Chapter 6

"What da fuck was dat?!" Spot finally said, confused and angry at the same time.

"Look, Spot, please don't mad-" Kit began as she started walking towards him.

"Don't be mad?! I just saw a goil beat da shit outta 5 guys, one of which had a chain, and youse askin me to not be mad?! How am I suppose to be feelin?!"

"Okay, I see your point, but please let me explain-"

"Lemme guess, ya dad taught ya." Spot was really spazing out.

"Yes, he did as a matter of fact. He taught me everything I know, like I told you."

"Yeah, but ya didn't tell me dis!"

"And why do you think that is? I mean, think about it, a girl who can fight better than most guys out here could. If I had told you that when we met, there's no way in hell you woulda let me be a newsie, especially since I can kick your ass!" That comment at the end angered Spot even more.

"Ya know, ya may have a good point, but did ya hafta add dat bit at da end?"

"Sorry, but it's true. Everyone's afraid to mess with the great Spot Conlon, and along comes a girl who can fight better then you can. That would ruin your reputation big time."

"I ain't nevah seen anyone who can fight like yous can, it would hoit anybody's rep."

"That's why I didn't wanna tell you. I was hoping no one would find out, but I knew that would be inevidible. I mean, what am I supposed to do? Let them beat me up?"

Spot paused, beginning to calm down now. "Ya shoulda just let me fight em, but I guess Ise don't blame ya foh what ya did. Ise just havin trouble undahstanding what I just witnessed." Spot sat down on a wooden box. Kit joined him.

"Well, now you know, so what do you wanna do about it?"

"Fiost of all, wheah did ya dad leain dat?"

"He lived in China for a number of years, and that's where he was taught karate. When I turned 5, he decided to teach me, and he continued to teach me up until he got to sick."

"How many years is dat?"

"11 years. He died a little over a month ago. Before he died, he told me to come here because he said this place held great opportunities for me. I collected a lot of money, but most of it was taken away. When he died, the state took everything away. So, I took what I had and came up here to start out as a newsie and see where that would take me," Kit was looking down mostly when she said this, because it was still very difficult for her to talk about. There was a long pause.

"Well, Kit, I dunno what ta do. I don't tink anyone should know," said Spot as he stood up. He offered his hand to Kit to help her up and she accepted.

"I agree with you. I can promise you this, I won't threaten your position, I obviously won't let anyone know, and I'll make you an offer you can't refuse," Kit explained, smiling at Spot.

"And what is dat?"

"I will train you for free as long as you promise never to use it on a girl unless absolutely necessary and you don't tell anyone who you learned it from."

Spot smiled at her. "You gotta a deal." Spot spit in his hand and held it out to Kit, sealing the deal. Kit spit on his hand and began walking. Spot just smiled and wiped his hand on his pants. "Yous real cute, ain't ya?" he said jokingly.

"Damn straight." They both laughed. They both put their arms around each other and began walking back to the Lodging house.

"So, when does me trainin begin?"

"We can start tomorrow if you want, but where are we gonna practice?"

"Da roof would be da best place." Spot started laughing. "Ya know, I tought I was prepahed foh anyting, but I nevah thought a goil would teach me how to fight." He continued laughing. Kit pushed him.

"Watch it, boy," she said jokingly.

"I ain't no boy, I'm a man!" Spot joked as he stood up straight, looking all tough. Kit just laughed. They both continued to joke around until they got to the Lodging house.

"Spot?" began Kit.

"Yeah?" he answered. They were chilling in the Lodging house on one of the bunks, eating dinner with some of the other newsies.

"I wanna visit Manhattan tonight. Mush invited me to come and I don't want to be rude. Plus, he seems like a sweet guy." Spot started laughing. Kit gave him a little shove. "Everything about me is just funny to you, isn't it?"

"Hey Kit, I thought yous wit Spot," said Tucker, one of the newsies Kit had met earlier that day.

She started laughing. Spot stopped laughing and glared at her, saying, "and dat's funny?" Kit stopped and looked at him all serious, but that only lasted for a second before she busted out laughing again. "Well, dat answahs dat."

Tucker was shocked. He had never seen a girl laugh about being with Spot. Any girl was flattered just to catch a smile from him. Tucker was also surprised that Spot didn't care. "Well, I guess der's a foist foh everyting," he finally said.

"I told ya she's whacked," Spot commented.

Kit stopped laughing, trying to catch her breath. When she finally did she looked over at Spot, who was still eating. "Seriously though, will you come with me since I don't know the way?"

Spot finished chewing and thought for a minute.

"Hey Spot, dey got some nice lookin goils ovah deh," commented Bulls.

"Yeah, but I already been wit a lot of em," he bragged. "Still ya got a good point." He looked over at Kit. "Yeah, I'll come wit ya."

"Oh thanks!" Kit hugged Spot.