AN: More insanity ahead…
I avoided talking to the other guys as we walked to the distribution office to buy our papes, but I sure did watch and listen. Something weird was definitely going on.
Skittery and Crutchy were hanging out and talking just like Mush and Blink would've. Mush was walking by himself, a glum look still on his face. Blink and Racetrack were walking together, having a quiet conversation about some author guy. Specs was running around stealing people's hats, giggling maniacally and just being plain annoying. Dutchy soon caught up to Skittery and Crutchy and started trying to get them to bet on how many papers he would sell today.
They were all insane.
Or maybe I was insane.
I couldn't wait to get to the distribution office and talk to David about this. Surely he would see what was going on.
Or so I thought.
"Well if it ain't Jack be nimble, Jack be quick."
I looked up and came face to face with Davey, who had his nose in the air and his chest stuck out as if he were royalty.
"Heya, Davey. You know bettah den ta use Spot's phrases without askin' him first." I joked, and he suddenly grabbed me by the shirt collar, almost lifting me off the ground.
"I'll say what I wanna say, when I wanna say it. And I expect you ta call me David. Not Davey. Youse got dat?"
I was stunned. This wasn't David! This was Spot! But no…Spot was in Brooklyn…and…
"Hey Jack…you rub David the wrong way again?"
David dropped me and Spot walked up to me, a good natured smile on his face.
"Spot…something weird is goin' on heah…"
"What is it? I'm sure there's a logical explanation for it."
My mouth had to be on the ground by now. Did Spot just say that? Was I hearing things?
Mush ran into me, mostly because I was standing right in the middle of the stairs.
"Get outta my way! What's your problem, ya turn crip or somethin'?" he yelled, shoving me so hard that I almost fell off the deck.
I felt like crying. This was wrong. I was sick or something…yeah, that was it. I was sick.
But how would my being sick make Specs run around acting like Snipeshooter? And how would my being sick turn Spot into a smart, logical guy and Davey into a man to be feared citywide? And turn Dutchy into an overnight gambler, and Race into a bookworm?
"My head hurts…" I muttered, sliding down the wall and not bothering to push my way to the head of the line for papers.
"You okay, Jack?" Skittery asked, offering a hand to help me up.
"No, no, NO! Skittery, you're supposed to be in a bad mood! And, and….Mush! You're supposed to be da happy one, da one dat's helpin' me up heah!"
Skittery, once again, looked like a wounded puppy. "You mean…you don't want my help?" he whimpered. I groaned and dropped my head into my hands, trying to ignore the fact that Mush's gaze was so piercing that it was unnerving.
Spot walked up to me, Les trailing behind him. "Are you going to sell with me today, Jack. I mean, to help out Les and all. He still needs some work."
I was slowly getting over the shock, but this was too much. I just nodded as the King-of-Brooklyn-turned-scholar helped me to my feet and led me to the window to buy my papers.
AN: Whew, this is fun! I'm so evil…
