A Change in Brooklyn Chapter 9: Complications and Victory, a newsies fanfic

Chapter Nine: Complications and Victory

The Manhattan guys were as serious as they had said they would be, and Spot got together his men to go join in the strike. He told the five girls to stay at home in case it got too rough, much to their dismay. Their dismay was only enhanced as soon as they found out that their men had saved the Manhattan newsies from getting skunked by ruffians that Joseph Pulitzer had let his distribution man, Mr. Weisel, hire. The girls wanted part of the glory but they had missed their chance because of Spot. Then, when his picture was in the New York Sun, they weren't too pleased with their leader.

The strike was going well, and all the newsies from over New York were meeting at Irving Hall for a discussion and afterwards a show by the Swedish meadowlark, Medda Larson. All was proceeding smoothly and wonderfully until Spot started to disagree with Jack and David's ideas. The Manhattan leader yelled something to the huge crowd about the need for unity, and after everyone basically agreed with his wisdom, he asked for Spot's decision. The Brooklyn leader scanned the newsies present until he made eye contact with Brigid. Something in her eyes convinced him that Jack was right. Medda appeared, and everyone was having the time of their lives singing and dancing when it happened.

Spot tore through the crowd, saw Brigid, and grabbed her. "Find da uddas an' git out!"

Brigid was absolutely puzzled. "What?!"

"Round up da udda goils an' leave!!!" Spot squeezed her arms for emphasis. Before Brigid could ask anymore questions, a whistle went off and the cops appeared out of nowhere. Spot shoved her towards the back door. "GO!!!"

"I can fight!" she cried, struggling against his push.

"No!" he yelled as he motioned to Daisy to follow him. "I ain't gunna risk havin' any of ya hoit, or maybe even t'rown in jail!!!"

Brigid knew arguing would get her nowhere, so after finding the girls and landing a few punches on some cops she left Irving Hall, leading the others back to Brooklyn alone. They waited in agonized jealousy for the guys to return, wanting every juicy detail but also hoping nothing terrible had happened to any of them. Everyone arrived home safely except Spot and Tower, and Stealthy informed them that the two had been captured by the bulls and were being held for the night. Brigid couldn't sleep; two of her best friends were in jail and who knew what could happen to them next?

The following afternoon Brigid saw Tower and Spot strolling up to the warehouse. Ecstatic, she flew out to greet them with immense hugs. They told the whole story of Jack getting busted, the journalist Bryan Denton paying off the newsies' fines, and the outlook for the end of the strike. Nothing looked hopeful when Jack betrayed the very cause he had started, but in the end he repented and every working child in New York went on strike with the newsboys. Brooklyn headed over to the already gigantic gathering and waited with everyone else for the news as Jack confronted Pulitzer. They were successful; the price of papers stayed the same but Pulitzer now allowed them to sell back their unsold papers. The newsies were overjoyed. Spot rode home in the governor's carriage, and to her amusement Brigid heard about the experience for many a year to come.