Chapter 1
As Kate walked down the sunny streets of Brooklyn, she thought about what life was like before everything happened. She thought about what happened that night. Spot was out selling papers, when he noticed Kate just walking around. He walked over to her to see if she needed anything.
"Are ya lookin' for someone?" Spot asked her.
"No. I'm looking for work and I don't know anyone. See I'm for Manhattan." she replied.
"I'm Spot. Now ya know someone. Come wit me. I can get ya a job." he said. Kate followed Spot back to the lodging house. She didn't know why she followed him but he seemed nice. When they got back to the lodging house Spot introduced her to his crew and asked if anyone needed a selling partner. Everyone shook their head no so Spot decided that she would be his selling partner.
"You gotta name?" Spot asked her.
"Yeah, it's Kate." She replied.
"That'll never do. If anyone asks ya, your name is.." Spot pause looking her up and down, "well, I don't know yet but I'll figure one out." he finished.
That night was a sleepless night for Kate. She woke up for nightmares of what happened that night. Spot noticed that Kate couldn't sleep for more than 2 hours. He wanted to comfort her when she woke up but he didn't know how she would react. He also wanted to know what her nightmares were about but he decided to stay out of it.
The next morning , when Spot woke up he looked over to see her sleeping peacefully so he went to go sell the morning edition of the newspaper. When Kate awoke, she saw no one around. She got up and walked around to find Spot but he was nowhere to be found.
Spot had had some time to think while he was selling his papers. He was thinking of a name for Kate. He thought about the night before and how Kate kept waking up with nightmares. He decided to go back to the lodging house to see if Kate was awake yet and maybe he could convince her to tell him what the nightmares were about. When he got back to the lodging house he saw Kate sitting n a chair reading a book she had found. She looked so peaceful and comfortable where she was sitting. All Spot could do was stare at her. Kate looked up when she felt like she was being watched to see Spot standing in the doorway staring at her.
"I was thinkin' your name could be Nightmare since ya have so many of 'em." Spot said. Kate nodded in agreement.
"Do ya wanna tell me what the nightmares are about?" Spot asked hoping she would tell him.
"Not really." Kate replied. Kate noticed that Spot looked a little disappointed at her reply so she went back to reading. Spot walked across the room and sat down next to Kate. Kate looked at him. He sat very still and didn't move for what seemed like hours. Finally, Spot turned at looked at Kate.
"Ya know you can always talk ta me if ya need ta talk." Spot said.
"I know. There's just some things I can't talk about and my nightmares are one of them." Kate replied. Kate closed the book and set it on the coffee table in front of her and looked Spot in the eyes. All of a sudden Spot took her hand and dragged her out the door.
"Where are we going?" Kate asked.
"I'm gonna teach ya about sellin' papes." Spot replied.
"Now?" she asked.
"Yeah" he replied, "I told ya I was gonna get ya a job."
"But we were talking about the things I can't talk about." Kate said.
"Yeah I know but the afternoon papes gotta be sold and it's the perfect time ta teach ya." he said. When they got to the distribution center Spot told Kate to wait for him by the gates while he got his papers. As Kate and Spot where walking toward the street, Spot noticed Jack walking toward them.
"Hey Jacky-boy." Spot called to him.
"Hey Spot." Jack called back.
"Whatcha ya doin' around here?" Spot asked.
"I need ta talk ya about somethin'." Jack replied.
"I need ta talk ta ya about somethin' too. I'll be right back Nightmare." Spot said. Kate nodded her head and Jack and Spot walked away. Kate would never get use to her new name.
"Do you know anyone by the name of Kate?" Spot asked as soon as they were far enough away.
"No why?" Jack asked.
"Cause we gotta goil by that name and she said she was from Manhattan. I thought ya might know her." Spot explained.
"She looks like she from a rich family." Jack said.
"Yeah I know but she was walkin' around lookin' for work." Spot said.
"That's weird. I wonder why. I was wonderin' if ya had anyone I could take back wit me. See we need more newsies or else the lodgin' house gets shut down. How about her?" Jack said and pointed to Kate.
"No! Not her. You can have anyone one else but her!" Spot yelled.
"Alright, I won't take her. Do ya have anyone else?" Jack asked surprised by Spot's outburst.
" I don't got no one else. Sorry Kelly." Spot replied.
"That's ok. Well tanks anyway." Jack said and walked away.
Spot just stood there. It was like his feet were nailed to the ground. He wondered why he wouldn't let her go with Jack. Spot was snapped from his thoughts when a hand touched his shoulder.
"Are you ready to go?" Kate asked.
"Yeah I'm ready." Spot replied and started walking.
"So what do I need to know about selling newspapers?" Kate asked excitedly.
"Well the first thing ya gotta know is that headlines don't sell papes newsies sell papes." Spot replied.
"Is that all I need to know?" Kate asked.
"No there more but I can tell ya the rest as we go." Spot said and continued walking.
Time went by slowly as Spot told her everything about hawking the headlines as they walked through the streets of Brooklyn. They walked for hours and it was 4 o'clock when they got back to the lodging house. Jack and a bunch of his crew were waiting for them.
"I was starin' ta wonder where you where." Jack said.
"I was out teach Kate here about sellin' papes." Spot replied.
"We thought you guys might be hungry so we came over ta see." Jack explained.
"I'm starvin' so lets go." Spot said.