," she signed. "Please tell me what's wrong? Have I done something to anger you?"
Outside droplets of rain began to splatter against the window with heavy thuds falling quicker and quicker with each passing moment. Spot's hands moved quicker now.
"No, no you did nothing wrong, it was I who did something wrong. I should have never brought you back here with me. I should never have let you stay here this long. I should have never let the boys get the impression that I loved you."
Tuesday's heart sank in her chest, her throat closed up on her, making it almost impossible to breathe. But before she could do anything he went on.
"I am the fearless Spot Conlon. A man who strikes fear into many hearts as he walks by. A man who shows no mercy to people lower than myself. I only brought you here to heal you and then to let you go. That's all. I never meant for you to stay."
Tuesday's face flushed red with anger and her hand flew making contact with his cheek, hard. Tears flowed steadily now down her cheek and her bottom lip quivered with anger and embarrassment.
Turning Tuesday ran out of the bunkroom. A bolt of lightening flashed in the darkened sky, lighting up the room, before the heavy boom of thunder shook the house. A red handprint was left where Tuesday had struck him. With the rain pouring in through the open window, Spot sank to his knees and began to cry.
Spot kept himself up most of the day, constantly fighting back the tears of sorrow that threatened to emerge. His mind kept wandering off, to pictures of Tuesday's face and her smile and also the words he would have to say to her. Not wanting the boys to be at the Lodging House when he told Tuesday and cause a scene, Spot sold all of his papes early and headed back to the Lodging House alone.
He spent half an hour standing on the docks right outside the Lodging House conjuring up all the strength he could muster and headed inside. He found Tuesday sitting Indian style on the wooden floor playing a game of Solitaire. Feeling the movement of the floorboards beneath her, she turned and looked at him, a smile spreading across her cherry colored lips.
Getting up she walked over and began to hug him. Spot fought back the sudden urge to wrap his arms around her and not let go, and pushed her away gently. A look of hurt swept over Tuesday's face and she looked at him with her dark green eyes; pools filled with confusion. Tuesday began to sign:
"What's wrong?"
Spot hesitated for a moment, having forgotten what he was going to tell her. Spot signed slowly, not for a single moment being able to look her in the eyes.
"I'se don't know how to tell ya this but I can't be with you. You must leave tonight." Spot's arm dropped to his side and he stared at his feet.
Tuesday cupped her hands around his face and lifted his head up so that she might gaze into his eyes, but Spot averted them quickly not wanting her to see the glisten in them from the fresh tears.
"Please," she signed. "Please tell me what's wrong? Have I done something to anger you?"
Outside droplets of rain began to splatter against the window with heavy thuds falling quicker and quicker with each passing moment. Spot's hands moved quicker now.
"No, no you did nothing wrong, it was I who did something wrong. I should have never brought you back here with me. I should never have let you stay here this long. I should have never let the boys get the impression that I loved you."
Tuesday's heart sank in her chest, her throat closed up on her, making it almost impossible to breathe. But before she could do anything he went on.
"I am the fearless Spot Conlon. A man who strikes fear into many hearts as he walks by. A man who shows no mercy to people lower than myself. I only brought you here to heal you and then to let you go. That's all. I never meant for you to stay."
Tuesday's face flushed red with anger and her hand flew making contact with his cheek, hard. Tears flowed steadily now down her cheek and her bottom lip quivered with anger and embarrassment.
Turning Tuesday ran out of the bunkroom. A bolt of lightening flashed in the darkened sky, lighting up the room, before the heavy boom of thunder shook the house. A red handprint was left where Tuesday had struck him. With the rain pouring in through the open window, Spot sank to his knees and began to cry.