Spot awoke sometime before dawn. He blinked his eyes trying to
remember where he was, when he felt a weight on his chest. Smiling and
glancing down, he saw Sadie curled up at his side. Stroking a lock of her
long black hair, he was content to lay in bed with her awhile longer. But
he knew that he had to get back to Brooklyn before the Distribution office
opened. It wouldn't do to have the leader of Brooklyn slacking off whenever
he felt like it. It set a bad example. Careful not to jar her awake, Spot
rose and pulled his trousers and undershirt on. Buttoning up his gingham
shirt, he snapped his suspenders over his shoulders and arranged his cane
and slingshot. Finding his jacket draped carefully over a chair, he
buttoned that on as well. It would be cold outside, and he didn't want to
get sick. Finding his boots was a different matter. One lay beside the bed,
and after crawling almost all the way under the small bed he found the
other one laying dejectedly in the corner.
Bending over the sleeping girl, he kissed her cheek and then he kissed her gently on the lips. She stirred briefly but didn't wake. Tip- toeing out of the bedroom, he made his way through the apartment, down the flight of stairs, and out of the tailor's shop. Pausing on the sidewalk outside, he lit a cigarette and continued on his way towards Brooklyn. The streets were empty and dark. Eerie shadows danced on the walls cast by the dim street lamps. Any ordinary person would have been afraid, but Spot knew that he could take care of himself. He had grown up in Brooklyn, and Manhattan was no Brooklyn. The sun was beginning to cast a faint glow on the horizon by the time he reached the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge. Stopping to look at the view, he lit another cigarette, the first having long since been ground into the cobblestones.
As smoke trailed up around his head he contemplated what he was going to do about this mysterious person stealing from his newsies. It was almost unheard of, to attack one of Spot Conlon's boys or now girls and get away with it. No kid would have ever dared to do it alone, or much less even entertained the thought. He wondered if it was someone from Harlem. He had never gotten along with Inch Richards, the leader of Harlem, or come to think of it Tink Lewis, the leader of the Five Points. Snorting with laughter, he pushed himself off of the railing and started walking again. Tink Lewis was actually the girlfriend of Blade O'Halloran who was doing time in the Refuge. He had been sentenced there till he was twenty-one for killing another newsie. Tink had been the most logical choice for leader since anybody tough enough to one, survive the Five Points, and two, date Blade, was a perfect candidate. It was well known that Tink visited Blade every Sunday and made sure to carry out his orders exactly.
Hunching his shoulders against a sudden wind, his mind rambled on. None of the other factions of Brooklyn kids would dare oppose him. He had no worries about Coney Island or Greenpoint. There could be Jersey newsies crossing over to do some damage, but again, he wasn't so sure. Any of the other boroughs he had no problem with. Jack kept a pretty diplomatic stand with all the other leaders, and it was well known that he supported Brooklyn. Especially after the strike, not many boroughs felt like challenging either Manhattan or Brooklyn in territory battles. Which led him to believe it was someone acting on his or her own. Sneering, he shook his head and spat. Independent gangs gave him the most trouble. Not newsies, or even affiliated with any other working class kids, the independents were just in it for the blood and money. Some like the Doyle Street Boys were older kids who were getting into the bigger and better things. They didn't have time to rough up random newsies. Besides, Jasper wouldn't allow it. Some of the other more petty gangs of pickpockets or thieves would. Hell he even knew a few street-walking ladies who would have no problem making an unwary newsie's pockets lighter.
The familiar background of Brooklyn comforted him. He was back on his turf, and he strutted. Heading to the Distribution Office, he could hear the clamoring of his newsies as they got into a disorderly line to buy their papers. Walking through the gates, he was greeted by Whiskey and Mumbles, along with Striker, who was yawning and looking like she wanted to punch Trips, who was chattering nonstop. Then his gaze sharpened as he saw a new face standing next to Harlot. The girl was small, height and weight wise. She was about Trouble's size, except maybe a tad taller. Her eyes were a shocking brilliant blue that stood out in her pale face. Dark brown hair tumbled around her shoulders. The girl met his gaze steadily, and Spot saw Striker look at them.
"Oh Spot, she came yesterday while you and Sadie were in Manhattan. Says her name's Lucky." Spot arrogantly inclined his head at her, which made Lucky smirk slightly before the wooden plank covering the barred window flew open and Jake, the manager of the D.O. hollered in his grating voice for the kids to come get their 'damn papers'. Making a mental note to keep better track of newcomers, Spot bought his papers and headed off to his selling spot. Before he left the yard, he informed Pirate that he would loan him the money to sleep in the lodging house tonight so he could do his rounds of all the younger newsies selling spots. Pirate nodded grimly before heading off to where Lefty and Frog sold together. That was another one of Spot's new rules. If you were ten years old or younger you had to sell with an older boy. Some of the older boys grumbled, but they were silent when Spot was around. Hefting his papers onto his shoulder, Spot squared his back and set off.
Sadie awoke confused at where she was for instant. The place where Spot had lain beside her was cold and she clucked her tongue in disappointment. Stretching her hands over her head as far as she could go, she went stiff as she heard a familiar slightly nasal voice with a strong Boston accent. Leaping out of bed she threw her clothes on, a worn blue skirt and her shawl. Yanking her stockings on so fast she almost ripped one; she ran her fingers through her hair and slipped her boots on.
Out in the kitchen her brother Jeremiah sat with a look of faint disdain on his face as he swirled coffee around in a tin mug. Groaning inwardly, Sadie tried to put a false smile on her own face as her cousin Emma whirled around in her chair and cried out in delight.
"Oh Sadie! You ARE here! I'm SO glad to see you!" The taller girl jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around Sadie. Sadie gingerly patted Emma on the back and squirreled out of her clinging grasp. Emma hadn't changed much in the year since Sadie had seen her last. Her red hair came from her mother, and she still had a mass of freckles on her pale cheeks. Probing gray eyes shifted constantly and had a cunning light to them. She was taller, if that was possible, and much thinner. Her clothes were shabby and ill fitting. The dress she wore was one she had had since she was fourteen, something that should have been thrown out long ago now that she was almost seventeen.
"Did you just get here? How was your trip?" Emma chattered on and on about how she had arrived in New York that morning and the train ride was wretched, and she was starving, and how she missed Boston. Jeremiah gave Sadie a Look and muttering something about getting to work, rose and made his escape. Emma looked at Sadie innocently and put her hands on her knees.
"So, what do you do all day then?"
"I work in an orphanage and then I spend the rest of the day with the newsies." Emma gave a scoffing chuckle.
"No really, I mean what do you do? Aren't you in school?" Sadie felt her eyes grow murderous.
"No, Emma. I do what I said."
"NEWSIES? My, my you've stepped down in the world. From your usual working class heroes." Emma was referring to the friends and boyfriends Sadie had had in Boston. More often then not, Sadie usually dated dockworkers or fishermen and the like. Emma had always tried to land rich boyfriends. Something she had done frequently, but could never keep them.
"So," Sadie said wanting to change the subject "Why are you here?" Emma avoided her gaze and began to pick at the skirt of her dress.
"I just needed a change of scenery. I was tired of living at home. Ma remarried and the man is a horrible wretch." Sadie guessed that her Aunt Colleen had told Emma that it was time for her to get a job and start a family of her own. Aunt Colleen was a no-nonsense type of a woman, one who didn't have time for Emma's dreams of landing a wealthy man so that she could wallow in someone else's money all day.
"Well it may surprise you," from Emma's tone it was clearly surprising to her at least "that some people from Boston can't seem to stop asking for you. Swagger for instance." Sadie felt her cheek's suddenly burn. Swagger Riordan had been the last boy she had been seeing when she left Boston with her mother and Jeremiah. He had worked as a bouncer in his spare time at pubs, or dabbling in the art of forgery. He actually reminded her a lot of Spot now that she thought about it. But Spot was a hard worker and dedicated to his gang of boys. Swagger had just been a conniving, thieving, yet charming lout. Emma gave a laugh that was far from friendly.
"Yes he misses his dear little Sadie. You left him hanging when you took off to New York the way you did." Sadie snorted and slammed a hand down on the table.
"Let's get one thing straight, Emma. You have never, nor do you now like me. All you've ever done is treat me like shit. And this ain't Boston anymore. So you better watch your snooty little ass." A flash of malice shot through Emma's eyes before she made them wide and hurt.
"Why Sadie I don't know what you're talking about. I've never done anything to hurt you and I never will." Sadie held up a hand to stop Emma from talking. Fuming inwardly about the fact that Emma was probably going to tag along with her all day, she tightened her shawl around her and gave her a pointed look.
"I'm going to talk to one of my friends. I'd really actually like it if you came along." Smiling inwardly at the reverse psychology, she saw Emma look at her distrustfully before the tall girl stood and shook her head, red curls bouncing.
"No, I have some other things to do today. I'm SURE I'll run into you later." And with that the girl disappeared down the stairs towards the shop. Sadie gave a growl of frustration and would have punched the wall if it weren't for her Ma coming into the kitchen, a fond smile on her worn face.
"I know you don't like her, lovey. Just remember that she's had a tough year." Kissing Sadie on the cheek, her Ma continued her way down into the shop to start another ten-hour day. Sadie knew that she should get back to Brooklyn and the orphanage, but she wanted to talk to Diamond some more. If that girl was planning on just springing all HER news onto Spot and Jack the way she had done it to Sadie, then she had another thing coming. Smiling ruefully, she shook her head as she waved at Mr. Foster down in the shop and walked onto the sidewalk. Striking a match some distance away and lighting a cigarette, she headed toward Irving Hall her thoughts all jumbled. She knew Diamond was a smart girl, but then again she had proven to be quite the risk-taker. Any girl who decided to sleep with a boy out of wedlock was asking for the chance of quite possibly becoming pregnant. She knew she wasn't one to judge, she had done it herself. She had just also been one of the lucky ones.
A spasm of pain practically made her double over as she remembered just how 'lucky'. True she hadn't had a child, but she almost had. Swagger's as a matter of fact. If it hadn't been for the miscarriage she would probably still be in Boston, living in Swagger's two room apartment in a tenement building in South Boston that he shared with his two uncles, sister, and brother. In truth, that whole fiasco is what made her Ma finally decided to take her children and leave Southie. Sadie was looked on as something tainted in their violent yet highly Catholic neighborhood. Not that many of the women were much better, or had made any less mistakes. But it wasn't anyone decent who came calling on her after she had lost the baby.
Crossing her arms over her middle, she felt a tear slide down her cheek. It still made her ache inside to think about the poor little thing she had lost. Biting her lip she took a drag of her cigarette. That was what she had meant when she had realized that although Spot kept many things from her, she also in turn kept many things from him. She wasn't sure how he'd feel if he knew about Swagger or her lost baby. She really didn't want him to ever find out. It wasn't as if it had happened in the time that she had known him. Therefore it wasn't any of his business. Nodding stoutly, she saw Diamond's shining red hair and raising a hand in the air, she hollered a hello to the newsgirl.
Bending over the sleeping girl, he kissed her cheek and then he kissed her gently on the lips. She stirred briefly but didn't wake. Tip- toeing out of the bedroom, he made his way through the apartment, down the flight of stairs, and out of the tailor's shop. Pausing on the sidewalk outside, he lit a cigarette and continued on his way towards Brooklyn. The streets were empty and dark. Eerie shadows danced on the walls cast by the dim street lamps. Any ordinary person would have been afraid, but Spot knew that he could take care of himself. He had grown up in Brooklyn, and Manhattan was no Brooklyn. The sun was beginning to cast a faint glow on the horizon by the time he reached the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge. Stopping to look at the view, he lit another cigarette, the first having long since been ground into the cobblestones.
As smoke trailed up around his head he contemplated what he was going to do about this mysterious person stealing from his newsies. It was almost unheard of, to attack one of Spot Conlon's boys or now girls and get away with it. No kid would have ever dared to do it alone, or much less even entertained the thought. He wondered if it was someone from Harlem. He had never gotten along with Inch Richards, the leader of Harlem, or come to think of it Tink Lewis, the leader of the Five Points. Snorting with laughter, he pushed himself off of the railing and started walking again. Tink Lewis was actually the girlfriend of Blade O'Halloran who was doing time in the Refuge. He had been sentenced there till he was twenty-one for killing another newsie. Tink had been the most logical choice for leader since anybody tough enough to one, survive the Five Points, and two, date Blade, was a perfect candidate. It was well known that Tink visited Blade every Sunday and made sure to carry out his orders exactly.
Hunching his shoulders against a sudden wind, his mind rambled on. None of the other factions of Brooklyn kids would dare oppose him. He had no worries about Coney Island or Greenpoint. There could be Jersey newsies crossing over to do some damage, but again, he wasn't so sure. Any of the other boroughs he had no problem with. Jack kept a pretty diplomatic stand with all the other leaders, and it was well known that he supported Brooklyn. Especially after the strike, not many boroughs felt like challenging either Manhattan or Brooklyn in territory battles. Which led him to believe it was someone acting on his or her own. Sneering, he shook his head and spat. Independent gangs gave him the most trouble. Not newsies, or even affiliated with any other working class kids, the independents were just in it for the blood and money. Some like the Doyle Street Boys were older kids who were getting into the bigger and better things. They didn't have time to rough up random newsies. Besides, Jasper wouldn't allow it. Some of the other more petty gangs of pickpockets or thieves would. Hell he even knew a few street-walking ladies who would have no problem making an unwary newsie's pockets lighter.
The familiar background of Brooklyn comforted him. He was back on his turf, and he strutted. Heading to the Distribution Office, he could hear the clamoring of his newsies as they got into a disorderly line to buy their papers. Walking through the gates, he was greeted by Whiskey and Mumbles, along with Striker, who was yawning and looking like she wanted to punch Trips, who was chattering nonstop. Then his gaze sharpened as he saw a new face standing next to Harlot. The girl was small, height and weight wise. She was about Trouble's size, except maybe a tad taller. Her eyes were a shocking brilliant blue that stood out in her pale face. Dark brown hair tumbled around her shoulders. The girl met his gaze steadily, and Spot saw Striker look at them.
"Oh Spot, she came yesterday while you and Sadie were in Manhattan. Says her name's Lucky." Spot arrogantly inclined his head at her, which made Lucky smirk slightly before the wooden plank covering the barred window flew open and Jake, the manager of the D.O. hollered in his grating voice for the kids to come get their 'damn papers'. Making a mental note to keep better track of newcomers, Spot bought his papers and headed off to his selling spot. Before he left the yard, he informed Pirate that he would loan him the money to sleep in the lodging house tonight so he could do his rounds of all the younger newsies selling spots. Pirate nodded grimly before heading off to where Lefty and Frog sold together. That was another one of Spot's new rules. If you were ten years old or younger you had to sell with an older boy. Some of the older boys grumbled, but they were silent when Spot was around. Hefting his papers onto his shoulder, Spot squared his back and set off.
Sadie awoke confused at where she was for instant. The place where Spot had lain beside her was cold and she clucked her tongue in disappointment. Stretching her hands over her head as far as she could go, she went stiff as she heard a familiar slightly nasal voice with a strong Boston accent. Leaping out of bed she threw her clothes on, a worn blue skirt and her shawl. Yanking her stockings on so fast she almost ripped one; she ran her fingers through her hair and slipped her boots on.
Out in the kitchen her brother Jeremiah sat with a look of faint disdain on his face as he swirled coffee around in a tin mug. Groaning inwardly, Sadie tried to put a false smile on her own face as her cousin Emma whirled around in her chair and cried out in delight.
"Oh Sadie! You ARE here! I'm SO glad to see you!" The taller girl jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around Sadie. Sadie gingerly patted Emma on the back and squirreled out of her clinging grasp. Emma hadn't changed much in the year since Sadie had seen her last. Her red hair came from her mother, and she still had a mass of freckles on her pale cheeks. Probing gray eyes shifted constantly and had a cunning light to them. She was taller, if that was possible, and much thinner. Her clothes were shabby and ill fitting. The dress she wore was one she had had since she was fourteen, something that should have been thrown out long ago now that she was almost seventeen.
"Did you just get here? How was your trip?" Emma chattered on and on about how she had arrived in New York that morning and the train ride was wretched, and she was starving, and how she missed Boston. Jeremiah gave Sadie a Look and muttering something about getting to work, rose and made his escape. Emma looked at Sadie innocently and put her hands on her knees.
"So, what do you do all day then?"
"I work in an orphanage and then I spend the rest of the day with the newsies." Emma gave a scoffing chuckle.
"No really, I mean what do you do? Aren't you in school?" Sadie felt her eyes grow murderous.
"No, Emma. I do what I said."
"NEWSIES? My, my you've stepped down in the world. From your usual working class heroes." Emma was referring to the friends and boyfriends Sadie had had in Boston. More often then not, Sadie usually dated dockworkers or fishermen and the like. Emma had always tried to land rich boyfriends. Something she had done frequently, but could never keep them.
"So," Sadie said wanting to change the subject "Why are you here?" Emma avoided her gaze and began to pick at the skirt of her dress.
"I just needed a change of scenery. I was tired of living at home. Ma remarried and the man is a horrible wretch." Sadie guessed that her Aunt Colleen had told Emma that it was time for her to get a job and start a family of her own. Aunt Colleen was a no-nonsense type of a woman, one who didn't have time for Emma's dreams of landing a wealthy man so that she could wallow in someone else's money all day.
"Well it may surprise you," from Emma's tone it was clearly surprising to her at least "that some people from Boston can't seem to stop asking for you. Swagger for instance." Sadie felt her cheek's suddenly burn. Swagger Riordan had been the last boy she had been seeing when she left Boston with her mother and Jeremiah. He had worked as a bouncer in his spare time at pubs, or dabbling in the art of forgery. He actually reminded her a lot of Spot now that she thought about it. But Spot was a hard worker and dedicated to his gang of boys. Swagger had just been a conniving, thieving, yet charming lout. Emma gave a laugh that was far from friendly.
"Yes he misses his dear little Sadie. You left him hanging when you took off to New York the way you did." Sadie snorted and slammed a hand down on the table.
"Let's get one thing straight, Emma. You have never, nor do you now like me. All you've ever done is treat me like shit. And this ain't Boston anymore. So you better watch your snooty little ass." A flash of malice shot through Emma's eyes before she made them wide and hurt.
"Why Sadie I don't know what you're talking about. I've never done anything to hurt you and I never will." Sadie held up a hand to stop Emma from talking. Fuming inwardly about the fact that Emma was probably going to tag along with her all day, she tightened her shawl around her and gave her a pointed look.
"I'm going to talk to one of my friends. I'd really actually like it if you came along." Smiling inwardly at the reverse psychology, she saw Emma look at her distrustfully before the tall girl stood and shook her head, red curls bouncing.
"No, I have some other things to do today. I'm SURE I'll run into you later." And with that the girl disappeared down the stairs towards the shop. Sadie gave a growl of frustration and would have punched the wall if it weren't for her Ma coming into the kitchen, a fond smile on her worn face.
"I know you don't like her, lovey. Just remember that she's had a tough year." Kissing Sadie on the cheek, her Ma continued her way down into the shop to start another ten-hour day. Sadie knew that she should get back to Brooklyn and the orphanage, but she wanted to talk to Diamond some more. If that girl was planning on just springing all HER news onto Spot and Jack the way she had done it to Sadie, then she had another thing coming. Smiling ruefully, she shook her head as she waved at Mr. Foster down in the shop and walked onto the sidewalk. Striking a match some distance away and lighting a cigarette, she headed toward Irving Hall her thoughts all jumbled. She knew Diamond was a smart girl, but then again she had proven to be quite the risk-taker. Any girl who decided to sleep with a boy out of wedlock was asking for the chance of quite possibly becoming pregnant. She knew she wasn't one to judge, she had done it herself. She had just also been one of the lucky ones.
A spasm of pain practically made her double over as she remembered just how 'lucky'. True she hadn't had a child, but she almost had. Swagger's as a matter of fact. If it hadn't been for the miscarriage she would probably still be in Boston, living in Swagger's two room apartment in a tenement building in South Boston that he shared with his two uncles, sister, and brother. In truth, that whole fiasco is what made her Ma finally decided to take her children and leave Southie. Sadie was looked on as something tainted in their violent yet highly Catholic neighborhood. Not that many of the women were much better, or had made any less mistakes. But it wasn't anyone decent who came calling on her after she had lost the baby.
Crossing her arms over her middle, she felt a tear slide down her cheek. It still made her ache inside to think about the poor little thing she had lost. Biting her lip she took a drag of her cigarette. That was what she had meant when she had realized that although Spot kept many things from her, she also in turn kept many things from him. She wasn't sure how he'd feel if he knew about Swagger or her lost baby. She really didn't want him to ever find out. It wasn't as if it had happened in the time that she had known him. Therefore it wasn't any of his business. Nodding stoutly, she saw Diamond's shining red hair and raising a hand in the air, she hollered a hello to the newsgirl.