Chapter 8: Spot and Abide
Spot looked at each of the newsies carefully, as if calculating their weaknesses. "So, Jacky-boy's newsies decided to come to Brooklyn?"
Bumlets stepped forward. "We came to visit my cousin. And since our friend, John, just arrived, we thought we might find you so he could see the famous Spot Conlon. He has heard much about you.
Spot turned his impassive gaze upon John. "So you've found me. Now what do you'se four want?"
Skittery joined Bumlets in talking Spot into being friendly. "John just arrived yesterday. He ain't even got a newsie name yet!"
Spot's eyes were boring holes into John. He looked down at the ground, trying to escape. This boy was making him VERY uncomfortable.
Spot refused to give in. "Too bad."
Snitch added in. "Jack doesn't like him, though. Thinks he talks funny, like Davey. The Walking Mouth. Says edjucated people is hard to understand. He thought that John here was a scab, even!"
Spot's expression never wavered. "Is he?"
Bumlets shook his head. "No."
"Dat's nice."
Skittery finally exploded. "THAN WHY DON'T YOU SAY SOMETHING TO HIM?"
Spot's mouth turned up into a smirk, satisfied with getting a reaction from someone. "Well, if that's what you wanted, why didn't you say somethin'?" He turned and looked at John. "I'se Spot Conlon. I'se the leader of the Brooklyn newsies. So where's you from?"
John was almost scared at Spot's sudden change of personality. "Doesn't really matter. I'm not going back. I like being a newsie."
Spot smirked again. "For how long? Being a newsie ain't nothing but a struggle to survive the day. If you'se lucky enough to do that, you stays awake all night wonderin' if you'se gonna be so lucky tomorrow. What's so good about being a newsie? Huh?"
John was taken aback be the anger Spot put into his voice. He glanced nervously at Bumlets, Snitch, and Skittery. They shrugged, apparently as confused by Spot as John was.
John finally thought of an answer. "I like being accepted. And I like having a family."
Spot stared at him for so long, John started to wonder if he'd said the wrong thing. Finally, Spot clapped him on the back. "I likes your attitude, John. You'se gonna make a great newsie. Only wish you had come to Brooklyn first! I thinks we could Abide having you around."
The Manhattan newsies stood in shock for a long time, than shot relieved grins at Spot and John.
Spot looked at them fiercely. "What? Did you'se really think I'd soak him his first time in Brooklyn?" He turned back to John. "I'd consider Abide as a name. But choose your nickname well. Or else you might get stuck with a name like 'Spot' when you'se moved up in the world."
With that last bit of advice, Spot Conlon left the Manhattan newsies to scrape a living in the slums of Brooklyn, New York.
SHOUTOUTS!
TO NAKAIA AIDAN-SUN:
Aguachica: I know, what is up with those muses? I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact I keep taping their mouths shut?
John!muse: Mmph!
TO INQUISITIVE INK:
Aguachica: Hee. . . See Spot Run. That's great!
Spot!muse: Hey! I resent that!
Aguachica: Too bad. You're a muse. I'm your boss. I have duct tape. Get it?
Blink!muse: Aguachica wants everyone to know that there are only two chapters left! She will get people to vote on their favorite ne\ames in the next chapter, so you can start thinking about that. She plans to put the final chapter out on November 2nd, as her 16th birthday present. Yay!
Aguachica: Good speech! *pats Blink!muse on head* I can't believe I'll be 16 this Sunday! Yay!
Spot looked at each of the newsies carefully, as if calculating their weaknesses. "So, Jacky-boy's newsies decided to come to Brooklyn?"
Bumlets stepped forward. "We came to visit my cousin. And since our friend, John, just arrived, we thought we might find you so he could see the famous Spot Conlon. He has heard much about you.
Spot turned his impassive gaze upon John. "So you've found me. Now what do you'se four want?"
Skittery joined Bumlets in talking Spot into being friendly. "John just arrived yesterday. He ain't even got a newsie name yet!"
Spot's eyes were boring holes into John. He looked down at the ground, trying to escape. This boy was making him VERY uncomfortable.
Spot refused to give in. "Too bad."
Snitch added in. "Jack doesn't like him, though. Thinks he talks funny, like Davey. The Walking Mouth. Says edjucated people is hard to understand. He thought that John here was a scab, even!"
Spot's expression never wavered. "Is he?"
Bumlets shook his head. "No."
"Dat's nice."
Skittery finally exploded. "THAN WHY DON'T YOU SAY SOMETHING TO HIM?"
Spot's mouth turned up into a smirk, satisfied with getting a reaction from someone. "Well, if that's what you wanted, why didn't you say somethin'?" He turned and looked at John. "I'se Spot Conlon. I'se the leader of the Brooklyn newsies. So where's you from?"
John was almost scared at Spot's sudden change of personality. "Doesn't really matter. I'm not going back. I like being a newsie."
Spot smirked again. "For how long? Being a newsie ain't nothing but a struggle to survive the day. If you'se lucky enough to do that, you stays awake all night wonderin' if you'se gonna be so lucky tomorrow. What's so good about being a newsie? Huh?"
John was taken aback be the anger Spot put into his voice. He glanced nervously at Bumlets, Snitch, and Skittery. They shrugged, apparently as confused by Spot as John was.
John finally thought of an answer. "I like being accepted. And I like having a family."
Spot stared at him for so long, John started to wonder if he'd said the wrong thing. Finally, Spot clapped him on the back. "I likes your attitude, John. You'se gonna make a great newsie. Only wish you had come to Brooklyn first! I thinks we could Abide having you around."
The Manhattan newsies stood in shock for a long time, than shot relieved grins at Spot and John.
Spot looked at them fiercely. "What? Did you'se really think I'd soak him his first time in Brooklyn?" He turned back to John. "I'd consider Abide as a name. But choose your nickname well. Or else you might get stuck with a name like 'Spot' when you'se moved up in the world."
With that last bit of advice, Spot Conlon left the Manhattan newsies to scrape a living in the slums of Brooklyn, New York.
SHOUTOUTS!
TO NAKAIA AIDAN-SUN:
Aguachica: I know, what is up with those muses? I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact I keep taping their mouths shut?
John!muse: Mmph!
TO INQUISITIVE INK:
Aguachica: Hee. . . See Spot Run. That's great!
Spot!muse: Hey! I resent that!
Aguachica: Too bad. You're a muse. I'm your boss. I have duct tape. Get it?
Blink!muse: Aguachica wants everyone to know that there are only two chapters left! She will get people to vote on their favorite ne\ames in the next chapter, so you can start thinking about that. She plans to put the final chapter out on November 2nd, as her 16th birthday present. Yay!
Aguachica: Good speech! *pats Blink!muse on head* I can't believe I'll be 16 this Sunday! Yay!