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Chapter Six

"What do you think you're doing?" Katie asked, standing in the kitchen doorway, her hands on her hips. Jack and Race jumped and glanced up at her, looking like deer caught in headlights. They had been caught trying to taste the dinner for that night. It was going to be big since a couple of the Brooklyn boys would be joining them for dinner before heading over to Irving Hall for Medda's new show.

"We'se just wanted a taste!" Racetrack said. Katie arched an eyebrow at him, holding a wooden spoon in her hand.

"Just a taste? I'll give you a taste!" Katie laughed and started hitting the boys with the spoon, chasing them out of the kitchen.

"Ow! Sky, watch it." Race whined as she smacked him hard. Katie stopped and closed the door, locking them out.

"Aw c'mon Sky! Don't be like dat." Jack said talking through the door.

"What's goin on here?" Spot asked from behind them.

"Sky kicked us out of da kitchen." Race stated turning to greet the Brooklyn leader. Spot just laughed.

"An ya probably deserved it." Jack and Race just made a face at him and the three headed up the stairs to where the Brooklyn and Manhattan newsies were.

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"Are you ready yet, Sky?" Jack groaned. Most of the boys had headed over to Medda's already, in order to get good seats for the show. It was now just Race, Jack, and Spot who were waiting for Katie to come out of her room since she was changing.

"Patience is a virtue." Katie laughed as she walked out of her room dressed in a clean pale blue dress.

"Yeah but we're gonna be late now." Race grumbled, upset at the possibility that he might miss Medda.

"We'se not gonna be late." Spot declared. Katie laughed and was soon ushered out the door, on the way to Medda's.

"You look nice tonight." Spot commented as they trailed behind Jack and Race.

"What? In this old thing?" Katie laughed indicating to her dress. Spot just laughed. "So how did you like having a home cooked meal for once?"

"It was heaven. Me an da boys haven't eaten so good in a long time! If I knew you could cook like dat, I would be ovah here fer dinnah more often." Spot commented.

"How do you know she wouldn't poison yer food, Spot?" Race joked, looking back at them.

"Cause I trust her!" Spot said. Katie looked at him in shock. He trusted her? Spot Conlon barely trusted anyone. Jack and Racetrack just smirked at each other as they all walked into Medda's.

The show was great as usual and Jack dragged Katie backstage afterwards since Medda hadn't seen her since she had been back.

"Hey Medda! I got someone here who wants ta see you." Jack yelled as they stood at the base of the stairs that led to Medda's dressing room. Medda appeared at the top of the stairs, in a flourish of purple feathers.

"Boys! I was worried that you wouldn't come and visit me but here you are!" Medda smiled as she carefully walked down the stairs.

"Medda, youse remembers Sky, don't ya?" Jack asked indicating to Katie who stood at his side.

"Of course I remember Katharine O'Connell! How was Boston, dear?" Medda said giving Katie a kiss on the cheek.

"It was nothing compared to home." Katie smiled. Medda nodded in agreement. She then noticed how close Katie and Spot were standing.

"If I remember correctly, you two never got along." She said with a twinkle in her eye.

"An' who says we do now?" Spot said defensively but not making any adjustment in the spacing between Katie and him. Medda shared a grin with Racetrack and Jack but said nothing more on the issue.

"Well, Medda, it was great seeing you but we have to hurry back before Kloppman locks the door. Or else we'll be sleeping out on the streets tonight." Racetrack said. It was already late and they knew that Kloppman would be locking the door soon. But they wouldn't sleep on the streets. They would have to climb in the window which was usually left unlocked.

"Well it was good seeing you all again. And Katherine, please come and visit me during the day sometime. I would love to hear about all your adventures in Boston." Medda smiled. Katie agreed that she would and they all started down the street.

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It was late when they reached the lodging house and the Brooklyn boys had all headed back home. Well, everyone except for Spot. He had decided to stay in Manhattan for the night. Katie said goodnight to the boys, most of which were already asleep, and crept into her room. She changed into a white nightgown and had just crawled into bed when she remembered the pile of dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, left from dinner. To clean or not to clean? Well, if she didn't clean, there was a chance for bugs and mice to find the food and that wouldn't be good in the morning. Sighing, Katie shrugged on a robe and silently crept out of the room. She passed by all the boys as they snored softly in their beds. Katie headed downstairs and into the kitchen, turning the light on. There it was. The pile of dishes and were there a lot of them! She started filling up the sink with hot water, dumping some soap into it.

"What are youse doin' up?" a voice said from behind her. Turning she saw Spot standing in the doorway.

"I forgot to clean the dishes. I didn't wake you, did I?" Katie asked turning the water off since the sink was now filled.

"Nah. I'se not tired enough to go to sleep yet." Spot said taking on seat on the counter.

"Good then you can dry for me." Katie smiled throwing a towel at him. Spot caught it and patiently waited as Katie started washing the dishes. Soon Spot's patience began to wear out.

"Can't ya wash any fastah?" Spot asked with a smirk. Katie shot him a glare and started cleaning even slower on purpose. She let out a huge yawn, pausing in her cleaning.

"Why don't you lemme do dis. You go an git some sleep.' Spot said hopping down from the counter.

"You sure?" Katie asked, surprised at the kind offer.

"Yeah. Youse are tired an I got nothing bettah ta do. Go." Spot said pushing her to the door. Katie smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks." She said and disappeared back up the stairs. Spot stood there for a moment, his hand to his cheek feeling where Katie had just kissed him. A grin spread over his face and he walked back into the kitchen, determined to make the dishes so clean that he could see his face in them.