CHAPTER TWO
"What do ya think yer doin'?" Oscar cried in outrage.
"Running." Piker yawned.
A whisper came from the crowd-
"I taught him that. Yep, me Jack Kelly."
She smiled and turned toward her opponents. She sized them up by weight and height, then by brains. In the end she chose Morris.
"What're you doing running into me?" Morris countered.
"Well, sorry Mawris. It's just that I don normally look out for da street rats, maybe I should start wit you two." Piker shrugged.
"Who ya gettin' smart with, huh?" Oscar hissed.
"Well, dere's you an' me an' Mawris heah. So, who do ya t'ink? Huh Osca'?" Piker baited.
Morris shook his head in anger. He lunged at Piker, but she dodged out of the way. She played this game for about a minute and then grew tired and inquired, "So whacha gonna do? Get ya brass knuckles out, well make ya move."
Morris reached into his pocket for his renowned knuckles. He checked his first pocket, then his second. He patted his hands across his vest and asked Oscar
"Osca', do ya have my knuckles?"
"Why should I have 'em?"
"I can't find 'em and I thought maybe you did."
"No, they're not mine."
"Oh Mawris!" Piker sung.
"What?"
"Lookie what I's got." Piker taunted as she twirled the knuckles around her pointer finger. She threw them up and caught them.
"Howcha get 'em? They was in my pocket." Morris muttered.
"Well, they's always said dat da hand is quicka din de eye, Mawris." Piker announced.
She circled around Morris and taunted him with the brass knuckles. She pulled them out of reach every time. She then played monkey in the middle with Jack and the other newsies. All of them started getting into the action. They were screaming at Oscar and Morris. Once a again, Piker's sensitive ears picked out a rich Italian voice-
"5 to 1 Pika skunks 'em....5 to 1...any takas. Am I de only one awake today? 5 to 1!"
"Look Race, I's not some horse at da tracks youse can bet on! I's a person."
"Ya, well 2 people say dat you can skunk 'em and 1 says ya can't."
"Whose da lousy, good-for-nothing, traitor who says I's can't!" Piker demanded.
"Skittery, an' don go tellin 'im it was me who told." Race replied as he collected more money in Piker's favor.
"Well, be showa ta tell ol' Skittery dis is for him." Piker then turned around and threw Oscar a punch that knocked him off his feet. Next, she turned towards Morris and punched him in the gut twice and once in the nose. When all was said in done, Morris was doubled over and had a bloody nose while Oscar was on the ground rubbing his jaw, which was swelling already. Piker smiled and said to Racetrack-
"Well, youse gotta go find Skittery and get him ta pay up 'cuz I say dat I skunked 'em."
"I'se say it too." were the only words out of the normally talkative gambler.
She nodded turned around to the cheering newsboys. She bowed and turned on her heel to the center building. When she was completely turned she saw Kid Blink leaning on the wall. He smiled and nodded his head-
"I won"
"What?!?! Dat's not faih! I'se got in a figh'. Where's Jack? Dis ain't happenin'? I shoulda won dis t'ing. Not faih at all!" Piker exclaimed.
"Come on Blink. If youse got in ta a fight din youse woulda called off all bets and ya know it too." Jack proclaimed
The majority of the newsies thought along the same lines of Jack and Piker. They nodded their heads and some muttered a that's fair. Blink grinned and said-
"Fine, next time tho' I'se gonna win."
"Sure Blinky boy. Just t'ink whatcha wanna t'ink."
Blink then cuffed the back of Piker's head. She then hit him back. Soon, they were engaged in a play fight. In the end Blink won. Piker was too tired from beating up the Delanceys and running. They laughed in the end and headed to the gates to pick up their papes. Once inside, Piker noticed a tall, curly headed boy and most likely his cute kid brother inside. She analyzed them and thought this was their first time. On account that she hadn't seen them around selling or anything. As she was thinking about making an offer of selling she heard Blink call out-
"Davey, What brings you an' da Kid heah?"
