Chapter 4
Three months have passed since Kit left Manhattan. Most of the boys at the lodging house have figured out the connection of Kit and Sweets. She now sells papes with Spot in Brooklyn, their friendship growing stronger everyday. ***
It's lunchtime on the docks and Jack has come over to Brooklyn to invite Spot and his boys to a party at Irving Hall that night. Spot and Jack sit on the docks watching Kit play with the little kids, smiling as they latch on to her legs and act as anchors, not letting her move and tripping her up.
Spot smiles at her and takes a long drag on his cigarette, "I don' know Jacky-boy. She's real special ta me, and I don' wanna screw t'ings up. I mean, what if she doesn' feel da same way about me and den moves back ta Man'attan?" Spot looks at Jack with pain in his eyes.
Jack laughs at his friend, "Spot, are you'se scared?"
"Hell yeah!" Spot says this a little too loud and Kit hears it, gives him a fierce frown and mouths little ears, then smiles at him in spite of herself. Spot smiles back then looks at Jack, "I'll tell her tonight." Spot watches with fondness as Kit leans down and scoops up a crying three year old, and then kisses its hurt hand.
***
Spot and Kit walk back to the lodging house together and Spot tells her about the party at Irving Hall.
"That sounds wonderful," Kit smiles and immediately starts thinking about what she's going to wear.
Spot smiles, "you wouldn'...uh." he stutters as he tries to get the words out, " you wouldn' wanna go as me date to dis t'ing ta noight. Would ya?"
Kit smiles, her dimple threatening to split her cheek, "I t'ought you'd never ask." She links arms with Spot and wonders what she is going to wear to impress him.
***
Kit walks down the steps of the Lodging house and into the lobby where all the boys are standing, waiting for her. Her hair is down and hanging over her shoulders in heavy curls. The vibrant red dress, fits snugly to the top part of her body and brings out the soft flush of her cheeks. She smiles at Spot and blushes under his scrutiny.
"Hey Dollface." Spot kisses the delicate dimple in her cheek, "you look wondahfuhl."
"Enough Spot Conlon" she smacks him on the arm, "But t'ank you."
Spot takes her hand and walks out of the lodging house.
***
The party seems to be in full swing when Brooklyn arrives. Kit is pulled away to the dance floor by Mush and Jack stops to talk to Spot.
"So ya tell 'er yet?"
"Nah, I wan' it ta be special"
Jack nods, "ok, but I jus' say you'se scared."
"I'm scared of losin' her" Spot watches Mush spin Kit around the dance floor, making her laugh.
The song ends and Kit walks over to the table that Spot is sitting at, still laughing, "Oh my, Mush can dance." She looks at the dancing couples enviously and smiles at the slow song that is being played by the band.
Spot gently takes her hand, kisses the back of it and leads her out onto the dance floor. "May I have dis dance?" He slips a strong arm around her waist and pulls her closer to him.
"Yes you'se may." Kit slips a small hand into Spot's and puts one arm around his neck.
Spot smiles at her, "you are da prettiest girl I have eva' met."
"You are jus' full o' compliments ta noight Spot."
Spot smiles, "Yeah. Kit I have sumt'in I need ta tell ya"
"Yeah Spot?"
"I.I love."
Kit looks at him puzzled, "spit it out boy"
"Kit, I Love you." He sighs heavily.
Kit's eyes tear up as she kisses him. She laughs out loud as he picks her up and spins her around. She kisses him again, both of her arms wrapped around his neck, and whispers in his ear, "I love you too Spot."
The song ends and Spot slips his arm around her waist, pulling her up to his side. They both walk over to the table that Jack is sitting at.
"I did it" Spot turns and kisses Kit's dimple, "T'anks Jack."
***
After the party Kit announces that she will stay in Brooklyn until other arrangements are made, by this she means marriage or separation. All the Manhattan boys come up and give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, tears misting their eyes over.
Kit wipes tears from her eyes, "C'mon now. Stoppit. You'se are all young men. I'm jus' gonna be in Brooklyn, you'se all know where dat is, roight?" all the boys nod their heads, "Oh I git it. No mor' Sweets. All you'se are t'inkin' about is food." They all laugh and tackle Kit in one big hug.
Race steps forward, "You're loik a mudda to us all, you cooked, cleaned, comforted and smiled constantly. It's gonna be diffuhrent."
Kit smiles and takes Race into her arms, hugging him like family. "I'll be back I promise. And you can visit Brooklyn anytime you want."
Spot nods and takes Kit's hand, "I'll bring her back to visit soon."
"You still don' own me Spot Conlon," Kit looks at him, a slight frown on her face.
"Not yet, but I will" Spot puts one hand under her knees and pulls her up into his arms, carrying her out of the hall.
***
Kit stays in Brooklyn for three months before Spot finally asks her to marry him.
Spot watches Kit tuck the little boys into their beds. He walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist, "ya want one of dos'"
Kit nods, "Yeah, I want one of my own."
Spot kisses her neck, "Den I guess we have ta get married, 'cause I don't wan' ya goin' ta any udda man to get one."
Kit watches the little boys fall asleep and smiles, "Are you'se askin me ta marry ya, Spot Conlon?"
"Aye"
***
Kit returns to Manhattan for a week, leaving Spot in Brooklyn to sell. She walks into the lodging house, signs the ledger and gives Kloppman five cents, after talking to him for along while about how she was doing and how Brooklyn was treating her.
"Hey, da boys don' know I'm heah. So don't tell dem I'm up in da bunkroom. 'kay?"
"Yeah, but they sure will be happy ta see ya back Kit."
"Too bad it's only gonna be for a week"
Kloppman nods as she makes her way up the stairs.
Kit stands in the doorway to the bunkroom and frowns fiercely. "My gosh, I guess I neva really realized how much I did around heah." She steps over several articles of clothing as she steps into the room. She peeks into the washroom and cringes. Towels lay scattered all over the floor, along with more dirty clothes.
She cleans for four hours before she hears the boys trample into the lodging house.
***
Jack walks into the lodging house chattering with Race about the races today. "Hey, Kloppman. How was your dey?" Jack looks down at the ledger where he is supposed to sign, "Hey Kloppman, ya got it on da wrong page heah. Dis is from when Kit was heah."
Race sniffs the air and motions for Mush to follow him. The two boys walk into the kitchen to see three large chicken potpies sitting on the counter and a delicious chocolate smell coming from the oven. Mush opens the freezer and sees five gallons of homemade vanilla ice cream. Race and Mush look at each other before running back into the lobby.
"Listen Kloppman, I'm tellin' you dat dis is da wrong page. Dere is no way." Jack turns to see race and Mush standing next to him fidgeting in excitement. "What's da matta wit' you two?"
Race takes off his cap and starts to twist it, "Eidder me and Mush was imaginin' t'ings or dere is really a kitchen full of Kit's homemade food."
Kloppman smiles and all the boys rush up the stairs. Kit is standing by a window when they all trample in to the bunkroom. She has her back to them so they can't see that tears in her eyes.
Jack cautiously steps toward Kit. "Kit - you'se alroight"
Kit turns around and embraces Jack in a hug, "No. You'se boys have jus' gotten doitier since I left." The boys in the lodging house cheer and smother Kit in hugs.
Race saunters forward after everyone is out of his way. "So, what'd ya make us for dinna?"
Kit knocks him over the head, "Is that all you eva' t'ink about Racetrack Higgins?"
"No, I occasionally t'ink about an upcomin' horserace or goil." Race smirks and hugs Kit tightly. "It's good ta have you'se back Sweets."
***
After dinner Kit dishes out warm-from-the-oven brownies and homemade vanilla ice cream. She steals a glance at Blink and winks at him. "Alroight boys, I have some good news and some bad news to tell you'se. And since you'se is all cur'ently stuffin' yourselves full of dessert, I t'ought I would bring dese mattas to your attention. Bad news is.I'm on'y stayin' in Man'attan for a week." Several of the boys groan and start to speak with their mouths full but Kit holds a hand up to silence them, "Good news is.I'm get'in' married." Several of the boys jump out of their seats with a look of disbelief on their faces. Kit gives them a stern look that makes all of them sit back down quietly.
Blink stands up and looks at Kit, "Who is it?"
Kit smiles, knowing the reaction she is going to get with the next two words that come from her mouth, "Spot Conlon" The room echoes with the clinking of forks and spoons being dropped onto the table in surprise.
Kit smiles, thankful they didn't burst out in disbelief.
Jack stands and walks over to Kit, holding up his glass of soda, "Ta Sweets, our mudda, our sista and our maid. Congratulations, sunshoine."
An echo of "Ta Sweets" passes through the room and Jack kisses her cheek. One by one each boy comes up and congratulates her. The rest of the night is filled with laughter, talk, and gambling as Kit beats them all in poker.
***
All this week Kit runs back and forth from the grocer, to Irving hall to schedule a date for the wedding with Medda, and to Mrs. Jacobs's house where she is making the invitations for the wedding. She had made dinner at the lodging house every night
Finally the day came when Kit had to get back to Brooklyn and to Spot. She woke the boys up on that dreary Saturday and told them goodbye. Constantly reminding them all morning not to forget to pick up their clothes and change their sheets occasionally. She waited until they left for distribution alley before setting off.
Kit arrives in Brooklyn just in time to have lunch with Spot. He kisses her passionately when he first sees her by the docks playing with the little kids. Entertaining the kids after lunch had become her hobby since moving to Brooklyn.
"Kit, it's been mont's, I've missed you'se" Spot picks her up in his arms and twirls her around making her giggle, something he knew she never did.
"It has on'y been a week, Spot!" When Spot finally sets her down on the ground she kisses him softly and tells of all the plans she made for the wedding while she was away. Spot, with out warning, scoops her up in his arms and starts walking.
Kit waves at the little kids and they head back to their homes. "Spot where are you taking me to?"
"No one's the lodging house and I would like to talk to you alone" Spot starts to nuzzle her neck and walk faster.
***
Do you James Conlon take Katherine O'Connell to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?
Spot looks at Kit, "I do"
And do you Katherine O'Connell take James Conlon to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?
"I do" Kit smiles at Spot.
Then I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride.
Kit starts crying as Spot takes her into his arms and kisses her as if it were the first time. "I Love you Katherine Conlon with all my heart, body and soul."
Kit laughs at the sound of her new name. "I love you too, Spot."
***
Kit and Spot walk into Irving Hall to be greeted by a roar of the crowd gathered at the reception. Jack walks up and slaps Spot on the back, giving Kit a peck on the cheek before dragging Spot off to talk to the boys.
Mush walks up to Kit, "May I have dis dance, Mrs. Conlon?"
Kit hits him in the arm, "It's still Kit to you'se, Mush" she takes his hand and is lead out on to the dance floor. It's a slow song so Mush and Kit have time to talk. "What's on your mind, Mush?"
"Well, I'm jus' t'inking how strange it is wit' out you at da house dese days."
Kit nods, "I know."
"I'm so happy for ya, Sweets."
"Hmm.I haven't been called dat for awhile."
Mush laughs at her thoughtful expression and walks her over to Spot, "She's all yours."
Spot picks her up around the waist and spins her around, "She shoir is."
Jack, Mush, Blink and Race all give speeches. Telling of Kit's many adventures in the newsie world and of Spot's infamous bravery. It only seems natural that they ended up together.
The night continues on into the wee hours of the morning. Medda sings and joins in on the party while newsies from all over the state of New York show up to congratulate them.
Around two in the morning, Spot dangles a key in front of Kit's face. "Is dat' an apahrtment key, Spot Conlon?"
"Shoire is, Dawlface," Spot kisses her nose, "and it's all ours."
After smacking Spot on the arm playfully, Kit stands up so quickly that Spot has to grab her chair to keep it from crashing to the floor. The room goes silent as she steps up on the stage to speak, "Excuse me! T'ank ya for coming ta noight, you'se are welcome to stay as long as you loik, or until Medda kicks you out." A loud roar of cheers burst out at this time and Kit holds a finger to her lips "Shh.Ok.but Spot and I have to be getting' back ta Brooklyn. It was nice to see you'se all again and I hope ya enjoyed ya selves. Goo' noight!" with a grand bow Kit exits stage left only to run into Spot who kisses her hungrily, pulls her out the back door and to their new apartment in Brooklyn.
Three months have passed since Kit left Manhattan. Most of the boys at the lodging house have figured out the connection of Kit and Sweets. She now sells papes with Spot in Brooklyn, their friendship growing stronger everyday. ***
It's lunchtime on the docks and Jack has come over to Brooklyn to invite Spot and his boys to a party at Irving Hall that night. Spot and Jack sit on the docks watching Kit play with the little kids, smiling as they latch on to her legs and act as anchors, not letting her move and tripping her up.
Spot smiles at her and takes a long drag on his cigarette, "I don' know Jacky-boy. She's real special ta me, and I don' wanna screw t'ings up. I mean, what if she doesn' feel da same way about me and den moves back ta Man'attan?" Spot looks at Jack with pain in his eyes.
Jack laughs at his friend, "Spot, are you'se scared?"
"Hell yeah!" Spot says this a little too loud and Kit hears it, gives him a fierce frown and mouths little ears, then smiles at him in spite of herself. Spot smiles back then looks at Jack, "I'll tell her tonight." Spot watches with fondness as Kit leans down and scoops up a crying three year old, and then kisses its hurt hand.
***
Spot and Kit walk back to the lodging house together and Spot tells her about the party at Irving Hall.
"That sounds wonderful," Kit smiles and immediately starts thinking about what she's going to wear.
Spot smiles, "you wouldn'...uh." he stutters as he tries to get the words out, " you wouldn' wanna go as me date to dis t'ing ta noight. Would ya?"
Kit smiles, her dimple threatening to split her cheek, "I t'ought you'd never ask." She links arms with Spot and wonders what she is going to wear to impress him.
***
Kit walks down the steps of the Lodging house and into the lobby where all the boys are standing, waiting for her. Her hair is down and hanging over her shoulders in heavy curls. The vibrant red dress, fits snugly to the top part of her body and brings out the soft flush of her cheeks. She smiles at Spot and blushes under his scrutiny.
"Hey Dollface." Spot kisses the delicate dimple in her cheek, "you look wondahfuhl."
"Enough Spot Conlon" she smacks him on the arm, "But t'ank you."
Spot takes her hand and walks out of the lodging house.
***
The party seems to be in full swing when Brooklyn arrives. Kit is pulled away to the dance floor by Mush and Jack stops to talk to Spot.
"So ya tell 'er yet?"
"Nah, I wan' it ta be special"
Jack nods, "ok, but I jus' say you'se scared."
"I'm scared of losin' her" Spot watches Mush spin Kit around the dance floor, making her laugh.
The song ends and Kit walks over to the table that Spot is sitting at, still laughing, "Oh my, Mush can dance." She looks at the dancing couples enviously and smiles at the slow song that is being played by the band.
Spot gently takes her hand, kisses the back of it and leads her out onto the dance floor. "May I have dis dance?" He slips a strong arm around her waist and pulls her closer to him.
"Yes you'se may." Kit slips a small hand into Spot's and puts one arm around his neck.
Spot smiles at her, "you are da prettiest girl I have eva' met."
"You are jus' full o' compliments ta noight Spot."
Spot smiles, "Yeah. Kit I have sumt'in I need ta tell ya"
"Yeah Spot?"
"I.I love."
Kit looks at him puzzled, "spit it out boy"
"Kit, I Love you." He sighs heavily.
Kit's eyes tear up as she kisses him. She laughs out loud as he picks her up and spins her around. She kisses him again, both of her arms wrapped around his neck, and whispers in his ear, "I love you too Spot."
The song ends and Spot slips his arm around her waist, pulling her up to his side. They both walk over to the table that Jack is sitting at.
"I did it" Spot turns and kisses Kit's dimple, "T'anks Jack."
***
After the party Kit announces that she will stay in Brooklyn until other arrangements are made, by this she means marriage or separation. All the Manhattan boys come up and give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, tears misting their eyes over.
Kit wipes tears from her eyes, "C'mon now. Stoppit. You'se are all young men. I'm jus' gonna be in Brooklyn, you'se all know where dat is, roight?" all the boys nod their heads, "Oh I git it. No mor' Sweets. All you'se are t'inkin' about is food." They all laugh and tackle Kit in one big hug.
Race steps forward, "You're loik a mudda to us all, you cooked, cleaned, comforted and smiled constantly. It's gonna be diffuhrent."
Kit smiles and takes Race into her arms, hugging him like family. "I'll be back I promise. And you can visit Brooklyn anytime you want."
Spot nods and takes Kit's hand, "I'll bring her back to visit soon."
"You still don' own me Spot Conlon," Kit looks at him, a slight frown on her face.
"Not yet, but I will" Spot puts one hand under her knees and pulls her up into his arms, carrying her out of the hall.
***
Kit stays in Brooklyn for three months before Spot finally asks her to marry him.
Spot watches Kit tuck the little boys into their beds. He walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist, "ya want one of dos'"
Kit nods, "Yeah, I want one of my own."
Spot kisses her neck, "Den I guess we have ta get married, 'cause I don't wan' ya goin' ta any udda man to get one."
Kit watches the little boys fall asleep and smiles, "Are you'se askin me ta marry ya, Spot Conlon?"
"Aye"
***
Kit returns to Manhattan for a week, leaving Spot in Brooklyn to sell. She walks into the lodging house, signs the ledger and gives Kloppman five cents, after talking to him for along while about how she was doing and how Brooklyn was treating her.
"Hey, da boys don' know I'm heah. So don't tell dem I'm up in da bunkroom. 'kay?"
"Yeah, but they sure will be happy ta see ya back Kit."
"Too bad it's only gonna be for a week"
Kloppman nods as she makes her way up the stairs.
Kit stands in the doorway to the bunkroom and frowns fiercely. "My gosh, I guess I neva really realized how much I did around heah." She steps over several articles of clothing as she steps into the room. She peeks into the washroom and cringes. Towels lay scattered all over the floor, along with more dirty clothes.
She cleans for four hours before she hears the boys trample into the lodging house.
***
Jack walks into the lodging house chattering with Race about the races today. "Hey, Kloppman. How was your dey?" Jack looks down at the ledger where he is supposed to sign, "Hey Kloppman, ya got it on da wrong page heah. Dis is from when Kit was heah."
Race sniffs the air and motions for Mush to follow him. The two boys walk into the kitchen to see three large chicken potpies sitting on the counter and a delicious chocolate smell coming from the oven. Mush opens the freezer and sees five gallons of homemade vanilla ice cream. Race and Mush look at each other before running back into the lobby.
"Listen Kloppman, I'm tellin' you dat dis is da wrong page. Dere is no way." Jack turns to see race and Mush standing next to him fidgeting in excitement. "What's da matta wit' you two?"
Race takes off his cap and starts to twist it, "Eidder me and Mush was imaginin' t'ings or dere is really a kitchen full of Kit's homemade food."
Kloppman smiles and all the boys rush up the stairs. Kit is standing by a window when they all trample in to the bunkroom. She has her back to them so they can't see that tears in her eyes.
Jack cautiously steps toward Kit. "Kit - you'se alroight"
Kit turns around and embraces Jack in a hug, "No. You'se boys have jus' gotten doitier since I left." The boys in the lodging house cheer and smother Kit in hugs.
Race saunters forward after everyone is out of his way. "So, what'd ya make us for dinna?"
Kit knocks him over the head, "Is that all you eva' t'ink about Racetrack Higgins?"
"No, I occasionally t'ink about an upcomin' horserace or goil." Race smirks and hugs Kit tightly. "It's good ta have you'se back Sweets."
***
After dinner Kit dishes out warm-from-the-oven brownies and homemade vanilla ice cream. She steals a glance at Blink and winks at him. "Alroight boys, I have some good news and some bad news to tell you'se. And since you'se is all cur'ently stuffin' yourselves full of dessert, I t'ought I would bring dese mattas to your attention. Bad news is.I'm on'y stayin' in Man'attan for a week." Several of the boys groan and start to speak with their mouths full but Kit holds a hand up to silence them, "Good news is.I'm get'in' married." Several of the boys jump out of their seats with a look of disbelief on their faces. Kit gives them a stern look that makes all of them sit back down quietly.
Blink stands up and looks at Kit, "Who is it?"
Kit smiles, knowing the reaction she is going to get with the next two words that come from her mouth, "Spot Conlon" The room echoes with the clinking of forks and spoons being dropped onto the table in surprise.
Kit smiles, thankful they didn't burst out in disbelief.
Jack stands and walks over to Kit, holding up his glass of soda, "Ta Sweets, our mudda, our sista and our maid. Congratulations, sunshoine."
An echo of "Ta Sweets" passes through the room and Jack kisses her cheek. One by one each boy comes up and congratulates her. The rest of the night is filled with laughter, talk, and gambling as Kit beats them all in poker.
***
All this week Kit runs back and forth from the grocer, to Irving hall to schedule a date for the wedding with Medda, and to Mrs. Jacobs's house where she is making the invitations for the wedding. She had made dinner at the lodging house every night
Finally the day came when Kit had to get back to Brooklyn and to Spot. She woke the boys up on that dreary Saturday and told them goodbye. Constantly reminding them all morning not to forget to pick up their clothes and change their sheets occasionally. She waited until they left for distribution alley before setting off.
Kit arrives in Brooklyn just in time to have lunch with Spot. He kisses her passionately when he first sees her by the docks playing with the little kids. Entertaining the kids after lunch had become her hobby since moving to Brooklyn.
"Kit, it's been mont's, I've missed you'se" Spot picks her up in his arms and twirls her around making her giggle, something he knew she never did.
"It has on'y been a week, Spot!" When Spot finally sets her down on the ground she kisses him softly and tells of all the plans she made for the wedding while she was away. Spot, with out warning, scoops her up in his arms and starts walking.
Kit waves at the little kids and they head back to their homes. "Spot where are you taking me to?"
"No one's the lodging house and I would like to talk to you alone" Spot starts to nuzzle her neck and walk faster.
***
Do you James Conlon take Katherine O'Connell to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?
Spot looks at Kit, "I do"
And do you Katherine O'Connell take James Conlon to be your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?
"I do" Kit smiles at Spot.
Then I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride.
Kit starts crying as Spot takes her into his arms and kisses her as if it were the first time. "I Love you Katherine Conlon with all my heart, body and soul."
Kit laughs at the sound of her new name. "I love you too, Spot."
***
Kit and Spot walk into Irving Hall to be greeted by a roar of the crowd gathered at the reception. Jack walks up and slaps Spot on the back, giving Kit a peck on the cheek before dragging Spot off to talk to the boys.
Mush walks up to Kit, "May I have dis dance, Mrs. Conlon?"
Kit hits him in the arm, "It's still Kit to you'se, Mush" she takes his hand and is lead out on to the dance floor. It's a slow song so Mush and Kit have time to talk. "What's on your mind, Mush?"
"Well, I'm jus' t'inking how strange it is wit' out you at da house dese days."
Kit nods, "I know."
"I'm so happy for ya, Sweets."
"Hmm.I haven't been called dat for awhile."
Mush laughs at her thoughtful expression and walks her over to Spot, "She's all yours."
Spot picks her up around the waist and spins her around, "She shoir is."
Jack, Mush, Blink and Race all give speeches. Telling of Kit's many adventures in the newsie world and of Spot's infamous bravery. It only seems natural that they ended up together.
The night continues on into the wee hours of the morning. Medda sings and joins in on the party while newsies from all over the state of New York show up to congratulate them.
Around two in the morning, Spot dangles a key in front of Kit's face. "Is dat' an apahrtment key, Spot Conlon?"
"Shoire is, Dawlface," Spot kisses her nose, "and it's all ours."
After smacking Spot on the arm playfully, Kit stands up so quickly that Spot has to grab her chair to keep it from crashing to the floor. The room goes silent as she steps up on the stage to speak, "Excuse me! T'ank ya for coming ta noight, you'se are welcome to stay as long as you loik, or until Medda kicks you out." A loud roar of cheers burst out at this time and Kit holds a finger to her lips "Shh.Ok.but Spot and I have to be getting' back ta Brooklyn. It was nice to see you'se all again and I hope ya enjoyed ya selves. Goo' noight!" with a grand bow Kit exits stage left only to run into Spot who kisses her hungrily, pulls her out the back door and to their new apartment in Brooklyn.