A Change in Brooklyn Chapter 7: To Demand Too Much, a newsies fanfic

Chapter Seven: To Demand Too Much

The following year brought on many trials and joys, but it was all meant for growing. Due to Spot's admission of Brigid as a newsie into Brooklyn, other homeless or unwanted girls slowly trickled in. Brigid was proud to place herself as their own personal boss, much to the disdain of Spot, who still believe he was in charge. The girl newsie grew closer to not only the Brooklyn guys but also those in Manhattan. Tower and Stealthy were her best friends next to Spot, and in Manhattan Racetrack might as well have been Brigid's older brother. No one could deny everything was pretty good, but as the year continued on, changes were in store, and Spot Conlon in particular was about to be taught a lesson he'd never forget.

One beautiful day in the middle of April the newsies headed home after a day's work of relatively easy selling, and as soon as the boringness of constant yelling was replaced by a mood of wildness, things got fun. Several newsies ran off to get the Manhattan guys and others stripped down to pants alone, dashing outside and diving off the dock into the water. Stealthy convinced three of the girls to join in the swimming, and donning some modest rags they were not hesitant. Dunking was soon enforced thereafter.

A short time later the Manhattan newsies arrived and poker games began. Brigid was drying her long blonde hair and about ready to join the card players when Spot barged his way through a group and stomped straight at her. The small group of girl newsies followed him as he stuck his face right in Brigid's. "Wheh's me shoit?" he demanded impatiently, staring her down.

"What shoit?" she asked as she still dabbed at her hair with a towel.

He slammed his fist on a nearby table. "Don't give me dat shit! Ya were supposed ta have washed it fa me, or at least had one of dem do it!" He jerked a thumb back at the girls.

Brigid was on the brink of getting fed up. Defiantly placing her hands squarely on her hips, she cried, "Oh, dat shoit? I might have t'rown it in da rivuh. Or maybe I let people trample ovuh it in da streets. But, honestly, Spot; why do ya care?! Ya jus' seem a little preoccupied wid ego, laziness, an' sweahing anyway ta bodduh 'bout a little shoit."

"Because dat's me best shoit!!! But most impoitant, I's da leaduh an' I told ya ta take care of it!"

"I ain't youse soivant!"

By now a small group of newsies had begun to watch the word fight. It was something new to them, seeing the infamous Brooklyn leader challenged to a battle of wits.

"Tell me wheh da shoit is, ya bitch!" Spot commanded.

Brigid was livid. "Not when ya tawk ta me like DAT!!!"

"Don't make me kick ya out of Brooklyn!"

"Now dat wouldn't be a good show of leaduhship, would it?"

"AAARRGGH!" Spot spun around and pointed a shaking finger at a girl newsie. "Wheh is me white an' red plaid shoit, Daisy?!"

The girl's lips trembled along with the rest of her body as she slowly pointed to the floor by his bed. "Right deh, wheh ya t'rew it down yestuhday."

Spot's eyes would have killed anyone else but Brigid as he hastily and furiously left the building. She, in turn, huffed in complete disgust and flounced off to her bed. Hearing footsteps behind her she snapped, "I don't feels like company right now, Daisy."

"Well, if I was Daisy, dat'd be useful unfuhmation," came Racetrack's voice. He sat down next to her and asked, "Ya awright, Sketch? Ya look like ya ready ta explode."

"I am!!! Spot's me friend but sumtimes he jus' pisses me off!!!" Brigid fumed, strangling an invisible person with her white-knuckled hands.

Race chuckled. "Obviously. Dat one was a doosie; I can tell ya flustered 'cause ya jus' swore, an' I ain't nevuh hoid ya sweah."

"Ta me, dat's not sweahing, but it shoiuh is strong language, and, boy, is it what I feel," she revealed as she let off more steam by punching her pillow. Mudpie took it as a sign to jump on the bed.

"Brigid," Racetrack calmly spoke, using her real name which indicated seriousness and closeness, "Spot's been dis way fuhevuh. It'll take a miracle ta change 'im."

The girl looked into her friend's eyes and declared, "Well, if a miracle don't come soon, Race, I don't knows what I'm gunna do."